US08377064B2
Tooling and methodologies for separation and dissection of the subantral membrane from the floor of the maxillary sinus. The tooling and associated methodology employ a handle and one or more support structures extending therefrom. A thin member extends from the distal end of the support structure(s). The thin member has a first peripheral region disposed opposite a second peripheral region. The first peripheral region is joined to or integrally formed with the distal end of the support structure(s). The second peripheral region defines a thin blade-like section for dissecting the subantral membrane from the floor of the maxillary sinus. In the preferred embodiment, the blade-like section is angled downward away from the distal support structure, which aids in positioning the blade-like section on the floor of the maxillary sinus.
US08377061B1
An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. A first embodiment includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A second embodiment includes one or two internal mounting surfaces, each of which holds a row of pin holders that is clamped in place by a single clamping member.
US08377057B2
The present disclosure relates to systems, devices and methods for positioning and placing multiple electrodes in a target surgical site. An introducer is provided for facilitating the insertion of a cluster of electrodes into the body of a patient for performing tissue ablation. The introducer includes a body portion including a plurality of holes formed therein for selectively receiving a respective elongated shaft of the electrodes therethrough, wherein the holes of the introducer orient and space each electrode relative to one another, wherein the introducer includes a centrally disposed hole formed therein for receiving a guide needle therethrough.
US08377054B2
An automatic control circuit for an electrosurgical generator is herein disclosed. The automatic control circuit includes voltage and current sensing circuits, a processing circuit, a dosage calculating circuit, and control circuit. Samples of the voltage and current outputs are supplied to the processing circuit and the dosage calculating circuit to generate a dosage output signal. The dosage output signal is compared to a reference signal to generate a feedback signal that controls a drive circuit.
US08377052B2
An electrical conductor, such as a wire or catheter, which is coated circumferentially with a ferromagnetic material in a selected region, is fed from a high frequency alternating current source. The ferromagnetic material has a quick response in heating and cooling to the controllable power delivery. The ferromagnetic material can be used for separating tissue, coagulation, tissue destruction or achieving other desired tissue effects in numerous surgical procedures.
US08377042B2
The invention provides devices useful for the delivery of active agents to the eye in a controlled manner. In the devices of the invention, the active agent is present within the device in a continuous or discontinuous concentration gradient.
US08377037B2
A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.
US08377033B2
A reinforcement region is formed within the myocardium by introducing a delivery device through a vessel wall to a treatment site within a myocardium. A biomaterial is then delivered to the treatment site as the delivery device is withdrawn from the treatment site to form the reinforcement regions. Formation of the reinforcement region may further include introducing a delivery device through a vessel wall to a region within a myocardium such that the delivery device is positioned within the myocardium substantially parallel to a wall of the myocardium. A biomaterial may be delivered into a space formed within the region by the delivery device. The reinforcement region may be formed around an infarct tissue region of a myocardium to reinforce the damaged tissue.
US08377032B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for delivering a bioactive agent in a needle track formed in a target tissue mass, following formation of the needle track, by avoiding impingement of the agent against target tissue at high velocity or by using capillary action to draw the bioactive agent out of the needle during needle withdrawal. The apparatus comprises a catheter and a needle disposed within the catheter and configured to be selectively extended into the tissue mass to a predetermined depth, while dispensing the agent simultaneously with retraction of the needle along the needle track. Alternatively, or in addition, the needle may be configured to create a tissue space surrounding a distal or lateral surface of the needle, into which the bioactive agent to be infused.
US08377031B2
Methods, system and devices for monitoring a plurality of parameters associated with a closed loop control operation including continuously monitoring a physiological condition and automatic administration of a medication, detecting an adverse condition associated with the monitored physiological condition or the medication administration deviating from a predetermined safety level of the closed loop control operation, and initiating a non-zero pre-programmed medication delivery rate are provided.
US08377024B2
An outer cover for a disposable absorbent article. The outer cover includes an elastic material joined to an extensible material to form a laminate. At least two different areas of the laminate are simultaneously activated in different directions by a single pair of intermeshing activation rolls. At least a portion of the two different areas of activation on the outer cover are spatially separated by a buffer zone.
US08377006B2
An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle section that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator portion that has a dilator and a dilator hub. The dilator is coaxially disposed and slideable over the elongated body of the needle section. The device further includes a sheath section that has a sheath and a sheath hub. The sheath is coaxially disposed and slideable over the dilator. The device further includes a first locking mechanism operably disposed between the needle hub and the dilator hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the needle section and the dilator portion and a second locking mechanism operably disposed between the dilator hub and the sheath hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the dilator portion and the sheath section.
US08377005B2
A novel neural injection system and related methods are herein disclosed. Various embodiments of an embodiment of a neural injection system of the present invention provide for at least one benefit of enhanced injection characteristics, increased operational efficiency, reduced cost per unit, reduced incidence of injury through intraneural/intravascular injection, reduced incidence of injury through pricking/piercing, and/or the like.
US08377004B2
A drug delivery pump drive which uses a linear piezoelectric motor to advance a syringe piston to deliver a liquid drug and a method thereof are disclosed. The pump drive, provided in a drug delivery pump, provides silent operation and very low energy consumption compared to electric motor-based drives. The small size of the motor helps also to reduce overall size of the pump drive and the resulting drug deliver pump.
US08376992B2
A balloon catheter including: a flexible sheath which has at least one lumen; and a cylindrical balloon which is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the sheath and can be inflated with a fluid supplied from the lumen; wherein the sheath has a large diameter portion whose outer diameter is greater than a basic outer diameter thereof, and the balloon is set to have a maximum inner diameter greater than the basic outer diameter when deflated, and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion.
US08376991B2
A deflectable medical device incorporates a strut that is configured to reduce or eliminate axial shortening of the deflectable portion of the medical device, for example, the deflectable distal end portion of a catheter or access sheath. The strut may is coaxially disposed in the medical device in the section that is contemplated to undergo the repeated deflection. The strut provides improved column strength and axial restoration. The strut may be stent-like device, an elongate device having opposing ends coupled by a connecting lattice involving a plurality of helical connecting elements or a tube having a plurality of circumferentially-extending slots arranged in longitudinally-extending rows.
US08376987B2
The invention relates to a two-chamber syringe device comprising a cylinder element (2), a closure element (6), two plungers (3) and (4) and optionally an intermediate plunger (3a), wherein one or more fluid-tight, gas-permeable membranes (8) and optionally valve membranes (15) are arranged in the wall of the cylinder element (2) or in the closure element (6), allowing gas in the chambers to escape from the cylinder element (2) when the plungers (3), (3a) and (4) are displaced in the distal direction.
US08376972B2
A wound treatment device comprises a wound surface contacting plug (10) and a cover (24) for covering the wound surface (22) and the plug (10), wherein said plug (10) consists of a flat textile isolating material comprising at least one first surface layer (12), one second surface layer (14) and one intermediate space (18) arranged between said surface layers (12, 14). At least the first surface layer (12) is provided with a biocompatible surface and a structure which enables a liquid to pass and prevents a wound tissue from growing in said structure. The intermediate space (18) is provided with isolating threads (16) elastically holding the first surface layer (12) and the second surface layer at a certain distance from each other.
US08376967B2
A method and apparatus for measuring and recording skull vibration in situ comprising a receiving means, a dental material capable of filling any gaps between the receiving means and the at least one tooth, the material capable of transmitting mechanical vibration within the dental bone conduction pathway to the receiving means; a transducer mounted into or unto the receiving means said transducer capable of transducing mechanical vibration within the dental bone conduction pathway into electrical signals; an extra-orally recordation hardware and software capable of receiving and processing said electrical signals from said transducer.
US08376966B2
The present invention provides a evaluating system of masticatory efficiency comprising a first step of allowing a human subject to masticate an artificial food material containing microparticles that are finely crushed and ground by mastication and keep a spherical shape unless they are masticated; a second step of enlarging the artificial food material having been thus masticated by applying pressure to a thickness equal to the diameter of the microparticles while sandwiching the artificial food material between two preparation sheets; and a third step of counting microparticles keeping the spherical shape that remain in the artificial food material having been enlarged between the two preparation sheets by applying pressure. By using this evaluating system in the invention, the masticatory efficiency can be evaluated well in precise and at short time without using a solvent and expensive instruments.
US08376965B2
A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus and method. The apparatus includes one or more devices for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual, and a computer-interface device capable of performing multiple tasks, including converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple zones for each of the parallel control channels, assigning computer commands to each individual zone of the multiple zones, and generating the computer command assigned to at least one of the individual zones if the level of the input signal is within the at least one individual zone. The individual zones can be the same or different among the parallel control channels.
US08376957B2
A biopsy system comprises a biopsy device, a fluid canister, and an auxiliary vacuum source. The biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, a hollow cutter, and a primary vacuum pump. The primary vacuum pump is operable to induce a vacuum in the lumen of the cutter. The fluid canister is configured to receive liquids communicated proximally through the cutter lumen. The auxiliary vacuum source is operable to induce a vacuum in the cutter lumen, thus supplementing the primary vacuum pump. The auxiliary vacuum source may be coupled directly with the fluid canister, such that the fluid canister is positioned along the fluid path between the auxiliary vacuum source and the biopsy device. The biopsy device may further include an integral tissue sample holder. The cutter lumen, the primary vacuum pump, the fluid canister, and the auxiliary vacuum source are all in fluid communication with the tissue sample holder.
US08376956B2
A detector located on a positioning tray has a plurality of colored caps placed by a subject being tested. Each cap has a unique resonant circuit which is selectively energized to indicate cap position to the detector so that color discrimination of the subject may be determined.
US08376946B2
A method for treating a medical pathology includes receiving a first set of acoustic radiation scattered by a volume of tissue containing at least a portion of the medical pathology and thereafter, changing a temperature of the volume of tissue. The method also includes thereafter, receiving a second set of acoustic radiation scattered by the volume of tissue and localizing the portion of the medical pathology from the first and second sets of received acoustic radiation. Localizing the portion of the medical pathology comprises identifying the medical pathology from differences in the first and second sets of received acoustic radiation resulting from the change in temperature. The method also includes insonifying the portion of the medical pathology with sufficient energy to damage the portion of the medical pathology.
US08376941B2
Laparoscopic instruments and trocars are provided for performing laparoscopic procedures entirely through the umbilicus. A generally C-shaped trocar provides increased work space between the hands of the surgeon as well as S-shaped laparoscopic instruments placed through the trocar when laparoscopic instrument—trocar units are placed through the umbilicus. In order to facilitate retraction of intra-abdominal structures during a laparoscopic procedure, an angulated needle and thread with either one-or two sharp ends is provided. Alternatively, an inflatable unit having at least one generally C-shaped trocar incorporated within the unit's walls can be placed through the umbilicus following a single incision. Generally S-shaped laparoscopic instruments may be placed through the generally C-shaped trocars to facilitate access to intra-abdominal structures.
US08376939B1
The present invention is referred to a coronary artery retraction means for retracting tissue and/or fat from the coronary artery during coronary anastomosis and a CO2 supplying device capable of blowing CO2 on the coronary artery during a bypass procedure while the retracting means holds and keeps the fat away from the artery. This device comprises, in one embodiment, a stainless steel ‘V’-shaped wire, including a couple of elastic arms, which end with a hook-like retracting means, and also including on said arms grabbing means allowing the surgeon to place the device in place in an easy and fast maneuver, and a CO2 supplying means on each arm, including at least one gas intake on one end and a gas outlet over said retracting means. In a second embodiment, all the different parts of the device define an integral piece made of plastic material which is fully disposable after the procedure.
US08376930B2
An implantable system for erectile dysfunction treatment includes an implantable pump having an inlet and an outlet port. The inlet port is configured to receive blood from an artery within the body. The outlet port is configured to receive the blood from the inlet port and deliver that blood to an artery having a direct or indirect path to the corpora cavernosa of the penis. Activation of the pump, preferably via manual compression or electrical activation, causes the transfer of blood and ultimately an erection. Upon conclusion of sexual activity, blood drains from the penis in a normal manner and returns the penis to a flaccid state. The pump preferably incorporates a non-return valve to prevent backflow of blood from outlet port to inlet port.
US08376929B2
A system for facilitating obesity control includes an inflatable gastric banding device, a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion, and an implantable fluid handling device coupled to the fluid reservoir and the inflatable portion. The fluid handling device includes remotely operable components housed in a biocompatible housing. The fluid handling device includes a micropump effective to pump fluid to the band and a flow sensor. The system also includes a controller/microprocessor including an algorithm programmed to automatically calibrate the pump using data from the flow sensor, prior to adjustments made to the inflation of the gastric band.
US08376928B2
Disclosed herein are expandable surgical implants that may be expanded one or more times by directly or indirectly uncinching one or more expansion loops. Use of the expandable surgical implant permits a physician to expand, with minimal invasion, a surgical implant that was over-tensioned by a surgeon during implantation or became over-tensioned due to changes in the patient's anatomy.
US08376927B2
A ventricular assist device (VAD) having static seal structure for a pump housing which includes a support structure, a first sealing element, and a second sealing element. The support structure circumscribes a pump chamber and includes a first sealing surface, an opposing second sealing surface, and a fluid transfer end interposed between the sealing surfaces. The support structure provides a fluid flow path running through the fluid transfer end and into the pump chamber via an inlet bore and from the pump chamber back through the fluid transfer end via an outlet bore. The first sealing element is disposed on the first sealing surface, and the second sealing element is disposed on the second sealing surface. The sealing elements are configured for forming sealing interfaces in the pump housing, establishing a static seal that isolates the pump chamber from an environment external to the fluid pump housing.
US08376923B2
A bag-making packaging machine includes a bag-producing part, a bag receiving part, and a bottom forming part. The bag-producing part is configured and arranged to transversely seal a tubular packaging material to produce a bag having a top seal part and a bottom seal part formed above and below a product-enclosing main body of the bag. The bag receiving part is configured and arranged to receive and hold the bottom seal part and a part of the main body of the bag, which has been dropped from the bag-producing part. The bottom-forming part is configured and arranged to deform the bag in contact with the bag receiving part to form a bottom portion of the bag into a prescribed shape.
US08376914B2
An aquatic exercise device is provided that has a body made of foam that extends 360° about an axis and at least partially defines a central aperture that extends through the axis. The body has an inner half with an outer surface oriented generally towards the central aperture. The body has an outer half with an outer surface oriented generally away from the central aperture. The entire outer surface of the outer half is convex in shape, and the outer surface of the inner half is convex in shape along an arc length of at least 270° of the inner half of the body about the axis. A ledge extends from the inner half and at least partially defines the central aperture.
US08376912B1
The present invention relates to a ball-like exercise device adapted for insertion in the mouth and to be used for exercising, strengthening and/or toning facial and/or jaw muscles.
US08376907B2
A vehicle comprises a plurality of wheels is supported by a frame. At least one of the plurality of wheels is operatively connected to an engine for propelling the vehicle. A limited slip differential is supported by the frame. A first half-shaft and a second half-shaft are operatively connected to the limited slip differential. The first half-shaft supports a first wheel of the plurality of wheels. The second half-shaft supports a second wheel of the plurality of wheels. A brake is operatively connected to the limited slip differential. The brake selectively exerts a braking torque on the first and second wheels via at least one portion of the limited slip differential to reduce the speed of the vehicle. A method of operating a vehicle is also described.
US08376899B2
A rotary actuator comprises a planetary gear assembly having a sun gear, a drive input, and a drive transmission whereby rotary device is transmitted between the drive input and the sun gear. The drive transmission incorporates a brake operable to apply a braking load to the sun gear in the event that the torque applied to the drive transmission in at least a first rotary direction exceeds a predetermined level.
US08376889B2
A transmission includes an input, a variator including an output and a ball carrier secured to the input, producing a variable speed ratio between the ball carrier and the output, a gearset including a component connected to the output, and second and third components, a first clutch releaseably connecting the input and the second component, and a second clutch releaseably connecting the component and the third component.
US08376887B2
A drive system includes a rotating power source, a planetary differential including a ring gear engaged with the power source, a sun gear secured to a first shaft and a carrier secured to a second shaft, a member secured to an output shaft, and a coupler alternately connecting and disconnecting the member and the ring gear.
US08376884B2
A ventilating system, especially for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, comprises: a wall (4) for mounting an axial fan (2), the latter being equipped with a ring-shaped casing (6), with an axis (X), defined externally by a cylindrical wall (7); an electric motor (11) supported by a plurality of radial spokes (10) connected to the ring-shaped casing (6) and having an impeller (12) at the end of its output shaft; a power cable (14) connected at one end to the motor (11) and connectable at the other end to an electrical power source through a connector (14a). The axial fan (2) is mounted on the wall (4), which delimits a space (5) for containing the air conditioning system, at an air opening (3), in such a way that the impeller (12) faces the inside of the space (5) and the motor (11) faces the outside. The ring-shaped casing (6) comprises means (19) for fastening the cable (14) to its cylindrical outside surface (18) and defining a passage (25) for the cable (14) through the mounting wall (4).
US08376879B2
A golf club head includes a head body that forms a crown portion, a sole portion, and a side portion and has an opening portion in a portion corresponding to a face portion, and a face member that is joined to the opening portion and forms the face portion. A first notch portion formed in a heel-side portion of the peripheral edge of the opening portion, and a second notch portion formed in a toe-side portion of the peripheral edge. The face member includes a first extending portion that seals the first notch portion, and a second extending portion that seals the second notch portion. The and second extending portions are more rigid than a portion of the peripheral edge.
US08376875B2
A golf club shaft formed by winding prepregs made of uncured thermosetting resin into a tapered shape and curing the prepregs thermally, the prepregs include a first woven fabric prepreg which is made of one of a triaxial woven fabric or a tetra-axial woven fabric that are impregnated with uncured thermosetting resin, and a second woven fabric prepreg which is made of one of a triaxial woven fabric or a tetra-axial woven fabric that are impregnated with uncured thermosetting resin.
US08376853B2
A self-orientating hand held game unit includes a display screen, a game piece illustrated on the screen, and a touch sensitive system to detect the movement of a finger across the screen and operate the game piece to launch a projectile toward a target on the screen.
US08376847B1
A method and game machine are disclosed for operating a game with a primary and embedded game. An embedded game is disclosed as a bonus game with one embodiment animating miniature reels inside the primary game symbol. Each embedded slot game may have its own progressive, or may be tied into the progress associated with the primary game. Each embedded slot game will have its own paytable, and may be a miniature version of a well-recognized full-sized slot machine game.
US08376843B2
The present invention provides a gaming machine that can play both Class II and Class III games. Some implementations provide a gaming machine that has certain features (e.g., a true random number generator or “RNG”) enabled for Class III play and disabled for Class II play. Some aspects of the invention provide methods for determining when a Class III game is available. Other aspects of the invention allow a player to “line up” for a desired Class III game while playing another game, such as a Class II game or another Class III game, on the same gaming machine until the desired Class III game is available.
US08376841B2
A gaming system and a method of operating a bonus prize awarding system, the system comprising a plurality of electronic gaming console having a console cabinet 10 including a prize display 12, a coin entry slot 13, a pay out tray 14 and internally mounted game control processor circuits. A video game is provided for play on the console in which images of objects (balls) are dropped through a series of obstacles (pins) and eventually fill a number of containers. Prizes are paid according to either the number of balls which are in each container at the end of the ball drop and/or the manner in which the pins are hit, and bonus prizes are increased progressively upon the occurrence of predetermined game events within the game or external to the game.
US08376831B2
A gaming machine includes main and secondary displays. The secondary display is disposed apart from the primary display and is used for presenting primary, secondary, or even tertiary information. The main display is controlled electronically by a gaming machine controller, which main display presents the results of a play on the gaming machine. In the case of a slot machine, the main display may be the glass display through which the spinning reels of a game play are viewed. In a video poker gaming machine, the main display is usually a cathode ray tube (“CRT”) which displays a video game image to the player and other information directly associated with the game play. The secondary display may be provided at various locations on the gaming machine such as in a top glass portion of the gaming machine or a belly glass portion of the gaming machine, which belly glass portion is located below a main display portion of the gaming machine. The secondary display itself may be a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube, a field emission display, a plasma display, a digital micromirror device (DMD), etc.
US08376825B2
Embodiments include a method that aggregates, for each of a plurality of players, data of different wagering games based, at least in part, on criteria for an aggregate leaderboard. Values for each of the plurality of players are computed based, at least in part, on the data aggregated for each of the plurality of players and the criteria for the aggregate leaderboard. Ranks of the plurality of players are determined based, at least in part, on the computed values. A subset of the plurality of players with ranks above a threshold rank is determined. Indications of the subset of the plurality of players are supplied for updating the aggregate leaderboard.
US08376821B2
A work cabinet with a work chamber that contains, on a temporary basis, a material being worked upon has a transfer opening connecting the work chamber with an ambient space of the cabinet. The transfer opening permits access to the worked material and gives access to the work chamber. A connected ventilating device provides a lower-than-ambient pressure in the work chamber. The work cabinet further has a printer transfer opening for connecting the work chamber to the delivery outlet for the printed output of a printer that is set up in the vicinity of the work cabinet. The delivery outlet for the printer output may reach through the printer transfer opening into the work chamber or it may merely adjoin the printer transfer opening.
US08376820B2
An air induction system is provided for a work machine having at least one fender. The air induction system has an air inlet flow member and an air filter. The air filter is disposed within the at least one fender and accessible from outside of the work machine. The air filter is fluidly connected to and disposed downstream of the air inlet flow member. The air induction system also includes a conduit fluidly connected to and disposed downstream of the air filter.
US08376817B2
A cabin for a work vehicle comprises: a driver's seat positioned within the cabin; cabin frames including at least a transverse frame located in a rear region of the cabin; a roof supported by at least some of the cabin frames; at least one air-conditioning duct located within the roof; an air conditioning unit located rearwardly with respect to a rearward end of a seat portion of the driver's seat and adjacent the transverse frame for conditioning air and for feeding air-conditioned air into the at least one air-conditioning duct.
US08376816B2
A fish fillet board has a clamp whose jaws have a horizontal line of action extending substantially parallel to the work surface of the base of the board. Thus, when the jaws hold the fish on its side against the base, they grip the fish by its lower lip to partially paralyze the fish and render it immobile. The clamp may be designed to be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the base, as well as inverted, so that the fish may be flipped over during filleting without releasing the clamp from the lower lip of the fish.
US08376813B2
A carrier head for chemical mechanical polishing that has a base, a mounting assembly connected to the base having a surface for contacting a substrate, and a retaining ring secured to the base. The retaining ring can include perfluoroalkoxy, polyetherketoneketone, polybenzimidazole, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester, or a long molecular chain molecule produced from poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide.
US08376811B2
Semiconductor wafers are double sided polished by a method of polishing a frontside of the wafer in a first step with a polishing pad with fixed abrasive and simultaneously polishing a backside of the wafer with a polishing pad containing no abrasive, but during which an abrasive polishing agent is introduced between the polishing pad and the backside of the wafer, inverting the wafer, and then in a second step polishing the backside of the wafer with a polishing pad containing fixed abrasive and simultaneously polishing the frontside of the wafer with a polishing pad containing no fixed abrasive, a polishing agent containing abrasive being introduced between the polishing pad and the frontside of the semiconductor wafer.
US08376808B2
An aerobic activity garment structure comprising a shirt portion including a water resistant material adapted to promote perspiration; a sports bra integrated with the shirt portion, the sports bra including an elastic polymeric material for increased support of the breasts; a base portion attached to the shirt portion; a zipper for securement of the garment to a wearer, the zipper spanning from the shirt portion to the base portion; and a moisture-absorbent material lining attached to the base portion, the moisture-absorbent material lining adapted to absorb the perspiration.
US08376803B2
A child-care robot for use in a nursery school associates child behavior patterns with corresponding robot action patterns, and acquires a child behavior pattern when a child behaves in a specified pattern. The robot selects one of the robot action patterns, which is associated with the acquired child behavior pattern, and performs the selected robot action pattern. Additionally, the robot associates child identifiers with parent identifiers, and receives an inquiry message from a remote terminal indicating a parent identifier. The robot detects one of the child identifiers, which is associated with the parent identifier of the inquiry message, acquires an image or a voice of a child identified by the detected child identifier, and transmits the acquired image or voice to the remote terminal. The robot further moves in search of a child, measures the temperature of the child, and associates the temperature with time of day at which it was measured.
US08376791B2
A surface drive for a watercraft (100) that is operated in different operating ranges dependent on a speed of the watercraft (100). A trim angle (τ) is adjusted automatically in at least one operating range, via a closed control loop, with detection of preset regulating parameters and is automatically controlled, in at least one other operating range, with detection of preset control parameters in a manner established for the operating range.
US08376788B1
An electric connector includes a tubular coupler and two metallic pipes mounted in the coupler. Each pipe has a tubular portion, a channel, a baffle sheet and a connecting sheet. The channel is defined through the tubular portion and extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubular portion. The baffle sheet is formed on the pipe and is located on a distal end of the tubular portion to shield the channel and prevent the channel from plugging. The connecting sheet extends from the tubular portion and is located adjacent to the baffle sheet for electrically connecting with an electric conductor.
US08376786B2
A plug and jack adapted to fit together with the plug releasably secured in the jack by detent means, so that plug electrical contacts carried by the plug are in electrical connection with jack electrical contacts carried by the jack, wherein spring means are provided which act between the plug and the jack to limit or eliminate movement of the secured plug relative to the jack.
US08376783B2
The invention provides a multipolar connector wherein one terminal row can be divided into a plurality of rows (row conversion) while reducing an impedance mismatch. A multipolar connector (1) includes a terminal group (40) in which a plurality of terminals (4) are arranged in one row in contact portions (4a) with respect to terminals of a counter connector, and, while being then passed through a row converting portion (45), one terminal row (41) is divided into a plural-row portion (44) consisting of two rows (42, 43) and functioning as a connecting portion that is opposite to the counter connector, and row-converted to a substantially zigzag arrangement. The terminal group includes two specific terminals (46, 47) in which, in the plural-row portion (44), the terminal width (L1) is wider than the terminal width (L2) of the contact portions (4a). The two specific terminals constitute a terminal pair for transmitting differential signals.
US08376781B2
A recessed portion is provided into which an ultraviolet detecting device is inserted, and a case is provided for holding removably in the state wherein the ultraviolet detecting device is inserted into the recessed portion. A conducting portion is provided that is connected on one end to the electrode portion of the ultraviolet detecting device and wherein the other end is led out from the case. The recessed portion is provided with first through fourth protrusions which insert into grooves that are formed in the ultraviolet detecting device.
US08376778B2
A connector includes a contact, a housing having a cavity into which the contact may be inserted formed therein, the housing retaining the contact inserted into the cavity, and a retainer piece that may be inserted into the cavity in the direction opposite to an insertion direction. The housing includes a pressing piece that moves the contact inserted into the cavity in the moving direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, an abut part that the contact abuts due to the movement by the pressing piece, and a locking member that locks the contact abutted to the abut part. The retainer piece is inserted into a back-side gap formed between the contact and an inner wall surface of the housing due to the movement by the pressing piece.
US08376776B2
Active packaging for supplying power, data, or both power and data to an electronic media device while the device is housed within the active packaging is provided. The active packaging may include one or more electrical traces in-molded or printed onto the packaging that couple to a suitable connector on the device. Power may also be provided via one or more wireless power techniques. Multiple active packages may be conductively stacked to transmit power, data, or both power and data to a row or stack or devices. POM sensors integrated with or attached to the device (or the active packaging itself) may detect various movement events. Coordinated and synchronized display effects may be presented while the devices are housed within the active packaging.
US08376770B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a base and a plurality of periphery walls extending upward from the base to define an inner cavity. A fastening assembly includes a retention plate pivotally assembled with a rear end of the insulative housing and a latch assembled at a front end of the insulative housing, the latch including a retention arm assembled in the periphery wall, a linking portion extending upwardly from the retention arm, and a handle portion extending from the linking portion and having a bottom surface locking the retention plate and a top surface for operating.
US08376764B1
A card connector is disclosed. The card connector comprises an insulative base, a plurality of connecting terminals, a card ejecting mechanism and a shielding case. The shielding case covers the insulative base. A card insertion region is formed between the insulative base and the shielding case. A plurality of terminal slots is defined on a surface of the insulative base facing the card insertion region. The connecting terminals are received in the terminal slots. The tray comprises an inner tray and an outer tray. The outer tray is pivotally connected to the inner tray. The inner tray and the outer tray are connected together to form a receiving groove for receiving a SIM card. The tray is formed by pivotally connecting the inner tray to the outer tray, therefore, the card connector according to the present invention can be used more conveniently.
US08376762B2
An electrical connector comprising a housing provided on one of opposite end portions thereof with an opening through which an FPC is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing for coming into contact with signal connecting terminals on the FPC inserted in the housing, and a shell member mounted on the housing and provided therein with a holding portion operative to hold the FPC inserted in the housing, a releasing portion operative to release the FPC from holding by the holding portion and a connecting portion for connecting the releasing portion with the holding portion, wherein the releasing portion extends from the shell member, the connecting portion extends to be bent from the releasing portion, and the holding portion extends to be bent from the connecting portion, so that a U-shaped portion is constituted in the shell member with the releasing portion, the connecting portion and the holding portion.
US08376757B2
A slip ring device includes a hollow pipe-shaped shaft rotatably supported inside a tubular body of a main case through a bearing and an electricity-collecting body integrally and concentrically provided in the shaft. The electricity-collecting body preferably includes a plurality of electricity-collecting rings and a plurality of insulating rings alternately layered with one another. The slip ring device further includes a plurality of brushes held by the main case and tip end portions making sliding contact with outer circumferential surfaces of the electricity-collecting rings and a plurality of lead lines introduced into the shaft. The lead lines include tip end portions electrically connected to the respective electricity-collecting rings. Two or more of the lead lines include shielded lines.
US08376755B2
A method and system is provided to directly compare school districts and individual schools across state lines, and the geographic areas served by those schools (counties, municipalities, zip codes, neighborhoods) based on their reported standardized test scores despite the fact that each state has prepared their own version of standardized tests to benchmark the performance of their students. While standardized tests, such as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) test, can provide a meaningful comparison between any students and schools that were administered the same test, since the tests are different state-to-state a comparison on this basis is generally inaccurate and unreliable. To normalize the local standardized test results based on the differences in tests in different localities, an additional factor is employed as a modifier of the NCLB test results resulting in a normalized comparison.
US08376751B2
An apparatus and method for detecting and correcting improper head neck and back movement during sports. The apparatus may include a non-reflective shield positioned near at least one eye of a user. The shield may be oriented at an angle parallel to a users' vision while in the open position, and the shield may be oriented at an angel perpendicular to a users' vision while in the closed position. Additionally, a swing arm or movement response unit may move the position of the shield from open to closed in response to the movement of a user.
US08376750B1
An online game that promotes healthy behavior by engaging computer users and by providing educational information about health and nutrition. User participation is measured in relation to an avatar of a belly that gains and loses weight according to game play. Users are assigned an avatar according to answers to profile questions. Users earn points by correctly answering health and nutrition questions. When a user answers a question correctly, the player can help him- or herself or “sabotage” a friend. Users also have options to help a friend. The game has consequences for incorrect answers. Updates to a leader board and a message board allow users to see how friends are doing. Social networking aspects of the game keep users engaged and entertained, and therefore, more likely to participate. Participation helps users to increase their knowledge of health and nutrition facts and therefore, their knowledge regarding healthy behaviors.
