US08408805B2

A rolling bearing embodied as a radial-axial rolling bearing which has a bearing sleeve in which rolling bodies designed for absorbing axial forces are arranged in pockets of an axial cage. The axial cage has, on its inner side, a centering bevel which is produced by deformation of the axial cage.
US08408804B2

A crankshaft bearing assembly is for a reciprocating fluid-machine. The crankshaft bearing assembly comprises a shaft having a co-rotating first eccentric surrounded by a second eccentric. The second eccentric is adjustable around the first eccentric, and the second eccentric is surrounded by a bearing and a crankshaft bearing housing. The second eccentric is connected, by means of a coupling, to a shaft sleeve concentrically rotatable around the shaft. The coupling comprises a carrier which co-rotates with the shaft sleeve. The carrier, at a radial distance from the center axis of the shaft, is provided with a slide bolt projecting into a groove in a slide casing, the slide casing being fixedly connected to the second eccentric.
US08408802B2

The bi-directional rotation offset pivot thrust bearing includes a carrier and an array of longitudinal protrusions thereon that run through the center axis of the carrier. An array of pads are in slidable engagement with the longitudinal protrusions to permit the thrusts pads to move between first and second rotational positions. The thrust pads are automatically offset pivoted in a first direction when in a the first rotational position and automatically offset pivoted in a second direction when in the second rotational position. The thrust pads are offset pivoted in an approximate 60 percent to 40 percent ratio with the leading side of the thrust pad being 60 percent in both the first rotational position and the second rotational position. A retainer is also provided to maintain the thrust pads in slidable communication with the protrusions.
US08408801B2

An oiling nozzle for a thrust bearing improves the following capability of pads and achieves a higher bearing pressure of the thrust bearing. The oiling nozzles are arranged between respective pads disposed in positions facing the thrust surface of a thrust collar that protrudes radially outward from a rotor shaft, along the circumferential direction. Each oiling nozzle has a cylindrical stem and a rectangular-shaped mainframe whose heightwise middle portions of opposite lateral sides are provided with convex parts. Each convex part presents a semicircular disk shape in a plane view to be fitted into concave parts that are formed in lateral sides of the pads. A top portion located on a side opposite to the stem is formed with a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting lubricating oil that has been supplied from the bottom of the stem toward a space between the thrust collar and the pads.
US08408795B2

A ball-spline with rotary mechanism is provided which is as small as possible in size, able to perform high-precision works on a small scale and also weighs less than ever, helping the downsizing of the component-placement systems. The ball-spline has a spline shaft, a slider movable along the spline shaft through balls, and bearings installed on the opposite ends of the slider for rotation relative to a machine bed. The holder has a pair of projections which extend through slots in the spacer parts and slots in the end-cap major body to fit into slots in a carriage. Fastening screws fit into threaded holes in the projections to fasten the holder to the opposite ends of the slider.
US08408791B1

An improved storage bag comprises a bag body that defines an opening at a top thereof and two folding lines respectively at two opposing sides thereof. The bag body is provided with two handles respectively at the two opposing sides above the folding lines, so that when the bag body is extended into shape, the handles can be folded relative to the bag body along the folding lines to be overlapped horizontally. The bag body is provided with at least one support bar at each of the two opposing sides. Each support bar extends from a bottom of the bag body to an underside of one of the handles. The support bars can engage with the underside of one of the handles to support the bag body in the extended shape, thereby preventing the bag body from a collapse when the storage bag is in use.
US08408779B2

An illuminated mouse pad having a light guide having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter side, a light source for directing emitted light through a first portion of the perimeter of the light guide, and an array of light diffusers located on the bottom side of the light guide, said light diffusers capable of diffusing or spreading out or scattering light emitted by the light source to give a soft back light to the top side.
US08408778B2

A display device including a light unit is provided. The light unit may include a light guide plate, a light emitting module, and a color coordinate conversion sheet. The light emitting module may include a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit light to a side of the light guide plate. The color coordinate conversion sheet may be positioned on the light guide plate to convert a color coordinate distribution of the light emitted by the light emitting module to a color coordinate distribution that falls within a target distribution range.
US08408764B2

A vehicular lamp includes a reflective housing having a first recessed portion with a reflective surface. An outer housing made of heat dissipating material is fixed to the reflective housing and includes a plurality of fins on an outer surface thereof. The outer housing further includes a second recessed portion receiving the reflective housing. A receiving portion is provided behind the second recessed portion and receives a circuit board. A heat conductive seat made of heat dissipating material includes a connecting plate fixed to the outer housing. An extension extends from the connecting plate to a central, front portion of the reflective housing. The LED light module is mounted to the extension and electrically connected to the circuit board. A light-transmitting cover is mounted to and covers openings of the reflective housing and the outer housing.
US08408760B2

A lamp assembly, that has a fixed base, and a yoke which is controlled to move relative to the base to cause a panning motion. The yoke holds a lamp head. The yoke has a bottom portion and a top portion. A lamp head, which includes a light source therein, is coupled to said bottom portion of the yoke. The lamp head moves to form a tilting motion, thereby allowing both pan and tilt. The yoke includes handles thereon, including a first handle on a bottom most portion of said yoke, and a second handle on a top most portion of said yoke. One embodiment has the handles integrated into the yoke, e.g., molded to or recessed into the yoke.
US08408759B1

A canister for use with a luminaire, the canister having an interior heat sink incorporated into and within a top cover of the canister and a source of illumination retained within the canister. The heat sink includes a multiplicity of air fins separated by air gaps, the air fins extending radially from an interior wall of the cover. The heat sink also includes a multiplicity of air fins separated by air gaps, the air fins extending radially from an interior wall of the canister. The top cover has an opening and a removable sealing cap having a recessed surface extends into an interior of the top cover when affixed to the top cover to enclose the opening.
US08408755B2

A stage lighting fixture has a casing having a closed first end and an open second end; a light source housed inside the casing, close to the first end, to emit a light beam along an optical axis oriented longitudinally with respect to the casing; an objective optical system located along the optical axis, at the second end of the casing, and having a focus position; a circular-aperture diaphragm located along the optical axis, between the light source and the objective optical system, to intercept the beam; and an iris diaphragm located along the optical axis, between the light source and the objective optical system, and which can be set to the focus position.
US08408750B2

An LED illuminating device includes a hollow base including a first end and a second end, an LED substrate, a connector, and a driving circuit module accommodated in the base. A plurality of vents are defined in a circumferential wall of the hollow base; a space is formed between a circumferential wall of the driving circuit module and the inner surface of the circumferential wall of the hollow base. The space can communicate with the plurality of vents and serve as a hot air channel, to promote heat exchange between hot air in the base and cool air outside the base.
US08408749B2

Provided are light emitting apparatus including a solid state light emitting element having a first side and a second side, the solid state light emitting element configured to emit light from the first side. Such apparatus further include an elongated thermally conductive element positioned to conduct thermal energy from the second side of the solid state light emitting element.
US08408745B2

Systems and methods that incorporate a variable liquid lens are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a light projecting system includes a light source, and a light processing assembly configured to receive a light beam from the light source and to project an output field. The light processing assembly includes at least one liquid lens configured to controllably process the light beam such that the output field is variable between a relatively-broader illuminating field and a relatively-narrower targeting field. In some embodiments, a controller may controllably adjust the at least one liquid lens to alternately provide the illuminating field and the targeting field, and may controllably adjust at least one dwell time to adjust a brightness of at least one of the illuminating and targeting fields, respectively.
US08408736B2

An LED light includes at least one geometric-unit(s) arranged to project light beams to illuminate different remote areas, and may further include LEDs for illuminating nearby areas.
US08408732B2

The present invention provides a wirelessly connectable light source, which includes a woven member, an electrical conductor, a receiver circuit, and a light-emitting element. The woven member includes a body and an extension section extending from the body. The conductor is arranged in the body and the receiver circuit is electrically connected to the conductor. The light-emitting element is arranged inside the body and includes a light emission section and two conductive sections. The light emission section emits light projecting outside the body of the woven member. Light emitting from the light emission section is projected outside the body of the woven member. The two conductive sections are electrically connected to the conductor. Through integration of the extension section of the woven member to an article and coupling of a charging device to the article, the charging device may perform electrical charging to the receiver circuit so as to supply electrical power to the light-emitting element for giving off light.
US08408731B1

A safety vest assembly is provided for enhancing visibility of road workers or others in dark conditions. The assembly includes a vest having a rear section having opposite sides. The vest further has a front section coupled to and extending from the opposite sides of the rear section. A first front panel is coupled to a front surface of the vest forming a first front pocket. A first front light is positioned in the first front pocket. The first front light is visible through the first front panel whereby the vest is configured for enhancing visibility of a wearer of the vest.
US08408728B2

A fixture for through hole mounting to a panel includes a flange structure fabricated of a translucent material. The flange structure includes a body portion adapted to extend through a mount hole in the panel and having a outer peripheral portion, and a transverse flange portion having an outer size larger than the hole opening. A periphery flange portion overlaps the panel surrounding the hole when the flange structure is installed in the panel hole. A light source attachment portion is configured to direct light emitted from a light source into the body portion of the flange structure, so that at least some of the emitted light passes into the flange portion to illuminate the flange portion.
US08408725B1

A remote light wavelength conversion device is provided for converting a source light emitted from a light source within a source wavelength range into a converted light within a converted wavelength range. The remote light wavelength conversion device may include a waveguide and a color conversion optic. The waveguide may include a first end and a second end and the color conversion optic may be adjacently located at the second end of the waveguide. The color conversion optic may convert the source light transmitted through the waveguide to the converted light.
US08408723B2

Backing lighting of induction touch keys is accomplished with a spacer layer surrounding an inductive touch sensor coil and a light source on a substrate, and light transmissive layer having a suspended metal disk proximate to the inductive touch sensor coil. A protective fascia may be placed over the light transmissive layer and spacer layer. When the light transmissive layer is displaced toward the inductive touch sensor coil the impedance value of the inductive touch sensor coil changes and the change is detected. Materials used that are translucent (light transmissive) may be continuous and solid, and opaque materials may have openings therein for transmission of light therethrough.
US08408721B2

An imaging light source module that includes a plurality of light guides, a plurality of light emitting sources, and an intermediate image surface is disclosed. Each of the plurality of light guides has an entrance face, an exit face, and at least one side wall, and all of the light guides are capable of delivering light along associated light distribution axes intersecting a common reference point. Each of the plurality of light emitting sources delivers light only to a single light guide of the plurality of light guides. The intermediate image surface comprises a plurality of pixels, where each pixel receives light from the exit face of a single associated light guide of the plurality of light guides.
US08408717B2

A projection type image display apparatus includes a first lens group including a plural number of lenses being disposed in a direction of propagation light with respect to an image display element, a second lens group including a plural number of lenses being disposed in a direction of propagation light with respect to said first lens group and a reflection mirror, which is configured to reflect light emitted from at least one of said first and second lens groups, so as to project the light obliquely upon a screen. A ratio (Lo/Lp) of a diagonal size (Lo) of said screen and a distance (Lp) from a center of said reflection mirror to said screen is at least 2, and the second lens group includes a refractive lens having a negative power and a rotationally symmetric surface configuration.
US08408714B2

A light source device includes: an arc tube having a light emission portion; a first reflection mirror having a substantially concave surface for reflecting light emitted from the light emission portion; and a container which accommodates the arc tube and the first reflection mirror, wherein the container has a duct unit disposed above the arc tube. The duct unit includes a first opening open to the arc tube and disposed at a position shifted toward the traveling direction side from an opening end of the first reflection mirror, a wall portion which forms the edge of the first opening on the side opposite to the traveling direction side as a final end of the duct unit, and an inclined portion disposed in the vicinity of the edge of the first opening on the traveling direction side to bend the flowing direction of the cooling air toward the surface opposite to the surface having the first opening.
US08408711B2

A reflector applied in a projector including a projection control circuit, a light source unit, a beam combiner, and a lens is disclosed. The reflector includes a transparent electrode layer, an electrophoresis layer and a pixel electrode layer. The electrophoresis layer includes a plurality of micro cups, each micro cup contains suspension therein and a plurality of charged particles. The pixel electrode layer includes a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to the micro cups. The projection control circuit provides voltages between each pixel electrode and the transparent electrode layer to drive the charged particles to migrate. When the charged particles arrive at the transparent electrode layer, the lights from the light source unit are reflected by the charged particles to the beam combiner to be combined into an image to be transmitted to the lens to project an image.
US08408708B2

A polarization switch provides substantially ideal binary polarization switching over a broad range of wavelengths using a polarization modulation wheel having at least one retarder stack that transforms polarization. Using the polarization modulation wheel in a polarization system provides a high throughput polarization switch and operates over a wide range of incidence angles while providing substantially continuous and smooth polarization output for each component for any selected polarization basis set. The polarization modulation wheel is well-suited for stereoscopic polarized projection applications.
US08408705B2

The present invention is directed to a system for observing a cornea for transplantation which includes: an illumination means for illuminating the cornea for transplantation contained in a container; an entire-view imaging means for imaging the substantial entirety of the interior of the container; a position adjusting means for adjusting the position and angle of the cornea for transplantation; a magnified-view imaging means for imaging a magnified view of the cornea for transplantation illuminated by the illumination means; an image display means for displaying each image taken by the entire-view imaging means and the magnified-view imaging means; and an image control means for controlling each image.
US08408701B2

A method for generating a trimming setpoint for an ophthalmic lens to be fitted in a surround of a spectacle frame, includes: a) within a coordinate system of the surround identified by a horizontal axis, acquiring the shape of a longitudinal profile of the surround and the perimeter length of this longitudinal profile; b) within an optical coordinate system of the ophthalmic lens which is identified by a centering point and by a horizontal axis and which is made to coincide with the coordinate system of the surround, centering and orienting the longitudinal profile, c) projecting the acquired longitudinal profile onto a curved surface deduced from a curvature parameter of the ophthalmic lens or from the spectacle frame, d) correcting in two operations, the shape of the projected longitudinal profile, so as to equalize its perimeter length with the perimeter length of the acquired longitudinal profile, and e) deducing from the corrected longitudinal profile the trimming setpoint.
US08408687B2

An ink tank of the foam type which is provided with a detected portion capable of exactly and surely detecting the amount of ink used by the printer or remaining in the ink tank. The ink tank includes a sub ink chamber that is disposed or formed between a main ink chamber and an ink outlet of an ink tank of a foam type. When an amount of air flowing into the sub ink chamber increases, one or more reflecting surfaces of a right-angled prism, which function as ink interfaces, resume their original function of reflecting surfaces, thereby enabling the detection of an ink end. Air bubbles having entered the sub ink chamber are surely led onto the one or more reflecting surfaces by a bubble storage part. At an ink passage having a narrow width, which is defined by the one or more reflecting surfaces, air bubbles are pressed against the one or more reflecting surfaces to be put to a crushed state and in surface contact with the latter. Air bubbles are surely led onto the one or more reflecting surfaces, and are crushed and pressed against the reflecting surfaces. This configuration prevents the one or more reflecting surfaces from being covered with ink retained in spaces among the air bubbles. Therefore, the ink end can be detected surely and exactly.
US08408684B2

A core module for an ink jet printer includes a housing and a connection manifold disposed on the housing and including a plurality of ports providing fluid communication into and out of the module. A plurality of components is disposed within the housing, including a filter module, an ink reservoir, and an ink circuit. The filter module includes a fluid filter disposed in a filter housing. The filter housing has an inlet and an outlet. The ink circuit is in fluid communication with the components and the ports, and includes fluid paths for conveying ink between the components. The filter module is connected to the connection manifold such that the filter housing inlet and outlet are each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold.
US08408682B2

An insulation container has an insulation material, a filter arranged to encase the insulation material, the filter of a material that prevents escape of the insulation material while allowing air to pass through, and a container arranged to encase the filter, the container being heat sealable. A printer has an ink supply, a print head arranged to receive ink from the ink supply and configured to receive electrical signals from a controller and to dispense ink in accordance with the electrical signals onto a print substrate, and an insulator to absorb heat from the print head. A method of manufacturing an insulator includes forming a filter container of a filter material, the filter material having openings small enough to prevent escape of the filter material and large enough to allow air to pass through, filling, at least partially, the filter container with an insulating material, sealing the filter container, inserting the filter container into a sealable container, applying a vacuum to the sealable container such that the vacuum is applied to the filter container as well, and sealing the sealable container.
US08408673B2

A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results.
US08408666B2

A drawer assembly for mounting beneath a shelf has a drawer and a mounting unit. The drawer has a bottom, a front end, a rear end, and a pair of opposed side panels. The mounting unit is configured to mount to a shelf and has a pair of spaced apart drawer supports that support the drawer under a shelf. A pair of laterally spaced apart tracks is provided on either the drawer side panels or the mounting unit drawer supports. A pair of lugs protrudes from each of the other of the drawer side panels or the mounting unit drawer supports. Each pair of lugs is slidable relative to and along a respective one of the tracks. The drawer is slidable between a closed position and an open position relative to the mounting unit. The tracks and lugs cooperate such that the front end and rear end of the drawer are substantially level with one another in the closed position and the front end is lower than the rear end in the open position.
US08408665B2

A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator includes a door body filled with an insulating material, an exterior member on a front surface of the door body, a home bar frame around an opening opened in a side of the door body, a home bar cover coupled to the home bar frame to support at least one end of the exterior member, and a home bar door pivotally coupled to the home bar frame to selectively shield the opening. The home bar door shields an exposed portion of the home bar cover when the home bar door is closed. Thus, an outer appearance of a front surface of the refrigerator is improved nearly to unity.
US08408661B2

An electronic device enclosure includes a computer case, a mounting tray for receiving an expansion card and a fastening member. The computer case includes a front plate. A positioning slot and an opening are defined in the front plate. The fastening member includes a main body attached to the mounting tray and a latching plate connected to the main body. The latching plate is positioned in the positioning slot. An inserting portion is located on the latching plate and elastically engaged in the opening.
US08408658B2

The present invention relates to a novel method of mining underground coal and recovering coal seam gas, the method including locating a seam of coal; digging a mine shaft to reach the seam of coal; constructing a ventilated underground control center which includes a computerized control panel, wherein the computerized control panel controls the movement of a drill head, a hollow drill shaft, a movable hydraulic shield, a movable resin roof bolting machine, and a movable waste extrusion device; providing mining personnel to the ventilated underground control center; and allowing the mining personnel to operate the computerized control panel wherein they perform the tasks of moving the drill head into the seam of coal to obtain aggregate coal and coal seam gas; extruding waste material into mined-out space of the coal seam; and transferring the aggregate coal and coal seam gas to the surface of the earth.
US08408648B2

A fold and tumble mechanism may be used with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a seat back that is pivotable with respect to the seat bottom, and a latch associated the seat bottom for coupling the seat to a vehicle body. The fold and tumble mechanism may include a recliner mechanism adapted to pivotally mount the seat back to the seat bottom, a recliner release lever, and a fold and tumble release lever. The recliner release lever is associated with the recliner mechanism and is movable to selectively release the recliner mechanism to allow the seat back to pivot. The fold and tumble release lever includes a cam that is engageable with the recliner release lever. Furthermore, the fold and tumble release lever is operable to move the recliner release lever to release the recliner mechanism, and is further operable to unlatch the latch.
US08408643B2

A seat for a powered aircraft, the seat comprising a bucket (2) that is supported in hyperstatic manner on a stand. Leg members (7, 8) carry the bucket (2) via bolts (10). A first hinged mechanism for geometrically compensating deformation of the floor associates a ball-joint mounting of the bolts (10) on the leg members (7, 8) with an axial deformation arrangement of the bolts (10) between opposing axial bearing surfaces where they press against a strength member (9) of the bucket (2) and against the leg members (7, 8). A second energy-absorber mechanism associates fuses (22) with deformable support members (23) for the bucket (2), which members engage the bolts (10) and the leg members (7, 8) via slides (25) arranged to adjust the initial height position of the bucket (2).
US08408638B2

A reinforced vehicle structure includes a first vehicle wall, a second vehicle wall, an accessory attachment member and a reinforcement member. The first vehicle wall has a first outer wall surface facing an outboard direction and a first inner wall surface facing an inboard direction. The second vehicle wall extends transverse to the first vehicle wall, and has a second outer wall surface facing a first direction and a second inner wall surface facing an opposite direction. The accessory attachment member is mounted to the first inner wall surface. The reinforcement member has a first end mounted to the accessory attachment member and a second end mounted to the second inner wall surface with the reinforcement member spanning the first and second vehicle walls such that the reinforcement member does not extend parallel to either of the first and second vehicle walls.
US08408626B1

An aerodynamic stowable bed extender for pickup trucks meant to be mounted upon the lowered tailgate of the truck bed and utilized in conjunction with either an aerodynamic truck bed cap or tonneau cover. The aerodynamic bed extender is positioned in either a deployed configuration, upon the lowered tailgate, or a stowed configuration within the bed of the pickup truck. Deployed, the bed extender increases the fuel efficiency of the truck while also increasing usable cargo space within the truck bed. The aerodynamic bed extender comprises a cover and two side panels. The cover can be raised to an open position allowing access to the truck bed or detached from the side panels and stowed within the truck bed. The side panels can be repositioned from a deployed position to a stowed position within the bed of the pickup truck.
US08408624B2

A barrier for a vehicle that comprises a main section adapted to reside in a vehicle footwell and the main section has a width that is defined between opposite first and second ends thereof that is about half of a width of the vehicle footwell. A divider section is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the main section. The divider section is configured to rest on a vehicle seat. The divider section defines a length between opposite first and second ends thereof. The length of the divider section is substantially the distance from one of the first and second ends of the main section to a back of the vehicle seat, whereby the divider section is configured to define first and second discrete areas in the vehicle such that the divider section is located between the first and second discrete areas.
US08408623B1

A vehicle body with multiple elevation hard top has storage underneath and is capable of driving with the hardtop present or removed. A front passenger compartment has a front rooftop and a pair of rear quarter panel sides enclosing a rear of the vehicle body. A pair of removable side sections is disposed on and above respective of the two rear quarter panel sides and further enclosing the rear of the vehicle body. A hard rooftop is capable of setting upon and connecting to either one of said pair of removable side sections or the pair of rear quarter panel sides. A storage compartment is created underneath the hard rooftop and between the pair of rear quarter panel sides. The storage compartment is capable of holding at least said pair of removable side sections and also roof tops and the rear glass.
US08408622B2

A frame molding is provided. The frame molding includes a frame molding main body having first claws and a holder member assembled with the frame molding main body. A holder member includes a metal holder portion and a resin holder portion fixed to the metal holder portion. The resin holder has receiving portions that are crimped by the claws.
US08408619B2

An aspect of the invention provides a robot hand that performs an action for gripping an object between plural finger sections provided to be capable of changing a distance between the finger sections. Between the plural finger sections, a palm section movable along a direction in which a base side of the plural finger sections and a distal end side of the plural finger sections are connected is provided.
US08408616B2

Featured is a gripper for a tailgate; such a gripper includes a rotation pad at each regulation surface of a locator and a clamper of each clamping unit, where a swivel ball is mounted on the rotation pad. Each clamping unit is movable in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction by a movement unit of a frame so as to be adaptable to angle differences of each regulation surface of the tailgate. Such a tailgate gripper further includes a frame having a tool mounting portion to mount a tool changer of a robot in a lower portion of a rear surface thereof.
US08408615B1

An animal waste pickup device that has a handle, an elongate member and an upper pair of operating arms and a lower pair of operating arms located at the lower end of the elongate member. A fibrous material attaches to spiked material underlying the upper pair of arms. The upper arms are hingedly raised and lowered where the hinge connection is at the bottom of the elongate member. The lower pair of arms is configured to clamp together along a generally central point and the lower pair of arms further has spaced-apart apertures that are aligned to correspond with the spiked material such that the spiked material protrudes through the apertures a sufficient distance to engage the fibrous material. The lower pair of arms is operable using a grip trigger at the handle area that is in mechanical communication with the lower arms.
US08408604B2

A quick connector capable of surely confirming that a pipe body is engaged by a retainer when an elastically-deformable claw of the retainer and an elastically-deformable claw of a checker are adjacently arranged in an axial direction. Checker-axis direction elastically-deformable claws have distal-end sides formed flexibly deformable in the axial direction, maintain a state of being engaged by a second engagement portion of a retainer body by having deflective deformation regulated by a retainer diameter-expanding elastically-deformable claw in a state in which the retainer diameter-expanding elastically-deformable claw is expanded diametrically, and regulate sliding from a first position with respect to the retainer body toward a set radial direction by being engaged by the second engagement portion of the retainer body.
US08408603B2

A coupling device for a sealed coupling of first and second pipe sections, which are movable with respect to one another and at the ends of which respective flanges are fastened to be mutually sealed. The end face of the second flange, which is directed toward the first flange, includes an annular groove and a sealing element is disposed within the annular groove. The annular groove is configured to be subjected to pressure so as to press the sealing element against the end face of the first flange. The sealing element is a sealing ring made of elastic material.
US08408600B2

A tank mounting technique of the invention effectively responds to a variation in size of a high-pressure tank T in its longitudinal direction and allows positioning of the high-pressure tank T around its longitudinal axis. A tank receiving recess 110 provided below a vehicle platform F has a pair of a front inclined surface 112F and a rear inclined surface 112R arranged to face each other across a concave groove 114. A side face of the high pressure tank T is brought into contact with both the inclined surfaces 112F and 112R. An end face of a tank positioning groove TVS formed on the high pressure tank T is brought into contact with a contact structure 121 of a tank edge bracket 120. This arrangement enables the high-pressure tank T to be positioned in a vehicle vertical direction and a vehicle front-back direction, as well as in the tank longitudinal direction (in a vehicle width direction). The tank positioning groove TVS is aligned with a notch 122 formed in the tank edge bracket 120 to specify a rotational position of the high-pressure tank T around its longitudinal axis.
US08408599B2

A guide loop for a vehicle seat belt system includes a first portion configured for attachment to a body of a vehicle in one plane and a second portion extending from the first portion at an angle and configured for attachment to the body in another plane. The guide loop is fixedly attachable to and not rotatable with respect to the body. In another embodiment, the guide loop includes a third portion extending from the second portion and substantially parallel to the first portion. The third portion is spaced apart from the first portion prior to attachment to the body so as to define a channel that is configured for receiving a seat belt webbing. A guide loop for a vehicle seat belt system including a height adjuster includes a loop portion and a stop portion, and is fixedly attachable to and not rotatable with respect to the height adjuster.
US08408597B2

A sewing thread of a sewn portion provided in an air chamber of an airbag is prevented from being cut during manufacturing, and damage to the airbag starting from an end of the sewn portion is suppressed. An inner connecting portion (30) provided in an air chamber of an airbag, at which opposing base fabrics are connected to each other, is formed of a first sewn portion (31) formed by sewing the base fabrics together so as to divide the air chamber, a second sewn portion (32) that surrounds an end (31T) of the first sewn portion (31) to protect it, and an adhesive layer (35) formed around the sewn portions (31) and (32). Ends (32T) of the second sewn portion (32) disposed on both sides of the first sewn portion (31) are formed such that they are continuously sewn toward an inner region (R) of the second sewn portion (32) along the end (31T) at a predetermined distance therefrom, such that they project further than the end (31T) of the first sewn portion (31), without intersecting the first sewn portion (31).
US08408594B2

A seatbelt system for a vehicle includes a seatbelt anchor, a seatbelt connected to the seatbelt anchor, and an airbag mounted to the seatbelt anchor such that the airbag is provided separately from the seatbelt. The airbag may be a side airbag for a pelvic area of a vehicle occupant. The seatbelt system may deploy the airbag to a desired location in a short amount of time and in a precise manner with improved confidence that the airbag has been deployed to the desired location.
US08408592B2

A vehicle seat is provided having a sufficient rigidity and strength as well as a lighter weight. It comprises cushion materials and skin materials on a seat frame and has a plurality of triangle or circular recesses and projections that are continuously formed in at least a part of the seat frame.
US08408590B2

An active bolster for passenger crash protection in a vehicle comprises a base wall and a front wall, the walls having first and second facing surfaces to form an inflatable bladder with an initial open space between the surfaces. The bladder includes a plurality of tear joints. Each tear joint is comprised of first and second upstanding ribs wherein the first upstanding rib extends from the first surface part way into the open space and extends end-to-end along a first direction. The second upstanding rib extends from the second surface part way into the open space to contact the first upstanding rib and extends end-to-end substantially along a second direction that is substantially transverse to the first direction so that the first and second upstanding ribs contact at an intersection. At each intersection the first and second upstanding ribs comprise a welded joint that is substantially rigid against compression forces and that allows the tear joints to separate under tension during inflation of the bladder.
US08408587B2

A dashboard support part is provided for fastening on a dashboard of a motor vehicle, having an airbag exit opening for unfolding a passenger airbag, and a flap configuration, which is hinged on the dashboard support part and closes the airbag exit opening. The dashboard support part has a depression, in which the flap configuration is received. The flap configuration comprises a separate flap, which closes the entire airbag exit opening, is only connected to the dashboard support part along a hinge line, and rests in the depression along its remaining circumference.
US08408579B2

Ski adapted to receive a skier's boot, the ski having a front tip, a rear end, front and rear contact lines, and a central zone between the front tip and the rear end. The distance separating the forward contact line and the ski tip is greater than or about 500 mm. The shovel, located between the front tip and the forward contact line has a convex zone which includes a first shovel portion having a lateral profile extending between an arc of circle with a 9-meter radius and an arc of circle with a 5-meter radius; a second shovel portion contiguous with the first shovel portion and having a lateral profile extending between an arc of circle with a 9-meter radius and an arc of circle with a 1-meter radius; a third shovel portion contiguous to the second shovel portion and extending to the front tip of the ski.
US08408577B2

An adjustable hitch assembly including a mounting collar, a hitch base with a vertical post having a plurality of alternating square sections and circular sections, a hitch ball member having at least one hitch ball and a pivot shaft extending therefrom. The vertical post is slidably and rotatably received through the mounting collar; the pivot shaft is rotatably received in the mounting collar. The mounting collar, to which the hitch ball member is attached, may slide vertically along the vertical post and may rotate about the vertical post to adjust the height and angular position of the hitch ball member. The hitch ball member may have a plurality of variously sized hitch balls that a user may select by rotating the hitch ball member about the pivot shaft. A single rotatable latch pin received by the mounting collar engages and disengages the various components of the hitch assembly to allow adjustability.
US08408576B2

