US08419735B2
A system for fixing a fracture near a joint of a bone comprises (a) an intramedullary device including a longitudinal body and a head, the longitudinal body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the head being attached to the proximal end of the longitudinal body; and (b) a plate implantable into a head portion of the bone to provide support to a joint zone, the plate engageable with the intramedullary device. The plate is substantially U-shaped and includes a midsection and a pair of arms extending from the midsection, the pair of arms forming a space therebetween, the space sized and shaped to accommodate the head of the intramedullary device.
US08419734B2
A method of treating scoliosis in a subject includes securing a scoliosis treatment device to first and second locations on the subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device including a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device including a rotationally mounted magnetic element configured to move the second portion relative to the first portion in response to rotation of the magnetic element. An external adjustment device is provided external to the subject and is able to adjust the distraction force between the first location and second location.
US08419728B2
The subject invention is a surgical scalpel, scalpel instrument and/or scalpel system (collectively, scalpel), particularly designed for use in a transverse carpal ligament surgical procedure, that evaluates an incision path with respect to a nerve in the incision path, and is used to perform the incision if appropriate. The scalpel emits an evaluation signal through a potential incision path through tissue captured by the scalpel. The scalpel utilizes the emitted evaluation signal to determine the presence of a nerve in the incision path. The dissection and evaluation (surgical) instrument includes a blade that is retractable relative to a target tissue capture area thereof. Evaluation may include determining the presence of a nerve before incision and/or the evaluating whether the target tissue has been appropriately captured. The surgical instrument may disable extension of the blade when the evaluation determines that a nerve is in the dissection path and/or when the captured target tissue is determined to be inappropriate.
US08419727B2
An adaptive algorithm monitors the rate of tissue impedance change during an electrosurgical procedure. Impedance levels are examined to determine an impedance ramp and/or slope rate, which indicates the rate at which a target tissue is undergoing a phase or state change. The level of electrosurgical energy applied to the target tissue is adjusted in real time. Energy is applied to the target tissue at levels that allow tissue phase or state change to occur in an optimum fashion. Undesired results such as thermal damage and defective sealing are mitigated. Another embodiment determines impedance achieved within a specific interval and adjusts the electrosurgical energy applied to the tissue after a threshold impedance has been maintained or exceeded for a predetermined interval. A further aspect of the invention provides mitigation during processing for partial tissue coverage of device electrodes or thin tissue.
US08419725B2
Embodiments of the invention comprise methods and devices that allow quantification of blood convective cooling at the cardiac RF catheter ablation site and allow for prediction of lesion size and/or computation of RF energy parameters and characteristics.
US08419716B2
A tissue stimulating device that provides biological stimulation of tissue has a release surface adapted for arrangement adjacent to a tissue to be stimulated. An agent reservoir of the device includes an ionic agent capable of causing a stimulation if present at sufficient high extracellular concentration close to the tissue. An agent releaser is provided in the device for releasing a selected amount of the ionic agent from the agent reservoir to an outside of the release surface at a stimulation occasion for stimulating the tissue. The ionic agent will cause a temporary change in ion permeability of the tissue cell membranes and a depolarization of the tissue cells.
US08419714B2
A controlled volume inflation-deflation device to inflate a balloon to occlude a blood vessel by dialing a knob that locks at rotational positions to locate a plunger at equally spaced locations within a syringe of the inflation-deflation device. The inflation-deflation device includes a releasable latch to lock the proximal and distal housings together to hold the plunger forward for occlusion, and to separate and hold the proximal and distal housings to retract the plunger for perfusion. When the inflation-deflation device is returned to the latched position, the balloon is re-inflated to its previous occlusive diameter. Also, an extension tube made of a lower modulus outer material co-extruded over and miscible with a higher modulus inner material may be used to produce a suitably low compliance extension tube for the inflation-deflation device. The balloon may have tapered ends and a cylindrical center portion so that it increases by more equal increments in outer diameter in response to incremental equal increases in inflation volume.
US08419709B2
System for detecting and removing gas bubbles from a vascular infusion line, including a cassette adapted for disposition intermediate the fluid line, the cassette including a flexible tube having an inlet port for connection to a supply side of the fluid line, an outlet port configured for connection to a patient side of the fluid line, and a purge port intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and a base unit adapted to receive the cassette and monitor fluid flow through the tube, the base unit including a sensor to detect the presence of a gas bubble in the fluid flow, a pinch valve adapted to stop the flow of fluid, and a control unit adapted to operate the base unit so that (i) fluid is permitted to flow past the pinch valve when no gas bubble is detected; and (ii) fluid flow is arrested when a gas bubble is detected.
US08419708B2
It is intended to provide a transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, which is capable of piercing the skin by a simple procedure in the transdermal administration of a biologically active substance (drug) and allows rapid absorption of the biologically active substance. The present apparatus comprises a microneedle device (50) comprising a microneedle substrate (53) having a plurality of microneedles (51) capable of piercing the skin, an absorbent (11) disposed thereon, the absorbent (11) comprising a material capable of absorbing a liquid, and a dissolving solution reservoir (18) disposed on the absorbent (11), the dissolving solution reservoir (18) containing a dissolving solution (16) for dissolving a drug and being capable of disrupting a diaphragm (20) provided the dissolving solution reservoir (18) and the absorbent (11) by pressing. A coating containing a dry drug is disposed on the microneedles (51) and/or the microneedle substrate (53).
US08419705B2
It is intended to provide an apparatus for separating and storing blood components which facilitates the preparation of serum. An apparatus (1) for separating and storing blood components which comprises a blood pooling part (2) for pooling a fluid at least containing liquid components containing a blood-origin coagulation factors and platelets, a component storing part (3) for storing at least a part of the components of the fluid pooled in the blood pooling part (2), and a connector part (4) aseptically connecting the blood pooling part (2) to the component storing part (3), wherein the blood pooling part (2) comprises a blood pooling container (21) in the form of a flexible tube, a fluid inlet channel (27) for introducing the fluid into the blood pooling container (21) and a component outlet channel (28) for leading out at least a part of the components of the fluid; the component storing part (3) has a component inlet channel (37) for introducing at least a part of the components of the fluid having been led out from the blood pooling container (21); and the connector part (4) connects the component outlet channel (28) to the component inlet channel (37).
US08419701B2
An absorbent article may have at least one stretch zone comprising a slow recovery elastomer wherein the slow recovery elastomer exhibits a normalized unload force of greater than about 0.04 N/mm2 at 37° C.; and the slow recovery elastomer exhibits at least about 20% post elongation strain at 22° C. after 15 seconds of recovery from a 400% strain. The absorbent article may additionally comprises one or more of a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core, an ear, a side panel, a waist feature, a fastener component, a leg cuff, a gasketing cuff, and a barrier cuff, wherein the feature comprises at least a part of the stretch zone.
US08419694B2
A clamping assembly includes a first clamping member and a second clamping member. The first clamping member defines a first lumen dimensioned to non-rotatably engage a first portion of a tubular member. Rotating the first clamping member effects a rotation of the first portion of the tubular member. The second clamping member defines a second lumen dimensioned to non-rotatably engage a second portion of the tubular member. Rotating the second clamping member in relation to the first clamping member rotates the second portion of the tubular member in relation to the first portion of the tubular member to twist the tubular member to restrict flow through the tubular member.
US08419673B2
A glaucoma drainage device may comprise a main drainage tube with a first end configured to be located in an anterior chamber of an eye and a second end configured to be located in a drainage location. A bypass drainage tube is fluidly coupled to and in parallel with the main drainage tube. A pump is in communication with the bypass drainage tube. The pump comprises a first driver and a first flexible membrane enclosing a first chamber. A first check valve is located upstream of the pump, and a second check valve is located downstream of the pump. An active valve is located upstream of the first check valve. The active valve comprises a second driver and a second flexible membrane enclosing a second chamber. A third check valve is located between the active valve and the second end of the main drainage tube. A volume of the first chamber is changed to pump fluid from the anterior chamber to the drainage location.
US08419666B2
A compression sleeve includes a first sheet, a second sheet, at least one close-loop sealing contact and at least two open-loop sealing contacts. The at least one close-loop sealing contact is formed between the first and second sheet so as to form an isolated inflatable section within the close-loop sealing contact. The at least two open-loop sealing contacts are disposed within the at least one close-loop sealing contact, wherein at least one of the at least two open-loop sealing contacts includes two through holes respectively at two opposite ends.
US08419660B1
A patient monitoring system including a migration sensor that includes a compressible member that defines a chamber at least partially filled with fluid and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the member. The member is attached to the mattress at a selected location to detect movement of the patient. The monitoring system includes a controller that monitors the pressure sensor, and is adapted to notify a care giver upon detecting a selected pressure change within the member.
US08419654B2
An eye gaze tracking apparatus (100) includes: an electro-oculogram measuring unit that outputs an electro-oculogram original signal; a calibration index presenting unit (103) that presents a calibration index to a user; a saccade detection unit (104) that outputs an electro-oculogram change amount that is an amount of change in an electro-oculogram before or after a saccadic movement which is measured when a gaze-path position of the user moves to the calibration index; a calibration parameter calculating unit (105) that calculates a calibration parameter based on a position of the calibration index and an electro-oculogram change amount; and a calibration unit (101) that detects the gaze-path direction of the user from the electro-oculogram original signal.
US08419645B2
An implantable medical device that measures respiration parameters based on transthoracic impedance signals, and converts transthoracic impedance signals into a time series of digital values which is filtered with morphological operators to separate the signal into a respiratory component and a cardiac component. Metrics are generated based on the filtered impedance values such as respiratory rate, I/E ratio, tidal volume and minute ventilation.
US08419632B2
A body-insertable apparatus to be inserted into a subject includes an illumination unit that illuminates an inside of the subject; an imaging device having an effective pixel region that has a predetermined size and on which an optical image of the inside of the subject illuminated by the illumination unit is formed, and having an optical black region at which the optical image is shielded; and a light adjustment control unit that adjusts an amount of light from the illumination unit to the effective pixel region based on pixel values of the effective pixel region of an image signal and pixel values of the optical black region of the image signal.
US08419625B2
An endoscope apparatus includes a transparent member provided at a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope, opposed to an image pickup optical system, a transducer attached to an inner surface of the transparent member, a diffraction grating provided on an outer surface of the transparent member, for converting ultrasound vibration from the transducer to a surface acoustic wave Φ that propagates on the outer surface of the transparent member and a conversion section provided in an outer peripheral corner of the transparent member for converting the surface acoustic wave Φ to a bulk wave Φb that scatters into the transparent member.
US08419615B2
An arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film-type endoscope using an imaging device with driving holes. The endoscope has an image photographing device and an object insertion device and further includes a plurality of driving holes which are formed at regular intervals in a longitudinal direction of the object insertion device, and a driving device which rotates while being sequentially inserted into the driving holes, thus moving the object insertion device. The endoscope controls movement into a small space, makes it easy to inspect a narrow heat transfer tube or gaps formed between heat transfer tubes, achieves high economic efficiency, increases the reliability of endoscopy, and increases life-span.
US08419613B2
Tissue visualization device having a fluid barrier is described herein where an imaging hood is temporarily sealed against a region of tissue to be treated while under direct visualization. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. The imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to the tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A field of view of the imaging element can be expanded and the blood can also be purged in part by inflating a balloon beyond the imaging hood where the balloon is integrally formed along an interior surface of the hood.
US08419612B2
A method treating erectile dysfunction includes implanting a penile implant including a first bladder and a second bladder, the second bladder filled with a liquid having a rest viscosity. The method additionally includes increasing a pressure in the first bladder of the penile implant from a first pressure to a second pressure, and increasing a viscosity in the liquid from the rest viscosity to a second viscosity greater than the rest viscosity. The method further includes maintaining the first bladder of the penile implant at the second pressure and the liquid in the second bladder at the second viscosity.
US08419611B1
An intimate pleasure enhancing device 10 (IPED 10) that is presented in four designs that function in combination with an elongated structure (12). The first design utilizes a rear ring (30) that is attached by a first spring (58) to a movable first stimulator (42) located adjacent the front end (14) of the structure (12). The second design utilizes a rear ring (30) and a front ring (82). The front ring (82) is attached to the rear ring (30) by the first spring (58) and a second spring (72). The third design utilizes a front ring (82) that has attached a resilient member (92) located across the first end (14) of the structure (12). The fourth design utilizes a magnetic displacement assembly (104) that utilizes a set of similar polarity permanent magnets (120,134) that cause a front ring (82) to move along the outer surface (18) of the elongated structure (12). The IPED (10) can also be designed to function with a spring roller (150) that allows the first ring (82) to roll over the elongated structure (12).
US08419610B2
In an infant care apparatus according to this invention, heat rays are radiated from a heat radiation opening of a heater to a bed. The direction of the heat radiation opening can be changed from the first state in which the heat radiation opening substantially faces the bed to the second state in which the heat radiation opening does not substantially face the bed. According to the infant care apparatus of this invention, when the heater is not used, there is no possibility that the remaining heat of the heater is transferred to the infant laying on the bed. There is therefore no possibility that the infant will be unnecessarily overheated. There is no need to operate the heater and the like of the infant care apparatus in such a manner that the infant lying on the bed and surrounding people have feelings that rough operation is performed. This will keep the infant and the surrounding people free from adverse effects in terms of mental health.
US08419609B2
An impeller for a blood pump such as a magnetically driven, rotary ventricular assist device for pumping blood of a patient, the impeller being substantially entirely made of an alloy which consists essentially of about 70-80 weight percent of platinum and 20-30 weight percent of cobalt.
US08419601B2
A method and system for producing a personalized dimensional document having a packaging label may include receiving, at a printing device, a dimensional document configured to be assembled into a three-dimensional package. A personalized object may be determined and printed on the dimensional document. Similarly, a packaging label may be printed, the packaging label including addressing information for a recipient of the dimensional document. The packaging label may be removably affixed to the dimensional document.
US08419599B2
The present invention relates to an underwater exercise and physical therapy device for joint release and spinal adjustment wherein a tube is worn on a user's upper body and weights are worn on the user's feet in a water tank having a predetermined depth wherein his feet are spaced apart from the bottom surface thereof to carry out underwater exercise and physical therapy by using the buoyant force of the tube and the gravity of the weights, thereby enabling his joints to be released, making his muscles reformed, and further adjusting and preventing his spinal diseases.
US08419598B2
An elliptical exercise device including a frame having a pivot axis, a foot link, a coupling, a swing arm, an engagement mechanism, and a guide system. The foot link has rearward, forward and foot support portions. The foot support portion has a central location. The coupling couples the rearward portion to the pivot axis so that the rearward portion of each foot link travels in a closed path relative to the pivot axis. The engagement mechanism has a first portion coupled to the swing arm and a second portion coupled to the foot link at a location rearward of the central location. The guide system supports the forward portion of the foot link along a preselected reciprocating path of travel as the rearward portion of the foot link travels along its path of travel. The guide system is selectably positionable in a plurality of different positions.
US08419597B2
A bicycle trainer with a hill training apparatus is described. The hill training apparatus enables bicyclist to simulate uphill riding (incline), downhill riding (decline) and hill resistance or lack thereof. The hill training apparatus also provides for correct body positioning while riding uphill or downhill and with or without resistance. Riding on a trainer with correct body positioning provides for improved training.
US08419586B2
Provided is an automatic transmission capable of reducing friction loss. The automatic transmission is provided with an input shaft (2) coupled with a sun gear (Sa), an output member (3), a first to third planetary gear mechanisms (4, 5, 6), a first engagement mechanism (C1) coupling the input shaft (2) with a ring gear (Rc) releasably, a second engagement mechanism (C2) coupling a carrier (Ca) with a carrier (Cc) releasably, a third engagement mechanism (C3) coupling the carrier (Ca) with a second coupling body (Rb-Sc) releasably, a fourth engagement mechanism (B1) fixing a first coupling body (Ra-Cb) to a transmission case (1) releasably, a fifth engagement mechanism (B2) fixing a sun gear (Sb) to the transmission case (1) releasably, and a sixth engagement mechanism (B3) fixing the ring gear (Rc) to the transmission case (1) releasably.
US08419575B2
A tensioner for a chain or similar power transmission medium comprises a spring-biased plunger having annular rack teeth with gradually sloping forward surfaces and steeper rearward surfaces. The teeth are engaged by radially movable balls received in inclined grooves in an axially movable annular ball seat disposed in an annular groove formed in the wall of a plunger-accommodating hole in a tensioner housing. The bottoms of the inclined grooves face a steep rearward surface of a rack tooth, and the annular ball seat is axially movable in the annular groove and biased in the plunger protruding direction by a spring that exerts a biasing force greater than the biasing force exerted on the plunger. The balls and the movable annular ball seat block retraction of the plunger on engine start-up, but permit retraction when excessive force is imparted to the plunger while the plunger is in a protruding condition.
US08419569B2
A more efficient triangular shape for metal wood clubs or driver clubs is disclosed. This triangular shape allows the clubs to have higher rotational moments of inertia in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and a lower center of gravity.
US08419567B2
Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08419564B1
Embodiments of adjustable length golf clubs and methods of manufacturing adjustable length golf clubs are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08419556B2
There is provided a nut having a thread portion having a female thread, a metallic plate portion having a base segment, and a hardness gradient portion provided between the thread portion and the metallic plate portion. The thread portion, metallic plate portion and the hardness gradient portion are monolithic each other, a metallographic structure of the metallic plate portion differs from a metallographic structure of the thread portion and a hardness of the hardness gradient portion is lower than a hardness of the thread portion and lowers from the thread portion toward the metallic plate portion.
US08419552B2
A torque limiter includes a cylindrical member, and a shaft member which is fitted rotatably in the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member has a main body portion having in an interior thereof an oil pressure expansion chamber for pressing an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical member against an outer circumferential surface of the shaft member and an oil release passage which is opened to the oil pressure expansion chamber at one end portion while being closed tightly at the other end portion and which is positioned further radially outwards than an outer circumferential surface of the main body portion. When the cylindrical member stays still relative to the shaft member, the other end portion of the oil release passage is accommodated within a cap member which is screwed to be fixed in a threaded hole. When the cylindrical member rotates relative to the shaft member, the other end portion of the oil release passage is broken by the cap member, whereby the oil release passage is opened to the outside. When the cylindrical member is rotated relative to the shaft member in such a state that the cap member is not screwed in the threaded hole and in such a state that the oil release passage is not opened to the outside, the other end portion of the oil release passage moves in the circumferential direction within circumferentially extended groove while being spaced apart from the circumferentially extended groove.
US08419548B2
Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
US08419543B2
In a first aspect, a method is provided that includes the steps of (1) providing an auxiliary unit adapted to allow a gaming machine to be retrofitted to provide communications services; and (2) retrofitting a non-communications-enabled gaming machine with the auxiliary unit so that the non-communications enabled gaming machine is adapted to provide communications services based on game play at the non-communications-enabled gaming machine. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08419542B2
The present invention provides a novel bonusing system implemented on gaming machines and associated network devices on a network. According to some implementations, a central system qualifies or eliminates sites and/or types of gaming devices for participation based on criteria such as contribution level, games available, date range, location, device manufacturer, denominations available, etc. In some implementations, the qualification or elimination process is performed at a site (e.g., by a site controller) according to criteria obtained from the central system. The methods of the present invention may be de-coupled from player tracking methods.
US08419538B2
A game apparatus includes an LCD, and a game screen is displayed on the LCD. A touch panel is provided on the LCD. The game screen presents a marker image so as to be variable in position in time with performance of music, and also presents a timer circle image for indicating touch timing for the marker image. A player needs to touch a marker image to be touched with precise timing, listening to the music or watching the timer circle image. The player's touch is evaluated on the basis of the touch timing and the touch position. If the touch is evaluated as a failure, the game screen is shaken.
US08419537B2
A game system is composed of a TV, a hand-held game machine, and a game apparatus, for example. A hand-held game machine and a plurality of controllers are connected to the game apparatus, for example. The hand-held game machine displays a first game screen which indicates the positions of first to fourth characters in a game space. The TV displays second game screens which respectively correspond to second to fourth characters, each of the second game screens displaying only a limited extent of the game space. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, an operable character for a player is switched from a first character to a second character. Since different extents of game space are displayed for different characters, an interesting game can be provided.