US08376744B2
A dental apparatus usable to place cord beneath a gum line and related methods of use are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a handle having one or more rotary members attached thereto. In operation, the edge of a rotary member is placed in contact with a cord surrounding a tooth, and the edge is rolled along the length of the cord, such that contact between the edge and the cord causes the rotary member to rotate, while the other portions of the apparatus are moved laterally during use. The cord is thereby placed beneath the gum line while contact between the apparatus and surrounding teeth and gums is minimized.
US08376737B2
Provided is a hot air blower comprising a fuel tank for storing fuel, an air compression pump for sucking air and compressing the air, a pressure regulation valve installed at the air compression pump to reduce the pressure of the compressed air, a burner assembly for receiving the fuel from the fuel tank and the air from the air compression pump, and a combustion chamber for receiving the fuel from the burner assembly and combusting the fuel, wherein the pressure regulation valve includes a high pressure regulation valve and a low pressure regulation valve, and a valve opening/closing means is installed at the low pressure regulation valve.
US08376719B2
An improved fire pump for a firefighting vehicle is provided. The fire pump is capable of being positioned at least partially under a rear portion of the cab of a firefighting vehicle. The pump includes a shaft, an impeller supported by the shaft, and a pump housing which encloses the impeller and supports the shaft for rotation about an axis. The housing includes a fluid inlet configured to direct a fluid into the housing along a path generally parallel to the axis. The housing also includes two fluid outlets each at a periphery of the impeller and configured to direct the fluid from the housing along respective paths generally perpendicular to the axis.
US08376718B2
A multistage compressor installation in which compression stages utilizing centrifugal compressors are independently driven by drivers that can be electric motors configured to be controlled by a speed controller. Intercoolers are located between stages to remove the heat of compression and the stages are connected such that outlets are located opposite to inlets of the compressors and conduits connecting the intercoolers to the stages are in an in-line relationship to inhibit the formation of pressure drops between stages. The conduits connecting the stages incorporate tapered transition sections configured such that flow velocity gradually decreases towards the intercooler and gradually increases from the intercooler to the next succeeding compression stage to further inhibit pressure drops.
US08376715B2
This invention demonstrates an improved method of constructing an artificial lift device for deep wells, in which the deadload of the pump mechanism is supported by a continuously-controlled gas spring. The reciprocating motion is produced by a very unusual form of linear motor using a plurality of radially disposed conducting vanes and having no wire coils. The machine is highly efficient and is able to deduce many of the conditions obtaining at the pump by computations from the measured power demand at each point of the pumping cycle. The device is self-protecting and self-optimising.
US08376706B2
A turbine airfoil includes a leading edge having a concave cooling flow passage. An apex of the concave cooling flow passage divides the flow passage into adjacent regions. The turbine airfoil includes a first plurality of turbulators disposed in one of the adjacent regions, and a second plurality of turbulators disposed in the other of the adjacent regions. The first and second pluralities of turbulators are positioned relative to one another to divert cooling flow in opposing swirl streams that recombine along the apex and to effect a desired heat transfer and pressure loss.
US08376702B2
A universal fan blade mount for connecting an integral fan blade assembly having two or three or four fan blades to a fan blade rotor, wherein the fan blade mount includes an adapter plate having a plurality of peripheral holes each for accommodating a respective mounting pin of the fan blade assembly, at least one of the holes being configured to accommodate a mounting pin of any one of the fan blade assemblies.
US08376698B2
A pump assembly has a housing formed of at least two metallic housing parts (2) and at least one diffuser (12) arranged in the housing, wherein the diffuser (12) is fixed between the two housing parts in the axial direction, and the two housing parts (2) are directly or indirectly in metallic contact with one another, in a manner such that a force transmission in the axial direction between the housing parts (2) is effected via elements of metal.
US08376692B2
A turbo compressor in an axial type of construction is disclosed. The turbo compressor has a bladed stator and a bladed rotor, and has a longitudinally split compressor casing and a guide blade ring with adjustable guide blades. The guide blades are pivotably mounted about radial axes radially within their aerofoil on an inner ring belonging to the stator. The inner ring is split, i.e., segmented, at at least two points of its circumference. Furthermore, the inner ring has for each guide blade at least one bearing bush which can be inserted radially into an opening from inside.
US08376691B2
A turbine engine is disclosed. A blade ring is surrounded by a housing wall, the housing wall being configured as an outer ring, and delimits therewith a gap, the gap being adjustable by deformation of the outer ring. The outer ring is concentrically surrounded by an adjusting element, opposite faces of the outer ring and the adjusting element having the contour of a truncated cone, and rolling bodies being positioned between the outer ring and the adjusting element, the rolling bodies being put at an oblique angle in relation to the axial direction in the radial direction and in the peripheral direction, making it possible for the adjusting element to be rotated in relation to the outer ring while simultaneously adjusting the gap.
US08376685B2
A substrate transport apparatus having a drive section and a scara arm operably connected to the drive section to move the scara arm. The scara arm has an upper arm and at least one forearm. The forearm is movably mounted to the upper arm and capable of holding a substrate thereon. The upper arm is substantially rigid and is adjustable for changing a predetermined dimension of the upper arm.
US08376675B2
A system for securing objects in an aircraft can comprise a structure in an aircraft having a plurality of receiving holes and a tie down. The tie down can comprise a housing and a fitting. The housing can have at least one engagement pin for selective positioning wherever the receiving holes are located. The fitting can be capable of receiving and securing a restraint to the housing and configured to rotate about the engagement pin to facilitate securing objects in an aircraft.
US08376674B1
A cargo strap assembly constructed and arranged for receipt by a stake pocket of a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes a sidewall which further defines an opening in communication with the stake pocket. The cargo strap assembly includes a cargo strap module which is constructed and arranged to fit within the stake pocket, the cargo strap module including a retractable cargo strap having an extendable end which is constructed and arranged to extend through the sidewall opening of the vehicle. The cargo strap assembly is completed by the addition of a cover plate which is constructed and arranged to be positioned against the sidewall of the vehicle and attach directly to the cargo strap module for securing the cargo strap module within the stake pocket.
US08376666B2
The invention relates to a tool having a tool element which rotates in operation with at least one geometrically defined blade, in particular a material cutting tool element. The tool element is subject to an operating parameter in the operating condition. A measuring device is provided for determination and conversion of the operation parameter into a measured signal. A first measuring device cooperates with a first tool element in the operating condition such that essentially only a first operating parameter for the first tool element may be recorded by the first measuring device.
US08376665B2
A rotary cutting system for releasable connection to a power tool, the power tool including a housing, a motor supported in the housing and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the rotary cutting system comprising a universal shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end positioned opposite the first shaft end, the first shaft end being removably securable to the power tool, and a cutting tool having a first tool end, and a second tool end spaced a distance of at least 3.5 inches from the first tool end and operable to cut a workpiece, the first tool end being removably securable to the second shaft end of the universal shaft.
US08376657B2
A berm to increase capacity of an existing landfill comprises a reinforced portion and backfill material. The landfill comprises a waste-receiving recess having a surface and an outer perimeter, an edge surface peripherally adjacent at least a portion of the outer perimeter, and an existing accumulation of waste within the recess having a collective top surface. The reinforced portion has opposing inner and outer surfaces and comprises structural fill material and a plurality of reinforcing members disposed therein. The backfill material has an inner surface adjacent the inner surface of the reinforced portion. The backfill material comprises contaminated fill material and is at least partially encapsulated by an impermeable membrane. At least a portion of the berm sits on at least a portion of the edge surface of the landfill. Portions of the berm are substantially parallel to corresponding portions of the outer perimeter.
US08376651B2
A water-ballasted molded plastic barrier system incorporates barrier segments wherein each segment employs a sawtooth reflective design, designed to prevent the tire of a vehicle, impacting the barrier, from climbing up the side of the barrier segment. Adjacent barrier segments are attached together using an interlocking knuckle design, having a lug pin connection system. Wire rope cable assemblies are internally molded into each barrier segment to create an impenetrable cable fence. The wire rope cable assemblies include steel bushings which are molded into the interlocking knuckles to further strengthen the barrier system.
US08376645B2
A binder ring metal (10) includes a shield (12) fitting over and substantially enclosing a mechanism by which at least one binder ring (14) of the metal is open and closed. The shield has a top surface (22) and an annular flange (24) forming a sidewall of the shield. At least one recess (32) is formed on the top surface of the shield. The recess is sized and shaped for an accessory to be attached to the top surface of the shield and to thereafter be portable with a ring binder to which the metal is attached. This facilitates ease of access to the accessory by a user of the ring binder. In addition, a trigger (62) installed at one end of the metal is formed using a molding process which allows a finger pad (64) of the trigger to be molded in place together with the body (66) portion of the trigger.
US08376643B2
An oral care instrument includes at least one oral care agent. In one embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided on one or more surfaces of the oral care instrument or included within cavities within the head or in one or more surfaces of a head. In other embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided in or on a thin slab subsequently bonded onto a surface, or applied as a stable coating. The oral care instrument can also be provided with a wear indicator. The oral care agents can be released during one use, during multiple uses, or throughout the life of the instrument. Water, oral secretions and/or chemicals within the mouth can activate the oral care agents.
US08376640B2
The present invention prevents density irregularity from appearing in a print result and to thereby improve image quality by controlling a motor so that the rotational speed of a drive shaft that feeds printing media is constant. The present invention provides a printing media feeding apparatus including a feeding section that includes a motor, a drive transmission mechanism which transmits a driving force of the motor, and a drive shaft to which the driving force is transmitted by the drive transmission mechanism. The drive shaft is rotated to feed the printing medium. A detection section is provided having at least a portion secured to the drive shaft and the detection section determines the rotational speed of the drive shaft and a controller controls the motor based on an input from the detection section so that the rotational speed the of the drive shaft is constant.
US08376639B2
According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus for de-skewing substrate media in a printing system. The apparatus including and idler roller and a drive roller. The idler roller for engaging substrate media. The drive roller cooperating with the idler roller to form a nip assembly for moving the substrate media in a process direction. The drive roller rotatably supported on a shaft axis by a first bearing element and a second bearing element. The first and second bearing elements disposed remote from one another along the shaft axis. The shaft axis pivotally supported at the first bearing element for aligning the shaft axis with a substrate media skew. The shaft axis configured to pivot about a pivot axis perpendicular to the shaft axis and extending through the first bearing element.
US08376637B2
A photoresist coating and developing apparatus 1 includes a photoresist film forming unit that forms a photoresist film on a substrate; a heat treatment unit that heats the substrate on which the photoresist film is formed by the photoresist film forming unit; a cooling unit that cools the substrate, on which the photoresist film is formed and which is heated by the heat treatment unit, to normal temperature; a heating unit 61 that heats the substrate, which is cooled to normal temperature by the cooling unit, to a predetermined temperature; a load-lock chamber L1 that unloads the substrate under depressurized atmosphere to expose the photoresist film; and a transfer device 62 that transfers the substrate from the heating unit 61 to the load-lock chamber L1.
US08376634B2
A pluggable optical transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises a plurality of OSAs, an optical member and a plurality of inner fibers to couple the optical member with OSAs. The inner fibers each provides an inner connector to couple with one of OSAs. The housing, which installs the OSAs, the optical member and the inner fiber, is made of metal and has a grooves into which the inner fibers is set so as to arrange them orderly.
US08376630B2
A hybrid RJ-45 plug is provided that has both an electrical coupling configuration and an optical coupling configuration. The electrical coupling configuration is an 8P8C electrical wiring configuration that complies with the RJ-45 electrical wiring standard. The optical coupling configuration includes an optics system that provides the plug with optical communications capabilities. The hybrid RJ-45 plug is backwards compatible with an existing RJ-45 jack that implements an RJ-45 electrical wiring standard. However, the hybrid RJ-45 plug is also configured to mate with an optical jack that has only optical communications capabilities and to mate with a hybrid RJ-45 jack that has both optical and electrical communications capabilities.
US08376629B2
A fiber optic connector assembly and method employing one or more fiber movement supports. The one or more fiber movement supports are each disposed around one or more optical fibers and are configured to inhibit kinks or sharp bends from occurring in the one or more optical fibers. The fiber movement support is more rigid than an optical fiber. Thus, when a force is exerted on an optical fiber in a direction angled to the axis of the optical fiber, the force is directed to the fiber movement support. The fiber movement support translates the non-axial force in a direction toward the axis of the optical fiber. This causes the optical fiber to be pushed back towards the fiber optic cable instead of the kinking or bending the optical fiber, thus avoiding or reducing high insertion losses resulting from bending of the optical fiber.
US08376628B2
A stopper 50 is fixed to an optical connector 10, and the optical connector 10 is accommodated in an opening section 21 of a housing 20. The housing 20 is engaged with the stopper 50 so as to be displaceable with respect to the stopper 50 by a predetermined amount in a direction of inserting the optical connector 10 to a receptacle, and the stopper 50 is biased rearward by a coil spring 40 with respect to the housing 20. The free end of a clip piece 15 is placed on the free end of a latch piece 14 of the optical connector 10, and the free end of the clip piece 15 is placed on an inclination surface 23a at the front end of a concave section 23 formed on an inner wall surface of the opening section 21. At the time of detachment from the receptacle, the housing 20 is displaced in a direction to be pulled out against the biasing force of the coil spring 40. Accordingly, the clip piece 15 and the latch piece 14 are pushed down by the inclination surface 23a to release the lock of the latch piece 14. The detachment from the receptacle can be made in one motion.
US08376622B2
The invention relates to a device for detecting and monitoring damage to races or adjacent regions of bearing rings (1, 2, 3) of anti-friction bearings. The device includes a measuring device, disposed in the anti-friction bearing chamber, having a sensor and structure for supplying sensor measurement data to the outside. The device has an energy source, which is also disposed in the anti-friction roller bearing chamber and which comprises a first coil (16) for the measuring device and a second coil (18) disposed outside the anti-friction bearing chamber and destined for inductive transfer of electrical energy to the first coil (16). The second coil (18) extends only over a part of the bearing circumference and the energy source comprises an energy accumulator (19) connected to the first coil (16).
US08376615B2
A pivot bearing having a first bearing surface of hollow cylindrical design, at least in sections. Guided in the first bearing surface is a second bearing surface of hollow cylindrical design, at least in sections. Rolling bodies are arranged between the bearing surfaces. The pivot bearing also has a cage for guiding the rolling bodies, and a slide block to prevent the cage from slipping. A first grove is formed in the first bearing surface and a second grove is formed in the second bearing surface. The groves are inclined transversely with respect to the running direction of the rolling bodies. The opposite inclination of the groves has the result that, if the spacing between the bearing surfaces is neglected, the grooves intersect. The sliding block is guided between the grooves. The cage has a recess that holds the sliding block permitting cage control.
US08376614B2
A reclosable storage bag and zipper tape for use in conjunction with same is disclosed. The reclosable bag includes first and second panels which are sealed about bottom, left, and right edges leaving an open top. The closure system further includes first and second closure assemblies or zippers which can be individually or simultaneously closed to seal the contents within the bag. Even after the first and second zippers are engaged thereby closing the bag, excess air within the bag can be removed simply be manually compressing the bag and thereby forcing the air through the vent apertures provided between the zippers. A valve internal to the closure system may be provided proximate the vent apertures and open upon sufficient application of pressure thereby allowing for air to be evacuated from the bag.
US08376613B2
A device 10 for aligning a patient for delivering a plurality of radiation beams comprising a patient support surface 12, a coarse alignment subsystem 14 connected to the patient support surface, and a fine alignment subsystem connected to the patient support surface 16. A method of aligning a patient for delivering a plurality of radiation beams from a plurality of device positions comprising compensating for flexion of a radiation beam delivery device within a gantry during movement of the radiation beam delivery device from a first device position to a second device position by using a set of predetermined data describing the flexion behavior of the radiation beam delivery device so that the target tissue within the patient is placed at the beamline center for the radiation beam delivery device at the second device position.
US08376608B2
An energy-saving static stirring apparatus for automatically stirring a fluid includes a deflector adapted for stationary placement in a container that holds a fluid for boiling. The deflector may include at least one friction contact point for frictionally engaging the container to prevent movement of the deflector. An inner portion of the deflector may be configured for placement proximate to a center of the container. An outer portion of the deflector may be configured for placement proximate to a side of the container. One or more deflector ramps define one or more vent openings to impart lateral movement to heated fluid currents and/or vapor bubbles moving upwardly away from a heat source below the container and to redirect the fluid currents and/or vapor bubbles into a swirling motion that stirs the fluid without movement of the deflector.
US08376603B2
An input device and display apparatus with multi-light segments has been disclosed. The input device may comprise a rigid light guide layer having alignment structures that define the rigid light guide layer into multiple light segments, a plurality of first layer flexible light guide films and a plurality of second layer flexible light guide films. The alignment structures may be formed together when making the rigid light guide layer in an injection molding process. By coupling multiple light sources into each of the light guides, the display may be configured to display multiple color and multiple symbols, independently. In another embodiment, the light guide may be utilized in a display apparatus without a LCD.
US08376597B2
A vehicular lamp includes a lamp outer case formed by a cover and a lamp housing; a light source disposed inside the lamp outer case; and a light guide that guides light emitted from the light source, wherein the light guide is shaped as a column. The light guide includes a first extension portion that extends on a horizontal plane side, and a second extension portion that extends on a vertical plane side with respect to a reference line that extends in a direction inclined 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. An outer surface of the light guide includes an incident surface to which light emitted from the light source is incident, an internal reflection surface that internally reflects light incident from the incident surface, and a radiation surface that is formed as an outward-convexly curved surface and radiates at least light reflected by the internal reflection surface. ρ1 is a curvature of the radiation surface in a cross section perpendicular to a direction in which the first extension portion extends, ρ2 is a curvature of the radiation surface in a cross section perpendicular to a direction in which the second extension portion extends, and ρ1 is smaller than ρ2.
US08376588B2
A gain structure of an LED tubular lamp for uniforming light and dissipating heat is disclosed. The gain structure allows the LED tubular lamp to give out even illuminance without eye-offending peak illuminance of LED chips. The LED tubular lamp has an illuminator, which includes a substrate equipped with spaced LED chips, wherein the LED chips are arranged in a density equal to or greater than 2 chips/cm2, so that the LED chips illuminate through the frosted housing jointly present pleasing, uniform illuminance. The substrate is provided with metal sheets serving to absorb heat generated by the LED chips that are illuminating, so as to accelerate heat dissipation and thereby prevent the LED chips from premature aging that degrade their brightness.
US08376583B2
A lighting and energy conservation system for low temperature applications includes LEDs as a light source. The LEDs are provided in a modular LED light fixture. The fixture includes a frame supporting a reflector having a plurality of elongated channels. Mounting strips are removably installed in each of the elongated channels, and LEDs are mounted on each of the mounting strips. Interchangeable lenses are provided over the LEDs and are removably coupled to the mounting strip by a quick-connect device. A separate multi-position power control device is associated with each of the mounting strips, so that a total light output intensity and profile of the fixture can be individually customized by any one or more of: interchanging lenses on the LEDs, interchanging mounting strips within the elongated channels, and selectively adjusting the multi-position power control device for each of the mounting strips.
US08376577B2
An LED module includes an upper housing with in internal cavity and a lower housing. At least one light emitting diode is held in the LED module and emits light into the internal cavity, which is emitted through an output port in the upper housing. An optical structure, which may be disk or cylinder shaped may be mounted over the output port and light is emitted through the top surface and/or edge surface of the optical structure. The lower housing has a cylindrical external surface, which may be part of a fastener, such as screw threads, so that the LED module can be coupled to a heat sink, bracket or frame. The light emitting diode is thermally coupled to the lower housing, which may serve as a heat spreader. Additionally, a flange may be disposed between the upper housing and lower housing.
US08376576B2
An elongated perimeter light comprising an array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power. An elongated tube is included having a lumen along its length, with the tube being substantially solid except for the lumen. A blocking element covers a lower portion of the tube along its length, with the blocking element blocking light emission from the lower portion. The array of light sources is arranged within the lumen and transmits light through the tube and from an upper surface of the tube. The tube disperses the light from the array giving the appearance that the array of light sources is a continuous light source. The array of light sources is cuttable at intervals to shorten the array while allowing the remaining light sources in the resulting cut pieces to emit light. The tube and blocking element are cuttable to match the length of the array.
US08376575B1
A light emitting diode (LED) optical system. Implementations disclosed in this document may include two or more LEDs coupled with a circuit board and two or more optics. The two or more optics may each include a first end and a second end where the second end opposes the first end and a first optical stage including the first end. A second optical stage may be included that includes the second end. The first optical stage may include a total internal reflector and the second optical stage may include an upper reflector portion located at the second end. The two or more optics may be coupled over the two or more LEDs at their first ends and the two or more optics may be coupled to each other along a portion of their first optical stages and at their second optical stages.
US08376570B2
A portable illumination system comprising distal and proximal members rotatably coupled to one another. The rotatable coupling between the members includes resistive rotational feedback across a plurality of independent rotational regions between the members. A rotational switching mechanism is configured to switch between an activated state and a deactivated state. The activated state includes an electrical coupling between an electrical power source and an electro-optical output device across a plurality of independent rotational regions between the members. The plurality of independent rotational regions of the activated state corresponds to a linear or lengthwise alignment between the distal activated indicator and the activated proximal indicator. The plurality of independent rotational regions of the resistive rotational feedback may be coordinated with the plurality of independent rotational regions of the activated state. A second alternative embodiment of the portable illumination system includes a rotational switching mechanism with an electrical switching system and an operationally independent resistance system.
US08376553B2
Provided is an image display apparatus, including: a light modulation element; an illumination optical system which includes at least one light source unit including a plurality of light emitting units two-dimensionally arranged and illuminates the light modulation element; and a projection optical system for enlarging and projecting an image of the light modulation element onto a projection surface, in which: an image of the plurality of light emitting units is imaged at a position corresponding to a stop of the projection optical system; the stop has an aperture shape of rotational asymmetry or of two-fold symmetry; and the plurality of light emitting units have illuminance intensities each independently controlled.
US08376552B2
A color wheel module includes a color disc having a plurality color filter segments, a liquid crystal ring, and a controller. Each border is defined between each two adjacent color filter segments, the borders comprising a reference border. The liquid crystal ring is positioned on the color disc to cover the color filter segments. The controller is connected to the liquid crystal ring. The controller includes a synchronizing module and a shading module. The synchronizing module obtains an central angle of the color disc between a light path perpendicularly radiating on the color disc and the border on the reference border. The shading module obtains the central angle. When the central angle is less than a preset angle, the shading module controls the liquid crystal ring to block light from passing through. Otherwise, the liquid crystal ring is controlled to allow light to pass through the color filter segments.
US08376551B2
A color combining apparatus has first, second, and third color channels, each color channel having a light source that is energizable to direct light of a corresponding first, second, or third wavelength band, respectively, toward a color combining element. The color combining element is a single piece of a solid, transparent material having at least first and second flat coated surfaces that are noncontiguous. The first coated surface is treated to reflect incident light of the first wavelength band onto an optical axis and to transmit incident light of the second and third wavelength bands. The second coated surface is treated to reflect incident light of the second wavelength band and to transmit incident light of the third wavelength band.
US08376550B2
A projection system including a light valve, a lens, an arc reflector, and an arc screen is provided. The light valve is capable of providing an image beam. The lens is disposed in the transmission path of the image beam. The arc reflector has an arc reflective surface. The arc reflective surface is disposed in the transmission path of the image beam from the lens, so as to reflect the image beam. The arc reflective surface is curved in a first direction and not curved in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The arc screen is disposed in the transmission path of the image beam reflected by the arc reflective surface. The arc screen is curved in the first direction and not curved in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A projection apparatus and an imaging module are also provided.
US08376549B2
A laser projection display and a method of compensating for image distortion of the same stereoscopic liquid crystal display device having a touch panel and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. Herein, the method includes displaying a picture including a red image, a green image, and a blue image, selecting one of the red image, the green image, and the blue image so as to perform pixel alignment of the picture, calculating pixel coordinate values x+dx and y+dy corresponding to the selected image (herein, x represents the x coordinate value prior to alignment, y represents the y coordinate value prior to alignment, dx represents a varied x coordinate value after alignment, and dy represents a varied y coordinate value after alignment), calculating distortion compensation coordinate values X′ and Y′ corresponding to the pixel coordinate values x+dx and y+dy, and mapping the distortion compensation values X′ and Y′, thereby compensating for an image distortion occurring in the selected image.
US08376547B2
An adaptive optical apparatus includes a wavelength separation unit configured to separate a beam emitted from a light source into a plurality of wavelength band beams, a plurality of light modulation units configured to modulate the respective plurality of wavelength band beams, a wavelength combining unit configured to combine the beams modulated by the plurality of light modulation units into a beam, and an illumination unit configured to illuminate a measured object with the beam output from the wavelength combining unit.
US08376534B2
An ink reservoir for a printer with an inkjet printhead includes a housing for storing a quantity of ink; an air inlet valve having a ball biased against an aperture of the air inlet valve for sealing an interior of the housing from atmosphere; an ink outlet valve having a circular valve seat and a ball for sealing against the valve seat; and a valve actuator having a sliding shaft extending between the ink outlet valve and the air inlet valve. The valve actuator opens the air inlet valve in response to the ink outlet valve opening to establish fluid communication with the inkjet printhead. The ball in the ink outlet valve is adapted to engage one end of the sliding shaft to slide the shaft towards the air inlet valve, whereat the other end of the shaft engages the ball of the air inlet valve against the bias applied thereon.
US08376532B2
A bulk ink supply system of an inkjet printer includes a connector, an ink flow path, and an on-off valve. The connector is attachable to and detachable from an ink container. The connector includes an ink guiding path formed in the connector. The ink flow path connects the ink guiding path and an inkjet head of the inkjet printer to supply an ink from the ink guiding path to the inkjet head. The on-off valve allows communication between the ink guiding path and the ink flow path when the ink container is attached to the connector and hinders communication between the ink guiding path and the ink flow path when the ink container is detached from the connector.
US08376529B2
An internal wall of a secondary chamber excluding one surface includes a flat wall portion with a secondary-chamber-side opening of the communication flow passage being formed in the center portion thereof; a conforming wall portion with which a diaphragm deformed maximally in the minus direction makes conforming contact, the conforming wall portion being connected to the outside of the flat wall portion and having an outflow opening communicating with an outflow port formed at the bottom of the conforming wall portion; and a flow passage groove extending upward from the flat wall portion to cut into the conforming wall portion.
US08376527B2
A piezoelectric element comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer which is composed of a metal oxide containing lead, zirconium and titanium and which formed above the first electrode, and a second electrode formed above the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer has negatively charged Pb—O complex defects and positively charged Pb—O complex defects, the concentration of the negatively charged Pb—O complex defects being higher than the concentration of the positively charged Pb—O complex defects.
US08376521B2
A head attachment member, in which a plurality of liquid ejection heads is attached with respect to a support drum for supporting an ejection-receiving medium, includes a plurality of head attachment parts each having a first attachment surface to which head groups are attached with the head groups each including the liquid ejection heads, and a base part having second attachment surfaces to which the head attachment parts are attached. The second attachment surfaces each having a different tilt angle. Each of the first attachment surfaces is arranged to be parallel to a tangent line which is tangent to a peripheral surface of the support drum at an intersection point of a line segment which connects the center of the support drum and the center on the first attachment surfaces between the head groups attached to the first attachment surfaces. The second attachment surfaces are integrally and continuously formed.
US08376517B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid flow passage unit that is disposed between a liquid supply source storing liquid and a head main body and that forms a part of a flow passage leading from the liquid supply source to the head main body, includes bringing a film member into contact with a protrusion formed on the edge of an opening of a flow passage for liquid formed in a main body member made of resin, so as to cover the opening with the film member, pressing the film member covering the opening toward the flow passage, so as to apply a predetermined tension to the film member, and integrally molding a sealing member by pouring resin on the edge of the tensioned film member, so as to fix the film member between the sealing member and the main body member.
US08376515B2
A printhead assembly extending in pagewidth direction includes an elongate support beam; an elongate shell at least partially enclosing and restraining the support beam; and a plurality of printhead integrated circuits mounted to the support beam and substantially aligned with one another in the pagewidth direction. The support beam has formed therein at least one printing fluid reservoir arranged in fluid communication with the plurality of printhead integrated circuits.
US08376513B2
A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer assembly defining rows of spaced apart ink supply channels; and rows of ink ejection nozzle groups extending from the wafer assembly, each nozzle group including a pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles, each ink ejection nozzle including an ink ejection head from which an elongate actuator tail extends, all of the ink ejection heads of each group being in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel. In each nozzle group, the actuator tails of one pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles extend in an opposite direction to the actuator tails of the other pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles. The actuator tails from adjacent rows of ink ejection nozzle groups are interleaved.
US08376512B2
A droplet discharge device is adapted to perform drawing of droplets of functional liquid from a functional droplet discharge head onto a workpiece in a drawing area, and to perform discharge inspection of the functional droplet discharge head in an inspection area, which is separated from the drawing area. The droplet discharge device includes a positioning stage, a flushing unit and an inspection stage disposed in this order along a common movement axis passing through the drawing area and the inspection area so that the inspection stage is disposed at a position closer to the inspection area. An image recognition device is disposed in the inspection area. A movement mechanism is arranged to move the positioning stage, the flushing unit and the inspection stage along the common movement axis. The movement mechanism is arranged to move the inspection stage independently of the positioning stage and the flushing unit.
US08376511B2
An image forming apparatus for a printer forms images by injecting inks on a printing paper being fed on a feeding path. The image forming apparatus comprises a head holder surface provided on the feeding path with being opposed to a surface of the feeding path and a plurality of ink heads for injecting inks from injection ports thereof. Here, the injection ports of the plurality of ink heads are projected outward from the head holder surface. The image forming apparatus can achieve further downsizing and multifunctional capability and improve quality of higher pixelated printed images. In addition, the image forming apparatus can prevent negative effects such as ink injection failures or defacement of printed matters due to ink mists made on injecting ink.
US08376509B2
An apparatus for wiping is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus for wiping includes a wiper arm, including a wiping end and a first track, a pin engaging the first track, a second track engaging the pin, and an appendage engaging the pin.
US08376496B2
A printing system using multiple printheads maintains color consistency between the printheads by printing a first color patch (102) with a first color with a plurality of printheads (30) at a first pressure and with a first pixel fill coverage. A second color patch (104) is printed with the first color with the plurality of printheads at a second pressure with the first pixel fill coverage. The print density of the first patch and the second patch is measured for each of the plurality of printheads and the print density for each of the plurality of printheads is compared. A pressure for each of the plurality of printheads is adjusted to compensate for differences in density between the first patch and the second patch for each of the printheads.
US08376489B2
In one embodiment, first printing is caused in response to a print job, applying ink upon a media utilizing a first row of printheads and a second row of printheads. The first row of printheads includes a plurality of printhead types. The second row of printheads is adjacent to the first row and includes at least one printhead of each of types. Failure of a first printhead within the first row is detected. The status of printheads included within the second row is analyzed. Second printing is caused applying ink upon the media utilizing the second row of printheads, and not the first row of printheads, in response to determining that printheads within the second row are operable to complete the print job.