Disclosed is an improved all terrain vehicle (ATV) trailer hitch system, comprising a first and second pivotal joint connected by an elongated driveshaft for navigating uneven terrain and maneuvering through tight turns without joint binding or trailer tipping. The driveshaft comprises a length adjustable member having a first end connecting to a lead vehicle via a first pivotal joint that statically supports the joint and allows pitching of the driveshaft. The driveshaft second end attaches by way of a second pivotal and rotatable joint to a trailer attachment assembly. The trailer attachment assembly provides connection to the trailer and for receiving an elongated drive screw member that establishes a rotational joint. The second pivotal joint therefore provides yaw and roll capability for the trailer. The system provides a multiple joint connection separated by an elongated driveshaft between a vehicle and a trailer for reduced binding and off-road maneuvering.
US08408574B2

A bicycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, and a frame supported on the front and rear wheels, the frame having a frame member. The bicycle further includes a first fairing member protruding outward from the frame member and having a side surface defining an aerodynamic trailing edge and a second fairing member detachably mounted on the first fairing member such that the side surface is exposed.
US08408573B2

In one embodiment, a stem for bicycle handlebar and the like includes an arm joining the handlebar with a fork. The arm includes a three-piece wedge on each end that is adjustable by a screw to tighten and loosen a middle clamp of the wedge. The wedge is moved to release and tighten the fork and the handlebar independently.
US08408559B1

An active geometry control suspension system may include an active roll control unit having a guide rail formed along a predetermined distance in a front-rear direction from a rail seat inserted down from above a lower arm, sliders slidably fitting in the guide rail, a stabilizer link with one end pivotally coupled to the sliders, a pushrod with one end pivotally connected to the sliders, and an actuator having an operation bar, one end of which may be pivotally connected to the other end of the pushrod, the operating bar operating forward or backward, wherein the one end of the stabilizer link and the one end of the pushrod may be connected to the sliders through a double ball joint, and the other end of the pushrod and the one end of the operation bar may be connected through a ball joint.
US08408551B2

A card shoe handling device includes a playing card output receiver including a playing card support surface and a ceiling at least partially disposed relatively over the playing card support surface. The playing card output receiver is sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards handled by the playing card handling system. The playing card handling system also includes an elevator mechanism operable to selectively move the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the ceiling limits access from an exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the card support surface of the playing card output receiver and in the raised position the ceiling does not limit access from the exterior of the playing card handling system to at least some of the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver.
US08408545B2

Apparatus for feeding sheets of paper printed by a printer to a sheet processing device is disclosed where the printer has a sheet discharge outlet and the processing device has a sheet inlet at a different location (e.g., a different height) than the discharge outlet. A sheet conveyor is provided for conveying the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet to the sheet inlet. The apparatus blows air to cool on each sheet as it is conveyed from the discharge outlet to the sheet inlet, and the apparatus at least partially eliminates static electricity from the sheets as they are conveyed.
US08408541B2

A method and apparatus for controlling transfer of paper. In order to align the leading end of a sheet of paper, when the sheet arrives at a predetermined position in an image forming apparatus, a registration unit is stopped from operating and a driving unit that transfers the sheet from an auxiliary paper-feeding unit is also stopped from operating so that bending and crumpling of the sheet can be minimized.
US08408538B2

A discharge mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a roller member, and a deforming unit. The roller member has a peripheral surface that is coaxial with the rotary shaft, rotates together with the rotary shaft, and discharges a medium that is in contact with the peripheral surface. The deforming unit deforms the medium in such a way that a part of the medium, the part being not in contact with the peripheral surface, passes through a position that is closer to the rotary shaft than the peripheral surface is. A part of the peripheral surface, the part being in contact with the medium, is continuously displaced in an axial direction and in a rotation direction of the rotary shaft when the roller member is rotated.
US08408537B2

A sheet reversing mechanism for an image forming apparatus including a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets, including a transfer roller, a drive motor, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The transfer roller transfers a print sheet along the switchback reverse path. The drive motor rotates in a forward direction and in a reverse direction. The driving force transmission mechanism transmits driving force generated by rotation of the drive motor to the transfer roller. The driving force transmission mechanism includes a clutch configured to connect or disconnect transmission of the driving force to the transfer roller.
US08408524B2

In a device for humidifying a gas flow, an atomized liquid is combined with a gas flow in a spray chamber, and passed through a generally U-shaped gas flow passage having a first generally vertical part 3 through which the atomized liquid and gas passes to a lower part 4. From there, the gas passes generally vertically upwardly to an outlet 9. The lower part of the passage incorporates an opening 6 to a water separator 7. The opening 6 is closable by a float device 10, or includes a flow restricting control valve 13.
US08408522B2

The invention relates to a lifting device (10), in particular a semitrailer support or the like, comprising a shank tube (11) and a support tube (12) which is movable with respect to the shank tube, wherein on the shank tube a lifting gear mechanism (26) is arranged which comprises an input shaft arrangement (27) for connecting a drive device, and an output shaft arrangement (28) for driving a lifting spindle (20) which is arranged within the support tube and which acts on a pressure plate (18) arranged within the shank tube, wherein the pressure plate is located above the lifting gear mechanism.
US08408512B2

A mount for mounting a mirror on a knife. The knife has a blade, a blade tip, and a handle. The mount has a base that is configured to engage a mirror, and a housing that is coupled with the base. The housing defines a cavity that is configured for receiving at least a portion of the knife blade such that the blade tip is substantially enclosed by the housing when the blade is positioned in the cavity. Preferably, the housing encloses approximately between 1 to 5 inches of the knife blade.
US08408501B2

A hose clamp includes a hanger configured to be suspended from a harness. A clasp defines lower pockets and is rotatably attached to the hanger by a hinge. The clasp is configured to rotate about the hinge between an open position, in which flexible lines can be laid into the pockets, and a closed position in which the hanger and the clasp together surround and capture the lines in the respective pockets. A latch is configured to latch the clasp in the closed position.
US08408500B2

An aircraft wing comprising a wing fixed central body, and a leading edge mobile slat (16) designed to be moved in rotation relative to the fixed central body along a circular trajectory inscribed on a sphere with center (C). According to the invention, the wing also comprises a cable carrier chain (30) comprising links (34) articulated to each other through articulation axes (44) that converge towards a single point, the chain being connected at its two ends to the fixed central body and to the mobile slat. Furthermore, the single point is the center (C) of the sphere, located on a rotation axis (42) of the leading edge mobile slat relative to the wing fixed body.
US08408499B2

The invention provides according to one aspect an aircraft, comprising a fuselage, an airfoil mounted to the fuselage and a flap for steering the aircraft. Furthermore, connecting means articularly connect the flap to the airfoil such that the flap is allowed to rotate around a rotation axis substantial parallel to the trailing or leading edge of the airfoil between a retracted position and an extended position and to translate in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis. A rod articularly connect the flap to the airfoil or to the fuselage, wherein the rod defines the translation of the flap in the direction parallel to the rotation axis. Hence, by way of one aspect of the invention, forces acting of the flap in a direction parallel to the rotation axis can be taken up by the rod. Consequently, there is no need for using locating bearings having negative aerodynamic effects due to their by comparison large dimensions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flight of the aircraft.
US08408492B2

A floor panel, in particular for covering floors of cargo holds of aircraft, is formed by a plurality of milled profiles, which are friction stir welded along their longitudinal edges, with preference continuously to form longitudinal (butt) seams. The milled profiles each form a beam “of equal stress”, with an upper flange and a lower flange spaced apart from one another along their extent. The milled profiles have a double-T-shaped cross-sectional profile, the upper flanges and the lower flanges being respectively connected by webs. With preference, the milled profiles are milled out in one piece from solid material of a sufficiently tough aluminum alloy. The joining together of the floor panel including a plurality of milled profiles that are arranged in parallel and friction stir welded allows a high mechanical load-bearing capacity of the floor panel in comparison with conventional sandwich floor panels along with a comparatively low weight.
US08408485B2

A mixer attachment for use with a skid steer. In one embodiment, the mixer attachment includes a mixing tub with a circumferential wall extending between a floor and a rim to define an interior compartment for holding a quantity of material. An auger may be provided that mixes the materials and is driven by a hydraulic drive unit. In some embodiments, one or more material retarders extend into the interior compartment to impede movement of the material within the interior compartment. A discharge chute allows discharge of material from the interior compartment. The mixing tub is movable between a scooping position and a mixing position.
US08408483B2

A dental water jet apparatus for adjusting a pressurized water stream from a pump to a tip moves pressurized water from a reservoir to a tip in fluid communication with the pump. A flow control knob may be turned to selectively adjust the water pressure supplied by the tip between a minimum and a maximum value. When the flow control knob is turned in a first direction, the volume of fluid directed towards the tip decreases and the volume of fluid returned to an inlet of the pump increases. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue.
US08408479B2

Method of spraying a pulverulent material into a carrier gas, comprising the acceleration of the carrier gas under pressure up to a sonic velocity before an expansion enabling the pulverulent material to be entrained, with formation of a constant stream of carrier gas entraining an adjustable predetermined amount of pulverulent materials, and safety device for spraying pulverulent material into a carrier gas.
US08408476B2

An optical recognition pattern for length measurement is mounted on an optical contact surface and includes a plurality of optical recognition units, each of which corresponds to a length value. The sequence of the optical recognition units on the optical contact surface is consistent with that of the corresponding length values in such a way that the optical recognition pattern imitating the conventional measuring ruler can be constituted. Besides, the optical recognition pattern can further work with an optical recognition device to constitute a length measurement system that the optical recognition is applied to.
US08408467B2

An optical apparatus (10) for an optoelectronic sensor (100, 200) which has at least one lens (14a-b), wherein a further optical element (18) is provided in the beam path of the optical apparatus (10) for extending the depth of field, wherein the optical element (18) is made and/or arranged such that a part of the beam path remains free and thus generates a first depth of field; and wherein the optical element (18) has a planoparallel zone which only covers a part of the beam path of the optical apparatus (10) and thus generates a second depth of field.
US08408463B2

An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
US08408460B2

A ranging system for use with a projectile launching device is provided. The ranging system includes an alignment marker visible with an optical sight device. The position of the alignment marker is adjusted based at least on a determined range to a target.
US08408450B2

A packaging configuration is disclosed. The packaging configuration comprises a sheet of packaging film having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion. The sheet is formed into a tube such that the leading end portion and the trailing end portion overlap each other to form an overlapped region having overlapping films. The overlapped region comprises a tear line region along a tear line extending in a machine direction. The sheet further comprises a tab having an attached end attached to the sheet at the leading end portion and a free end opposite to the attached end. The overlapping films in at least a portion of the overlapped region are sealed against each other; and the overlapping films within the tear line region are not sealed against each other or are less strongly sealed against each other than the overlapping films outside the tear line region.
US08408442B2

A surgical device comprising an anvil, a cartridge assembly, a dynamic clamping member, a clamp ring and a drive mechanism is disclosed. The cartridge assembly is configured to house a plurality of fasteners at least partially therein. The anvil and cartridge assembly are movable in relation to each other between open and approximated positions. The dynamic clamping member is slidably positioned to translate at least partially through the cartridge assembly to eject fasteners therefrom. The dynamic clamping member engages the anvil and the cartridge assembly. The clamp ring is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position at least partially encircling proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly from exceeding a predetermined distance. The drive mechanism includes a single actuator for driving both the clamp ring and the dynamic clamping member.
US08408441B2

An anvil assembly comprising an anvil shaft and an anvil head, the anvil head having anvil depressions for forming surgical staples. The anvil head is mounted to the anvil shaft and the anvil shaft has a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced apart elongated projections attached to the anvil shaft and extending therefrom. The projections are configured and dimensioned to retain a purse string suture.
US08408438B2

An adjustable depth-of-drive assembly for use with a fastener-driving tool upper probe includes a workpiece contact element carried on the upper probe and having a contact end and an adjustment end, a stop configured for being secured to the upper probe and being moveable between an adjusting position in which the workpiece contact element is movable relative to the upper probe, and a locked position wherein the adjustment end is secured against movement relative to the upper probe, a biasing element associated with the stop and configured for urging the stop and the adjustment end into a selected locked position relative to the upper probe with a biasing force, and at least one camming element carried on the stop for selective camming engagement between the upper probe and the stop by means of a user's manual force to urge the stop into the adjusting position against the biasing element force.
US08408437B1

A motorcycle saddlebag storage system employs a specially configured shelf that enables a user to segment a saddlebag interior into multiple sections, each for holding articles (e.g. tools, gloves, supplies).
US08408431B2

A fluid dispenser valve having a valve body (10) containing a metering chamber (20), and a valve member (30) that is slidable in the valve body (10) between a rest position and a dispensing position so as to dispense the contents of the metering chamber (20) selectively. The valve member (30) is urged resiliently towards its rest position by a spring (8) that co-operates firstly with the valve body (10) and secondly with a radial collar (320) of the valve member (30), the radial collar (320) being of a shape that is polygonal, the vertices (325) of the polygon being substantially rounded.
US08408428B2

The device includes a membrane slidably mounted in a metering chamber, the membrane including a first sealing element forming a check valve, and a second sealing element enabling the membrane to slide in a leaktight manner relative to the metering chamber. The first and second sealing elements are made of a material that is relatively flexible, the membrane also including a rigid portion made of a material that is more rigid than the material of the first and second sealing elements.
US08408426B2

A squeeze bottle forces substantially all of the liquid to be dispensed toward a top of the bottle. A valving arrangement reduces or eliminates a likelihood of air contacting the liquid to be dispensed. A top cap has a nozzle with a one-way valve allowing liquid to leave a liquid bag. A bottom cap has a one-way valve allowing air to enter an airbag. The liquid bag and the airbag are positioned within a sealed third chamber. The liquid bag and the airbag have a controlled interaction within the sealed third chamber, which results in substantially complete emptying of the liquid bag by squeezing the bottle.
US08408424B2

An apparatus that promotes the flow of materials has a body having an inner shape for holding the materials, a wall having a shape that approximates a portion of the inner shape of the body, and a vibrator attached to the wall. The wall may be disposed vertically within the body close to the body's inner shape. The vibrator transfers vibrations to the wall to agitate the material and encourage material flow.
US08408423B1

A method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle. The apparatus includes a handle having a nozzle, an actuator fluidly coupled to the nozzle, and a cartridge of sanitizer fluid fluidly coupled to the actuator. Manipulation of the handle causes the actuator to dispense sanitizer fluid from the nozzle.
US08408417B2

A tank, comprising a storage space enclosed by a substantially fluid-tight tank wall, wherein the tank wall comprises a curing material for causing transition from a first flexible state to a second substantially form-retaining stage, wherein the tank wall is provided with a preformed opening for substantially fluid-tight co-action with a preformed valve.
US08408405B2

A shelving system including an elongated support member and a plurality of shelves, each of which can be supported by a clamping mechanism. The support member has a telescoping configuration so that upper and lower ends of the support member can be pressed against upper and lower stationary objects. The clamping mechanism allows the plurality of shelves to be adjusted both vertically and laterally along a length of the elongated support member.
US08408402B2

A desk organizer is adapted to be located between a computer screen and keyboard to store or locate various items of stationery. The desk organizer has an elongate body, having an upper inclined surface facing the user and a lower surface to face and abut a support surface. The elongate body is shaped having recesses to removably locate various items therein and at least one device support surface to support an IT device. The device support surfaces are positioned in the elongate body at the ends such that when a device is located on the device support surface a user can both secure and operate the IT device with one hand.
US08408397B2

A shaker apparatus including a basket having an upstream side, a downstream side, and two side walls, at least one wedge guide and one support rail disposed on each side wall, and at least one screen assembly. The support rails and the wedge guides may be configured to engage the screen assembly. The screen assembly may have one or more layers of screen mesh mounted on a screen frame. The screen frame may include a first and a second side rail, each having an upstream end, a downstream end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A slope of the top surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end may be different than a slope of the bottom surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end.
US08408396B2

The invention is a process for the beneficiation and utilization of various kinds of coal and shale oil as a solid fuel for thermoelectric power stations. The beneficiation process is performed underground, near to the place of beneficiation waste stowing, using aqueous salt solution with a density between those of the target component and waste rock. The regeneration of heavy liquid from final beneficiation tailings is performed by washing with non-aqueous volatile liquid, with subsequent drying by the subsurface heat after placing these tailings in the worked-out space. The resulting vapors are compressed and condensed; thus regenerated non-aqueous liquid is returned for washing the beneficiation tailings, while effluents produced by washing are separated into aqueous and non-aqueous components by heat released at the liquefaction of the non-aqueous liquid vapors. The enriched solid fuel remaining in the floatable state is delivered by its flow to the thermo-electric power plant.
US08408389B1

A three piece sealed dispensing and storage cap that is inserted onto the neck of a liquid bearing container threaded neck of a bottle, said device being a storage chamber for sealably containing a liquid and/or dry material and a dispenser for releasing the material when desired into the primary container. The dispensing cap may include a desiccant to prevent moisture from reaching the storage chamber. The bottom seal that is frangible and ruptured to activate the device may include a line of weakening. The button top is depressed manually forcing an actuator against the bottom of the cap body seal to rip away the bottom seal dispensing the material. The present invention allows the use of materials that would discolor, degrade or interact with other substances when added to the contents of the bottle, to remain stable and/or inactive until the time of use.
US08408374B2

A coupling assembly which has an adjusting device. In order to prevent uncontrolled adjusting of the adjusting device during transport until installation, a transport lock is provided. In order to be able to further propose an installation space-neutral solution, which, in particular, has no negative impact on the actuating system, grabber arms are disposed for lever elements of the coupling assembly axially in the direction of the counterpressure plate.
US08408368B2

A caliper brake including a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a pair of laterally spaced holes, and a mounting bolt is received through each hole. Each bolt includes a head and a threaded portion on opposing ends, and a nut is received on each threaded portion. An inner spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the nut on each bolt, and an outer spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the head on each bolt.
US08408361B2

A ladder assembly includes a ladder, two wheel carriers mounted on the ladder movably and rotatably, two wheels each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the wheel carriers, two fastening members each extended through a respective one of the wheel carriers and each secured on the ladder to attach the respective wheel carrier to the ladder, and a support rack pivotally mounted on the ladder. Thus, when the support rack and the wheels are expanded outward from the ladder, the ladder assembly can function as a carrier, and when the support rack and the wheels are folded onto the ladder, the ladder assembly can function as a ladder so that the ladder assembly both functions as a ladder and a carrier, thereby enhancing the versatility of the ladder assembly.
US08408357B2

An attenuator for the air inlet tract of an internal combustion engine comprises an unobstructed tube (4) having a surrounding enclosure (9) divided into a primary chamber (11) in fluid communication with the inlet tube, and a secondary chamber (12) in fluid communication with the primary chamber. Two secondary chambers (12, 13) may be provided. The arrangement can be tuned to attenuate a wide range of frequencies.
US08408356B2

A box-shaped enclosure of a storage box includes a deadening wall or walls defining a storage space between first and second planes. The storage space is open at the first and second planes. A deadening wall member extends along the first plane. An auxiliary box-shaped enclosure is connected to the box-shaped enclosure so as to close the first plane of the box-shaped enclosure. The auxiliary box-shaped enclosure defines an auxiliary space isolated from the storage space with a deadening wall member. The storage space is connected to the fresh air through the ventilation opening and the auxiliary space. The deadening wall or walls of the box-shaped enclosure and the deadening wall member serve to prevent the leakage of the operating sound.
US08408353B2

Disclosed is a vehicle steering apparatus (1; 301) equipped with a control device (12; 322) which controls the actuation of an electric motor (18; 317). First and second housings (23, 24 325, 312), which are in contact with each other, partition off an accommodation chamber (100; 324) which contains the control device (12; 322). The first housing (23; 325) is at least one part of the motor housing (25; 323). The first housing (23; 325) includes a first interior wall surface (101; 401) which partially partitions the accommodation chamber (100; 324). The second housing (24; 312) includes a second interior wall surface (102; 402) which partially partitions the accommodation chamber (100; 324). The first and the second interior wall surfaces (101, 102; 401, 402) are opposite each other with respect to the axial direction (X1) of a rotatable shaft (37; 352) of an electric motor (18; 317). The second interior wall surface (102; 402) includes the flat annular surface that surrounds a central axis (C1) of the rotatable shaft (37; 352) and an extension (C2) of the central axis (C1). The flat circular surface is orthogonal to the central axis (C1) and the extension (C2) of same.
US08408350B2

An airbag module for use in a vehicle. The airbag module an airbag cushion configured to deploy externally to the vehicle and an inflator configured to inflate the at least three inflatable chambers of the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion is configured to span between first and second ends and having at least three inflatable chambers. The airbag cushion is configured to be anchored at both ends and deploys into a position wherein at least one inflatable chamber is entirely separated from the vehicle by a gap formed by the deployed airbag cushion projecting away from the vehicle, and wherein the deployed airbag is configured to hinge between the first and second end so that the gap is bounded by the at least three inflatable chambers.
US08408346B2

A motor vehicle front end has a frame, which supports a heat exchanger and has an upper horizontal crosspiece connected to two uprights by means of connection elements, which are plastically deformable so as to allow the upper horizontal crosspiece to be lowered in the event of an accident; the upper horizontal crosspiece comprises a rigid rear portion and a plastically deformable, front portion which is made of plastic material and is fixed to the rigid rear portion.
US08408338B2

A drill bit employing a plurality of abrasive, particulate-impregnated cutting structures extending upwardly from a bit face and defining a plurality of fluid passages therebetween. The plurality of cutting structures may be configured as spaced posts, or as blades with circumferentially extending grooves at radially spaced intervals. Superabrasive cutting elements in the form of thermally stable diamond are placed between the posts or in the grooves, depending on the cutting structure configuration, and at a reduced exposure. Additional cutting elements may be placed in a cone of the bit surrounding a centerline thereof. The blades may extend generally radially. Additionally, discrete protrusions may extend outwardly from at least some of the plurality of cutting structures. The discrete protrusions may be formed of thermally stable diamond.
US08408328B2

A hydraulic control system includes a first motor, a second motor, a pump operatively associated with the first motor, a first coupling valve operatively associated with the second motor, first parallel valves operatively associated with the second motor, and a first switching valve operatively associated with the first coupling valve and the first parallel valves. The first switching valve is configured to switch the first coupling valve between a first coupling state and a second coupling state opposite the first coupling state and to switch the first parallel valves between a first parallel state and a second parallel state opposite the first parallel state. While the first parallel valves are in the first parallel state a portion of the output of the first motor drives the second motor while the first parallel valves are in the second parallel state, the output of the pump drives the second motor.
US08408327B2

A method for operating a driving tool, such as a fastening tool, that has a driver, a motor assembly with a motor and an output member, and an electrical power source. The methodology includes transmitting electrical power to the motor to rotate the output member and thereafter adjusting one or more control parameters if a rotational speed of the output member is not within a predetermined operating range.
US08408325B2

An upper link for a utility vehicle, in particular for an agricultural tractor having a hydraulic cylinder (34) for adjusting the upper link (32) and at least one fluid tank (36), to which the hydraulic cylinder (34) can be coupled, so that in a coupled condition, hydraulic fluid limited to a pre-determined volume can be exchanged between the hydraulic cylinder (34) and the fluid tank (36), and so that a piston (40) of the hydraulic cylinder (34) can move in floating fashion by a distance (ls) corresponding to the pre-determined volume in the hydraulic cylinder (34). The present invention further includes a front-end as well as to a back-end three-point hitch of a utility vehicle with two pivotally connected lower links and an upper link with such a fluid tank.
US08408321B2

A ceiling-only dry sprinkler system configured to address a storage occupancy fire event with a sprinkler operational area sufficient in size to surround and drown the fire. The system and method preferably provide for the surround and effect by activating one or more initial sprinklers, delaying fluid flow to the initial activated sprinklers for a defined delay period to permit the thermal activation of a subsequent one or more sprinklers so as to form the preferred sprinkler operational area. The sprinklers of the operational area are preferably configured so as to provide sufficient fluid volume and cooling to address the fire-event with a surround and drown configuration. The defined delay period is of a defined period having a maximum and a minimum. The preferred sprinkler system is adapted for fire protection of storage commodities and provides a ceiling only system that eliminates or otherwise minimizes the economic disadvantages and design penalties of current dry sprinkler system design.
US08408318B2

A method for radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises arranging the tubular element in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element. An annular space is defined between said expanded and remaining tubular sections. The expanded tubular section is axially extended by moving the remaining section downward relative to the expanded section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction. A tube is positioned in the annular space so that the tube extends substantially concentrically with the expanded section and is arranged to support at least one of the remaining section and the expanded tubular section.
US08408314B2

An intelligent completion system includes production tubing configured for production from multiple zones in a wellbore. At least one flow control valve is disposed on the production tubing for each of the multiple zones, this flow control valve capable to regulate the flow of a wellbore fluid into the production tubing. A chemical injection mandrel is disposed on the production tubing adjacent the at least one flow control valve in the each of the multiple zones, this mandrel being connected to at least one chemical injection line for injecting one or more chemicals into the wellbore. A control mechanism is connected to the at least one flow control valve and the chemical injection mandrel such that the injection mandrel and the at least one flow control valve are operated in a coordinated manner.
US08408306B2

Systems and processes are provided for removing fluid from a subterranean well and enhancing the production of oil and/or gas are herein disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an injection conduit, an injection valve, a relief valve, a container, a container valve, a return conduit valve, and a return conduit, all arranged within a subterranean well for removing at least one fluid from the well. The removal of at least one fluid from the well is controlled by the flow of gas into the injection conduit.
US08408305B2

The method disclosed herein includes the introduction of proppant-free stage and a proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or subterranean formation. The method increases the effective fracture width and enhances fracture conductivity within the formation. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage contains a breaker. The other stage contains a viscosifying polymer or viscoelastic surfactant to which the breaker has affinity. The proppant-free stage may be introduced prior to introduction of the proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or formation. Alternatively, the proppant laden stage may be introduced into the wellbore and/or formation prior to introduction of the proppant-free stage.
US08408303B2

A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises placing a cement composition comprising a non-metallic thermally conductive fiber into the subterranean formation, and allowing the composition to set therein, wherein the non-metallic thermally conductive fiber has a thermal conductivity greater than about 500 W/m·K. Another method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises providing a cement composition comprising a pitch-based carbon fiber, a hydraulic cement material, and water, placing the cement composition in a formation, and allowing the cement composition to set therein, wherein said pitch-based carbon fiber has a density of from about 2.0 grams/cc to about 2.3 grams/cc. A cement composition comprising a cementitious material, water, and a non-metallic thermally conductive fiber having a thermal conductivity greater than about 500 W/m·K, or a pitch-based carbon fiber having a density of from about 2.0 grams/cc to about 2.3 grams/cc.
US08408289B2

A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.
US08408283B2

A serpentine fin for assembly between tubes in a heat exchanger core, and a method of making same from a metal strip. The strip edges have a hem comprising a double thickness of the strip material extending inward from the edge. The metal strip has folds extending across the strip width such that the strip forms a serpentine shape, with the folds being adapted to contact the tubes in the heat exchanger core. Multiple rows of split louvers are disposed between adjacent folds. Each row of split louvers comprises louvers having openings extending in the direction of the strip length and formed in a pair of adjacent, spaced louver banks. Ribs are disposed parallel to the louver openings adjacent the strip edges and in at least one center portion of the strip between the strip edges, and extend across the pair of louver banks.
US08408270B2

Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; at least one heating element for heating the first surface of the first member; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface, the nip including an inlet end at which a substrate enters the nip and an outlet end at which the substrate exits from the nip; and an air knife disposed downstream from the outlet end of the nip and extending along an axial direction of the first member, the air knife including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end and a plurality of axially-spaced nozzles disposed between the first end and second end; and at least one gas inlet through which gas is supplied to the air knife. The nozzles are oriented to eject the gas toward the first surface downstream from the outlet end of the nip to facilitate stripping of the substrate from the first surface. The air knife has a configuration and is positioned proximate to the nip such that the substrate does not contact the air knife after exiting the outlet end of the nip when the nozzle gas ejection is ON or OFF.
US08408268B2

A label for a container is formed by wrapping a length of label material around a cylindrical mandrel and introducing heat, adhesive or other sealing means into a gap between the leading end portion of the label material and the trailing end portion as the label material is wrapped around the mandrel. The cylindrical sleeve is slid off of the mandrel and telescoped over a container passing thereunder. The container with a cylindrical sleeve therearound is then moved to a heating station which heats the label material, preferably foam polystyrene, to cause it to shrink into conformity with the contour of the container.
US08408262B2

An electrostatic chuck includes an array of independently biased conductive chuck elements, an array of sensor-conductor assemblies, and/or a combination of an array of sensor-conductor assemblies and at least one motorized chuck. Conductive chuck elements, either standing alone or embedded in a sensor-conductor assembly, are independently biased electrostatically to compensate for bowing and/or warping of a substrate thereupon so that the substrate can be bonded with a planar surface. A single electrostatic chuck can be employed to reduce the bowing and warping of one of the two substrates to be bonded, or two electrostatic chucks can be employed to minimize the bowing and warping of two substrates to be bonded.
US08408257B2

A liquid medicine dispensing device includes a rotary unit 12 which rotates while holding a plurality of original drug vials 100, and a conveyance mechanism that conveys a prescription bottle 110 in the horizontal direction on the underside of the rotary unit 12. Each of the original drug vials 100 is connected with a discharge nozzle 17 to which a discharge valve 26 is attached, and an air nozzle 29 connected with a pump and an atmospheric relief valve. When discharging liquid medicine, the prescription bottle 110 is conveyed in advance to a position that is directly below an original drug vial 100 required for dispensing. In that state, the original drug vial 100 is inverted by rotating the rotary unit 12 by 180 degrees, and the discharge valve 26 is opened.
US08408256B2

Apparatus for filling containers having stoppers that are penetrable for filling the containers with a substance, and thermally resealable for thermally sealing the resulting hole. A container support supports at least one such container in a substantially fixed position during filling and resealing. A manifold drivingly mounted over the container support comprises (1) a cartridge including a filling needle for penetrating the resealable stopper and introducing a substance therethrough into the container, a mount for mounting the cartridge on the manifold, and a removable cover releasably coupled to the mount for covering the filling needle during transportation, installation and/or removal of the cartridge from the manifold. The manifold includes a thermal source for heating a penetrated region of the stopper and, sealing the hole.
US08408255B1