US08419525B2
A gaming device provides a free spins game wherein a plurality of modifiers are each associated with one of a plurality of paylines. During the free spins game, each modifier modifies awards won on the particular payline with which it is associated. In one embodiment, the payline multipliers increase in each of the free spins depending on whether a given payline scores a win or not in the free spin.
US08419522B2
Apparatus and methods are described for presenting multiple bingo game results on a common display. A bingo game player may participate in a number of bingo games and obtain results for each of those games. These bingo game results are combined to amount to a cumulative result, and a common graphic display is produced that is representative of the cumulative result. The common graphic display is then shown to the player on the display device of a particular electronic player station.
US08419517B2
A computer based game is played in a plurality of rounds on a matrix having a plurality of cells typically forming a rectangular matrix. A plurality of tokens is generated with each token defining a first indicator and a second indicator. The user places at least one of the tokens into one of the unoccupied cells of the matrix. When the user requests a new round, each token on the matrix is temporarily locked to its cell. An award is awarding based on the positional relationship between the indicators of the tokens with respect to one another when the user requests a new round. The tokens may be removed from the matrix based on the positional relationship between the indicators of the tokens with respect to one another.
US08419514B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for circulating air. The apparatus comprises a hollow handle assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus further includes an air circulation assembly pivotally secured to the proximal end of the hollow handle assembly. The air circulation assembly is capable of generating an air-flow. Moreover, the apparatus includes a connecting fixture coupled to the distal end of the hollow handle assembly. The connecting fixture is capable of being received in a receptacle for a lighting appliance and for providing an electrical connection to the apparatus for circulating the air. The air circulation assembly is adapted to have an angular motion in all directions about the hollow handle assembly.
US08419499B2
An exemplary eyeball of toy includes a transparent chamber, a plurality of electrified balls rotatably received in the chamber and a plurality of annular film electrodes concentrically arranged on the chamber. Each of the electrified balls has a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere. The first hemisphere and the second hemisphere are in different colors. The first hemisphere and the second hemisphere carry opposite electrical charges. The annular film electrodes are substantially arranged on a common plane and face the electrified balls.
US08419498B2
A vehicle toy makes an imagination of an appearance of a second mode which is transformable from an appearance of a first mode difficult. A vehicle toy transformable between a first mode and a second mode includes a base member having a front surface forming part of the first mode and a back surface forming part of the second mode, at least two or more rotating members each rotatably coupled to the base member and having different features on the front surfaces and the back surfaces thereof so that the front surfaces form the first mode and the back surfaces form the second mode, and have connecting portions disposed at respective ends of at least two of the rotating members connecting to each other and retain the vehicle toy in either the first mode or in the second mode.
US08419495B2
A method for manufacturing a switchable PBD includes filling a plurality of first-type particles and a plurality of second-type particles into each cell, where the plurality of first-type particles carries charges of a first charge polarity having a first charge density and the plurality of second-type particles is substantially electrically neutral, or carries charges having a second charge density that is substantially lower than the first charge density of the first-type particles, and filling a fluid into each cell, where the fluid comprises a charge controlling agent having a second charge polarity opposite to the first charge polarity, and the charge controlling agent has a substantially selective wettability, absorbability or adsorbability on the plurality of second-type particles. As such, at least part of the plurality of second-type particles is charged to have the second charge polarity in each cell.
US08419491B2
When a movable blade cuts a distal end portion of a ground electrode member and is pulled back along a cut surface formed at a distal end of the ground electrode member, the distal end portion may move in the pull-back direction of the movable blade due to friction generated between the movable blade and the cut surface. This movement could cause deflective deformation of the ground electrode member. In order to restrain such movement, a support part is provided on the movable blade via a spring located near the cut surface. During the pull back step, the support part presses and supports the portion of the cut ground electrode member near the distal end thereof. Therefore, even when friction is generated when the movable blade is pulled back, the ground electrode member does not undergo deflective deformation.
US08419489B2
A propeller unit for a marine vessel propulsion device includes an inner cylinder arranged to be fixed to the propeller shaft, an outer cylinder, a first driving force transmitting member, and a second driving force transmitting member. The propeller unit for marine vessel propulsion device further includes a pair of first engaging portions, and a pair of second engaging portions provided on the outer cylinder and the second driving force transmitting member. The pair of second engaging portions are arranged such that the mutual engaging of the respective second engaging portions is disengaged when a driving force is not transmitted to the propeller shaft and are arranged such that the respective second engaging portions become mutually engaged in a driving force transmittable manner by elastic deformation of the first driving force transmitting member when a driving force that is not less than a reference driving force is transmitted to the propeller shaft.
US08419487B2
An internally mounted rowboat rowing fin system that includes two rotating fin assemblies mounted on the inside surface of the watercraft's opposite sidewalls. Each fin assembly includes a rotating vertical post held on the inside surface of the sidewall by a mounting tube selectively mounted or integrally formed on the sidewall. Longitudinally aligned and disposed inside each mounting tube is a hollow, elongated sleeve. Disposed inside each elongated sleeve is a rotating post that extends upward above the gunwale and into the water below the elongated sleeve. A pivoting fin arm with a flexible fin attached thereto is pivotally attached to the lower end of each rotating post. Attached to the upper end of each rotating post is a perpendicularly aligned handle bracket. A rowing handle is pivotally attached at one end to the handle hinge. During use, the two handles extend inward from the sidewall and are grasped by the rower. Both handles are able to swing in a vertical 180 arc over their respective handle hinges thereby allowing the fins to rotate 180 and sweep in opposite directions.
US08419478B2
A dual-card connector for receiving dual SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) cards therein includes an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive terminals, an upper cover and a lower cover. The insulating housing has a base body. A top and a bottom of the base body define two sets of longitudinal terminal grooves. Each set of the terminal grooves is divided into a front row and a rear row penetrating a front end and a rear end of the base body, respectively. The conductive terminals are received in the corresponding terminal grooves of the insulating housing for electrically connecting with the respective SIM cards. The upper cover is covered to the insulating housing to form a first insertion space therebetween for receiving a first SIM card. The lower cover is covered to the insulating housing to form a second insertion space therebetween for receiving a second SIM card.
US08419471B2
A connector includes: a housing having a plurality of cavities; and a plurality of terminal fittings that are inserted into the cavities individually and respectively, wherein a lance is formed in each of the cavities, the lance having a lock portion to be locked in a corresponding one of the terminal fittings, wherein the cavities are disposed to be aligned in a bending direction of the lances, and wherein an escape portion is provided in the terminal fitting which is inserted into the cavity disposed to be opposed to the back surface, the escape portion being formed to dent an outer surface of the terminal fitting opposed to the back surface of the lance so that at least a part of a back face portion of the lance is allowed to enter the escape portion when the lance bends elastically toward the back face.
US08419470B2
A connector is provided for terminating coaxial cable. The connector includes a connector body having a cable receiving end and an opposed connection end. A locking sleeve is provided in detachable, re-attachable snap engagement with the insertion end of the connector body for securing the cable in the connector body. The cable may be terminated to the connector by inserting the cable into the locking sleeve or the locking sleeve may be detachably removed from the connector body and the cable inserted directly into the cable body with the locking sleeve detached subsequently.
US08419464B2
A substrate structure is provided, the substrate structure comprising: a molded substrate located within a connector body of a coaxial cable connector and an electrical structure mechanically connected to the molded substrate. The electrical structure is located in a position that is external to a signal path of a radio frequency (RF) signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector. The electrical structure may form a sensing circuit configured to sense physical parameters such as a condition of the RF electrical signal flowing through the connector or a presence of moisture in the connector.
US08419458B2
A tubular arrangement including a tubular form having an interconnection configuration on each end with one or more signal conductors disposed within the tubular form. One or more axially operative connector bodies disposed at each end of the tubular form. A coupling at one end of the tubular form capable of bridging the tubular form to another tubular and a method for building a string is included.
US08419452B2
An electric connector portion includes first and second electric contact portions which are connectable to first and second target electric contact portions, respectively, and a protective member which is movable from a protecting position where the first and second electric contact portions are protected to an opening position where the first and second electric contact portions are opened in a moving direction extending from the first electric contact portion side to the second electric contact portion side, wherein the protective member includes an opening portion which is configured to open the second electric contact portion when the protective member is arranged at the opening position.
US08419446B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing with a plurality of passageways arranged in a matrix. A contact includes a base for securing the contact in the passageway, a spring portion and a soldering portion extending from the base. The soldering portions of the contacts laid in a row of the passageways are alternately arranged toward two opposite sides of the base to form two rows. Such array of soldering portions of the contact can improve contact density.
US08419433B2
An interactive cooking device is provided. A user selects a recipe from a list of available recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store along with a set of ingredients. The retrieved preparation steps are sequentially displaying to the user on a display that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user's preparation actions are monitored, using one or more sensors. Gestures that correspond to the current preparation step are retrieved from the data store along with thresholds that correspond to each of the gestures. The user's actions are compared to the retrieved gestures using the retrieved thresholds. If the user's actions vary from the gestures by more than the thresholds, an alert is generated. The user is then provided with a suggested course of correction.
US08419431B2
Apparatuses and methods for providing crowns and bridges is disclosed. The apparatuses include provisional preforms which can have cavities, windows and slits that enable material and linear members to extend through for engagement with adjacent teeth or other preforms. The methods also include ways in which to create crowns and bridges using the preforms.
US08419426B2
The invention relates to a positioning and immobilization device for positioning and immobilizing a mandibular or maxillary surgical guide on a patient, which guide is adapted to preparing for and to fitting at least one dental implant and is provided with a link slab member designed to extend outside the oral cavity when the surgical guide is placed in register with the patient's mandible or maxilla, said positioning and immobilization device being characterized in that it comprises a body that has bearing face for bearing against the outside of the head of the patient, and a fastener designed to co-operate with the link slab member of the surgical guide.
US08419425B2
Disclosed is a dental model articulator configured to combine maxillary and mandibular dental model casts with each other. The dental model articulator includes a frame, an arm member rotatably and reciprocatively supported to the frame, an elastic bias unit frontward elastically pressing the arm member with respect to the frame, a first connecting unit formed in the arm member to be connected with the maxillary dental model cast, and a second connecting unit connected to the frame to move reciprocatively through at least one penetration hole and combined with the mandibular dental model cast.
US08419419B1
A light guide plate mold includes a female mold, a male mold mounted on and cooperating with the female mold, and an adjusting assembly. The male mold includes a first mounting surface and an opposite second mounting surface. The first mounting surface defines two mold cavities and a flow slot communicating with the two mold cavities. The second mounting surface defines a plurality of mounting holes extending through the opposite first mounting surface. The adjusting assembly includes a plurality of adjusting members. The adjusting members are adjustably assembled into the mounting holes of the male mold, and resist against the female mold, thereby forming an exhaust passage adjustably configured between the male mold and the female mold. The exhaust passage is capable of being adjusted by operating the adjusting assembly.
US08419415B2
Systems and methods for introducing hook fastening elements into a mold traveling along a mold assembly line are disclosed. The system can be configured to cut hook fastening tape into strips having a predetermined length based on information received from the mold assembly line, and to drop the cut strips directly into the mold at the appropriate intervals as the mold travels along the mold assembly line.
US08419413B1
A mold core positioning device configured to position a mold core includes a base and a sleeve assembly. The base defines a receiving space. The sleeve assembly includes a hollow sleeve and a number of balls. A number of receiving holes are defined in a sidewall of the sleeve, and each of the receiving holes holds one of the balls, and each of the balls can rotate freely in a corresponding receiving hole. The sleeve is received in the receiving space, and the balls received in the sleeve is to hold the mold core in position with the balls contacting the mold core.
US08419412B2
According to one embodiment, a nano-imprint mold includes plural pairs of first and second protrusions formed on a base layer, each of which is formed along the same straight line. Each protrusion has a top surface and four side surfaces. The first and second protrusions are mirror-symmetrical with each other. A first side surface of the first protrusion and a second side surface of the second protrusion face each other. A first angle between the first side surface or the second side surface and a main surface of the base layer is not less than 85° and not more than 90°. A second angle between a third side surface in the first protrusion or a fourth side surface in the second protrusion and the main surface of the base layer is not less than 70° and not more than 88°. The first angle is larger than the second angle.
US08419396B2
An upper casing receives a rotor, which is rotated by a drive force of a motor. The upper casing includes a pump chamber, which receives the rotor, a planar surface portion, which is formed around an opening of the pump chamber, and a through hole. A lower casing includes a planar surface portion, which is formed around the opening of the pump chamber, and a through hole. The lower casing closes the opening of the pump chamber to form the pump chamber in cooperation with the upper casing. A resilient sheet is placed between the lower casing and a mount portion of the motor and includes a through hole. A screw is received through the through holes of the upper casing, the lower casing and the resilient sheet to securely connect the upper casing, the lower casing and the resilient sheet to the mount portion. A lower casing side surface of the resilient sheet includes a plurality of primary protrusions.
US08419390B2
An electrical submersible pumping assembly having a seal section and a motor section, and seals that prevent leakage from the seal section and the motor section during assembly. The seals cooperate with a coupling assembly for coupling together shafts from both the seal section and motor section. The coupling assembly outer diameter enlarges at a shoulder that circumscribes its outer surface. In one example, the seal that prevents leakage from the seal assembly provides a sealing interface around the larger diameter portion of the coupling assembly, that is removable by sliding the coupling so its smaller diameter portion is adjacent the seal assembly. The motor section is sealed by another sealing assembly that includes a body that circumscribes the motor shaft to define an annulus, a sealing disk selectively fills the annulus. The sealing disk can also be slid away from within the body while coupling the shafts with the coupling assembly.
US08419382B2
A compressor includes a rotary shaft, a cam, a cylinder block, pistons, a thrust bearing, a rotary valve, and an oil passage. The rotary shaft has an in-shaft passage formed therein. The in-shaft passage has an outlet open to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft. The cam rotates integrally with the rotary shaft. The pistons are coupled to the rotary shaft through the cam. The thrust bearing is provided between the cam and the cylinder block. The thrust bearing includes a first race in contact with the cam, a second race in contact with the cylinder block, and rolling elements retained between the first and second races to form a gap therebetween. The oil passage is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft so as to extend from the gap to the outlet of the in-shaft passage.
US08419377B2
A pumping device includes a barrel, a top cover mounted on an open top of the barrel, a cylinder mounted in the barrel and connected to the top cover, a piston movably mounted in the cylinder, a plurality of check valves mounted on the piston, an operation unit mounted on the top cover and connected with the piston, a connecting unit mounted in the barrel and connected between the barrel and the cylinder, and a pressure adjusting unit connected between the barrel and the top cover. Thus, when the air pressure in the receiving chamber of the barrel reaches a predetermined value, the pressure adjusting unit provides a pressure release function to partially release the air pressure in the receiving chamber of the barrel so as to ensure a safe operation of the pumping device.
US08419375B2
A method of making a rotor yoke includes preparing a cured composite rotor yoke preform on a single-sided curing tool and machining at least one portion of the cured rotor yoke preform to form a rotor yoke. In one embodiment, preparing the cured composite rotor yoke is accomplished by applying successive layers of uncured polymeric composite material to a single-sided tool in a configuration to produce an uncured rotor yoke preform; disposing a semi-rigid caul to an untooled side of the uncured rotor yoke preform; enclosing the uncured rotor yoke preform and the semi-rigid caul by substantially hermetically sealing a vacuum bag to the tool; substantially evacuating a volume defined by the vacuum bag and the tool of air; and heating the uncured rotor yoke preform, sometimes under pressure, to form the cured composite rotor yoke preform.
US08419374B2
The disclosed composite airfoil includes a three-dimensional composite core extending longitudinally and having a chord-wise direction. The core has a core in-plane thickness extending between opposing sides in a through-plane direction generally perpendicular to the chord-wise and longitudinal directions. A composite skin covers the opposing sides and has an exterior surface providing an airfoil contour. The skin includes a total skin in-plane thickness corresponding to a sum of thicknesses through the skin in the through-plane direction from each of the opposing sides to their adjoining exterior surface. A sum of the core in-plane and total skin in-plane thicknesses at a central portion of the composite airfoil is a total in-plane thickness. The total skin in-plane thickness at the central portion is less than 50% of the total in-plane thickness.
US08419369B2
A hydraulic turbine has a runner blade bolted to a hollow runner hub. The runner blade has a flange that mates with a corresponding recess on the hub. Bolting connections pass through complementary array like patterns of apertures spread across and in the hub and blade flange to attach the blades to the hub.
US08419367B2
A vertical-axis turbine is provided, which comprises two or more arc-shaped blades which can pivot so as to decrease drag and maximize the force collected by each blade from moving gas or liquid. These arc-shaped blades can also be capable of directing moving gas or liquid from one blade to another. Additionally, these blades can comprise thin strips along their outer edge, which can increase their strength and rigidity as well as increase the amount of force captured by each blade from the moving gas or liquid.
US08419344B2
In certain embodiments, a system includes a physical computing device having a tangible machine-readable medium including code. The code is adapted to determine an efficiency of a section of a steam turbine based on a relationship between enthalpy difference values and leakage flow rate values between adjacent sections of the steam turbine. The relationship includes a point of equalizing an enthalpy of the leakage and an enthalpy at a destination of the leakage.
US08419329B1
A cargo restraint system with enhanced filament characteristics wherein the restraint system includes laminated load restraining strips with a layer of reinforcement material comprising a plurality of substantially parallel bundles of filaments and wherein the layer of reinforcement contains approximately three hundred and twenty four ends an approximately four hundred and eighty four filaments and each filament comprises one or more polyester monofilament strands having a total break strength of approximately between fifteen point nine and twenty point seven grams.
US08419328B2
A container data center includes a container, and a number of cabinets arranged in the container. A first shockproof device is mounted to the bottom of each of the cabinets, and a second shockproof device is mounted to the top of each of the cabinets. The second shockproof device includes a shockproof member and a connecting apparatus connected between the shockproof member and the container. A distance between the shockproof member and the top of the container is adjustable for keeping the shockproof member abutting the top wall of the cabinet.
US08419323B2
A method and machine for machining shafts, such as crankshafts of an internal combustion engine wherein the shaft supported on a workpiece carrier rotatably about its axis and the carrier is movable relative to a milling tool adjustably supported on the machine, the bearing surfaces of the shaft are fine-machined by a milling tool taking into consideration the resiliency and the bending of the shaft by the engagement force of the milling tool during fine cutting of the bearing surfaces in the various angular rations of the shaft and the axial bearing location between the shaft ends so as to provide for a perfect final round cutting of the bearings without the need for wet grinding. The fine machining is preferably achieved by dry machining and orthogonal rotational milling, all main bearings and lifting bearings being machined in a single clamping from the rough machining dimensions to the final dimension. For a second machining sequence, some of the main bearings and lifting bearings are used as clamping surfaces.
US08419309B2
A pivoting ball mount provides four essentially equal and (generally) evenly spaced constraints on the ball, creating a ball and socket joint in which the “socket” is composed of four small constraining pads of equal size and equally spaced around the surface of the ball or sphere. If a sphere is constrained by four equidistant points, each point will exert the same amount of force on the sphere. If additional pressure is applied to one point, the pressure exerted by the other points will rise to match this increased pressure. The effect of constraining a smooth ball by four equidistant points is to create the equivalent of a ball and socket joint in which the force required to rotate the ball at a particular rate is about the same in any direction. The ball is constrained by four equidistant points such that the relative movement between the ball and housing is smooth and predictable in any direction.
US08419305B2
A cutting mechanism for a printing apparatus that cuts a printing medium and includes a fixed blade having first through holes and a movable blade having second through holes and slidingly movable with respect to the fixed blade, wherein each of first openings of the first through holes on a first sliding face is at least partly included in a first overlapping portion, each of second openings of the second through holes on a second sliding face is at least partly included in a second overlapping portion, and the first openings and the second openings are located at positions such that the first openings and the second openings do not overlap completely with each other in a direction orthogonal to a movement direction of the movable blade with respect to the fixed blade.
US08419298B2
A drive mechanism includes: an actuator including a rotor magnetized; a magnetic body, a magnetically attractive force being generated between the magnetic body and the rotor; and a sandwiched member sandwiched between the rotor and the magnetic body. At least one of the magnetic body and the sandwiched member is coupled to the rotor, and the magnetic body and the sandwiched member slidably contact each other.