US08376486B2
A liquid jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive waveform generator adapted to generate a drive waveform signal, a modulator adapted to execute pulse modulation on the drive waveform signal, a digital power amplifier adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal, on which the pulse modulation is executed by the modulator, with a pair of switching elements push-pull coupled with each other, a low pass filter adapted to smooth the amplified digital signal obtained by the power-amplification of the digital power amplifier, and a modulation period modification circuit adapted to modify a modulation period of the pulse modulation of the modulator based on data of the drive waveform signal.
US08376472B1
A housing has upper and lower faces, front and rear faces and side faces. A vertical bore extends through the housing between the upper and lower faces. A horizontal bore extends into the housing from the front face. The horizontal bore further extends to the vertical bore. A ball valve is positioned within the vertical bore laterally spaced from the horizontal bore. The ball valve is rotatable between open and closed orientations. A lock cylinder is located within the vertical bore. The lock cylinder has an exposed end with a keyway. The lock cylinder has an unexposed end with a connector clip. The connector clip couples the lock cylinder and the ball.
US08376471B2
Angled fiber pile brushes are anchored to a backing at a predetermined angle to the perpendicular are made by winding yarn around a flat band The pile is anchored to a backing which is disposed at the desired angle to the band The band wrapped with the pile and the backing move together along an assembly path Ultrasonic horns each have a split end, which moves perpendicular to the backing Mechanisms guide the backings and the band each include a slotted plate oπented at the requisite angle The edge of the pile wrapped band extends through the slot in the guide into contact with the backing The band and the horn move in the same, horizontal plane, thereby simplifying the construction of the assembly apparatus The wrapped yam may be slit longitudinally by a slitter in the direction o the travel to provide a pair of angled brushes.
US08376461B2
A child seat includes a main support frame, a swing frame connected pivotally to the main support frame, a seat frame connected to the swing frame and convertible between a high chair configuration and a swing configuration, a first locking mechanism including a latch disposed movably between the swing frame and the main support frame and engaged releasably with the main support frame, and a second locking mechanism including a protrusion provided on the swing frame and movable between a first position, where movement of the latch is prevented, and a second position, where movement of the latch is permitted so that the latch can move away from the main support frame, thereby converting the seat frame to the swing configuration.
US08376455B2
A seat height adjustment apparatus includes a stepped portion provided on a bottom plate of a seat and formed in a stepped configuration, an adjust member removably attached to the stepped portion and having a lower face placed on a seat rail for adjusting the height between the seat rail and the seat, and vehicle body side fixing members provided on the seat rail for abutting with an abutting portion to fix the adjust member. Upon seat height adjustment, adjustment of the seat height can be carried out simply only by replacing the adjust member to an arbitrary stage of the stepped portion. Further, since the seat height adjustment apparatus is formed from the three parts of the stepped portion, adjust member and vehicle body side fixing member, the number of parts is reduced.
US08376450B1
The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting an aerodynamic add-on device to a transport vehicle. decreasing aerodynamic drag, improving stability, and reducing road spray of a transport vehicle. The apparatus employs support posts and support cables to mount the aerodynamic add-on device, such as a trailer skirt, to a transport trailer. The apparatus and method facilitate the installation of the aerodynamic add-on device by one person and allow for the use of lighter, more cost-effective materials in the manufacture of the aerodynamic add-on device.
US08376445B2
A vehicle interior part comprises a blow molded portion that is molded in a hollow shape by a pair of resin sheets being blow molded and that includes joined portions of the pair of resin sheets, and vacuum molded portions that are molded by one of the pair of resin sheets being vacuum molded at outer sides of the blow molded portion.
US08376444B2
An integrated structural system for a vehicle is provided. The integrated structural system having a molded duct system configured to guide airflow, the molded duct system having a first section and a second section, the molded duct system configured to provide a supporting surface; and a metal structure, the metal structure integrated with the molded duct system by a means for integrating the metal structure with the molded duct system forming an integrated structural load path assembly, the integrated structural load path assembly being configured as a load bearing area to distribute a load on the supporting surface over the integrated structural load path assembly, wherein the means for integrating the metal structure with the molded duct system includes one of sonic welding, heat staking, insert molding, and gluing.
US08376443B2
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a utility vehicle that includes a cargo bed area, an adjustable seat assembly, a tailgate, and a latch. The adjustable seat assembly includes a seat portion and a backrest assembly. The adjustable seat assembly is selectively movable between seating and expanded cargo bed configurations. The seat portion is pivotally movable between the cargo bed area and a stowed position below the cargo bed area. The backrest assembly is pivotally movable from the cargo bed area to a stowed position adjacent the cargo bed area. The tailgate is pivotally attached to the backrest assembly. The latch on the tailgate is configured to selectively engage cargo bed area to hold the backrest assembly in the seating configuration and engage at least one coupling at the end of at least one of the cargo bed area at the rear bed opening.
US08376440B2
An airplane seat includes a processing unit, adapted to operate actuators, and a memory unit in which at least one comfort position transition dataset for bringing about a comfort position transition between at least two comfort positions is memorized. The processing unit, in at least one operating mode, is adapted to operate the actuators in accordance with the comfort position transition dataset for bringing about the comfort position transition.
US08376438B1
The pickup bed tool tray apparatus provides a movable, motorized tray that fits between the inner sides of a pickup bed, just below the bed top. The apparatus is therefore not in the way of storing or carrying anything in the bed. By using the control, the tray may be moved fore and aft, as needed, to best access tools and other equipment that may be carried in the tray.
US08376437B2
The present truck bed cap consists of an internal frame having a first shelf, a second shelf and a top, wherein the internal frame is connected to corner supports attached to the bed of the truck. In a first motion the top shifts vertically with respect to the internal frame. In a second motion the internal frame shifts vertically with respect to the corner supports and the bed of the truck.
US08376429B2
A pair of spring-biased pivoting levers is provided with a pair of flexible elastic grips. Each grip is contoured to conform to the surface of a jar and to elastically deform around a jar as a user squeezes the levers together. Each grip can be formed with an arcuate groove for receiving an annular rib commonly formed on canning jars.
US08376428B2
An integrated grip arm comprises a plurality of grippers to accommodate a plurality of reticles and carrier boxes without the need of separate arm or gripper changes. The integrated grip arm can comprise an edge gripper for gripping a reticle or a carrier box at the edges, and a fork gripper for gripping a reticle or a carrier box at a top and a bottom portions. The integrated grip arm can comprise an edge gripper for gripping a wafer from the edges and an end effector for holding a wafer from the bottom. The integrated grip arm can comprise a vertical gripper for gripping a workpiece from a vertical position and a horizontal gripper for gripping a workpiece from a horizontal position.
US08376424B2
A door handle assembly for an automotive vehicle including a handle chassis and a handle strap having a lever actuator. A rotatable lever in contact with the lever actuator is mounted upon a release pivot attached to the handle chassis. A cable assembly includes a sheath having a first end which is held stationary, and a flexible core attached to the rotatable lever and to a door latch. A dimension control link maintains a predetermined distance between the first end of the cable sheath and the release pivot, so as to avoid unintentional operation of the door latch which could result from a crushing load imposed upon an outer portion of a vehicle door including the door handle assembly.
US08376422B2
A door latch assembly is attachable to a door jamb. The door latch assembly includes a base member and an extension member. The base member is mountable to the door jamb. The extension member is connectable to the base member such that the extension member extends from the base member. The extension member has a door stop member and a latch cup member. The door stop member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the latch cup member so that the door stop member provides a support for the door and the latch cup member receives a latch of the door so that the door is maintained in an ajar position.
US08376417B2
A door latch apparatus for a vehicle includes a latch, a pawl, a motor, a release power transmitting mechanism, an active rotary member arranged in a standby area in a normal state, a driven rotation member rotating about a rotational shaft arranged in parallel with a rotational shaft of the active rotary member and away therefrom, a cam projection formed at the active rotary member, a cam groove formed at the driven rotation member and slidably engaging with the cam projection, the cam groove extending away from a reference line when the standby area is arranged close to one side of the rotation range and the active rotary member is positioned close to the one side of the rotation range, and a standby state detecting device detecting whether or not the active rotary member is arranged within the standby area based on a rotational position of the driven rotation member.
US08376415B2
The method of controlling unlocking of one or both side by side doors, that include providing two rotary input devices; providing a first mechanism responsive to rotation of one of the devices, to unlock one of the doors; providing a second mechanism responsive to rotation of the other of the devices to unlock both of the doors, the second mechanism operatively coupled to the first mechanism, to activate the first mechanism after predetermined rotation of the other device.
US08376409B2
The present invention relates to a security film comprising a fibrous substrate incorporated at least partially in which is a security strip that comprises at least one security element and that extends between two edges of said fibrous substrate, said security strip being made of paper and comprising an adhesive.
US08376408B2
The book consists, in a conventional way, of a series of pages, each one of them being formed by two plates of hard cardboard and an intermediate layer made of rubber foam. The cardboard plate (1) of the front side and the cardboard plate (1′) of the reverse side respectively incorporate slots (3, 3′), that describe a trajectory with the shape of an “L”, or any other appropriate trajectory. The slots (3, 3′) are intended to allow the children to introduce their fingers and move a cursor (4) that slips through a slot (5) in the rubber foam layer (2), thus making an itinerary or path for the cursor (4), that can be followed with the finger of the child through the path created by such slot (5) of the rubber foam layer (2).
US08376406B2
A pretensioner mechanism comprising webbing capable of restraining a vehicle occupant; a cylinder member into which gas is supplied when specific conditions occur; a movement member provided so as to be capable of moving inside the cylinder member, the movement member being formed with a communication hole that communicates a first side and a second side of the movement member; a closure member that is inserted into the communication hole and substantially closes off the communication hole to such an extent that pressure from the gas supplied into the cylinder member causes the movement member to move towards the first side and the restraining force of the webbing on the occupant is increased; and a communication groove formed between the communication hole and the closure member to communicate a first side of the closure member with a second side of the closure member.
US08376396B2
An airbag module for a vehicle includes a gas generator for generating a gas and a multi-chamber airbag operatively connected to the gas generator for receiving the gas. The airbag defines a first inflation chamber, at least one second inflation chamber, at least one third inflation chamber and a fourth inflation chamber. The airbag includes internal vents configured to allow selective communication between the first chamber and each of the at least one second chamber and the at least one third chamber and selective communication between the at least one second chamber and the fourth chamber. The internal vents are configured to maintain a higher pressure in selective chambers by restricting ability of the gas to escape the selective chamber. The order of internal venting between the respective inflation chambers controls the pressure and timing of inflation of the multi-chamber airbag.
US08376384B2
A wheel safeguard assembly installed on a bottom of a main body of a two-wheeled vehicle includes: two guide columns attached on respective sides of a rear end of the main body; a base disposed across the rear end of the main body and behind a rear wheel of the vehicle; two rollers pivoted on respective sides of the base; two rotatable linkages, one end of each linkage pivoted to the respective side of the rear end, and another end of each linkage pivoted to the respective side of the base adjacent to the rollers; two guide slots formed in the respective sides of the base and the guide columns disposed in respective guide slots.
US08376363B1
A game, effective for stimulating enjoyment and interaction between family and friends, the game comprising a game board, a timer, a deck of cards, five game pieces, and a set of chains wherein players are divided into teams and one player from each team is designated a chain handler, where the chain handler must use a chain to describe words drawn from one of the cards and the other players on the chain handler's team must guess the word being drawn with the chain.
US08376355B2
In a sheet discharge device, sheets are sequentially discharged by a sheet discharge roller with a leading end of each of the sheets in the lead in a sheet discharge direction and stacked on a sheet receiving tray inclining relative to a vertical direction. A sheet reverse member is disposed at such a position relative to the sheet receiving tray and the sheet discharge roller that a trailing end of a first sheet discharged by the sheet discharge roller reaches the sheet reverse member before a leading end of a second sheet discharged subsequently to the first sheet collides with the first sheet when a sheet time interval between the trailing end of the first sheet and the leading end of the second sheet is set to a minimum sheet time interval available in continuous sheet discharge in the sheet discharge device.
US08376354B2
An apparatus for feeding sheetlike items from a stack has an item feed for separating and feeding a single item from the stack. A holder receives the stack and has a platform for supporting the stack, and a first and a second side guide for guiding items in a feeding direction. The platform is movable into a feeding position in which separating and feeding of a single item is enabled and into a loading position in which the holder is able to receive a stack. A side guide adjustment mechanism is provided for moving at least one side guide toward and away from the other side guide. A drive device is operably connected to the side guide adjustment mechanism. The drive device is out of engagement with the side guide adjustment mechanism when the platform is in the feeding position.
US08376349B2
A document feeder includes a document placing portion, a pick-up roller, a pair of feed rollers, a pair of registration rollers, a document sensor, a moving mechanism, and a control portion. The pick-up roller can move between a sheet feeding position where the pick-up roller contacts with the upper surface of the document placed on a placement surface and a standby position where the pick-up roller does not contact with the upper surface of the document placed on the placement surface. The document sensor detects a document between the feed rollers and the registration rollers in a document feed direction. The moving mechanism moves the pick-up roller up and down. The control portion moves the pick-up roller up to the standby position at a timing when the leading edge of the card document reaches the document sensor in a card document mode in which card documents are successively fed.
US08376346B2
A method for producing stacks of printed sheets, including supplying the printed sheets along a conveyor, stacking the printed sheets along the stack support in an upright position, supporting the first stack via a supporting device, transferring the first stack from the supporting device to a compression device having first and second compression carriages, compressing the first stack between the first and second compression carriages, strapping the first stack, releasing and moving the first compression carriage towards a second stack subsequently formed, and transferring support for the second stack from the supporting device to the first compression carriage.
US08376327B2
A strut assembly forming an upper part of a cylinder joined to a wheel is joined to a vehicle body via an insulator and joining member, an airtight chamber space is formed by a strut cover joined to a spring body joined to a damper rod drawn from the cylinder, whereby a CDC type damper with the chamber space of which air pressure is controlled in order to vary the movement characteristic depending on movement of a tire and a damper joined to an inner space of the spring body has an urethane made damper guider having dug air channels where air moves even in a state where the damper is in close contact with the damper rod.
US08376324B2
The present invention discloses a readjustment-preventing carburetor and a method for preventing the carburetor from being readjusted. The carburetor includes an idle adjusting screw having a concave neck, an idle port and a screw hole communicating with the idle port. The idle adjusting screw is joined with the screw hole as a whole after being adjusted to a certain position, and any further adjustment will cause the concave neck to be broken off to prevent the idle adjusting screw of the carburetor from being readjusted. Additionally, the idle adjusting screw is joined with the screw hole by bonding or welding, thereby fundamentally preventing anyone from readjusting the idle adjusting screw of the carburetor and ensuring the discharge of the gasoline engine always in conformity with the requirements of environmental protection. The carburetor and the method of the present invention have the characteristics of simple process and structure, safety use and reliability.
US08376318B2
A powder including: (a) more than 92% of zircon particles; (b) 1% to 2% of silica particles having a size less than 50 microns; (c) 0.3% to 5% of particles comprising one, two, or three oxides selected from CaO, MgO, and Y2O3; (d) less than 1% of particles comprising other oxides; the powder also being such that it includes: more than 5% of zircon aggregate particles having a size greater than 1 mm; and 8% to 20% of zircon matrix particles having a size less than 15 μm and including, for more than 95% of the weight thereof, a monoclinic phase.
US08376314B2
A controllable solenoid valve having a sealed chamber that isolates the armature cavity from the function fluid or external water sources with oil or dielectric fluid and is ported to a reservoir or to a surrounding housing to maintain fluid communication with the armature cavity. The valve may also have a closed internal chamber filled with oil or dielectric fluid to maintain isolation of the armature cavity from the function fluid or other water sources. The closed chamber may also encompass the electrodes or the coil of the solenoid. In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is in fluid communication with transducers that sense fluid pressure.
US08376312B2
A flow restrictor with a first disk having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a flow path and a second disk having no flow path. The first disk and the second disk being stacked together.A mass flow controller comprising with an input, an output, a flow path, a pressure transducer and the above flow restrictor.
US08376308B2
A picture frame hanger is provided with an elongate strip having a base for mounting upon an upright support surface. The base includes at least one cavity extending inward from opposing surfaces to intersect and collectively form an aperture for receiving a fastener at an angle to one of the at least one cavities. The strip includes a series of teeth and a key along a length of the strip. A carriage is mounted for translation along the elongate strip, and includes a keyway that cooperates with the key for orienting the carriage relative to the strip. A flange is provided for receiving a picture frame support member. A latch is pivotally connected to the carriage for engaging the teeth. A user may disengage the latch from the strip for adjusting an upright position of the carriage. A method for forming the aperture of the elongate strip is provided.
US08376303B2
A support includes a base, an upper cover connected to the base, a support plate, and a base. The upper cover includes a recess for receiving a bottom of an electronic device, and two openings defined in a bottom of the recess at two opposite ends of the recess for movably receiving pressing members. A pair of pressing members are respectively moveably received in the two openings. Each of the pair of pressing members includes a protruding post rotatably connected to the base. Two elastic members arrange in the base to respectively apply a recoiling, spring force to the pressing members when compressing and releasing. When urged by an electronic device, the pressing members deflect downward to form a first receiving space; and when the electronic device is removed, the pressing members are recoiled by the elastic members and forms a second receiving space.
US08376300B2
An apparatus includes a supporting body, a rotating body assembled with the supporting body and rotating at least between a standard position and a deployed position through an intermediate position, and a biasing device for applying a biasing force to the rotating device in a direction of returning the rotating body to the standard position. A speed switching device changes a rotational speed of the rotating body from the deployed position to the intermediate position different from that from the intermediate position to the standard position in a return rotational movement of the rotating body. The speed switching device includes at least two damping devices; at least two first gears attached to the damping devices for applying damping forces of the damping devices to the rotating body; and at least two second gears formed integrally on the rotating body.
US08376291B1
A-frame carriers are used to support slabs and bundles of stone, cases of glass and many more items. A foldable and collapsible A-frame carrier, which is easily assembled for use or disassembled for storage or transport provides more effective support.
US08376288B2
A system including an overhead cable pathway structure and a cable storage device that mounts overhead to the cable pathway structure. The cable storage device including a storage spool and a cable pathway exit having a curved surface that guides excess cable exiting from the overhead cable pathway structure to the spool.
US08376284B2
Systems and methods for tracing aircraft vortices. One method includes directing a tracer from a first aircraft into a vortical flow generated by the first aircraft. The method can further include detecting a characteristic corresponding to the presence of the tracer directed into the vortical flow. Based at least in part on the detected characteristic, the method can include directing the flight of the first aircraft, or a second aircraft following the first aircraft, or both.
US08376282B2
Collapsible solar array structures are disclosed that include a collapsible structure and detachable solar array. The solar array can be detached stowed separately from the collapsible structure. The collapsible structure can include a plurality of longerons and/or support structures. Longerons can have a slit along a longitudinal length of the longeron.
US08376277B2
An integrated sensor and self defense system for large aircraft incorporates a forward looking missile warning sensor (MWS) mounted in a replacement panel for mounting in an un-pressurized aft compartment, an aft looking MWS mounted in the panel substantially adjacent the forward looking MWS, and a laser system for engaging a missile detected by an MWS mounted proximate the forward and aft looking MWS. A processor and electronics for controlling said MWS and laser systems are mounted adjacent the active components with indicators and operator control systems mounted in the aircraft cockpit.
US08376273B2
A method of braked pivot turning an aircraft, the aircraft comprising a fuselage and a landing gear assembly located to one side thereof. The landing gear comprises a bogie with wheels mounted thereon, at least one wheel being located on a first side of the bogie and at least one wheel being located on a second side of the bogie. The method includes the steps of applying thrust (7″) for moving or turning the aircraft, and via the braking of at least one wheel, applying a greater braking force to the first side of the bogie than to the second side. The first side is located closer to the center of turning of the aircraft than the second side. The method thereby generates relatively low torque loads in the landing gear leg, reducing fatigue damage. A brake control system is also provided for selectively braking wheels during a turn.
US08376271B2
An aircraft actuator is provided that can achieve a significant weight reduction, while securing a sufficient tensile strength and a sufficient buckling strength, even if it is provided with a reaction link in which large bent portions are formed. A reaction link is made of fiber reinforced plastic, and includes a pair of linear portions, a coupling portion, and a pair of bent portions. The cross section at the pair of linear portions, the coupling portion, and the pair of bent portions is formed as a hollow cross section. The outer cross sectional area of the hollow cross section at each of the pair of bent portions is configured to be larger than the outer cross sectional area of the hollow cross section at each of the pair of linear portions.
US08376261B2
An aircraft landing gear is described including a noise-reducing means. In one embodiment there is a noise-reducing element that includes an air-deflecting surface, in the form of a fairing, and a perforated airflow-reducing region. In use, some air passes through the perforations, while other air is deflected by the fairing away from a noise-generating region of the landing gear. Noise caused by the passing of the landing gear through the air is therefore reduced. In another embodiment a noise-reducing layer in the form of a mesh is supported by a skeleton structure.
US08376255B2
An adjustable grinder, includes a container, a stator, a rotor, a drum, and a rotary slide. The container can hold a product to be ground. The stator is positioned on the container. The rotor is positioned opposite to the stator and can rotate with respect to the stator. The drum is positioned around the rotor. The rotary slide includes a pointer that can be adjusted such that a distance between the stator and the rotor increases or decreases.
US08376242B1
A wireless user interface for an HVAC controller, a method of operating a wireless user interface for an HVAC controller and an HVAC system incorporating the wireless user interface or the method. In one embodiment, the wireless user interface includes: (1) a chassis having a display and at least one control button and containing a temperature sensor and wireless communication circuitry and (2) a microcontroller configured to cause the wireless communication circuitry to generate outbound data packets for wireless transmission to the HVAC controller containing temperature readings from the temperature sensor and when the at least one control button is pressed and receive inbound data packets from the HVAC controller that determine a content of the display.
US08376236B2
A contactless integrated circuit (IC) label has an IC chip and is capable of exchanging data with an external reading device without contact. The contactless IC label includes: a transparent label base material; an optical variable device formed on a lower surface of the label base material; a conductive layer bonded to and formed on a lower surface of the optical variable device, and configured to function as an antenna of the IC chip; a connecting layer electrically connected to the IC chip; an insulating layer formed between the conductive layer and the connecting layer, and configured to electrically couple the conductive layer and the connecting layer; and an impedance adjusting unit formed on at least the connecting layer of the conductive layer and the connecting layer, and configured to adjust impedances of the conductive layer and the IC chip.
US08376235B2
A blur resistant barcode is disclosed. The blur resistant barcode comprise a plurality of parallel lines and spaces where information is encoded in the barcode by variations in the thicknesses of the plurality of parallel lines and by variations in the spacing between the plurality of parallel lines. The blur resistant barcode has at least one blur resistant feature that has a thickness in an axis of motion greater than a maximum thickness of any one of the plurality of parallel lines. The axis of motion is perpendicular to the plurality of parallel lines.
US08376226B2
A system and method for interactive marketing to consumers and, more particularly, to a system and method for marketing merchandise to consumers in an interactive retail environment. The method includes detecting a disturbance in an area and sending information related to the disturbance to a back end merchandising system. The method further includes retrieving relevant information related to the detected disturbance from the back end merchandising system and displaying the relevant information on a display surface.
US08376215B2
A multiple punch and multiple die assembly has a workpiece protector which is a punch lifter that is operatively associated with each punch for supporting each of the punches in an inactive position as an active punch is moved by the ram to the active, i.e. operating position to thereby eliminate scoring or marking of the sheet material or other workpiece that is being punched. To eliminate the need for hand tools and hand assembly or disassembly, a manually moveable retainer on the punch assembly is provided that can be moved by hand between a punch-releasing and punch-retaining position for holding the punches within the multi-punch assembly during operation. To prevent stress fractures that formerly occurred in die carriers, support of each die is distributed between two different die components thereby reducing impact stress on the carrier as the ram drives the punch through the workpiece.
US08376213B2
A carton for carrying a plurality of articles and a blank for forming the carton generally include a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first bottom panel comprising a plurality of female locking openings and having opening flaps adjacent the female locking openings. The opening flaps are foldably connected to the first bottom panel at respective first arcuate fold lines. A second bottom panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. The second bottom panel comprises a plurality of male locking projections. The male locking projections are foldably connected to the second bottom panel at respective second arcuate fold lines.
US08376211B2
A blade processing fixture has first and second jaws. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw from a disengaged position for accepting a root of the blade. The blade is accepted in a receiving area between the first and second jaws. The second jaw is movable to an engaged position clamping the blade between the first and second jaws. A gas flow path extends from an inlet port to an outlet port. The outlet port is positioned to introduce gas to a blade inlet port when the blade is installed.
US08376207B2
A portion of compliant material includes four walls defining a slot. The slot has a relatively large cross-section end in fluid communication with a solder reservoir, and also has a relatively small cross-section end opposed to the relatively large cross-section end. The slot has a generally elongate rectangular shape when viewed in plan, with a length perpendicular to a scan direction, a width, parallel to the scan direction, associated with the relatively large cross section end, and a width, parallel to the scan direction, associated with the relatively small cross section end. The slot is configured in the portion of compliant material such that the relatively small cross-section end of the slot normally remains substantially closed, but locally opens sufficiently to dispense solder from the reservoir when under fluid pressure and locally unsupported by a workpiece. Methods of operation and fabrication are also disclosed.
US08376204B2
A magazine for a fastener driver includes an inner magazine including a first magazine wall and opposing sidewalls together defining a magazine chamber, and an outer magazine including a second magazine wall slidably engaged relative to the inner magazine to provide access to the chamber. The inner and outer magazines are configured so that at least one strip of fasteners is loadable into the magazine chamber upon the second magazine wall sliding relative to the inner magazine to provide the access.
US08376200B2
A trash collector for vehicles in which trash produced in the vehicles are collected and processed neatly and efficiently. The trash collector includes: a body having a space for containing trash and an opening portion; a fixing clip which is detachably installed on an inner side surface of the body; and a roll of vinyl bags which are hung on the hanging portions of the fixing clip and are successively supplied downwards in the body. Here, shield wings are formed on the inner side surface of the body and are inserted into the roll of vinyl bags to thus prevent trash from being exposed. A plurality of leaf springs extend along the opening portion, to enable the space of the body to be maintained at an opened state and with an elastic force, if flexural strengths of the leaf springs exceed threshold points of the leaf springs.
US08376199B2
A multi-function tool assembly for coupling with a users belt including a belt attachment apparatus detachably engaged with a multi-function tool. The belt attachment apparatus includes coupling structure for coupling with a user's belt and engagement structure for detachably engaging the multi-function tool. The multi-function tool is provided with belt attachment engagement structure on its rear surface for detachably engaging the engagement structure of the belt attachment apparatus.
US08376197B2
The upgraded ironing machine, particularly for ironing and drying garments, such as shirts, jackets or the like, comprises a bearing structure, a support element supported by the bearing structure and suitable for supporting a garment to be ironed, a steam or hot air supply circuit, emission means associated to the supply circuit and suitable for emitting a flow of steam or hot air for the ironing and/or drying of the garment, and suction means associated to the supply circuit for the suction and reuse during ironing and/or drying of at least a part of the flow of emitted steam or hot air.
US08376187B2
The dispensing assembly includes a cartridge having at least two containers and accessories. The fastening area (6) of the cartridge (1) and the fastening areas (9) of the accessories (4) are configured such that the accessories are attachable to the cartridge by plugging them on without a twisting motion and removable therefrom by twisting them one relative to another. In a further developed embodiment, the parts comprise coding elements which serve as aligning means and for preventing that the accessory is plugged onto the cartridge in the wrong orientation. An assembly of this kind allows an easy attachment and removal of an accessory such as a mixer or a closure cap and can be produced inexpensively.
US08376186B2
A fluid dispenser device has a container filled with two concentric squeezeable tubes that has two concentric threaded outlets. The two threaded outlets are secured to an internal cap that has fluid passages for both outlets and external threaded sections for engaging the inner shell and an outer shell. The internal cap also has two barrier members on its outer walls that engage with the inner shell's sliders that releasably engage the inner shell in its open or closed positions. The inner shell threadingly engages a conduit unit that when lowered closes the fluid passages with projecting stubs and when raised opens those passages to allow dispensation from the container. The external cap has internal splines that engages the internal cap's external grooves. When the external cap is removed, the internal cap is rotated which in turn rotates and raises the conduit unit which opens the valves. When the external cap is secured and rotated onto the internal cap's threads, the inner shell rotates which in turn lowers the conduit unit to close the valves.
US08376184B2
A device for removing condensation from an ice duct of an ice dispenser for a refrigerator. The device may include a flap, which is arranged to seal an output opening of the ice dispenser and a controller for the flap, which is designed to move the flap between a closed position, in which the inner side of the flap contacts the edge of the outlet opening and a dispensing position in which the flap is withdrawn from the edge of the outlet opening to permit the dispensing of ice cubes. Further, the controller is designed to open the flap after expiry of a first time period, during which the flap is not moved by the action of a user or by the controller and to close the flap after expiry of a second time period.
US08376178B2
The operation of certain appliances and machinery includes the flow of water through the appliance or storage of fluid within the appliance, leading to the risk of significant fluid leakage. An overflow pan may be provided beneath the appliance to contain any fluid leakage. The overflow pan may include a movable portion which is configured to permit passage of a horizontally-extending portion of the appliance, such as a drawer. This movable member may be biased to return to a closed position when the horizontally-extending portion of the appliance is retracted, so as to form a fluid-retaining seal with the remainder of the overflow pan.
US08376177B2
A container having a bottom section having a plurality of discrete compartments which may be sealed to prevent spilling or intermixing of contents including liquids in the compartments, sealing is accomplished by a lid having ribs, each of which is dimensioned to fit within the top portion of a compartment. A rib of resilient material surrounds each rib and is compressed when the lid is affixed to the bottom section. The lid carries a locking mechanism which when in the close position urges the central part of the lid toward the bottom section.
US08376165B2
A drink container with suction pipe is provided. The container comprises a container body, a cap assembly and a flexible straw; the cap assembly comprises an inner cap and a valve assembly which can open and close the passage between inside and outside of the container body by respectively extending and bending the flexible straw; and the cap assembly also comprises a venting switch assembly which comprises a venting valve hole mounted on the inner cap, a float venting valve, protrusions mounted respectively on both ends of the inner side of the slide sheet, and hollow portion mounted between two the protrusions. The float venting valve is movably mounted to the venting valve hole and comprises one or a plurality of elastic protrusions on its contact surface. When the slide sheet is in its completely open or closed position, one of the protrusions mounted on both ends of the inner side of the slide sheet is pressed against the float venting valve to press the elastic protrusion of the float venting valve to cling to the surface of the venting valve hole for waterproof sealing. Therefore, the requirement to the process dimension of assembling of the venting switch assembly in accordance with this invention is lower, and the float venting valve is easy to be replaced.
US08376141B2
A shelf-ready shipper display system having a tray portion, a hood portion, and one or more zones of weakness that enable the hood portion to be separated from the tray portion so that the shipper display system can be converted from a shipping configuration to a display configuration. In certain embodiments, the shipper display system is made from a single blank. In some embodiments, the shipper display system includes a reinforcement panel that is also capable of being separated from the tray portion as the shipper display system is converted from the shipping configuration and to the display configuration.