A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
US08408251B2

Apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for venting gases and removing sediment from a liquid comprising a body containing a flow through passageway running from a top end of the body to a bottom end of the body, adapted to sealably attach to an opening of a liquid container at a top end; a substantially annular secondary valve positioned within the flow through passageway adapted to selectively seal flow around the outside of the secondary valve; a primary valve contained within the secondary valve configured to selectively seal flow through a tubular shaft formed down an axis of the primary valve; an air breather valve attached to the body adapted to selectively seal an air vent formed in the body, wherein the air breather valve is attached to the body such that liquid leakage from the air vent is minimized; and a reservoir adapted to sealably engage to the bottom end of the body; wherein the reservoir is configured to cause the primary valve to unseal flow through the tubular shaft when the reservoir is at least partially engaged to the body, and wherein the reservoir is configured to unseal flow around the outside of the secondary valve when the reservoir is fully engaged to the body.
US08408249B2

A weaving machine with drive elements including two or more crankshaft parts rotatable along the width direction of the machine and a common rotational center line. The drive elements are situated in intermediate sections and include respectively a lay sword and lay sword shaft and are connected to a connecting rod belonging to the intermediate section. The machine utilizes a computerized control system for controlling the weaving process. Substantial weight and space reductions are made as large, heavy shaft mountings and gearboxes can be avoided.
US08408247B2

The invention relates to an element for controlling filling and/or drawing of a pressurized gas, to be mounted in an opening of a tank (1), comprising a body (21) provided with at least one device (8) for controlling the circulation of gas placed between a first end, which has an opening (31) forming an inlet and/or an outlet for the gas with regard to the tank, and a second end for communicating with the inside of the tank. The control element also comprises a safety gas escape device (5) for evacuating the gas from the reservoir in the event of a dangerous situation and comprises a channel or gas escape circuit (215, 213, 212, 211, 31) running between a first end (215) for communicating with the pressurized gas of the tank and a second end (31) for communicating with a user circuit or with the atmosphere, the escape circuit being closed or not according to the state of a safety element (52), characterized in that the second end of the gas escape circuit (215, 213, 212, 211, 31) coincides with the opening (31) of the control element forming an inlet and/or an outlet for the gas.
US08408224B2

A walking assistance device is disclosed that includes a support member having a first end and a second end. Attached to the support member is a hand grip, and attached to the second end is a base member. The base member includes a rounded surface that is configured to rotatably pivot relative to a walking surface as a user walks. The base member may further include a foot portion that has a toe and a heel. The toe and the heel may be the same length, or alternatively they may have varying lengths. Additionally, a pad is optionally attached to the foot portion and may be configured with tread to engage the walking surface in a way that provides traction to the walking assistance device.
US08408223B2

A removable sanitary cover for a leg extremity of a cane, walker, crutch, and the like, to reduce dirt and contaminants coming into from outdoors or dirty environment into an indoor or sanitary area. The sanitary cover includes a base and at least one sidewall that together form an enclosure having an opening generally opposite of the base. The sanitary cover also includes a closure positioned generally circumferentially about the enclosure at the at least one sidewall near the opening. In use, the sanitary cover is positioned about a distal end of the leg extremity of the cane, walker, crutch, and the like, with the closure keeping the sanitary cover in place relative to leg extremity until the sanitary cover is removed through an external force. The closure may be an elastic band, drawstring or other closure means. An optional skid-resistant material may be added or otherwise incorporated into an outer surface of the base.
US08408218B2

An applicator system for applying a product to a surface includes an extendable implement comprising an applicator that is selectively extendable. By virtue of having an applicator that is selectively extendable, the extendable implement is capable of applying various products utilizing individual portions of the extendable implement to apply the product to hard-to-reach areas and to achieve multiple desired effects.
US08408216B2

Flavor carriers, smoking articles, method of making flavor carriers, methods of making smoking articles, methods of flavoring gas streams such as mainstream tobacco smoke and methods of smoking are provided. The flavor carriers and smoking articles comprise a mesoporous molecular sieve and a flavor releasably disposed within the sieve.
US08408211B2

A method of intercepting controlled quantities of air exhaled from at least one of two nostrils on an individual's nose to permit inhalation of the intercepted air, including the steps of: providing an air flow intercepting apparatus; and placing the air flow intercepting apparatus in an operative position relative to the individual's nostrils so that as the individual inhales and exhales during repeating breathing cycles: a) a first quantity of exhaled air flows past the air flow intercepting apparatus; and b) a second quantity of exhaled air impinges upon the air flow intercepting apparatus so as to at least one of: i) stagnate; and ii) be redirected by the air flow intercepting apparatus so that at least a portion of the second quantity of exhaled air is drawn into the individual's nostrils as the individual inhales.
US08408210B2

According to various embodiments, a tracheal tube ventilating device includes a sealing portion near a distal end of the tube. The sealing portion has an electroactive polymer configured to undergo a clinically effective change in volume, thickness, or both upon application of an electrical potential. Such a change in volume, thickness, or both enables sealing of the device against an inner surface of a trachea while permitting the free passage of ventilating gas through the tube. In addition, at least one electrical conductor is coupled to the electroactive polymer and is configured to apply the electrical potential.
US08408203B2

System and methods for ventilating a patient are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises steps of placing a ventilator in a mode capable of delivering respiratory gas based on at least one fixed parameter and at least one variable parameter, the fixed parameters being tidal volume and peak airway pressure and the variable parameter being PEEP, identifying a first level for the PEEP, configuring the ventilator to deliver the respiratory gas at the peak airway pressure and the PEEP to achieve the tidal volume, monitoring respiratory gas flow over time to measure tidal volume, setting a second level for the PEEP based on the measured tidal volume, automatically adjusting the PEEP to the second level relative to the peak airway pressure and repeating the steps of configuring, monitoring, setting and automatically adjusting to achieve the ventilation.
US08408194B2

A device for storing projectile balls and feeding the balls into a projectile chamber of a gun is provided. A ball container includes a feeder positioned within the ball container for feeding balls into a feeder tube. A motor is configured to supply drive energy to the feeder. Operation of the motor is controlled as a function of the movement of the balls in the feeder tube. A spring element having a storage capacity is configured to store at least some drive energy of the motor. A slip clutch is configured to dissipate drive energy of the motor that exceeds the storage capacity of the spring element.
US08408191B2

An engine control system, a controller for the engine control system, and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine operating at an engine operating condition. The engine control is based on closed-loop control of ignition dwell. Ignition dwell is defined as time or crank angle difference between an end of fuel injection (EOI), or some other aspect of an injection control signal, and a start of combustion (SOC), or some other aspect of an internal combustion event. One or more engine control devices, such as a fuel injector or an exhaust gas recirculation valve may be varied to control ignition dwell. By providing such a closed-loop engine control based on ignition dwell, the air/fuel charge mixture, and/or stratification present in the combustion chamber at the moment combustion starts may be controlled. Advanced combustion systems utilizing premixed compression ignition (PCI) offer the benefit of low temperature combustion for simultaneous low NOx and particulate emissions with high fuel economy. Combustion control based on ignition dwell can be used to optimize engine emissions and fuel consumption for PCI over the operating range.
US08408190B2

An engine assembly includes an engine and an intake assembly. The engine defines a combustion chamber and a crankcase, and the intake assembly includes an intake manifold in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An air-oil separator is provided with the engine and defines a separator volume, an inlet and an outlet, where each of the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the separator volume. The inlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the crankcase, and the outlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the intake manifold. The air-oil separator further includes an interior surface that abuts and surrounds the separator volume, and the interior surface has a surface roughness (RA) of greater than about 75 microns.
US08408188B1

A belt drive pulley system termed a “flip drive” is configured to provide at least two belt drive pulleys that are co-axially and integrally arranged and share common axle/bearing and mounting components. By being co-axially disposed, the belt drive pulleys will operate in separate and distinct planes. The flip drive is adapted for use in various applications so that power received on its first pulley from a first belt drive is transferred from its second pulley to a second belt drive (where the first and second belt drives are not co-planar).
US08408186B2

A fuel conservation device for a combustion engine includes a heat-exchanging tube disposed through a heating coil that is contained within a housing containing coolant. The heat-exchanging tube is adapted to be coupled inline with a fuel line used to supply fuel from a gas tank to a fuel management device, such as a carburetor provided by the engine. In addition, the heating coil is configured to be coupled to an exhaust pipe coupled to the engine, so as to be heated by the hot exhaust gases generated as it operates. A radiator fluidly coupled to the housing cools the coolant, so that the fuel passing through the fuel line is maintained at a temperature just below the boiling point of the fuel.
US08408184B2

A Fastening element has a carrier. A first pair of prongs branches off a first side face of the carrier designed to be in a mechanical engagement with a protrusion of a injector cup. A second pair of prongs branches off a second side face of the carrier. The second pair of prongs is designed to retain a fluid injector and to couple mechanically to a first protrusion of the injector. A pair of pins branches off a respective prong from the second pair of prongs at a respective inner side face of the respective prong. The pins are arranged opposed to each other and in a given distance from each other and they are designed to be in a mechanical engagement with the fluid injector. A clamping device being designed to couple mechanically with the fluid injector cup and to exert a repelling force on the fluid injector cup.
US08408181B2

A throttle control module for controlling a throttle, comprises: a BLDC motor; a gear train connecting the motor to the throttle; and a throttle position sensor. A PWM module is connected to the throttle position sensor and generates a pulse-width modulation sequence according to the signal from the throttle position sensor and a desired throttle position signal. A decoder module generates commutation logic for the motor based on the signal from the throttle position sensor. A motor controller controls commutation of the motor according to the pulse-width modulation sequence and the commutation logic.
US08408180B2

Disclosed is a control apparatus for a turbocharged diesel engine. The control apparatus comprises an engine start controller (10) operable, when an engine restart condition associated with a demand for vehicle start is satisfied, to execute a split-injection control to perform a main injection for injecting fuel at a timing around a top dead center of a compression stroke, and a post injection for injecting fuel in an expansion stroke following the main injection, during the engine restart control, and, when an engine restart condition nonassociated with the demand for vehicle start is satisfied, to execute the engine restart control to perform only the main injection without executing the split-injection control. This makes it possible to optimize the engine restart control to be execute in response to satisfaction of the engine restart condition, depending on the presence or absence of the demand for vehicle start.
US08408178B2

A firing deck (16) for an engine crankcase includes a firing side surface (35) and a coolant side surface (34). A plurality of cylinder bores (18) are disposed through the firing deck (16) from the firing side surface (35) to the coolant side surface (34). The cylinder bores (18) form a centerline defining an intake side (26) of the firing deck (16) and an exhaust side (28) of the firing deck. A plurality of bosses (30) through the deck (16) from the firing side surface (35) to the coolant side surface (34) are disposed around each cylinder bore (18). A plurality of anti-distortion projections (36, 136) are disposed on the coolant side surface (34) of the firing deck (16) and provide the firing deck with a varied thickness. The anti-distortion projections (36, 136) are disposed on both the intake side (26) and the exhaust side (28) of the firing deck (16).
US08408176B2

A method is described for starting an engine of a motor vehicle under varying temperature conditions. The method may include during a first, higher-temperature, starting condition, directly injecting fuel into all of the combustion chambers the initial fueled cycle comprising crankshaft rotations during which at least some fuel is injected for a first time since the engine was brought from rest. Further, during a second, lower-temperature, starting condition, the method includes directly injecting fuel into less than all of the combustion chambers during at least the initial fueled cycle of the engine. In this way, it is possible to prevent the engine's pump from being outstripped during cold-start conditions at low engine temperatures. Also, it may allow subsequently fueled cylinders to start at a higher engine speed and lower manifold air pressure than otherwise possible, thereby further reducing the need for overfueling.
US08408174B2

A rocker arm for a tappet pushrod valve train, which has a contact surface for a gas exchange valve on an underside at one end and a first bore in which a hydraulic lash adjusting element is arranged at another end. A second bore extends transverse through the rocker arm, between the ends. From the second bore, a passage leads to the first bore. A venting passage extends from a bottom of the bore at the another end and has an outlet aligned with the primary passage. A secondary passage branches from the venting passage and has an opening that extends to an upper side of the rocker arm and is situated in a longitudinal channel. The channel extends along the upper side and into a region on the one end. From the region, the hydraulic medium can be routed through an end passage to the contact surface.
US08408171B2

In a variable stroke engine assembly for a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle, an engine output shaft (OS), a variable stroke control mechanism (63, 65, CR), an actuator (AC) and a starter motor (SM) are laid out in a favorable manner so that the general outer profile of the engine assembly can be made free from excessive protrusions, an increase in the engine room space requirement is avoided, layout freedom can be enhanced, and the cooling performance for the actuator can be improved.
US08408161B2

The present invention provides a pet brush including a handle, a hub, a ring, and a bristle member. The bristle member is detachably connected to the handle. The hub is provided at a connecting portion of the bristle member and the handle so that the ring may be rotated. The ring may be shifted between a first position and a second position. The bristle member is secured to the handle when the ring is moved to the first position, and the bristle member is free to be inserted into and drawn out of the handle when the ring is moved to the second position.
US08408160B1

A secure pet waste containment system utilizing an automated gear, roller and spool assembly to secure pet waste on all sides and store them for future disposal. A housing includes an aperture in its top side into which a pet, typically feline, would deposit waste. The aperture and space thereunder is lined with bagging that has its source from a bag cartridge disposed around the circumference of the aperture. When waste has been deposited, the lining secures the waste on all sides by traversing a series of rollers until the lining is wound within a circular spool. As this is occurring, the bag cartridge automatically releases more bagging into the aperture and space thereunder for subsequent deposit of pet waste.
US08408154B2

An improved strake for structures that are subject to vortex induced vibrations and motions due to fluid flow around the structure. One embodiment includes a streamliner on the edge of the strake. The streamliner may be added to existing strakes or may be formed at the same time as the strake for extruded strakes. The streamliner reduces vortex induced vibrations and motions of the structure to which the strake is attached. Another embodiment of the invention provides a tension resisting support attached to the strake and structure. The support provides a different load path along the strake than the previously known art for carrying the pressure loading from fluid pressure acting normal to the surface of the strake.
US08408153B2

A mooring system for receiving and exercising at least partial control over the approach of a vessel approaching a mooring facility. An array of mooring robots are mounted to the mooring facility. Each robot has at least one vessel contact member supported by a moving mechanism in a manner to thereby be (i) movable relative to the mooring facility and (ii) presentable to engage the side of said vessel. A sensor can sense the position of the vessel relative the mooring facility. A processor can calculate movement instructions based on information received by the processor to calculate instructions for the movement of the contact member during the receipt of the vessel by the mooring system. A controller can preposition the contact member and then control the condition of each mooring robot such as to reduce the approach speed of the vessel at least in a direction towards the mooring facility.
US08408142B2

In a guide rail type vehicle, a guide wheel includes a main guide wheel that rolls in contact with a main guide rail and a branch guide wheel that rolls in contact with a branch guide rail, a guide frame includes a guide arm that extends in a vehicle width direction and a guide link, the guide arm and the guide link are rotatably connected to each other via a first rotational shaft, the guide link includes a second rotational shaft in which the main guide wheel and the branch guide wheel are rotatably mounted to both ends, a buffer mechanism is provided between the guide arm and the guide link, and when the guide link rotates around the first rotational shaft with the guide wheel contacting with the guide rail, the buffer mechanism suppresses rotation of the guide link.
US08408134B2

A hand grenade fuze has a firing cap, a delay charge, which can be fired by the firing cap, in a delay charge holder, a detonator, which can be fired by the delay charge, in a detonator holder, and a booster charge, which can be fired by the detonator, for firing a hand grenade explosive charge.
US08408133B2

A method for detonating an unexploded munition including: firing one or more munitions into an area without detonation; providing the one or more munitions with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from an induced vibration; inducing a vibration in the power supply of the one or more munitions to generate power; and generating a detonation signal from the generated power to detonate the one or more munitions.
US08408129B2

A surface has a vacuum and a vacuum relief.
US08408128B2

A method for operating a cleaning apparatus, having a trough and a brush disposed in the trough, in a printing press, includes first, second and third steps. In the first step, a cylinder of the printing press is cleaned by the cleaning apparatus, with the brush bearing against the cylinder. In the second step, the brush is moved away from the cylinder, and a level of a liquid in the trough is changed, resulting in the liquid being brought into contact with the brush. In the third step, the brush is cleaned by the liquid in the trough. A printing press for carrying out the method is also provided.
US08408127B2

A method for mounting and dismounting a doctor blade chamber in a support holder on a printing unit as well as an apparatus in which the doctor blade chamber is placed in the support holder in a mounting position and subsequently is brought in contact with a roller, preferably, an anilox roller, in a position of operation. The method and the apparatus advantageously have the doctor blade chamber disposed with the opening upwards in the support holder, preferably in a horizontal position or in a position at such a small angle that ink does not run out of the doctor blade chamber, and is brought into a position under the roller, after which the doctor blade chamber is brought into contact with the roller and pivoted about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of the roller, into the position of operation.
US08408126B2

A self-inking hand stamp includes a frame made of metal and having two side walls which are interconnected by an upper cover wall, and an actuating bow made of metal, which in use is downwardly movable relative to the frame against a spring force. The actuating bow has two legs protruding from an upper web, which are displaceable along the side walls of the frame and coupled with a type unit arranged to be upwardly and downwardly displaceable and turnable within the frame. Two parallel guide webs laterally abutting on the respective bow leg, which is rectangular in elevation and narrower as compared to the frame side wall, are latchingly attached to the outer side of each side wall of the frame in the upper region thereof.
US08408124B2

A device is presented for adjustment of height in a transport cylinder gripper pad. The device includes a first notch, a gripper pad which is equipped in the first notch, a gripper pad bar, a first adjusting bar, a biasing member which biases the bottom surface of the gripper pad bar against the upper surface of the first adjusting bar, a drive shaft, and a driving unit which moves the drive shaft in the cylinder axial direction. A first connecting portion is interposed between the drive shaft and the first adjusting bar, and moves the first adjusting bar in the cylinder axial direction as the drive shaft moves.
US08408117B2

The coffee machine infusion group comprises a closure piston and an infusion cylinder subjectable to a reversible movement between a position of engagement with the closure piston for the creation of an infusion chamber and a position of disengagement from the closure piston for the loading of a coffee powder load, the infusion group having an expulsion system of the spent coffee powder load from the infusion cylinder, the expulsion system comprising an expulsion piston displaceably housed in the infusion cylinder, the expulsion system further comprising a speed multiplier mechanism operatively connecting the infusion cylinder and the expulsion piston for their relative displacement between a receiving position of the coffee powder load into the infusion cylinder and an expelling position of the coffee powder load from the infusion cylinder.
US08408116B2

A piston assembly including a piston body having a crown and a skirt, the skirt including at least a major thrust face and a minor thrust face, wherein the piston body defines a bore between the major thrust face and the minor thrust face, and a wear coating applied to the major thrust face and the minor thrust face, the wear coating having a cured thickness of at least about 30 microns.
US08408112B2

A trimming, sizing and decapping device that has a simple, very compact construction and that allows the user to economically and quickly produce, restore or prepare cartridge cases to the utmost precision. The device consistently produces very smooth processing surfaces and has good tolerances with respect to various cartridge case wall sizes and materials. Furthermore, a method is detailed for producing or preparing empty cartridge cases using the trimming, sizing and decapping device that allows efficient preparation of the cartridge cases for subsequent loading or reloading in as few process steps as possible.
US08408104B2

A screwdriver includes a handle, a shaft, a torque-transmitting unit and a torque-adjusting unit. The shaft is partially inserted in the handle. The torque-transmitting unit is located in the handle and operable to transmit an adjustable maximum value of torque to the shaft from the handle. The torque-adjusting unit is partially located in the handle, connected to the torque-transmitting unit, and operable to adjust the adjustable maximum value of torque.
US08408102B2

A wrench for engaging a workpiece comprises a pair of fixed jaws and a pair of movable jaws being movable relative to the pair of fixed jaws. The workpiece includes a plurality of flats which may be adjoined at a plurality of corners. The pairs of fixed and movable jaws may be configured to engage the workpiece in at least one of a flat engaging position and a corner engaging position. The flat engaging position comprises the pairs of fixed and movable jaws being engaged to one of the flats on each one of the opposing sides of the workpiece. The corner engaging position comprises the pairs of fixed and movable jaws being engaged to an adjacent pair of the flats on each one of the opposing sides of the workpiece.
US08408101B2

An open end wrench includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an arcuate sliding groove having an arcuate sliding wall. A slide is received in the sliding groove and includes an arcuate sliding face slideable along the sliding wall. An arcuate guiding slot is formed in the slide. A guide is fixed in the sliding groove and received in the guiding slot. The guiding slot includes an abutting end and a pressing end. The abutting end is in contact with the guide when the slide is in an initial position. A spring seat is mounted in the pressing end of the guiding slot. The spring seat includes a face pressing against the pressing end. An elastic element has two ends respectively abutting the guide and the other face of the spring seat for biasing the slide to the initial position.
US08408099B2

A tool includes a handle including a pivotal end, a holding end held by the user in use of the tool and a plurality of teeth formed on an outer periphery of the pivotal end. A first working head includes a pivotal end coupled to the pivotal end of the handle pivotally, a working end engaged with a work piece desired to be driven and an aperture between the pivotal end of the first working head and the working end. A positioning unit includes a positioning plate and an elastic element received in the aperture, with the positioning plate hooking the first working head and pressing the elastic element of the positioning unit respectively. A restricted portion protrudes from the positioning plate between two ends of the positioning plate toward the pivotal end of the handle.
US08408097B2

The invention relates to a screwing tool that comprises a drive arranged in a housing and an output shaft connected to said drive, a screwdriver point being arranged at the front face of the output shaft. The aim of the invention is to provide a screwing tool with which different connecting elements, in particular actuating and clamping elements consisting of a screwable sleeve and an inner screw can be screwed with only a single screwing tool. In order to achieve this aim, the screwing tool comprises a receiving part (500) which surrounds the output shaft and is displaceably guided in the direction of the axis (202) of the output shaft (200) against the force of a return element (505). Furthermore, an annular screwing tool (400), which surrounds the output shaft (200) and the screwdriver point (201), is rotatably mounted on the receiving part (500) for detecting the drive contours (305) of the peripheral surface (304) of a connecting element (303), at least one shiftable clutch (600) being arranged between the rotatably mounted annular screwing tool (400) and the output shaft (200).
US08408089B2

An energy absorbing steering column includes a first cylindrical member for accommodating a steering shaft of a vehicle and a second cylindrical member for accommodating the first cylindrical member and normally supporting the first cylindrical member in a predetermined position to allow the first cylindrical member to axially move relative to the second cylindrical member upon a predetermined or greater load applied to the steering shaft. The first cylindrical member includes first and second enlarged diameter portions, and the second cylindrical member includes first and second supporting portions. An elastic bush is provided between the first enlarged diameter portion and the first supporting portion for applying elastic force for supporting the steering shaft to restrict an axial movement of the first cylindrical member relative to the second cylindrical member.
US08408085B2

A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08408084B2

In a dual clutch transmission with a main group and final shift group, with a coupling device for coupling a transmission element of the main group to a final shift group transmission element of the final shift group, the transmission comprises two transmission gears (V4L, V5L, V1 H, V2H) which can be formed simultaneously with one of the transmission gears (V4L, V5L) assignable to a lower group of the final shift group and another of the transmission gears (V1H, V2H) assignable to an upper group of the final shift group.
US08408076B2

The present invention relates to a weight sensor device. The weight sensor device comprises a housing, which includes a receptacle for a load pin and an insert. A cable nest is secured to each end of the housing. In exemplary embodiments, a load pin is engaged in the housing and secures an insert. A cable clamping mechanism may be attached to the insert. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the housing itself is non-load sensing.
US08408072B2

A coupling element for an ultrasonic, flow measuring device, wherein the coupling element has a pedestal with a bearing surface, on which bearing surface a piezoelement is applied. The pedestal is an integral component of the coupling element.
US08408070B2

An electromagnetic flowmeter for measuring the flow of a medium through a measuring pipe, wherein the flowmeter includes first and second electrodes arranged on opposite sides of the measuring pipe and coupled electrically or capacitively to the medium. A common mode test signal is passed to the first and second electrodes. A third electrode is provided at the top of the measuring pipe for receiving a response signal in response to the test signal passed to the first and second electrodes. The flowmeter also includes a detection device for detecting whether the third electrode is in contact with the medium based on the response signal.
US08408067B2

A pressure sensor device (1) comprises: a pressure sensor (9) having a sensor body (9a) defined in which is a cavity (11) with a bottom surface (11a) belonging to a membrane portion (9′) of the body itself, a detection element operatively being associated to the membrane portion (9′), a connection structure (2) having a duct (2a, 15, 19) in communication with the abovementioned cavity (11), designed to receive a fluid a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure comprises a body (2) for supporting the pressure sensor (9), defining at least one respective passage (2a), and one compressible element (12) designed to be in contact with the fluid and configured to compensate possible volume variations thereof, the compressible element (12) being positioned at least partially within the cavity (11), in such a manner to substantially divide it into two opposite regions. The device (1) is provided with connection passages (12f) for maintaining different regions of the cavity (11) in fluid communication, i.e. equilibrate in pressure.
US08408065B2

This invention relates to permanent, ultrasonic, flexible, dry-coupled, linear arrays for the inspection of pipelines, process equipment, and the like. The permanent, ultrasonic, flexible, dry-coupled, linear arrays detect and/or measure corrosion wall loss, stress corrosion cracking, and/or internal initiated pipeline cracking. The apparatus for ultrasonically testing materials includes a linear array of ultrasonic sensors, and a flexible, acoustically transmissive, dry-coupling surrounding at least a portion of each of the ultrasonic sensors.
US08408064B2

A distributed acoustic wave detection system and method is provided. The system may include a fiber optic cable deployed in a well and configured to react to pressure changes resulting from a propagating acoustic wave and an optical source configured to launch interrogating pulses into the fiber optic cable. In addition, the system may include a receiver configured to detect coherent Rayleigh noise produced in response to the interrogating pulses. The CRN signal may be use to track the propagation of the acoustic wave in the well.
US08408063B2

An ultrasonic probe including a cMUT chip that has plural oscillation elements whose electromechanical coupling coefficient or sensitivity varies in accordance with a bias voltage and transmits/receives an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic lens provided at an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception side of the cMUT chip, a backing layer provided to the opposite surface of the cMUT chip to the acoustic lens, and a substrate provided between the backing layer and the cMUT chip. The ultrasonic probe further includes thermal stress suppressing means for suppressing thermal stress occurring due to the difference in linear expansion coefficient caused by temperature variation between the substrate and the backing layer.
US08408062B2

A scanning device (36) is useful for scanning a body, especially a stud (10), from a bore (13) which extends through the body or stud (10) and is accessible from the outside. The scanning device (36) includes a probe (15) which is fastened on a cylindrical rod (14) and can be inserted into the bore (13) for scanning the body or stud (10), which probe, by displacing the rod (14) in its longitudinal direction is longitudinally displaceable in the bore (13), and by rotating the rod (14) around its cylinder axis (34) is rotatable around the bore axis. A compact and light construction, and flexible applicability, are achieved by a compact, controllable drive unit (20), through which the rod (14) extends and which longitudinally displaces and/or rotates the rod (14) depending upon selection, for displacing and rotating the rod (14).
US08408060B2

An inertial sensor includes driving piezoelectric transducers for enabling an oscillation of a resonator, sensing piezoelectric transducers for enabling a detection of a movement of the inertial sensor, and piezoelectric compensating elements substantially equidistantly among the driving and the sensing piezoelectric transducers, wherein the compensating elements and the resonator form corresponding capacitors having capacitive gaps, and wherein, during the oscillation of the resonator, changes in electrostatic charges stored in the capacitors are measured with the compensating elements and are modified so as to modify the oscillation of the resonator.
US08408059B2

A yaw rate sensor is described which includes a substrate having a main plane of extension and a Coriolis element, the Coriolis element being excitable to a driving oscillation along a first direction parallel to the main plane of extension, using a driving arrangement, and a deflection of the Coriolis element along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being detectable, and the yaw rate sensor having an interference element for exciting the Coriolis element to an interference oscillation.
US08408053B2

The present invention relates to a process for measuring the effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor. More specifically, the invention relates to placing a corrosion inhibitor in at least one fluid and then simultaneously suspending coupons in the fluid having the corrosion inhibitor and at least one additional fluid, wherein both fluids are contained in the same vessel.
US08408049B2

An apparatus and method to determine fractions of various phases in a multiphase fluid. The apparatus includes main body including an interior configured receive a multiphase fluid and an exterior. The apparatus senses fluid pressure of multiphase fluid received in the interior and senses a fluid temperature of the multiphase fluid. The apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave into the fluid and detects the transmitted wave to determine its velocity and attenuation. The apparatus may adjust the determined velocity and attenuation based on the temperature and pressure of the fluid to compensate for a difference between the sensed temperature and pressure and a standard temperature and pressure. The apparatus determines a gas fraction, water fraction, and a non-water fluid fraction of the multiphase fluid based on the sensed fluid pressure, the sensed fluid temperature, and the velocity and attenuation of the ultrasonic wave in the multiphase fluid.
US08408048B2

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for monitoring the soft water conducted in a main flow, which includes a hardness measuring cell, a first secondary flow line branching off from the main flow and leading to the hardness measuring cell, and a second secondary flow line leading away from the hardness measuring cell and feeding into the main flow, wherein the two secondary flow lines and the hardness measuring cell are connected to a multiway valve.
US08408042B2

A device for generating impacts on a structure has a projectile head. The head includes a main body on which an impact element is mounted so it projects. The device includes a mechanical propulsion element to set the projectile head in motion, and the propulsion element can move between an initial resting position where the propulsion element is immobile and the projectile head is held against the propulsion element by at least one retaining element, and a second position where after the propulsion element comes to a stop against stop elements, the projectile head moves alone in translation toward the structure guided by guidance elements. The device also includes an anti-rebound system to prevent any rebound by the projectile head after impact on the structure.
US08408036B2

A roll-flanging tool, including a bearing structure having a connector, by which the tool can be connected via a connection plane to an actuator which can be moved spatially. A first arm and a second arm are spread apart from each other and connected to each other in a connection portion which includes the connector. A first flanging roller is mounted on an end of the first arm which faces away from the connection plane, such that it can be rotated about a first rotational axis which extends along the first arm and pierces the connection plane. A second flanging roller is mounted on an end of the second arm which faces away from the connection plane, such that it can be rotated about a second rotational axis. The first rotational axis intersects or crosses a perpendicular dropped onto the second rotational axis, in or on the roll-flanging tool.
US08408020B2