US08419293B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an optical fiber made of a silica-based material. A proximal end portion of the optical fiber has an outer-layer portion. The proximal end portion can be included in at least a portion of a launch connector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus also includes a component that has a bore therethrough and can be made of a doped silica material. The bore can have an inner-layer portion heat-fused to the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber. The component can also have an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction associated with the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber.
US08419286B2
A compressor has a rotation shaft in a hermetic container, and first and second bearings to support the shaft in the container. A tolerance between the second bearing and the rotation shaft and a tolerance between the first bearing and the rotation shaft are different, so as to cause hydrodynamic lubrication to occur at one of the first or second bearings.
US08419282B2
Fixation strength of a bearing sleeve with respect to a housing is increased so that stable bearing performance can be achieved. A fluid dynamic bearing device (1) includes a housing (7) and a bearing sleeve (8) fixed to an inner periphery of the housing (7). The housing (7) and the bearing sleeve (8) have therebetween a press-fitting part (10) at which the housing (7) and the bearing sleeve (8) are fixed by press-fitting, and an adhesive-filled part (11) formed on an opening side with respect to the press-fitting part (10).
US08419280B2
Provided is a thin slide unit which allows, in a case where two ball plates each formed with a track-like ball groove are combined to thereby construct an endless circulation path for balls, by merely directly connecting the two ball plates without using a guide plate, balls to smoothly circulate, and a slider to smoothly reciprocate with respect to a guide rail. An endless circulation path for the balls of the slider is formed such that the two ball plates each formed with the track-like ball groove are caused to face each other, and that the ball plates are directly connected. Peripheral sides of the two ball plates oppose to each other, to thereby form a load opening portion for causing the balls in the endless circulation path to contact a rolling groove of the guide rail, and form a scooping-up portion for raising the balls from the rolling groove to guide the balls into the endless circulation path.
US08419279B2
The flexible bag includes overlaying first and second sidewalls that provide an internal volume that can be accessed via an opening. To evacuate air from the internal volume after the open top edge has been closed, the bag includes a one-way valve element attached to the first sidewall. The bag is configured to prevent objects from clogging the valve element during evacuation. In one embodiment, the bag may include a plurality of ridges formed along the inner surface of at least one sidewall that can maintain separation of the sidewalls and contents from the valve element. In another aspect, the valve element is beneficially located at a top corner of the bag where the valve element is spaced apart from those locations in the bag where contents are likely to collect.
US08419277B2
A reclosable bag is disclosed which includes a reclosable zipper with interlocking profiles and a slider. The interlocking profiles include flanges which include arcuate cut-outs at the ends thereof. The width of the flanges is thereby reduced at the distal ends thereof. This allows the flanges to be sealed to the front and rear panels of the reclosable bag without being sealed within the side seals of the reclosable bag. In order to maintain the integrity of the bag, the flanges are sealed to each other immediately inwardly adjacent from the arcuate cut-outs, and the seal lines between the flanges and the front and rear panels are extended so that the front and rear panels are sealed to each other in an area bounded by the arcuate cut-outs and the side seals.
US08419275B2
Provided is a temperature sensor capable of stably keeping the accuracy of detected temperatures. The temperature sensor of the present invention comprises a sensor element (1) comprising a temperature sensing element (2) whose electrical resistance changes according to temperature; a pair of lead wires (4) electrically connected to the temperature sensing element (2); and a covering material (5) which seals the temperature sensing element (2) and portions of the lead wires (4) in a prescribed range; wherein the lead wires (4) are led out of the sealed ends (6) of the covering material (5). The temperature sensor further comprises a metallic protective tube (20) which houses the sensor element (1) except part of the lead wires (4); and a shield comprising a ceramic sealed end closing element (7) which encloses the sealed ends (6), and a lead wire protective tube (8). The shield is loosely fitted inside the metallic protective tube (20).
US08419269B2
To provide a portable timepiece in which water is not easily allowed to enter the timepiece exterior assembly with the completion of venting, the timepiece is equipped with a vent valve mounted to a timepiece exterior assembly. The vent valve is equipped with a valve body holder fixed to the timepiece exterior assembly, a ring-shaped packing supported by the holder and elastically deformable, and a valve body movable between a valve-closed position and a valve-open position. The valve body has a valve body shaft portion, a valve body head integral with this shaft portion, and an exhaust recess formed in the valve body shaft portion. The valve body shaft portion axially extends through the valve body holder while in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the packing. Through movement of the valve body, the exhaust recess is detached from the packing at the valve-closed position, and, at the valve-open position, the exhaust recess is arranged so as to be astride and cross apart of the inner peripheral portion of the packing.
US08419267B1
A one-piece stackable container restraining apparatus incorporates a flat surface and four legs. The restraining apparatus can be used on the crest of a roof or on other surfaces. The stackable feature is used to accommodate roofs of differing pitches and to create a more stable combination. In certain embodiments attachment holes are utilized for ease in transportation and movement. The attachment of the container to the flat surface allows one to lift a container along with the container restraining apparatus together by lifting only the container, for example by its handle. Additionally, the container restraining apparatus can be used on a flat surface to prevent overturning of the container during transportation, such as paint buckets transported in a truck or van. Mounting holes on each leg can be used to accommodate a variety of fixtures such as wheels or articulating pads.
US08419265B2
A backlight module includes a front frame, a backboard, and a light source. The front frame and the backboard define opposite outermost surfaces of the backlight module. The backboard includes a frame and a light-shield plate. The frame is coupled with the front frame. The frame has a plurality of plates surroundingly defining an empty part and at least one side wall extending from one of the plates to be coupled with the front frame. Each one of the plates has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and at least one rib and/or trough, and the rib and/or trough is disposed on the first surface and is spaced apart from the side wall. The light-shield plate covers the empty part. The light source is disposed between the front frame and the backboard.
US08419252B2
A light guiding object for use in a lighting device is provided. The light guiding object includes a cylindrical body, a reflective layer, a transparent resin layer and a light-adjustable film. The cylindrical body has a light-entering surface and a bottom surface. The reflective layer is disposed on the bottom surface of the cylindrical body. The transparent resin layer is disposed on the light-entering surface of the cylindrical body. The light-adjustable film has a flat surface and an optical structure surface, wherein the flat surface is opposite to the optical structure surface and disposed on the transparent resin layer. A central part of the optical structure surface includes a first prism group. The first prism group includes a plurality of first prisms, wherein the apex angles of the first prisms are in a range of 120 to 170 degrees.
US08419251B2
A light emitting device includes: a light emitting element; a substrate including a groove-like light guide extending along a first direction, emission light emitted from the light emitting element and introduced into the light guide being reflected by an inner wall surface of the light guide, spreading along the first direction, and being turned into upward light directed upward above the substrate; and a lens provided above the light guide and configured to collect the upward light and control light distribution characteristic in a plane generally perpendicular to the first direction.
US08419248B2
A vehicle light is provided which can prevent the accumulation of assembly errors during the assembling of separate optical components. The vehicle light can include a first heat sink having a first heat sink body and a first heat radiation fin, and a first optical system configured to form a part of a predetermined light distribution pattern. The first optical system can include a first LED light source, a first reflector configured to reflect light emitted from the first LED light source, and a projection lens configured to allow light reflected from the first reflector to pass therethrough. The first LED light source, the first reflector, and the projection lens can be secured to an upper surface of the first heat sink body.
US08419244B2
A motorcycle includes a seat, side covers covering the periphery of the lower side of the seat and formed in curved shapes to gradually decrease in width toward the rear side of the vehicle. Rear blinkers mounted to left and right portions in the vehicle width direction of the side covers. Each of the rear blinkers includes a base member mounted to the side cover, a bulb and a lens covering the bulb. The left and right rear blinkers are disposed at recesses provided in the side covers. Each of the left and right rear blinkers is mounted to the side cover in such a manner that the lens is substantially entirely exposed from the recess to not overlap with a curved surface of the side cover in plan sectional view as viewed from the upper side of the vehicle, the section containing the optical axis of the bulb.
US08419243B2
The invention relates to a device for controlling diode lamps comprising a lighting module having at least one diode lamp, the diode lamp pertaining to a predefined range, at least one device for transmitting a unique signature representing the range, and an associated control module comprising reception means (for receiving a unique signature transmitted by the lighting module, and current adjustment means for adjusting and supplying, as a function of the transmitted signature, a current to said lighting module to cause the diode lamp to operate.
US08419239B2
A color LED lamp includes a lamp holder, a heat dissipating module, a light source module, an optical convergence element, and a positioning sleeve. The light source module includes an isolation member. The isolation member is arranged between light-emitting diodes and a light diffusing member. The isolation member is hollow and made of reflecting material, the space inside the isolation member is divided into a number of optical channels along the axial direction by a number of partitions, each of the optical channels corresponds to one group of light-emitting diodes, and allows the light emitted from the group of light-emitting diodes to pass through.
US08419233B2
A lampshade structure for LED lamps includes at least one light-diffusing bowl structure, a lower end, an interior space and a sidewall. The light-diffusing bowl structure composed by an exterior curve wall and an interior curve wall is located on top of the lampshade to diffuse lights from the LED laterally to the lamp. Both the curvature centers of the exterior curve wall and the interior curve wall are located exteriorly to the lampshade structure. By providing the concave light-diffusing bowl structure to occupy the illumination angle of the LED, the incident rays of the LED to the bowl structure can be partly deflected to leave from the lateral sides of the lampshade so as to emulate the LED lamp as an omni-directional lamp device.
US08419232B2
Some embodiments provide an illumination optical system. The optical system can include a first surface and a second surface. Each of the first and second surfaces can further comprises a multiplicity of corresponding Cartesian-oval lenticulations such that each lenticulation of the first surface focuses a source upon a corresponding lenticulation of the second surface and each lenticulation of the second surface focuses a target upon a corresponding lenticulation of the first surface.
US08419231B2
An optic for producing an asymmetrical beam of light for restricting light output to an area below a midplane of the optic, and for directing light to the sides or down from the midplane.
US08419228B2
A light guide member and a light irradiation module with the light guide member and an electric device with the light irradiation module are provided in the invention in which the light guide member has a cone shaped body and a ring shaped flange. The cone shaped body has an opening at an apex of one end of the cone shaped body. The ring shaped flange is extended from a circular rim of the other end of the cone shaped body. One inner surface of the opening is defined as a light incident surface, and a circular rim surface of the ring shaped flange surrounding the cone shaped body is defined as a light emitting surface.
US08419220B2
The lamp device may include: a plurality of light sources; a substrate including one side thereof on which a plurality of the light sources are disposed; a plurality of light guiders including both first ends coupled optically to a plurality of the light sources and second ends through which light is emitted; a frame including the second ends disposed thereon and controlling the direction of the light emitted from the second ends; and a body which is disposed on the substrate, a plurality of the light guiders and the frame.
US08419218B2
A light assembly having an axis of symmetry that includes an enclosure comprising at least a base and a cover coupled to the base. The light assembly also includes a plurality of light sources disposed on a circuit board within the enclosure in a first ring having a center point aligned with the axis of symmetry. The light assembly also includes a reflector that has a first focal point within the cover and a plurality of second focal points disposed in a second ring coincident with the first ring.
US08419212B2
A circuit board assembly includes a circuit board including an electrical conductor, and a light emitting element assembly. The light emitting element assembly includes a carrier mounted on the circuit board, a light emitting element mounted on the carrier, and an electrical contact held by the carrier in electrical connection with the light emitting element and the electrical conductor.
US08419209B2
A lamp support of the present invention comprises a keel as the main body, two arc-shaped extensions provided on two sides of the keel, inwardly protruding lips correspondingly provided on bottom edges of the arc-shaped extensions, and first and second slots provided on the ridge of the keel and arranged perpendicular to each other. The first and second slots can allow for the passage of screws so that the screws can be used to secure the entire lamp support to an assembly main body such as a ceiling or a wall; and the lips correspondingly fit into grooves on both sides of a lamp tube whereby the lamp tube is pushed into a predetermined position to secure the lamp tube to the assembly main body such as a ceiling or a wall.
US08419201B2
A light emitting module includes an organic EL light emitting element and a support body supporting the organic EL light emitting element. The support body is attached to the organic EL light emitting element at the side of the non-light emitting surface of the light emitting module to cover one surface of the organic EL light emitting element. The organic EL light emitting element includes power feeding electrodes. The support body includes openings formed in a corresponding relationship with the power feeding electrodes. The power feeding electrodes exposed on the non-light emitting side of the support body through the openings. The support body includes power feeding terminals. The power feeding terminals partially exposed on the non-light emitting side of the support body. The power feeding terminals electrically connected to the power feeding electrodes by electric connection members extending via the non-light emitting side and the openings of the support body.
US08419191B2
An optical system with short total length to project a high quality large image. The system projects an image onto a projection surface, and includes a lens system having a plurality of lenses, and one or more curved mirrors. Light flux of an enlarged image shooting out from the lens system to the projection surface is incident onto a mirror surface of the one of the curved mirrors first of all. Distances OAL and Y satisfy a requirement 20
US08419190B2
A auto-focusing method for projection of a computing device with imaging function is illustrated. The computing device exemplarily includes a projection unit, an image receiving unit, and a processing unit. The method firstly controls the projection unit to project images on plural positions along an optical axis. The method then controls the image receiving unit to receive the images, which are regarded as candidate images, projected on the positions by the projection unit. The candidate images correspond to the projective positions. The method further receives the candidate images captured by the image receiving unit, and compute their definitions. Therefore, the image with a greatest definition may be acquired and regarded as a focus image. The focus image's corresponding position is a focus position. After acquiring the focus position, an image may be projected thereon. The illustrated computing device is enabled to complete the image focusing automatically.
US08419169B2
An inkjet printhead (100) and a method (200) of supplying viscous ink employ a central ink feed channel (130). The inkjet printhead (100) includes a bridge beam (110) that supports an ejector element (106), a pair of lateral ink feed channels (120) adjacent to the bridge beam (110), and a central ink feed channel (130) through the ejector element (106) and bridge beam (110). The pair of lateral ink feed channels (120) and the central ink feed channel (130) connect between an ink reservoir (140) below the bridge beam (110) and the bubble expansion chamber (104). The method (200) includes providing (210) a central ink feed channel in a bridge beam of a printhead and flowing (220) viscous ink from an ink reservoir through a combination of the provided central ink feed channel and a pair of lateral ink feed channels.
US08419167B2
A liquid discharge head includes a recording element substrate including a recording element that generates energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port, a base plate including a mounted surface on which the recording element substrate is mounted, an electric wiring substrate including a portion disposed on another surface of the base plate different from the mounted surface, adjacent to the mounted surface, and configured to be electrically connected to the recording element substrate, and an shield member having electric conductivity and configured to shield the portion.
US08419160B2
An inkjet printer has a printhead in which all of the inkjets are used for printing, but at a less than maximum available ejection output. When a failed inkjet is identified, the ejection throughput is increased for inkjets that print pixels in an at least two pixel neighborhood about a missing pixel, so the pixels to be printed by the failed inkjet are printed by inkjets that print pixels in the two pixel wide neighborhood.
US08419159B2
In one embodiment, a drop detector includes a light source for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone and a light detector near the light source for detecting light scattered off the drops back toward the light source. In another embodiment, a drop detector includes a light source operable to emit a beam of light for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone and a light detector positioned near the light source to detect substantially only light scattered off the drops at a scatter angle θ in the range of 177° to 180°, where θ represents a direction of scattered light measured with respect to an axis of the light beam with θ=0° lying along the axis in a direction of travel of the light beam and θ=180° lying along the axis opposite the direction of travel of the light beam.
US08419156B2
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet amount detector to detect an amount of sheets accommodated in the sheet feeding tray, an ejected sheet amount detector to detect an amount of sheets ejected onto the sheet ejection tray, and a vibration damper to damp vibration of the image forming apparatus caused by movement of the carriage. A controller is provided to control the vibration damper to damp vibration of the image forming apparatus in accordance with respective amounts of sheets and ejected sheets detected by the sheet amount detector and the ejected sheet amount detector in prescribed acceleration and deceleration regions of the carriage.
US08419154B2
A motor control device includes: a first motor that provides a driving force for rotating a roll on which a roll paper is wound to supply the roll paper from the roll; a second motor that provides a driving force for driving a transport driving roller which is provided on a downstream side than the roll along a supply direction of the roll paper and used for transporting the roll paper; a load measuring unit that measures a relationship between a load on the first motor and a driving speed of the first motor when the second motor is not driven and the first motor is driven; and a motor control unit that simultaneously drives the first and second motors at a certain timing, provides to the first motor an interpolation output based on the measurement result of the load measurement unit and a driving speed of the second motor during the control, and transports the roll paper to the downstream side by driving the second motor.
US08419152B2
A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record a first dot and a second dot having a diameter smaller than that of the first dot on a recording medium, and a scanning unit configured to move the recording unit in a scanning direction. A recording resolution of the second dot in the scanning direction is lower than a recording resolution of the first dot in the scanning direction.
US08419148B2
A voltage-set-information storing section stores two or more kinds of voltage sets each including a combination of first and second voltages for each number of droplets ejected from an ejection port within a single recording cycle. A voltage applying section is configured to apply the first voltage to an active portion of a first piezoelectric layer and to apply the second voltage to an active portion of a second piezoelectric layer based on image data of the image. The voltage applying section is configured to select one of the two or more kinds of voltage sets stored in the voltage-set-information storing section and to apply each voltage constituting the selected voltage set to the active portions of the first and second piezoelectric layers. The voltage sets are classified by a degree of temporal overlapping of pulse-shaped voltages included in the first and second voltages.
US08419147B2
A fluid ejection device that ejects fluid from an ejection port includes: a drive element that ejects fluid in accordance with a difference between voltages applied to a first terminal and a second terminal; a drive voltage waveform storing unit that stores a drive voltage waveform applied to the drive element; a plurality of power supplies each having a different voltage; and a drive voltage waveform applying unit that applies the drive voltage waveform to the drive element by switching among the plurality of power supplies connected to the first and second terminals of the drive element.
US08419139B2
The present disclosure relates to tank wheel assembly systems, methods, and apparatus. In one embodiment, a tank wheel assembly includes a first wheel and a second wheel. A first face of the first wheel faces a second face of the second wheel. A guide tunnel is defined by at least a portion of the first face and at least a portion of the second face. The guide tunnel has outer surfaces and is configured to receive a center guide of a tank tread. The guide tunnel and center guide at least partially maintain the tank tread of the tank wheel assembly. A wear resistant coating is located on at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the guide tunnel, restricts the center guide of the tank tread from abrading the outer surfaces of the guide tunnel, and has a thickness of at least about 0.025 inch.
US08419134B1
A folding chair is disclosed including a folding chair frame, support material, and a pillow that can move between raised and lowered positions relative to the folding chair frame.
US08419131B2
A seating apparatus has a seat with a seat frame, a backrest extending upwardly from said seat, a support mechanism mounted to the seat frame, a locking mechanism cooperative with the support mechanism, said a lock cooperative with the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has an upper arm mounted rotationally to the seat frame and to the support mechanism. The lock is affixed to at least one of the first and second arms and extends outwardly of a side of the seat. The lock is suitable for locking a position of the arms and the seat frame.
US08419122B2
Provided is a linkage mechanism for a recliner that includes a seat-mounting plate, a base plate that is vertically supported by one or more legs, a footrest assembly adapted to extend ottoman(s) when the recliner is adjusted from a closed to an extended position, and a front lift assembly. The front lift assembly includes a front bellcrank that is rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, a front pivot link that is rotatably coupled to the base plate, a carrier link that is pivotably coupled to the front pivot link and to the front bellcrank, and a front lift link that is rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate and is pivotably coupled to the front lift link. Additionally, the linkage mechanism includes a seat-adjustment assembly that cooperates with the front lift assembly to translate the seat-mounting plate over the base plate during adjustment between extended and reclined positions.
US08419120B2
A panel that may be raised and lowered in the rear area of a vehicle to provide added headroom. The panel may be secured to an opening defined by a roof of the vehicle. The panel may be secured to an opening defined in a tailgate of the vehicle. Side walls and a real wall may be provided that extend between the opening and the panel.