US08376137B2
A packaging item for packaging a toy and an ultraviolet light accessory is described. The packaging item includes a transparent packaging shell and a toy positioning packaging. The transparent packaging shell has an opening therethrough to allow for access by a user. The toy positioning packaging is positioned within the transparent packaging shell. The toy positioning packaging includes a toy packing portion and an ultraviolet light accessory portion. The toy packing portion is formed to hold both the toy and ultraviolet light accessory such that upon activation, ultraviolet light is directed from the ultraviolet light accessory onto a portion of a toy that includes a reveal pigment. Upon exposure to the reveal pigment, the reveal pigment becomes visible to reveal a unique feature of the toy. The toy is, for example, a figurine.
US08376132B2
A process and an apparatus for stocking semifinished products for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels, wherein a semifinished product is supplied on a roller conveyor along a supplying direction. Between the rollers of the conveyor at an unloading station, there are arranged arms of a lift. When the semifinished product reaches the unloading station, the arms are rotated around an axis parallel to the supplying direction in such a way as to lift the arms and slide the semifinished product by gravity on the arms along an unloading direction that is perpendicular to the supplying direction and to first ends of these arms. The semifinished product drops through gravity from the first ends onto a resting plane of a supporting bench positioned below the first ends and spaced apart therefrom.
US08376128B2
A roller for a belt conveyer. A roller tube has an engraved groove for indicating the degree to which the surface of the roller is abraded. A shaft reinforcement member is provided in one end of the roller tube, connected to a shaft disposed inside the roller tube, and rotatably coupled to the belt conveyor. A dustproof cover closes one end of the roller tube, and the shaft reinforcement member extends through the dustproof cover. A bearing housing is fitted into the dustproof cover, with a bearing thereof being rotatably coupled to the outer circumference of the shaft reinforcement member. A flat spring is fitted into the bearing housing, and elastically supports one surface of the bearing, thereby controlling expansion or contraction of the bearing. An end cap is fixedly coupled to an outer surface of the dustproof cover in order to block impurities from entering the roller.
US08376094B2
An electromechanical linear-motion actuator includes a rotary shaft, a stationary outer race member, and planetary rollers between the rotary shaft and the outer race member to rotate about their own axes and revolve around the rotary shaft axis. A helical rib is on the radially inner surface of the outer race member or the radially outer surface of the rotary shaft. A helical groove or circumferential grooves are formed in a radially outer surface of each of the planetary rollers in which the helical rib is engaged. A planetary carrier axially faces the planetary rollers, and thrust ball bearings are between the planetary carrier and the respective planetary rollers 16 for preventing rotation of the respective planetary rollers 16 from being transmitted to the planetary carrier 17. Each of the thrust ball bearings comprises a raceway formed on an axial end surface of the corresponding planetary roller.
US08376093B2
Disclosed is a disc brake capable of constantly maintaining the braking performance by preventing the eccentric abrasion of a pad upon the braking operation. The disc brake includes a disc rotating together with a wheel, inner and outer friction pads installed at both sides of the disc, respectively, a caliper housing supporting the outer friction pad, a wedge member installed at a rear side of the inner friction pad and formed at a rear surface thereof with an inclined surface, a support member fixed to the caliper housing and formed with an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surface of the wedge member, a driving device operating the wedge member for a braking operation, and a hinge unit for coupling the wedge member to the friction pad. The disc brake further includes an elastic member coupled to the wedge member and the friction pad while interposing the hinge unit therebetween.
US08376090B2
In accordance with the present invention concerning operation of an elevator, a traveling mode of the elevator is prevented if it is established that an elevator load exceeds a limit value. During normal operation, the limit value is equal to a first limit value. If it is established that a special situation is present (e.g., an evacuation situation or a peak traffic situation) the system is switched over to a special situation mode. In the special situation mode, the limit value is equal to a second limit value, which is higher than the first limit value.
US08376083B1
A collapsible hunting stand includes an observation platform preferably having a seat rotatably attached thereto. A first auxiliary support structure may be pivotally connected to the observation platform. A second auxiliary support structure may further be pivotally connected to the first auxiliary support structure and adapted to be statically affixed to the vehicle respectively. A first pair of support leg members may be pivotally mated to the observation platform and adapted to be removably attached to the vehicle respectively. A second pair of support leg members may be pivotally mated to the observation platform and removably attached to the first auxiliary support structure respectively. The first and second auxiliary support structures may be vertically aligned along a vertical axis while the first and second pairs of support leg members are obliquely offset relative to the vertical axis when the observation platform is biased to the associated raised erect position respectively.
US08376079B2
In a motorcycle in which a rear fork is swingably provided on a vehicle body frame with a power unit, a rear wheel is provided at a rear end of the rear fork, a drive shaft is provided between a gear case on a lateral side of the rear wheel and an output shaft of the power unit, and output power of the power unit is transmitted to the rear wheel through the drive shaft and the gear case. The rear fork extends along a lateral side of the rear wheel and has an arm through which the drive shaft passes. The arm has a tubular base part with a closed cross section, and a rear part with an open cross section through which the drive shaft passes. The base part has a thick-walled area at the rear end of the base part.
US08376076B2
An apparatus for storing a device for a railway vehicle, comprises a storage case having an opening at a front side, a tray accommodated into the storage case, the tray being movable forward and backward with the device mounted thereon, a lever disposed at an upper side of the tray to extend along a forward and backward direction, the lever being vertically pivotable around a pivot forward relative to a center of the tray in the forward and backward direction, an operation member coupled to a front end portion of the lever and disposed at a front side of the tray, an engagement portion provided at a rear end portion of the lever and protruding downward outside the tray, and a recess provided in the storage case, the engagement portion being fitted into the recess from above.
US08376075B2
To dispose a large battery in a saddle-ride electric vehicle equipped with a head pipe steerably supporting a front fork with the front wheel journaled to a lower end portion and a steering handlebar, a main frame extending downward and rearward from the head pipe, and an electric motor generating power for rotatively driving a rear wheel. The battery supplying electric power to an electric motor is disposed in a space S1 that is surrounded by a down frame connected to the head pipe or a front end portion of the main frame 14 and extending downward, a pivot frame connected to the rear end portion of the main frame and extending downward, and the main frame. The electric motor is disposed on a side of the rear wheel rather than in the space S1.
US08376066B2
Assemblies can be disposed in a subterranean bore. An assembly can include a surface that can divert a cutting tool for creating a branch wellbore and that can divert a completion component for completing the branch wellbore without requiring the assembly or part of the assembly from being removed from a parent wellbore prior to the completion component being diverted.
US08376060B2
An adjustable escutcheon assembly as provided for mounting a sprinkler in a sloped ceiling so that the sprinkler can be mounted parallel to the ceiling and with a refined appearance.
US08376058B2
An end cap for a well drilling screen for use in a water producing well. The end cap provides a water jet for use in inserting the screen into a layer of sand, and includes a check valve which prevents sand and particulates from entering the well tube. Also provided is a connection which allows the end cap to disengage from a drill string.
US08376053B2
The invention concerns a section of tubing or other conduit having a flow passage. The flow passage extends through the tubing and incorporates a member extending through the passage and guides which constrain a fluid flowing through the flow passage to flow around the member along a path which is longer than an axial length of the flow passage in a fluid flow direction. The guides may define an annular path. The conduit may comprise an inside wall and the guides may comprise a combination of at least one spiral channel defined along the inside wall and the member may be a sucker rod extending along the flow passage.
US08376052B2
A method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone includes forming a drainage pattern in a subsurface zone. The drainage pattern includes a plurality of cooperating bores and has a coverage area extending between the cooperating bores. Water pressure is lowered throughout the coverage area of the subsurface zone without significant subsurface drainage by producing water through the cooperating bores of the drainage pattern to the surface. Gas is produced from the coverage area of the subsurface zone with at least some of the water.
US08376046B2
A fractionation system having a fractionation manifold with a plurality of connectors in fluid communication with one another and a plurality of valves disposed adjacent the connectors for selectively flowing fluid through the manifold. The connectors define a plurality of exterior ports for communication with wellstrings and fracturing fluid sources. A primary choke in communication with a tubing string and a secondary choke in communication with a casing string can be engaged with exterior ports, the secondary choke useable as a backup choke and for inducing sandouts. The present system can achieve a flow rate of up to 80 barrels per minute, or more, using only a single manifold and single power unit, and can be wirelessly operated. System components can incorporate self-aligning, self-positioning skids, or alternatively, the system can be transported using a single skid to facilitate portability and installation.
US08376040B2
A cutting device and a method for emergency cutting of a line in a well are disclosed. The cutting device includes a tapering guide including a narrow end portion and a wide end portion for feed-through of the line, the narrow end portion being placed, when in its position of use, at a lower position than that of the wide end portion; at least one sliding block arranged axially movable within the tapering guide; at least one cutting knife connected to the sliding block and directed inwards in the tapering guide; at least one releasable holding mechanism for standby holding of the at least one sliding block at the wide end portion of the guide, and for releasing the at least one sliding block in connection with emergency cutting of the line. Upon release, the at least one sliding block will move downward in the direction of the narrow end portion of the guide where it will force its at least one cutting knife with increasing force against the line until it is cut off.
US08376039B2
According to one embodiment, a system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes a well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, and a well bore pattern connected to the junction and operable to drain fluid from a region of the subterranean zone to the junction.
US08376030B2
A system for heating includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger receives hot exhaust from combustion. The heat exchanger uses the heat from the hot exhaust to heat a fluid. A method for heating uses a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger receives hot exhaust and a fluid. The heat exchanger heats the fluid.
US08376018B2
A tyre-changing machine including a chuck having a self-centring group for blocking a rim of a wheel. The self-centring group includes blocking jaws of the rim arranged angularly equidistanced along a circumference centred on a rotation axis of the chuck, and links and a jack for moving for radially distancing and nearing the blocking jaws with respect to the rotation axis of the chuck to vary a diameter of the circumference on which the blocking jaws are arranged while maintaining an inclination of each blocking jaw constant with respect to the rotation axis of the chuck. Each blocking jaw includes a first portion that is connected to the links, and a second portion that is movably coupled to the first portion such as to be able to change an overall development of the blocking jaw in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis of the chuck.
US08376013B2
A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.
US08376012B2
In a component press-bonding apparatus including a press-bonding tool for press-bonding a component, which is placed on a panel, to the panel via a sheet, the press-bonding tool is provided so as to be movable in a first direction (X-axis direction) orthogonal to a press-bonding direction. The component press-bonding apparatus has a sheet conveyance unit comprising: a feed reel which feeds a sheet in a second direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the press-bonding direction and the first direction and which is movable in the first direction; a path member which forms a sheet path extending from the feed reel in the second direction and reaching the press-bonding tool and which is movable in the first direction; and a feed roller for feeding the sheet in the second direction. The feed roller is removably fitted to the sheet conveyance unit.
US08376008B2
The present invention provides a run-flat tire that can improve both of ride quality and run-flat performance. The run-flat tire of the present invention comprises a sidewall-reinforcing layer prepared by using a rubber composition comprising non-metallic short fibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 to 100 μm and an average fiber length of 0.1 to 20 mm in an amount of 5 to 120 parts by weight on the basis of 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber, the non-metallic short fibers being oriented in the circumferential direction of the tire.
US08376004B1
A spill-stopping device for a chemical drum featuring a boot assembly; a shroud with an aperture disposed on the first end of the boot assembly, the aperture is adapted to accept a shaft of a filling machine; a spout disposed in the second end of the boot assembly, the spout is adapted to snugly fit into chemical drum aperture in a lid of a chemical drum and accept a shaft of a filing machine; a double-door assembly pivotally attached in the spout via hinges, the double-door assembly can move between at least an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the spout from the boot assembly; and counterweights attached to each hinge and extending upwardly into the boot assembly, the counterweights function to bias the double-door assembly in the closed position.
US08376002B2
In the case of an apparatus for filling tubular or bag-shaped packagings with a paste-like product, said apparatus including a fill pipe (1) and a holder for a casing brake that is arranged at the fill pipe (1), the pull-off movement is effected by means of a pivoting and pulling movement when the fill pipe (5) is pivoted away. This means that the casing brake is able to assume three sturdy positions in relation to the fill pipe (5) whilst not taking up much space and is able to be removed from the pipe (5) in a simple manner for changing a packaging tube.
US08375992B2
A solenoid operated valve and method of assembly characterized by a threaded connection between the pole piece (69) and the cage (11), the threaded connection (75) including a first threaded connecting portion fixed in relation to the pole piece and a second threaded connecting portion fixed in relation to the cage and in threaded engagement with the first threaded portion such that relative rotation of the first and second threaded portions would vary the axial spacing between the proximal end of the pole piece and the valve seat (38) over a range of adjustment; and an anti-rotation device interposed between the first and second threaded connecting portions for locking the first and second threaded connecting portions against relative rotation to fix the axial spacing between the proximal end of the pole piece and the valve seat within such range of adjustment, which axial spacing regulates the maximum pressure that can be supplied to the control port (25).
US08375984B2
A pressure relief valve having a plurality of selectable, preset relief pressure settings for use in connection with hydraulic equipment. The pressure relief valve includes a manifold and a barrel fastened to the manifold. The manifold includes a chamber that houses a relief valve cartridge assembly, which includes a poppet valve. The barrel includes, a plurality of chambers, each of which houses a separate and distinct relief pressure load adjustment assembly, which includes a spring-loaded ball that engages the poppet valve. Each of the assemblies may be independently adjusted and preset to a desirable relief pressure load setting, which may be different from one another. The barrel is rotated relative to the manifold until the chamber housing the assembly that has the desired preset relief pressure load aligns with the chamber of the manifold, and, in turn, with the poppet valve.
US08375977B2
A ball valve with single access port includes a ball valve body; a ball disposed inside the ball valve body, the ball having an open inside portion creating a primary passage, an operating position of the ball determining the flow of fluid and pressurized cleaning agent through the valve; a secondary passage configured to allow the flow of the pressurized cleaning agent into the open inside portion of the ball and an access port allowing an external source of the pressurized cleaning agent to be coupled to the ball valve.
US08375975B2
The invention relates to the field of load sensing, flow sharing directional control valves for controlling an operating machine, such as an excavator. The directional control valve of the present invention is particularly characterized by the addition of at least one element (E4) wherein the provision of a bore (16) and the replacement of components (30), (50), (M1) with a compensator (9), having a spring (14) operating on one side thereof (9a), and a piston/load sensing signal selector (8) impart to this single element (E4) the feature of non participating in flow-rate reduction under saturation conditions, while preserving the feature of maintaining a constant flow-rate to the user, irrespective of the variation of the load.
US08375965B2
Inventive methods and systems of cleaning patterned integrated circuit (“IC”) substrates are described. The cleaning methods of the present invention include: (1) providing the patterned integrated circuit substrate having thereon poly silicon lines adjacent to each other; (2) charging a solution, which contains at least a solute selected to promote cleaning of the patterned integrated circuit substrate, to produce a charged solution, wherein at least a portion of the solute is present as clusters in the charged solution; and (3) conveying the charged solution for cleaning the patterned integrated circuit substrate.
US08375959B2
The invention relates to a smoking article incorporating a smoking material comprising three main components, namely a non-combustible inorganic filler, an alginic binder and aerosol generating means. The smoking material is combined with tobacco material, which may be treated with additional humectant, to provide a smoking article that has an aerosol transfer efficiency ratio of greater than 4.0.
US08375956B2
An orientation method for corrective eye surgery that registers pairs of eye images taken at different times and with the patient in different positions includes retrieving reference digital image data on an eye of the patient, including image data on an extracorneal eye feature. Real-time image data are collected that include image data on the extracorneal eye feature. A combined image is displayed of a superposition of the data sets, and a determination is made as to whether the combined image indicates an adequate registration between them based upon the extracorneal eye feature data in the two data sets. If the registration is not adequate, one of the data sets is manipulated until an adequate registration is achieved. A system is directed to apparatus and software for orienting a corrective program for eye surgery.
US08375954B2
The present invention relates to intra oral devices for treating overweight and obesity by reducing and/or limiting the mouth opening “and/or slowing down the rate of chewing and more specifically to such devices handled by the user with or without the need for professional help, a method and use thereof. Said intra oral device of the present invention consists of a restraining device (8) which is being anchored in the upper and lower jaws, consisting of an elastic element which is inserted into two respective inter-proximal spaces (IPSs) of said upper and said lower jaws and reduces and/or limits the mouth opening and/or slows down the rate of chewing.
US08375952B2
A system for unilateral lung ventilation includes an endotracheal tube and a blocking device for blocking the bronchus of a non-ventilated lung to prevent a ventilation medium from entering the lung. The blocking device includes an inflatable member supported by a catheter having an inflation lumen for inflating the inflatable member. The catheter includes at least one lung treatment lumen for delivering a therapeutic agent to the non-ventilated lung. An inner channel within the main channel and a side branch provide a guideway for the blocking device within the tube. A valve may be included to close the side branch when the blocking device is removed from the inner channel for parallel flow of ventilating gas in the main and inner channels. A method of using the system provides for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) matching by respectively delivering cooled air and nitric oxide to the non-ventilated and ventilated lungs.
US08375950B2
A personal respiratory protection device that comprises a multilayer body including a stiffening layer, filter media layer(s) and inner or outer cover layer(s). The mask body includes a central portion between first and second portions, the central portion being defined by a fold, bond, weld, seam, or combination thereof and having a width of about 160 to 220 mm and a height of about 30 to 110 mm. The device is capable of being folded flat for storage with the first portion in at least partial face-to-face contact with a surface of the central portion and the second portion contacting a surface of the first portion. When unfolded for use the device is capable of forming a cup-shaped off the face air chamber over the nose and mouth of a wearer.
US08375931B2
A compressed gas firearm is capable of firing either cartridges filed with pellets, or solid unitary projectiles. The firearm includes a barrel that is hinged to the butt so that cartridges or an adapter can be inserted into the end of the barrel. A compressed gas chamber in the butt is capable of releasing compressed gas against the rear of the cartridge or adapter to fire the pellets or the unitary projectile. When the adapter is inserted into the barrel, a projectile can then be inserted into the adapter before the barrel is closed for firing. Indentations may be formed in the rear of the barrel to facilitate removal of the cartridges or adapter.
US08375918B2
An example lubricant supply device for an auxiliary machine of an engine includes a cam formed at one end of a cam shaft rotatably supported by a cylinder head. The lubricant supply device further includes a housing, for storing the auxiliary machine, attached to an attaching surface formed at an end of the cylinder head. The housing may hold a driven member driven by the cam. The lubricant supply device may further include a lubricant hole formed on the attaching surface through which lubricant is supplied from a lubricant passage formed in the cylinder head to the cam storage space. The lubricant supply device may further include a metal gasket positioned between the attaching surface and the housing to seal the cam storage space and outside. The metal gasket has a hole for communicating with the lubricant hole and a slit communicating between the hole and the cam storage space.
US08375912B2
An engine control system and method includes an air conditioner compressor operatively connected to an engine for generating a counter torque to the engine and when actuated. An ECU is operatively connected to the compressor. The ECU actuates the compressor when the engine is turned off, engine speed of the engine is less than a predetermined engine speed, and an engine rotational position is within a predetermined range of top dead center for the engine.
US08375910B2
An anti-rotation device (1) for a coupling piston (2) in a switchable component (3) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the component (3) including two parts (4, 5) that are movable relative to each other. The coupling piston (2) is displaced into a bore (6) of one of the two parts (4) for achieving uncoupling, and the coupling piston (2) comprising, at least on one side (8), a flattened portion (9) starting from a front end (7) of the coupling piston (2) facing another one of the two parts (5), through which flattened portion (9), during a relative movement of the two parts (4, 5), the coupling piston (2) is displaced onto an entraining surface (11) arranged on the another one of the two parts (5) for achieving coupling, the anti-rotation device (1) being configured as a fractional region of an opening (13) of the bore (6) on a bridge component spanning the one part (4), and the coupling piston (2) being guided through its flattened portion (9) on a bowstring-like transverse surface (14) of the bridge component.
US08375905B2
A valve train for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft, a valve-operating cam for operating an engine valve, and a link mechanism for swinging the valve-operating cam. The valve train also includes a holder member operable to turn around the camshaft, and a drive mechanism operable to turn the holder member for varying positions of the link mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a ball screw provided perpendicularly to the camshaft, a slider threadably engaged with the ball screw, an arm member swingably attached to the slider, and a connecting bolt having one end secured to an arm-connecting portion of the arm member, and the other end secured to the holder member. In such movable valve train for an internal combustion engine, the holder member and the drive mechanism are connected to each other with a small and lightweight configuration, requiring a minimal number of parts.
US08375901B2
A valve plate cover/lead frame unit of a lifter oil manifold assembly used in cylinder deactivation systems to direct engine oil to valve lifters including a body including a pattern of passages that in cooperation with a pattern of passages included in the valve plate form oil galleries for distributing the engine oil, an electrical connector and an electrical lead frame terminating the electrical connector integrated into the body, and a plurality of connector terminals incorporated into the body, wherein the electrical lead frame electrically connects each of the connector terminals with the electrical connector.
US08375898B2
A heat exchanger of a non-condensing storage type boiler for preventing condensation is provided. The heat exchanger include a heating water outflow port installed on an upper portion of the boiler, a heating water inflow port installed lower than the heating water outflow port, and an internal pipe extending spirally from the heating water inflow port and being installed in a water tube of the boiler. The internal pipe is connected to an extension pipe that extends through a re-entry outlet passing through a wall of the boiler to be connected with a re-entry inlet.
US08375895B2
The present invention provides an animal litter container that is easy to clean and to maintain in a clean and sanitary condition. In one embodiment, the litter container includes at least two substantially identical container units correspondingly configured to nest together to form the litter container. Each container unit includes an inner bowl section that holds litter material and has a winged two part casing hinged to rotate between an open position in which the litter material is exposed and accessible to an animal desiring to use the litter container and a closed position forming a pod in which the litter is completely covered. A strainer plate or filter is provided to separate reusable litter from soiled litter for disposal. A second embodiment provides a base element and a correspondingly configured removable litter container element with a winged casing that is similar to that of the first embodiment.
US08375887B2
The invention includes a lower guide unit which obliquely extends downward to an outside from a position closely opposed to a peripheral edge portion of a rear surface of the substrate held on the substrate holding unit, and is formed in an annular shape in a circumferential direction of the substrate; and an upper guide unit which has an upper end surface located at a substantially same height as a front surface of the substrate held on the substrate holding unit, forms a lower annular flow path between the upper guide unit and the lower guide unit for guiding downward together with a gas flow a treatment solution scattering from the substrate, is formed in an annular shape opposed to the lower guide unit to surround an outside lower region of the substrate, and has an inner peripheral surface having a longitudinal-sectional shape curved to bulge outward and extending downward.
US08375885B2
A system and method for providing adhesive to a pre-formed blister tray having shoulders and recesses between the shoulders, the system having at least one pallet, each pallet of the at least one pallet having with holes to accommodate recesses within the blister tray and support for the shoulders of the blister tray; a pallet loading station for loading the pallet with the pre-formed blister tray; a printer unit for printing adhesive to the shoulders of the blister tray; a drying station for drying the adhesive; and an unloading station for unloading blister trays with adhesive printed on the shoulders thereof. Further a pallet for use in the system.
US08375876B2
A marine vessel, and a system and method of using the marine vessel, to facilitate the introduction of bulk liquid commodities, such as LNG, into the established and extensive worldwide intermodal transportation system, which is based on containerized shipments. The marine vessel is a specialized vessel, of either ship or barge form, that is capable of holding a large number of ISO-sized intermodal LNG tanks and is configured so as to have at one and the same time characteristics of both a tanker vessel (e.g., a gas carrier) and a container vessel. The intermodal LNG tanks connect to a piping system of the marine vessel and are thereby interconnected in such a manner that allows the interconnected intermodal LNG tanks to behave as if they constitute a typical LNG vessel bulk liquid tank to facilitate efficient loading at a typical marine LNG terminal. The containerized intermodal LNG tanks are capable of discharging liquids to a marine terminal as if in a bulk mode, or of being disconnected from the common interconnection system to allow lift-off discharge of the intermodal LNG tanks at a typical cargo container port so that the intermodal LNG tanks can enter the existing intermodal transportation system for further distribution to the end user by other marine vessels, over-the-road truck, or by rail.
US08375875B2
An LNG carrier having an LNG loading and unloading system includes a submerged turret loading (STL) system for introducing and discharging a natural gas; a liquefaction plant for liquefying the natural gas introduced through the submerged turret loading system into a cryogenic liquefied natural gas; at least one self-supporting storage tank installed in the LNG carrier for storing the liquefied natural gas, the self-supporting storage tank arranged in such a manner that the liquefied natural gas is loaded to and unloaded from the LNG carrier through the self-supporting storage tank; and at least one membrane type storage tank arranged in a neighboring relationship with the self-supporting storage tank, the membrane type storage tank kept in fluid communication with the self-supporting storage tank. The LNG carrier further includes a regasification plant for regasifying the liquefied natural gas stored in the self-supporting storage tank.
US08375870B2
A detachable table device includes a foldable leg device detachably connected to a table top and operable to support the table top when in an extended state and to separate from the table top when in a folded state. A circumferential portion of the table top has an inner annular surface formed with a radially and outwardly extending annular engaging groove. The leg device includes a pivot unit for interconnecting at least three leg members such that the leg members are pivotable relative to the pivot unit to be angularly equidistant when the leg device is in the extended state, and to be moved toward each other when the leg device is in the folded state. Each leg member includes an engaging end portion disposed movably in and engaging releasably the engaging groove in the circumferential portion of the table top.
US08375858B2
A fireworks launching stand comprises a post, a cap attached to a top of the post, and at least one horizontal arm attached to the cap. The horizontal arm can be tilted. Fireworks tubes suitable for use with rockets and/or Roman candles are attached to the horizontal arm. The use of the stand reduces the risk of injury to the user due to improper handling of lit fireworks.
US08375850B2
A pressure gauge where a main wheel (11) is rotated to raise and lower the upper one of two horizontal feed rollers of a laminating machine so that the pressure applied by the rollers is the same in successive operations. A mark on an indexing wheel (14), which rotates with the main wheel (11), is brought into alignment with a mark on the casing (10) of the machine. The outer ring (14) of the indexing wheel is manually rotatable relative to its inner ring (13), but is held in frictional contact with the main wheel (11) by compression springs (17).
US08375848B2
A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking chamber for cooking food product. A rotor is used for supporting and moving a food product in the cooking chamber. A sump is positioned below the cooking chamber that collects water provided to the cooking chamber. A sensor is positioned to detect when the sump is filled to a set level. An inlet valve is configured to control supply of water to the cooking chamber. A controller is configured to carry out a self-cleaning process. The self-cleaning process includes (a) a pre-rinse phase where the controller (i) opens the inlet valve, (ii) closes the inlet valve when the sensor detects that the sump is filled to the set level, and (iii) determines a duration of time that the inlet valve was open during (i), and (b) a later phase during which the controller opens the inlet valve for an amount of time based on the duration of time determined during (a)(iii).
US08375834B2
A die assembly having a guide rod that includes a lower rod which is fixedly placed on a stripper plate which guides a punch for engagement with a lower die and an upper rod which is placed removably on the stripper plate for engagement with an upper die. When punching a material for punching, the upper rod is removed from the stripper plate so as to put the upper plate and the stripper plate in a disconnected state, i.e., so that the stripper plate is made free to move backwards and forwards relative to the lower die by the lower rod. When the material for punching is not punched, the upper rod is attached to the stripper plate so as to put the upper die and the stripper plate in a connected state by the upper rod, so that the stripper plate is held on to the upper die.
US08375830B1
A ratchet wrench includes a main body provided with a driving gear and a driven gear and having a receiving groove disposed with ratchet teeth on the inner wall. The driving gear is ball-shaped and has the outer wall of each gear tooth forming an arc-shaped surface, and a concave surface is formed between every two gear teeth of the driven gear to match the arc-shaped surface of the gear teeth of the driving gear. Each gear tooth of the driven gear is provided with plural ratchet teeth to be engaged with the ratchet teeth of the receiving groove. An interaction member is received inside the driven gear, having one end connected with an orientating member and another end positioned on a cover plate. A pressing piece is fixed on the interactive member and a spring is positioned between the pressing piece and the interactive member.
US08375829B2
A wrench includes a handle, a yoke, a shaft, a head, a mandrel, a first transmitting unit and a second transmitting unit. The shaft includes a first section securely connected to the handle and a second section rotationally inserted in the yoke. The head is pivotally connected to the yoke. The mandrel is inserted through the head. The first transmitting unit can be used to transmit a small torque to the mandrel from the handle spun relative to the yoke. The second transmitting unit can be used together with the first transmitting unit to transmit a large torque to the mandrel from the handle pivoted together with the yoke.
US08375828B2
A power driven ratchet wrench includes a handle, a working portion and a switch portion. The working portion includes a yoke, a ratchet head and a socket. The yoke is disposed on the handle and defines a receiving space therein, and it has a first through hole. The ratchet head is coupled with a transmission element and has a third through hole corresponding to the first through hole. The ratchet head is swayable about an axis of the socket. The switch portion includes a switching button and an engaging unit. The engaging unit stops the socket from relatively rotating in a first direction as the switching button locates at a first switch position. The engaging unit stops the socket from relatively rotating in a second direction as the switching button locates at a second switch position.
US08375827B2
A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm including a front side surface and a back side surface. The crank arm has a crank axle mounting portion with a crank axle receiving opening defined by an axle coupling structure. The axle coupling structure at least includes a plurality of full length splines and at least one short spline. The full length splines extends completely in an axial direction of the crank axle receiving opening from a first axial end edge to a second axial end edge. The short spline extends in the axial direction with a truncated end positioned adjacent one of the first and second axial end edges such that the at least one short spline does not extend completely from the other of the first and second axial end edges to the one of the first and second axial end edges.
US08375826B1
A rotary element and a rotary element balancing system of a combine harvester. The rotary element includes a rotary member that rotates during operation and one or more blade mount assemblies. The rotary element also includes one or more auto-balance assemblies mounted to the rotary member to compensate for a mass offset on the rotary element due to the one or more blade mount assemblies being dislodged or broken. The one or more auto-balance assemblies include one or more tracks and one or more spheres located inside the one or more tracks and in contact with first and second bearing race edges. Loads are transferred from at least one of the first bearing race edge and the second bearing race edge, when the rotary member rotates, to the one or more spheres that self-align within the track to compensate for the mass offset on the rotary element.
US08375818B2
A yoke for use in a rack and pinion steering assembly is described. The yoke may include a bearing surface that provides a low coefficient of friction, allowing for a greater biasing force against the rack shaft. The materials and design of the yoke can provide for a quieter system with reduced vibration.
US08375809B2
A method for determining a load on a driven component of a rotating or stationary electromechanical system includes locating a rotationally flexible shaft portion in operable communication with a driving component having a drive rotor rotable about an axis and the driven component. The shaft portion is operably connected thereto. Angular positions of the drive rotor and the driven component are determined. A magnitude of a load on the driven component is calculated based on a difference in angular position of the drive rotor and the driven component and a known torsional rigidity of the shaft portion.
US08375806B2
An electrode for a magneto-inductive flow measuring device for determining volume flow of an electricity conductive medium flowing through a measuring tube. The measuring tube, or at least a portion of it which comes in contact with the medium, is not electrically conductive; wherein the electrode exhibits an electrode shaft and an electrode head. The electrode head contacts the medium, and the electrode shaft exhibits frustoconically shaped sealing lips arranged one after the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the electrode. The electrode shaft is pressed into a bore in the wall of the measuring tube. The maximum diameter of the sealing lip nearest the electrode head is greater than the diameter of the bore, and, at least in a part of the electrode shaft, the maximum diameter of any following sealing lip is greater than the maximum diameter of the preceding sealing lip.