A temperature chamber in which a device is tested is connected to a temperature-controlled air source for controlling temperature of the chamber. The temperature chamber includes thermal insulation formed on side surfaces of the chamber. A universal manifold adaptor for directing the temperature-controlled air directly to a device being tested is connected to the chamber. The temperature chamber also includes an exhaust system. A self-closing cable feed-through module is connected to an outer surface of the chamber. The feed-through module includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein cables are fed through the first and second portions into the chamber in a first position and the first and second portions form a leak tight seal around the cables in a second position.
US08408002B2

A gas turbine combustor includes a pilot burner, a plurality of main burners disposed around the main burners on the radially outer side. Each of the main burners (2) includes an extension tube disposed at the downstream end. The outlet of the extension tube is shaped to have a radial edge which is parallel to the radial direction. In this manner, occurrence of flashback is effectively prevented.
US08407993B2

A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic cylinder in a work machine, which hydraulic cylinder is arranged to move an implement in relation to a part of a vehicle, with the hydraulic cylinder being controlled by a hydraulic machine. The method includes the steps of detecting initiation of a movement of the implement that is such that the piston of the hydraulic cylinder is moved in a first direction, of driving the hydraulic machine in a first rotational direction, prior to the movement of the implement taking place, so that a line from the hydraulic machine is pressurized, which line is arranged to connect the hydraulic machine to the side of the cylinder toward which the piston will be moved during the movement of the implement.
US08407992B2

The invention relates to an ammonia tank of an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle, having a tank wall. The invention provides that the tank wall is surrounded by a reagent reacting with regard to ammonia.
US08407991B2

A construction machine that permits an exhaust gas after-treatment device to be disposed while avoiding an increase of height and hence avoiding narrowing of an operator's visual field. A guard panel is disposed substantially in parallel with a base frame. The guard panel includes a top plate, the top plate including an opening formed at a portion thereof corresponding to an engine, and a bonnet formed so as to project upwards from the top plate and cover the opening. A first treatment section is disposed lower than the top plate and a second treatment section includes at least a portion positioned higher than the top plate through the opening and lower than the bonnet.
US08407987B2

The invention relates to a system and a control method for an exhaust aftertreatment system (10) of an engine (12) in which one or more constituents of the exhaust gas are oxidized in an oxidation catalyst (20) and one or more constituents of the exhaust gas are deoxidized in a selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70), wherein the exhaust gas flows from the oxidation catalyst (20) to the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70). It is. proposed to control the flow of the exhaust gas through the oxidation catalyst (20) depending on a desired ratio among the one or more constituents, wherein the exhaust gas enters the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70) with the desired ratio among the one or more constituents; and to establish the desired ratio among the one or more constituents so that at a given reaction temperature in the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70) one specific chemical reaction is selected out of a group of possible chemical reactions which can take place among the one or more constituents of the exhaust gas and the catalyst material in the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70) at the given temperature, wherein the selected specific chemical reaction has a higher probability to be performed than each single one of the other chemical reactions which are not selected.
US08407980B2

Microthruster includes a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet. A first resistance heater is arranged in the combustion chamber. A catalyst is structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber. First substrate material sections are heated by the first resistance heater to at least one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range.
US08407972B2

A container sealing apparatus 10 comprises an electrically conductive linearly displaceable cutting member 14 operable to cut a portion 18 of sealing material from a web 16 and an independently linearly displaceable transfer member 42 comprising an electrically insulating material and extendible relative to the cutting member 14 to transfer the cut portion 18 of sealing material to an open top of a container 12 to be sealed. An induction coil 52 produces an induction field 54 for heating the cut portion 18 of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to seal the cut portion 18 of sealing material to the open top of the container 12. The linearly displaceable transfer member 42 holds the cut portion 18 of sealing material against the open top of the container 12 during induction heating. A field concentrator 56 is provided to concentrate the induction field 54 in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member 14 and other electrically conductive component parts of the apparatus 10 to optimize the induction heating of the cut portion 18 of sealing material.
US08407971B2

A single package providing dormitory room supplies for at least one student at an institution of higher education and associated method of use is disclosed. This package includes at least one shipping container. Numerous internal containers can be located within the shipping container. Dormitory room supplies are then located within the shipping container and/or internal containers. The essential items included are classified into the following categories: linen, clothing, organizational, electrical or electronic, and kitchen items. The package can be used to supply one or more dormitory rooms with all the essentials needed or to provide extras, which are typically required but not strictly essential. The single package can also include a cargo container, in which multiple shipping containers are located, to supply multiple dormitory rooms. This cargo container can be transported on a ship and as the trailer or placed on a trailer of a semi-trailer truck.
US08407964B1

A method that streamlines concrete building construction and marketing of the building. Prefabrication units are designed and constructed in a controlled environment at a prefabrication factory using familiar, off the shelf components already used in the concrete construction industry. The method has allows one to build the prefabrication unit, which is 90% of the structure in the factory, with the remaining 10%, including the external walls and final utility connections, at the building site. Also because the prefabricated structures are light-weight and pre-finished structures, on-site installation is easier. With the prefabrication units completed at the factory, plumbing, heating and electrical and finishing can be tested and corrected while complete access is still available in the earlier stages of construction. Plumbing, electrical, heating tradesmen and subsequent inspectors visit the building site only for hook-up and inspection.
US08407963B2

Disclosed is a floor covering consisting of a plurality of panel elements (1) that can be laid in combination with each other. On the front sides (2, 3) and longitudinal sides (4, 5), the panel elements (1) have locking strips (6, 7) that engage with each other in the assembled position in a covering in which panel elements (1) adjoin each other. The front sides (2, 3) of the panel elements (1) have grooves (19, 20). The grooves (19, 20) of two abutting front sides (2, 3) are aligned and form a locking channel (21) for accommodating a front spring (22) that is pre-assembled in one of the grooves (20). The front spring (22) projects from an end of the groove (20) that faces the longitudinal side (5) of the panel element (1) and can be moved in part from one groove (20) into the corresponding groove (19) of the adjoining panel element (1) by sliding the projecting end (24) of the front spring (22) into the groove (20). The groove (20) that accommodates the front spring (22) has at least one recess (45) within which a stop surface (25) is formed and into which a cam (43) of the front spring (22) engages. The front spring (22) has a wavy shape. The wavy sides of the front spring (22) face a decorative side and a bottom side of the panel elements (1). The orientation of the troughs (27) and crests (26) of the wavy zones (28, 29) should correspond to the direction of travel (V) of the front spring (22) when the front spring (22) is slid into the recess (45) and the cam (43) rests thereagainst.
US08407952B2

The present invention relates to a spacer tube (1) for the production of spacer frames for multi-pane insulated glazing having at least two glass panes, having a tube wall (2) that has a visible wall (6), a bottom wall (7) that lies opposite the former, and two side walls (8) that lie opposite one another, for a connection with a glass pane each, whereby at least one of the two side walls (8) is cold-strengthened, at least in partial regions, to increase the bending stiffness of the spacer tube (1), as well as a multi-pane insulated glazing having a spacer frame having at least one such spacer tube (1), and a device and a method for production of the spacer tube (1).
US08407948B1

A landscape edging device provides alignable blocks that are both conformable to a desired curvature and provide a broad base for weed control and ease of mowing along landscaping edges. The device includes a planar base having a concave end and a convex end. The device also has a planar divider coupled to and extending upwardly from a top surface of said base. The divider has a concave end and a convex end that are offset from the ends of the base.
US08407947B2

A connector for securing a horizontally extending member of a sloped roof at a selected angle relative to an upright member of the sloped roof includes a first portion adapted for secure engagement with the upright member and a second portion adapted for secure engagement with the horizontally extending member. An angular measurement section extending from the first portion and having multiple visible features thereon is usable to secure the connector to the upright member at a selected angle by aligning a selected visible feature with a portion of the upright member. Each visible feature corresponds to a selected angular relationship, such that a desired angle between the horizontally extending member and the upright member can be provided through selective alignment of a corresponding visible feature of the connector with the upright member.
US08407942B1

A door jamb reinforcing device includes a first face member configured to engage with a face of a stop rail of the door jamb and a second face member interconnected with the first face member and configured to engage with a face of a latch-engagement portion of the door jamb. A first side member may be attached orthogonally to the first face member. A second side member may be attached orthogonally to the second face member. The first and second side members may be spaced apart from one another by a distance that corresponds to a width of the jamb.
US08407934B1

A tree planting support system that mounts onto a tree trunk to stabilize a recently planted tree in a substantially vertical position until its root system can hold it in that orientation without the need for additional support. It has a housing assembly with a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, first and second sidewalls, an angled front wall extending between first and second front walls, and at least one slot. The housing assembly further has a first interior base wall defining an angled cavity section, and a second interior base wall defining another angled cavity section. At least one band is secured through the at least one slot and at least one support post has first and second ends. A stake assembly also has two angled cavity sections.
US08407932B2

An animal deterring device has a carrier with a first conductive trace that is separated from a second conductive trace. The carrier has a bottom with a first glue trough disposed beneath the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace is coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the first glue trough to the first conductive trace.
US08407929B2

An apparatus provides a fishing rig designed for improved performance in bottom fishing applications such as surf fishing. This fishing rig includes a hoop attached to the top of a sinker. The rig line is attached at its bottom end to the hoop, and a hook-shaped member is attached to the rig line above the hoop. Above the hook-shaped member, one or more fish hooks are attached to the rig line, and a swivel is attached at the top end of the rig line.
US08407923B2

Systems and methods for associating an accessory with a firearm include, in one embodiment, an accessory having an accessory portion and an attachment portion. The accessory portion is associated with any accessory a user may desire to associate with the firearm. The attachment portion allows the accessory to be associated with a rail assembly of the firearm. The attachment portion includes a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm configured to be positioned about the rail assembly when the accessory is snapped about the rail assembly. Also included is a securing mechanism for limiting the movement of the accessory when the accessory is snapped about the rail assembly.
US08407919B2

A method for the effective recovery of as large a portion as possible of the energy in the waste heat of a trough mangle (10) or other launderette machines. To this end, provision is made for a portion of the energy contained in the waste heat to be recovered by cooling the waste heat in a heat exchanger (14), with the waste heat being cooled to such an extent that it falls below the dew point and condenses, with the result that the energy released during condensation and at least a large portion of the energy from the condensate can also be recovered. In this way, it is possible for up to half the residual energy in the moist waste air from a trough mangle (10) and the waste gas from a heating device to be recovered and reused again.
US08407916B2

An apparatus for solvent recovery from a solvent/gas mixture from the exhaust air of systems processing printing, painting or other solvents, wherein the solvent/gas mixture from at least one oil-containing solvent/gas mixture is cooled down to a temperature below the lower condensation temperature of the oil of the solvent mixture using a heat exchanger, wherein a further, second heat exchanger is connected upstream of the heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger cooling the solvent/gas mixture specifically to the condensation temperature of an oil present in the mixture and both heat exchangers produce a recovery unit.
US08407915B2

Tray assemblies and methods for manufacturing ceramic articles are provided. In one embodiment, a tray assembly includes a tray body having a supporting surface operable to support a ceramic article for passage through a microwave drying apparatus during a microwave drying process and a microwave coupling cover associated with the tray body. The microwave coupling cover envelopes at least a portion of the ceramic article during the microwave drying process. The microwave coupling cover has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article with the microwave coupling cover present during the microwave drying process than with the microwave coupling cover not present. Methods may include rotating the ceramic article when the ceramic article is about 40%-60 dry.
US08407911B2

This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
US08407908B2

A profile measurement apparatus includes: a probe which includes a gauge head for measuring a profile of an object to be measured and which moves the gauge head within a given range; a movement mechanism which moves the probe; and a controller which measures the profile by controlling the movement mechanism to contact the gauge head against the object. The controller comprises: a movement amount acquisition section which acquires a movement amount of the gauge head from a reference position; a deviation acquisition section which acquires as a deviation the movement amount when the gauge head is in a non-contact state; a determination section which determines whether the deviation is greater than a first threshold value; and a resetting section which, when the deviation is greater than the first threshold value, resets the reference position to a position arrived at by combining the reference position and the deviation.
US08407905B1

A plurality of integrated electronic compasses and circuit system. The system includes a semiconductor substrate and one or more CMOS integrated circuits formed on one or more portions of the semiconductor substrate. The system has a plurality of electronic compass devices operably coupled to the one or more CMOS integrated circuits. The plurality of electronic compass devices can be integrated with one or more sensors, MEMS, or other devices.
US08407903B2

The invention relates to a rotating construction laser (1), in particular a self-compensating construction laser. The construction laser (1) comprises a base (2,115) and a laser unit (3,114) for emitting a laser beam (11,83) rotating around an axis (18) of rotation so that the rotating laser beam (11,83) defines a laser plane. Therein, the laser unit (3,114) is built and tiltably arranged to the base (2,115) in such a way, that the axis (18) is tiltable in at least one direction. Furthermore, a tilt sensor (19,96,109) is present for measuring the tilt of the axis (18). According to the invention, the tilt sensor (19,96,109) is supported by a sensor platform being pivotable with respect to the laser unit around the axis (18) between at least two defined pivoting-positions (54,55,70-22) in such a way, that the tilt of the axis (18) is measurable by the tilt sensor (19,96,109) in the at least two pivoting-positions (54,55, 70-22).
US08407888B2

A method for manufacturing a silicon chip package for a circuit board assembly is provided with a package substrate having a silicon chip and an array of contact pads provided by conductive material. A plurality of conductive springs are affixed to the array of contact pads for providing conductive contact with the corresponding array of contacts on a circuit board assembly.
US08407886B2

A lead wire implanting apparatus is provided that can fabricate high-quality brushes that are without variations in implanting height and implanting strength and free from cracks and that can make the reproducibility of set values better and improve the workability in setup changing. The lead wire implanting apparatus has a tamping member and a storing cup for storing conductive metal powder, for implanting and fixing a lead wire to a brush main body by performing a tamping action of the tamping member a predetermined number of times. The apparatus has a linear-type servo motor serving as a drive source for driving the tamping member in vertical directions, a first position detector for detecting a shift position of the tamping member, and a controller device for controlling the linear-type servo motor based on detected information by the first position detector to cause the tamping member to perform a predetermined tamping action.
US08407884B2

A device for removing of profiles cut out from mattresses of cellular material including at least one conveyor, onto which a mattress of cellular material is laid. The mattress is led towards a turn around device for bending the mattress. At the turn around device at least an adjustable gap for a brush, at least an adjustable back pressure member and at least an adjustable brush are provided. The member bends the mattress into the gap and the brush removes the cut out profiles from the bend in the mattress.
US08407883B2

A damascene process is utilized to fabricate the segmented magnetic core elements of an integrated circuit inductor structure. The magnetic core is electroplated from a seed layer that is conformal with a permanent dielectric mold that results in sidewall plating defining an easy magnetic axis. The hard axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and the inductor coils are orthogonal to the core's longitudinal axis. The magnetic field generated by the inductor coils is, therefore, parallel and self-aligned to the hard magnetic axis. The easy axis is enhanced by electroplating in an applied magnetic field parallel to the easy axis.
US08407881B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a small, high-power rotating electrical machine by suitably forming a distributed winding coil such that two stator magnetic poles each formed of in-phase coil turns are arranged within an electric angle of 360 degrees formed by magnetic poles of the rotor. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a stator, the method including a first step of placing a distributed winding coil 207 composed of a wire wound around a reel 210, as a whole, inside a stator core 202, and a second step of moving an insertion blade 213 so as to spread the distributed winding coil 207 in the radial direction of the stator core 202, thus inserting the distributed winding coil 207 into a stator core slot 206.
US08407869B2

A carpet is having a raschel fabric to the back face. The raschel fabric consists of wefts which are inlay-yarns and warps which are chain-stitched yarns. The warp consists of chain-stitched ground yarns 3a, 3b, and a pile yarn 4 which forms standing loop piles on specified courses and which is chain-stitched with the ground yarns except said specified courses. The pile yarn consists of two mono-filaments 5, 5. The two mono-filaments 5, 5 are twisted at least one time per the length of each loop pile. Cut piles are formed by mechanically cutting the each loop pile near the top thereof. The two mono-filaments in the cut pile are disjoining each other and standing with inclination at random direction on the raschel fabric. When the carpet is placed on the surface of a mat, each mono-filament which is formed on the back face of the carpet, bites into the surface of the mat. Therefore, it is prevented that the carpet is displaced.
US08407862B2

A bi-directional releasable connector includes a connecting link defining a main tension leg and a pair of looped ends, the connecting link engaging a pair of spring-biased plungers axially movable independently of one another inside an outer housing. Axially outward movement of the plungers under the bias of the spring is limited by stops in the housing engaged by the plungers. Either end may be selectively opened and, in the static position with both ends closed, oppositely directed axial loads on the ends of the connector link are borne by the tension leg which is preferably made of steel or other high tensile strength material. Axial loads on the connector impose no loads or forces on the remaining components.
US08407861B1

The present invention relates to an extension for handles of an existing device. In accordance with the current invention, extensions can be connected to the handles and securely adjusted in both generally vertical and generally horizontal directions. Extensions of the current invention are particularly well-suited for use with the handles of rollable devices.
US08407860B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for positioning and fastening a device, in particular of a handle on a power tool. The apparatus includes a receptacle for the device, which receptacle is adjustable between at least one positioning position and at least one fastening position. The at least two positions of the device are definable by a tension lever. A detent geometry, embodied with the receptacle, cooperates with a receptacle geometry, embodied on or associated with the power tool. Various radial positions of the apparatus relative to the power tool can be set by the detent geometry and the receptacle geometry. According to the invention, it is provided that in addition, an axial securing device associated with the apparatus or the power tool, is provided, which in the positioning position and the fastening position secures the apparatus in its axial position relative to the power tool.
US08407857B2

A cushion clip may include a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto, an attachment portion made of a hard material, and a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion. The connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion can be integrated with the attachment portion. A portion of the cushioning portion surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of an end surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion.
US08407854B2

A protective device for a castor includes a mounting ring, and a driving piece secured on the mounting ring. The mounting ring has an outer periphery formed with a breakable portion which is located beside the driving piece. The driving piece has a first end extending from the mounting ring and a second end formed with a pull tab. When the mounting ring is released by tearing the breakable portion, the mounting ring is directly driven by the driving piece to remove from each of the two rollers of the castor. Thus, the user only needs to apply a single action to pull the pull tab of the driving piece so as to remove the protective device from the castor completely so that the protective device can be removed from the castor easily and quickly.
US08407849B2

A cleaning tool includes a mop which includes at a lower end a mop head with a wiping object. The mop includes a mop rod formed of an inner rod and an outer rod and a drive mechanism is used to convert the telescoping motion of the mop rod to rotation motion of the mop head. The drive mechanism is a variable speed drive mechanism. As a result, the mop head of the cleaning tool achieves different rotation speeds under dry working condition with a lower resistance compared to washing conditions with a higher resistance. During washing, the mop head is washed rotationally at a lower speed, and the washing operation is conducted through depressing the mop rod.
US08407847B1

Disclosed is a wet and dry disposable cloth sweeper that has a cleaning head with a cleaning body and a ridged substrate, push fit zippers for securing a cleaning pad, an annular universal joint with a handle connector for pivotally securing the cleaning head to a handle, and a handle connected to the cleaning head. The wet and dry disposable cloth sweeper may be a cleaning kit having a cleaning head, a handle, and optionally cleaning pads.
US08407839B2

A roofing tool comprises a handle with a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal shaft coaxial therewith, the handle having a first end and a second end, a hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hollow shaft being axially inserted into the second end of the handle and the second end of the hollow shaft extending therefrom, a bracket attached to the second end of the hollow shaft, a roller rotatably attached to the bracket, a seam tester member having a tapered pick end and an elongated shaft disposed within the hollow shaft; and a detent member secured to the handle and configured to detain the seam tester member within the handle.
US08407837B1

A foldable structure for a hospital bed contains two mounts, a bed frame, and a bed plane, each mount including two rotary positioning pieces, wherein each rotary positioning piece has a hole and an arcuate groove to axially connect the each rotary positioning piece with two coupling elements of the bed frame, such that the bed frame rotates relative to the two mounts, the each rotary positioning piece has two orifices corresponding to two ends of the arcuate groove so that a spring pin of each side of the bed frame is inserted into one of the two orifices of the each rotary positioning pieces, hence the spring pin is pushed out of the one of the two orifices of the each rotary positioning pieces, a coupling element in the arcuate groove rotates smoothly relative to a coupling element in the hole, thus retracting or expanding the bed frame easily.
US08407834B1

A foldable mattress support is made by covering a metal frame with a fabric covering. The metal frame includes two sections that fold together at two hinges. A first section includes first upper and lower frames, and a second section includes second upper and lower frames. Each of the upper and lower frames is pivotally attached to a hinge. A bolt that is oriented along a first axis passes through the first upper frame and through a plate of the hinge. The first upper frame pivots about a first axis; the second upper frame pivots about a second axis; the first lower frame pivots about a third axis; and the second lower frame pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis.
US08407831B2

A patient positioning apparatus comprising a base, a support column, at least one positioning arm on the support column capable of being positioned over a bed and having a buckle and strap capable of securing to a patient support with a receiving buckle so that a patient can be partially or totally suspended when an adjustable bed is lowered. The apparatus further comprising a telescoping support column and horizontal support for holding a first and second positioning arm. The positioning arms further comprising locking pivots for extending and retracting. Patient repositioning is effectuated by positioning the arms over a patient, extending straps with buckle inserts into receiving buckles on a fabric gripper secured to bed linens. A patient positioning apparatus can further be mounted to either a ceiling or a wall or can comprise a swiveling support column.
US08407829B2

A drain assembly for use with a faucet including a lift rod, a lever arm, and a coupler operably coupling the lift rod and the lever arm.
US08407828B2

A faucet assembly including a mounting base and an upper faucet assembly. A coupler is pivotally supported by the mounting base and releasably couples the upper faucet assembly to the mounting base. A lift rod is slidably received within a lift rod passageway defined by the coupler.
US08407820B1

A buckle includes a base having a plate. A compartment is defined between upper and lower walls of the plate. A front end of a pressing board is engaged with a front end of the plate. A rear end of the pressing board includes a pressing face and two guiding faces. An operating button is received in the compartment and includes a resilient section having upper and lower buttons extending through slots in the upper and lower walls. The operating button can be pressed to cause two pressing surfaces of the resilient section to press against the guiding faces of the pressing board for moving the pressing board rearward relative to the base, disengaging the pressing face of the pressing board from the head strap to permit the head strap to move in a reverse direction for loosening the head strap.
US08407817B2

A garment includes a first side, possibly corresponding to a user's front. The first side includes left and right portions that each have a free mating edge. Fastener elements are attached to or formed in each of the right and left portions of the garment. One of the two portions includes a two layer placket. Some of the fastener elements include a portion on the outer layer of the two layer placket. At least one interstitial fastener element is positioned only on the inner layer and is between two other fastener elements that include a portion on the outer layer. The at least one interstitial fastener element may be positioned at a wearer's chest or waist region to minimize or eliminate gapping of the shirt in areas of larger girth.
US08407816B2

An exemplary embodiment provides for a secure pocket that includes a backing, an inner-lower panel coupled to the backing and an upper-outer panel flap coupled to the backing. The upper-outer panel flap overlaps a portion of a circumference of the inner-lower panel and an inner-lower panel opening is covered by the upper-outer panel flap.
US08407812B2

Protective knee pads are comprised of a first shell member which fits over the patella and knee joint and a second member which is attached to the lower thigh and pivotally engaged with the knee pad shell so that they may articulate one with respect to the other while providing additional support and protection for the user of the knee pad. An additional shin pad may also be attached to the lower end of the shell which covers the knee.
US08413260B2

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an application associated with a requester; suggest the application based on a requester parameter; select the application by the requester; and automatically initiate the application for the requester.
US08413258B2

This object aims to propose an optical information recording medium configured to make copyright protection possible, an information recording method for an optical information recording medium and a recording device. An optical information recording medium is proposed to have a recording area available for recording data by laser light, wherein the recording area is provided with a user data area and a management area. The management area written in the optical information recording medium includes a recording format management area provided with information for carrying out operations that identify a format recorded in the user data area, convert the format into a predetermined signal system in accordance with an identified result and record the converted format; a recording condition management area provided with information to make the control of recording conditions of the laser light feasible when the data are recorded at the user recording area; and an authentication identification area provided with information for carrying out an operation that identifies whether or not the optical information recording medium is authenticated by a third party.
US08413256B2

An end to end content protection system that includes enhanced digital rights management (DRM). The system provides content delivery to devices over a managed multimedia home network. The system includes a domain manager for receiving content, wherein the domain manager includes a cable card, conditional access component and a MSO security application and a managed client device, coupled to and registered with the domain manager, the managed client device running a security DRM application client, the managed client device communicates with the MSO security application in the domain manager, wherein the MSO security application of the domain manager and the security DRM application client of the managed client instantiate a preferred DRM as an overlay on top of any other content protection scheme.
US08413254B2

When continuously reproducing a plurality of contents, a content reproducing apparatus determines whether or not a remaining time of an expiration date of a session key is shorter than a total reproduction time of the plurality of contents to be continuously content. When it is determined that the remaining time of the expiration date of the session key is shorter than the total reproduction time of the plurality of contents to be continuously reproduced, a new session key is acquired from a server, and then the plurality of contents are continuously reproduced, using the new session key. When it is determined that the remaining time of the expiration date of the session key is not shorter than the total reproduction time of the plurality of contents to be continuously reproduced, the plurality of contents are continuously reproduced, using the current session key without acquiring the new session key from the server. This can prevent the continuous reproduction of the plurality of contents from being stopped due to the acquisition processing of the session key when the plurality of contents are continuously reproduced.
US08413253B2

A high integrity storage manager protects critical system files by maintaining a list of protected disk blocks in hardware, such as in a memory of a microcontroller. The memory is inaccessible to software running on a host system comprising the microcontroller. This list of protected disk blocks is protected as “read only” by the hardware so that no write operation issued by software running on the host platform can overwrite a protected disk block. The high integrity storage manager intercepts write operations issued by applications via the operating system and file system running on the host processor and compares the disk blocks targeted by those write operations to the list of protected disk blocks. A write operation that would overwrite a disk block in the list of protected disk blocks is prevented from completion. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08413249B1

A method comprising: providing in a non-transitory machine readable storage device a first information structure that includes respective elements that each respectively represent one or more components or communication channels or a combination thereof of a system that includes one or more machines configured with computer software; wherein the first information structure associates at least one element with at least one of an attribute indicative of a mitigation of one at least one known vulnerability of the at least one component or communication channel or combination thereof represented by the at least one element; using a computer system to produce and to store within a non-transitory machine readable storage device an analysis of as-built code used to configure one or more machines to implement the system; wherein the produced analysis includes an output log with respective entries that include respective code references and respective indicia of attributes corresponding to respective observation points within the as-built code that correspond respective elements of the first information structure; mapping at least one respective entry to at least the at least one element of the first information structure; and associating an attribute included within the at least one entry with an attribute associated within the first information structure with the at least one element.
US08413248B2

A method for secure single-packet remote authorization using a single packet authorization (SPA) server on a host system that passively monitors the network for connection attempts and anonymously accept or rejects said attempts depending on whether a valid SPA packet is detected, an SPA client on a client system that is responsible for generating the appropriately encrypted SPA packet in order to gain access to services on the host, and a particular packet format sent from the client to the host to gain access. The packet format is encrypted and non-replayable by virtue of 16 bytes of random data in every message, and an MD5 sum that is a hash function of the random data (made via any known hashing function). The SPA server stores the MD5 sum of every valid SPA packet that it monitors and flags any duplicate access attempts using the same MD5 hash as a previously monitored packet, in which case the SPA server treats the packet as being generated by a malicious attempt to replay the original packet.
US08413245B2

A system detects an attack on the computer system. The system identifies the attack as polymorphic, capable of modifying itself for every instance of execution of the attack. The modification of the attack is utilized to defeat detection of the attack. In one embodiment, the system determines generation of an effective signature of the attack has failed. The signature is utilized to prevent execution of the attack. The system then adjusts access to an interface to prevent further damage caused to the computer system by the attack.
US08413233B1

Systems and methods, including computer software adapted to perform certain operations, can be implemented for preventing content received from non-trusted sources from accessing protected data. A sequence of instructions and multiple permission indicators associated with the sequence of instructions are received. One or more of permission indicators are associated with a protected activity. An instruction within the sequence of instructions associated with the protected activity is identified. A determination is made whether execution of the identified instruction is permitted based, at least in part, on the one or more permission indicators, and the protected activity is performed if execution of the identified instruction is permitted.
US08413226B2

A system, method, and apparatus in an access network such as the Generic Access Network (GAN) for providing user-type information to a Security Gateway (SEGW) or for enabling the SEGW to obtain user-type information for different user types so that the SEGW can apply specific security functions based on the user type. The invention may also provide user-type information to a controller node such as a GAN Controller (GANC) or may enable the GANC to obtain user-type information for application of security settings toward GAN-clients. An Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) Server may create a user-type indication internally, or may obtain an indication from a Home Location Register and forward the indication to the SEGW. The SEGW may forward the indication to the GANC, or the GANC may determine the user-type information internally or retrieve it from a database.
US08413224B2

A sophisticated gateway is connectable with at least one device, further sophisticated gateways, and/or a network. The sophisticated gateway includes an emulator proxy module and/or a presenter proxy module. The emulator proxy module receives higher layer data of a higher network layer, and processes the higher layer data thereby generating second intermediate layer data of an intermediate network layer. The processing includes a security function ensuring that the second intermediate layer data conform with a predetermined security level. The presenter proxy module receives and/or processes first intermediate layer data thereby generating the higher layer data. The processing within the presenter proxy module includes a security function ensuring that the higher layer data conform with a predetermined security level.
US08413223B2

A content display device includes a content setting storage means 106 for storing a content setting which associates a content selection request with a content which an external device has, a content setting server means 107 for accepting a content setting from a content setting client 108 on a network to update and manage content settings stored in the content setting storage means 106, and a display content management means 109 for reading a content setting corresponding to the content selection request from the content setting storage means 106 to present the content which the content setting client 108 has to a display means 102, or, when the content setting corresponding to the content setting request does not exist, displaying a method of accessing the content setting server means 107 and identification information for identifying the content setting client 108 on the display means 102.
US08413217B2