US08419119B2
A sunshade device includes a pair of shade guide rails across an indoor opening; a shade of which opposite side edges are guided by the shade guide rails; and a winding shaft rolling up the shade, wherein the opposite side edges of the shade are guided by the shade guide rails with the side edges being folded after a folding stroke whose folded width is gradually increased toward a front end of the shade when the shade is drawn out from the winding shaft, each of the opposite side edges of the shade is provided with a folded introduction part formed by folding a side edge portion of the shade and connecting the folded side edge portion to a main body portion of the shade, and the folded introduction part is formed in a predetermined length from the front end of the shade in an open/close direction of the shade.
US08419116B2
A frame assembly for a vehicle includes a front end frame assembly extending laterally across the vehicle and disposed adjacent a forward end of the vehicle, and a bumper beam extending laterally across the vehicle and spaced apart longitudinally forward of the front end frame assembly. A first set of spaced apart inner attachment structures connects the bumper beam to the front end frame assembly. A second set of spaced apart outer attachment structures also connects the bumper beam to the front end frame assembly. The second set of outer attachment structures is spaced apart from and flanks the first set of inner attachment structures.
US08419111B2
Using as a vehicle body reinforcing member a bent tube with mixed bends of inward and outward projection according to the present invention makes it possible, during a vehicle body collision, to absorb more energy than and exhibit better impact resistance than a vehicle body reinforcing member that uses one of a known straight tube and a curved tube of radius R entirely. Thus the dimensions (outside diameter, wall thickness) of the steel tube that is used as the vehicle body reinforcing member can be reduced, and the tube shape can be modified, while impact resistance is maintained. Modifying the shape in this manner makes it possible to provide the ever higher required level of vehicle body impact resistance at the same time that it reduces the weight of the vehicle body and lowers the cost. The present invention can therefore be widely used as an occupant protection technology.
US08419096B2
A robot hand may have an improved structure so that movements of some of joints of a finger structure do not influence operations of other joints. A meta phalangeal (MP) roll joint unit rotated in a roll direction and an MP pitch joint unit rotated in a pitch direction of an MP joint unit are separately arranged to form an offset. Movable angles of the respective joint units are widened, and the joint units are precisely controlled. Overall friction within the robot hand is reduced, and a robot having the hand is stabilized.
US08419091B2
A bumper for an automobile includes a crossbeam which is formed from at least two separate hollow profiles, wherein the hollow profiles abut one another along a longitudinal wall and are joined with one another. The abutting longitudinal walls form a double web oriented in the longitudinal direction of the automobile. The hollow profiles may have an identical cross-sectional configuration. The hollow profiles may be roll-formed or extruded. The modular construction of the crossbeam from separate hollow profiles allows a lightweight construction and allows the load characteristic of the crossbeam to be functionally adapted to different requirements depending on the vehicle or vehicle class.
US08419086B2
A mortise latchset has an improved leveraged cam assembly, completely internal to the latchset body, versatile enough to allow the door handles to be rotated in either direction to retract the latchbolt, and robust enough to independently bias each of two lever-type door handles toward a handle-centering position, even when one of the handles is being operated. The mortise latchset uses a pair of coaxially mounted cam followers independently leveraged by a cantilevered spring assembly. The cam followers are located between the operating cams and the latch retracting assembly, and each leveraged cam follower is operable to engage the latch retracting assembly to retract the latchbolt, while the other cam follower biases its operating cam in the handle-centering position.
US08419084B2
The present utility model discloses a smart lock with a modified structure comprising: a lock body including an inner handle and an outer handle, a latch and a bolt, an electrical locking mechanism for interfering retraction of the bolt; the lock body further comprises a manual locking and controlling mechanism connected to the inner and outer handles and controlling opening and closing; the manual locking and controlling mechanism is provided with a rotation actuating piece linked to the inner and outer handles and a bolt moving piece controlling extension and retraction of the bolt, wherein the rotation actuating piece is linked to the bolt moving piece via a locking member to control the bolt for locking when the inner and outer handles are lifted, and the rotation actuating piece is linked to the bolt moving piece via an unlocking member to control the bolt for unlocking when the inner and outer handles are pressed. The smart lock according to the present utility model has the following advantageous effects: 1. the smart lock exhibits a simple construction, less transmission components and easier manufacture and assembling, and is not liable to damage and easy to maintain; 2. the smart lock has a manual locking and unlocking function and is easy to operate and meanwhile has an electrical locking and unlocking function of ordinary smart locks, it is of low cost, safe and reliable and can be extensively applied to home and office anti-theft apparatuses.
US08419083B2
An electrically operable latch includes a housing and a latch member assembled with the housing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A blocker member is disposed in the housing and adapted to block movement of the latch member to the retracted position when the blocker member is in a first position, and to permit movement of the latch member from the extended position to the retracted position when the blocker member is in a second position. An actuator member is disposed in the housing and adapted to move the blocker member from the first position to the second position in response to an electrical signal supplied to the actuator member.
US08419077B2
A self aligning coupling system for aligning one end of tubing to another end of tubing is disclosed. The self aligning coupling system can include a first coupling member which is engageable with a second coupling member, each coupling member being generally cylindrical and having a flange projecting axially from a first segment of a circumference thereof and a flange-free portion defined by a remainder of the circumference. The first and second coupling members are configured so that when the first coupling member is engaged with the second coupling member, the flange of the first coupling member contacts the flange-free portion of the second coupling member and the flange of the second coupling member contacts the flange-free portion of the first coupling member.
US08419070B2
A label assembly that includes a face sheet with a label shape defined by one or more tearable lines of separation, a back sheet adjacent to the face sheet, and an adhesive material disposed between the face sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a removable panel disposed over the label shape adhesive material and a registration tab aligned with the label shape. The registration tab includes a portion disposed over a removable shape within the label shape. The registration tab is raisable above the back sheet surface and the removable shape adheres to the registration tab while being raised, thereby removing the removable shape from the label shape.
US08419068B2
A side wall portion of a housing is provided with an arm-protective extending portion below a pawl and a mechanical arm. The arm-protective extending portion extends inwardly at a substantially right angle. Further, a side wall portion of the housing is provided with a shaft-protective extending portion which extends inwardly from the lower edge portion of a horizontally long opening portion. The horizontally long opening portion is formed so as to face a coupling shaft over its full length. Below this shaft-protective extending portion, there is formed a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted at the time of mounting the housing to a fastening piece of a vehicle.
US08419066B2
[Object] To provide a seat belt device which exhibits good smoothness even at a low temperature of about −30° C., which exhibits a small reduction in smoothness even after repeated use for a long period of time, or after use at a high temperature (80° C.), and which has good webbing retracting performance. [Solution] A seat belt device includes a webbing 12 formed by applying a webbing treatment agent to a webbing base material, a retractor 11 for retracting the webbing 12, and an anchor member 13 through which the webbing 12 is slidably hung. The webbing treatment agent is characterized by containing as an essential component a hydrocarbon-based synthetic oil with a viscosity of 35 to 100,000 mPa·s at −30° C.
US08419061B2
A tractor includes a ROPS frame having right and left leg portions connected to either a transmission case or rear axle cases, a front frame connected to a portion of the transmission case forwardly of the ROPS frame and extending in the right/left direction, a right attaching frame connected to and between the right leg portion of the ROPS frame and a right side portion of the front frame and extending in the fore/aft direction, a left attaching frame connected to and between the left leg portion of the ROPS frame and a left side portion of the front frame and extending in the fore/aft direction, and right and left fenders. The right fender is attached to the right attaching frame and the left fender is attached to the left attaching frame.
US08419059B2
An air-bag includes a rear panel and a front panel secured to one another to define an inflatable volume. A tether interconnects the panels and has an area of mechanical weakness provided by at least one line of slits or perforations. The tether has a first configuration in which the area of mechanical weakness is substantially intact, and is configured to adopt a second configuration via rupture of the area of mechanical weakness. The first configuration of the tether is effective, during inflation of the air-bag, to limit the maximum depth of the air-bag to a predetermined distance measured between the front and rear panels, and the second configuration is effective to allow an increase in the maximum depth of the air-bag beyond the predetermined distance.
US08419057B2
A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.
US08419056B2
An example airbag assembly an airbag, a duct having an duct opening for venting gas outside the airbag, and a flap moveable from a first position to a second position. The duct is configured to direct more gas outside the airbag when the flap is in the first position than when the flap is in the second position. A tether is configured to move the flap from the first position to the second position.
US08419049B2
To provide an airbag and an airbag device that is excellent in an impact absorbing force and can efficiently inflate and deploy the airbag. An airbag 1 according to the present invention includes a left inflation chamber 11L that is inflated and deployed on the front left side of a passenger P and a right inflation chamber 11R that is inflated and deployed on the front right side of the passenger P. The left inflation chamber 11L and the right inflation chamber 11R include a first communication path 12 formed at an end portion on the car body side, a connection portion 13 connected at an intermediate portion in the inflating and deploying direction, and a second communication path 14 formed within the connection portion 13. The airbag further includes a first tether 3 having one end connected to each inner face of the left inflation chamber 11L and the right inflation chamber 11R and the other end connected into the connection portion 13 and a second tether 4 having one end connected the inner faces in the vicinity of top portions of the left inflation chamber 11L and the right inflation chamber 11R and the other end connected into the connection portion 13.
US08419048B2
An airbag device installed into an instrument panel including a lid portion configured to be torn and a lid-side peripheral wall portion provided to stand on an outer periphery of the lid portion. The airbag device includes: an inflator; an airbag so as to be inflated and deployed in a bag shape by the gas introduced from the inflator; and an outer bag formed of a sheet-like member to be sewn into a three-dimensional shape having an outer-bag-side bottom and an outer-bag-side peripheral wall portion provided on an outer periphery of the outer-bag-side bottom, the outer-bag-side bottom being secured to the inflator, the outer-bag-side peripheral wall portion surrounding the folded airbag and being disposed so as to be sandwiched between the airbag being inflated and deployed and the lid-side peripheral wall portion.
US08419047B2
A folding device of a wheelchair includes a first folding unit and a second folding unit, wherein the first folding unit includes a first part, a second part and a connection rod connected between the first part and the second part. The first part has a first link and a second link respectively and pivotably connected thereto, and the second part has a third link and a fourth link respectively and pivotably connected thereto. The second folding unit has two boards and the two boards have two connection units. Each board has a recess and two lugs. Each recess has a first plate and a second plate connected thereto. A handle has two ends which are respectively and pivotably connected to the first and second plates.
US08419046B2
A field stretcher carrier with a structure formed by a front frame section and a rear frame section that are coupled together. The attachment systems that allow a stretcher to be secured to the structure favorably include at least one pair of clamps at the ends of each frame section. The clamps are fitted to a rigid cross bar and can slide up and down the axis of the cross bar toward and away from each other.
US08419045B2
A sliding board, in particular a ski, comprising a front part, a middle part and a rear part with a contact surface comprising a running surface and metal edges bordering it. In accordance with the present disclosure, the contact surface of the non-loaded sliding board has a curvature development which, starting from a central contact line in the middle part which has a horizontal tangent, in each case has a positive curvature without turning points toward the front part and rear part.
US08419044B2
Winter sports gear, particularly an ice skate, include runners to which a sliding blade (3) is detachably connected. The sliding surface (1) of the sliding blade (3) is provided with at least one, in this case three, profiled grooves (4) that extend in the direction of travel. Bulge-type dams (5) extend on both sides of the profiled grooves (4).
US08419032B1
A suspension system for a steerable trailer includes a strut which is mounted to the frame of the trailer, an axle which is connected to the strut, and far and near suspension cylinders which connect the axle to the frame. The far and near suspension cylinders connect to opposite side of the axle. Steering rods connect adjacent axles together, the steering rod connection alternating between the left and right side of the frame.
US08419028B1
A suspension assembly includes at least one suspension arm having a suspension joint structured to vary the height of a vehicle dependent on the operative orientation of the suspension arm and suspension joint when connected to the vehicle. The suspension joint includes two bushing members each formed of a resilient material and two retaining assemblies, wherein each retaining assembly is disposed in a retaining relation to a different one of the two bushing members on opposite sides of one end of the suspension arm. Either each of the bushing members or each of the two retaining assemblies includes a first section and a second section being of different, predetermined thicknesses. While the suspension arm and suspension joint may be produced as equipment of original manufacture, a conventional suspension arm may be repaired or retrofitted by replacing its original suspension joint with a modified suspension joint.
US08419024B1
The cleaning cart of the invention is a new kind of cleaning cart providing several utilities and designed to provide an efficient and organized solution. The cleaning cart is completely covered preventing People from seeing dirty mops, buckets, dirty wipes or cleaning products. The cleaning cart also has a removable waste container that can be easily separated from the rest of the cleaning cart. The cleaning cart also works as an advertising cart. The cleaning cart provides a new way of cleaning in a more organized, clean and healthier way.
US08419023B1
A trash carryall with removable cylinder that includes a wheeled carryall operable independent of a removable cylinder, said cylinder insertable into the carryall and securable therein by means of a first and a second hole disposed within the carryall which superimpose a left and a right hole respectively, said left and right hole disposed within the removable cylinder, to store and transport trash, and other household items common to the yard; which cylinder is removable as preferred to readily access trash and items stored proximal a base of the carryall without upending the device.
US08419019B2
A magnetic fluid shaft-sealing device includes an outer ring for receiving a rotary shaft. A magnetic-field generating unit is mounted in an annular seal chamber of the outer ring for receiving the rotary shaft. A seal ring is mounted in the seal chamber of the outer ring and located between a magnet of the magnetic-field generating unit and an end of the outer ring. The seal ring includes inner and outer peripheries spaced in a radial direction. A lip extends from the inner periphery of the seal ring toward or away from the end of the outer ring and is at a non-parallel angle to the radial direction of the seal ring to form a seal around the rotary shaft.
US08419012B2
A placement plate for placing a recording sheet is provided in a case to be movable upward and downward. A regulating member is supported by the case to be slidable in the width direction of the recording sheet. A locking section is provided on at least one of the placement plate and the regulating member so as to lock the placement plate with respect to the regulating member when the regulating member is located in an area different from an area between the maximum size and the minimum size at the edge of the recording sheet in the width direction.
US08419010B2
A damper member moves a stopper after a delay in time from a restricting position, at which the stopper restricts the movement of paper, to a releasing position, at which the restriction on the movement is released; the damper member includes a base having a first sliding surface along the paper movement direction and also includes a slider, having a second sliding surface facing the first sliding surface through a viscous material, that slides between a first position at which the stopper is placed at the restricting position and a second position at which the stopper is placed at the releasing position; when at least the slider slides and reaches the first position or the second position, a clearance area is formed in the base to store a viscous material, at a position corresponding to the front end in the sliding direction of the slider.
US08419009B2
A sheet feeder includes a sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets, a sheet feeding unit that sequentially feeds the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets stacked in the sheet stacking unit, an airflow supply unit that supplies an airflow to a side surface of the stack of sheets from an opening, a shield member that is disposed between the opening and the stack of sheets and a mechanism that changes the airflow from the airflow supply unit with respect to a stacking direction of the sheets by changing a relative position between the opening and the shield member in a direction other than the stacking direction of the sheets.
US08419001B2
Provided are a method and a jig for holding a silicon wafer, which are applied to the production of the silicon wafer having {110} or {100} plane as its principal surface, in which the silicon wafer is held while a silicon wafer holding positions are properly defined at wafer edge regions relative to the reference direction as being from the center of the silicon wafer toward <110> in crystal orientation in parallel to the wafer surface. In handling the silicon wafer, generation of contact scratches is suppressed as little as possible, and a fracture which is caused by development of the crack initiating from easily generated contact scratches can be prevented in the silicon wafer, particularly in the silicon wafer having {110} plane as its principal surface.
US08419000B2
A device for maintaining a plurality of doors in an upright and spaced position for treatment is provided. The device comprises a body with a plurality of radially extending hinge plate connectors each for connecting to a respective hinge plate. Also provided is a kit for assembling the device and a method for maintaining a plurality of doors in an upright and spaced position for treatment.
US08418997B2
A support column apparatus for supporting and moving a portion of a building, and having a base column of square tubular cross section, a top extension column of square tubular cross section sliding within the base column, an hydraulic cylinder within the base column, a piston and a piston rod extendable into the said top extension column, and, a hydraulic connection to supply hydraulic fluid to the cylinder.
US08418987B2
A work to replace a display panel body is facilitated. A display apparatus includes a display panel unit (20) having a display panel body (22) that displays an image, and a panel supporting member (40) that is attached to the display panel unit (20) and that supports the display panel unit (20), wherein the display panel unit (20) has handles (36 to 39), and the handles (36 to 39) are at least partially exposed outside of the panel supporting member (40).
US08418986B2
A movable supporting construction for placing on a floor, comprising a lower part and an upper part cooperating with said lower part, wherein the lower part is designed to rest on the floor and to assume a position that is determined by the condition of the floor, and the upper part has a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the upper part is suspended freely above the lower part and in the second position, the upper part rests on the lower part maintaining a predetermined invariant position, wherein in the second position, the lower part and the upper part are in line contact, thereby determining a contact line that forms at least a portion of a closed line.
US08418984B2
Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
US08418982B1
A self supporting structure which may be used to support a platform such as a table top utilizes a plurality of elongated members and a ring. Each elongated member has one end resting on the floor on one point of a circumference, and the other end supporting the platform above the floor on a point substantially diametrically opposed. The elongated members cross each other proximate the center of the structure in a frictional and locking engagement maintained by the ring. That zone of convergence and the engagement of the elongated members between each other provide the only support for the structure which is self-supporting without extraneous means such as screw, glue or the like. The structure leave the floor below the edges and corners of the table top it supports free from interference with the legs of people seated at the table.
US08418972B2
An attachment device includes: an attachment attachable to a rack; and a bracket attachable to a switch device and engageable with the attachment, and including a hold portion for holding a cable, wherein the attachment attached to the rack is engaged with the bracket attached to the switch device, whereby the switch device is supported by the rack.
US08418971B2
A utensil holding kit includes a utensil tabletop holder having a body that includes an angled surface having and a concave portion into which a protrusion disc can be inserted, and a detachable protrusion disc configured to mate with the underside of a utensil in order to prevent the utensil endpoint from making contact with foreign objects and surfaces.
US08418961B2
The invention relates to a device for supporting a door which is pivotably received in a fuselage airframe of an aircraft, with a counter bearing arranged in the region of a doorframe and a thrust bearing located opposite in the region of the door.According to the invention, the counter bearing has a planar counter bearing surface and the thrust bearing has a mounting in which a planar thrust bearing surface which can tilt about at least one spatial axis is received, the counter bearing surface lying against the thrust bearing surface at least in some regions when the door is closed.Because of the thrust bearing surface which can be tilted in at least one spatial direction, the counter bearing always lies against the thrust bearing over the entire surface areas thereof, irrespective of any manufacturing tolerance deviations between the doorframe and the door or the bearing on the fuselage airframe, in such a way that optimal force transfer is ensured.The device according to the invention is provided in particular for use in fuselage airframe with doors received therein which are primarily produced from composite materials, in particular with carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFRP) or glass-fiber-reinforced plastics materials.
US08418960B2
A rib bay platform for use in an aircraft rib bay, is adjustable in length (for example it comprises two telescopically mounted sections. The platform comprises a first end configured for mounting on a stringer of the rib bay (for example by an interference fit), and a second end configured for mounting on another stringer of the rib bay (for example on feet mounted on ball-and-socket joints). A method of operating in an aircraft rib bay comprises the steps of providing a rib bay platform of adjustable length; adjusting the length of the platform; mounting the platform between the two stringers; whereby a person may then operate inside the aircraft rib bay while being supported on the platform.
US08418959B2
An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a spherical locking portion for landing on an unmanned ground vehicle is disclosed. The spherical locking portion can be the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Further, an unmanned ground vehicle for landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising a landing portion configured to have some of a spherical locking portion of the unmanned aerial vehicle inserted therein is disclosed.