US08375789B2
A MEMS gyroscope includes: a microstructure having a fixed structure, a driving mass, movable with respect to the fixed structure according to a driving axis, and a sensing mass, mechanically coupled to the driving mass so as to be drawn in motion according to the driving axis and movable with respect to the driving mass according to a sensing axis, in response to rotations of the microstructure; and a driving device, for keeping the driving mass in oscillation with a driving frequency. The driving device includes a discrete-time sensing interface, for detecting a position of the driving mass with respect to the driving axis and a control stage for controlling the driving frequency on the basis of the position of the driving mass.
US08375787B2
A rotation rate sensor includes a substrate having a main extension plane, and a Coriolis element movable relative to the substrate, the Coriolis element being provided to be excitable to perform an oscillation deflection substantially parallel to the main extension plane; and the Coriolis element further being provided to be deflectable, by way of a Coriolis force acting on the Coriolis element, to perform a detectable Coriolis deflection perpendicular to the main extension plane; and the rotation rate sensor further including at least one compensation electrode that is provided for at least partial compensation, as a function of the oscillation deflection, for a levitation force acting on the Coriolis element.
US08375785B2
A method and apparatus for an improved gravity gradiometer are disclosed.
US08375772B2
An object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy in analysis repeatability of a liquid chromatography apparatus that feeds different eluent by use of a plurality of pumps and achieves the mixture of eluent.Each of the pumps includes means for notifying an automatic sampler and a higher-level control unit that the specified timing of a liquid feeding cycle is reached. A pump whose liquid feeding cycle is the slowest transmits own information so that analysis is synchronized with a liquid feeding cycle. Moreover, a cycle position of a liquid feeding cycle at the end of analysis is expected, and the analysis time is automatically adjusted so that the wait time until the start of the next analysis becomes the shortest.
US08375760B2
A method of making wire has the steps of rolling out a wire in a mill having a finishing stand from which the wire exits at a predetermined and varying travel speed VD, pulling the wire through a cooling/equalizing stretch downstream in a travel direction from the finishing stand by means of a cooler drive at a downstream end of the finishing stretch such that the wire exits the cooler drive substantially at the travel speed VD, passing the wire through a looping stretch downstream of the cooler drive to a looper drive, operating the looper drive at such a speed that the wire forms a loop between the cooler drive and the looper drive and exits the looper drive at a looper speed VT normally different from the travel speed VD, and forming the wire into turns and depositing the turns as a coil downstream of the looper drive.
US08375736B2
A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a condenser, a pressure-reducing mechanism, an evaporator, an orifice provided in a refrigerant flow path from the compressor to the pressure-reducing mechanism, a differential pressure sensor that detects the differential pressure before and after the orifice, a refrigerant flowrate calculating portion that calculates a refrigerant flowrate based on the differential pressure, and a torque estimating portion that estimates the torque required to drive the compressor based on the refrigerant flowrate calculated by the refrigerant flowrate calculating portion, the intake pressure of the compressor, and the discharge pressure of the compressor.
US08375731B2
Disclosed are an integrated wiring module for a refrigerator which is capable of simplifying the wiring of a refrigerator by integrating the various power lines and signal lines conventionally necessary to control a refrigerator into only one line, and a refrigerator having a simplified wiring structure adopting the same. The refrigerator includes integrated wiring modules provided at a refrigerator door connected to a main body board and to each actuator means, wherein the integrated wiring modules are connected to each other only through AC power lines so as to control the door and the respective actuator means, thereby being capable of achieving a door-side zero clearance and sliminess by simplifying the wiring within the refrigerator, reducing an error rate or failure rate which may arise due to the wiring, enhancing the insulating effect by reducing the number of wirings passing through insulation, and reducing the size of a main body board of the refrigerator to thereby increase the capacity of the inner space as by much as the reduced size.
US08375722B2
An apparatus and method for inducing waves within a container arranged to permit a through-flow of fluid flowing generally from an inlet of the container to an exit of the container, wherein the container has wave inducing means located at the exit of the container, the wave inducing means being operable to vary the area of the exit thereby inducing waves within the container. The apparatus may form part of a combustor test rig.
US08375716B2
A method and system for generating electrical power for sub-sea applications includes assembling each of the main components (132, 138, 142, 146) of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system (100) inside a pressure vessel to form a series of vessels (104, 106, 108, 110) removably connected to one another and configured to be placed near, on or below a sea floor. The main components of the ORC system include an evaporator (132), a turbine (138), a condenser (142) and a pump (146). A working fluid (135) is circulated through the pressure vessels in order to generate mechanical shaft power that is converted to electrical power (P). In some embodiments, the ORC system includes at least one redundant component that corresponds to one of the main components. The working fluid may be circulated through at least one redundant ORC component such that the ORC system is able to continue operating when one of more of the main components is not operating properly. A control system (148) is used to monitor operation of the main components and at least one redundant ORC component. In some embodiments, at least one redundant ORC component is housed in a pressure vessel with its corresponding main component. In other embodiments, at least one redundant ORC component is housed in a separate pressure vessel.
US08375711B2
An improved vacuum material handler having an onboard drive engine powering a vacuum pump and a hydraulic pump. The vacuum material handler also having a frame with integrated forklift lugs.
US08375706B2
A technique is provided which is capable of completing SOx poisoning recovery control on a NOx storage reduction catalyst in a shorter period of time. In the course of the SOx poisoning recovery control, the degree of decrease of a SOx release speed resulting from a decrease in an amount of SOx occlusion of the NOx catalyst (the degree of decrease of the SOx release speed (Ddw)) with respect to that at the time of start of the SOx poisoning recovery control is estimated. In accordance with the increasing degree of decrease of the SOx release speed (Ddw), a catalyst bed temperature (Tc) is caused to rise up to a higher side target temperature (Tct), and at the same time an exhaust gas air fuel ratio (A/F) is caused to lower up to a richer side target air fuel ratio (A/Ft), whereby the SOx release speed Vsox during the SOx poisoning recovery control is suppressed from lowering.
US08375705B2
An exhaust control system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust control system may have an exhaust passage configured to receive a flow of exhaust from the combustion engine, a particulate filter located within the exhaust passage, and an oxidation catalyst located upstream of the filter. The oxidation catalyst may be configured to promote regeneration of the particulate filter and may have an activation temperature range. The exhaust control system may also have a heating device located to selectively warm the oxidation catalyst to within the activation temperature range, and a controller in communication with the combustion engine and the heating device. The controller may be configured to detect a loading of the particulate filter exceeding a first loaded threshold amount, and to detect a low temperature condition of the combustion engine. The controller may further be configured to activate the heating device to warm the oxidation catalyst when the loading of the particulate filter exceeds the first loaded threshold amount during the low temperature condition and until the loading of the particulate filter is reduced below a second loaded threshold amount.
US08375703B2
An exhaust gas purification device is capable of diffusing and introducing a reducing agent into a NOx catalyst arranged in a downstream side exhaust gas passage. A housing of the device includes a main body in which an upstream side exhaust gas passage and the downstream side exhaust gas passage are housed, and a cap attached to a first surface of the main body provided with an outlet side opening of the upstream side exhaust gas passage and an inlet side opening of the downstream side exhaust gas passage. At least one of the first surface of the main body and a second surface in the cap which faces the first surface includes a guide portion, for guiding an exhaust gas flow, and a reducing agent diffusion portion, for facilitating mixing of the reducing agent with the exhaust gas.
US08375698B2
A method for reducing the vibration levels likely to occur, in a turbine engine including a first and a second bladed disk forming a propfan of contrarotating disks, when the two disks are traversed by a gaseous fluid, because of the turbulence of aerodynamic origin generated by the second bladed disk on the first bladed disk is disclosed. The method includes defining an initial configuration of the blades, calculating the synchronous forced response on the first bladed disk as a function of the harmonic excitation force generated by the second bladed disk expressed as a linear function of the generalized aerodynamic force for the mode in question; for stacked sections of one of the two disks, determining a tangential geometric offset value θ of the individual aerodynamic profile to reduce the term corresponding to the generalized aerodynamic force; and applying a new configuration to the blades.
US08375696B2
The present application provides a dual gas fuel delivery system and a method of delivering two gas fuels. The system may include (a) a low energy gas delivery system comprising a low energy gas inlet, a gas split, a low energy gas primary manifold outlet, and a low energy gas secondary manifold outlet; (b) a high energy gas delivery system comprising a high energy gas inlet and a high energy gas primary manifold outlet; (c) a primary manifold; and (d) a secondary manifold, wherein the low energy gas primary manifold outlet and the high energy gas primary manifold outlet are coupled to the primary manifold, wherein the low energy gas secondary manifold outlet is coupled to the secondary manifold, and wherein the low energy gas delivery system further comprises a primary low energy gas stop and pressure control valve between the gas split and the low energy gas primary manifold outlet.
US08375690B2
A pollen harvesting machine having a motorized chassis on which there are mounted heads for harvesting pollen by suction, which heads are connected by a suction circuit to a separation cyclone, which is connected to a suction fan. The separation cyclone is associated with a pollen recovery hopper. Each head comprises an assembly of a suction hood which has a generally frustroconical portion, which widens between an upper opening which is connected to the remainder of the suction circuits of the machine, and a polygonal base.
US08375685B2
An improved method and apparatus is used with a group of bales. The group of bales is gripped with a bale handling apparatus. A flexible strip is positioned around the group of bales. The group of bales is then moved while the group of bales is gripped by the bale handling apparatus and while the flexible strip extends around the group of bales. The flexible strip is positioned relative to the group of bales by a positioning member which is connected with the bale handling apparatus.
US08375684B2
An apparatus for closing containers includes a movable closing head for applying closures to the containers and is arranged in the interior of a sterile chamber of the apparatus and arranged to move in a longitudinal direction (L) of the containers to be closed. At least one wall is provided which delimits the sterile chamber, wherein the closing device is arranged on a carrier which is arranged partially inside the sterile chamber and partially outside the sterile chamber, and extends through the wall and moves in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the wall. Arranged in the interior of the sterile chamber is a first sealing element which is elastic in the longitudinal direction (L) and which seals off from the sterile chamber a region of the outer periphery of the carrier.
US08375677B1
An insulated concrete wall structure having integral T-beam supports is fabricated onsite by pouring uncured concrete into spaced apart forms that define a wall cavity. Within the wall cavity are a plurality of insulation panels so positioned and arranged in defining an outer wall cavity for forming a concrete outer wall, a support wall cavity for forming a support wall that is integral with the outer wall and together define a T-beam support, and a box beam cavity for forming an elongated box beam that interconnects the upper ends of the T-beam supports together.
US08375674B2
A panel has a core of wood material or a wood material/plastic mixture, a top and an underside, and two opposite side edges, which have profiles that correspond to each other such that two identically configured panels can be connected and locked to one another in the horizontal (H) and vertical (V) directions by an essentially vertical joining movement. The locking in the horizontal direction (H) can be brought about by a hook connection with an upper locking section having a hook element and a lower locking section having a hook element. The locking in the vertical direction (V) can be brought about by at least one tongue element that is formed from the core in one piece and can be moved in the horizontal direction (H). The at least one tongue element provided on the lower locking section is free with respect to the core in the direction of the opposite side edge by means of an essentially vertical slot and during the joining movement snaps in behind a locking edge extending essentially in the horizontal direction (H), which locking edge is embodied on a locking projection. The tongue element is connected to the core on at least one of its two ends in the direction of its side edge (II), and the width (B1, B2) of the locking edge is different in size over the length (L) of the opposite side edge (I).
US08375673B2
A paneling system is provided herein that concerns interconnecting panels with opposite connecting sides of substantially tongue in groove joint couplings and opposing adjacent connecting sides that are of substantially hook-joint coupling. The hook joint hinders lateral motion while permitting movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the interconnected panels to provide ease of installment and removal. The hook joints also provide proper alignment and spacing between panels.
US08375666B2
A sealing gasket for use attached to the topmost edge of gypsum board used as construction wallboard. The gasket includes a support leg section capable of being mounted in engagement with the uppermost edge of the gypsum board. The gasket includes a sealing leg extending outwardly from said leg section which includes an intumescent component to facilitate sealing between the edge of the gypsum board and the wall structure above. The sealing leg preferably includes an intumescent impregnated paper material covered with a structurally enhancing layer. An adhesive layer can be included to attach the gasket to the gypsum wallboard. The sealing leg is preferably planar and extends upwardly and inwardly over the upper edge of the gypsum board at an obtuse angle with respect to the support leg for sealing the head-of-wall area thereabove.
US08375663B2
An integral wall base and flash cove having a wall portion, an elongated toe and a concave cove interconnecting the wall portion and the elongated toe in smooth transition. The integral wall base and flash cove can be wrapped around inside and outside corners without the need for a separate molded corner. The integral wall base and flash cove can be installed without required a cove stick or top cap moulding.
US08375659B2
A handicap accessible doorway includes a frame having side jambs and a low profile sill extending between the bottom portions of the jambs. A flexible fin extends along the length of the sill and projects upwardly therefrom to form a water dam. The flexible fin is sealingly attached at each end to a jamb. During a blowing rainstorm, water is contained by the dam and directed to a contain-and-drain water management system, which directs the water away from the doorway to an exterior weep hole or other drain port. The fin, being flexible, yields to the weight of a footstep or a wheelchair thereby maintaining the handicap accessible designation of the sill and the doorway.
US08375657B2
In an insulating glazing unit including at least one curved rigid pane, another rigid pane and a spacer frame joining the two panes together by an impermeable adhesive, a space is created between the panes. The spacer frame has a variable cross-section over its length, looking in the direction of its longitudinal extension, in the region of the joining between the curved rigid pane and the other rigid pane. The spacer frame, in at least in the aforementioned region, includes a plastically deformed elastomer material when the two rigid panes are mutually pressed together.
US08375656B2
A reinforcement sheet is formed from plurality of tape layers. Each tape layer includes unidirectional fibers held together by thermoplastic resin. The layers are fused together to form a reinforcement sheet. Because the sheet is formed without weaving, pinholes in the sheet are eliminated. As no stitching is required, the sheet can be efficiently manufactured. The sheet can be used in a variety of applications including a subpan, roof or side wall of a refrigerated trailer.
US08375652B2
A lateral bracing system is disclosed for affixing a column to a beam in a construction. The lateral bracing system includes a pair of buckling restraint blocks, one each affixed to a top and bottom flange of a beam. Each buckling restraint block includes one or more bores formed through a center of the block. The lateral bracing system further includes at least one yield link for each buckling restraint block. Each yield link includes a first end affixed to the column, and a second end fit through a bore in a buckling restraint block and affixed to an end of the buckling restraint block.
US08375646B2
A headwall for a patient's room includes a panel having a vertically-extending front surface, an opening defined in the front surface of the headwall, and a door sized to be received in the opening. The door is vertically movable from a first position where an outer face of the door is flush with the front surface of the panel to a second position where the outer face extends parallel to the front surface and the door is positioned behind the front surface.
US08375640B2
A flange engaging strip is provided for engaging a vehicle flange, wherein the flange has a varying thickness along a longitudinal dimension. The flange engaging strip has a closed end and projecting limbs and can include a carrier having a corresponding base and projecting legs that define a constant combined cross sectional length, wherein the cross sectional length of the closed end varies corresponding to the thickness of the flange along a longitudinal dimension of the flange engaging strip.
US08375625B2
This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating, insect-catching devices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesive surface. In particular, the illuminating portion is electrically powered, in one form by standard household power and in another form self-contained and powered by at least one battery.
US08375624B2
A carpenter bee trap having at least one entrance hole, at least one plenum section connecting the at least one entrance hole to at least one receptacle adapter coupling, and least one removable receptacle attached to at least one receptacle adapter coupling, the at least one removable receptacle made of a material that admits ambient light to a greater extent than the material forming the plenum such that insects entering the trap follow a path of increasing intensity of ambient light that leads them to the receptacle. In one embodiment, existing carpenter bee nests are treated with a disclosed insecticide gel. The insecticide gel consists of a thixotropic, injectable, non-hardening, non-volatile gel blended with a pyrethroid insecticide, in effect converting the bee nest into a trap.
US08375620B2
A device has structure that can support the device on a weapon, and a range portion that specifies a range to a target. A sensor portion provides sensor information representing an orientation of the device, and an electronic control portion is responsive to sensor information from the sensor portion and a range from the range portion for calculating how to hit the target with each of first and second munitions that are different.
US08375618B1
The shoulder-fired grenade launcher includes an electrical firing mechanism powered by a suitable small electrical power source, e.g., a nine-volt dry cell battery. A battery voltage indicator is provided at the side of the action of the weapon. The weapon has a relatively short barrel, capable of firing a single muzzle-loaded round with each firing. The round is only slightly shorter than the barrel. Reliefs are provided at the sides of the muzzle to enable the operator to extract the spent shell from the barrel. An electrical safety switch is provided. LEDs or other suitable lights indicate the status of the safety switch. Closure of the electrical circuit for firing the projectile is accomplished by an electrical toggle switch used for the trigger.
US08375601B2
There is provided a sole unit having a midsole section and an outsole section. The midsole incorporates a number of cavities which open at their top ends and which are wider at their bottom ends. The outsole section incorporates a number of diaphragm elements which close off the bottoms of the cavities. In some arrangements there is a footbed which has in its underside a number of recesses disposed above each of the cavities, the recesses being linked by channels and incorporating orifices leading to the inside of an article of footwear.
US08375598B2
An enclosure for storing of moisture sensitive devices (MSD's). The enclosure includes a plurality of compartments, each continuously purged with dry air supplied by a commercially available de-humidifier. MSD's housed in said compartments are thus protected from absorbing moisture which could cause cracking of the devices after being mounted on printed circuit boards and subjected to the high temperatures associated with wave solder and solder reflow processes.
US08375591B2
A level including an elongate hollow frame with two sidewalls and a topwall extending therebetween. A topnotch is formed by removal of a topwall section and adjacent sections of sidewalls including notch-defining bottom and side edges. A central vial is within the topnotch. The frame includes an inner horizontal wall extending between the sidewalls at the notch-defining bottom edges. A central-vial reference surface is formed in the inner horizontal wall parallel to the top and bottom measuring surfaces and defining a notch-bottom. The central vial is supported against the central-vial reference surface in accurate orientation without calibration. The central vial is secured with respect to the inner horizontal wall by mechanical fasteners. The frame further preferably includes an integral inner vertical wall extending between the top and bottom walls thereby reinforcing the frame along the frame length.
US08375590B2
A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A torsion spring is retained axially on the blade axis pin and within a bushing that is stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of the spring is fixed relative to the handle. The opposite leg of the spring extends through and rides in a partial annular groove in the bushing and acts on the blade as it is moved between the open and closed positions.
US08375580B2
A method for manufacturing cams for composite camshafts with the steps hot-forming a cam 11 such that a cam outside contour is produced and a cam bore 13 is punched and axially and radially calibrating the cam 11, wherein the calibration comprises the steps inserting the cam into an undivided mold 21 that defines the calibrated cam outside contour 12, inserting an arbor 23 into the cam bore 13 that defines the calibrated cam bore 13, and axially shortening the cam 11 between a lower die 22 that is situated between the mold 21 and the arbor 23 and on which the cam 11 lies with a first end face 14 and an upper die 25 that is guided between the mold 21 and the arbor 23 and acts upon the second end face 15 of the cam 11.
US08375575B2
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a fold-up case formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case is of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. Side wall closure members are extruded of aluminum defining self-engaging attachment features for affixing to the case, providing electrical self-grounding with the wire screen and thermal grounding with internal power devices. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection.
US08375572B2
The embodiments disclose a method for creating a silicone encased flexible cable using manufacturing machinery including automatically arranging plural individual conduits, into custom grouped arrangements including electrical wiring, pneumatic tubing and fluid tubing, inserting the custom grouped arrangements including connectors and flexible silicone junction devices into a shaped silicone encasement extrusion apparatus, depositing a mixture of silicone and additives to the custom grouped arrangements encasement using the extrusion apparatus, customizing the mixture of silicone and additives to create differing characteristics of the custom grouped arrangements, using the extrusion apparatus to create a singular encasement and to cure the singular encasement to a desired shape of the custom grouped arrangements and integrating one or more encased flexible junction box to the custom grouped arrangements, wherein the one or more flexible junction box contains at least one incoming and two outgoing conduit connections and one or more functional devices.
US08375567B2
A method for automatically determining the direction installation of an electronic lock is disclosed. The method achieves automatic determination of the electronic lock installed on the left-handed or right-handed door by controlling rotational directions of the rotational actuator and determining the touching sequence of switch units, so as to enable the electronic lock to be adapted to both the left-handed door and right-handed door, thereby significantly broadening the application scope and convenience of the electronic lock.
US08375562B2
A manufacturing method of a rotating electric machine includes the steps of: preparing a plurality of split stator cores annularly arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction so that their inner end portions are aligned with an imaginary circle and a support member positioned inside the imaginary circle in a radial direction to support the inner end portions of split stator cores; mounting a fastening member on outer peripheries of split stator cores to press respective split stator cores inward in the radial direction; and displacing split stator cores pressed by fastening member inward in the radial direction while the support member is supporting split stator cores.
US08375561B2
A manufacturing method for a stator structure and a micromotor having the same. The method includes: providing a flexible printed circuit (FPC) on which configuration positions of coil windings and a configuration position of at least one position signal generating unit are formed, wherein the FPC is further provided with an interface part; disposing the coil windings and the position signal generating unit on the coil winding configuration positions and the position signal generating unit configuration position, respectively, wherein the interface part is further provided with a connector pattern which is electrically coupled with the coil windings and the position signal generating unit; forming a FPC assembly including the coil windings and the position signal generating unit; and winding the FPC assembly to form the stator. The stator is applied in a micromotor in which a rotor, the stator and a case are disposed outward in a radial direction.
US08375560B2
A method for manufacturing a condenser microphone includes forming a diaphragm module using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) techniques. The diaphragm module includes a diaphragm that is deformable by energy of sound waves, and a diaphragm spacer that extends from one side of the diaphragm and controls a tension of the diaphragm. The method further includes providing a backplate with vent holes, aligning the vent holes of the backplate with a central region of the diaphragm, and connecting the backplate to the diaphragm spacer to construct a transducer unit. The diaphragm spacer, the diaphragm and the backplate cooperate to form an air chamber in fluid communication with an environment external to the condenser microphone. The backplate and the diaphragm cooperate to form a condenser. The method further includes enclosing the transducer unit in a housing that includes a shell and a circuit board to form the condenser microphone.
US08375558B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor chip through-line for transmitting signals commonly to a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips. The apparatus includes a first test pulse signal transmission unit configured to transmit a first test pulse signal to a first end of the semiconductor chip through-line when a power-up operation is performed; a second test pulse signal transmission unit configured to transmit a second test pulse signal to a second end of the semiconductor chip through-line after the first test pulse signal is transmitted; a first signal reception unit coupled to the first end of the semiconductor chip through-line, and configured to receive signals transmitted from the first and second test pulse signal transmission units; and a second signal reception unit coupled to the second end of the semiconductor chip through-line, and configured to receive the signals transmitted by the first and second test pulse signal transmission units.
US08375547B2
A seat assembly machine includes a plurality of grippers useful for securing a piece of trim to a seat cushion. In a disclosed example, each gripper includes a plurality of prongs that are moved between neutral, closed and released positions that each facilitate a different portion of the assembly process. In one example, each gripper includes a sleeve within which the prongs are moveable so that the prongs are manipulated between the neutral, closed and released positions. A disclosed example sleeve includes an interior channel having a contour that manipulates the prongs between the different positions based on the location of the prongs within the sleeve.
US08375539B2
A method of manufacturing a low capacitance density, high voltage MIM capacitor and the high density MIM capacitor. The method includes depositing a plurality of plates and a plurality of dielectric layers interleaved with one another. The method further includes etching a portion of an uppermost plate of the plurality of plates while protecting other portions of the uppermost plate. The protected other portions of the uppermost plate forms a top plate of a first metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and the etching exposes a top plate of a second MIM capacitor.
US08375529B1
A self-engaging touch fastener, separable by peeling, includes portions with a generally thin shell structure and a closely spaced array of bilaterally undercut generally convex protrusions which are directed by proximate oblique stem walls into an interlocking relationship with corresponding receptors when the portions are compressed. Touch fastening products have a non-grabbing non-abrasive texture and may be manufactured of thin plastic films or similar low cost materials using a simple die-cutting/forming method, thus providing a user friendly reliable and economic alternative to hook-and-loop and other presently available fastening systems for connecting flexible materials for applications including packaging, apparel, and disposable products. The device may be furnished as an independent product, as an integrally formed or molded segment of a primary product, or attached to rigid or flexible substrates. An apparatus and method for economically manufacturing such device is also provided.
US08375508B2
An upright surface cleaning apparatus has a front end, a rear end and opposed lateral sides and a surface cleaning head having a dirt inlet and rear wheels. The rear wheels have an axis of rotation and a radius. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes an upper section and an upper section mount. The upper section mount movably mounts the upper section to the surface cleaning head at a position forward of the axis of rotation of the rear wheels. The surface cleaning head is movable between an floor cleaning position and a storage position. The surface cleaning apparatus includes an air flow path extending from the dirt inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor and a treatment member provided in the air flow path. The air flow path comprises a hose extending between the surface cleaning head and the upper section.
US08375495B2
A control method of a laundry machine comprising a water supply, washing and rinsing cycle, the control method includes first determination step performed prior to the rinsing cycle and determining a kind of detergent, second determination step performed during a first rinsing course of the rinsing cycle and determining an amount of remained detergent in a rinsing water, and condition determination step of at least one following rinsing course based on the kind and amount of the remained detergent.
US08375493B2
A one piece foam mattress core or innerspring encasement is a single contiguous piece of foam having a mattress core or base and four perimeter side supports and which fits with a mattress core or innerspring to provide an integrated mattress construction. The mattress core or base of the encasement is positioned below the mattress core or innerspring proximate to or against a bottom surface. The mattress core or base and the perimeter side supports are connected along fold lines or grooves in the single piece of foam so that the perimeter side walls can be folded to vertical positions about a perimeter of the mattress core or innerspring. The single piece of foam of the encasement is producible in different sizes to fit with different size mattress cores or innersprings.
US08375470B2
A garment with an adjustable waistband and modesty flap includes a garment material having a waistband that originates and terminates at a closable seam, the seam having opposed edges extending downwardly from the waistband that define a V-shaped open configuration when the edges are spaced apart from one another and a closed configuration when the edges are adjacent one another. A waistband extension member extends from a waistband terminal end. A plurality of waistband fasteners are spaced apart along a waistband outer surface, each waistband fastener having a configuration complementary a waistband coupling member for selective attachment thereto. A modesty flap is attached to the garment generally adjacent one seam opposed edge and configured to extend across the seam open configuration. A plurality of flap fasteners are spaced apart along the waistband inner surface, each flap fastener having a configuration complementary to a flap coupling member for selective attachment thereto.
US08375464B2
An isolation gown is provided and includes a body cover portion that is open near the knee area of the wearer. The gown includes two sleeves, wherein each of the sleeves is configured to cover a wearer's arm and terminate in an arm opening located proximate a wearer's wrist, such that each arm of the wearer is covered by the sleeves to an area proximate the wearer's wrist, wherein each of the arm openings includes a continuous elastic portion surrounding the arm opening to resiliently contact the wearer's arm, and a collar defining a neck opening, wherein the collar defines a collar opening and includes a configurable connecting article to close the collar opening, wherein each of the body cover portion and the two sleeves are constructed from a material impervious to liquids.
US08375463B2
The present invention is partial protective wear for protecting the front surface of a hand, the palm, front surface of the fingers, side surface of the fingers, webs and nails. The partial protective wear includes a body with a periphery edge that defines a palm portion, finger portion, web portion and nail portion. The body includes an attachment side and a protective side. The attachment side releasably attaches the partial protective wear on the front surface of the hand. The palm portion protects the palm of the hand. The finger portion protects the front surface and side surface of the fingers of the hand. The nail portion protects the nail plates and nail grooves of the hand and the web portion protects the webs of the hand.
US08381311B2
The invention relates to a method and to a device for examining a test sample using a scanning probe microscope. According to the method a first and a second measurement using a scanning probe microscope are carried out on the test sample using a measuring probe system in which a measuring probe and another measuring probe are formed on a common measuring probe receptacle. During the first measurement, in relation to the test sample, the measuring probe is held in a first measurement position and the other measuring probe is held in another non-measurement position, and the test sample is examined with the measuring probe using a scanning probe microscope. After the first measurement, by displacing in relation to the test sample, the measuring probe is displaced from the measurement position into a non-measurement position and the other measuring probe from the other non-measurement position into another measurement position. During the second measurement, in relation to the test sample, the measuring probe is held in the non-measurement position and the other measuring probe is held in the other measurement position, and the test sample is examined with the other measuring probe using a scanning probe microscope. The invention also relates to a measuring sensor system of a scanning probe microscope.
US08381310B2
Systems, methods, and program products are provided for selectively restricting the transmission of copy protected digital media content from a computer system, over a network, and to a remote display. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of capturing digital media content rendered on the local display by a media player application executed by the computer system; determining whether the media player application is accessing copy protected digital media content; and, if the media player application is not accessing copy protected digital media content, converting the captured digital media content to a media stream and transmitting the media stream over a network for presentation on a remote display.
US08381309B2
A method and system are presented for providing communication between users over a communication network. A database is provided which comprises verified data relating to identity of a plurality of individuals. The database is accessible through the network. The verified data allows for authenticating the identity of the individuals. One or more levels of permitted communications between individuals in said database and the user are defined on the basis of said verification.
US08381298B2
A method and system for detecting and managing potential malware utilizes a preliminary signature to scan content and detect potential malware content based upon characteristics that match the preliminary signature. The detected content is detained for a predetermined period of time. If an updated signature is not received, the detained content may be purged, released or quarantined, based upon predetermined content policy. If an updated signature is received, the detained content is released from detention and rescanned with the updated signature. The content is then treated in accordance with the content policy, and again, can be purged, released, or quarantined.
US08381281B2
A computer implemented method, system, and computer program product for authenticating a remote host to a firewall. The illustrative embodiments allow a requesting host separated from a target host by a firewall to determine, based on exception handling code, that an original request sent to the target host has been intercepted and blocked by the firewall. The illustrative embodiments also allow the requesting host to automatically provide credentials that authenticate the requesting host to the firewall. The illustrative embodiments are particularly applicable in situations when requests are invoked without any user interaction, such as when a timer expires. In such a case, there is no user to provide the needed credentials to authenticate the requesting host. The illustrative embodiments enable a requesting host to access a target host without requiring user intervention.
US08381270B1
Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to receiving, by a first computing device, one or more communications from a second device. The one or more communications may be transmitted using a short range wireless communication protocol. The one or more communications may include network configuration information usable to connect the first computing device to a first network and network authentication information. The first computing device may configure the first computing device to connect to the first network using the network configuration information. The first computing device may automatically connect to the first network by at least submitting, using a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) authentication mechanism, the authentication information to a third computing device that manages access to a second network accessible using the first network.