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein allow a requesting party to control use of another user's mobile station. In some aspects, a server is configured to communicate with a plurality of remote computer systems and target mobile stations. The server includes a memory device and a processor configured to access data and logic instructions embedded on the memory device. The server authenticates a requesting party accessing the computer server from one of the remote communication systems. The requesting party is not a user of a selected one of the target mobile stations. The server receives selective availability attributes for the selected one of the target mobile stations from the requesting party. The selective availability attributes indicate conditions under which the target mobile station is enabled or disabled to operate, and features that are available on the target mobile station under a plurality of conditions when the target mobile station is enabled. The server further determines when the target mobile station is operational and downloads the selective availability attributes to the target mobile station when the target mobile station is operational.
US08413215B2

In some aspects of the present disclosure a device is disclosed that includes a processor; a storage unit; a user interface; a transceiver; a device identifying unit arranged to store device identifying data; a memory unit arranged to store machine-executable instructions that when executed by the processor causes a password to be generated, based on the device identifying data, that is arranged to allow the device to access a public wireless local area network (PWLAN).
US08413214B2

In a terminal system for managing terminals coupled to a network, a terminal management server includes: a terminal information registration module for registering, in advance, information unique to each user of the terminal; an authentication module for executing authentication by comparing an ID and authentication information which are contained in an authentication request received from the terminal to user information set in advance; an authenticity determination module for determining, based on a predetermined investigation result received from the terminal, whether or not the terminal suffers falsification; and a unique information transmission module for transmitting, when the authentication is successful, and when the authenticity determination module has determined that the terminal does not suffer the falsification, the information unique to the each user to the terminal. The terminal outputs the information unique to the each user received from the terminal management server to a display unit.
US08413209B2

A system for enforcing security policies on mobile communications devices is adapted to be used in a mobile communications network in operative association with a subscriber identity module. The system having a client-server architecture includes a server operated by a mobile communications network operator and a client resident on a mobile communications device on which security policies are to be enforced. The server is adapted to determine security policies to be applied on said mobile communications device, and to send thereto a security policy to be applied. The client is adapted to receive the security policy to be applied from the server, and to apply the received security policy. The server includes a server authentication function adapted to authenticate the security policy to be sent to the mobile communications device; the client is further adapted to assess authenticity of the security policy received from the server by exploiting a client authentication function resident on the subscriber identity module.
US08413195B2

In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for transmitting data in a spectrum, and seamlessly switching from one transmission channel to an available channel in the spectrum. One example method comprises identifying, by a device, at least a first channel of a spectrum, transmitting at least one command to a second, different device, wherein the at least one command contains information that allows the second device to determine at least the first identified channel, and transmitting data in at least the first identified channel.
US08413194B2

A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, an extractor for extracting transmission parameter channel signaling information and fast information channel signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, an acquirer for acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble by using the extracted fast information channel signaling information, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, a detector for detecting a descriptor defining a destination telephone number of a message service by using the acquired program table, and a controller for controlling such that the destination telephone number of the message service of the detected descriptor and the mobile service data are displayed.
US08413188B2

A system, method and computer program product are disclose for processing an object in a video data stream. The method runs on a processor programmed to execute the method and includes but is not limited to receiving at a client device, the video data stream from a server; displaying the video data stream at the client device on a client device display; receiving input data at the client device for rendering on the client device display a first functional indicator indicating one of a plurality of functions and surrounding a first region of pixel locations representing a first image object in the video data stream; and performing a function indicated by the first functional indicator on meta data for the first image object in the first region of pixel locations.
US08413187B1

A method to obtain visual content items matched to scheduled programs comprising: providing a program guide display that includes a grid with grid locations that identify scheduled programs, and that correspond to respective a scheduled program air times and a respective program sources; wherein the program guide extends over a time frame prior to the current date; providing an icon associated with a grid location that indicates that a visual content item matched to the program identified by the grid location currently is available; providing an identifier that is encoded in computer readable storage device and that is associated with the grid location and that indicates a location where the visual content item can be obtained; and accessing the location indicated by the identifier in response to a user selection of the grid location associated with the icon.
US08413186B2

A method for transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal and a broadcasting signal receiver are disclosed. An identifier of a burst period is obtained from program table information of the broadcasting signal including mobile data and only the burst period in which a broadcasting program desired by a user is transmitted is received. Accordingly, when the broadcasting signal is received, only a desired burst period is received such that power consumption of the broadcasting signal receiver can be reduced.
US08413185B2

An interactive television application with mosaic browsing is provided. Selectable cells that may be associated with entities are used to display information corresponding to the entities. Information may include brand marks such as logos or any other suitable entity identifier. A cell may be in focus or it may not be in focus. When a cell is in focus the information displayed in the cell may be different than the information displayed when the cell is not in focus. Users may navigate among cells. The cells may be grouped into regions based on, for example, their association with similar entities.
US08413176B2

A disk device is provided with a pair of slide cam members that start movement when a disk is conveyed to a replayable position, and a pair of clamper lifters respectively having clamper support portions supporting a clamper. The clamper lifters are moved in opposite directions to each other in a horizontal direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the disk device in conjunction with the movement of the pair of slide cam members. They are arranged so that the timings of the start of movement in the opposite directions to each other are different from each other. The clamper support portions have inclined surfaces in contact with an outer peripheral part of the clamper so as to move the clamper in the thickness direction of the disk device in accordance with the movement of the pair of clamper lifters in the opposite directions to each other.
US08413170B2

In various embodiments, a method for processing event streams includes receiving a state machine defined in response to a set of processing components, a set of states, and a set of entry points. Event data associated with an event stream is also received. The event data is processed according to the state machine to generate an event.
US08413158B2

An operating system of an information handling system (IHS) determines a process tree of data sharing threads in an application that the IHS executes. A load balancing manager assigns a home processor to each thread of the executing application process tree and dispatches the process tree to the home processor. The load balancing manager determines whether a particular poaching processor of a virtual or real processor group is available to execute threads of the executing application within the home processor of a processor group. If ready or run queues of a prospective poaching processor are empty, the load balancing manager may move or poach a thread or threads from the home processor ready queue to the ready queue of the prospective poaching processor. The poaching processor executes the poached threads to provide load balancing to the information handling system (IHS).
US08413147B2

A method, an apparatus, and a system for making a decision about virtual machine migration includes a source host platform, configured to send a migration request to a Migration Authority (MA), and to migrate the virtual machine to a target host platform according to a received migration decision-making result. The MA is configured to perform security checks on the source host platform and the target host platform, to obtain a first evaluation result of the source host platform and a second evaluation result of the target host platform, acquire a third evaluation result of the virtual machine, and return a corresponding migration decision-making result to the source host platform. The corresponding migration decision-making result indicates whether the virtual machine is permitted to be migrated; and the target host platform of the virtual machine to be migrated, is configured to accept the virtual machine to be migrated.
US08413143B2

A system receives a notification at an operating system image of a change in allocation of queue pair resources to the operating system image. The system queries a physical network adapter through a hypervisor to obtain a new queue pair resource count that will exist in the virtualized system after the change in allocation. The system performs a hashing operation in the operating system image using the new queue pair resource count to distribute transmit traffic among the queue pair resources that will exist in the virtualized system after the change in allocation.
US08413142B2

Storage optimization selection for virtual disks of a virtualization environment, where the storage optimization can be selected based in part on the disk type of a virtual disk included in a virtual machine. The disk type of the virtual disk can be discovered by the virtualization environment which queries a database within the virtualization environment for metadata associated with the virtual disk. The metadata can be created when a virtual desktop infrastructure creates the virtual disk, and a virtual machine template that includes the at least one virtual disk. The virtual disk can be modified to either include or be associated with the metadata that describes a disk type of the virtual disk. Upon executing the virtual machine that includes the modified virtual disk, a storage subsystem of the virtualization environment can obtain the metadata of the virtual disk to discover the disk type of the virtual disk.
US08413134B2

A method for facilitating the management of a software distribution process is proposed. The method provides the possibility of performing an introspection of a software package (which is used for installing a corresponding software product) before its application on each endpoint. The introspection evaluates any run-time parameters that condition the execution of the actions specified in the software package; in this way, it is possible to determine a list of the actions that will be actually executed during the application of the software package. This list is displayed on a monitor of the endpoint, so as to allow its user to decide whether the application of the software package should be accepted or not. Alternatively, the list of those actions can be collected on a distribution server (from multiple endpoints), to determine an impact of the distribution process on the whole system before its execution.
US08413129B1

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating an alert based on information describing at least one update associated with an application to be repaired. In operation, a request to repair an application is received. Additionally, information describing at least one update associated with the application is identified. Furthermore, an alert is generated based on the information.
US08413113B2

A system and method for dynamically appending prefixes to source code is described. User-selectable options for a prefix naming convention are provided to a user. Prefixes are transiently appended to variables based on a user selection. The variables are displayed with their respective prefixes in a code editor. Modifications to the source code are detected. The prefixes are removed from the modified source code and the modified source code is written to a persistent storage.
US08413105B2

A method for managing a software development process, the method includes: receiving information representative of instances of simple software development process events; detecting, by a complex event processing (CEP) engine and in response to the received information, at least one complex situation; and invoking at least one software management process reaction responsive to a detection of the at least one complex situation.
US08413104B2

In an embodiment, a buffer bay is represented with a moveable object that has a location within a unit in a netlist. The location of the moveable object that represents the buffer bay is changed to a new location in the netlist if changing the location improves placement within the unit. In an embodiment, a net weight of a net that connects the moveable object to an artificial pin is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location. In an embodiment a bounding area that encompasses the location is considered in determining whether to change the location to the new location.
US08413102B2

In one embodiment, a vectorless IVD methodology may be used to estimate IVD issues for an integrated circuit earlier in the design cycle of the integrated circuit, e.g. when corrective actions may still be taken to correct IVD failures. In the methodology, scan chains for various clusters in the integrated circuit may be identified, even though the scan chains may still be subject to change as the design evolves. A power integrity tool may analyze the scan chains based on a probability of transitions in the devices within the scan chain (e.g. flops) for a theoretical worst-case test vector. If the result of analysis identifies IVD failures in the clusters, corrective action may be taken such as modifying the design. Alternatively, the corrective action may include identifying one or more flops that experience failure as devices to be excluded from the test vector generation process for scan testing.
US08413097B2

A computing device reads a printed circuit board (PCB) layout file from a storage device. The PCB layout file includes arrangement information of signal lines, power lines, and power through-holes arranged on a PCB. Furthermore, the computing device sets a reference distance between a selected power through-hole and a neighboring signal line, and searches for one or more line segments of one or more signal lines where the a distance between each of the one or more line segment and the selected power through-hole is less than the reference distance.
US08413092B2

A circuit design supporting apparatus includes: an observation portion specifying section configured to specify a first portion with a high improvement effect of analysis easiness in failure analysis of an integrated circuit as an observation portion; and an element substitution performing section configured to substitute an element arranged in the observation portion by an analysis target element to which a failure analysis apparatus can appropriately conduct the failure analysis based on a data of the observation portion. The element substitution performing section includes a timing analyzing section configured to perform timing analysis of the integrated circuit shown by a netlist; a delay calculating section configured to calculate a delay in the integrated circuit based on a result of the timing analysis by said timing analyzing section and said netlist; a substitution element determining section configured to specify a fine element, which is arranged in said observation portion, of elements of the integrated circuit as a substitution candidate element; and an element substituting section configured to update said netlist to form a new netlist.
US08413089B2

Methods and apparatuses are described for assigning random values to a set of random variables so that the assigned random values satisfy a set of constraints. An embodiment can receive a set of constraints, wherein each constraint is defined over one or more random variables from a set of random variables. Next, the embodiment can generate a circuit model based on the set of constraints, wherein assignable values for at least one node in the circuit model are represented in multiple value systems. The embodiment can then assign random values to the set of random variables based on the circuit model.
US08413082B2

A method for designing masks adapted to the forming of integrated circuits, including the steps of: (a) forming a first test file including a set of configurations of integrated circuit elements; (b) forming a second test file comprising the elements of the first test file, less the elements corresponding to configurations forbidden by design rule manuals; (c) trans-forming the second test file by means of a set of logical operations implemented by computing means to obtain a mask file; (d) testing the mask file and, if the test is negative, modifying the design rule manuals; and (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until the test of step (d) is positive.
US08413081B2

One embodiment of a method for process window optimized optical proximity correction includes applying optical proximity corrections to a design layout, simulating a lithography process using the post-OPC layout and models of the lithography process at a plurality of process conditions to produce a plurality of simulated resist images. A weighted average error in the critical dimension or other contour metric for each edge segment of each feature in the design layout is determined, wherein the weighted average error is an offset between the contour metric at each process condition and the contour metric at nominal condition averaged over the plurality of process conditions. A retarget value for the contour metric for each edge segment is determined using the weighted average error and applied to the design layout prior to applying further optical proximity corrections.
US08413073B2

A 3D display device is provided. The 3D display device provides a 3D preview image to be displayed and a control menu for setting various parameters for the 3D preview image to a user and thus enables the user to optimize the 3D parameters before viewing 3D content and view the 3D content.
US08413069B2

The automatic completion of composite characters is supported by the generation of lists of candidate words or characters. Such lists may be generated by specifying letters or word shapes that are required to be included in candidate words or characters, independent of the order in which a specified letter or word shape is traditionally added to the completed word or character. In a subtractive mode, a user may exclude words or characters that include one or more letters or word shapes specified by the user.
US08413068B2

In an electronic interaction space, transitioning between a first and second screen layout includes determining a difference between the first and second screen layouts, wherein the first and second screen layouts include at least one pod each, and rendering the difference as a dynamic and intermediate screen layout that uses a representation of physical motion to present a gradual change.
US08413065B2

Methods and devices provide an efficient user interface for initiating a function by detecting an ellipsoidal continuous touch path on a touch surface of a computing device. In an embodiment the initiated function may end an application. A user may initiate the function operation by tracing an ellipsoidal shape (e.g., a circle) a touchscreen or touchpad. A display image may be contorted to inform the user about the progress towards accomplishing the function. The function operation of contorting the display image may begin at a minimum measure of the traced path and complete at a maximum measure of the traced path. In an embodiment, terminating an application and returning to the home display may be achieved in response to a clockwise path trace and minimizing of an application and returning to home display may be achieved in response to a counterclockwise path trace, or vice versa.
US08413057B2

Provided is a system and method that may perform various operations on a website according to combinations of buttons on a remote controller. A system for supporting a remote controller may include: a profile storage unit to store a plurality of profiles containing functions of the remote controller and information associated with the functions of the remote controller; a receiver to receive an input signal from the remote controller, and to interpret an event of the input signal based on a profile corresponding to the remote controller; and a presentation unit to access a web server, to transform, to a predetermined behavior, at least one event interpreted by the receiver, and to request the web server for an operation corresponding to the behavior.
US08413055B2

An enhanced instant messaging environment is provided where end user can choose from a list of customizable widgets, personalize and embed the widgets within messages in minimal steps. By allowing the embedment of widgets in messages, the environment empowers users with new means for online communication with new level of widget intelligence that takes into account multi-dimensional criteria, including but not limited to the screen-estate of its presentation and role of viewer for information presentation and operation options.
US08413046B1

A system and machine-implemented method for optimizing the displaying of a rich web user interface (UI) to a user, the method including rendering a hidden base node and one or more child nodes within a Dynamic Object Model (DOM) tree structure determining if one or more nodes of the one or more child nodes and the base node represent a useful portion of the rich web UI based on whether the one or more nodes meet a pre-defined set of criteria, and exposing the base node if the one or more nodes represent a useful portion of the rich web UI, causing rendering of the useful portion of the rich web UI by displaying display elements corresponding to each of the base node and the one or more child nodes.
US08413043B2

An apparatus and method for forwarding a web address to another web address is presented. A web forwarder receives a request destined to a first web address including at least a domain name. The web forwarder then determines a forwarding uniform resource locator (URL) that corresponds to the domain name and redirects the request to a second web address that corresponds to the forwarding URL.
US08413042B2

Personalization of content of a web site for a user based on a web site that a user arrives from is disclosed. For example, the content of the web site from which the user arrives (i.e., the originating page), as well as the content of the web page the user has arrived to (i.e., the target page), may be categorized as pertaining to particular subjects or topics. Any time a user comes from an originating page, the subject categories for the originating page and the target page may be compared to determine if like categories exist between the pages. In the event that like categories are found, the target page may be personalized based on those categories.
US08413030B2

The error correction capability for wireless communication carried out involving propagation path fluctuation in time and frequency selectivity can be improved. A soft decision likelihood value inputted to an error correction decoder is multiplied by a weight determined according to the distance between the data symbol and pilot symbol corresponding to the soft decision likelihood value. Namely, the soft decision bit likelihood value corresponding to the data symbol is weighted according to the distances in time or frequency between the pilot symbol and data symbol. The weight is made smaller when the distance in time or frequency is larger.
US08413026B2

A method of performing forward error correction with configurable latency, where a configurable latency algorithm evaluates a target Bit Error Rate (BER) against an actual BER and adjusts the size of a configurable buffer such that the target BER may be achieved when utilizing the smallest buffer size possible. When errors are corrected without the utilization of each of the configurable buffer locations, the algorithm reduces the size of the buffer by y buffer locations; the algorithm may continue to successively reduce the size of said buffer until the minimum number of buffer locations are utilized to achieve the target BER. If the buffer locations have been reduced such that the buffer size is too small and the target BER cannot be achieved, the algorithm may increase the size of the buffer until the minimum number of buffer locations are utilized to achieve the target BER.
US08413024B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving incoming data in a processor and performing a checksum operation on the incoming data in the processor pursuant to a user-level instruction for the checksum operation. For example, a cyclic redundancy checksum may be computed in the processor itself responsive to the user-level instruction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08413023B2

A system and method for correcting errors in an ECC block using erasure-identification data when generating an error-locator polynomial. In an embodiment, a ECC decoding method, uses “erasure” data indicative of bits of data that are unable to be deciphered by a decoder. Such a method may use an Berlekamp-Massey algorithm that receives two polynomials as inputs; a first polynomial indicative of erasure location in the stream of bits and a syndrome polynomial indicative of all bits as initially determined. The Berlekamp-Massey algorithm may use the erasure identification information to more easily decipher the overall codeword when faced with a error-filled codeword.
US08413019B2

A computer-implemented method for correcting transmission errors. According to the method, a transmitted vector corrupted by error can be recovered solving a linear program. The method has applications in the transmission of Internet media, Internet telephony, and speech transmission. In addition, error correction is embedded as a key building block in numerous algorithms, and data-structures, where corruption is possible; corruption of digital data stored on a hard-drive, CD, DVD or similar media is a good example. In short, progress in error correction has potential to impact several storage and communication systems.
US08413018B2

A programmable device employs an address and data corruption logic for data written to a first memory. A first signature is computed from the data stored in the first memory and stored in a second memory. When data is read from the first memory, the first signature stored in the second memory is read and compared with a second signature computed from the data read from the first memory. If the first and second signatures do not match, an error condition is indicated.
US08413016B2

In a nonvolatile memory device of the present application, when data of each write unit is read from a nonvolatile memory, an all-clear detector detects whether the read data is already cleared, and a control portion judges whether a flag is already written into a written flag area of the data that has been descrambled by a descrambler and then corrected by an error detection and correction portion. Using a scramble pattern that is generated by a scramble pattern generator and corresponds to the written flag area, a predetermined bit pattern is scrambled to a state that differs from the cleared state.
US08412998B1

Methods and systems for performing a restart operation in a storage device include in response to receiving an unsuccessful status from the host indicating a transmission error occurred for the first command, determining in which one of the logical blocks the transmission error occurred and from which data needs to be resent, thereby identifying a restart logical block. The number of blocks in the restart logical block that were sent successfully are calculated, and it is determined that the block immediately following the blocks sent successfully is the block in which the transmission error occurred and from which the data needs to be resent, thereby identifying a restart block. An amount of data successfully sent in the restart block is determined; and an indication is provided to resend at least a portion of the data in the restart block to the host.
US08412992B2

In a first embodiment a TAP 318 of IEEE standard 1149.1 is allowed to commandeer control from a WSP 202 of IEEE standard P1500 such that the P1500 architecture, normally controlled by the WSP, is rendered controllable by the TAP. In a second embodiment (1) the TAP and WSP based architectures are merged together such that the sharing of the previously described architectural elements are possible, and (2) the TAP and WSP test interfaces are merged into a single optimized test interface that is operable to perform all operations of each separate test interface.
US08412984B2

A technology is described for debugging in a cluster processing network. A scheduler can dispatch a process that is part of the cluster job for execution. Further, a compute node can be used to execute the process dispatched by the scheduler to the compute node. A debugger can be activated in response to an unhandled suspension event in the process on the compute node. In addition, the debugger can send notification messages regarding the unhandled suspension event. A job monitor can receive a notification from the debugger that an unhandled suspension event has occurred. The notification can be displayed to a user via the job monitor.
US08412981B2

Methods and apparatus to provide core sparing on multi-core platforms are described. In an embodiment, stored core state information of a target core (e.g., a core that has detected a fault condition (e.g., within its circuitry) or a request to offload operations from the target core (e.g., to enable run-time diagnostics without interfering with system software)) may be read by a spare core which is to operationally replace the target core. Other embodiments are also described.
US08412978B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing data storage. The method includes determining that an error correcting code (ECC) block comprises uncorrectable errors. The ECC block is stored across a plurality of memory devices. The method includes iteratively substituting replacement data, within data of the ECC block, for individual memory devices of the plurality of memory devices to form substitute ECC blocks until one of the substitute ECC blocks is correctable using the error correcting code for the ECC block. The method includes providing corrected data from the correctable one of the substitute ECC blocks.
US08412962B2

A microprocessor including a temperature sensor that monitors a temperature of core logic of the microprocessor during operation thereof, and operating point information from which may be determined N operating points at which the microprocessor core may reliably operate at a first temperature. Each of the N operating points has a different combination of operating frequency and voltage. The N operating points comprise a highest operating point, a lowest operating point, and a plurality of operating points intermediate the highest and lowest operating points. The microprocessor also includes a control circuit that transitions operation of the core logic among the N operating points to attempt to keep the operating temperature of the core logic provided by the temperature sensor within a temperature range whose upper bound is the first temperature.
US08412958B2

A device management system is configured with a target device including at least one unit that includes a tamper-resistant chip, a management apparatus that manages or uses the target device, and an authentication apparatus including a database for authentication, connected via a network in a communicable manner. In the target device, each unit is equipped with the tamper-resistant chip that collects device information specific to a unit, stores collected device information, and stores a confidential-key.
US08412950B2

A method for configuring a biometric template protected authentication system wherein the desired classification threshold is first selected to optimize the trade-off between a false accept (FAR) and a false non match or reject rate (FRR) of the system, and then an error correcting code (ECC) used in the authentication process is chosen such that the number of errors which can be corrected is equal to or greater than the selected classification threshold. During authentication, the number of errors in a first codeword derived from biometric data associated with a physical object is determined and used in the decision process to accept or reject authentication.
US08412945B2

Computer systems and methods are provided in which an agent executive, when initially executed in a virtual machine, obtains an agent API key from a user. This key is communicated to a grid computer system. An agent identity token, generated by a cryptographic token generation protocol when the key is valid, is received from the grid and stored in a secure data store associated with the agent executive. Information that evaluates the integrity of the agent executive is collected using agent self-verification factors. The information, encrypted and signed with a cryptographic signature, is communicated to the grid. Commands are sent from the grid to the agent executive to check the security, compliance, and integrity of the virtual machine processes and data structures. Based on these check results, additional commands are sent by the grid to the agent executive to correct security, compliance or integrity problems and/or to prevent security compromises.
US08412931B2

Techniques for credential strength analysis via failed intruder access attempts are presented. Intruders attempting to access a secure network with failed credentials are monitored. The failed credentials are retained and evaluated in view of previously recorded failed credentials. Credential policy is updated in response to the evaluation and intruder trends and sophistication levels are also predicted in response to the evaluation.
US08412930B2

A deployable computing environment may facilitate interaction and data sharing between users and devices. Users, devices, and relationships between the users and devices may be represented within the deployable computing environment. A relationship between a user and a device may specify that the device is owned by the user and that the device is authorized to perform operations within the deployable computing environment on behalf of the user. Secure authentication of devices and users for interaction within the deployable computing environment is achieved by authenticating tickets corresponding to the user, the device, and the relationship. A device identification ticket and a user identification ticket are used to authenticate the device and user for interaction within the deployable computing environment. A device claim ticket allows the device to perform delegated operations (e.g., data synchronization, peer connectivity, etc.) on behalf of the user without the user's credentials (e.g., user identification ticket).
US08412928B1

A computing system has a local computing domain coupled to a one-time password (OTP) server. The OTP server maintains user-specific secret data used in a one-time-password (OTP) process to generate OTPs for user authentication. An authentication server in the computing domain sends an OTP request identifying a user to the OTP server. The OTP server executes the OTP process to generate a set of candidate OTPs, any one of which is expected to match a user-generated OTP for a valid authentication. The OTP server returns a response to the authentication server which includes second hashed OTP values, each generated by applying a hash function to a respective candidate OTP. The authentication server performs a comparison function between a first hashed OTP value from the user and the second hashed OTP values. Only upon determining that the first hashed OTP value matches one of the second hashed OTP values, the authentication server performs a protected function in the computing domain that is permitted only upon authentication of the user. Applications include authentication in a ticket-based authentication scheme such as a Kerberos system, in which the protected function may be the granting of a ticket-granting ticket enabling the user to engage service servers in the computing domain.
US08412926B1

A system and method may assist in securing data for transmission to a receiving entity. Received data may include metadata associated therewith. The data may be encrypted using an encryption key encoded within selected portions of the metadata, where the selection of the selected portions is based on a scheme shared with the receiving entity. The encrypted data including the metadata may be transferred to the receiving entity. The receiving entity may decrypt the encrypted data using the selected portions of the metadata.
US08412913B2

An information processing system includes: a data processing unit that executes verification processing for a content recorded in a disk and reproduces the disk-recorded content under a condition that the verification succeeds, wherein the data processing unit randomly selects hash units, which are objects of collation, from among a plurality of hash units formed with component data items of the content, reads the selected hash units sequentially from the disk, calculates hash values, and collates the calculated hash values with collation hash values; and the data processing unit executes reading sequence determination processing so as to determine a reading sequence in which the selected hash units are sorted according to recording positions in a disk, and reads the selected hash units according to the determined reading sequence.
US08412912B2

In various embodiments, dedicated mask pins are eliminated by sending a data mask on address lines of the interface. A memory controller receives a request for a memory write operation from a memory client and determines the granularity of the write data from a write data mask sent by the client. Granularity, as used herein, indicates a quantity of write data to which each bit of the received write data mask applies. In an embodiment, the memory controller generates a particular write command and a particular write data mask based on the granularity of the write data. The write command generated is typically the most efficient of several write commands available, but embodiments are not so limited. The write command is transmitted on command lines of the interface, and the write data mask is transmitted on address lines of the interface.
US08412909B2

A storage apparatus includes a memory unit and a controller to set up a memory space of the memory unit as a user data space and a spare space according to a signal representing at least one of the user data space and spare space. An electronic apparatus controls the storage apparatus, and a method controls at least one of the storage apparatus and the electronic apparatus to control a memory space of the storage apparatus.
US08412908B2

A storage system allocates a data storage area in response to an access request from a first computer if the capacity of a first physical storage device configuring a first logical storage area, provided to the first computer, is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. The storage system associates the first logical storage area with another physical storage device, which is different from the first physical storage device associated with a second logical storage area provided to the first computer and a second computer, and allocates a data storage area from the another physical storage device if the capacity of the first physical storage device associated with the first logical storage area exceeds the predetermined threshold.
US08412903B2

A secure processor in a PC-slave device manages secure loading of execution code and/or data, which is stored, in encrypted form, in a PC hard-drive. The secure processor causes decryption of the execution code and/or data by the PC-slave device, and storage of the decrypted execution code and/or data in a restricted portion of a memory that is dedicated for use by the PC-slave device, with the restricted portion of the dedicated memory being only accessible by the PC-slave device. The secure processor validates decrypted execution code and/or data. The secure processor blocks operations of a main processor in the PC-slave device during secure loading of execution code and/or data, and discontinues that blocking after validating the decrypted execution code and/or data. The secure processor stores encryption keys that are utilized during decryption of the encrypted execution code and/or data.
US08412896B1

A method and system for backing up and restoring data in a file system that includes junctions is provided. In a backup operation, a junction is encoded as a symbolic link (“symlink”) directive, and sent with a sequential image data stream in the backup operation and written to a tape or disk. In a restore operation, when the encoded symlink directive is encountered after data is read from the tape, the symlink is decoded by an administrator to obtain the embedded junction information contained in the symlink directive. The administrator can then recreate the junction using the information. The junction information is thereby transmitted as part of the backup and restore operation while remaining transparent to third party software performing the backup and restore processes.
US08412891B2

Memory access arbitration allowing a shared memory to be used both as a memory for a processor and as a buffer for data flows, including an arbiter unit that makes assignment for access requests to the memory sequentially and transfers blocks of data in one round-robin cycle according to bandwidths required for the data transfers, sets priorities for the transfer blocks so that the bandwidths required for the data transfers are met by alternate transfer of the transfer blocks, and executes an access from the processor with an upper limit set for the number of access times from the processor to the memory in one round-robin cycle so that the access from the processor with the highest priority and with a predetermined transfer length exerts less effect on bandwidths for data flow transfers in predetermined intervals between the transfer blocks.
US08412888B2

A store request in enqueued in a store queue of a cache memory of the data processing system. The store request identifies a target memory block by a target address and specifies store data. While the store request and a barrier request older than the store request are enqueued in the store queue, a read-claim machine of the cache memory is dispatched to acquire coherence ownership of target memory block of the store request. After coherence ownership of the target memory block is acquired and the barrier request has been retired from the store queue, a cache array of the cache memory is updated with the store data.
US08412885B2

In an embodiment of the present invention a method includes: sending request for data to a memory controller; arranging the request for data by order of importance or priority; identifying a source of the request for data; and if the source is an input/output device, masking off P ways in a cache; and allocating ways in filling the cache. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08412876B2

A storage device with multiple storage units, which is applicable to a system end. The storage device is a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state disk (SSD) with a standard size. The storage device includes a first storage unit and at least one memory storage unit. The memory storage unit and the first storage unit serve to back up and update each other. The storage device further includes a multiplex control unit and a power control unit connected to the multiplex control unit. According to the decision of the multiplex control unit, the power control unit controls turning on/off of the first storage unit and the memory storage unit.
US08412873B2