US08418955B2
An actuation system includes: two hydraulic actuators, each being coupled to a load-bearing structural component and to an elevator, and displaceable relative to the load-bearing structural component for the operation of the elevator; a first control valve device to control the first actuator; a second control valve device to control the second actuator; a control and monitoring unit that determines and transmits appropriate command signals to the control valve devices to execute appropriate control movements for the operation of the actuators; a locking device coupled to the first actuator to secure the first actuator a locked state, which is hydraulically connected with the first hydraulic system and the second hydraulic system via an hydraulic OR-circuit, where in normal operation the locking mechanism is in its unlocked state, and in the event of a failure of both hydraulic systems the locking mechanism secures the first actuator.
US08418954B2
An aircraft wing assembly comprising: a wing; a spoiler pivotally attached to the wing; and a spoiler deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism comprises a scissor linkage mechanism comprising an upper link pivotally attached to the spoiler at an upper pivot, and a lower link pivotally attached to the wing at a lower pivot and to the upper link at a central pivot. An actuator is pivotally attached to the wing at a proximal pivot and to the scissor linkage mechanism at a distal pivot. The actuator is adjustable between expanded and contracted configurations so as to vary the distance between the proximal and distal pivots. This opens up the angle between the upper and lower links of the scissor linkage mechanism and pushes the spoiler up into the air-stream above the wing.
US08418950B2
A paper dispenser contains a receiving compartment for a dispenser roll, a transport path leading from above into the receiving compartment, a hold position for a spare roll being defined in the transport path by a blocking device, and a transfer device for the paper of the spare roll once the paper of the dispenser roll is used up. The width of the receiving compartment is smaller than the diameter of the spare roll, and a sensor element for the diameter of the spare roll releases the blocking device not before the diameter of the spare roll has been reduced to the width of the receiving compartment.
US08418938B2
A shower head includes a nozzle, a connector mounted on an open top of the nozzle, a fastening member secured on the open top of the nozzle and abutting the connector to limit the connector on the nozzle, and a bushing mounted in the connector. Thus, when the water flows through the shower head, the ambient air is introduced through the connector and the bushing to break the vacuum state in the shower head and to perturb the water flow in the shower head so as to produce a turbulent flow in the shower head so that the water flow injected from the nozzle is broken and divided into multiple straight water beams and multiple irregular water bubbles so as to increase the flushing angle and area of the shower head.
US08418936B2
A sprayer and a releasable bottle are provided. The sprayer includes a main housing having a pump and a nozzle coupled in a material flow path. The housing further includes a bottle receptacle and a bottle adapter, which is fluidically coupled to the material flow path and has a lower, sealing surface and a lower fitting. An adapter spring applies a downward displacement force to the bottle adapter. The bottle is insertable into the bottle receptacle through an opening in the receptacle and has a top, which engages the lower sealing surface when inserted fully into the receptacle. The bottle includes a tube adapter that mates with the lower fitting and is coupled to a tube carried within the bottle. A latch retains the bottle in the receptacle in a latched state and releases the bottle from the receptacle in a released state.
US08418935B2
Rotary-sprinkling shower comprises: a body which has a water inlet end and a water outlet end forming a waterway there-between; a front cover component rotatably disposed on the water outlet end of the body, equipped with water spray nozzles in communication with the waterway; a hydraulic driving unit disposed in the waterway, while connected with the front cover component by a rotating shaft; the hydraulic driving unit is driven by the water flow in the waterway to drive the front cover component to rotate. The invention drives the whole front cover to rotate by water flow, achieves the rotary sprinkling water; every water spray nozzle on the front cover rotates around the center of the whole front cover instead of its self-center, therefore, the rotation scope of the water flow is relatively larger.
US08418931B2
A system for cooling an engine is described. The system includes a heat exchanger having a first heat exchange portion that removes heat energy from coolant fluid flowing therein, and a second heat exchange portion that removes heat energy from coolant fluid flowing therein; a first thermostat integral to the heat exchanger and fluidically and mechanically coupled to at least one of the first and second heat exchange portions; and a second thermostat, integral to the heat exchanger and fluidically and mechanically coupled to at least one of the first and second heat exchange portions.
US08418929B2
The present invention relates to a temperature controlling apparatus and the temperature controlling method which can arrest foaming and inflation of the air contained in a liquid, and can perform temperature controlling of a liquid of high reliance, and the present invention is constructed to have one or a plurality of sets of nozzles which can suck and discharge a liquid through a tip, and can retain the sucked liquid, a suction and discharge mechanism which can suck and discharge a gas via the each nozzle, a temperature regulator which can maintain one or two or more set predetermined temperatures for a predetermined time regarding one or two or more predetermined temperature controlling regions set in the each nozzle, a movement mechanism which allows relative movement between one or two or more containers which can accommodate a liquid and a nozzle, and a controlling part which instructs the movement mechanism, the suction and discharge mechanism or the temperature regulator to adjust a liquid to be sucked into the nozzle and a liquid amount thereof, a position of the sucked liquid in the nozzle, and temperature controlling of the liquid.
US08418926B2
A smart card suitable for receiving data and electric power from a far-end reader/writer wirelessly is provided. The smart card includes a main body, an e-paper, an e-paper driver, a RFID tag chip and a receiving unit. The e-paper is disposed at the main body. The e-paper driver is disposed at the main body and electrically connected to the e-paper. The RFID tag chip is disposed at the main body and electrically connected to the e-paper driver. The receiving unit is disposed at the main body and electrically connected to the e-paper driver and the RFID tag chip. The receiving unit receives the data and the electric power wirelessly for transferring the electric power to the e-paper driver and transferring the data to the e-paper driver through the RFID tag chip. The e-paper driver drives the e-paper to display information by the data and the electric power.
US08418920B2
Tax data, e.g., Form W2 data, is encoded as a two-dimensional machine readable representation, such as a QR CODE. Certain tax data is encoded as segments of a QR CODE, and a tax form generated by an employer or payroll processing service and provided to an employee or user includes the QR CODE representing certain W-2 or other tax data. An image of the QR CODE is acquired using a camera of a mobile communication device or computer or other image capture device. When using a Smartphone, a tax preparation application executing on the Smartphone decodes the QR CODE image to determine the tax data, and populates fields of an electronic tax return with decoded data, thus allowing a consumer to prepare an electronic tax return using a mobile communication device.
US08418917B1
A banking system operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system includes an automated banking machine comprising a card reader. The card reader includes a movable read head that can read card data along a magnetic stripe of a card that was inserted long-edge first. The card reader includes a card entry gate. The gate is opened for a card that is determined to be properly oriented for data reading. The card reader can encrypt card data, including account data. The machine also includes a PIN keypad. The card reader can send encrypted card data to the keypad. The keypad can decipher the encrypted card data. The keypad can encrypt both deciphered card data and a received user PIN. The card data and the PIN are usable by the machine to authorize a user to carry out a financial transfer involving the account.
US08418909B2
An end effector for use with a surgical instrument comprising an anvil shaft, a first anvil assembly disposed at a distal portion of the anvil shaft and a second anvil assembly mountable on the anvil shaft proximally of the first anvil assembly. Also, a method for performing a surgical procedure is provided including the steps of providing a surgical instrument including a first cartridge assembly and a first anvil assembly having an anvil shaft, approximating the first anvil assembly and first cartridge assembly and ejecting staples from the first cartridge assembly. The method further includes removing the first cartridge assembly from the tubular organ, and inserting a second anvil assembly into the tubular organ to engage the anvil shaft of the first anvil assembly and ejecting staples from a second cartridge assembly towards the second anvil assembly.
US08418907B2
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners and an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge. The cartridge and anvil sections clamp tissue therebetween. A cam member is slidable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners, and is movable from a first position defining a first distance from the anvil to a second position defining a second different distance from the anvil. A cam adjusting member is operably associated with the cam member and moves the cam member from the first position to the second position in response to a thickness of tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge sections.
US08418899B1
A fishing pole holder harness including an adjustable waist strap, adjustable shoulder straps, an adjustable front chest strap and first rear strap attached to the shoulder straps. The waist and shoulder straps and the front and first rear straps are formed of high-strength 2-inch and 1-inch webbing, respectively. Each of the waist and front chest straps has a centrally disposed buckle. Attachment means for fishing accessories include grommets disposed on the waist strap; a second attachment body, which is a buckle female portion, disposed on each of the shoulder straps above the front chest strap; and a D-ring attached to a securement strap having an opposite buckle male portion removably attached to a lower end of each second attachment body. At least one hollow cylindrical holder tube is attached to the shoulder straps rearward side. A tackle box is alternately removably attached to the second attachment body.
US08418891B1
An electric or battery powered dispenser comprising a multi-mode motor control system comprising a plurality of different user selected dispensing control modes for dispensing a wide variety of semi-soft materials. The powered dispenser is held in one hand and dispenses the material in accordance with a user selected one of the plurality of different user selected dispensing control modes. The powered dispenser features a quick-change cartridge system, which allows the user to quickly and easily change cartridges, which can be refilled or pre-filled with the material of the user's choice, without having to clean out the barrel. The dispenser can be used in many applications such as cake decorating, craft applications, woodworking, and construction.
US08418890B2
A dispenser for dispensing portions of flowable materials has a piston that is advanced along a dispensing chamber by rotation of a spindle that passes through the piston. A stop may limit travel of the piston to control the volume of flowable material dispensed. The stop may be adjustable. In an example hand-held dispenser the spindle is rotated by a rack and pinion mechanism that can be operated with one hand. The dispenser may be used, for example, for dispensing portions of condiments, sauces or the like.
US08418886B2
It is to provide a cheap liquid pouring nozzle having a one-way function for automatically closing an opening port at the same time of stopping the pouring of a packing material to surely prevent the penetration of air into a package bag, in which the detaching of a cap to the pouring nozzle is useless and the production is easy and the fusion-joining to a package bag main body is simple and sure, as well as a package bag using the same and a box for a package bag and a packaging structure. Such a nozzle is a liquid pouring nozzle constituted by fusion-joining its base end portion to an inner surface of a soft package bag main body at a side portion of the package bag main body through a sealant layer as an outermost layer, in which front and rear laminate films comprising a uniaxially oriented or biaxially oriented base film layer and sealant layers sandwiching it are fused to each other at a surrounding portion other than the base end at a posture of opposing one sealant layers to each other.
US08418885B2
It is to provide a cheap liquid pouring nozzle having a one-way function for automatically closing an opening port at the same time of stopping the pouring of a packing material to surely prevent the penetration of air into a package bag, in which the detaching of a cap to the pouring nozzle is useless and the production is easy and the fusion-joining to a package bag main body is simple and sure, as well as a package bag using the same and a box for a package bag and a packaging structure. Such a nozzle is a liquid pouring nozzle constituted by fusion-joining its base end portion to an inner surface of a soft package bag main body at a side portion of the package bag main body through a sealant layer as an outermost layer, in which front and rear laminate films comprising a uniaxially oriented or biaxially oriented base film layer and sealant layers sandwiching it are fused to each other at a surrounding portion other than the base end at a posture of opposing one sealant layers to each other.
US08418879B2
Various pop-up bath tissue dispensing devices are described. In one embodiment, the bath tissue dispenser is configured to dispense bath tissues one at a time. In order to educate a child during toilet training on how much tissue to use, the tissue sheets contained within the dispenser have a size sufficient such that only one sheet is necessary for wiping. The dispenser can include an attachment device for attaching the dispenser to a spindle while still permitting the spindle to hold a conventional roll of bath tissue. In various embodiments, the tissue sheets or the dispenser may include designs or other indicia to either encourage a child during toilet training or to help educate the child during toilet training.
US08418875B2
A wall section of a coherent product, such as a container, includes at least two opposing plastic components. At least a first one of the opposing plastic components is injection molded and includes a wall of non-uniform thickness that defines some ribs and a web located between two of the ribs in a portion of the wall where the wall is less thick than in the ribs. At a cross section of the first plastic component, over the height of the ribs the predominant thickness across each of the two ribs is significantly thicker than the thickness of the web. At least the crest of a portion of the ribs of one of the plastic components directly or indirectly contacts another plastic component, and at least a portion of the web of the one plastic component is apart from the web of the other plastic component.
US08418872B2
A container for sterilizing and storing surgical materials and preserving surgical materials in a sterilized condition is provided. The container can include a lid and tray that may be used to contain an instrument basket for sterilization. The container has a lock that releasably holds the lid and tray together and that can rotate into a second position, after it is released, and non-releasably lock into the second position.
US08418862B2
The present invention relates to a semi-permanent vehicle coupler for a light rail, which comprises a buffer end and a buffer-free end. The buffer end comprises a buffer, a joint bearing connected with the buffer and a mounting seat, wherein the joint bearing is connected with the mounting seat through a coupler yoke key; the buffer-free end comprises a left pull ring, a joint bearing connected with the left pull ring and a mounting seat, wherein the joint bearing is connected with the mounting seat through a coupler yoke key; the buffer is a double-acting buffer and comprises a shell, a left end cover, a right pull ring, elastic bodies, a central shaft and a middle partition plate, wherein the central shaft passes through the centers of the left end cover and the right pull ring and is glidingly contacted with the left end cover and the right pull ring, one end of the central shaft extends out of the left end cover, the middle partition plate is fixedly arranged on the central shaft and divides the inner part of the shell into two elastic body accommodating cavities, and the elastic bodies are positioned in the two elastic body accommodating cavities; and the other end of the left pull ring is provided with a lug boss, one end of the central shaft extending out of the left end cover is also provided with a lug boss, and the two lug bosses are connected through a connecting ring.
US08418861B1
The television wall-mount with integrated shelving is an accessory that either mounts to a rear surface of a television or a wall-mount television to a television. The shelving accessory descends from below said television to provide at least one shelf for showcasing items used in playing audio-video upon said television. The shelving accessory is capable of lateral as well as vertical adjustment with respect to the television. The shelving accessory can also rotate about a vertical axis and in concert with the television and wall-mount in order to provide greater viewing angle of said television.
US08418858B2
A merchandise hanger includes a base section, a living hinge, and a hooked section. The base section defines a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface and includes features configured to facilitate coupling the base section to the product assembly. The living hinge extends from the base section. The hooked section extends from the living hinge. The base section includes one of at least one male coupling structure and at least one female coupling structure. The hooked section includes the other of the at least one male coupling structure and the at least one female coupling structure. The merchandise hanger folds about the living hinge in a manner mating the at least one male coupling structure and the at least one female coupling structure to maintain the merchandise hanger in a folded position. Other hangers, products, assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed.
US08418857B2
An automatic device for storing and dispensing banknotes of a preset number of denominations including an inlet for the banknotes, recognition device for recognizing the denomination of the incoming banknotes, a plurality of LIFO roller magazines for storing the banknotes, an outlet for the banknotes, conveyors for conveying the banknotes between the inlet, the magazines and the outlet. A controller suitable for controlling the conveyors for transferring the banknotes from the inlet to the magazines during the depositing step and transferring the banknotes from the magazines to the outlet during the dispensing step. The magazines are smaller in number than a preset number of banknote denominations. The controller includes storage devices for storing the sequence of denominations stored in each magazine and a processor for controlling the conveyors to transfer the banknotes from one magazine to the other in function of the stored sequences and a dispensing request entered in the device, to enable the banknotes to be dispensed from the magazines to the outlet according to the request.
US08418852B2
A compartmentalized protective case houses a portable electronic device and personal care items that are organized and held securely therewithin. The compartmentalized protective case has a major compartment for receiving and housing an electronic device such as a smart phone, cellular phone, music player, or other digital media device. At least one cell compartment constructed within the case receives and houses personal care items removably integrated therein. Personal care items can include at least one interchangeable replacement cell containing beauty items, cosmetics, hygienic items, oral care products such as floss or breath strips, medications, vitamins, breathe fresheners and/or health care products. A second cell compartment is preferably provided as a removable pouch or may contain a restraining system for holding identification cards, currency, visa or bank cards, and/or keys.
US08418840B2
A conveyor for the transport of bulk materials contains three pairs of supporting cables located vertically one above another. A conveyor belt is movable along the supporting cables and at its ends guided over return drums. Fastened to the conveyor belt are supporting beams having ends mounting rollers, which roll along the middle and lower supporting cables. Supporting frames are located at a distance apart in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor and by which the supporting cables are mutually connected. The supporting frames are formed by two vertically aligned supporting struts and two horizontally aligned connecting struts and, the upper ends of the supporting struts are connected to one of the upper supporting cables. The connecting struts are connected by clamping devices located thereon to the middle and to the lower supporting cables. The clamping devices located on the connecting struts form an acute angle with the connecting struts.
US08418828B2
Embodiments of an unpowered pedal assist device are provided for use in conjunction with a vehicular control pedal movable between a non-depressed position and a depressed position. In one embodiment, the unpowered pedal assist device includes a multi-bar linkage and at least one resilient element coupled to the multi-bar linkage. The multi-bar linkage is configured to be coupled to the vehicular control pedal and, when so coupled to move from a start position to a finish position as the vehicular control pedal moves from the non-depressed position to the depressed position. The at least one resilient element is configured to bias the multi-bar linkage: (i) toward the start position over an initial range of travel of the vehicular control pedal, and (ii) toward the finish position over a primary range of travel of the vehicular control pedal.
US08418819B2
A movement damping apparatus has a flow path through which a magnetorheological fluid is pressed. A device that generates a variable magnetic field has a core around which a coil is wound as well as pole surfaces in the flow path. The magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid by way of the pole surfaces. The coil is arranged within the flow path along with the core, the axis of the coil extending perpendicular to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid. The flow path has a jacket made of a magnetically conducting material.
US08418811B2
Climbing products containing rails decorated using veil products colored, patterned, painted or in combination with marking methods such as company names and logos and resin formulation designed to withstand exposure to UV radiation with minimal change in appearance which create specific appearances for applications, enhance weathering performance, and facilitate processing efficiency. A combination of a filler free resin and coated veil systems to create a synergistic weather resistance surface with self contained color, pattern, picture, logo or combination of said same for climbing products. A system for producing components. Various methods, system, a ladder rail.
US08418809B2
A device for anchoring a ladder to the ground and a method for setting up a ladder against a standing object is disclosed. The device comprises of two anchoring members, each having a brace member configured for containing and securing one of the ladder legs, adapted for engaging with the ground and adapted for pivoting from a front side to a back side of the anchoring members. In another embodiment, each of the brace members is configured for containing the bottom rung of a ladder for situations where the legs cannot be secured by the brace member. The method for setting up a ladder against a standing object such as a tree comprises of bracing the legs or the bottom rung by the brace members and anchoring the device to the ground while the ladder is laying flat on the ground, then raising the ladder toward the standing object.
US08418808B2
The present invention is directed to a non-destructive, ergonomic climbing aid for use in climbing a columnar structure. The climbing aid comprises a body portion and a tensioning member for affixing the body to the columnar structure. The body comprises a contact surface, a support surface and a projecting portion joining between the contact surface and the support surface. In use, the contact surface has a substantially vertical axis and contacts the columnar structure. In use, the support surface supports a foot or hand and the projecting portion is cantilevered so that the support surface has no direct contact with the columnar structure. The support surface has a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the substantially vertical axis of the contact surface.
US08418807B1
A noise abatement wall includes a frame defining a window, at least one shell, at least one sheet of sound-insulating material and a sheet of screen material. The at least one shell has a base panel portion and a peripheral panel portion integrally formed with and extending perpendicularly from the base panel portion to surround the base panel portion thereby forming a shell cavity. The at least one shell is sized and configured to be received by the window in a close-fitting relationship therewith and is connected to the frame. The at least one sheet of sound-insulating material is disposed in and occupies the shell cavity. The sheet of screen material covers the at least one sheet of sound-insulating material and is connected to the frame. A plurality of noise abatement walls are connected together to form a noise abatement wall system for abating noise generated from stationary noise-generating equipment.
US08418799B2
A cooling system is provided for a thermoelectric power generator and that is arranged in an exhaust gas line of an internal combustion engine for generating electric power while utilizing thermal energy of the exhaust gas. The thermoelectric power generator has its own coolant circuit, which also serves to raise the temperature of the components of the internal combustion engine, the chassis, and/or the transmission or serves to heat the passenger compartment. This offers the added utility gained from a faster temperature rise of transmission lubricants and lubricants of the internal combustion engine, as well as from heating the passenger compartment and the rear axle differential and, thus, offers a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2).