US08381267B2
A method of processing information to be confidentially transmitted from a first module to a second module provides that a first scalar multiplication may be carried out in order to obtain a first result [r]P. This first scalar multiplication comprises a plurality of generation steps of ordered factors from which a plurality of first partial sums are required to be built. The method also comprises the carrying out of a second scalar multiplication in order to obtain a second result. This second multiplication provides that a plurality of second partial sums may be built. A piece of encrypted information is obtained by processing the information based on the results of the scalar multiplications. The second partial sums of the second scalar multiplication use the same ordered factors obtained by the generation step of the first scalar multiplication.
US08381266B2
A method and system for identifying a machine used for an online session with an online provider includes executing a lightweight fingerprint code from a provider interface during an online session to collect and transmit machine and session information; generating and storing a machine signature or identity including a machine effective speed calibration (MESC) which may be used to identify the machine when the machine is used in a subsequent online session by a method of matching the machine signature and MESC to a database of machine identities, analyzing a history of the machine's online sessions to identify one or more response indicators, such as fraud indicators, and executing one or more responses to the response indicators, such as disabling a password or denying an online transaction, where the response and response indicator may be provider-designated.
US08381257B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus can be used to prioritize channel scanning. In various implementations, a nonvolatile memory on a CPE device can store downstream channels that a CPE device previously identified as being used by a headend. In some implementations, the nonvolatile memory can be organized or arranged such that DOCSIS 3.0 channels receive preference upon initialization. In other implementations, the selection of the channels from nonvolatile memory can be prioritized to select DOCSIS 3.0 channels over other types of channels.
US08381254B2
Several data streams contain video, audio and/or other data. Some of the data streams are pre-recorded in a multiplex on a storage medium while other data streams are located out of the data stream multiplex on the storage medium. The data streams are synchronized using a navigation file (List_of_PlayItems), which comprises descriptors (PlayItems, SubPlayItems) pointing to parts of said data streams, wherein said descriptors define the arrangement in time for said data streams by means of data sub stream paths.
US08381234B2
A system for managing a application includes a clock unit outputting time signals, a storage unit storing an age table, a detection unit and a resetting unit. The application includes a logical pointer and a flag carrying a flag bit. The age table includes ordered logical headers and age values, each logical header associated with an age value, the logical pointer pointing to one logical header, the age value having an increment as the logical pointer moves forward along the logical headers. The detection unit receives the time signals and reads the flag bit and moves the logical pointer to a succeeding logical header with a first step if the flag bit changes and with a second step if the flag bit remains unchanged during interval between two time signals. The second step is larger than the first step. The resetting unit resets the flag bit.
US08381227B2
A method for inter-connection between components using a software bus, which may analyze whether a port in which at least one component is connected with each other is a data transmission port or a function interface calling port in accordance with an application of the port, determine an execution attribute of the port based on an analyzed result, and control the port in accordance with the execution attribute of the port. The function interface calling port may be divided into any one of a thread generation-connection port for each request using an attribute of an on-demand function calling port, or a recursive server connection port using an attribute of an on load function calling port in accordance with a type of the called port.
US08381219B2
The present invention relates to the field of enterprise network computing. In particular, it relates to a method and respective system for monitoring workload of a workload scheduler. Information defining a plurality of test jobs of low priority is received. The test jobs have respective launch times, and the test jobs are launched for execution in a data processing system in accordance with said launch times and said low execution priority. It is evaluated how many of said test jobs are executed within a pre-defined analysis time range. A performance decrease warning is issued, if the number of executed test jobs is lower than a predetermined threshold number. The workload scheduler discards launching of jobs having a low priority when estimating that a volume of jobs submitted with higher priority is sufficient to keep said scheduling system busy.
US08381217B1
A clustered network storage system includes a management module and a resource allocation mechanism configured to allow remote management of node resources from the management module while preventing resource over-commitment due to the remote management. Preventing resource over-commitment includes conditionally granting access to the resources of a node according to a credit based system. Preventing resource over-commitment further includes scheduling jobs that access the resources of the node according to a prioritization scheme.
US08381200B2
A method, system and module for automatically converting a call flow into a state-based representation are disclosed. The method comprises walking a call flow and converting each page of the call flow into a rule of a higher level representation of the call flow, augmenting the higher level representation with terminal symbols representing state variable assignments and comparisons associated with decision and computation shapes in the call flow and converting the higher level representation into a state-based representation.
US08381189B2
A computer-implemented system for managing software problem reports includes a registration sub-system to register software developers from multiple different developer organizations; an application store that makes a plurality of applications from a plurality of application developers available for acquisition by members of the public; an application bug tracker programmed to receive reports of problems with applications distributed using the application store, to receive data regarding the problems, and to associate the data with a particular application or developer of the particular application; and a report generator to produce one or more problem reports for a developer that has provided one or more applications, the problem reports including information about the data regarding the problems relating to particular applications submitted to the application store by the developer.
US08381186B2
Software applications (“training applications”) that are designed to train users how to use a target software application may be generated by automatic examination of the target application. In one implementation, a device may extract elements of the target application that affect a user interface of the target application. The device may store the elements as user interface elements and generate a training application that uses at least some of the user interface elements to present portions of an interface of the target application.
US08381185B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for analyzing code paths. In one embodiment, a starting point for one or more code paths within a listing of code is specified. The starting point may include code from which one or more code paths flow. An ending point is also specified for one or more code paths within the code, wherein the ending point includes code that is reachable via one or more of the code paths flowing from the starting point. Each code path flowing from the starting point to the ending point is determined by analyzing the listing of code without execution of the code. Information about the determined code paths is provided to a user.
US08381182B2
Approaches that allow the context of an SMI task to be saved between SMIs. Upon entering an SMI handler for a task, a new task context stack is created. Thereafter, the SMI handler uses the task context, leaving the original stack unchanged. When the time limit for a single SMI is almost reached, the CPU is directed back to the original stack, and the task context stack persists in memory and retains the context of the task in hand. The soft SMI exits with an indication to signify that a new SMI should be invoked to continue processing. The entity that caused the first soft SMI then invokes another, passing in an indication to signify that this is a continuation of the prior task. On entering the SMI handler, the handler notes the request for continuation, switches to the saved task context stack and continues processing where it left off.
US08381180B2
The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and software of modifying, configuring, adapting, or otherwise developing one or more pre-constructed applications and business process components to meet a user's needs or requirements of a particular business application. Each component or application includes one or more pre-constructed user interfaces and performs one or more predetermined functions, services, or queries. A non-technical user or business analyst may obtain an application and, thereafter, adapt or reconfigure the application to perform desired functions, thus creating a custom application. In some cases, the user may custom build a new application utilizing multiple components or applications. The creation, adaptation, and configuration of the application may be performed in an intuitive manner without exposing the user to the programming code or application model. Thus, the user can often easily create, adapt, and configure the application without the need for specialized information technology skills.
US08381172B2
An apparatus for employing a form engine as a script engine may include a processor. The processor may be configured to determine whether an event relates to starting a form or running a script, employ a form engine having a user interface portion including user interface components in response to a determination that the event relates to starting the form, and adapt the form engine by providing a reduced user interface portion that does not create user interface components and does not generate user interface events in response to a determination that the event relates to running the script. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.
US08381166B2
A uniform strategy for the general problem of providing customer editors and initialization strings for beans (all “dynabeans” inherit from a common bean class that incorporates this strategy). This is then extended to allow the initialization strings to be stored in a relational database. With this approach, many changes to the application can be handled by adjusting the database version of the bean definition, without a need to touch the underlying code. This reduces down time for the application, and also improves application stability.
US08381158B2
A recording medium stores a verification program that causes a computer to execute detecting from a model circuit, a first circuit representing junction of a source region and a substrate region and including a junction resistance and a junction capacitance, a second circuit parallel to the first circuit, representing junction of a drain region and the substrate region, and including a junction resistance and a junction capacitance equivalent to the junction resistance and capacitance of the first circuit, and a connection resistance connecting the circuits and a substrate electrode; calculating, using the junction resistances and connection resistance, a first coefficient indicating impact of the junction resistances and connection resistance on amplitude variation; calculating, using the junction capacitances and connection resistance, a second coefficient indicating impact of the junction capacitances and connection resistance on phase variation; correcting the junction capacitances using a sum of the coefficients; and outputting a correction result.
US08381157B2
A device includes a first semiconductor chip that includes a first memory cell array including a plurality of first memory cells, a first control logic circuit accessing the first memory cell array and producing a plurality of first data signals in response to data stored in selected ones of the first memory cells, a plurality of first data electrodes, and a first data control circuit coupled to the first control logic circuit and the first data electrodes. A second semiconductor chip includes a second memory cell array including a plurality of second memory cells, a second control logic circuit accessing the second memory cell array and producing a plurality of second data signals in response to data stored in selected ones of the second memory cells. The second control logic circuit is configured to store second timing adjustment information and to produce a second output timing signal.
US08381153B2
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an integrated circuit (IC) design method. The method includes receiving an IC design layout having a plurality of main features; applying a main feature dissection to the main features of the IC design layout and generating sub-portions of the main features; performing an optical proximity correction (OPC) to the main features; performing a mask rule check (MRC) to a main feature of the IC design layout; and modifying one of the sub-portions of the main feature if the main feature fails the MRC.
US08381149B2
A timing analysis apparatus includes a circuit data acquisition section for acquiring circuit data; a path setup section for setting up two paths extending from a clock source to a clock supply destination as a first path and a second path in accordance with the circuit data; a distance calculation section for calculating a coupling point-to-point distance between a first output terminal of the mesh section on the first path and a second output terminal of the mesh section on the second path; a global coefficient decision section for determining, in accordance with the coupling point-to-point distance, a global coefficient that indicates the degree of variation in time period from the moment when a clock signal is issued from the clock source until the moment when the clock signal reaches each output terminal of the mesh section; and a timing verification section for verifying clock supply timing on each of the first path and the second path in accordance with the global coefficient.
US08381140B2
Methods of generating wide process range libraries for metrology are described. For example, a method includes generating a first library having a first process range for a first parameter. A second library is generated having a second process range for the first parameter. The second process range is overlapping with the first process range. The second library is stitched to the first library to generate a third library having a third process range for the first parameter. The third process range is wider than each of the first and second process ranges.
US08381139B2
The embodiments of via mask splitting methods for double patterning technology described enable via patterning to align to a metal layer underneath or overlying to reduce overlay error and to increase via landing. If adjacent vias violate the G0-mask-split-rule for space or pitch (or both) between vias, the mask assignment of end vias are given higher priority to ensure good landing of end vias, since they are at higher risk of mislanding. The metal correlated via mask splitting methods enable better via performance, such as lower via resistance, and higher via yield.
US08381134B2
An interface is provided for permitting a user to explore a collection of data. The data collection provides nodes as structural elements, and references which are assigned to nodes and hold identifiers of other nodes. Multiple references can be assigned to each node, thus guiding a user of the system to multiple other nodes, and multiple references can hold the same address, so that multiple nodes can have references pointing to the same node. Embodiments of the interface allow visualizing the network created by the interconnection of the nodes on a display region. Embodiments of the interface also allow the user to intuitively navigate along the references in both directions of the references, so that the user can explore which nodes are referenced by a certain node, and also by which nodes a certain node is referenced. Electronic documents can be assigned to each node, and embodiments of the interface allow these documents to be displayed either directly in a reserved display region of the interface, or by launching a matching application on the user's computer.
US08381130B2
Methods and software tools are described for allowing users to navigate through a time schedule quickly and easily. The time schedule interface facilitates a user viewing multiple time periods on an information schedule on a client device quickly without having to completely remake or redraw the entire interface. A user of a computer or similar device is presented with a time schedule interface. This schedule interface may resemble a schedule such as program guide or a train schedule. The schedule typically is composed of a grid or blocks of information defined by two parameters. One parameter is almost always time, while the other parameter depends on the type of schedule. The interface in this invention includes a moveable virtual slider. The slider rests on or is attached to a time scale axis. This time scale axis may be implemented as a horizontal or vertical bar and in addition may contain markings corresponding to time intervals much like a ruler. A user may select and control this slider along the time scale axis. The position of the slider along the time scale axis controls the time periods displayed in the schedule.
US08381129B2
Icons can be combined to form toolbars such as those appearing on computer desktops and within application windows such as web browsers. Small icons are desired because desktop real estate is expensive. Small icons can be difficult to select or open because it can be hard to confirm which icon is indicated. An icon is indicated when the desktop cursor hovers over it. Altering the indicated icon provides good user feedback. Icons can be changed varying their size. Non-indicated icons can revert to a minimum size while an indicated one grows to a maximum size. Different images can be displayed for different sized icons, producing a more pleasing appearance. Alternatively, icons can be presented as display images produced by morphing two images together using morphing functions and icon weights. Morphing includes growing and shrinking as well as color changes, animating, and so forth.
US08381119B2
In some embodiments, input devices and related systems and methods for electronically inputting characters of a pictographic language are disclosed. In one embodiment, an input device for a pictographic language includes a touchscreen display, and a display controller programmed to display a first arrangement including a first set of characters of a pictographic language on the touchscreen display. The first arrangement includes a plurality of regions, each of which contains a plurality of characters of the first set of characters of the pictographic language. The touchscreen display may be programmed to receive selection of one of the regions, and to receive selection of one of the characters in the selected region after receiving the selection of the region. Advantageously, the input device can be effectively used by both non-speakers and language learners as well as native speakers.
US08381118B2
An electronic device includes a controller circuit that is configured to display selectable indicia on a touch sensitive display device. The controller defines a default size and location of a plurality of selection zones on the display device that are each associated with different ones of the displayed selectable indicia. The controller responds to a touch signal from the display device that identifies a first touch location of a user object by increasing the size of a first one of the selection zones that includes the first touch location. The controller responds to the touch signal identifying that the user object has ceased touching the display device at a second touch location, which is within the enlarged first selection zone but outside the default sized first selection zone, by outputting a first one of the selectable indicia that is associated with the first selection zone.
US08381116B2
A display system provides a graphical user interface having a dynamic display field, which is contained within a useable display area. The dynamic display field can have an expanded state and collapsed state, and the current state of the dynamic display field can depend on properties of the useable display area. When collapsed, the dynamic display area has a shared content area and two or more content tags. Each content tag can be active or inactive, and the shared content area shows displayable contents corresponding to active content tags. Tags are activated and deactivated based on user selections. When expanded, the dynamic display field includes dedicated content areas, where each dedicated content area shows a displayable content. Accordingly, when the useable display space allows, the dynamic display field can automatically transition to the expanded state, thereby enabling a greater amount of content to be displayed at a time.
US08381113B2
A framework for using metadata to describe user interface elements and for interactions of the user interface elements with an end user and/or with data source(s) that store configuration data. The metadata can be used to generate a settings UI and code that manages the UI such as gathering user input, handling UI events, validating collected data, handling errors and warnings, managing interactions between different UI controls, and the like. A computer-implemented system that facilitates a settings user interface can include a code generation component that employs the stored metadata to automatically generate the settings UI and code that manages the UI. The code generation component provides the generated code to a data source component that interacts with the data source(s). The settings UI is displayed to an end user via a user interface component.
US08381112B2
Embodiments of the disclosure set forth a computing device configured to support a data management tool. An example computing device includes a wireless communication module and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to identify a wireless flash card having a first data of a first data type and a second data of a second data type as content and in a format specified by a template. The first data and the second data are displayed in a first display area and a second display area, respectively, based on the template and features of the computing device. Prior to operating on one or more of the first data and the second data, the processing unit is configured to establish whether such operations are permissible based on one or more of a first attribute and a second attribute set forth in the template.
US08381106B2
In general, the present disclosure is directed to techniques for displaying, e.g., events of multiple calendars or annotations in a word processor in a single view. In one example, a method includes, providing a first calendar and a second calendar, wherein the first calendar includes a first group of calendar events at least some of which have corresponding textual event details, and wherein the second calendar includes a second group of calendar events at least some of which have corresponding textual event details; receiving a user input to select one of the first calendar or the second calendar; displaying the one or more corresponding textual event details of the first group of calendar events for the first calendar; and displaying visual representations of the second group of calendar events for the second calendar without displaying the corresponding textual event details.
US08381099B2
A method, system and a computer program product for generating and printing documents 100, 110, 120 from a variable-data printing document template 130 comprising a layout of document portions 150, at least one of the document portions 150 comprising a flow that contains content which is variable in response to input data 140. There is provided a way of expressing and treating a flow across copy-holes (document portions comprising variable content) in different pages, thus enabling the creation of complex document designs for variable-data publishing material used in Digital Publishing.
US08381096B2
A network device, system, and method are directed towards enabling list content to be displayed at mobile devices having different memory page size constraints. When a mobile device requests list content, a type of mobile device is determined. This may then be used to determine a page size weight classification for the mobile device. The requested list content may then be compared against the page size weight classification, and if it exceeds the page size weight classification, the list content may be tailored. In one embodiment, the list content may be tailored by segmenting the list content into multiple segments, each segment may be coupled with
US08381089B2
A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for book marking a combination of frame URLs within a frameset and allowing the sharing on multiple PCs the saved form data that may have been filled in. The system uses an image as a hotspot, containing a complex target destination in the form of an XML structure with multiple URLs for multiple frames as well as captured form data. This system combines file types such as XML and JPG, e.g. as in sample file name ‘MyCapturedFramesAndFormData.XML.JPG’ or ‘MyCapturedFramesAndFormData.XML.GIF’. This combination provides a surprising effect compared to the prior systems, namely, launching the image in an enhanced web browser or in a web browser containing a new plug-in, displays the frame just as it was when saved, including frame set and data input to displayed forms.
US08381086B2
Technologies are described herein for synchronizing slide show events with audio. Data defining one or more animation events, slide transitions, or visual effects and an audio file to be played during the defined events is received. The audio file is processed to identify the audio events contained therein. Once the audio events in the audio file have been identified, the defined animation events are synchronized to the identified audio events using an audio synchronization scheme that includes data defining how the audio events are to be synchronized to the animation events. A user interface may be provided that allows a user to select an audio synchronization scheme to be applied to a presentation. A user interface may also be provided that allows a user to visually associate an animation event with any audio event identified within an audio file.
US08381085B2
A semiconductor memory device is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes an error correction code block and a memory. The error correction code block performs error correction encoding for user data to generate parity data. The memory stores the user data and the parity data. The error correction code block generates parity data, including a number of bits equal to at least 2t, wherein t is a natural number, and the bits of the parity data distinguish free page data from user data that is equal to the free page data.
US08381084B2
An apparatus, and an associated method, for correcting errors in decoded data, decoded by a convolutional decoder, such as an SOVA (Soft Output Viterbi Algorithm). A CRC check is performed upon the decoded data. If the CRC check fails, a conclusion is made that the decoded data contains errors. Portions of the decoded data indicated to exhibit low levels of reliability are toggled with values of most-likely error events. A corrected sequence of the decoded data is formed that corrects for the errors in the decoded data.
US08381076B2
Improved memory devices, circuitry, and data methods are described that facilitate the detection and correction of data in memory systems or devices by increasing the data area of user data being covered by the ECC code. This averages any possible bit errors over a larger data area and allows a greater number of errors to be corrected by a combining the ECC codes in the coverage area without substantially changing the overall size of ECC codes being stored over a single sector approach. In one embodiment of the present invention, the size of the data block utilized for ECC coverage is variable and can be selected such that differing areas of the memory array or data types can have a differing ECC data coverage sizes. It is also noted that the ECC algorithm, math base or encoding scheme can also be varied between these differing areas of the memory array.
US08381064B2
An enhanced four rank enabled buffer device that includes input ports for receiving input data that includes address and command data directed to one or more of up to four ranks of memory devices. The buffer device also includes one or more buffer circuits for driving one or more of the address and command data, a plurality of chip select input lines for selecting between the up to four ranks of memory devices, and a plurality of chip select output lines for accessing the up to four ranks of memory devices. The buffer device further includes a power savings means for causing one or more of the buffer circuits to be in an inactive mode when corresponding chip select input lines are not active. The buffer device is operable to access the up to four ranks of memory devices.
US08381063B2
Provided is a decoding apparatus and method based on a variable error correction value. The decoding method includes setting an initial normalized factor and a normalized factor correction value, initially updating a check node based on the initial normalized factor, and updating the check node based on a variable error correction value acquired by adding the initial normalized factor and the normalized factor correction value.
US08381050B2
The invention disclosed herein provides increased effectiveness of delay and transition fault testing. The method of delay fault testing integrated circuits comprises the steps of creating a plurality of test clock gating groups. The plurality of test clock gating groups comprising elements defining inter-element signal paths within the integrated circuit. Each of the elements of the plurality of test clock gating groups share clock frequency and additional shared characteristics. At least one test signal is commonly and selectively connected through at least one low-speed gate transistor to each of the elements comprising each of the plurality of test clock gating groups based on membership in the test clock gating group. This invention can also be practiced using scan-enable gating groups for the same purposes.
US08381048B2
A transmitting apparatus generates and transmits 3t+1 or more number of codewords for a message and multiple faulty encoded message identifying data, wherein the information regarding the message may not be obtained from t or less number of encoded messages and the message can be decoded from 2t+1 or more codewords. The faulty encoded message identifying data are able to detect t or less number of faulty codewords of the message, even if there are t or less number of faulty codewords. A receiving apparatus checks whether there is no fault in each codeword for the message, using the codewords of the message and faulty encoded message identifying data for the codewords of the message received and the corresponding faulty encoded message identifying data and also checks whether the codewords decided to be non-faulty are all of the same message. The receiving apparatus, if the codewords decided to be non-faulty are all of the same message, decodes the message from the codewords decided to be non-faulty, and outputs the so decoded message and if otherwise, outputs a signal indicating failure in message reception.
US08381043B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an information processing apparatus includes a main body having a top face, a display connected to the main body by a hinge and pivotally moves between a first state where the top face is covered with the display and a second state where the top face is exposed, a counter which stores a number of times the state has changed between the first state and the second state, a monitor which detects a malfunction in the hinge when the number of times reaches a given number, and a data transmitter which sends data corresponding with the detected malfunction.
US08381035B2
An information processing device may comprise a log file creating unit and a first storage controlling unit. The log file creating unit may be configured to create, each time information is input, one log file that includes log information indicating an input of the information. The storage controlling unit may be configured to store, each time the one log file is created, the one log file in a storage area.
US08381025B2
A method begins when a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit of a DS unit has at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm to store. The method continues with the DS processing unit encoding at least a portion of the at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of data slices. The method continues with the DS processing unit storing at least some of the plurality of data slices in memory devices of the DS unit in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function.
US08381019B2
Embedded dynamic random access memory (EDRAM) macro disablement in a cache memory includes isolating an EDRAM macro of a cache memory bank, the cache memory bank being divided into at least three rows of a plurality of EDRAM macros, the EDRAM macro being associated with one of the at least three rows, iteratively testing each line of the EDRAM macro, the testing including attempting at least one write operation at each line of the EDRAM macro, determining if an error occurred during the testing, and disabling write operations for an entire row of EDRAM macros associated with the EDRAM macro based on the determining.
US08381012B2
An apparatus and method for fault-tolerant and spread spectrum clocking. In one embodiment a master clock synthesizer circuit generates an output clock signal of varying frequency within a predetermined range of frequencies. A slave clock synthesizer circuit is provided to track the output clock signal generated by the master clock synthesizer circuit. If the master clock synthesizer circuit fails or generates an invalid output clock signal, the slave clock synthesizer circuit takes over and functions as the master clock synthesizer circuit. In one embodiment a method of fault-tolerant spread spectrum clocking includes generating a first digital data stream; receiving the first digital data stream, a first input reference signal and a first clock signal in a master clock synthesizer circuit; generating an first output clock signal of varying frequency by the master clock synthesizer circuit in response to the first digital data stream and the first clock signal.
US08381011B2
The present application relates to a method and an apparatus for adjusting a period of clock interruption. The method comprises: determining a number of processes in a run-queue of a processor; and determining the period of clock interruption for use in a run state of the processor such that the period of clock interruption for use when the number of the processes is greater than a reference threshold is less than the period of clock interruption for use when the number of the processes is not greater than the reference threshold. The apparatus comprises a first determination block and a second determination block. With the method and apparatus according to the embodiment of the application, it is possible to dynamically adjust the period of clock interruption such that the period of clock interruption for use in the run state of the processor can be changed according to needs with flexibility.
US08381007B2
A data storage system with power backup mechanism includes a storage server, N pieces of power supply modules, a plurality of programmable logic devices and a control module. The storage server consumes M units of power in operation, and supports a storage bridge bay standard. The power supply modules respectively generate power for the storage server and a set of power-related signals, wherein the maximum power output of each of the power supply modules is equal to M/N−1 units. The programmable logic devices convert the power-related signals from the power supply modules to two sets of power condition signals. The control module monitors a power condition according to the power condition signals, thereby determining a power health condition of the storage server.
US08381001B2
A digital camera is provided with: a sub CPU started irrespective of a state of an SW group; and a main CPU and an HDMI-CPU which are started when the SW group is in an on state while stopped when the SW group is in an off state. The sub CPU repeatedly determines whether or not a wake-up command is issued from a digital television connected via an HDMI cable when the SW group is in the off state. Furthermore, the sub CPU changes the state of the SW group to the on state when a determination result relating to presence or absence of the wake-up command is updated from NO to YES. The HDMI-CPU and the main CPU that are started thereby execute a process according to a command issued from the digital television.
US08381000B2
A demand based power re-allocation system includes one or more subsystems to assign a power allocation level to a plurality of servers, wherein the power allocation level is assigned by priority of the server. The system may throttle power for one or more of the plurality of servers approaching the power allocation level, wherein throttling includes limiting performance of a processor, track server power throttling for the plurality of servers. The method compares power throttling for a first server with power throttling for remaining servers in the plurality of servers and adjusts throttling of the plurality of servers, wherein throttled servers receive excess power from unthrottled servers.
US08380989B2
As individuals increasingly engage in different types of transactions they face a growing threat from, possibly among other things, identity theft, financial fraud, information misuse, etc. and the serious consequences or repercussions of same. Leveraging the ubiquitous nature of wireless devices and the popularity of (Short Message Service, Multimedia Message Service, etc.) messaging, an infrastructure that enhances the security of the different types of transactions within which a wireless device user may participate through a Second Factor Authentication facility. The infrastructure may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor.
US08380987B2
This document describes tools capable of making a portion of operating-system memory associated with a protection agent unalterable or inaccessible from an operating-system privilege mode. In some embodiments, these tools are capable of creating a protection-agent privilege mode by requesting that a virtual machine monitor protect this portion of operating-system memory. In other embodiments, these tools are capable of creating the protection-agent privilege mode by virtualizing a physical processor into multiple virtual processors, at least one of which is a protection-agent virtual processor designed to run the protection agent. By making this portion of operating-system memory unalterable or inaccessible from the operating-system privilege mode, the protection agent may be less vulnerable to attacks by entities operating within the operating-system privilege mode.
US08380982B2
A communication device for performing communication by employing first and second communication units, includes: a reception unit for receiving a communication packet including a random number generated for every connection with another communication device, a certificate calculated with the random number, and authentication method information indicating whether or not an authentication method at the second communication unit is compatible with the public key system, through the first communication unit; and a method determining unit for determining whether or not an originator of the communication packet accepts public key encryption based on the authentication method information included in the communication packet; wherein in a case of the method determining unit determining that the originator of the communication packet does not accept the public key system, the random number included in the communication packet is replied to the originator as the identification information of the device itself.
US08380970B2
A device driving apparatus includes a storage unit to store a plurality of device driving programs, a plurality of devices to receive the plurality of device driving programs, and a switching unit to transfer the plurality of device driving programs.
US08380969B2
A system comprises a first non-volatile storage device that contains an operating system. The system also comprises a second non-volatile storage device that contains basic input/output system (BIOS) code and at least one parameter used by the operating system or by a network interface, and not by the BIOS code.
US08380966B2
Techniques for the design and use of a digital signal processor, including (but not limited to) for processing transmissions in a communications (e.g., CDMA) system. Stuffing instructions in a processing pipeline of a multi-threaded digital signal processor provides for operating a core processor process and a debugging process within a debugging mechanism. Writing a stuff instruction into a debugging process registry and a stuff command in a debugging process command register provides for identifying a predetermined thread of the multi-threaded digital signal processor in which to execute the stuff instruction. The instruction stuffing process issues a debugging process control resume command during a predetermined stage of executing on the predetermined thread and directs the core processor to perform the stuff instruction during the debugging process. The core processor may then execute the stuffed instruction in association with the core processor process and the debugging process.
US08380962B2
A computer-implemented method for efficient sequential logging on caching-enabled storage devices may include 1) identifying a storage device with a cache, 2) allocating space on the storage device for a sequential log, 3) calculating a target size for the sequential log based at least in part on an input/output load directed to the sequential log, and then 4) restricting the sequential log to a portion of the allocated space corresponding to the target size. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08380961B2
Methods, systems, and computer storage mediums including a computer program product method for formatting storage volumes are provided. One method includes creating a storage volume including a global counter and partitioned into multiple storage segments including a segment counter and partitioned into multiple stripes, wherein the global counter and each segment counter match at an initial time. The method further includes releasing the storage segments prior to completely reformatting the storage volume and subsequently incrementing the global counter such that the global counter and each segment counter no longer match at a subsequent time. The method further includes enabling a user to write data to the storage segments prior to completely reformatting the storage volume in response to incrementing the global counter. One system includes a processor for performing the above method and one computer storage medium includes a computer program product configured to perform the above method.
US08380927B2
Described are systems that employ configurable on-die termination elements that allow users to select from two or more termination topologies. One topology is programmable to support rail-to-rail or half-supply termination. Another topology selectively includes fixed or variable filter elements, thereby allowing the termination characteristics to be tuned for different levels of speed performance and power consumption. Termination voltages and impedances might also be adjusted.
US08380920B2
The invention provides a data access method of a flash memory. First, a write command, a write address, and target data are received from a host. A target block corresponding to the write address is then determined from the flash memory. Whether a storage space corresponding to the write address in the target block has stored data therein is then determined. When the storage space of the target block does not have stored data therein, the target data is written into the storage space of the target block. When the storage space of the target block does have stored data therein, whether a child block mapped to the target block exists in the flash memory is determined. When the child block exists in the flash memory, the target data is written into the child block.
US08380919B2
The invention provides a flash storage device. In one embodiment, the flash storage device comprises a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory comprises a plurality of storage units for data storage, wherein the total capacity of each of the storage units is equal to a storage unit capacity. When the flash storage device receives a read capacity command from a host, the controller determines the size of a logical block to be a specific multiple of the storage unit capacity, and sends information about the logical block size to the host in response to the read capacity command, wherein the specific multiple is a natural number. After the host receives the information from the flash storage device, the host retrieves the logical block size from the information, and sends only write data with an amount equal to a multiple of the logical block size to the flash storage device.
US08380918B2
A method for tracking alteration of a non-volatile storage includes receiving a request to modify a tracked region of the non-volatile storage. In response to the request, it is determined whether or not a modification of data stored in a non-erasable one-time programmable (NEOTP) alteration log region has occurred. In response to determining that the modification of the data stored in the NEOTP alteration log region has occurred, the tracked region of non-volatile storage is modified in response to the request. In response to determining that the modification of the data stored in the NEOTP alteration log region has not occurred, the request to modify the tracked region of the non-volatile memory is denied.