A bridge circuit 10 is provided between first data port A1, A2 and second data port B1, B2. The bridge circuit comprises a first transceiver stage 40 comprising at least one input buffer 11, 14 and at least one tri-state output buffer 12, 13 linked to the first data port, a second transceiver stage 50 comprising at least one input buffer 21, 24 and at least one tri-state output buffer 12, 13 linked to the second data port, a first detection circuit 31 for detecting the arrival of a packet by the first data port, a second detection circuit 37 for detecting the arrival of a packet by the second data port. A selection circuitry 34, 35 enables the output of tri-state output buffer of the first or of the second transceiver stage depending of the detection made by the first and second detection circuits.
US08412872B1

The present invention pertains to a graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit includes a graphics processing core configured for graphics processing. A single-ended I/O interface configured to implement single-ended communication with a frame buffer memory is included in the graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit further includes a differential I/O interface having a first portion and a second portion. In a first configuration, the first portion and the second portion implement a PCI-Express interface with a computer system. In a second configuration, the first portion implements a PCI-Express interface with the computer system and the second portion implements differential communication with a coupled device.
US08412869B2

A redundant storage virtualization computer system is provided. The redundant storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant storage virtualization controller set coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage space to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller set. The redundant storage virtualization controller set comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity, the storage virtualization controllers communicate therebetween via a PCI-Express interconnect. In the redundant storage virtualization controller set, a storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the alternate storage virtualization controller when the alternate storage virtualization controller is not on line.
US08412863B2

The object of the present invention is to provide a technique in which, in a storage apparatus using a PCI Express switch in an internal network, an EP can be shared among processors even if the EP is incompatible with the MR-IOV. A storage apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a first interface device which controls data input/output to and from a higher-level apparatus, and the first interface device is further provided with multiple virtual function units which provide virtual ports. The first interface device enables any of the virtual function units and does not enable any of the other virtual function units (see FIG. 14).
US08412831B2

An IP gateway device establishes distinct TCP sessions within a single FCIP tunnel, each TCP session being designated for a different priority of service (e.g., high, medium, low), plus a control stream. Each TCP session has its own TCP stack and its own settings for VLAN Tagging (IEEE 802.1Q), quality of service (IEEE 802.1P) and Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP). By distributing data streams assigned to different priorities of service into different TCP sessions within the FCIP tunnel, an IP gateway device can preserve the distinctions between the data stream priorities while the data traffic is within the IP network.
US08412830B2

The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for improving SIP parse performance. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a text-based SIP message to be sent to a SIP server; according to a SIP message filter table, determining whether the text-based SIP message needs to be transformed to a token-based message; and in the case that the text-based SIP message needs to be transformed to a token-based message, performing the transformation and sending the transformed token-based message to said SIP server, otherwise directly sending the text-based SIP message to said SIP server. According to the present invention, larger SIP message throughput in a SIP server and better utilization of resources of a front end device can be achieved.
US08412823B1

A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing resources maintained in resource cache components are provided. A network storage provider storing one or more resources on behalf of a content provider obtains client computing device requests for content. The network storage provider provides resources that are received and maintained on resource cache components. The network storage provider either processes requests or provides notifications to the resource cache components to facilitate the management of resources that need to be updated or are otherwise treated as invalid.
US08412822B1

An arrangement provides optimal job scheduling in a distributed computing grid having a network of nodes. As jobs enter the system, their requirements are matched against the capabilities at each node to determine (step 202) candidate nodes. From this set of candidate nodes, a subset of valid nodes is selected (step 204) that has sufficient bandwidth for the duration of the job on each link that will need to be used by the job if run at that candidate node. For each valid node, a total cost is computed (step 206) to run the job. The cost may include such factors as bandwidth cost, server cost, storage cost, delay costs, and the like. Finally, a lowest cost node is selected (step 207), and the job is scheduled for execution (step 208) and then run (step 209) on that lowest cost node. An arrangement combining job scheduling with bandwidth on demand (BoD) involves a system for scheduling at least one job for execution on a network of nodes joined by links having respective link capacities, each job associated with a transport capacity requirement. The system has a job scheduler (element 150) configured to schedule the at least one job to be executed on at least one selected node, and a link manager (element 140) configured to reserve at least some of the link capacity of at least one of the links connected to the at least one selected node, to match the job transport capacity requirement.
US08412810B1

A system is provided to provision and manage cloud-based clustered application deployment. In one example embodiment, a cloud-based clustered application deployment uses a three tier topology that includes a load balancing tier, an application tier, and a database tier. Each tier comprises a set of nodes, where each node is implemented using a virtual instance of a machine running within a public virtualization space, such as, e.g., the virtualization space provided by Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) service. A controller is provided to enforce sequential start sequence of a cluster using an asynchronous messaging system that provides notifications to cluster nodes as the individual nodes of the cluster become available. This messaging system is also used when the size of the cluster is increased or decreased.
US08412798B1

A content delivery system and method for use with plurality of digital multimedia data processing systems and legacy systems spanning across one or more network environments. The system and method enable users with freedom of mobility while maintaining access to the user's selected content while the user transitions from one device in one location to a different device in a difference location, substantially without interruption and without the need for user action to turn on and off these target data processing systems. The Instant Invention can provide high bandwidth content delivery solutions based upon hardware and software components by activating a Target device while the system is proximate to the Target device and, in one embodiment, automatically redirecting the content while the system is proximate to a new Target device without user intervention. The Target devices include digital multimedia data processing systems and legacy systems including, but not limited to, HDTVs, TV, Personal Computers, digital music systems, printers, radios, and fax machines.
US08412795B2

A system such as a “System-on-Chip” includes an interconnection network, a set of initiator modules for transmitting data towards the interconnection network and at least one communication arbiter for deciding, as a function of a set of configuration values, which transmissions of the initiator modules have access to the interconnection network. At least one configuration value is associated with each initiator module. A control device coupled to at least one of the initiator modules detects a communication status associated with the transmissions of the coupled initiator and generates a communication status signal whose value is representative of such status, determines a filtered value representative of a series of the values of the communication status signal, and selectively varies one of the configuration values as a function of the filtered value.
US08412785B2

Methods and apparatuses for processing an instant message from a source wireless communication device to a destination device are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, an exemplary method includes receiving the instant message from the source wireless communication device, the instant message having a source wireless communication identifier, a destination instant messenger identifier, and data contents; extracting the source wireless communication identifier, the destination instant messenger identifier and the data contents from the instant message; retrieving a source instant messenger identifier corresponding to the source wireless communication identifier; binding the source instant messenger identifier with the source wireless communication identifier; and transmitting the data contents with the source instant messenger identifier to the destination device over a communication network, based on the destination instant messenger identifier. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08412784B2

Architecture that introduces storage of an extra (skeleton) property of a document as well as default document properties on a server. In a specific messaging implementation, a MIME skeleton property is stamped on an arriving MIME messages. An incoming MIME message is shredded and all content that is currently saved to MAPI properties continues to be saved. The remaining message content that is not saved to the MAPI properties is stored in the skeleton property. The skeleton property includes all body part headers and any body part content that was not saved as a property on the item by the server. On retrieval of this message by a MIME client, the MIME message is regenerated in full fidelity by using the default set of properties in combination with the skeleton (or extra) property and the stored body content.
US08412782B2

A method and email system for improving efficiency of email discussion within an email client comprising: an email tag filter for filtering a special tag in email contents, extracting original email contents, and identifying tag related information which includes at least an author name corresponding to the email contents; and a content style setting component for receiving and keeping the tag related information fed by the email tag filter, then identifying which part of the email contents is written by which author according to the tag information, and assigning correct style to corresponding contents using a user customization style for each author. The invention differentiates different users mainly by automatically labeling the contents input by the users, and the input contents can be distributed in different positions within a single email, which matches the natural convention of the current users to use the email system.
US08412780B2

Methods and systems for providing current email addresses or contact information to members within a social network are described. In one described method, an email program application requests an email address for a member within a social network. Using profile information associated with the member, the email address is provided to the email program application which sent the request. The email address is then entered into the send-to parameter field of an email message. In another described method, contact information associated with a first member of a social can be provided to a second member of the social network. The contact information is provided if the relationship between the first and second members is an authorized relationship. The contact information associated with the first member can be used to update the contact information for the first member in an electronic address book associated with the second member.
US08412779B1

In one embodiment, a subscriber who receives a spam message in his or her wireless mobile device may forward the message to a designated server for potential blocking. The message may be forwarded to the server using a designated phone number, for example. At the server, a learning module may verify if the message is indeed spam based at least on reports from other subscribers. If the message is spam, the server may initiate blocking of same or similar messages. For example, the server may report the spam message to a message service center, which may then block transmission of same or similar messages to all subscribers. The wireless mobile device may be a mobile telephone, for example.
US08412777B2

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for servers processing input data regardless of whether the input data is located in an attachment to a message from a client. The server receives a message from the client instructing the server to process data. Then, the server determines whether the data is located in an attachment to the message, and if the data is located in the attachment, moves the data to another location other than in the attachment.
US08412776B2

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a communication network. The system comprises a network-connected server having input and access capabilities, a site builder, a transmitter, a communicator, and memory. The site-builder receives instructions input from a first user and creates a dedicated network site based on the received instructions. The transmitter communicates the existence of the dedicated network site to a nominated second user. The communicator provides accesses to the contents of the dedicated network site by the first and second users. The memory stores information input by the first and the second user in the dedicated network site.
US08412769B2

Techniques exist for imaging clients over a network, such as the preboot execution environment (PXE) protocol. However, such techniques may not scale well (e.g., using broadcast messages and having few facilities for distributing the imaging service over several servers) and limited capacity to choose a particular image for a particular client. Instead, a set of servers may be configured such that each server is assigned a set of clients, and when a client sends an imaging query, only the server to which the client is assigned sends a reply. For example, a PXE server also comprising a DHCP server may reply to queries only for clients having a DHCP reservation on the server. The servers may also be configured to refer to a network map (e.g., a manageability data store) in order to identify the role of the client and the appropriate image to direct the client to apply.
US08412762B2

An error-correcting method used in decoding data transmission is disclosed. The error-correcting method is used for analyzing an error receiving data received from a receiving terminal and comprises: providing a first calculating formula for manipulation of the receiving data to generate the first sum; providing a second calculating formula for manipulation of the receiving data to generate the second sum; identifying the error position of the receiving data according to the result of dividing the second sum by the first sum.
US08412759B2

Methods and systems for signal filtering in electronic devices are provided. More particularly, methods and systems for filtering of radio frequency (RF) signals are provided. A filter circuit may comprise a down-converter, a filter, coupled to the down-converter and configured to filter the down-converted signal, and an up-converter, coupled to the filter. A filter circuit may also comprise a combining circuit, coupled to the up-converter and configured to combine the filtered, up-converted signal and the input signal.
US08412755B2

A method comprises receiving, by a processor, a copy of a database containing records, each record having a plurality of attributes. The method also comprises determining, by the processor, whether a first attribute in each record results in a predetermined value in modulo P when hashed with a key and determining, by the processor, whether a second attribute in each record results in the predetermined value in modulo P when hashed with a key. For a first record whose first attribute results in the predetermined value in modulo P when hashed with a key and a second record whose second attribute also results in the predetermined value in modulo P when hashed with a key, the method further comprises swapping by the processor the second attributes between the first and second records.
US08412722B2

A pattern matching accelerator (PMA) for assisting software threads to find the presence and location of strings in an input data stream that match a given pattern. The patterns are defined using regular expressions that are compiled into a data structure comprised of rules subsequently processed by the PMA. The patterns to be searched in the input stream are defined by the user as a set of regular expressions. The patterns to be searched are grouped in pattern context sets. The sets of regular expressions which define the pattern context sets are compiled to generate a rules structure used by the PMA hardware. The rules are compiled before search run time and stored in main memory, in rule cache memory within the PMA or a combination thereof. For each input character, the PMA executes the search and returns the search results.
US08412719B1

A computer-implemented method for generating and sharing dataset segment schemes of a multidimensional dataset at a client device is provided. The client device displays a first filter definition template and an attribute list. Upon detecting a user selection of a first attribute, the client device displays the first attribute and one or more candidate filter conditions in the first filter definition template. Upon detecting a user selection of a first filter condition in the first filter definition template, the client device submits a segment scheme generation request to the server system and receives from the server system a first segment identifier; and displays a first segment link at the client device, the first segment link including the first segment identifier.
US08412709B1

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including selecting a person as a representative to collect information from businesses. The method further includes generating identifiers to be associated with the information. The method further includes providing the identifiers to the representative. The method further includes receiving business information that has been directly collected from a business among the businesses by the representative and an indication of a particular one of the identifiers to be associated with the directly collected business information. The method further includes storing the received business information with the associated particular identifier in a database. The method further includes, after storing the received business information with the particular identifier in the database, receiving authentication information including the particular identifier. The method further includes allowing modification of the stored business information by the interface of the business.
US08412706B2

This invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating to social network analysis. More specifically, this invention is generally directed to one or more systems or methods relating to personal communication networks and the analysis of personal-communication-network data.
US08412705B2

An image processing apparatus includes a search unit configured to search for an object, a selection unit configured to select a plurality of objects from among objects searched for by the search unit based on an instruction by a user, a creation unit configured to create a new document using the plurality of objects selected by the selection unit, and a storage unit configured to store the plurality of objects used in creating the new document by the creation unit as a group, associated with information about the group. The search unit searches for an object related to an object searched for based on a keyword, using information about the group.
US08412701B2

A system and method is provided for partitioning a global index into multiple index datasets to house indexes and their index values. The index datasets may be stored in initialized physical index areas that are distinct from a standard physical index area.
US08412697B2

A searching apparatus includes a memory unit which stores transposed indexes representing appearing positions of all n-grams in plural pieces of document data subjected to searching and appearing frequencies, an n-gram extracting unit that extracts all n-grams extractable from a searching character string, a smallest-frequency deriving unit which refers to the appearing frequency of the n-gram represented by the transposed index, and derives an n-gram with the smallest appearing frequency among all of the extracted n-grams, a searching n-gram selecting unit that selects, from all extracted n-grams, a plurality of searching n-grams which form the searching character string and include the n-gram with the smallest appearing frequency, and a document specifying unit that specifies, based on the plurality of selected searching n-grams and the appearing position of the searching n-gram represented by the transposed index, document data including the searching character string among the plural pieces of document data.
US08412695B2

A method for processing a message received by a client device over a mobile communication network is provided. The method enables, firstly, applying one or more predetermined rules on the message. The one or more predetermined rules facilitate modifying the message by removing unwanted words therefrom. Secondly, the method enables matching keywords in the modified message with keywords stored in a keyword database to extract context from the message. Finally, the method enables rendering the extracted context on a user interface screen of the client device. The extracted context is customizable by a user.
US08412688B1

A snapshot copy facility maintains information indicating ownership and sharing of child nodes in the hierarchy of a file between successive versions by delegating reference counts to the parent-child relationships between the nodes, as indicated by pointers in the parent nodes. When a child node becomes shared between a parent node of the production file and a parent node of a snapshot copy, the delegated reference count is split among the parent nodes. This method is compatible with a conventional data de-duplication facility, and avoids a need to update reference counts in metadata of child nodes of a shared intermediate node upon splitting the shared intermediate node when writing to a production file.
US08412680B1

Systems and methods are provided for performing a plurality of data operations as a batch process on a client computing device and then reporting on the results of the batch process. According to some embodiments, the batch process is a backup process, a backup server or backup client is provided that is configured to perform the backup process on the backup client; record a backup operation result for the backup operations performed as part of the backup process; and determine a backup process result based on the one or more backup operation results, wherein if no backup operation result indicates a failure, then the backup process result is determined to be a success, and wherein if a backup operation result indicates a failure, then the backup process result is determined to be a success if the plurality of backup operation results meets a predetermined level of success.
US08412674B2

System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for replication resynchronization are provided. An embodiment includes providing a mode of operation in a replication control system for repopulating a replicated version of a primary database that does not affect an ability to continue activity in the primary database. Further included is managing the repopulating of the replicated version with attention to at least a resynchronization marker.
US08412672B1

A technique is disclosed for providing high availability (HA) capability with a plurality of storage servers, which may be virtual storage servers (VSSs), in a shared-nothing storage environment. The technique uses a proxy mechanism to route requests originating at one storage server to an HA partner storage server, where the proxy is implemented inside a VSS logically below the RAID layer. The technique also involves distributing non-shared storage devices “owned” by a storage server so that existing storage device-based heartbeat and fencing mechanisms can function unmodified for HA VSSs in shared-nothing environments. For example, a third, external host can be used to provide and export its non-shared storage to first and second storage servers, where the first and second storage servers do not own the non-shared storage on their local physical host machine.
US08412671B2

Disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for automatic generation of a star schema. The system and method may comprise categorizing a data field into one of a plurality of data field types, one of the data field types being an enumeration type data field. The system and method may further comprise developing dimensions for a table that represents an initial star schema design using the categorization of the data, detecting functional dependencies between the data field and other data fields, and refining the initial star schema design by modifying the table based on detected functional dependencies.
US08412670B2

An information integration method performed by a computer that transforms data extracted from an information source and loads the transformed data onto a storage destination, the information integration method includes detecting a schema modification of the information source by comparing first schema information with second schema information; searching a correspondence table storage unit for an attribute value of an item related to the schema modification; generating a post-modified data model by correcting a pre-modified data model using the item information corresponding to the attribute value of the item related to the schema modification when the attribute value of the item related to the schema modification is hit in the correspondence table storage unit, and storing the post-modified data model on a storage device; and generating a post-modified integration logic and storing the post-modified integration logic on the metadata information storage unit.
US08412668B2

A system and method for automatic formal verification of an executable system includes an assertion monitor configured to verify a system against an assertion in the specification. The assertion monitor includes a parser configured to generate a propositional formula representing an assertion in the specification using Boolean propositions, a filter configured to generate a trace of truth assignments for the propositional symbols and a trace verifier configured to verify the assertion using the trace of truth assignments for the propositional symbols and the propositional formula.
US08412666B1

The present invention provides computational means for calculating values of continuous-valued logical functions, which are uniquely defined and deterministic, while compatible with their discrete counterparts. The invention supports logical processing of arbitrary logical functions of arbitrary number of input variables. The proposed algorithm utilizes a series of multiplications, number of which is proportional to a number of input variables and a number of maxterms. It allows of minimizing the computation time while excluding a more elaborative disjunction operation. The present invention can be implemented in software of microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSP, or general computers, and it can also be built as a stand-alone or a set of digital, analog, or mixed-signal ICs.
US08412663B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic device may be configured to perform temporal correlation operations to determine if a plurality of observables correspond to a selected event of interest. The electronic device comprises a memory and a processor. The memory is adapted to store information representing a process template for a selected event, where the process template including a plurality of observation states. The processor is coupled to the memory. The processor is adapted to receive a plurality of observables and to automatically conduct a recursive comparison of time values associated with each of the plurality of observables to timing ranges associated with each observation state to produce a listing that is subsequently used to determine if the plurality of observables are associated with the selected event.
US08412652B2

After receipt of a training and execution plan, a trainer operator is automatically trained based on specified training documents so as to generate a new trained operator for extracting information from documents. The new trained operator is a new version of the trainee operator. Both trainee operators are automatically retained for later use in extracting information from one or more unknown documents. After receipt of the training and execution plan, the new trained operator is automatically executed on one or more unknown documents so as to extract information from such one or more unknown documents.
US08412647B2

A computer-implemented behavior monitoring method is provided. The method includes receiving from a plurality of contributors a plurality of personal value preference indications. Either or both of location information corresponding to a determined location of a user device and communication information corresponding to a determined communication activity of the user device are received. Either or both of the location information and the communication information of the user device are compared with the plurality of personal value preference indications from the plurality of contributors. A behavior rating is determined based on the comparison of the location information and the communication information of the user device with the plurality of personal value preference indications, and the behavior rating is transmitted to a user.
US08412645B2

An exemplary processor-implemented method of determining whether a user of an online communication resource is an undesirable user includes the steps of building at least one model based on at least one feature of a feature set using at least one machine learning technique; and classifying the user by comparing at least one feature of the feature set that is associated with the user to the at least one model, a determination as to whether the user is an undesirable user being based at least in part on the classification of the user.
US08412641B2

Systems and methods are provided for assigning mail items to carriers, comprising at least one server containing a mail assignment engine. The mail assignment engine is operative to receive delivery data from the mail processors, determine routes for delivery using the delivery data and a set of business rules, assign the mail items to carriers based on the determined routes, and transmit mail item assignment information to the mail processors. The mail assignment engine may determine the routes using a database including files for active, planned, and closed routes. The mail assignment engine may also use business rules, which may comprise cost consideration, delivery options, and route delay information.
US08412632B2

A point-of-sale (POS) module and associated methods are described for performing a transaction involving a check. The POS module interacts with one or more add-in modules. Each add-in module is associated with a particular method for processing a payment using a check. Accordingly, the POS module can accommodate multiple different workflows by plugging in appropriate add-in modules.
US08412630B2

A method for effecting transfer of a payment amount to a merchant during a transaction between a customer and the merchant includes determining, using a processing device, a funds shortfall, accessing a funds sharing network comprising a plurality of users, identifying one or more of the users of the funds sharing network, requesting funds from the identified one or more users, and applying funds received from the one or more users to the funds shortfall. In some embodiments, identifying one or more of the users includes determining whether one or more of the users are indebted to the customer, determining levels of connection between two or more of the users and the customer, and developing a hierarchy of users based on the indebted users and the levels of connection.
US08412628B2

A system for legal document authoring for a legal action and electronic court filing of such legal documents provides an online network for subscribers. The system provides a direct mechanism (and a web portal mechanism) for submitting a claim file containing party and claim information necessary for automatic legal document generation based on an auto-selected destination court (in some embodiments) and further based on at least certain party and claim information. The automatically-generated legal documents are compliant with the requirements of the destination court, providing end-to-end automation for improved efficiency in judicial debt collection. The system also provides an online network for facilitating communications between subscribers (litigants) and the court systems.
US08412621B2

A method and system for forecasting the transaction cost of a portfolio trade execution that may be applied to any given trade strategy or an optimal trade strategy that minimizes transaction costs. In preferred embodiments, a server comprises one or more computers that act as an automated forecaster whereby it accepts user-defined input variables from customers and generates a transaction cost estimation report based on those variables. The server is programmed with specific transaction cost estimation and optimization algorithms that model the transaction costs of a specific trade execution based on the user's trading profile and market variables.
US08412619B2

One exemplary aspect comprises a computer-implemented method comprising: (a) electronically receiving, from a first securities market participant, data including information related to a first order and to one or more group rankings for dissemination; (b) electronically determining with one or more processors, based on data regarding a second securities market participant and the order information and group rankings, whether the second securities market participant has a second order, on the contra side of the first order, and whether, in accordance with the group rankings, the second securities market participant is qualified to receive information about the first order; and (c) after, and only if, the second participant is determined to be qualified, transmitting information sufficient to display to the second securities market participant the information about the first order.
US08412615B2

The invention relates to a materials supply contract system and method for use in conducting business on-line over a network of computers such as the Internet. A method is provided for a buyer to award a supply contract, issued as a BOM, to a supplier selected from a panel of predetermined suppliers which each have a base supply contract with the buyer, the method being conducted over a computer network which comprises at least one buyer computer, an administrator computer and at least two supplier computers, the method comprising the steps of sending a buyer message from the buyer computer to the administrator computer identifying the BOM which includes at least one predetermined parameter (e.g. material requirement, business and market rules and/or special instructions), receiving the buyer message and displaying the BOM on a site on the administrator computer which is accessible by at least two supplier computers, sending a BOM message from the administrator computer to the at least two suppliers, receiving and storing an offer message in the administrator computer from one or more of the at least two supplier computers which includes an offer to supply goods or services in accordance with the BOM, sending an acceptance message from the administrator computer to the supplier computer which sent the successful offer, and sending a notification message from the administrator computer to the buyer computer notifying the buyer computer of one or more of the offers.
US08412612B2

A method and system for providing a stock purchase index is provided. The system receives raw customer trading data. The raw customer trading data is segregated into buy and sell data per CUSIP to determine a number of buy CUSIP shares, a number of sell CUSIP shares, a total buy CUSIP market value, a total sell CUSIP market value, a total number of buy accounts, and a total number of sell accounts. The sorted data is processed to produce a stock purchase index report, wherein the stock purchase index report is a sell weighted index. The sell weighted index is then displayed in the stock purchase index report.
US08412606B2

A method is implementable in an electronic system coupled to an electronic device, which is, in turn, coupled to a display device. A web page displayable on the display device is served to the electronic device. The displayed web page includes a user interface, which, in turn, includes a frame and at least one stile defining a plurality of panes within the frame. In a first one of the panes, at least one field into which a tax-data provider can input tax data is displayed. In a second one of the panes, information of a first type of a plurality of information types operable to assist the provider in performing a first operation of a set of operations using the user interface is displayed. Input tax data is received from the electronic device.
US08412603B2

A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to Currency Conversion and Date and Time business objects.
US08412599B2

This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing an approval workflow engine and approval framework for timesheets, progress logs, and expenses. The method includes receiving, at an approval engine of an application server, information representing a timesheet, progress log, or expense. The approval engine may apply one or more rules to determine whether the rules are satisfied by corresponding attribute values of attributes for the timesheet, progress log, or expense. Notification may be generated and transmitted to one or more approvers and/or reviewers based on applications of the rules. An indication of approval and/or disapproval may be received from each of the approvers and/or reviewers. Rules may be defined for automatic assignment of multi level approvers, based on specific attributes. An approver may have the option to approve, deny, or push back a transaction. Approvers and submitters can have visibility of the full approval path and current approval status throughout an approval process. In addition, post approval adjustments can be routed for approval based on adjustment approval rules.
US08412597B1

A computer program enabling the determination of an inference related to the purchase of an item by a customer. The program analyzes certain public information relative to an entity's customer database and then calculates an inferred value and assigns it to the relevant customer. The database is then sorted according to certain inferred values and customers are provided specially tailored information.
US08412591B2

Systems and methods match buyers and sellers of goods and/or services online. More specifically, a website facilitates a search by consumers of retailers for goods and/or services. In addition, the website facilitates the advertising of goods and/or services by retailers. Specifically, a user of the system may search for particular products and services, and/or businesses. Interactive maps provide a user with location information of businesses and/or service providers that fit one or more criteria searched by the user. Icons may be generated on the map, whereupon users may obtain information relating to products or services searched for by selecting the icons. Further information may also be obtained relating to the businesses, service providers, products and/or services of the businesses and/or service providers. Users may select to buy particular products and/or services directly from the businesses and/or service providers, or may tag products and/or services for viewing at a later time. Moreover, users may correspond with others for recommending and/or reviewing particular products, services, businesses and/or service providers.
US08412590B2

An example system includes a display, a communication circuit, a memory storing a shopping program, and a processor in communication with the display, the communication circuit and the memory. The processor is configured to execute the shopping program to access a product database including product information, to process inputs supplied to the system to generate a shopping list comprising one or more products from the product database and to provide guidance information on the display relating to product location in a store of the products on the shopping list.
US08412588B1

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating products on demand. In some embodiments, a manufacturable model, which may include information about a three-dimensional representation of a product to be fabricated, is received by a user of an electronic system and may be validated by the electronic system. A prototype of the product can be generated based at least in part on the manufacturable model, and the manufacturable model and/or the product can be made available for selection by other users of the system. The product may be fabricated based at least in part on the manufacturable model using, for example, a three-dimensional printer, and may be delivered to users of the electronic system.
US08412586B1

Systems and methods for crediting a retailer for an online purchase made by a consumer while the consumer is located within or in the proximity of a store location of the retailer are provided. After browsing a retail location for a product, a consumer can purchase the product from an Internet merchant different than that of the retailer using a mobile or networked client device. The client device can include a module for determining the location of the client device at the time of purchase and include the location information with information used to complete the purchase of the product. This location information can include an actual geographic location, a store identifier, or a retailer identifier. The online merchant can match the location information with retailer information to determine whether a credit for the purchase should be given to a retailer.
US08412584B2

Physical objects are placed on an interactive surface. Features of the physical objects are detected, as is position information of the physical objects. Callouts are then presented next to one or more features of the physical objects. Some of the callouts present information related to the features and/or physical objects. Some of the callouts are interactive.
US08412582B1

A system and method are directed to providing a sales channel registration system that allows sales deals to be managed. Aspects of the invention include a sales portal that receives information relating to sales deals, mechanisms for qualifying sales leads, and mechanisms for notifying sales partners, distributors, or a company of new information or changes in status relating to sales deals. One aspect of the invention determines when there may be potential conflicts, and performs actions to prevent such conflicts.
US08412575B2

Offers, such as bids in an advertising network, may be determined and/or managed by accepting an ad budget and at least one ad serving constraint, and then generating offer information using the ad budget and the serving constraint(s). The offer may be generated by obtaining, for each of the ad serving constraint(s), a plurality of points, wherein each point includes a cost per event value and an event quantity value. These points collectively define a landscape. A convex landscape for each of the ad serving constraint(s) is then determined from the landscape(s). One or more points from at least one of the convex landscapes is then used to generate the offer information.
US08412573B2

A method for distributing advertisement data to display terminal devices from a distribution server via a relay server. The relay server receives status notifications of the display terminal devices and transmits a tenor of receipt of the status notifications to the display terminal devices. The distribution server receiving status notifications and transmits the tenor of receipt of the status notifications to the relay server. The distribution server determines whether the reproduction schedule of the advertisement data has been changed and transmits a notification on a change. If the distribution server receives a request for acquisition of the as-changed reproduction schedule, the distribution server sends the as-changed reproduction schedule to the relay server. If the relay server determines that the reproduction schedule acquired from the distribution server has been changed, the relay server transmits the notification on the change of the reproduction schedule.
US08412566B2

A system for distributing limited numbers of promotional offers to individual customers, the promotional offers being targeted to customers based on the customers' individual probabilities of accepting the offers in such a way that each customer can receive a limited number of offers that are estimated to be most likely to be acceptable by the customer. Customer-Based targeting analyzes each customer's past purchasing behavior relative to a master list of promotional offers made available to all customers. From that master list Customer-Based targeting selects a preset limit of promotional offers for each individual customer according to the likelihood that, given the opportunity to select any offers of the master list, each customer would prefer those few offers selected specifically for the customer. Various techniques are disclosed for providing an offer acceptance probability profile tailored for individual customers for use in the Customer-Based targeting technique. Product groupings and market segments are taken into account. Empirical Bayes techniques are applied to the estimation of the offer acceptance profile, and techniques suitable for handling sparse data are applied. Various marketing strategies are incorporated into the system. A graphical technique is provided for adjusting the offer acceptance profile that enables a user to override a system computation and manually set the relative offer acceptance probabilities for an individual user or class of users.
US08412562B1