US08418796B2
A breathalyzer masking device for concealment of vehicle installed breathalyzer devices.
US08418795B2
In a saddle-ride electric vehicle equipped with an electric motor generating power for rotatively driving a rear wheel, a main battery supplying electric power to the electric motor is disposed in a first space S1 that is surrounded by a down frame connected to a head pipe or a front end portion of a main frame and extending downward, a pivot frame connected to the rear end portion of the main frame and extending downward, and the main frame, and a sub-battery that can supply electric power to the electric motor instead of the main battery is disposed in a second space S2 surrounded by seat rails connected to the rear portion of the main frame to support an occupant seat and the main frame. The electric motor is disposed at a position different from the first and second spaces S1 and S2.
US08418794B2
A straddle-type vehicle includes a canister that is arranged to be warmed up during an operation of an engine and is arranged to be cooled down during a stop of the engine. In the straddle-type vehicle, a fuel tank is arranged over an engine, at least a portion of a carburetor that constitutes a throttle body is arranged below the fuel tank and behind a cylinder and a cylinder head, and at least a portion of a canister is arranged between the fuel tank and the cylinder head.
US08418791B2
A vehicle includes a duct structure configured to take in air from outside; an air cleaner including an air filter configured to clean the air guided to the air cleaner through the duct structure; a throttle device including a throttle valve for controlling a flow rate of the air guided to the throttle device through the air cleaner; and an engine including an intake port configured to suction the air guided to the engine through the throttle device; the duct structure including: a main inlet configured to take in air therethrough from outside by utilizing a ram pressure; a main passage extending from the main inlet to the air filter; a sub-inlet configured to take in air therethrough from outside; and a joint section located upstream of the air filter, the air flowing from the sub-inlet being joined to the air in the main passage, at the joint section.
US08418788B2
A vehicle 1000 is equipped with a fuel cell system 100 and a secondary battery as power sources. A water level of water present on a water-covered road surface is measured by a water level sensor 72. When the measured water level reaches or exceeds a preset threshold value, drive control of the vehicle 1000 stops power generation by a fuel cell stack 10, closes a discharge valve 62, and enables the vehicle 1000 to be driven with output power of a motor that is actuated with electric power from the secondary battery. This arrangement effectively prevents a damage or failure of the fuel cells mounted on the vehicle moving on the water-covered road.
US08418786B2
A selectively powered ambulatory stretcher chair has a bifurcated articulating base of free-wheeling casters at each of the corners thereof, with motor driven wheels on a transaxle interposed therebetween. Articulation of the bifurcated base causes deployment and retraction of the drive wheels to allow use of the stretcher chair in both a manual and power-driven mode, while ensuring stability in both. A u-shaped positionable bar is pivotally connected to a back of the stretcher chair and maintains a control box within a tight range of positions as the chair of the stretcher chair assembly translates between upright and horizontal positions. The back of the stretcher chair is of a radiolucent material, accommodating medical procedures in the stretcher chair in a broad range of positions.
US08418783B2
A boom arrangement (7) for a rock drill rig (5) including a feed beam unit (8) for displaceable reception of at least one rock drilling machine (10, 10′), a support unit (13) for connection to and support of a rotator unit (12), a boom unit (11) between the rotator unit (12) and the feed beam unit (8) for displacement of the feed beam unit in planes essentially at right angle to a main plane (P) for the support unit (13), wherein the rotator unit (12) is arranged for rotating the feed beam unit (8) around an axis (A), which is essentially-perpendicular to said main plane (P), wherein the support unit (13) is connectable to a vehicle unit being part of the rock drill rig (5), and being arranged for displacing the rock drill rig. The support unit (13) has joint connecting elements (14) being sidewardly connectable for connection to a sidewardly directed carrier device (15, 17) which is attachable to the vehicle unit, and a lower abutment side (16) for lying supporting against an outer substrate. The invention also concerns a rock drill rig.
US08418780B2
A power tool having a cooling system, comprises: a motor housing 11 having a main chamber 14 accommodating a tool motor 12; a handle 15 for holding the power tool and having a cooling passage 16 for the transfer of cooling fluid, at least one inlet 18 leading to the cooling passage and at least one outlet 13 leading away from the cooling passage 18 , and a power tool component 21 which generates heat disposed in thermal contact with the cooling passage 16 between the inlet 18 and the outlet 13.
US08418774B2
A fire extinguishing system for a casing, preferably an electronics casing, consisting of an extinguishing agent container, in which the extinguishing agent is stored, and a control device for the flow of extinguishing agent is provided, wherein a preferably cuboid extinguishing agent container (2) forms together with the devices (5, 7, 8, 29, 31, 32) required for storing and monitoring the loss of extinguishing agent, for controlling the flow of extinguishing agent from the container and for connecting a discharge device for the extinguishing agent, a complex structural component (24, 28), and wherein the devices (5, 7, 8, 29, 31, 32) are fastened at or integrated in the extinguishing agent container (2) in such a manner that this may be transported, installed or arranged in the casing (18) as a compact structural component (FIG. 2).The invention has the advantage that all devices required for the extinguishing of fire, like extinguishing agent container, power supply unit, evaluation electronics, are able to be inserted with low space requirement in a quick and reliable manner into a casing according to the sense of the present document.
US08418765B2
A combined piloting method of remote operated underwater vehicles includes: connecting, to a vertical profile, a constraint device including at least two arms arranged at a reciprocal fixed angular position, each of the at least two docking arms including at a first end a device for the hooking of a remote operated underwater vehicle, the at least two docking arms being constrained at one of their second ends to a device for the sliding and rotating hooking to the vertical profile; connecting at least two remote operated vehicles to the constraint device; detecting the position of the overall structure consisting of the constraint device and remote operated vehicles; detecting the orientation of each of the remote operated vehicles; receiving data relating to the position and orientation to be reached; determining the power required by each remote operated vehicle; and transmitting related commands to each vehicle.
US08418758B2
A jarring tool is disclosed. The tool has a segment of sub housing containing an upper stop proximate a first end thereof. An outer latch piece is connected to an upper end of the lower shaft inside the sub housing, and an upper shaft passes through the stop and connects on a first end thereof to an inner latch piece. A cap is on a second end of the upper shaft retaining a washer stack against the upper stop. A retainer is inside the sub housing and has an first piece providing a restraining region and an open region and a second piece attached to the sub housing. The retainer retains the inner and outer latch pieces in a latched position in the restraining region until the latch pieces are displaced toward the second end of the sub housing through the retainer to the open region as a result of a tensile force on the outer latch piece.
US08418757B2
Corrosion management systems protecting against or managing corrosion of various components in generally vertically oriented structures, that can he located one or more of aboveground and underground. The corrosion management system includes a dispenser system that dispenses at least one corrosion inhibitor to the structure desired to be protected at a plurality of different vertical heights.
US08418753B2
A heat exchange tube is constructed by forming, on a cylindrical tube peripheral wall, a plurality of projecting portions which project to an inside of the tube peripheral wall, and which are formed by pushing. The plurality of projecting portions are formed, respectively, into conical shapes across a tube axis, and are arranged along virtual spirals on the tube peripheral wall. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a heat exchange tube which facilitates formation of a plurality of projecting portions with the thickness hardly changed and without formation of protruded portions, and which is capable of contributing to enhancement of heat exchanging efficiency.
US08418745B2
A method of forming a casting using a casting apparatus is disclosed, the method including the steps of lowering a ladle having a hollow interior into a source of molten material and an aperture facilitating flow into the hollow interior, filling the interior of the ladle with the molten material through the aperture, introducing an inert gas into a portion of a nozzle, removing the ladle from the source of molten material, causing the nozzle to contact a casting mold, and pressurizing the hollow interior with an inert gas to cause the molten material to flow into the casting mold.
US08418738B2
A tire 10 comprises a radial carcass reinforcement 2 surmounted radially on the outside by a crown reinforcement 31, the carcass reinforcement 2 being formed of a plurality of metal reinforcing elements 21. The tire also includes two sidewalls 1, at least one of the sidewalls comprising an additional reinforcing reinforcement 5 wherein the additional reinforcement 5 comprises, in the circumferential direction, on the tire a plurality of first parts 51 and of second parts 52 that have rupture strengths, that is to say, forces that rupture per unit width of reinforcement, that are such that the rupture strength of the second parts 52 is lower than the rupture strength of the first parts. The first parts 51 and the second parts are arranged such that they alternate in the circumferential direction.
US08418735B2
A vehicle wheel includes a disk and a rim having a well portion and fixed to the disk for supporting a tire, and an additional air chamber member secured to an outer circumferential surface of the well portion in a tire air chamber defined between the rim and the tire. The additional air chamber member includes an additional air chamber and a communication pipe with a communication through hole therein for communication between the additional air chamber and the tire air chamber, and the communication pipe protrudes from the peak in a direction substantially parallel to an axial direction of the wheel. The additional air chamber has a peak in a radial direction of the vehicle wheel. A radius of rotation of the wheel at the tip of the communication through hole is ≧ a radius of rotation of the wheel at the peak of the additional air chamber.
US08418725B2
A well tool can comprise a fluid input, a fluid output and a fluidic oscillator which produces oscillations in a fluid which flows from the input to the output. The fluidic oscillator can include a vortex chamber with inlets, whereby fluid enters the vortex chamber alternately via the inlets, the inlets being configured so that the fluid enters the vortex chamber in different directions via the respective inlets, and a fluid switch which directs the fluid alternately toward different flow paths in response to pressure differentials between feedback fluid paths. The feedback fluid paths may be connected to the vortex chamber. The flow paths may cross each other between the fluid switch and the outlet.
US08418724B2
In a solenoid valve, multiple flow-blocking portions are formed in a passage between a supply port (23) and an output port (24) and a passage between the output port (24) and a drain port (25). The flow-blocking portions, having an overlap length that corresponds to the movement amount of a spool (30), are formed by the outer peripheral faces of lands (32, 33) and the inner peripheral face of a spool case (10).
US08418723B2
An electromagnetic proportional flow rate control valve capable of performing precise flow rate control in a low flow rate side of an operating region is provided. In an electromagnetic proportional flow rate control valve 32, in which a valve member 2 is driven in a valve closing direction in accordance with the increase in a driving current I of a solenoid coil 15, a solenoid driving force F is set such that it decreases accompanying the displacement of the valve member 2 in the valve closing direction with respect to an identical driving current in the solenoid coil 15. Thus, an amount of change in an area of a valve opening with respect to unit changes in the driving current I becomes smaller in a region at which the stroke is small compared to a case of having flat characteristics, whereby the flow rate control precision in the low flow rate region can be improved.
US08418720B2
A water diverting device comprises an inlet, two outlets, an upper and a lower sealing seats respectively for the outlets. The device further comprises a water diverting switch that fits with the sealing seats and used to switch over the outlets. The switch includes a sliding shaft and fixed base with a sliding through hole. The switch is provided with a retaining hook for holding the sliding shaft up and down direction. On the surface of the sliding shaft, there are the first and second stop positions for the hook part of the hook, first and second unidirectional slide channels. The switch has a spring pushing the shaft from its head towards its tail. The head of the shaft connects with a valve core, and positions of the sealing seats correspond with travel of the valve core. The water discharge direction is changed over by a diverting switch.
US08418717B2
An apparatus is provided and includes a plenum into which a fluid is exhausted, the plenum including a wall toward which the exhausted fluid is directed, the wall including first sections, second sections interposed between the first sections and a flow splitter interposed between the second sections, and a plane of the second sections being recessed from a plane of the first sections and the flow splitter protruding from the plane of the second sections.
US08418708B2
A canopy apparatus includes a first and a second track assembly, a first and a second slide member, a frame apparatus, and a canopy assembly. The first and the second track assembly are configured for connection to the vehicle, the first track assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The first slide member slideably engages the first track assembly and is configured to move relative to the first track assembly in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second slide member slideably engages the second track assembly and is configured to move relative to the second track assembly in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The frame apparatus includes a bail member having a first end portion configured for pivotal connection to the first slide member and a second end portion configured for pivotal connection to the second slide member. The canopy assembly is configured for connection to the frame apparatus. The frame apparatus is configured for movement in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis about the first and the second track assemblies.
US08418707B2
The present invention relates to a sports stick with a variable length including an upper tube to which a hand grip is connected, a lower tube adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from the upper tube, and fixing means adapted to securely fix the lower tube to the upper tube, wherein the fixing means includes: a rod body disposed inside the lower tube at one side periphery thereof in such a manner as to be mounted inside the upper tube at the other side periphery thereof by the sequential formation of a screw thread portion and a flat portion along the outer periphery thereof; a tapered member adapted to be fixed to the flat portion formed along the outer periphery of the rod body and having a tapered surface formed along the outer periphery thereof; and a pressurizing member mounted at the screw thread portion formed along the outer periphery of the rod body in such a manner as to encompass the tapered member.
US08418706B2
A method for upgrading a crutch, comprising the steps of providing a crutch having a leg, a first saddle, a first handle and a first foot; providing a second saddle different from the first saddle; removing the first saddle from the leg; and attaching the second saddle to the leg, wherein the first saddle has an upper surface that is symmetric about two planes and wherein the second saddle has an upper surface that is symmetric about only one plane, and certain crutches to use therewith.
US08418704B1
A power adjustable crutch assembly is provided for assisting a user in transitioning between a seated position and a standing position. The assembly includes a support configured for positioning under an arm of a user. An upper frame is coupled to and extends downwardly from the support. A lower frame is slidably coupled to the upper frame. An adjustment assembly is operationally coupled to the lower frame and the upper frame. The upper frame is adjustable to extend a selectable length from the lower frame. A foot configured for frictionally engaging a ground surface is coupled to a bottom of the lower frame.
US08418703B2
A device for fitting an object in a dishwasher is provided. The device can be easily integrated as complementary equipment in a large number of the dishwasher racks and provides the user with the possibility of rapidly filling objects and even fitting objects which are non cylindrical in shape. The fixing device comprises a first section designed to be coupled with the rack of a dishwasher, and a second section that extends substantially vertically forming a curve, the first section being designed to be non rotating and to be coupled with a vertical element of the dishwasher rack.
US08418691B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for compensating for leakage when during delivery of gas to a patient from a medical ventilator in a pressure regulated volume control (PRVC) ventilation mode. The technology described herein includes systems and methods that compensate the delivery of PRVC ventilation for leakage in the patient circuit by using leak-compensated lung flows as well as respiratory mechanics (lung compliance and lung resistance) estimated in a manner that compensates for elastic and inelastic leaks from the ventilation system.
US08418689B1
Apparatus for use during open system diving to support underwater human respiration. In accordance with various embodiments, an air supply provides a supply of air along a supply conduit. A regulator is adapted for engagement with a diver's mouth to receive air from the supply during an inhale cycle and to direct a mixture of water and exhaust air away from the diver along an exhaust conduit during an exhale cycle. An air/water separator separates the exhaust air from the water in said mixture and directs the separated exhaust air through an exhaust air port. In some embodiments, a one-way stop valve is provided within the air/water separator to prevent back flow. In further embodiments, a bubble diffuser emits the exhaust air as a fine mist of bubbles into the surrounding water.
US08418688B2
An assembly for mounting solar panels to structural surfaces includes a frame member adapted to receive and retain a first end portion of a solar panel, and a mounting foot adapted for attachment to the structural surface, wherein the frame member and the mounting foot are adapted for interlocking engagement with each other to mount an end of a solar panel on the structural surface.
US08418669B2
In an internal combustion engine having a pair of balancer shafts (53, 54), an engine torque is transmitted from a crank gear (28) to an oil pump gear (74) on a drive shaft (73) of an oil pump (71) via a first idler gear (84) and the first balancer shaft gear (64). The engine torque is also transmitted to a fuel pump (72) from the crank gear to a fuel pump gear (78) via the first idler gear and a second idler gear (86), and to the second balancer shaft gear (67) via the first idler gear and second idler gear. Alternatively, the engine torque may be transmitted to the fuel pump from the crank gear to the fuel pump gear via the first idler gear, second balancer shaft gear and second idler gear. As the oil pump gear is actuated by the crank gear via the first idler gear, the oil pump gear is not subjected to the loading caused by the balancer shaft, and hence can be made of a compact and light-weight gear. Furthermore, this allows the various gears to be arranged in an efficient (in terms of the overall weight for the given mechanical strength requirements) and compact manner.
US08418666B2
A camshaft assembly may include a monolithic camshaft body, a journal member and a thrust ring. The monolithic camshaft body may define lobes and journal regions along an axial extent thereof. The journal member may be separate from and fixed to an axial end of the camshaft body adjacent an end lobe of the camshaft body. The thrust ring may be axially secured to the camshaft assembly at the axial end of the camshaft body.
US08418664B2
A variable valve timing control apparatus includes a driving rotor, a driven rotor coaxially arranged with the driving rotor, a fluid pressure chamber defined between the driving rotor and the driven rotor, a partition portion arranged at one of the driving rotor and the driven rotor and dividing the fluid pressure chamber into advanced and retarded angle chambers, a first fluid control mechanism controlling supply and discharge of a hydraulic fluid to and from the fluid pressure chamber, a first phase restriction portion restricting and releasing a relative rotational phase between the driving rotor and the driven rotor within and from a first restriction range, a second phase restriction portion restricting and releasing the relative rotational phase within and from a second restriction range, and a second fluid control mechanism controlling the supply and discharge of the hydraulic fluid to and from the first and second phase restriction portions individually.
US08418656B2
A sound-making pet toy includes a shell having an opening and an inner space accessible through the opening and a sound-making body having a reduced state and an expanded state larger than the reduced state. When the sound-making body is disposed in the opening, it has the reduced state and when it is disposed in the inner space, it has the expanded state. The sound-making body has a resilient air-holding body and a sound making device that is responsive to air from the air holding body passing through the sound-making body. When the sound-making body is in the expanded state, it is lodged against the inner surface of the shell. When the sound-making body is in the expanded state, it expels air from the resilient air holding body when a force impacts the shell. In the expanded state, it is larger than the opening.
US08418654B2
A brush assembly simultaneously separately controllably releases a fluid and liquid solution directly onto a surface, such as a coat of an animal during grooming, or onto an inanimate surface such as an exterior surface of a land vehicle. The brush assembly includes a molded brush having a plurality of apertures for fluid delivery, preferably water, as well as a secondary aperture for delivery of a liquid solution, such as soap, shampoo, or other treatments. At least one base plate with grooming implementations, such as bristles or a sponge may be interchangeably attached to the brush base. An ergonomical handle is provided having a palm conforming top and finger indentation sides constructed to form an internal cavity. The ergonomical handle is ambidextrous in nature for interchangeable left and right handedness. A center cylinder is located within the ergonomical handle and includes a bladder which aligns with the mid portion of the brush base for fluid delivery from a flow regulator. A secondary cylinder is located within the internal cavity of the ergonomical handle and includes a secondary bladder which aligns with the secondary aperture of the brush base for liquid solution delivery in response to pressing a release button. A closure member is provided that can be moved to an open or closed configuration to release or prevent, respectively, dispensing of the liquid solution. The fluid and liquid solution are separately but contemporaneously delivered directly to the surface during grooming.
US08418652B1
An animal litter composition includes bentonite clay, montmorillonite clay, and pieces of pine wood. In a particular embodiment, the animal litter composition has the following proportions of components by weight: bentonite clay, 40-70%; montmorillonite clay, 20-50%; and pine wood, 5-20%. In another embodiment, an animal litter composition has the following approximate proportions of components by weight: bentonite clay, 40-70%; montmorillonite clay, 20-50%; pine wood, 1-5%; and cedar wood, 2-8%. The clay mixture is believed to provide superior clumping characteristics over animal litters known in the art, and the pine wood, having a hollow capillary vessel structure, serves as a “biofilter,” effectively trapping moisture and odor.
US08418648B2
Method for production of deposit or layer of nanoparticles or a layer of nanofibers from solutions or melts of polymers in electrostatic field of a high intensity, during which the produced nanoparticles or the produced nanofibers deposit on a substrate material passing through the active chamber, in which is positioned the active electrode. The electrostatic field for production, transfer and depositing of nanoparticles or production, transfer and depositing of nanofibers is induced between the active electrode and the substrate material, on which in the direction of its movement in front of and/or opposite to the active electrode there is applied an electric charge of opposite polarity than that of the active electrode, while an electric charge applied on the substrate material is being partially or totally consumed through depositing of nanoparticles or nanofibers on the moving substrate material.