US08380917B2
Systems, methods, and circuits for command control for synchronous memory device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a first synchronous memory controlled by a second group of commands which includes a first command receiving section for receiving a first group of commands, and a second command receiving section for receiving a command that is unique to the first synchronous memory and different from the first group of commands during execution of the first group of commands received by the first command receiving section. The synchronous memory further comprises a second synchronous memory controlled by the first group of commands, where the first synchronous memory and the second synchronous memory are coupled to a same data bus, and where the second group of commands is different from the first group of commands.
US08380916B2
The present techniques provide systems and methods of controlling access to more than one open page in a memory component, such as a memory bank. Several components may request access to the memory banks. A controller can receive the requests and open or close the pages in the memory bank in response to the requests. In some embodiments, the controller assigns priority to some components requesting access, and assigns a specific page in a memory bank to the priority component. Further, additional available pages in the same memory bank may also be opened by other priority components, or by components with lower priorities. The controller may conserve power, or may increase the efficiency of processing transactions between components and the memory bank by closing pages after time outs, after transactions are complete, or in response to a number of requests received by masters.
US08380912B2
Consistent with an example embodiment a repeater device is provided for handling signal transmissions, in particular in a DisplayPort environment. The repeater is to be coupled with an upstream device and a downstream device, the repeater being adapted for transmitting signals received from the upstream device to the downstream device and for conditioning the signals before transmission. The repeater is configured to provide a transparent communication path between the upstream device and the downstream device for DPCD access transactions belonging to a second group of DPCD access transactions. For DPCD access transactions belonging to a first group of DPCD access transaction, the repeater is configured to process the DPCD access transactions by accessing one or more DPCD registers included in the repeater.
US08380909B2
A host device may include a driver that is arranged and configured to communicate commands to a data storage device and multiple pairs of queues, where each of the pairs of queues may include a command queue that is populated with commands for retrieval by the data storage device and a response queue that is populated with responses by the data storage device for retrieval by the host device, where each response queue is associated with an interrupt and an interrupt handler.
US08380901B2
A wireless USB hub for connecting a plurality of remote peripheral devices to a computer for communication therewith without the need to physically connect the peripheral devices to the hub via a cable connection. The wireless USB hub includes a receiver for receiving wireless data transmissions from one or more remote peripheral devices. The wireless USB hub further includes a hub controller for passing appropriate peripheral device information to a USB upstream port and then to a computer.
US08380899B2
A data communication method for semiconductor chips including transmitting load control data, pilot data and a transmission clock signal from a first semiconductor chip to one or more second semiconductor chips that are each coupled to one or more electrical loads, driving the electrical loads based on a timing defined by the load control data, deriving a transmission rate by dividing the transmission clock signal by a division factor prescribed by the pilot data, and transmitting diagnostic data at the transmission rate from the one or more second semiconductor chips to the first semiconductor chip.
US08380898B2
A computing system is disclosed that includes a memory controller in a processor socket normally reserved for a processor. A plurality of non-volatile memory modules may be plugged into memory sockets normally reserved for DRAM memory modules. The non-volatile memory modules may be accessed using a data communication protocol to access the non-volatile memory modules. The memory controller controls read and write accesses to the non-volatile memory modules. The memory sockets are coupled to the processor socket by printed circuit board traces. The data communication protocol to access the non-volatile memory modules is communicated over the printed circuit board traces and through the sockets normally used to access DRAM type memory modules.
US08380881B2
Methods, systems and computer program products to synchronize timing of data transmissions between wireless and wired networks using a combined wireless gateway and cable modem are provided herein. The method includes the step of generating an indicator prior to a look-ahead time period and transmitting a poll to a wireless device upon sending the indicator. The look-ahead time period is a time period from transmitting the indicator to transmitting the DOCSIS frame. The method further includes the step of receiving data from the wireless device and encapsulating the data in a DOCSIS format to generate a DOCSIS frame. The method also includes transmitting the DOCSIS frame at a start of a next transmit opportunity to a cable modem termination system (CMTS).
US08380876B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a first communication module, a terminal, a second communication module and an address management module. The first communication module is configured to communicate with at least one device in accordance with a first communication scheme. The second communication module is configured to communicate with at least one device in accordance with a second communication scheme via the terminal. Lastly, the address management module is configured to assign a first physical address value to said at least one device via the second communication module based on an identification (ID) value of the apparatus, wherein the first physical address value is information associated with the second communication scheme and the ID value is information associated with the first communication scheme and is assigned based on an assignment scheme defined by the first communication scheme.
US08380875B1
A method of addressing a communication, such as an e-mail, for transmission over a network is disclosed. A knowledge server accesses a descriptive profile for each of a number of potential recipients of the communication. A subset of the potential recipients is identified as suggested recipients based on detected correspondences between the content of the communication and the contents of the respective descriptive profiles for the potential recipients. The subset of suggested recipients is then presented to the sender of the communication, in conjunction with an indication of the correspondence between the content of the communication and the contents of the respective descriptive profiles. The indication of the correspondence may, for example, include highlighting terms within the communication that match published terms within the descriptive profiles of the suggested recipients.
US08380859B2
A system and method for endpoint handoff in a hybrid peer-to-peer networking environment are provided. In one example, the method includes logging into the peer-to-peer network by a first endpoint. The first endpoint directly notifies a second endpoint that the second endpoint is to transfer an active communication session existing between the second endpoint and a third endpoint from the second endpoint to the first endpoint. The first endpoint receives session parameters associated with the active communication session directly from the second endpoint and directly notifies the third endpoint that the first endpoint is online. The first endpoint then re-establishes the active communication session with the third endpoint using the session parameters.
US08380852B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing storage system resources in a storage area network (SAN). A target data storage server registers itself within a storage area network (SAN) fabric to receive a Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) should a SCSI initiator become inactive. A SCSI initiator then requests reservation of a target LUN. In response, the target data server reserves the LUN for use by the SCSI initiator. If a RSCN is received by the target data storage server, then a GID_PN server request, which comprises the unique identifier of SCSI initiator, is generated after a predetermined time interval and a SAN fabric name server. If the name server's response to the GID_PN server request is positive, then the SCSI initiator was detected as being active and the target data storage server keeps the reservation for the LUN active for the SCSI initiator. Otherwise, the reservation for the LUN is released for use by other SCSI initiators.
US08380848B2
Methods of transmitting information relating to a quality of service are shown, which information is to be transmitted in at least one direction between a first device 30 and a second device 20. A first method comprises at least at one of the devices 20, 30 assembling a protocol message containing information other than the information relating to a quality of service and attaching the quality of service related information to the protocol message. A second method comprises forming the information relating to a quality of service inside at least one of a header field and an attribute of a protocol message. The disclosure relates equally to corresponding software codes, devices 20, 30, network elements and systems.
US08380842B2
A server platform and a method to integrate a plurality of diverse plant floor equipment with at least one computerized management system in a manufacturing operational or maintenance system. The server platform includes a plurality of plant floor drivers adapted to communicatively interface with a plurality of diverse plant floor data sources. The server platform further includes at least one computerized management system driver adapted to communicatively interface with the at least one computerized management system. The server platform also includes a message translator adapted to broker communication between the plant floor data sources and the at least one computerized management system using an open standard. The server platform, using the open standard, enables a universal enterprise type taxonomy across the plant floor data sources and the at least one computerized management system.
US08380839B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing storage system resources in a storage area network (SAN). A target data storage server registers itself within a storage area network (SAN) fabric to receive a Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) should a SCSI initiator become inactive. A SCSI initiator then requests reservation of a target LUN. In response, the target data server reserves the LUN for use by the SCSI initiator. If a RSCN is received by the target data storage server, then a GID_PN server request, which comprises the unique identifier of SCSI initiator, is generated after a predetermined time interval and a SAN fabric name server. If the name server's response to the GID_PN server request is positive, then the SCSI initiator was detected as being active and the target data storage server keeps the reservation for the LUN active for the SCSI initiator. Otherwise, the reservation for the LUN is released for use by other SCSI initiators.
US08380836B2
Aspects of a method and system for predictive leasing of network services and applications based on a usage pattern may comprise a management entity that coordinates operation of one or more endpoint devices. A user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices may be received by the management entity, wherein the management entity may utilize the user profile associated with the one or more endpoint devices and a usage pattern associated with the one or more endpoint devices to determine leasing information for the one or more endpoint devices. The management entity may be operable to communicate the determined leasing information to the one or more endpoint devices. The leasing information may comprise leasing services and/or applications to the one or more endpoint devices.
US08380823B2
Device component information (physical information, logical information) on each device such as a host computer, a switch, and storage on the SAN is acquired via an LAN 9. Element information is created from the acquired device component information. According to the element information, a link between element information is created. Furthermore, when a plurality of links are established for an element, information is stored in advance so as to be used for selecting one of the links. Thus, each element stored the minimum information for routing and it becomes possible to search an associated element more effectively.
US08380817B2
Information processing system, information processing method, and computer program used therewith are provided. An information processing system includes information processing apparatuses connected to a network. The apparatuses are mutually linked to operate as a virtual information processing apparatus. The system includes a monitoring unit for monitoring the system state of the virtual information processing apparatus which includes the surplus capability of the virtual information processing apparatus and the configuration of the information processing apparatuses connected to the network, a start-condition setting unit for setting a relationship between the system state of the virtual information processing apparatus and an executable function, a function executing unit for, when the system state satisfies predetermined start conditions, executing a corresponding function, and a function-utilization-history-information storing unit for storing utilization history information obtained when the corresponding function is executed by said function executing unit.
US08380814B2
An automatic favorites registration method and system which can automatically register a website address of a particular website when a local computer accesses the particular website, and also can adjustably determine whether to add the website address to favorites by avoiding an unconditional automatic registration of the website address to the favorites and considering a user's access trend. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an automatic favorites registration method and system which can automatically register a website which a local computer accesses, and also can register only an additional website which is determined to be optimal for a user's convenience, or maintain a favorites registration of the website according to the user's recent search trend.
US08380810B2
An apparatus providing for output of a content package may include a content category selector for receiving a content category selection. A content category extractor may extract the content category selection from a content feed. The apparatus may further comprise a contextual characteristic determiner for determining one or more contextual characteristics. A GPS module may determine a location of the apparatus. The apparatus may thereby provide for selection of a content package based at least in part on the content category selection and the one or more contextual characteristics. The actual selection of the content package may occur in an external device, such as a content category selector. Once the content package is selected, the apparatus may provide for output of the content package such as through displaying the content package on a display.
US08380806B2
A system and method provides for enabling a storage virtualization system to dynamically discover shares on a network attached storage file system is disclosed. Certain network attached storage systems represent user shares using abbreviated symbolic path names rather than full absolute path names. These network attached storage systems can correctly map the abbreviated path address to the actual file location; however, when a storage virtualization system is implemented to manage shares or files in these shares, it cannot access these files because it does not have the absolute path address. An embodiment of the present invention provides software instructions to augment the capabilities of the storage virtualization system, enabling it to map files with abbreviated share names, and therefore provide it with the ability to access these types of network attached storage systems.
US08380805B2
The system gets a request to add a communication node to an existing peer-to-peer communication session between two communication nodes. The communication node is added to the existing peer-to-peer communication session. The communication nodes in the existing peer-to-peer communication have not previously defined a mixing node. The communication nodes in the existing peer-to-peer communication session exchange a mixing score. A mixing node is determined based on the exchanged mixing score. Additional systems are defined which determine a mixing node when two peer-to-peer communication sessions are joined into a combined peer-to-peer communication session.
US08380801B2
A method and system of providing Internet content to a user utilizing social networks is disclosed. The method comprises providing Internet usage data for a plurality of users, determining which users belong to the same social network, and providing at least one of the users access to Internet usage data for those other users who are in the same social network.
US08380800B2
A system and method of the present invention allow communication via electronic messages between a Customer and a domain name Registrar, avoiding traditional electronic mail (email) communication. Email messages may not be delivered to the Customer for various reasons including the situations where the Customer employs anti-SPAM protective technologies. The system and method of the present invention establish a Communication Link between a Customer's Computer and Registrar's Server, which avoids anti-SPAM protective technologies and email messaging altogether. Information relating to the communication may be stored on a database and the system may present the Customer with various options relating to a domain service. The implementation of this invention would result in a higher rate of delivered messages to the Customer.
US08380798B2
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of de-duplication of messages in a micro-blog includes receiving a first message and posting the first message to the micro-blog, receiving a second message, and classifying the second message as a new message or an edited version of the first message.
US08380791B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided for filtering unwanted electronic mail messages. Included is a first portion capable of downloading electronic mail messages to a computer via a network using a first address. Such first portion is further capable of filtering the electronic mail messages that are unwanted. Further provided is a second portion capable of delivering the filtered electronic mail messages from the first portion to an electronic mail message manager using a second address. The first portion and the second portion reside on the computer.
US08380790B2
Video conference rate matching may be provided. A video conference server may receive video source streams from clients on a video conference. The server may analyze each client's capabilities and choose a video stream to send to each client based on those capabilities. For example, a client capable of encoding and decoding a high definition video stream may provide three source video streams—a high definition stream, a medium resolution stream, and a low resolution stream. The server may send only the low resolution stream to a client with a low amount of available bandwidth. The server may send the medium resolution stream to another client with sufficient bandwidth for the high definition stream, but which lacks the ability to decode the high definition stream.
US08380787B2
Federating master data management systems may include a network-aware adapter configured with a host master data management node. The network-aware adapter may establish one or more links with other master data management systems to allow the system to work together and leverage each other's data.
US08380779B2
A system is used to determine if a sum of a first operand and a second operand is the same as a third operand wherein a comparison to the third operand is of variable length. This is particularly useful in a content addressable memory (CAM) where the likelihood of hit is commonly improved over a set associative cache and allows for the CAM to identify different things. For example, an entry can be one length to identify a page of a memory and another entry be a different length to identify a page of memory. This is better understood by reference to the following description and the drawings.
US08380778B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for assigning elements of a matrix to processing threads. In use, a matrix is received to be processed by a parallel processing architecture. Such parallel processing architecture includes a plurality of processors each capable of processing a plurality of threads. Elements of the matrix are assigned to each of the threads for processing, utilizing an algorithm that increases a contiguousness of the elements being processed by each thread.
US08380768B2
A random number generator includes a first one time programmable (OTP) element and a second OTP element. The first OTP element and second OTP element have a first distribution of probable values for an electrical characteristic when unprogrammed and a second distribution of probable values when programmed. A programming circuit applies a programming signal to the first OTP element and to the second OTP element that causes the first OTP element to switch from being unprogrammed to being programmed and having a first value for its electrical characteristic and the second OTP element to switch from being unprogrammed to being programmed and having a second value for its electrical characteristic. A sense amplifier provides an output signal at a first logic state when the first value exceeds the second value and at a second logic state when the second value exceeds the first value.
US08380765B2
A mechanism is provided for group communications using a MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system. A master application creates a multi-pipe synthetic file in the MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system, the master application indicating a multi-pipe operation to be performed. The master application then writes a header-control block of the multi-pipe synthetic file specifying at least one of a multi-pipe synthetic file system name, a message type, a message size, a specific destination, or a specification of the multi-pipe operation. Any other application participating in the group communications then opens the same multi-pipe synthetic file. A MULTI-PIPE file system module then implements the multi-pipe operation as identified by the master application. The master application and the other applications then either read or write operation messages to the multi-pipe synthetic file and the MULTI-PIPE synthetic file system module performs appropriate actions.
US08380764B2
A situation where, even though a file system set with an additional function has been expanded, the additional function is unable to operate is prevented from occurring. Provided are a file control computer and its system having a main computer including a file system for managing reading and writing of data between the client computer and the storage device, a control circuit for controlling the file system, and a memory circuit for storing management information of the file system. The memory circuit stores setting information which is set with an additional function that is set to the file system, and a condition necessary for operating the additional function. Upon expanding the file system based on the management information, the control circuit determines a status of fulfillment of the condition in the expanded file system, and outputs warning information if the determination result denies fulfillment of the condition.
US08380745B1
A facility for defining a group of people is described. The facility provides a visual user interface containing a control for receiving a query string. The facility receives a query string via the control, and uses an index on a body of documents to identify documents of the body that satisfy the received query string. The facility accesses a record indicating which documents of the body were accessed by each of a population of people during a foregoing time period to identify people among the population that accessed at least a threshold number of the identified documents during the foregoing time period. The facility displays within the visual user interface, in conjunction with the control, information characterizing the people identified.
US08380735B2
A system and method for efficient control and capture of dynamic database content for rapidly providing a user with a highly relevant collection of documents related to a query. The system and method for efficient control and capture of dynamic database content includes a computer system with a storage means for facilitating the retention and recall of dynamic database content and a communications means for facilitating bi-directional communication of the computer system with local or distributed networks; an executory module operationally coupled to the computer system for controlling the storage means and the communications means as well as directing the system for the efficient control and capture of dynamic database content to a plurality of pre-selected Internet sites; and a capture module which is in communication with the executory module and facilitates selection of the plurality of Internet sites associated with a query submitted by a user of the system.
US08380733B2
In one embodiment, an original search input entered by a user is detected. An excluded term is deleted from the original search input to create a modified search input. The modified search input is matched against a plurality of stored terms. In response to there being a match between the modified search input and one or more of the plurality of stored terms, a suggestion of a search term to replace the original search input is displayed, based on the match between the modified search input and one or more stored terms. In response to there not being a match between the modified search input and one or more of the plurality of stored terms, a suggestion of a search term to replace the original search input is displayed, based on a match between the original search input and one or more of the plurality of stored terms.
US08380731B2
A computer-based searching method is described that includes receiving, at a computer, a search concept that includes a plurality of principal words, determining a set of semantically similar words for at least one of the principal words, calculating a degree of membership for each word in each set that reflects a semantic similarity in meaning to the principal word of the set, performing the search, computing a score based at least on the degrees of membership for the words in the word set, and sorting the results using the computed scores.
US08380729B2
In one embodiment, a method for handling an error message includes interrogating an error message issued by a computing system to determine that the error message includes more than an alarm message, determining a message identifier relating to the error message, comparing the message identifier to entries in a database to determine an entry in the database that includes the message identifier, and outputting a set of documentation referenced by the entry in the database which includes the message identifier. In another embodiment, the database includes a plurality of searchable entries, each entry including: a message identifier, a product identifier, a set of documentation, and a set of actions. The set of documentation includes documents for the computing system to output and the set of actions includes actions for the computing system to perform. Other methods, systems, and computer program products are also described according to various embodiments.
US08380727B2
An information processing device includes: a user information obtaining unit configured to obtain information relating to data of content that a user has used; a meta information obtaining unit configured to obtain content meta information corresponding to content that the user has used; a first vector generating unit configured to generate a first user preference vector with each of the obtained content meta information as elements thereof; a second vector generating unit configured to generate a second user preference vector wherein the generated first user preference vector is analyzed and the number of elements of the first user preference vector is compressed; and a user identifying unit configured to identify a user corresponding to a second user preference vector having a high similarity to a second user preference vector determined beforehand from multiple second user preference vectors.
US08380722B2
This document describes tools for adjusting anchor text weight to provide more relevant search engine results. Specifically, these tools take advantage of a site-relationship model to consider relationships not only between an anchor text source site and a destination page but also relationships between multiple anchor text source sites to improve web searches. Consideration of these relationships aids in determining a new an anchor text weight, which in turn results in more relevant search results.
US08380721B2
Comprehensive methods and systems are described for creating, managing, searching, personalizing, and monetizing a knowledge system defined over a corpus of digital content. Systems and methods are described in which a user can initiate in-depth searches of subject matter and can browse, navigate, pinpoint, and select relevant contexts, concepts, and documents to gain knowledge. Systems and methods are described in which knowledge can be personalized through tagged, personalized context, and personalized context can be shared within social and professional networks, securely and confidentially and with the desired access control. Systems and methods are described in which products and services can be advertised in context and advertising can be selected through a bidding process. Systems and methods are described by which a user can navigate contexts and concepts to obtain relevant information, products and services.
US08380710B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for distributing and presenting of electronic content. One method provides an enhanced ordering of ranked documents, in which one or more lists of documents that have been published in a web feed, a time that each document was published in the web feed, and a content-based ranking of a ranked subset of the documents are obtained, the documents collectively including ranked documents which are members of the ranked subset of the documents, and unranked documents which are not members of the ranked subset of the documents. Furthermore, a user interface is provided which displays links to a plurality of the ranked documents, ordered according to the content-based ranking, and which simultaneously displays links to a plurality of the unranked documents, ordered chronologically based on the time that each respective document was published in the web feed.
US08380704B1
A search server system having one or more processors and memory receives, from a client, a current search query including a query cursor corresponding to a prior search query. The query cursor corresponds to a location in a first set of index portions used to perform the prior search query. In response to the current search query, the server decomposes the query cursor into a plurality of components and generates a translated query cursor corresponding to the received search query using one or more of the components. The server subsequently identifies a location in a second set of index portions to start performing the current search query based the translated query cursor. The server generates a set of search results corresponding to the current search query by searching in the second set of index portions starting at the identified location and sends search results to the client.
US08380702B2
A database server provides a partitioned table with a corresponding locally partitioned index. When a request is made to load data into the table by an application, a table partition, along with a corresponding index partition, is created for the application. The corresponding index partition in marked as asynchronously maintained, allowing other index partitions to be used by the query optimizer in formulating query plans for other table partitions. Once the loading of data is complete, a synchronization operation is called with the result of conforming the data in the asynchronously maintained index partition with its corresponding table in which the data was loaded. Once the data in the corresponding table partition and the data in the asynchronously maintained index partition are synchronized, the asynchronously maintained index partition is marked as synchronously maintained.
US08380696B1
An object classification system is provided that receives, from a user, at least one piece of information relating to the object, wherein the information does not directly specify a classification for the object, and that applies at least one rule that classifies the object based, at least in part, on the at least one piece of information received from the user. The techniques described herein also enable classifying an object by, in response to a request from at least one application to access the object, applying at least one rule that dynamically classifies the object.
US08380694B2
The embodiments disclosed herein include new, more efficient ways to collect product reviews from the Internet, aggregate reviews for the same product, and provide an aggregated review to end users in a searchable format. One aspect of the invention is a graphical user interface on a computer that includes a plurality of portions of reviews for a product and a search input area for entering search terms to search for reviews of the product that contain the search terms.
US08380693B1
Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums are provided to automatically identifying a classified website. A website is determined to be a candidate site based on a set of heuristics. From among pages constituting the candidate site one or more pages are determined to be listing page candidates and one or more pages are determined to be detail page candidates. Then a listing page score is determined using a listing page classifier. Similarly, a detail page score is determined using a detail page classifier. The listing page and detail page scores each indicate the likelihood that the pages are part of a classified website. A candidate site score is determined based in part on a combination of the listing page score and the detail page scores. Then when the candidate site score is above a threshold the candidate site is determined to be a classified website.
US08380689B2
In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for nonlinear journaling. In one embodiment, groups of data designated for storage in a data storage unit are journaled into persistent storage. In one embodiment, the journal data is recorded nonlinearly. In one embodiment, a linked data structure records data and data descriptors in persistent storage.
US08380688B2
A method, system, and article for compressing an input stream of uncompressed data. The input stream is divided into one or more data segments. A hash is applied to a first data segment, and an offset and length are associated with this first segment. This hash, together with the offset and length data for the first segment, is stored in a hash table. Thereafter, a subsequent segment within the input stream is evaluated and compared with all other hash entries in the hash table, and a reference is written to a prior hash for an identified duplicate segment. The reference includes a new offset location for the subsequent segment. Similarly, a new hash is applied to an identified non-duplicate segment, with the new hash and its corresponding offset stored in the hash table. A compressed output stream of data is created from the hash table retained on storage media.
US08380681B2
The subject disclosure is directed towards data deduplication (optimization) performed by phases/modules of a modular data deduplication pipeline. At each phase, the pipeline allows modules to be replaced, selected or extended, e.g., different algorithms can be used for chunking or compression based upon the type of data being processed. The pipeline facilitates secure data processing, batch processing, and parallel processing. The pipeline is tunable based upon feedback, e.g., by selecting modules to increase deduplication quality, performance and/or throughput. Also described is selecting, filtering, ranking, sorting and/or grouping the files to deduplicate, e.g., based upon properties and/or statistical properties of the files and/or a file dataset and/or internal or external feedback.
US08380680B2
Prefetching data using a piecemeal list prefetching method. This is achieved by various means, including building a plurality of data pages, sorting the plurality of data pages into sequential data pages and a list of non-sequential pages, prefetching the sequential data pages using a first prefetching technique, and prefetching the non-sequential list of data pages using a second prefetching technique.
US08380673B2
In a storage system in which plural end servers 104, intermediate servers 103 and clients 101 are connected to each other via a network 105, when a migration-source end server 104 transfers file-level data to a migration-destination end server 104 via the intermediate server 103, the migration-source end server 104 also transfers data in a differential volume simultaneously, and the migration-destination end sever 104 reconstructs data in a snapshot volume based on the transferred data and transfers response information regarding the reconstructed data to the client 101.
US08380654B2
Methods evaluating propositions about timeseries are provided. A service accepts a proposition about one or more timeseries, and the service monitors those timeseries. A proposition can reference multiple timeseries with different time intervals and different units. When new data is available, the service evaluates the proposition to determine if the proposition is true, false, or neither. The service automatically performs unit conversions and selects relevant, previously observed values before evaluating a proposition when new data is available.
US08380652B1
Methods and systems for robotic determination of a response to conflicting commands are provided. The robot may evaluate scenarios using variables related to the contextual/situational data for event outcomes from which the robot can determine which of two or more actions to take, as by prioritizing the actions in order of importance.
US08380644B2
A method for specifying design rules for a manufacturing process includes providing a training set of 3D point meshes that represent an anatomical structure, for each 3D point mesh, finding groupings of points that define clusters for each shape class of the anatomical structure, calculating a prototype for each shape class cluster, and associating one or more manufacturing design rules with each shape class prototype. The method includes providing a new 3D point mesh that represents an anatomical structure, calculating a correspondence function that maps the new 3D point mesh to a candidate shape class prototype by minimizing a cost function, calculating a transformation that aligns points in the new 3D point mesh with points in the candidate shape class prototype, and using the rules associated with the shape class prototype, if the candidate shape class prototype is successfully aligned with the new 3D point mesh.
US08380641B1
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for displaying to each of a plurality of users, upon each user's request, as to each particular parcel to be shipped by each user, the carriers that provide delivery notification service options, including electronic mail delivery notification and verbal delivery notification, wherein each user accesses the present invention over a global communications network using a client computer device, and wherein each user has an individual electronic connection to the global communications network. The present invention further provides apparatus, systems and methods for identifying to each of the users, upon each user's request, as to each of the particular parcels to be shipped by the particular user, a service charge for each delivery notification service option, including electronic mail delivery notification and verbal delivery notification for the particular package to be shipped by the particular user as to each carrier that supports electronic mail delivery notification.
US08380631B2
Methods and systems for communicating a patient medical file having personal demographic information, medical data and a diagnostic image include separating the file into layers including a demographic layer demographic information and a data layer. Medical data may be evaluated using an auto-analysis. The demographic layer may be encrypted with a first encryption key, and the data layer may be encrypted with a second encryption key different from the first. The encrypted demographic and data layers may be sent to a server capable of decrypting one of the layers but not both. The data layer may be decrypted at the server and an operation performed to select a second portion of the diagnostic image. The portion of the processed data layer including the selected second portion of the image may be re-encrypted and the encrypted demographic layer and re-encrypted data layer may be transmitted to a mobile device.
US08380630B2
A security mediator, comprising an input configured to receive a user information request; an automated index, stored in a memory, configured to store information for determining which of a plurality of remote databases stores information responsive to the request; an automated security rule base, stored in a memory, containing rules applicable to information responsive to the request stored in the plurality of remote databases; a communication port configured to communicate to a plurality of remote databases which store information responsive to the request: security information, a query corresponding to the request and associated rules applicable to the information responsive to the request at the respective remote database; and at least one processor being configured to apply at least one security rule responsive to the query of the automated security rule base, and index information derived from a plurality of the remote databases, in a manner which permits application of the rules and which restricts insecure use of the index.
US08380629B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for authenticating a consumer using challenge questions. A response to a challenge question is verified via seeding the challenge question, receiving response, and deductively determining the answer. The verified response and challenge question may then be used to authenticate a consumer as part of an authorization process.
US08380619B2
Embodiments of the invention include a computer implemented method for automatically modifying the terms of a plurality of mortgages within a portfolio of mortgages, such that, monthly payments for the plurality of mortgages are reduced. The method includes calculating a current net present value for each of the mortgages in the portfolio of mortgages. The method also includes calculating a plurality of future net present values for each of the mortgages in the portfolio, each future net present value corresponding to one set of modified loan terms. The method also includes selecting the largest calculated future net present value. The method also includes automatically modifying the loan terms of each of the plurality of mortgages where the largest future net present value is greater than the current net present value. Loan terms are modified to correspond to the modified loan terms resulting in the largest net present value.
US08380612B2
A system and method are described and disclosed that are used for effecting large block trades of securities in an automated and anonymous matter in which fair pricing is carried out using features of the National Best Buy Offer (“NBBO”). The automated trading the system and method also will carry out negotiations to effect a trade in certain circumstances, though the preferred method of effecting trades is by automated trading. However, regardless of the trading method, anonymity of the trading counterparties is preserved. The system and method also tests the NBBO for each of the traded securities to ensure it is valid before an automated trade may take place.
US08380610B1
A data processing system for implementing transaction management of auction-based trading is disclosed. The disclosed data processing system provides a structured trading protocol implemented through a sequence of trading paradigms. The system employs a distributed computer processing network linking together a matching engine and a plurality of workstations. The protocol and its programmed controlling logic enhances trading efficiency, rewards market makers, and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users. In some preferred embodiments, the structured trading protocol permits traders to enter hidden bids or offers during a clearing period that may be converted to transactable bids and offers when the clearing period terminates. In addition, in some preferred embodiments, the structured protocol permits traders to enter orders that specify an initial price and a better, hidden price. The system is programmed to improve the price of a trader's order within the cap established by the hidden price in particular circumstances in order to permit the trader to maintain priority in the order book when a better-priced order enters the market.
US08380609B2
Price setting for a security occurs by automatically engaging in a price discovery procedure before responding to a request for a current buy or sell price of the security to provide an automatically discovered price that is better than a book price. The book price is the best price in an order book including orders to buy or sell specified quantities of the security at respective prices, the lowest sell order price of the booked orders being the book sell price, the highest buy order price of the booked orders being the book buy order price. The price discovery procedure includes providing the book buy or sell price to at least one entity registered to participate in the price discovery procedure. The entity automatically provides an improved price relative to the book price based on a predetermined strategy that is determined independently of the strategies for other entities. The temporal duration of the price discovery procedure can be predetermined or based on an amount of activity occurring during the price discovery procedure.
US08380596B2
Described herein are various apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for providing a mortgage environment that determines a flat fee for a mortgage that includes all lender and third-party fees associated with the mortgage. By providing a mortgage with a flat fee, the process of a borrower obtaining a mortgage from a lender can be easier because the borrower's worries about multiple fees, charges, and other costs can be combined into a single, flat fee. Some embodiments of the invention determine the flat fee based at least partially on analysis of various loan characteristics.
US08380593B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for dynamically altering a rating based on network conditions. In operation, at least one aspect of a condition of a network is identified. Furthermore, a rating in association with an event is dynamically altered, based on the at least one aspect of the condition of the network.