A capability analysis structure helps a modern business meet the challenges of the global marketplace. As a result, the business can achieve the clarity, consistency, and well-defined execution of its core processes that reduce inefficiencies and waste due to unnecessary process complexity and exceptions. In addition, the capability analysis structure helps the business to identify specific areas in which improvements may be made and understand how to make the improvements, and establishes levels of capability along the way to reaching an ultimate capability goal.
US08412559B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for calculating a sufficiently accurate coefficient for price sensitivity to use in a target pricing system. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve providing an expanded data set by adding shadow data to a historical bid data set that allows a logistic regression approach to mathematically calculate the coefficient for price sensitivity with greater accuracy.
US08412557B1

The controversiality of an offering in a computer implemented system is computed based on user satisfaction feedback. A controversiality index can be provided to indicate the extent to which the offering is controversial.
US08412556B2

Systems and methods for analyzing projects in a business entity including multiple groups and multiple levels of decision making authority are provided. Project identification data that identifies a particular project is received. A project categorization of the project is performed to categorize the project based on one or more of the size, general risks, and complexity of the project. An anti-corruption risk assessment of the project is performed to categorize an anti-corruption risk associated with the project. A group-specific risk assessment of the project is performed to categorize a risk associated with the project relevant to one of the multiple groups of the business entity. A limit of authority escalation level is automatically determined based at least on the results of (a) the project categorization, (b) the anti-corruption risk assessment, and (c) the group-specific risk assessment, wherein the limit of authority escalation level indicates a particular level of decision making authority of the business entity required to approve the project.
US08412549B2

The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing efficient planning through analyzing data. One process includes operations for generating a business object containing parameters and plan data of a business plan, the plan data represented by a plurality of aggregation levels. A change to a particular item in the plan data is identified, the change associated with a particular aggregation level. The change to the particular item is automatically propagated to a lowest level of granularity of the plan data, and the change to the particular item is available to each of the plurality of aggregation levels.
US08412547B1

A commerce router is disclosed. Such a commerce router includes a plurality of commercial transaction databases and an application server module. Each of the databases can contain commercial transaction information related to one of a number of offering types (e.g., categories of products, services and/or the like). Application server module is communicatively coupled to the each one of the databases. The application server module can be configured to receive a request by virtue of being configured to communicate information regarding the request to the database for inclusion in the commercial transaction information. The application server module can also be configured to allow review of the request by virtue of being configured to communicate information regarding the request from the database by accessing the commercial transaction information. Similarly, the application server module can be configured to receive a response by virtue of being configured to communicate information regarding the response to the database for inclusion in the commercial transaction information. The application server module can also be configured to allow review of the response by virtue of being configured to communicate information regarding the response from the database by accessing the commercial transaction information.
US08412545B2

The present invention provides a method for providing an annuity structure and a system for processing an annuity structure. The annuity structure may include a base portion segment, where the base portion segment is a functional annuity having a first annuity schedule; and a secondary portion segment, where the secondary portion segment is a functional annuity having a second annuity schedule. In the invention, the base portion segment and the secondary portion segment each operate as its own annuity. Also, the base portion segment and the secondary portion segment are each included in a single contract, i.e., under the umbrella of one contract.
US08412542B2

Particular embodiments provide a quality adherence guide. In one embodiment, a plurality of medical records from a plurality of medical providers are received. A quality adherence guideline is used to determine if a standard of care is being adhered to by various medical providers. A quality adherence guideline is then generated using the selected standard of care. The quality adherence guideline includes a set of treatment steps that are defined by the selected standard of care. Information from the medical records associated with the patient is also used to populate the guide. During treatment of the patient, input may be received from a plurality of users from health care providers regarding the treatment steps. The patient-direct system automatically analyzes the information inserted in the guideline to determine the level of adherence that various users have achieved when compared with the industry standard for quality care.
US08412541B2

An Intelligent Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis (IQQA) system and method is disclosed that allows a user to specify certain identifying information used to search and obtain medically-related information from different sources. The medically-related information may be of different types and may be dynamically fused, when needed, to generate matrices of diagnostic information. Medical decisions such as a diagnostic decision may be made based on such matrices of diagnostic information.
US08412535B2

Systems for negotiation support. First and second negotiation agent modules respectively receive multiple first proposals, calculate preference scores (PSs) for each first proposal using utility models and select a portion of the first proposals as second proposals in descending order according to the calculated PSs therewith. The negotiation management module receives the second proposals from the first and second negotiation modules, and generates third proposals according to the received proposals. The first and second negotiation agent modules respectively receive the third proposals, calculate PSs for received proposals using utility models, and arrange the third proposals in descending order according to PSs therewith to generate voting results. The negotiation management module receives the voting results, and generates a final agreement according to the received voting results.
US08412533B2

Disclosed are a context-based arithmetic encoding apparatus and method and a context-based arithmetic decoding apparatus and method. The context-based arithmetic decoding apparatus may determine a context of a current N-tuple to be decoded, determine a Most Significant Bit (MSB) context corresponding to an MSB symbol of the current N-tuple, and determine a probability model using the context of the N-tuple and the MSB context. Subsequently, the context-based arithmetic decoding apparatus may perform a decoding on an MSB based on the determined probability model, and perform a decoding on a Least Significant Bit (LSB) based on a bit depth of the LSB derived from a process of decoding on an escape code.
US08412520B2

A noise reduction device comprises a SN ratio obtaining unit configured to obtain a SN ratio as a function of an estimated noise spectrum and an arithmetic product of an averaged power spectrum of the input signal and noise likeliness signal, and an output signal obtaining unit configured to obtain a output signal whose noise is reduced based on the input signal and the SN ratio obtained by the SN ratio obtaining unit.
US08412511B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for providing a translation for a set of one or more terms or phrases related to a software application using decentralized contributions. In particular, various embodiments provide systems and methods by which multiple users of the application contribute translations for individual terms or phrases of the application instead of having one entity supply the translation of the software application. Specifically, the process of various embodiments: (1) provides a repository for storing translations of the individual terms or phrases in a target language (e.g., a language for which a translation is needed); (2) collects the translations provided by users and stores the translations in the repository; (3) identifies the preferred translation for each individual term or phrase; and (4) displays the preferred translation to the user in response to receiving a user's request for a preferred translation in the target language.
US08412509B1

The present invention provides an interactive system and method for effective and convenient language translation. The system and method provides a translation window that is opened in conjunction with a Web page window containing Web pages hosted on the Internet. The translation window and Web page window are automatically adjusted in size and position so that they fit on one user-viewable screen without overlapping. The translation window is linked to a translation dictionary database accessible through the Internet which provides accurate and comprehensive definitions of the words that are identified to be translated.
US08412507B2

A method for compliance testing of a circuit design that includes at least one processor and a memory includes defining a memory model. The memory model includes synchronization mechanisms for synchronizing access to the memory by software instructions in different program threads running on the at least one processor. Synchronization-related parameters, which are applicable to at least one sequence of the software instructions in the different program threads, are specified. A coverage model is defined as a multi-dimensional cross-product of values of the synchronization-related parameters. At least one test program is generated using the coverage model, and a compliance of the design with the memory model is tested by subjecting the design to the at least one test program.
US08412499B2

The portable simulation system is a computer-based driving simulator, which uses an actual vehicle as an input device, and a portable display to present a Virtual Driving Environment (VDE) to the driver. Vehicle's steered wheels are placed atop of the turntables permitting free operation of the steering wheel. The vehicle remains immobile while its engine and power steering can be turned off during the simulation. External non-invasive sensors can be placed under the gas and brake pedals, permitting any vehicle to be used in the simulator, including the driver's own vehicle. A digital interface to the vehicle's systems, like OBD II, can be used to increase the fidelity of the simulation. A portable computer used for driving simulation and VDE presentation provides a low cost simulation option. A simple configuration of the portable simulator does not require an external power source and can be set-up and operated at any parking space. Possible applications of the simulation system include driver training and testing.
US08412498B2

Computer-implemented electronic document design systems and methods allowing a user to integrate user-specific location maps into custom printed products. During the creation of an electronic design of a product intended for subsequent printing, user-provided location information is received by a server computer and used to generate a user map suitable for high quality printing. Lower resolution display and thumbnail versions of the map suitable for displaying to the user of the client system are generated.
US08412497B1

Predicting simultaneous switching output noise of an IC device is described. User input is obtained. The user input includes: an identification of an input/output bank of an integrated circuit die; an identification of a device package substrate to which the integrated circuit die is to be attached; and an identification of input/output interface to be used by the input/output bank. A noise factor and an impedance are selected responsive to the user input. The noise factor is multiplied with the impedance to provide a result. The result, which is output, is a prediction of the simultaneous switching output noise of the integrated circuit device.
US08412486B2

Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to monitoring and/or estimating remaining life for a power converter.
US08412482B2

An electronic acceleration switch, such as for arming and firing a squib, for instance used in arming a warhead, safe missile air, ground and sea launch separation arming, includes multiple redundancies to provide a fail-safe system that does not have a single-point failure. The switch includes different channels, each of which includes a power subsystem, multiple accelerometers, a pair of controllers, and a switching circuit. The power subsystems of the two channels provide power to multiple accelerometers of each channel. The accelerometers of each channel may include a mix of digital and analog accelerometers. The acceleration sensors can be either one-axis or three-axis sensors. The accelerometers are connected to the controllers of both channels. The controllers provide redundancy for each channel. In addition, the controllers include voting logic that receives inputs from the accelerometers, and determines whether to send arm and enable signals to the multiple squib drivers.
US08412481B2

A method for determining an operational condition of a particle detection system including at least one sample inlet for receiving a sample flow from a monitored region. The method includes the step of conducting an upstream measurement of a flow rate through the at least one sample inlet.
US08412471B2

One A/D converter and the other A/D converter have a common power supply voltage and sample an A/D conversion value at short time intervals and at a long time intervals, respectively. Both the A/D converter and the A/D converter are set in a constant active state (continuous conversion mode). This allows the total consumption current combining the consumption current of the A/D converter and the consumption current of the A/D converter to be constant, so that the power supply voltage is stabilized and a stable A/D conversion value can be obtained from each of the A/D converters.
US08412470B2

A method is present for mapping changes in a structure. A plurality of responses is collected from a set of transmitter and sensor pairs for the structure. Change metrics for pixels in a plurality of grids are identified from the plurality of responses, wherein a first grid in the plurality of grids is shifted in relation to a second grid in the plurality of grids. A map is generated for the structure using the change metrics.
US08412468B1

A method and apparatus for wavelet based elemental spectrum analysis is described. The system and method set forth allows for elemental decomposition of sampling spectral data to determine the presence of materials in the interrogated object. The method utilized and set forth implements wavelet decomposition of a spectrum and elemental analysis without requiring an empty background spectrum for subtraction of the background noise from the sampling spectrum. The system and method measures the presence of elements present in the sample being analyzed. The system may also measure the ratio of elements present in the sample being analyzed.
US08412450B1

A method for allowing accurate navigation to a target regardless of GPS jamming levels. A method to update the navigation solution of an object being navigated toward a target based upon seeker measurements in at least one of three electromagnetic frequency domains: infrared, visible, and radio frequency (RF).
US08412448B2

A collision avoidance system and method creates 3D models of objects by collecting character data of the objects, and controls a camera of a vehicle to capture an image in front of the vehicle. The system determines whether an object is detected in front of the vehicle by comparing the image with each of the 3D models, analyzes a distance between the camera and the object according to the image, and determines whether the distance is less than a safety distance. The system controls the warning device to alarm when the distance is less than the safety distance, and automatically controls the brake system to reduce a speed of the vehicle if the vehicle is not decelerating.
US08412447B2

A method is for effecting a computer-aided estimation of the mass of a vehicle, e.g., of a goods-carrying vehicle, based on the equilibrium ratio between the driving force and the sum of the inertial force and drive resistances, in which the mass and a gradient angle of the roadway are contained as quantities. The method may include: a) computer-aided differentiation of the equilibrium ratio according to the time with the assumption that the gradient angle is constant; and b) calculating the mass of the vehicle and/or the reciprocal value of the mass from the equilibrium ratio differentiated according the time.
US08412439B2

A multi-mode engine system comprising a first mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a first fuel, and a second mode in which the engine is fuelled substantially entirely by a second fuel, or by a mixture of the first and second fuels, the engine comprising: a first engine control unit (ECU) for controlling the flow of the first fuel into the engine when the engine is operating in the first mode; and a second ECU operatively connected to the first ECU; wherein the first ECU comprises: a signal receiver for receiving the first input signals, and an output for emitting a first output signal; and the second ECU being adapted to modify the first output signal when the engine is running in the second mode to produce a first modified signal and a second calculated signal.
US08412437B2

Actual values of a load variable are detected by a sensor during active model trimming under different valve pressure conditions, and a model of estimated values is created. Trimming values of a model parameter are determined depending on detected and modeled values such that when the model parameter is trimmed, the modeled values approximate the detected values. A function is determined depending on the different pressure conditions and approximated to the trimming values. At different pressure conditions first lambda control values are detected. A first controller value fitted function is determined depending on the pressure conditions and approximated. When the model trimming mode is not active, second lambda control values are detected at different pressure conditions. A second controller value fitted function is determined depending on the pressure conditions and is approximated. An error of the intake system is detected depending on the fitted functions.
US08412435B2

A system, method and computer program product is provided for detecting if a vehicle has spun. A normal force and a lateral force of each of a front and rear axle of a vehicle is estimated. A coefficient of friction representative of a surface is estimated. Lateral momenta of the front and rear axles based on the coefficient of friction and the normal and lateral forces is calculated. Whether a surplus momentum is present, is determined. If the surplus momentum is present, a yaw rate of the vehicle is integrated respect to time to obtain a vehicle rotation estimation.
US08412418B2

An industrial machine comprises an industrial machine main unit, a construction working implement installed on the industrial machine main unit, two cameras each mounted at a known position with respect to a machine center of the industrial machine main unit, at least three targets being installed on the working implement so that the targets are within visual field of each of the two cameras, and an arithmetic processing device. The arithmetic processing device is used for extracting the images of at least three targets in common to the images from stereo-images taken by the two cameras, for obtaining a three-dimensional position of each target image, and for calculating a position and a posture of the working implement with respect to the industrial machine main unit based on the three-dimensional position obtained.
US08412390B2

An information presentation device includes: a directional information obtaining element for obtaining directional information based on a signal from an enhancement device for safety or comfort of a passenger of a vehicle; an information presentation controller for generating a driving signal based on the directional information; and a stimulation element including multiple vibrators for generating a traveling wave of vibration in an in-vehicle element. A directionality of the traveling wave corresponds to the directional information. The stimulation element transmits the traveling wave to the passenger so that the passenger perceives the directionality of the traveling wave.
US08412378B2

A method for calibrating tension sensors on tendons in a tendon-driven manipulator without disassembling the manipulator and without external force references. The method calibrates the tensions against each other to produce results that are kinematically consistent. The results might not be absolutely accurate, however, they are optimized with respect to an initial or nominal calibration. The method includes causing the tendons to be slack and recording the sensor values from sensors that measure the tension on the tendons. The method further includes tensioning the tendons with the manipulator positioned so that it is not in contact with any obstacle or joint limit and again recording the sensor values. The method then performs a regression process to determine the sensor parameters that both satisfy a zero-torque constraint on the manipulator and minimize the error with respect to nominal calibration values.
US08412366B2

A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, into both shape and other user-defined specification(s). Workpieces are portioned both to shape and weight, such as to a weight-specific uniform shape, by adjusting (e.g., scaling up and down or slightly modifying) a desired template shape until the desired weight is achieved depending on the varying thickness of each workpiece. For example, from a thicker workpiece, a smaller-sized piece having a predefined shape and weight is portioned, while from a thinner workpiece, a larger-sized piece having the same predefined shape and weight is portioned. The system permits a user to scan in and edit a desired (reference) shape to be used as a template in the portioning process.
US08412359B2

The invention relates to the automatic rendering of a lighting scene with a lighting system, particularly the control of the rendering. A basic idea of the invention is to improve rendering of a lighting scene by automatically compensating interference, such as an alien light source or a dynamic perturbing event of a rendered lighting scene. An embodiment of the invention provides a light control system (10) for automatically rendering a lighting scene with a lighting system, wherein the light control (10) system is adapted for monitoring the rendered lighting scene for the occurrence of interference (14, 20, 22, 24) and automatically reconfiguring the lighting system such that a monitored occurrence of an interference is compensated (16, 18, 12). As result, the invention allows to prevent dynamic disturbances or unforeseen events, for example caused by faulty or alien light sources, from distorting the rendering of an intended lighting scene.
US08412356B2

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automated predictive design space estimation. A design space of input factors and output responses is estimated for a physical process. Data is received for one or more input factors for a physical process, one or more output responses for the process, and criteria. For each of the one or more input factors, a calculated range of input values within the corresponding experimented range of input values is calculated. A modified range of input values is calculated for each of the one or more input factors. A design space estimate is predicted based at least on the modified ranges of input values, wherein the modified ranges of input values each comprise a largest region of variability for one or more of the input factors where the criteria are fulfilled.
US08412353B2

Disclosed is a method for controlling a computer-assisted arithmetic process in a technical system, which is designed for interactive network-based use such that data is input by means of an interactive network-based operation. Said data is processed at least in part during the computer-assisted arithmetic process while the interactive operations is prevented from actively influencing the computer-assisted arithmetic process and vice versa by dissociating the interactive network-based operation and the computer-assisted arithmetic process. Also disclosed is a device for controlling a computer-aided arithmetic process in a technical system, which is designed for interactive network-based use. Said device comprises a client, a server, a data memory, as controller, and an application. The client is connected to the server to exchange data, the server is connected to the data memory to exchange data, the data memory is connected to the controller to exchange data, and the controller is connected to the application to exchange data.
US08412343B2

A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for a plurality of stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed with a bank of filters to generate a set of band pass signals where each band pass signal corresponds to a band of audio frequencies associated with one of the filters. A lateral suppression network is used to perform channel specific dynamic amplitude mapping of the band pass signals to generate a set of compressed band pass signals. Stimulation information is extracted from the compressed band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation timing signals, and the stimulation timing signals are developed into a set of electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation electrodes.
US08412342B2

An implantable sound pickup system. The system comprises an intracochlear acoustic sensor implantable in a recipient's cochlea comprising: an elongate core conductor, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the surface of the core conductor configured to detect pressure waves in the perilymph of the cochlea when the acoustic sensor is at least partially implanted in the cochlea, and to produce electrical signals corresponding to the detected pressure waves.
US08412341B2

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a Cochlear implant prosthesis to optimize the effect of stimulation for a given patient. The optimal operation mode is determined in accordance with predetermined parameters measured from the neural response of the patient's auditory system in response to a neural stimulation.
US08412335B2

System and method for automatically optimizing the stimulus parameters and/or the configuration of electrodes to provide neural stimulation to a patient, the system includes an electrode array having a support member configured to be implanted into the patient and a plurality of therapy electrodes carried by the support member. The system can also have a pulse system operatively coupled to the therapy electrodes to deliver a stimulus to the therapy electrodes, and a sensing device configured to be attached to a sensing location of the patient. The sensing device generates response signals in response to the stimulus. The system can also include a controller that generates command signals that define the stimulus delivered by the pulse system, evaluates the response signals from the sensing device, and determines a desired configuration for the therapy electrodes and/or a desired stimulus to be delivered to the therapy electrodes.
US08412327B2

An exemplary method includes selecting a first pair of electrodes to define a first vector and selecting a second pair of electrodes to define a second vector; acquiring position information during one or more cardiac cycles for the first and second pairs of electrodes wherein the acquiring comprises using each of the electrodes for measuring one or more electrical potentials in an electrical localization field established in the patient; and determining a dyssynchrony index by applying a cross-covariance technique to the position information for the first and the second vectors. Another method includes determining a phase shift based on the acquired position information for the first and the second vectors; and determining an interventricular delay based at least in part on the phase shift.
US08412319B2

The present invention relates to a method of providing electrical stimulation to a liver of a subject which includes providing one or more stimulatory electrodes to the liver of the subject and providing electrical stimulation to the liver of the subject. The invention further relates to methods of reducing risk factors of metabolic syndrome, treating diabetes, treating a subject having eating disorders and reducing glucose levels of a subject using methods of the present invention.
US08412315B2

Assessing health condition of an animal under study includes receiving heart rate information of the animal under study and performing heart rate variability (HRV) analysis on the received heart rate information for determining autonomic dynamics of the animal under study with respect to a species of which the animal under study is a member, wherein the HRV analysis relates to time domain HRV data and frequency domain HRV data of the received heart rate information that are evaluated with respect to physiological states and corresponding health condition for the time domain HRV data and frequency domain HRV data for the species of the animal under study.
US08412311B2

A system (10) includes electromagnetic indicator coils (30) included in surgical devices, examples of surgical devices (20) including guidewires; surgical instruments including dilators, stents, catheters, jejunostomy tubes, and endoscopes; and indicator clips (used for marking a location within patient). An innovative device indicator is attachable to any surgical instrument to convert it to an electromagnetically monitorable instrument. A monitoring unit (50) detects electromagnetic fields from the electromagnetic indicator coils and displays the location and configuration of the electromagnetic indicator coils on a display unit (80). The relative positions and overall configuration of multiple devices—such as guidewires, instruments, and location marker indicator clips—can all be simultaneously electromagnetically monitored with the use of radiology.
US08412308B2

A medical laser target marker includes a retro-reflector for receiving and reflecting light, at least one first medical tracking marker, and at least one second medical tracking marker. The at least one first medical tracking marker is arranged on the laser target marker and has a first functional configuration. The at least one second medical tracking marker is arranged on the laser target marker and has a second functional configuration different from the first functional configuration.
US08412303B2

An electrode attached to the straps of and use with a template cap in making neurophysiological measurements. The electrode is configured to allow the user to quickly and accurately slide an electrode needle at a shallow adjustable angle into the scalp of the patient. The base of each electrode attaches to the cap at locations where measurements are to be made. The base supports a ramp that may be snapped into a clip on the base for storage and then springs resiliently from the clip when released. The electrode needle is carried by a slidable holder secured to the ramp at its slot and is slid forward following that slot when driving the needle down and through a small hole in the base of the electrode to insert it into the patient's scalp at the appropriate depth and angle.
US08412301B2

Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08412296B2

In order to provide a non-invasive and continuous concentration measurement with the technology of standard pulse oximeters, an a priori relationship is created, through an in-vivo tissue model including a nominal estimate of a tissue parameter indicative of the concentration of a blood substance. The a priori relationship is indicative of the effect of tissue on in-vivo measurement signals at a plurality of wavelengths, the in-vivo measurement signals being indicative of absorption caused by pulsed arterial blood. In-vivo measurement signals are acquired from in-vivo tissue at the plurality of wavelengths and a specific value of the tissue parameter is determined based on the a priori relationship, the specific value being such that it yields the effect of the in-vivo tissue on the in-vivo measurement signals consistent for the plurality of wavelengths. The specific value then represents the concentration of the substance in the blood.
US08412295B2

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for monitoring pain management using measurements of physiological parameters based on a PPG signal. A reference physiological parameter may be compared against a later measurement to identify a change in condition that may indicate a pain management problem.
US08412292B2

Intermodulation distortion (IMD) is known to be an impediment to progress in superconductor-based filter technology. The present invention's methodology for reducing IMD can open doors to heretofore unseen practical applications involving high temperature superconductor (HTS) filters. Typical inventive practice includes (a) increasing the thickness d, and/or (b) changing the operation temperature T, of the filter's HTS film. The film's thickness d is increased in such a way as to decrease the IMD power PIMD in accordance with the material-independent proportionate relationship PIMD∝1/d1.5-6. The film's operation temperature T is bettered or optimized in accordance with the material-independent proportionate relationship PIMD∝(λO(T))10(K(2)(T))2/(ΔO(T))6, and further in accordance with three individual material-dependent relationships, namely, between operation temperature T and each of linear penetration depth λO, gap maximum ΔO, and kernel K(2). Some inventive embodiments include oxygen overdoping of the film as an additional/alternative IMD-reductive measure.
US08412289B1

A cell phone protective case, with expander of sound outlet located on the right and left sides and the bottom perimeters, of a cell phone is invented. The frame interior is comprised of a circular throat member for sound impedance, matching to create an improved coupling effect between the original speaker, and the air, where the frame interior is comprised of sectional chambers covering both the horizontal and vertical coverage axis' to change the directional characteristics of sound waves to amplify and channel the sound en route towards the outer perimeters of the device.
US08412282B2

A haptic generation method and system for a mobile phone is provided. A vibration event is detected in an operation mode. A vibration code corresponding to the vibration event is retrieved from a mapping table. A control message containing the vibration code is generated, and the control message is transmitted to at least one destination mobile phone.
US08412274B2

A wireless base station device includes a wireless unit for performing wireless communications with a mobile station; a reception memory unit for storing therein reception spectrum spread data as reception data; a baseband reception unit for processing and decoding the reception data stored in the reception memory unit; a common downlink channel reception unit for receiving a downlink signal of other base station devices; a frame protocol processing unit for converting a transmission channel format; a baseband transmission unit for outputting encoded data; a spread processing unit for outputting spread-modulated data to the wireless unit; and a call controller for controlling an allocation of processing resources. Parameters including a spreading code and a transmission power required for installing the wireless base station device are automatically set by operating the common downlink channel reception unit to detect notification information and signal levels of neighboring base station devices.
US08412267B2

A method to control a communication device to communicate with a first external device in a first communication method and with a second external device in a second communication method being different from the first communication method is provided. The method includes steps of determining prior to communicating in the first communication method whether the communication device is set to communicate in the second communication method, switching the communication methods in the communication device from the second communication method to the first communication method when it is determined that the communication device is set to communicate in the second communication method, and communicating with the first external device in the first communication method after switching the communication methods.
US08412255B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reverse link power control on a traffic channel. Indications of other sector interference or other such interference levels can be broadcasted in a wireless communication. Further, power control related information can be included in assignments to mobile devices. Mobile device can utilize the information in the assignment to set a range for delta-based power control. Further, devices employ broadcasted interference indications to maintain and adjust delta values that enable power settings to be established on traffic channels. Moreover, mobile devices may provide feedback to facilitate future assignments.
US08412244B2

A mobile device that includes an antenna, an interface, and an application. The antenna is capable of receiving a signal. The interface is capable of receiving a second signal in synchronization with the signal and the application is configured to perform receive diversity processing using the signal and the second signal. Further, is included a mobile device that includes the antenna, the interface, and a second application where the second application is configured to perform multiple input multiple output (MIMO) processing using the signal and the second signal. Increased bandwidth and processing gain is achieved for the received signal by the receive diversity processing and the MIMO processing.
US08412242B2

A method and an apparatus for sending and receiving channel state information in network Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) wireless communication systems are provided. Hybrid feedback technology is provided to transfer complete Channel State Information (CSI) to a transmitter by efficiently combining limited amounts of long-term channel information and short-term channel information are in a down link MIMO network system.
US08412241B2

A system, method and computer-readable medium for allowing the use of an alternative numbering plan for delivering short messages to mobile subscribers using the public mobile telephone network is provided. Users of an enterprise or other closed networks as well as users that are not part of a closed network may send short messages destined to members of an enterprise or closed network from their mobile or other devices associated with their subscription using an alternative enterprise directory number, such as the office number, instead of the mobile number, such that the alternative number will be presented at the destination device as the originating number. The recipient may respond to the message by addressing the response to the enterprise or closed network number, and the response may be delivered to the originator's mobile or other device associated with their subscription.
US08412233B2

The present invention provides a method, location service apparatus and system for acquiring a cell position, relating to the field of mobile communications. The method comprises the following steps that: a location service apparatus receives, from a first terminal, a locating request including an identifier of the cell where the first terminal resides, determines whether the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in a base station database of the location service apparatus and generates a result of determining and, in the case where the result of determining is that the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in the base station database of the location service apparatus, sends a first locating request to the first terminal, receives first position information from the first terminal, wherein the first position information is the position information returned after the first terminal carries out a location according to the first locating request, and stores the first position information as the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell. The present invention can be applied to locate a cell where a roaming terminal resides.
US08412223B2

A method and device for allocating resource regions in a broadband wireless access system. The method includes receiving a message from a base station by a mobile terminal. The message includes allocation information used to collectively and consecutively allocate identical resource regions of consecutive frames. The identical resource regions include identical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) symbols and identical subchannels within each of the identical resource regions. The identical OFDMA symbols are a subset of a total number of OFDMA symbols within each of the identical resource regions. The identical subchannels are a subset of a total number of subchannels within each of the identical resource regions. The method also includes transmitting or receiving data by the mobile terminal through the allocated identical resource regions.
US08412216B2

A method, user equipment, network equipment and a system for initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between user equipment and network equipment comprising: processing a UE-derived temporary identifier; determining a set of channels that the user equipment will monitor; implicitly or explicitly communicating this channel set; communicating the temporary identifier as an identifier to the network equipment; communicating a downlink message on a channel belonging to the determined channel set conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.
US08412215B2

A method, user equipment, network equipment and a system for initiating a wireless connection and subsequent communication over a shared physical resource in a wireless communication system between user equipment and network equipment comprising: processing a UE-derived temporary identifier; determining a set of channels that the user equipment will monitor; implicitly or explicitly communicating this channel set; communicating the temporary identifier as an identifier to the network equipment; communicating a downlink message on a channel belonging to the determined channel set conveying the temporary identifier and a description of a scheduled resource on a shared channel, the scheduled resource comprising a resource allocated to the user equipment by the network equipment; and communicating data on the scheduled resource in response to the downlink message.
US08412209B2

In a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, communication system a base station comprises a scheduler allocating communication resource of at least one of a Physical Uplink Shared CHannel, PUSCH, and a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel, PDSCH to a User Equipment (UE). The scheduling may either be a dynamic scheduling wherein a resource allocation for a single frame is provided to the UE or a persistent scheduling wherein a resource allocation for a plurality of frames is provided to the UE. A resource allocator assigns resource of a Physical Uplink Control CHannel, PUCCH, to the UE dependent on whether dynamic scheduling or persistent scheduling is performed by the scheduler for the UE. The UE transmits uplink control data on a physical uplink channel which is selected as the PUCCH or the PUSCH in response to whether persistent scheduling is used for the UE. The invention allows e.g. reduced PUCCH loading.
US08412204B1