US08418641B2
The invention is a method for mooring a marine vessel (P) using three or more anchor lines (11a, 11b, . . . ) comprising—laying out each anchor line (11) with an anchor in a desired position relative to the platform, with a seabed anchor chain (10) extending towards the desired position of the platform (P), with the seabed chain (10) connected to a fiber rope's (20) arranged for being extended through the sea and connected to an anchor winch chain (30) and being tightended by an anchor winch (31) on the vessel (P), wherein the fiber rope (20) is prepared by being packed to a bundle or coil (21) arranged in a protective container (24) on the seafloor, and arranged for being released and pulled out of the container (24) at a predetermined pulling force, and arranged for being picked up and connected to the anchor winch chain (30).
US08418640B2
A floating vessel is equipped with perforated plates which exhibit both an added-mass effect and a damping effect. The addition of porosity to an added mass plate phase-shifts the added mass force so that it becomes at least partially a damping force which does not depend on large velocities to develop a large damping force. Preferred porosity is in the range of about 5% to about 15% of total plate area. A semi-submersible vessel may have damper plates fitted between its surface-piercing columns, within a support grid in the area between the pontoons and/or extending from the sides of its pontoons. A truss spar offshore platform may have damper plates installed within its truss structure intermediate its hull and ballast tank. Drill ships and similar vessels may be equipped with damper plates extending from the sides of their hulls to reduce both heave and roll.
US08418635B2
A method of sowing watermelon seeds is provided, specifically a method for sowing triploid seedless watermelon seeds and enhanced watermelon pollenizer seeds in the same seedling tray through the use of a mechanical seeder.
US08418629B2
The present invention is a platform for an electronic device such as a tablet computer or personal video player. The platform for an electronic device with a screen preferably comprises a rectangular device case with a landscape position and a portrait position and a lockable entry port lid. The case has a view port for the screen and four attachment blade ports. One blade port is on each side of the device case. The platform has two adjustable support legs with an attachment blade, padded end and a string lock. The attachment blades are insertable into the blade ports and lock with a snap tab into the port. The platform further has a length of string with a sleeve of padding and an adjustment loop attached to each leg. The string can be adjusted so the platform has a deployed mode and a carrying mode.
US08418627B2
Lateral pressure which develops in the front wheelset when traveling along a curved track is decreased while suppressing an increase in costs as much as possible. A two-axle truck for a railway car has a front wheelset having wheels with a first tread gradient and a rear wheelset having wheels with a second tread gradient which is different from the first tread gradient. The tread gradient of the wheels of the rear wheelset is larger than the tread gradient of the wheels of the front wheelset.
US08418623B2
A kinetic energy rod warhead includes a plurality of projectiles in a projectile core, explosive segments about the plurality of projectiles, and an isolator between adjacent explosive segments. There is an external detonator on an outer surface of each of the explosive segments proximate an isolator, and an internal detonator inside of each explosive segment adjacent the projectile core.
US08418620B2
A shot cup for holding shot in a shotshell has a generally cylindrical sidewall, having a closed proximal end, and an open distal end, and at least one distally-facing petal connected to the sidewall at its proximal end, the petal configured so that it is widest at a point intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the petal. The at least one petal being capable of opening outwardly after the shot cup leaves the shotshell.
US08418619B1
The present invention provides an improved kinematic countermeasure flare and method of constructing the same wherein the housing has integrated internal features. The flare nose weight is set at the end of a die core prior to molding for integration with the housing. Longitudinal grooves and other recesses in the die core allow for the formation of internal longitudinal ribs which propellant can bond to and a retaining bead for retaining the nose weight in the housing which are integrated with the housing. Propellant is cast into the formed housing. A propellant shaping mandrel is then inserted into the formed housing thereby forcing the propellant into the internal cavity created by the integrally molded longitudinal ribs, the shaping mandrel and the wall of the flare housing such that the propellant is bonded to the interior housing wall and the longitudinal ribs. This improved housing and method of construction eliminates the need to apply a non-flammable coating to propellant surfaces after its addition to the flare housing which a an imprecise and time consuming process.
US08418612B2
A printing plate making apparatus which scans a recording medium by light beam in a predetermined pixel pitch, thereby engraving a surface of the recording medium to make a printing plate, wherein an upper surface of a convex portion of light power of the light beam engraving all or part of an adjacent region which is adjacent to a convex portion which is to be left in a convex shape on a surface of the recording medium is set to an threshold engraving energy or less, and light power of light beam in a vicinity region in vicinity of outer side of a region defined as the adjacent region is brought higher than light power in the adjacent region.
US08418607B2
A waste bin with an automated waste compaction mechanism and a automated gate lifting mechanism for convenience usage. The present invention makes use of sensors and switches to allow the compaction and gate mechanism to operate automatically. The unique combination of components also ensures the reliability of the mechanism.
US08418605B2
An apparatus is provided for compaction of silicon powder in a reactor to minimize oxidation of the silicon, which compaction is in part effected by using the drop in pressure across a filter for exit gases from the reactor, the silicon powder being passed along a duct towards an exit of a reactor. The compaction is in addition carried out mechanically with the aid of a piston arranged at a gas exit, the filter advantageously being arranged on the piston, the filter being permeable to the gases, but collecting the powder. A method is also provided for compaction of silicon powder using an apparatus as described above.
US08418595B1
A convertible ballistic shield includes a plurality of cooperating ballistic panels. Each ballistic panel has a threat-side surface and a protected-side surface, and opposing end edges. A first elongated panel strap is attached to the threat-side surface of one of the ballistic panels between its opposing end edges. A second elongated panel strap is attached to the protected-side surface of an adjacent one of the ballistic panels between its opposing end edges. A ring connector is slidably linked to both of the first and second panel straps. The ring connector is adapted for slidably interconnecting the adjacent panels together wherein the threat-side surface of one panel is adapted to overlie the protected-side surface of the adjacent panel, and the adjacent panels are slidably movable relative to one another such that an overall length of the ballistic shield is selectively adjustable between a fully retracted condition and a fully extended condition.
US08418586B2
An apparatus for shutting off the hydraulic supply of a power tong when the door is opened comprises, in part, a ring gear and cage assembly having a throat. The ring gear and cage assembly are driven by a motor having a hydraulic supply. A door is mounted on a pivot on the ring gear and cage assembly for movement to open and close the throat. A cable is secured to the door at a point that is offset from the pivot. The cable extends through a sleeve to a valve end of the cable. A valve at the valve end of the cable has a valve housing and is operable by movement of a valve control to disengage the hydraulic supply from the motor. The valve end of the cable is connected to the valve control and the sleeve is connected to the valve housing.
US08418585B2
The clutch control reversible transmission wheel system with bidirectional input and one-way output relates to a transmission structure, wherein the drive rotary direction of the input shaft of the wheel system with bidirectional input and one-way output is changed to make the direction of the output of the output shaft to be constant, which is characterized by releasing the connectable or releasable clutch device installed between transmissions of the wheel system with bidirectional input and one-way output, the output shaft is moved reversely when reversely driven.
US08418581B2
A rotational angle sensor and a connector are provided at a first-side portion and a second-side portion, respectively, of a sensor holder. The first-side portion is engaged with a base through a primary engaging arrangement, and the second-side portion is engaged with the base through a secondary engaging arrangement. The secondary engaging arrangement includes secondary engaging portions of the sensor holder, which are provided in the second-side portion of the sensor holder and are engaged with the base. A distance from an engaging point between the secondary engaging portion of the sensor holder and the base to the sensor is longer than a distance from the engaging point between the secondary engaging portion of the sensor holder and the base to the connector.
US08418579B2
A parallel robot includes a base, a movable platform, a plurality of control arms, a rotation arm, a plurality of first actuators, and a second actuator. The control arms rotatably interconnect to the base and the movable platform, respectively. Opposite ends of the rotation arm are universally rotatably connected to the base and the movable platform, respectively. The first actuators move the control arms, respectively. The second actuator rotates the rotation arm around a central axis. Each control arm comprises a first transmission member and a transmission cable. The first transmission member comprises a fan-shaped transmission portion. Each first actuator comprises a transmission shaft to engage the first transmission member of the control arm. The transmission cable coils around the transmission shaft for at least one winding, then criss-crosses, and winds on the fan-shaped transmission portion.
US08418576B2
A device for pressing a steering rack onto a pinion engaged with the steering rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a pressure piece which can be loaded in the direction of the steering rack and is displaceably guided in a housing and an adjustment unit for compensating for play occurring in the steering system. A spring washer is disposed between the adjustment unit and the pressure piece, wherein the adjustment unit comprises a projection and the pressure piece comprises a recess, or the pressure piece comprises a projection and the adjustment unit comprises a recess, in the region of the spring washer.
US08418571B2
Obtained is an engine starter having a structure in which, even when frictional heat is generated on a roller due to sliding of a roller and a clutch inner with respect to each other, deformation of a rolling contact surface of the roller is reduced by suppressing reduction in hardness of the rolling contact surface of the roller due to the frictional heat, thereby making it possible to improve transmission of a rotation force from a clutch outer to a clutch inner. The engine starter includes a clutch (5) for transmitting a rotation force of an output shaft (4) to a pinion gear (7), a clutch outer (10), a clutch inner (11) having one end portion facing an inner portion of the clutch outer (10) and another end portion to which the pinion gear (7) is fixed, and a roller (12) which rolls while being provided between the clutch outer (10) and the clutch inner (11). The clutch outer (10) is formed with a notch portion (10a) of a tapered shape. The notch portion (10a) is formed with a lock portion (10b) abutting the roller (12). A rolling contact surface of the roller (12) is applied with carbonitriding treatment.
US08418568B2
A flexible member test apparatus comprising a driver member having a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter is not equal to the second diameter, a first driven member coupled by a first flexible member to the driver member through contact of the first flexible member with a first diameter surface, a second driven member coupled by a second flexible member to the driver member through contact of the second flexible member with a second diameter surface, the first driven member rotationally coupled to a magnetic particle clutch, and the second driven member rotationally coupled to the magnetic particle clutch.
US08418566B2
An objective of the invention is to provide a multilayered flow passage member that enhances fluid measurement accuracy of an ultrasonic fluid measurement apparatus and an ultrasonic fluid measurement apparatus using the multilayered flow passage member. When fusible projections 20 are fused by a heating head 21 while partition plates 11 are inserted into side plates 13 and 14, a fused state provided by the heating head 21 changes according to either side of each of the partition plates 11, because fuse surfaces at leading ends of the respective fusible projections 20 are sloped in the vertical direction. An outermost end of each of fusible projections 25 that first contacts the heating head 21 is first fused. During a course of the fusible projections 25 being fused toward their roots, the partition plates 11 are pressed against ends of respective insert holes 17a that are on the opposite side of the outermost ends that are first fused. As a result, the partition plates 11 become one-sided with respect to the respective insert holes 17a and fixed by means of positional accuracy of the insert holes 17a. Even when clearance exists between the partition plates 11 and the insert holes 17a, the partition plates can be fused with superior accuracy.
US08418563B2
An apparatus for detecting defects in a railway rail includes a search unit and preferably a roller search unit (“RSU”) mounted on a test vehicle and in rolling contact with the running surface of the rails to inspect each rail. The RSU includes a tire filled with a liquid and a transducer assembly mounted within the tire. The transducer assembly includes one or more arrays of ultrasonic transducers directed toward the running surface of the rail. A laser profiler mounted on the test vehicle in combination with a linear encoder provide profile data which is communicated to a system controller to dynamically adjust the focal laws for the one or more arrays of transducers to dynamically steer the transmitted beams to produce the ideal inspection beam sets while the test vehicle is in motion.
US08418555B2
A bi-directional, out-of-plane electrostatic comb drive apparatus including two electrically independent sets of stator comb tines; and a method for fabricating an out-of-plane comb drive with stacked sets of stator comb tines. A first set of stator comb tines is offset from a second set of stator comb tines. A set of rotor comb tines interleaves with both sets of stator comb tines. A first voltage applied to the first set of stator comb tines operates to pull the rotor tines toward the first set of stator comb tines. A second voltage applied to the second set of stator comb tines operates to pull the rotor tines toward the second set of stator comb tines, enabling bi-directional operation. A fabrication method is disclosed that enables fabrication of the first and second sets of stator comb tines that are mechanically and electrically independent and interleaved by the rotor comb tines.
US08418548B2
A plug-in sensor is provided which is suitable for determining at least one parameter of a fluid medium flowing in a main flow direction, especially of an intake air mass of an internal combustion engine flowing through a flow pipe. The plug-in sensor has a plug part that is able to be mounted in the flowing fluid medium, in a specified alignment to the main flow direction. In the plug part, at least one flow channel is provided having at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, in the at least one flow channel at least one sensor is accommodated for determining the at least one parameter. The plug part has a profile at which at least one local pressure minimum sets in in the flowing fluid medium. The at least one outlet opening is situated at the side of the plug part, in the region of the at least one pressure minimum.
US08418541B2
A dynamometer includes a roller that is rotabably mounted upon a shaft with the shaft being rotatably mounted upon a support that carries the weight of the roller, the dynamometer also having a shear beam load cell disposed within the roller with a first end secured adjacent to an inner surface of the roller and a second end attached to the shaft to provide the sole structural connection between the roller and the shaft.
US08418531B2
An underground storage system includes a primary containment unit and a secondary containment unit. The underground storage system further includes a leak detection system which is fluidly connected to the secondary containment system, and which is adapted to detect fluid leaks in the primary containment system and the secondary containment system.
US08418529B2
A device for conveying a substance that comprises: a first duct for containing the substance; an optical fiber connected to the first duct and extending along the duct, the optical fiber including several detection members spaced along its length, each detection member having a separate reflection spectrum that varies with the presence of the substance to be detected; a control device including a light source capable of emitting a light in the reflection spectrum of each detection member, a light receiver capable of detecting the light amplitude in the detection spectrum of each detection member, and an analysis module capable of determining the presence of a leak of the substance based on the light amplitude provided by the light receiver.
US08418525B2
A method for testing the operability of a tank shutoff valve of a fuel tank system which is controlled by valves includes performing defined triggering of the tank shutoff valve and simultaneous introduction of an overpressure or partial vacuum into the fuel tank system via a pressure source, and the operability of the tank shutoff valve is determined on the basis of a variable which characterizes the introduction of the overpressure or partial vacuum.
US08418521B2
A double closed hydraulic mold stand is provided, which includes an up bottom plate (1), a down bottom plate (21), an up mold plate (8), a down mold plate (20), four guide sleeves (42), four guide columns (45), and a four mechanical linkage velocity ratio mechanism. The four guide sleeves (42) and the four guide columns (45) are distributed symmetrically and slidingly fit each other. An up piston cylinder, a down piston cylinder, an up bed piece (11), a down bed piece (31), an up concave mold seat (15), a down concave mold seat, an up concave mold (16), and a down concave mold (33) are fixed at the up bottom plate and the down bottom plate. An up pin-lift (3), a down pin-lift (24), an up punch pin seat (4), a down punch pin seat (22), an up punch pin (38), and a down punch pin (36) form an up piston and a down piston respectively. The up piston cylinder and the down piston cylinder have a split combined structure, which is convenient for manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. The up piston cylinder is repositioned by using a cylindrical spring. The down piston cylinder is repositioned by using a cylindrical spring and a nitrogen gas spring. The reposition is strong and fast, which facilitates vacuum oil absorption, power consumption saving, and productivity improvement. The present invention can be installed on a single-acting hydraulic press or a single-acting mechanical press for use, and has a wide application range.
US08418520B2
A press jaw pair for producing a press fit of fittings on pipes and the like has a first and a second one-piece press jaw lever (1, 2) that are arranged such that they are rotatable about a common axis (x). At least one bearing lug (4, 8) with a bearing opening (5, 9) is integrally formed on each press jaw lever (1, 2), wherein the bearing lugs (4, 8) are arranged coaxially in the fitting state. A torsion spring element (3) with two stop cams (10, 11) can be inserted into the bearing openings (5, 9) in such a way that the two press jaw levers (1, 2) are supported about the common axis (x) in a spring-loaded fashion and held in a mutually captive fashion.
US08418518B2
A contact bending fixture includes a lower die slider, a positioning rod, a linear actuating mechanism, and an upper die slider. A lower die mounted on the lower die slider includes a die holder, a lower bending module, a contact holding stick, and a bearing roller. The lower bending module includes a smooth sustaining side surface facing the bearing roller for defining an insertion gap therebetween. An upper die mounted on the upper die slider opposes the lower die and includes a punch holder, a hold-down plate, an elastic component, and an upper bending module. The hold-down plate presses and holds down an end of an under-bending contact on the top surface of lower bending module with an opposite end of the contact suspending in the insertion gap. Therefore, the contact bending fixture is capable of bending a contact at a required angle in one step.
US08418513B2
The invention relates to a plate lock having a lock body and a hinged bar hoop. A first end of the hinged bar hoop is permanently secured to the lock body and a second end of the hinged bar hoop can be latched to the lock body. The hinged bar hoop has a plurality of hinged bars which are pivotally connected to one another via a respective hinged connection. The hinged bars have a first eye and a second eye, wherein the respective hinged connection between two hinged bars has at least one hinged pin in order to connect the first eye of the one hinged bar to the second eye of the other hinged bar. The respective hinged bar has at least one bent metal wire or at least one folded sheet metal part which extends between the first eye and the second eye.
US08418509B2
A laundry treating machine is disclosed. The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine capable of minimizing the number of parts required to discharge the generated condensate as possible and of simplifying the drainage path. A laundry treating machine includes a cabinet in which an accomodating space receiving laundry therein is formed, a moisture supply device supplying moisture to the accomodating space, a water supply part connected with the moisture supply device to supply water, a water discharge part discharging water condensed from the moisture supplied by the moisture supply device or water remaining in the moisture supply device, a circulation duct to draw-in air of the accomodating space and discharging the air into the accomodating space, and a heat exchanging part provided in the circulation duct, the heat exchanger in which circulated air is dehumidified or heated.
US08418502B2
The present invention relates to a heating apparatus for glass-sheet-forming, which prevents formation of a heater distortion in a portion of a glass sheet facing to a temperature-distributing heat shield.A heating apparatus for glass-sheet-forming comprising a heating element for heating a glass sheet, a heat-shielding plate for partitioning a heating region Y into a plurality of regions X and partially shielding radiant heat rays radiated from the heating element toward the glass sheet so as to form a predetermined temperature distribution on a surface of the glass sheet heated by the heating element, wherein the heating apparatus for glass-sheet-forming further comprises an auxiliary heat-shielding plate for partially shielding radiant heat rays radiated from a heating element toward a portion of the surface of the glass sheet, that faces to the heat-shielding plate, as a heat-ray-adjusting means for reducing radiant heat rays from the heating element reaching a portion of the surface of the glass sheet that faces to the temperature-distributing heat shield.
US08418499B2
A natural gas liquefaction system with a turbine expander is provided that can improve the efficiency of the whole refrigeration cycle by using the turbine expander, instead of the throttling process that uses the conventional Joule-Thomson throttling valve that is used as a final throttling means in a conventional natural gas liquefaction system, and a liquefaction method thereof. The natural gas liquefaction cycle provided with the turbine expander of the present invention comprises a compressor 100, at least one vapor-liquid separator 300 or 310, a plurality of heat exchangers 200, 210, 220, 230 and 240, at least one Joule-Thomson throttling valves (below to be called JT valve) 400 and 410, a turbine expander 500, and connecting lines composed of plurality of pipes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 to connect these components.
US08418498B2
A refrigeration device includes an interior that is divided up into two refrigeration zones with each refrigeration zone having an evaporator and a compressor for supplying the evaporator with a refrigerant. A control for operating the compressors can be operated in different modes of operation depending on predetermined conditions. In a normal mode, the at least two compressors are exclusively operated at different times.