US08380591B1
Methods and systems for providing protection to an individual or party from penalties associated with late or missed payments of bills, invoices and other charges are described. The methods and systems can warn a user of possible penalties and take correction action to avoid incurring the penalty. In an example, a computerized method, and system for performing the method can include receiving data about a plurality of payments to be paid by at least one party, the data includes at least one penalty associated with at least one of the payments, ranking the payments based at least partially upon the penalty and determining an order for the payments to be paid. In an example, a computerized method, and system for performing the method can include receiving data about a plurality of bills for at least one user, determining at least one action to prevent incurring a penalty for at least one of the bills and allowing the user to select the action. In an example, a computerized method, and system for performing the method can include receiving data for a plurality of bills for at least one user, determining if at least one penalty event can occur and communicating the penalty event to the user.
US08380589B2
Techniques and systems for generating and presenting foreclosure bid instructions are described. A connection to a foreclosure bid computer is established through a data processing network. Loan identification information is received from the user and foreclosure bid information relating to the loan is retrieved. Loan information is received from the user relevant to generating a foreclosure bid for a property. The information received from the user, as well as the retrieved foreclosure bid information, is processed in order to compute a foreclosure bid amount calculated to yield appropriate net proceeds from the sale of the property. A set of foreclosure bid instructions including the computed bid amount is generated, and presented to the user over a data processing network interface.
US08380583B1
A system is provided that extrapolates item characteristics from items considered to possess a characteristic to items not known to possess the characteristic. The system may include an item data repository that stores data representing physical items. These items can include first items having a characteristic and second items not known to have the characteristic. A characteristic extrapolation module can extrapolate the characteristic from at least some of the first items to at least some of the second items based at least in part on the strength of associations between the plurality of items. A recommendations module may provide item recommendations based at least partly on the characteristic of the items.
US08380579B2
A system and method for context-sensitive, adaptive commerce is described that features recommendations of products and/or services based on system usage behaviors and supplier contextual information such as inventory levels. Adaptive commerce may include the bundling of a plurality of products and generating an associated price based, at least in part, on usage behavior information. Other contextual information related to the customer or supplier may also be applied in generating recommended products, bundles of products, product configurations, and corresponding prices.
US08380558B1
The present invention is a method and system for analyzing shopping behavior by associating RFID data, such as tracking data by the RFID tag identifications, with video-based behavior and segmentation data, such as behavior analysis and demographic composition analysis of the customers, utilizing a plurality of means for sensing and using RFID tags, a plurality of means for capturing images, and a plurality of computer vision technologies. In the present invention, the association can further comprise the association of the RFID with the transaction data or any time-based measurement in the retail space. The analyzed shopping behavior in the present invention helps people to better understand business elements in a retail space. It is one of the objectives of the present invention to provide an automatic video-based segmentation of customers in the association with the RFID based tracking of the customers, based on a novel usage of a plurality of means for capturing images and a plurality of computer vision technologies on the captured visual information of the people in the retail space. The plurality of computer vision technologies can comprise face detection, person tracking, body parts detection, and demographic classification of the people, on the captured visual information of the people in the retail space.
US08380554B2
Crowdsourcing is described, for example, where solutions to tasks such as designing a logo, writing a piece of code or answering a question are solicited by making open calls to large scale communities. In an example, a crowdsourcing node models a plurality of contests as all-pay auctions, each contest having a task and a reward. In examples, the crowdsourcing node is arranged to set rewards for the contests so that the optimal results are received for each contest owner, those owners having provided a budget and using a utility function for each of the contests.
US08380553B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Inbound Delivery Processing process component, a Material Inspection Processing process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, a Confirmation and Inventory process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Demand Forecast Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Logistics Execution Control process component.
US08380545B2
A system and method are provided for identifying exposure concentrations. The process of determining exposure concentrations may include organizing exposure data, defining parameters, determining elevated exposure concentrations, and providing output results. The exposure data may relate to at least geographical locations, policies, accounts, portfolios, treaties, and other exposure data. The parameters may be defined to include at least an area of analysis, a region of interest, a threshold amount, results parameters, and other parameters. The exposure concentration may include at least defining and locating exposure locations using various techniques. The results may be presented using textual, graphical, or other display schemes. The output may be configured to convey information such as positional accuracy of an identified area, exposure accumulation in a defined area, and other information.
US08380543B2
A method of reducing the risk to a Vendor of a First House that the Vendor of the First House will have to pay the Monthly Carrying Costs associated with the First House in the event that the First House is not sold within an acceptable predefined or determinable period of time. The method includes, steps of calculating the Monthly Carrying Costs associated with the First House, establishing a Minimum Acceptable Price for the sale of the First House, and calculating the likelihood that the First House will not be sold at or above the Minimum Acceptable Price during the acceptable predefined or determinable period of time. The method further includes calculating the likely length of time required to sell the First House at or above the Minimum Acceptable Price, and other steps.
US08380531B2
A system for developing and producing clinical endpoints based on patient reported outcome data utilizing algorithms to generate decision rules to evaluate patient reported outcome type questionnaire is provided. The questionnaires can include health-related quality of life questionnaires and can predict the reliability of endpoints in supporting one or more medical labeling claims.
US08380529B2
Closed-loop control is applied to the field of automated on-line business bandwidth planning tools by comparing measured business bandwidth with a baseline for providing a difference indication, changing the baseline according to the difference, and reporting the change as an event relating to a service level agreement.
US08380523B2
The present invention includes receiving a plurality of frame data including first frame data and second frame data encoded by at least one coding schemes, obtaining first flag information indicating whether the first frame data and the second frame data are encoded by frequency domain transform coding scheme, respectively, decoding the first frame data by frequency domain transform coding scheme based on the first flag information when the first frame data is encoded by frequency domain transform coding scheme, obtaining second flag information indicating whether subframe data is encoded by time domain transform coding scheme or time-frequency domain coding scheme when the second frame data is not encoded by frequency domain transform coding scheme, the at least two subframe data being included in the second frame data, decoding the subframe data by time domain transform coding scheme or time-frequency domain transform coding scheme based on the second flag information, and compensating for discontinuity existing between the first frame data decoded by frequency domain transform coding scheme and the subframe data decoded by time domain transform coding scheme, wherein the time-frequency domain coding scheme is time domain coding scheme including frequency domain transform.
US08380522B2
A device is disclosed for compressing data contained in input frames to be compressed constituted of stream frames defining portions of TRAU and signaling frames that have to be transmitted within a communication network and each of which is constituted of at least a header containing control data representative at least of the type of stream frame and where applicable payload data, certain types containing critical and/or non-critical data. The device analyzes each TRAU or signaling frame header contained in successively received input frames in order to determine its type and generates periodically compressed frames to be transmitted that are divided into first and second sections of variable size. The first section contains critical data compressed synchronously and the second section contains non-critical data compressed asynchronously.
US08380506B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methods that employ a modified version of a computational model of the human peripheral and central auditory system, and that provide for automatic pattern recognition using category dependent feature selection. The validity of the output of the model is examined by deriving feature vectors from the dimension expanded cortical response of the central auditory system for use in a conventional phoneme recognition task. In addition, the cortical response may be a place-coded data set where sounds are categorized according to the regions containing their most distinguishing features. This provides for a novel category-dependent feature selection apparatus and methods in which this mechanism may be utilized to better simulate robust human pattern (speech) recognition.
US08380501B2
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for parcel address recognition. A method includes receiving an address input and producing candidate address results corresponding to the address input. The method includes receiving operational scheme knowledge describing the mode of operation of a parcel processing system, and receiving at least one operational rule corresponding to the operational scheme knowledge. The method includes applying the at least one operational rule to the candidate address results and producing and storing a finalized result according to the operational rule and the candidate address results.
US08380496B2
A method and device for improving coding efficiency in audio coding. From the pitch values of a pitch contour of an audio signal, a plurality of simplified pitch contour segments are generated to approximate the pitch contour, based on one or more pre-selected criteria. The contour segments can be linear or non-linear with each contour segment represented by a first end point and a second end point. If the contour segments are linear, then only the information regarding the end points, instead of the pitch values, are provided to a decoder for reconstructing the audio signal. The contour segment can have a fixed maximum length or a variable length, but the deviation between a contour segment and the pitch values in that segment is limited by a maximum value.
US08380485B1
The present invention is a device for and method of language processing that includes a communication database of communications, a transcription database of transcripts for the communication, an extractor for extracting a visual representation of each communication, a first displayer for displaying a visual representation of a communication and its transcription, a segmentor for segmenting a visual representation, a media player, a first editor for blanking portions of a transcription and adding text, a second editor for filling in blanks and adding text, a second displayer for displaying a transcription that were blanked along with the corresponding entries made by the second editor and adding textual information, and a third displayer for providing feedback.
US08380479B2
A model parameter extracting apparatus includes: a binning processor for carrying out a binning process; and a model parameter extractor for extracting a model parameter for each of multiple bins formed by the binning process. The model parameter extractor extracts a first model parameter corresponding to a first end portion of a target bin. Based on the first model parameter, the model parameter extractor sets up a candidate for a second model parameter corresponding to a second end portion of the target bin. Subsequently, based on the first model parameter and the candidate for the second model parameter, the model parameter extractor finds a start-point-side gradient and an end-point-side gradient of a limited curve representing an electric characteristic of a semiconductor device. Then, based on a result of a comparison between the gradients, the model parameter extractor extracts the second model parameter.
US08380474B2
A method of locating resources in a reservoir that includes at least one injection well and at least one production well includes mapping a modeled permeability characteristic of structures making up the reservoir, computing, based on the modeled permeability characteristic, an indicator of flow velocity for streamlines from each production well, computing, based on the modeled permeability characteristic, an indicator of flow velocity for streamlines from each injection well, and combining the indicators of flow velocity from each production and injection well to characterize a sweep efficiency of the reservoir system.
US08380470B1
A computerized online engineering tool system for specifying the various components of a holdown system that assemble a run comprising a tie rod extending inside a frame wall structure from the foundation up through the walls to the top floor, and bearing members and tension devices securing the tie rod to the wall. The system comprises a server including a database of drawing elements and hardware parts; a program residing in the server including the steps of allowing a user to login into the server; providing the user a settings page to allow the user to select options for the run; providing the user a data input and calculated data page for inputting uplift, tension or overturning load at each framing level and showing calculated rod elongation at a framing level and rod size sufficient to handle the uplift load; and providing the user a print and download page for allowing the user to download a shop or installation drawing of the run generated using the drawing elements and hardware component parts from the database.
US08380465B2
A computer-aided design apparatus generates a tree structure of coordinate systems defining the topology of a three-dimensional object to be fabricated. Coordinate systems are positioned and orientated in accordance with mathematical functions. The mathematical function positioning child coordinate systems has the identity of the parent coordinate systems as a variable, and the positions of the child coordinate systems vary relative to their parent coordinate systems according to the identity of the parent coordinate systems. Data defining the coordinate systems and connections is stored in a graph. Bases having a defined relationship are identified and three-dimensional content objects are added. Content objects are added using the same mathematical function, generating three-dimensional content objects in each of a plurality of coordinate systems. The function for generating the content objects has the identity of the coordinate systems as a variable, generating the content object in each coordinate system with a different shape.
US08380462B2
A system and method for setting machine limits include setting a limit for a machine parameter, setting a temporal operating range for the machine, and setting a temporal step. The machine is operated over the operating range and the machine parameter is measured. A first new limit for the machine parameter is set based at least in part on the measurements over the operating range. The operating range is advanced by the temporal step, and the machine parameter continues to be measured. Another new limit for the machine parameter is set based at least in part on the measurements over the operating range after the operating range has been advanced.
US08380456B2
To provide a calibration jig which can perform three-dimensional calibration of measurement errors in a spectacle frame shape measuring apparatus. The calibration jig is used for calibrating measurement errors of the spectacle frame shape measuring apparatus for measuring a shape of a spectacle frame, etc. A trace groove traced by a measuring probe of the spectacle frame shape measuring apparatus is a frame groove formed in an inner circumference of rims of the spectacle frame and provided for engaging with the bevel of a spectacle lens. The rims are secured to a frame body having rigidity higher than that of the rim. The frame groove has a displacement r in the radial direction, a displacement θ in the rotational direction, and a displacement z in the height direction.
US08380443B2
An apparatus and method for identifying and screening for agents affecting the leukocyte adhesion cascade (LAC) encompassing rolling, adhesion and migration comprises an optically clear, plastic microfluidic chip comprising flow channels with diameters in the range of 10-500 μm. The flow channels are coated with endothelial cells and at least a portion of the flow channels contains 1-30 μm sized openings, optionally filled with a native or synthetic extracellular matrix, that allow leukocyte migration into one or more tissue spaces.
US08380436B2
Methods for evaluating drill pattern parameters such as burden, spacing, borehole diameter, etc., at a blast site are disclosed. One method involves accumulating the burden contributed by successive layers of rock and matching the accumulated rock burden to a target value for a borehole having a length related to the average height of the layers. Another method relates to varying drill pattern parameters and characteristics to match blast design constraints, including the substitution of one explosive material for another by the proper balance of materials and/or output energies to the associated rock burden. Analysis of deviations from target rock burdens and corrective measures are disclosed, as well as cost optimization methods. The various methods can be practiced using an appropriately programmed general purpose computer.
US08380434B2
A navigation device performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination, the navigation device being connected to a server for searching the route. A navigation method for the navigation device includes sending a request for searching the route to the server and receiving information on the route from the server. The method also includes measuring an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance, and performing the route guidance based on the information received. The method further includes cutting off a communication with the server and coming into a standby state, upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.
US08380430B2
A portable transceiver for locking and locating an automobile, includes a remote keyless entry system for locking the automobile; a locating device determining a location of the transceiver, wherein the remote keyless entry system and the locating device are housed in a pocket sized housing; and a processor deriving directional information from a current location to a waypoint, wherein in response to an activation of the remote keyless entry system, the locating device determines the waypoint corresponding substantially to that of the automobile.
US08380426B2
A method and system operable for evaluation of an automotive vehicle forward collision threat. The presence of an oncoming vehicle in front of a host vehicle is established and a passing position of the host vehicle for the moment when the vehicles reach each other is predicted. In addition, a free passing distance for free passing of the oncoming vehicle on a first side of the host vehicle is predicted for the situation when the host vehicle is positioned in the passing position. The free passing distance is the minimum distance between the first side of the host vehicle and a road edge. A width of the oncoming vehicle is also estimated. If the free passing distance is equal to or less than a comparison value, it is decided that a forward vehicle collision threat exists. The comparison value is at least equal to the width of the oncoming vehicle.
US08380424B2
Systems and methods for providing vehicle-centric collision avoidance are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a first flight trajectory for a first aircraft. The method also includes determining a second flight trajectory for a second aircraft. A distance between the first aircraft and the second aircraft at a first closest point of approach (CPA) is predicted. The predicted closest point of approach is then compared to a separation perimeter layer. The separation perimeter layer is configured to provide a minimum separation distance from the first aircraft to the second aircraft. When the predicted closest point of approach breaches the separation perimeter, the first flight trajectory is altered to provide collision avoidance.
US08380421B2
Methods and systems are described for conserving fuel used by an engine. In some embodiments a control module processes a user-provided input, as a first function, into a second function. The second function can be used to direct the engine with a directive output power. The directive output power may have regions equal to, greater than, and/or less than what the power output would be if the engine were controlled using the user-provided input.
US08380419B2
A method and system of accelerating a vehicle from an intermediate speed to a target speed under control of a cruise control or driving speed control unit are disclosed. An acceleration rate of a vehicle is measured while a vehicle speed is below an intermediate speed at which the driving speed control unit is enabled. The intermediate speed is greater than the initial speed and less than the target speed. A derived acceleration rate is calculated using the measured acceleration rate. When the driving speed control unit is enabled, the vehicle is accelerated from the intermediate speed to the final speed at an acceleration rate about equal to the derived acceleration rate. The derived acceleration rate may be the acceleration rate of the vehicle at the intermediate speed, the average acceleration rate between the initial and intermediate speeds, or the average acceleration rate within a threshold of the intermediate speed.
US08380411B2
A clutch control device for vehicle equipped with a clutch actuator driven by a working fluid, wherein secular change in the flow rate control valve for controlling the working fluid is compensated, and the rate of connection of the clutch is correctly controlled by a simple means. To control the stroke of a clutch actuator 110, the clutch control device is provided with a single flow rate control valve 1 that controls the feed and discharge of the working fluid by using an electromagnetic solenoid. A flow rate control valve control device 9 is provided with a learning device 91 that learns the neutral position of the flow rate control valve 1 which shuts off the flow of the working fluid, separately detects the amounts of electric current to a coil 8 of when the rate of change in the stroke becomes zero depending upon the directions in which the valve body of the flow control valve 1 moves, and learns the central point at the neutral position by averaging the detected values. In controlling the stroke of the clutch, the amount of electric current to the coil 8 is corrected based on the learned value to compensate for a change in the flow rate characteristics by secular changes.
US08380391B2
A bank angle detecting device includes a roll rate sensor for detecting a angular velocity ωr about a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle; a yaw rate sensor for detecting a angular velocity ωy about an vertical axis of the motorcycle; a bank angle detecting unit for detecting the motorcycle bank angle δ for calibration use based on the yaw rate ωy and a traveling velocity v; and a bank angle correcting unit for correcting the basic motorcycle bank angle δr, determined from an output ωr of the yaw rate sensor, so as to approach the motorcycle bank angle δ that is detected by the bank angle detecting unit, to thereby determine the estimated bank angle δ0.
US08380390B2
A system and method for determining characteristics of a trailer being towed by a vehicle. The trailer is coupled to the vehicle using a trailer hitch using at least one intelligent bolt or fastener. The intelligent fastener has structural characteristics similar to those of traditional bolts for fastening a trailer to a vehicle (e.g., shear strength, diameter, etc.), but the intelligent fastener is configured to sense forces at a junction between the trailer and the vehicle. An ESC system receives force readings from the intelligent fastener sensors along with signals from a plurality of other sensors and determines one or more characteristics of the trailer. The ESC system compensates the motion of the vehicle based on the forces sensed at the junction and the characteristics of the trailer.
US08380387B2
A method and system for detecting increased internal friction in a steering mechanism of a vehicle having a steering system including a steering linkage and a steering wheel. The method includes detecting a steering acceleration {umlaut over (φ)}L value of an element of the steering system and comparing the steering acceleration {umlaut over (φ)}L value with a stored maximum steering acceleration threshold value {umlaut over (φ)}n, max. Based on the comparison, if the steering acceleration {umlaut over (φ)}L value is greater than the maximum steering acceleration threshold value {umlaut over (φ)}n, max, the method generates at least one first signal r1 for further processing. The method may further include counting a number of events n occurring owning to the first signal r1 and comparing n with a possible maximum number of events nmax. If n is greater than nmax, the method generates a second signal r2.
US08380383B2
A distributed vehicle control system comprising a secure real-time executive running as a distributed abstraction of both the application and the operating system, where the SRE comprises a message manager, security manager, critical data manager, configuration manager, and multi-processor task control manager and is configured to control how the processors communicate with each other, how the processors are initiated, how the processors start tasks, and how priorities are set for messages.
US08380382B2
An unmanned transport apparatus, includes: a call unit for providing destination information corresponding to a call location according to a call signal of a communication device; a navigation guide unit for recognizing a current location using an electronic map and searching an optimum route from the current location to a destination location of the destination information; and an image recognition unit for determining a travelling route and recognizing landmarks, stop lines, and intersections on the determined travelling route. Further, the unmanned transport apparatus includes an image capture unit for capturing input images to produce image; and a control unit for controlling a steering angle by determining a steering value from the current location to the destination location based on the travelling route and landmarks, and controlling velocity and brakes by determining velocity and brake values based on the stop lines and intersections.
US08380381B2
An electric vehicle includes a pitching state quantity detector for detecting quantity of a pitching-motion of the vehicle, a vehicle weight determiner, a pitching target quantity calculator for calculating a target quantity of a pitching motion at least from the determined vehicle weight, and a torque correction calculator for increasing/reducing a driving torque output, according to a particular differential between the detected pitching-motion state quantity and the calculated target quantity.
US08380377B2
A method for controlling a cooling system for controlling a power converter of a hybrid electric vehicle includes: estimating the temperature of a power converter at the time of a CAN communication error as a current temperature of the power converter and controlling a cooling system at a cooling rate based on the estimated temperature; and controlling the cooling rate of the cooling system depending on whether an output of the power converter is greater than a reference value. According to the method, the cooling system can be more effectively controlled.
US08380375B2
A metrology device, computer program product and computer-implemented method generating survey data without having the device touch subsea objects being surveyed. The metrology device may be used with an underwater vehicle or diving personnel, and may comprise an inertial navigation system having gyroscopes to detect angular velocity and accelerometers for the detection of linear velocity and transported by an underwater robotic apparatus or diver, the inertial navigation system outputting position and orientation data of the device for storage; an aiding device for collecting image data of the subsea objects, the aiding device being positioned so that the distance and orientation between the optical scanner and the inertial navigation system is known; and a computer for using the position information and image data between a successively visited known point to determine the drift of the metrology device and to use the drift of the metrology device to correct measurements of same.
US08380373B2
A system and method for controlling the movement of plural trains over a rail network, where the rail network is divided into at least one control area with a dispatcher assigned to manage the movement of trains in a control area by predicting the occurrence of events along the network based on the movement plan and prompting the dispatcher to provide information or take specified actions relating to the predicted events.
US08380368B2
A radio controlled (RC) aircraft includes a receiver that is coupled to receive an RF signal from a remote control device, the RF signal containing command data in accordance with a first coordinate system, wherein the first coordinate system is from a perspective of the remote control device. A motion sensing module generates motion data based on the motion of the RC aircraft. A processing module transforms the command data into control data in accordance with a second coordinate system, wherein the second coordinate system is from a perspective of the RC aircraft. A plurality of control devices control the motion of the RC aircraft based on the control data. In an embodiment, a remote control device commands the RC helicopter to substantially a hovering state when no force is applied to each of a plurality of spring-loaded interface devices.
US08380364B2
A system and method for a controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces.
US08380360B2
In a temperature control method in which a target temperature is given in a thermal treatment furnace and plural heaters are controlled according to the target temperature, the correlation of the each heater and plural profile temperature sensors provided in the thermal treatment furnace is determined, a virtual temperature is calculated on the basis of the detection temperature of each profile temperature sensor and a weighting factor calculated from the correlation, and the each heater is controlled so that the virtual temperature is coincident with the target temperature.
US08380359B2
Method of operating a home automation system comprising: at least one home automation equipment item of a building, the home automation equipment item being associated with a specific equipment control means, a device for controlling this home automation equipment item, comprising a display and control screen on which a portion of the screen is assigned to the display of a first graphic representation, associated with this equipment item, the control device being separate from the specific control means, which system comprises a step for setting at least one value of a parameter of the home automation equipment item involved in the definition of a scenario, this setting step being able to be both implemented by action on the specific control means so as to cause a phase for modification of the state of the home automation equipment item and by action on the control device so as to cause a phase for modification of the appearance of the first graphic representation of the home automation equipment item.
US08380357B2
Wind turbine control may be provided. First, a control parameter indicative of foreseeable fluctuations in a rotational speed of a rotor due to wind turbulence may be obtained. The first control parameter may be calculated based on a first signal indicative of a wind power and a second signal indicative of wind turbulence intensity. Then, the control parameter may be compared with a threshold value. Next, a maximum power to be generated by the wind turbine may be reduced if the control parameter exceeds said threshold.
US08380352B2
First calculation means calculates a TCP velocity error vector Verr when wrist axes performs rotational following movement, second calculation means selects a component, including the sign, of the TCP velocity error vector Verr, third calculation means decomposes the selected velocity error vector into a joint velocity vector ωerr, fourth calculation means integrates the joint velocity ωerr and calculates a position correction amount vector θadd, and the position correction amount vector θadd is fed back to position control means with torque limits.
US08380350B2
An autonomous mobile robot system for bounded areas including a navigation beacon and an autonomous coverage robot. The navigation beacon has a gateway beacon emitter arranged to transmit a gateway marking emission with the navigation beacon disposed within a gateway between the first bounded area and an adjacent second bounded area. The autonomous coverage robot includes a beacon emission sensor responsive to the beacon emission, and a drive system configured to maneuver the robot about the first bounded area in a cleaning mode in which the robot is redirected in response to detecting the gateway marking emission. The drive system is also configured to maneuver the robot through the gateway into the second bounded area in a migration mode.
US08380344B2
A method for tamping media during transportation is disclosed. Multiple parallel beltsets lie between an inlet station(s) and a delivery station(s). The multiple parallel beltsets have one or more parallel belts, a motor connected to drive the beltsets, and multiple pushers attached to the belts of the beltset with the pushers of one beltset placed between the pushers of the adjacent beltset. A control module coupled to the motors accepts a set of instructions and controls tamping of the media stack during transportation. The control module varies the velocity of one of the beltsets relative to the adjacent beltset and adjusts the distance between successive pushers on the beltsets to accept media or to tamp media during transportation.
US08380343B2
A method and an apparatus sort items, in particular of flat postal items, in two sorting processes. Two classes of items are sorted on the basis of a sorting feature such that a predetermined sequence of the feature values is maintained. In a first sorting process, a sorting system sorts the items in the first class separately from the items in the second class. In the process, the sorting system determines which possible feature values are actually assumed by at least one item in the second class. The sorting system generates a sequence of item sets. These item sets and the items in the second class are jointly sorted by a sorting installation. In the second sorting process, the sorting installation generates the predetermined feature value sequence of the items of both classes.
US08380334B2
A system for inserting auxiliary data into an audio channel that carries an audio signal includes a modulator configured to convert an auxiliary data signal into a modulated auxiliary data signal that has a passband within the audio channel's passband. The system for inserting auxiliary data into an audio channel that carries an audio signal further includes summing means configured to combine the modulated auxiliary data signal and the audio signal into a combination signal to be carried in the audio channel.
US08380323B2
The present invention relates to a device for securing medical leads in a cranial burr hole, in particular, for securing a brain stimulation lead within such a burr hole. The device includes a circular socket element adapted to be secured within a burr hole of the skull of a patient, the circular socket element having a through lead passage arranged to have the lead pass therethrough, the lead passage including passage walls including at least one resilient partition wall extending from an inner wall of the circular socket element, and the circular socket element having at least one inner compartment delimited by the partition wall. Further, the device includes a cap element having a circular upper portion being arranged to mate with the socket element, the circular upper portion having at least one protruding member arranged to co-operate with the at least one inner compartment when placed into the compartment so as to apply a radial pressure on the at least one resilient partition wall such that a lead passing through the passage is fixated in the passage by a resulting radial pressing force.
US08380322B2
Electrode device for active medical implants with an elongated electrode body (2) having a proximal end and a distal end (1), a tip contact pole (6) on the distal end (1), at least one ring contact pole (5) before the distal end (1), electrical supply leads (3, 4) to the tip and ring contact pole (6, 5), and a high-frequency filter (11) before the distal end (1), which has electrical contact to the tip contact pole (6) and is connected to the supply lead (4) thereof.
US08380321B2
The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with a clinician programmer, a patient programmer, or both. A user interface permits a user to view electrodes from different perspectives relative to the lead. For example, the user interface provides a side view of a lead and a cross-sectional view of the lead. The user interface may include an axial control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different axial positions along the length of a lead, and a rotational control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different angular positions around a circumference of the lead.
US08380319B2
The present invention relates to the electrical stimulation of bone growth utilizing implantable bone fixation devices and implants to which are attached a screw of nonconductive material powered by a battery for the purpose of creating an electrical-magnetic field to promote bone healing and bone formation. The electric magnetic field is directed to the bone around the device through a battery of a rechargeable type and can include a radio frequency identification device. A constant current is generated in a range of 5-20 micro amperes to stimulate bone healing and bone formation.
US08380318B2
Devices, systems and methods are provided for treating pain while minimizing or eliminating possible complications and undesired side effects, particularly the sensation of paresthesia. This is achieved by stimulating in proximity to a dorsal root ganglion with stimulation energy in a manner that will affect pain sensations without generating substantial sensations of paresthesia. In some embodiments, such neurostimulation takes advantage of anatomical features and functions particular to the dorsal root ganglion.
US08380314B2
A patient controls the delivery of therapy through volitional inputs that are detected by a biosignal within the brain. The volitional patient input may be directed towards performing a specific physical or mental activity, such as moving a muscle or performing a mathematical calculation. In one embodiment, a biosignal detection module monitors an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from within the brain of the patient and determines whether the EEG signal includes the biosignal. In one embodiment, the biosignal detection module analyzes one or more frequency components of the EEG signal. In this manner, the patient may adjust therapy delivery by providing a volitional input that is detected by brain signals, wherein the volitional input may not require the interaction with another device, thereby eliminating the need for an external programmer to adjust therapy delivery. Example therapies include electrical stimulation, drug delivery, and delivery of sensory cues.
US08380310B2
Electrochemical power cells having an open-cell architecture for electrically powering an implantable medical device system include a first and a second electrode assembly, wherein at least one is a biocompatible hermetically sealed anode assembly (e.g., that of a lithium anode assembly). The power cell can be a biological lithium semi-fuel cell in which a bodily constituent partakes in the cell discharge reaction at the cathode as an active reagent. The active cathode reagent can be oxygen supplied from the body. In a particularly suitable application, the biological lithium semi-fuel cell provides electrical power to a cardiac pacemaker device, such as for a novel cardiac pacemaker system.
US08380308B2
Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device equipped with a multi-pole left ventricular (LV) lead having a proximal electrode implanted near an atrioventricular (AV) groove of the heart of the patient. A left atrial (LA) cardioelectrical event is sensed using the proximal electrode of the LV lead and a corresponding LA cardiomechanical event is also detected, either using an implantable sensor or an external detection system. The electromechanical activation delay between the LA cardioelectrical event and the corresponding LA cardiomechanical event is determined and then pacing delays are set based on the electromechanical activation delay for use in controlling pacing. The pacing delays can include, e.g., AV delays for use with biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing. Other techniques described herein are directed to exploiting right atrial (RA) cardioelectrical events detected via an RA lead for the purposes of setting pacing delays.
US08380292B2
The invention relates to a method for checking ECG signals measured by an ECG measuring device having at least three electrodes for the presence of interference errors. At least three voltages are measured on a closed circulation path across the electrodes of the ECG measuring device. A monitoring value is calculated from the three measured voltages. A presence of an error is checked by determining a deviation of the monitoring value from a reference value. An error signal is outputted if an error is presented. The ECG measuring device has a further processing unit for processing voltage signals between a different pair of electrodes and a monitoring unit for calculating the monitoring value.
US08380279B2
An intraluminal sensor designs for multifunctional characterization of injured, stunned, infarcted myocardium, atherosclerotic plagues and tumors are disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention comprise the sensor tips for a catheter. The tips comprises differential sensor arrangements, and use built-in electromagnet assemblies for a single or multiple axis sensing of various parameters of local magnetic field.
US08380274B2
Novel membranes comprising various polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups are described. These membranes are usefully employed in electrochemical sensors, such as amperometric biosensors. More particularly, these membranes effectively regulate a flux of analyte to a measurement electrode in an electrochemical sensor, thereby improving the functioning of the electrochemical sensor over a significant range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped with such membranes are also described.