A wireless communication device determines a latitude indicator, longitude indicator, and received signal strength for its current location. The devices processes the latitude indicator, longitude indicator, and received signal strength to estimate its elevation at the location. The device also processes its handover history to determine a handover probability factor. The device then processes the estimated elevation and handover probability factor to estimate if the device is located in a building above an elevation level. If the estimate indicates that the device is located within the building above the elevation level, then the device modifies a handover parameter to inhibit handover attempts.
US08412201B2

In a wireless mobile communications system, a method of transmitting and receiving radio access information that allows a faster and an efficient way of establishing a radio connection between a terminal and a target base station while performing a handover for the terminal to a cell of the target base station. The network transmits in advance, the radio access information and the like, to the terminal so that the terminal can be connected with the target cell in a faster manner which minimizes the total time for the handover process.
US08412195B2

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving data via a first base station supporting a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second base station supporting a second RAT in a radio access system supporting a multi-radio access technology, and the method may include allowing the first base station to perform a registration procedure with the second base station; and allowing the first base station to transmit control information required for accessing the second base station to a terminal supporting multi-RAT (multi-RAT terminal), wherein the control information comprises beacon frame transmission timing information of the second base station, and the beacon frame transmission timing is maintained in transmission timing of a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first base station with relative timing offset interval.
US08412189B2

A method for improved system selection by wireless mobile devices in 3GPP networks is provided. Location data is retrieved by the wireless device to estimate an initial system on which the wireless mobile device will attempt initialization. Using the location data, an absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) associated with the location data is determined from an ARFCN table stored in memory in the wireless mobile device. The wireless mobile device can then perform system selection using the determined ARFCN. A server generates and maintains the ARFCN table which is initially provided to the wireless mobile device at manufacturer, during provisioning or as an over-the-air update.
US08412179B2

A method of configuring power tool electronics in a hand-held power tool (10) having sensor means (20) for acquiring measurement data, a control unit (50) for processing measurement data and for controlling power tool functions, and a data transmission unit (30), includes transmitting data between the data transmission unit (30) and an evaluation location (62) by means of a mobile wireless network, with the power tool electronics being awakened from a quiescent mode (70) and activated at a time stored as a time parameter in a control program, retrieving a configuration file provided by the evaluation location (62) by the data transmission unit (30) via the mobile wireless network, and checking the response received from the mobile wireless network to determine whether or not it contains a new configuration file. If a configuration file was received, the parameters contained in the configuration file are implemented (77) in the control program for the power tool electronics. The power tool electronics is then returned to the quiescent mode (70) again.
US08412160B2

The technology described relates to management of data packets and buffers comprising segments of data packets in a mobile communication system. Information associated with data packet segments is analyzed by a Base Station System (BSS) housing a data buffer. Based on this information analysis, the BSS can identify those segments in the buffer that constitute a complete data packet. Once identified, the segments can be discarded from the buffer. The information can include size information, whereby the analysis comprises pairwise comparing the size of a current segment with the size of a next consecutive segment. This size comparison enables identification of a first segment and a last segment of the complete data packet. The information could also, or alternatively, include a notification provided in the header of the segment. This notification identifies the associated segment as the first or last segment of the data packet or an intermediate segment.
US08412157B2

A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) includes a control plane (C-plane) packet data convergence protocol (C-PDCP) layer which performs ciphering of a signaling message. The C-PDCP layer is activated upon power up of the WTRU and initial security parameters are loaded to the C-PDCP layer. An initial connection signaling message and a user identity are ciphered using the initial security parameters even before the WTRU is authenticated. The initial security parameters including a ciphering key (CK) may be generated from system information broadcast from the network. The CK may be a public key for asymmetric encryption, and may be selected from a public key set broadcast by or derived from the network system information. An index of the selected public key may be separately encoded. Alternatively, the index may be communicated by using a Diffie-Hellman key exchange method.
US08412155B2

Systems and methods to accelerate transactions made via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes: a data storage facility to store information associated with past payment transactions and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of controllers. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats, and to communicate with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor includes a risk engine and a transaction engine. The risk engine estimates a risk in a billing process; and the transaction engine determines whether or not to notify a merchant of the predicted result of billing based on the suggestion from the risk engine and/or other information, such as the status of the wireless telecommunications network.
US08412153B2

Multicast/broadcast messaging service (MBMS) arrangement, in which a broadcast/multicast service center delivers multimedia messages to a plurality of users via a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) and via a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a radio access network (RAN), in association with a given temporary mobile group identity (TMGI) and using a single radio access bearer (RAB). Responsive to a given event, the SGSN sends to the RAN a data volume report query identifying said RAB by the TMGI or another unique parameter. The RAN responds with a data volume report that indicates the amount of unsent MBMS data. If so agreed, the SGSN will pass said amount to a charging gateway for compensation in charging for the MBMS service.
US08412152B2

A mobile station user is informed in real time of reaching of a threshold of data usage via a wireless communication network. An account of the user has a maximum data plan limit defined by the user's plan and a data usage balance reflecting an amount of data usage remaining under the plan. When data usage corresponding to the requested data session does not cross the threshold level, a slice of data for the data session is allocated. When required data usage corresponding to the requested data session would cross the threshold level, a reduced slice of data is allocated. Data usage is counted in real time during the data session, and a notification of reaching the threshold level of data is sent to the mobile station in real time, at the time when data usage under the user's account reaches the threshold level.
US08412150B2

A set of applications on a mobile device can be specified, presented and automatically populated with transitional data sets. The transitional data sets can be stored on a network to facilitate computations of differences between transitional data sets and other data sets, and the differences can be presented on the mobile device by one or more location-aware applications.
US08412148B2

A wireless communications device includes a location-dependent alarm which a user can set to be triggered at a target location. A GPS receiver embedded in the wireless device provides position data representative of the current location. When the current location matches the target location, the alarm is triggered. This enables the user to set the alarm to wake him upon arrival at a particular location, e.g. a specific station on a commuter train. In another example, the wireless device can wake the user at one time of morning if the user is sleeping in one location and at a second time if the user is sleeping in a second location.
US08412147B2

A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.
US08412145B2

A mobile battery management system comprising receiving a battery management parameter by a client from a server over a communication path, detecting a battery control mode with the battery management parameter in the client, and operating the client based on the battery control mode and the battery management parameter.
US08412136B2

According to an aspect of the present invention, the magnitude and phase angle of looking-in impedance driven by an amplifier are computed in digital domain during normal operation within a module containing the amplifier. In an embodiment, the computed magnitude and phase angle are used for impedance matching at a node driven by the amplifier. As a result, impedance matching may be obtained even in situations when the impedance changes during operation.
US08412130B2

A millimeter wave transceiving system 100 for transmitting and receiving a millimeter wave includes a transmitting apparatus 1 for transmitting a millimeter wave, a reflecting plate 41 for reflecting a millimeter wave transmitted from the transmitting apparatus 1, and a receiving apparatus 2 for receiving a millimeter wave reflected by the reflecting plate 41. The reflecting plate 41 includes a metal plate, a metal sheet, or a metal film, as a reflecting surface 43 for reflecting a millimeter wave. This makes it possible to realize a millimeter wave transceiving system which allows an easy installation.
US08412119B2

An evaluation device is adapted for providing a transceiver system with performance information thereof. The transceiver system models a channel between a transmitter and a receiver thereof using Nakagami distribution with a fading parameter. The evaluation device includes a threshold value computing module, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) setting module, a probability computing module, and an output module. The threshold value computing module is operable to compute a threshold value based upon a given capacity. The SNR setting module is operable to set an average SNR for the channel between the transmitter and the receiver of the transceiver system. The probability computing module is operable, based upon the fading parameter, the average SNR and the threshold value, to compute an outage probability of the transceiver system corresponding to the given capacity. The output module is operable to provide the transceiver system with the average SNR and the outage probability.
US08412117B2

A filter arrangement (EFM) comprises a first terminal (T1) arranged for handling duplex radio antenna feeder signals for at least two transceiver modules (10, 20), a second terminal (T2) arranged for handling at least duplex signals for a first transceiver module (10), a third terminal (T3) arranged for outputting a first multi carrier power amplifier system input signal, said input signal representing a transmit signal from said first transceiver module (10), a fourth terminal (T4) arranged for receiving a multi carrier power amplifier system output signal, said output signal comprising an amplified representation of the transmit signals from said at least two transceiver modules, and wherein said first and said second terminal (T1, T2) are connected via first single filter means (RX), said second and said third terminal (T2, T3) are connected via second single filter means (TX1), said fourth and said first terminal (T4, T1) are connected via third single filter means (TX2).
US08412116B1

A system and method are disclosed for transmitting and receiving signals. The method includes receiving a received signal; demodulating the received signal by mixing the received signal with a receiver local oscillator signal generated by a voltage controlled oscillator configured to generate the receiver local oscillator signal; switching the configuration of the voltage controlled oscillator to generate a transmission signal for use by a transmitter; and transmitting a modulated signal derived from the transmission signal.
US08412113B2

Provided is a radio communication device including a reception unit that receives a radio signal, a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component, and an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition.
US08412112B2

Embodiments include systems and methods for simulating a multipath environment for testing a device. In one embodiment, a plurality of antennas are placed around a device under test in an anechoic chamber. Each of a plurality of the antennas is connected to a path of a variable path simulator capable of generating multiple paths between the antennas and external wireless communication test equipment. The variable path simulator introduces a delay spread into each path. In this way, a multipath environment is simulated with signals appearing to arrive from different angles and different distances. Each of a plurality of antennas may be adapted to produce substantially plane waves at the device under test.
US08412106B2

In an implementation of directed wireless communication, a multi-beam directed signal system coordinates directed wireless communication with client devices. A transmit beam-forming network routes data communication transmissions to the client devices via directed communication beams that are emanated from an antenna assembly, and a receive beam-forming network receives data communication receptions from the client devices via the directed communication beams.
US08412104B2

Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling inter cell interference based on cooperation between intra cell terminals. The intra cell terminals may exchange interference channel information, and may determine a receive beamforming vector based on the exchanged interference channel information. At least one intra cell terminal may feed back, to a neighboring cell base station, information associated with an effective interference channel using the receive beamforming vector. A base station may determine a transmit beamforming vector based on information associated with an effective interference channel using receive beamforming vectors of neighboring cell terminals that are received from at least one neighboring cell terminal.
US08412103B2

Apparatus and methods for power control for mitigation or control of interference in a wireless communications environment. Power control techniques can consider the effectiveness of interference cancellation before making power control determinations. For example, where interference with a base station from an interfering wireless terminal is being canceled such that the effects of that interference are not adversely affecting operations of the base station, the offending terminal can be left unchanged, or its transmit power can be increased. On the other hand, where the interference cancellation operation is not able to cancel the effects of the interfering signal sufficiently, the operation can lower the uplink transmit power of the offending signal so as to not cause interference to the other base station.
US08412101B1

The short-range wireless communication on a mobile communication device is optimized to balance between preserving battery power and processing urgent data without delay. A wireless access schedule identifying time periods during which the mobile communication device is assumed to have access to short-range wireless communication is created or provided. Data to be transmitted or received by the mobile communication device is classified as being urgent or non-urgent. When data is to be transmitted or received by the mobile communication device, the transmission or receipt of the data is managed according to 1) whether or not the data is urgent, and 2) whether the current time is within a time period during which the mobile communication device is assumed to have access to short-range wireless communication.
US08412099B2

A method for managing application data in an NFC system embedded or to be embedded in a portable object including a contactless data sending/receiving interface, one or more host processors and a data routing or transferring processor is described. The method includes generating complementary application data in response to the routing or transferring of external application data, and supplying the complementary application data to a host processor of the NFC system.
US08412095B2

Embodiments of an apparatus for minimizing oscillation of an amplifier in an antenna system are provided. These embodiments can comprise passive circuitry in the form of a coupling simulator that includes passive elements selected and combined to generate an output with properties that can cancel or substantially reduce a coupled input as between two antennas in the antenna system. In one example, the coupling simulator may include a phase-shifting device and an attenuating device, each of which have properties with values selected based on parameters that result from the relationship between the antennas of the antenna system.
US08412088B2

This is an alignment system where precise alignment of a reproducible image is obtained with respect to the paper. An imaged paper to be reproduced is placed on a light table having a right angle fitting or marking. The paper is placed on top of the light table and is aligned with this right angle marking. A transparent platen with marked scales is placed over the imaged paper and also aligned with the right angle fitting. The scales are placed over the corners of the image and image corner location readings are taken from the scales. These readings are then entered and fixed into a marking system such as an electrophotographic printer for reproduction of copies from the aligned and fixed original image.
US08412083B2

A fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, includes: a flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable; a heating element; a nip member disposed in such a manner as to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member; a reflecting plate configured to reflect radiant heat from the heating element in a direction toward the nip member; a backup member configured to nip the flexible fusing member with the nip member to thereby form a nip portion for the recording sheet between the flexible fusing member and the backup member; and a stay configured to support both end portions of the nip member. The reflecting plate has at least one flange portion, and the flange portion is held and supported between the nip member and the stay.
US08412073B2

To enable not only releasing pressurization by a pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt thereby preventing a deformation therein but also easily and securely releasing the pressurization mechanism held in the pressure release state, thereby facilitating the installation operation of an apparatus. A pressurization mechanism for pressurizing a belt is in a released state prior to the use of the main body of the apparatus. Prior to the initial use of the main body, the pressurization of the pressurizing mechanism for the belt is exerted in linkage with a user operation of placing a recording material in a feed tray.
US08412072B2

A fixing device for fixing a developed image of developer onto a recording sheet by heating and fusing the developer includes a heating roller, a pressure roller and a driving force input element. The heating roller is configured to be heated by a heat source, such as a halogen heater. The pressure roller is disposed adjacent to the heating roller, such that a recording sheet is fed and conveyed between the pressure roller and the heating roller. The driving force input element is fixed to the pressure roller for causing the pressure roller to rotate. A diameter Dp of the pressure roller and a nip width N between the heating roller and the pressure roller in circumferential directions thereof have a relationship represented by the following expression: 0.24
US08412063B2

An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member that moves at a specified speed; a toner pattern forming section for forming toner patterns of a specified type on the image bearing member under specified image forming conditions; a toner pattern detection member for detecting the toner patterns formed on the image bearing member; a toner amount varying section for varying a target amount of toner to adhere to the toner patterns; and a control section that calculates a toner adherence amount and a toner adherence position from detection results outputted from the toner pattern detection member and that performs image stabilization control to adjust the image forming conditions based on the calculation results. In the image stabilization control, the control section uses detection results of the same toner patterns both to calculate the toner adherence amount and to calculate the toner adherence position.
US08412058B2

A method for detecting low toner in an electro-photographic toner cartridge having an optical sensor using a light beam to detect the presence or absence of toner in the cartridge includes transmitting to a processor a signal related to the strength of the light beam sensed as a paddle disposed within the cartridge rotates. The processor calculates an average value for the signal for each of a plurality of sets of paddle revolutions. The processor then calculates a variation value for the signal for each of the plurality of sets of paddle revolutions. The processor filters each variation value to determine a plurality of short term variation values. The processor monitors whether at least one short term variation value exceeds a first threshold. When the at least one short term variation value exceeds the first threshold, the processor signals that the toner level is low.
US08412035B2

An apparatus includes an imaging unit, a focus detection unit configured to detect a focusing state of a focus lens, a designation unit configured to receive a designation of an in-screen position of an object displayed on a display screen, and a control unit configured to control a movable range of the focus lens when the focusing state is detected by the focus detection unit such that if the designation unit does not designate the in-screen position of the object, the movable range is set to be a first range and, if the designation unit designates the in-screen position of the object, the movable range is set to a second range that is wider than the first range.
US08412033B2

An image blur correction device includes: a tabular base (100) having an opening portion (101) opened in an optical axis direction; a tabular movable holding member (110) configured to hold a lens and supported to be movable within a plane vertical to an optical axis of the lens; a first drive mechanism (130) including a first magnet and a first coil so as to drive the movable holding member in a first direction vertical to the optical axis; a second drive mechanism (140) including a second magnet and a second coil so as to drive the movable holding member in a second direction vertical to the optical axis; and a detecting device (170, 180) for detecting a position of the movable holding member. The first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are arranged at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to a first straight line (S1) perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens.
US08412030B2

A method of dispensing a volatile active into the surrounding environment includes the steps of providing a fragrance dispenser having a housing, a fan disposed within the housing and having a airflow director, first and second chambers disposed within the housing, and first and second fragrances disposed in the first and second chambers. The first and second chambers include first and second shutters covering first and second outlets, and first and second heaters, respectively. The method further includes the steps of activating the first heater to volatilize the first fragrance for a first time period, simultaneously activating the fan and the opening the first shutter to dispense the volatilized first fragrance from the first chamber into the surrounding atmosphere, activating the second heater to volatilize the second fragrance for a second period of time, and simultaneously activating the fan and opening the second shutter to dispense the volatilized second fragrance from the second chamber into the surrounding atmosphere.
US08412029B2

A light and fragrance producing device includes an electrically powered light source and a separate electrically powered heating element. The device also includes a fragrance disk that can emit fragrances when heated by the heating element. The fragrance disk also can be configured to remain solid while heated by the heating element rather than melting or evaporating. The device can also include a decorative outer housing that can be interchangeable.
US08412028B2

The present invention relates to an electric fireplace having a 3D flame simulating assembly, which comprises housing, an imaging light source, a light processing unit and a simulated charcoal disposed in front of the inner cavity of said housing. A translucent imaging screen is positioned against the back of the simulated charcoal and a second translucent imaging screen is positioned just in front of and parallel to the translucent imaging screen. The light emitted from the imaging light source is projected onto the imaging screen to form a primary simulated flame image after passing through the light processing unit, and portion of which is further projected onto the second imaging screen to form a secondary simulated flame image after passing through the image screen. If the distance between the imaging screen and the second imaging screen is kept to be enough, a visual effect of rising and leaping simulated flames with spatial depth is generated due to the different front to back positions of the flame images imaged on both screens.
US08412026B2

With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.
US08412023B2

With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.
US08412018B2

A large-area optical element is described. The large-area optical element includes a monolithic container fabricated from a transparent material, wherein the monolithic container has a plurality of optical surfaces. A liquid is positioned within the monolithic container, wherein the liquid has a density substantially less than a density of the monolithic container.
US08412007B2

The present invention relates to a 3-D waveguide coupling device capable of two-step coupling and a manufacture method thereof, the 3-D waveguide coupling device comprises: a first substrate, at least one waveguide layer, at least one assisting grating, at least one coupling material layer, and at least one 3-D tapered structure layer, wherein 3-D waveguide coupling device is able to couple the light into the waveguide layer by way of two-step coupling through the 3-D tapered structure layer, the coupling material layer and the assisting grating. Moreover, the light can also be coupled out from the waveguide layer through the assisting grating, the coupling layer, and the 3-D tapered structure. The manufacture method is adapted to fabricate the 3-D waveguide coupling device capable of two-step coupling via the present semiconductor process technology without increasing any other new equipment.
US08412006B2

An optocoupler with optical transmitter and receiver dies attached to a single conductive pad is presented. One of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached directly to the conductive pad, while the other one of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached to the conductive pad by means of three layers of materials comprising an isolation layer sandwiched between two attachment layers. A multi-channel optocoupler with multiple transmitter and/or receiver dies is also presented, in which one of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached directly to the conductive pad. The other optical transmitter or receiver dies may be attached to the conductive pad by means of three layers of materials comprising an isolation layer sandwiched between two attachment layers.
US08412004B2

A method is provided for using at least one response bubble on a response form to indicate one or more responses. The response form has a key definition area that includes one or more response bubbles corresponding to one or more intended responses, and a response area that includes one or more response bubbles for indicating intended responses. A response form is completed by defining an unambiguous symbology of one or more marks by completing the key definition area, and filling in the response area using the defined unambiguous symbology. The response form is then electronically imaged. The unambiguous symbology is then automatically interpreted from the key definition area of the response form. The indicated intended responses of the one or more response bubbles of the completed response form are automatically interpreted using the interpreted unambiguous symbology, and the electronically imaged completed response form.
US08412003B2

Image processing includes generating image data for an image, the image data including an array of original pixels. Respective first pixels for the image are interpolated from respective pluralities of original pixels adjacent the interpolated first pixels. Respective second pixels for the image are interpolated from respective pluralities of original pixels adjacent the interpolated second pixels using image information generated in the interpolation of the interpolated first pixels.
US08412002B2

A method for generating an all-in-focus image is provided. In the method, a plurality of frames including one source frame and several reference frames captured at different focus lengths are obtained. After performing a motion compensation procedure on the frames, for each pixel position belonging to an edge, a characteristic similarity between the source frame and each reference frame is calculated respectively to accordingly select a plurality of qualified reference frames among the reference frames. The method further includes determining a first type color space component of the pixel position within an all-in-focus image by an edge sharpness corresponding to the pixel position within each of the source frame and the qualified reference frames, and determining a second type color space component of the pixel position within the all-in-focus image by an color brightness corresponding to the pixel position within each of the source frame and the qualified reference frames.
US08411999B2

A calibrating apparatus includes a first reproducer which reproduces a reference image representing a state in which a plane is overlooked, along an X axis and a Y axis orthogonal to each other. A second reproducer reproduces a scene image outputted from a camera that captures the plane, along a U axis and a V axis orthogonal to each other. An acceptor accepts a designating manipulation of designating a first area of an X-Y coordinate system, in association with a reproducing process of the first reproducer. A first calculator calculates a second area of a U-V coordinate system corresponding to the first area designated by the designating manipulation, by referring to a calibration parameter indicating a corresponding relationship between the X-Y coordinate system and the U-V coordinate system. A definer defines the second area calculated by the first calculator, in association with a reproducing process of the second reproducer.
US08411998B2

Methods and apparatuses for providing dewarping and/or perspective correction of an input image are disclosed. Described embodiments include processing that provides dewarping and/or perspective correction by associating pixel values identified by input pixel addresses corresponding to an input image with output pixel addresses corresponding to an output image. An image processor having a storage circuit and an address mapping unit for determining a corresponding input pixel address from an output pixel address is also disclosed.
US08411984B2

An image processing device includes a supply unit that supplies a coefficient data group in each sub-band, in which image data of a predetermined number of lines is decomposed for each frequency band by a hierarchical analysis filter process and which includes coefficient data of one line or more in a sub-band of at least a lowest frequency component, a synthesis filter unit that synthesizes the coefficient data group and generates image data in a baseband, a supply control unit that controls the supply unit to supply the coefficient data at such a timing that the synthesis filter unit can generate the image data at a timing corresponding to a horizontal synchronization period, and a synthesis filtering control unit that controls the synthesis filter unit to synthesize the coefficient data group in the predetermined order and generate the image data at a timing corresponding to the horizontal synchronization period.
US08411980B1

Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for removing motion blur are disclosed. A homography is estimated for each of a plurality of images. Two or more images of the plurality are unaligned. An estimated latent image for the plurality of images selected for recovery of the latent image is deconvolved. A point spread function for the each of the plurality of images is calculated. The homography for the each of the plurality of images, the estimated latent image, and the point spread function for the each of the plurality of images are iteratively updated until the homography for each of the plurality of images stabilizes. The iteratively updating includes updating one of the homography for the each of the plurality of images, the estimated latent image, and the point spread function for the each of the plurality of images while holding the remainder constant.
US08411978B1

A method and system of transmitting a set of wavelet coefficients, the wavelet coefficients representing an image, comprising: arranging a set of wavelet coefficients into a spatially-oriented tree data structure of groups of wavelet coefficients, determining group significance levels for groups in the tree; computing encoded data associated with a refinement range, the refinement range describing a selection from the group consisting of one of an initial quality level and an incremented quality level, to which an image is encoded, the encoded data describing group significance levels in terms of partial scalar components, the partial scalar components related to the refinement range, the encoded data further describing portions of the set of wavelet coefficients that are within the refinement range; and transmitting the encoded data.
US08411969B1

Systems and methods for processing satellite imagery include a satellite, a processor, a database of vessel position data and a computer readable storage medium. The methods process satellite imagery by fusing the imagery with information from the database to automatically identify ships. The methods include the steps of defining an Area of Interest (AOI) and Time of Interest (TOI) for the image and enlarging the AOI according to a time window that brackets the TOI and an assumed vessel maximum speed. Vessel position data from the database for all vessels within the enlarged AOI and the time window is accessed, and fused to imagery position data using Chi-Squared probability analysis. If the analysis meets predetermined probability threshold criteria, the vessel position is assigned to the satellite image to identify the vessel. Otherwise, the operator is alerted that imaged vessels do not correlate to vessel reporting data, or vice versa.
US08411960B2

An image processing apparatus extracts an object area (e.g., character, picture, line drawing, and table) from an input image and acquires a metadata to be associated with the object. The image processing apparatus generates a transparent graphics description for an object area having an attribute that requires generation of the transparent graphics description, and generates an electronic document while associating the transparent graphics description with the metadata. As transparent graphics description, an arbitrary shape of graphics can be used. Accordingly, the image processing apparatus can generate electronic document data suitable for a highlight expression, which is easy for users to recognize in a search operation using a keyword to search an object included in an electronic document.
US08411948B2

A method of up-sampling binary images for segmentation is described. In an embodiment, digital images are down-sampled before segmentation. The resulting initial binary segmentation, which has a lower resolution than the original image, is then up-sampled and smoothed to generate an interim non-binary solution which has a higher resolution than the initial binary segmentation. The final binary segmentation for the image is then computed from the interim non-binary solution based on a threshold. This method does not use the original image data in inferring the final binary segmentation solution from the initial binary segmentation. In an embodiment, the method may be applied to all images and in another embodiment, the method may be used for images which comprise a large number of pixels in total or in single dimension and smaller images may not be down-sampled before segmentation.
US08411945B2

An image processing device may create corrected image data by correcting object image data utilizing base image data. The image processing device may determine a first representative value which represents first pixels having a higher brightness value among entire pixels of the object image data, determine a second representative value which represents second pixels having a higher brightness value among entire pixels of the base image data, and create the corrected image data by correcting a value of each pixel of the object image data such that the first representative value approaches the second representative value.
US08411942B2

A Hybrid Compressor and method of compressing a tile of pixels within an image are disclosed. An Edge Processor of the Hybrid Compressor analyzes pixel runs of the tile and generates boundary data defining one or more regions comprising pixels of substantially identical color. A Palette Processor of the Hybrid Compressor generates data defining a color value for each region. An Image Processor of the Hybrid Compressor generates a representation of pixels not included in the one or more regions.
US08411928B2

An inspection region is specified using the design information to perform region division for measurement through a scatterometry method. The obtained detection data is classified by pattern into a periodic region and a non-periodic region. A spectroscopic characteristic is detected by an optical sensor to extract features. The extracted features are compared with features stored in a feature map database for each region to evaluate a state of a patterned medium.
US08411927B2

A method for detecting markers within X-ray images includes applying directional filters to a sequence of X-ray image frames. Marker candidate pixels are determined based on the output of the directional filters. Candidate pixels are grouped into clusters and distances between each possible pair of clusters is determined and the most frequently occurring distance is considered an estimated distance between markers. A first marker is detected at the cluster that most closely resembles a marker based on certain criteria and a second marker is then detected at a cluster that is the estimated distance from the first marker. The pair of first and second marker detections is scored to determine detection quality. If the detected marker pair has an acceptable score then the detected marker pair is used.
US08411925B2

A first generating unit generates a plurality of blood vessel image data sets at the plurality of imaging angles by performing subtraction processing for the plurality of mask image data sets and the plurality of contrast image data sets. A second generating unit generates a blood vessel volume data set including an artery region, a vein region, and a capillary vessel region by performing reconstruction processing for the plurality of blood vessel image data sets. A third generating unit generates a capillary vessel volume data set associated with the capillary vessel region by removing the artery region and the vein region from the blood vessel volume data set. A fourth generating unit generates a capillary vessel image data set by performing three-dimensional image processing for the capillary vessel volume data set.
US08411915B2

Medical images are collected in a plurality of cardiac and respiratory phases. The images are transformed into a series of respiratory compensated images with the plurality of cardiac phases, but all at a common respiration phase. The series of respiratory compensated images are transformed into one image at a selected cardiac phase and the common respiration phase. In some embodiments, a database of gated transform matrices is generated. The database may be based on specific patient information or on information generated from a pool of patients. The database may account for respiratory motion, cardiac contractile motion, other physiological motion, or combinations thereof. For a current image to be motion corrected, the transformation matrices collected in the database are used to estimate a current set of transformation matrices accounting for the motion in the current image, and a motion-compensated image is generated based on the current set of transform matrices.
US08411914B1

High resolution time sequences of 3D images that show the dynamics of a time varying changes are provided. The 3D time series of images representing an object that include time varying changes may be produced from lower dimensional image time sequences, such as 2D images. The 2D images may be generated using angiography and may include fluid flow information (e.g., arrival times). The fluid flow information may be provided, for example, by injecting a chemical into the fluid and analyzing its position in the object or body over time. A varying contrast model may be applied to determine the location of the chemical at different points in time which may assist in detecting an ailment.
US08411909B1

An example method includes initiating an emission, by a computing device, of at least one light beam, receiving, from an image capture device of the computing device, an image of a face of a user, and identifying at least one representation of an eye of the user in the image. The method further includes determining, by the computing device, whether at least one reflection of light from the light beam is associated with a cornea of the representation of the eye of the user in the image. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on the first determination, whether to deny authentication of the user with respect to accessing one or more functionalities controlled by the computing device, wherein the authentication is denied independent of performing facial recognition based at least in part on the image.
US08411904B2

A method for generating a supplementary index raster file based on a plurality of primary index raster files that are associated with an area of interest (AOI) uses a computer coupled to a remote sensing device via a network, wherein the computer includes an input device, a display, and a memory. The method includes generating the plurality of primary index raster files including at least two independent vegetation index (VI) raster files and a soil brightness index (SBI) raster file, wherein each primary index raster file includes a plurality of pixel values. The method also includes classifying each pixel value of the at least two VI raster files as one of a leafy material and a non-leafy material, generating a leaf pigmentation index (LPI) raster file based on the classified pixel values, storing the LPI raster file into the memory, and selectively displaying the LPI raster file.
US08411903B2

A method for generating index raster files associated with an area of interest (AOI) uses a computer coupled to a remote sensing device via a network, wherein the computer includes an input device, a display, and a memory. The method includes receiving only three image raster files relating to the AOI from the remote sensing device, and receiving at least one set of three spectral control points (SCP) via the input device. The method also includes generating at least two independent vegetation index (VI) raster files and a soil brightness index (SBI) raster file based on the image raster files and the at least one set of three SCPs, storing each of the SBI raster file and the at least two VI raster files into the memory, and selectively displaying at least one of the SBI raster file and the at least two VI raster files.
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