US08418494B2
An air conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of heat source apparatuses having heat source apparatus side heat exchangers and compressors, one or a plurality of indoor units having flow rate control devices and indoor unit side heat exchangers, at least two main pipes for performing connection-piping between a plurality of heat source apparatuses and one or a plurality of indoor units, a tubular distributor for branching the refrigerant from the main pipe flowing from the inlet to a plurality of outlets to distribute into a plurality of heat source apparatuses, and connection piping for connecting the plurality of heat source apparatuses and distributor respectively. Among a plurality of heat source apparatuses, the distributor is fixedly disposed at a specified position and in a specified direction against one heat source apparatus.
US08418485B2
There is provided a temperature switching compartment 3 which can switch the internal temperature thereof between a low temperature side at which a storage material is kept in cold storage and a high temperature side maintained at 50° C., to 80° C. at which cooked food is kept warm, by cooling with a cooler 17 and heating with a heater 15.
US08418483B2
A system and method for calculating parameters for a refrigeration system having a variable speed compressor is provided. A compressor is connected to a condenser and an evaporator. An evaporator sensor outputs an evaporator signal corresponding to at least one of an evaporator pressure and an evaporator temperature. An inverter drive modulates electric power delivered to the compressor to modulate a speed of the compressor. The control module is connected to the inverter drive and receives the evaporator signal, monitors electrical power data and compressor speed data from the inverter drive, and calculates at least one of a condenser temperature and a condenser pressure based on the evaporator signal, the electrical power data, and the compressor speed data.
US08418481B2
An air conditioning or refrigeration system includes a secondary loop cooling system for use with a vapor compression system having a bypass line in order to bypass a reservoir in the secondary loop system. This bypass allows the air conditioning or refrigeration system to cool down more quickly. The secondary loop cooling system uses a non-flammable cooling fluid, which is particularly useful when the refrigerant used in the vapor compression system is flammable.
US08418474B2
A transition duct having a thermally free aft frame and being capable of adjusting the natural frequency is disclosed. The aft frame is capable of permitting movement due to thermal gradients with the transition duct. The transition duct utilizes a spring plate located adjacent to an aft mounting bracket, where the spring plate, based on its thickness can either increase or decrease a frequency of the transition duct. Such an arrangement ensures that the transition duct natural frequency does not coincide with or cross other critical engine and/or combustor frequencies.
US08418462B2
A method of operating a variable geometry turbine (VTG) during transient operations for maximum response by determining the VTG area at the balance condition of the pressure ratio and efficiency curves for the variable geometry turbine to achieve maximum power. The method includes measurements of turbine inlet pressure, turbine outlet pressure, turbine rpm, and other parameters used to measure turbine mass flow.
US08418449B2
A variable exhaust gas flow deflector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The deflector can include a blade located at least partially within an exhaust gas flow of the engine, the blade having a first position and a second position. The blade can move between the first position and the second position as a function of at least one parameter and/or condition of the exhaust gas and/or the internal combustion engine.
US08418448B2
An engine (8) is mounted to a vehicle body by means of vibration isolating mounts (8E), and a support member (15) is mounted to the engine (8). Vibration isolating members (20) are provided between this support member (15) and a mounting bracket (17) mounted to an exhaust gas treatment device (16). Accordingly, even in cases where the engine (8) has generated high-frequency vibrations, these vibrations can be damped by the vibration isolating mounts (8E) and the vibration isolating members (20). In consequence, treatment members constituting the exhaust gas treatment device (16), such as a catalyst, a filter, and a sensor, can be protected from the vibrations of the engine (8). In addition, as the exhaust gas treatment device (16) is provided with the mounting bracket (17), the vibration isolating members (20) can be reliably mounted to the exhaust gas treatment device (16) by means of the mounting bracket (17).
US08418445B2
An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, having a first exhaust tract assigned to a first group of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and having a second exhaust tract assigned to a second group of cylinders of the internal combustion engine, each exhaust tract comprising an exhaust gas purification device, a first silencer arranged on the outlet side of the respective exhaust gas purification device, and a second silencer arranged on the outlet side of the respective first silencer. Each exhaust tract includes a bypass line, it being possible for exhaust gas to be diverted via each bypass line, starting from the respective first silencer, bypassing the second silencers, and the bypass lines and hence the first silencers of both exhaust tracts being connected to one another by a mixing line.
US08418442B2
Method of controlling the active regeneration of a particulate filter through dynamic control of the temperature at the outlet of an oxidation catalyst.A control law is defined for a hydrocarbon flow rate at the oxidation catalyst inlet, by means of the ratio between a temperature demand and a gain. The gain can be corrected so as to take account of the transient phenomena that occur in the oxidation catalyst during a gas flow rate variation. The temperature demand can comprise a precompensation term to compensate for the effects of a temperature variation at the oxidation catalyst inlet. The temperature demand can comprise a feedback term calculated by a controller whose parameters are automatically calculated by means of a physical model of the catalyst, during operating conditions variations. Any combination of these terms allows to define a suitable control law. Finally, the hydrocarbon flow rate is modified by applying the control law so that the temperature of the gas leaving said catalyst respects a set point temperature.Application: engine control.
US08418435B2
Aluminum is treated with an agent to prevent passivation of the aluminum during oxidation. The passivation preventing agent is a metal alloy containing gallium, preferably a eutectic alloy of gallium, indium and tin. The surface of the metallic aluminum is wetted with the eutectic alloy, suitably by scouring and/or immersion. The treated aluminum may be mixed with water, hydrogen peroxide or other suitable oxidizer in a controlled manner to produce hydrogen, heat, steam or oxygen for the use in power generation or chemical reactions. The passivation removal agent can be used in small quantities and is readily recoverable following the reaction.
US08418434B1
A fashion accessory featuring a plurality of units connected together to form a continuous chain having a first end and a second end. The first end and second end are connected together via a locking means. Each unit is a loop. The units each occupy a folded configuration. In the folded configuration, the unit is folded in half to form a first top arc and a second top arc that are positioned next to each other, and a first bottom hook and a second bottom hook that are positioned across from each other. Adjacent units are fed through both bottom hooks and subsequently moved to occupy the folded configuration.
US08418429B2
A bottle support with clutch includes a tray (1), a small gear (2), a shell (3) and a rotary table (5). The shaft sleeve of the small gear (2) is connected with the shell (3) through a bearing (7). The shell (3) is connected with the rotary table (5). The shaft sleeve of the tray (1) is sleeved in the shaft sleeve of the small gear (2), and a clutch (8) is provided between the shaft sleeve of the tray (1) and the shaft sleeve of the small gear (2). The bottle support of the invention has a simple structure, and works in a reliable manner. The revolution and rotation of the tray (1) are completely consistent with that of the capping head during working, thus improving cover rolling quality.
US08418423B1
A dual stage plug assembly 10 which provides a first sealing stage which is cooperatively provided by the insertion members 12, 14 (including the unexpanded portion 24) and a second sealing stage which is provided by selectively expandable member 24. The plug assembly 10 is selectively inserted into a hole, such as hole 80, which is formed in a tangible entity, such as basement wall 82, and the members 12 and 14 cooperates with member 24 to seal the hole 80, thereby preventing water and/or other liquid from entering and passing through the hole 80.
US08418397B2
An electronic mouse trap is provided having multiple kill and automatic killing chamber clearing capabilities. The trap includes an elevated killing chamber rotatably mounted on a base that houses a collection bin positioned under the chamber and which has an entrance pathway that provides mice with access to the chamber. Upon completion of a killing cycle and the killing of a mouse, the chamber is automatically rotated by a gear motor to an inverted position, allowing the dead mouse to fall downwardly into the collection bin. During such rotation, the entrance pathway if blocked to prevent access to the trap by a next mouse. Once the chamber has been inverted and the mouse removed by gravity, the gear motor reverses the rotation direction and returns the chamber to its upright position, opening the entrance pathway such that the trap is ready to reinitiate the killing cycle for another mouse.
US08418391B2
A lock for a firearm with a grip safety, and a sear engageable to a biased hammer in a cocked position and releasable by a trigger is disclosed. The lock has a housing defining a first bore within which a mainspring that biases the hammer is received, as well as a second bore. There is a locking pin retractable into and extendible out of the second bore of the housing. When the locking pin is in an extended position, the grip safety is restricted to an engaged state, blocking movement of the trigger. An actuator disposed in the housing and cooperatively linked to the locking pin provides the motive force for retracting and extending the locking pin.
US08418383B2
A canvas frame and canvas frame kit is disclosed that permits canvas frames of unorthodox configuration. The canvas frames include divergent interior portions that permit an irregular primary frame to be matched with a supplemental frame to present a single, unified work of art separable at the whim of the user.
US08418378B2
A condensation dryer is provided which has a heat pump in which a coolant circulates; a compressor; a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the coolant; and a controller. The controller has a first comparator to compare the temperature of the coolant with an upper limiting temperature of the coolant; a switch to switch the compressor off if the temperature of the coolant is greater than or equal to the upper limiting temperature and to switch the compressor on after each compressor disconnection. A counter ascertains the number of occurrences at which the compressor is switched off. The counter is incremented by 1 each time the compressor is switched off. A second comparator compares the number of occurrences with a prespecified limiting number and evaluates the difference between the number of occurrences and the prespecified limiting number with respect to the presence of an impermissible operating state.
US08418375B2
A door hanging tool includes a horizontal member having at least one bubble vial for the determination of the angle of a surface with respect to the horizontal member and, a vertical member having at least one bubble vial for indicating the inclination of the surface with respect to the vertical member. The horizontal member further defines anchor slots for receiving an anchor means for releasably attaching the tool to the existing pre-drilled hole for lockset from the door manufacturer, such that the user can view the bubble vial of the vertical member for indicating the vertical inclination of the door with respect to the vertical member, and can view the bubble vial of the horizontal member to determine the angle of the door with respect to the horizontal member, and can adjust the door accordingly.
US08418369B1
The clipper lever support insert may be inserted into a clipper lever. A finger insert may have two approximately parallel sides formed from metal. The sides may be shaped to the approximate form of a drive finger side. A shaft end insert may have a plurality of sides approximately in the shape of a rectangular box formed from metal. The sides may be shaped to the approximate form of a motor end cavity side.
US08418368B2
A process for producing a bearing assembly includes positioning a first sleeve element in an injection mould, the injection mould having a cylindrical recess with a diameter for receiving the first sleeve element and the outside diameter of the first sleeve element being lesser than the diameter of the recess. A second sleeve element is positioned concentrically within the first sleeve element in the injection mould to define an annular chamber and elastomeric material in a molten state is injected under pressure into the annular chamber between the sleeve elements such that the outside diameter of the first sleeve element is expanded. The elastomeric material is allowed to solidify in the annular chamber between the two sleeve elements and the assembly of sleeves and elastomeric material are removed as a unit from the injection mould.
US08418364B2
A method is provided for extending useful life of tubing of a peristaltic pump. The method can comprise switching inlet and discharge hoses between respective inlet and outlet ends of the tubing of the peristaltic pump, and reversing a direction of rotation of a rotor of the peristaltic pump. In implementations of methods disclosed herein, the useful life of the tubing of a peristaltic pump can be approximately doubled.
US08418359B2
A method for manufacturing a circuit pattern-provided substrate including forming a resist layer on a substrate, forming an opening corresponding to a circuit pattern and having an eaves cross-sectional shape in the resist layer, forming a thin film layer having a portion formed on the substrate in the opening and a portion formed on the resist layer, and removing the resist layer such that the resist layer and the portion of the thin film layer formed on the resist layer are removed from the substrate. The forming of the opening comprises exposing the resist layer with a mask device which changes an exposure amount of the resist layer such that the eaves cross-sectional shape has a space at a boundary between the resist layer and the substrate.
US08418355B2
A method for forming transcriptional circuits and a method for manufacturing a circuit board are disclosed. A method of forming a transcriptional circuit, which includes forming an intaglio pattern corresponding to a circuit pattern by selectively forming a resist on a mold board, filling conductive material in the intaglio pattern, and transferring the conductive material onto a carrier by pressing the carrier onto the mold board such that the carrier faces the surface of the mold board having the conductive material filled in, makes it possible to form transcriptional circuits that can be transcribed into an insulation board using existing equipment, whereby costs can be reduced.
US08418347B2
A wire termination and cutting tool, RJ jack and RJ jack and tool termination system is provided with the tool having a cutting module support portion and an RJ jack support portion connected to the cutting module support portion for relative movement with respect to a pivot point. An RJ jack is connected to the RJ jack support portion. The RJ jack includes wire termination locations each with an insulation displacement contact (IDC) with a cutting/clamping slot. A cutting module is connected to the cutting module support portion. The cutting module includes cutting blades for cutting wires and wire insertion parts. An actuator applies force for in curved relative movement of the cutting module support portion with respect to the RJ jack support portion. The cutting module support portion is aligned with the RJ jack at an end of the curved relative movement whereby the wire insertion parts are aligned with slots of corresponding insulation displacement contacts of the RJ jack.
US08418345B2
In a method for producing a joint between a hollow profile made from steel and a component made from an aluminum material, a positive and material joint is produced by a braze welding process in conjunction with a pressing operation. The hollow profile is first pressed on a seating region of the component. Subsequently, a weld layer with an additive is applied by thermal joining, producing a positive and material joint between the hollow profile and the component. The positive joint is facilitated by first forming an end of the hollow profile to be pressed on. Preferably, forming is done by widening the end to be pressed on into the shape of a collar.
US08418337B2
A reinforced pipe section comprises a metal pipe, a layer of dry fibers disposed around the metal pipe, and an external liner covering the layer of dry fibers. A method of manufacturing a reinforced pipe section comprises wrapping a layer of dry fibers over a metal pipe, and covering the layer of dry fibers with an external liner, thereby forming a first dry fiber wrapped metal pipe. A method of reinforcing a degraded metal pipe comprises wrapping the degraded metal pipe with a layer of dry fibers to increase the hoop strength of the degraded metal pipe, and covering the layer of dry fibers with an external liner.
US08418327B2
The security buckle includes a first body member having one or more walls defining a receiving cavity and one or more mating slots; and a second body member adapted to engage the receiving cavity, the second body member including one or more latching tabs for engaging the one or more mating slots wherein the second body member is inhibited from disengagement while the one or more latching tabs engage the one or more mating slots, and wherein the first body member includes a portion of the one or more walls defining a security slot adapted for receiving an interfering object that includes an engagement mode for insertion and removal from the slot and an interfering mode for inhibiting the one or more latching tabs from disengaging from the one or more mating tabs until the interfering object is transitioned to the engagement mode.
US08418326B2
Metallic one-side teeth include an upper inclined plane declining toward the side of interlock dent portion provided between the opening edge of the interlock dent portion and the apical edge of an interlock head portion.
US08418322B2
A cookware handle with a soft non-slip surface is formed by molding elastomeric composition around a core or elongated member that connects a flange portion and the terminal end or hanging portion of the handle. The core or elongated member has a relatively narrow cross-section to minimize heat transfer from the pot so that the gripping portion remains cool during cooking.
US08418298B2
A method and apparatus for a sleep system is provided. More specifically, the invention provides a method and apparatus for an adjustable mattress that allows the user to increase or decrease the firmness of the mattress. Furthermore, the adjustable mattress has zones of adjustability thereby allowing two users to adjust the firmness of the mattress of each user's zone. The adjustable mattress is also multimodal. The motorized foundation contains adjustable massaging units that may be used for physical therapy and relaxation. Likewise, the motorized foundation may be used in relax mode to assist in obtaining sleep and awaken mode to gently awake the user by the stimulation of the adjustable mattress.
US08418295B2
A nursing pillow system for providing support to one or more children during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. The system preferably includes a cover-up which provides privacy during feeding. The cover-up may be removably attached and stored in an integrated pocket in the nursing pillow system. Other features, such as a bolster, belt, back pillow, elastic bands, and pockets may be included to increase the comfort and utility of the system.
US08418292B2
A mobile treatment table including a central support. A first support member is pivotally connected with the central support and operable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. A second support member is pivotally connected with the central support and includes a handle integral therewith. The second support member is operable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. A wheel assembly is operably connected with the second support member and operable between an extended position adjacent a first side of the support member and a retracted position adjacent a second side of the support member.
US08418290B2
A motorized bed includes a bed body and a driving device. The bed body includes a base frame, a fixed frame, and a movable frame. The driving device includes a drive unit mounted on the fixed frame, a guide tube mounted on the drive unit, a threaded rod mounted in the guide tube, an extension tube mounted in the guide tube and having a first end provided with a push portion and a second end connected with the movable frame, and a threaded mover moved by the threaded rod and movable to abut the push portion. Thus, when a human body is disposed between the movable frame and the base frame, the human body only needs to overcome the weight of the movable frame to detach the extension tube from the mover, so that the movable frame stops moving immediately.
US08418287B2
A patient care apparatus includes a bed to support a patient. The bed has a side rail with a cavity. The patient care apparatus also includes an infusion unit having a medical treatment control unit, a medical treatment line, and a medication container to contain medication. The medical treatment line is coupled to the medication container to conduct medication from the medication container to the patient. The medical treatment control unit and the medication container are positioned in the cavity.
US08418283B2
The present disclosure relates to an adjustable bed system including a bed frame that is adjustable in height. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the adjustable bed system includes first and second end boards each having an independent height adjustment mechanism. A frame assembly configured and dimensioned to be secured to the first end board at a first end thereof and to the second end board at a second end thereof includes a frame and a transition box. The transition box is secured to the frame at the first end thereof and is operatively engagable with the height adjustment mechanism of the first end board. A drive shaft adjustable between first and second lengths is coupled at a first end thereof to the transition box and at a second end thereof to the second end board to facilitate uniform height adjustment of the first and second end boards.
US08418280B2
The drive device, which serves for the transport of the cover of a liquid container, particularly a swimming pool, is installed or installable in device compartment, which is arranged separate from the liquid container. The drive device includes at least one winding shaft that interacts with the cover and that is coupled to a first drive unit. The winding shaft serves for the rolling-up of the cover, which can be guided over a deflection device to an outlet opening of the device compartment and, at the end facing the winding shaft, is connected to an outer tractive element, which is acting against the side of the cover that is opposite to the side which faces the deflection device, which outer tractive element presses the cover under tension against the deflection device, and which outer tractive element is held and can be tensioned by a first traction device.
US08418263B2
An exercise device includes a left glove member adapted to be worn on the left hand of a user and a right glove member adapted to be worn on the right hand of the user, the left and right glove members each having an impact area and an elastomeric cord extending from a center of the impact area to a ball, such that the ball is connected to the left and right glove members by the elastomeric cords of equal length. A rigid plate member is fitted within each of the left and right glove members for providing a solid surface at the impact area. The user, wearing the left and right glove members, alternates movement of the hands in a repeated left and right punch throwing action which causes the ball to alternately strike the impact areas of the glove members and travel away from the user until the elastomeric cord leading from the opposite hand stretches taut and causes the ball to travel back towards the user for subsequent striking with the opposite hand. This alternating action is repeated for as many punches as the user can continue to hit the ball.
US08424111B2
Provided is a scanning near-field optical microscope capable of obtaining, in a highly sensitive manner, optical information having a spatial frequency higher than a spatial frequency corresponding to a wavelength of irradiation light. A scanning near-field optical microscope 100 according to the present invention includes: a light irradiating part 102 for emitting illumination light toward a sample 107; a light receiving part 112 for receiving light; a microstructure for generating or selectively transmitting near-field light, the microstructure being disposed on at least one of an emission side of the light irradiating part 102 and an incident side of the light receiving part 112; and an ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium 108 for transmitting near-field light, the ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium exhibiting anisotropy in permittivity or permeability.
US08424110B2
A content storage apparatus may include a receiving unit adapted to receive a content and service information associated with the content, a storage unit including at least a first storage area and a second storage area, adapted to store the content received by the receiving unit, and a controller adapted to determine one of the storage areas as a storage area for storing the content, in accordance with at least the service information received by the receiving unit.
US08424097B2
In an access rights managing system, an application that can set access rights is limited, and if an information apparatus that the user uses does not install any specific application, the system cannot set desired access rights in a digital document. To solve this problem, data is received externally, and first identification information associated with access rights control is extracted from a predetermined position of the received data. Second identification information corresponding to the first identification information is obtained, and is appended to the received data. The received data is then stored in a memory.
US08424096B2
A network is configured to transmit data using only one color, the one color being associated with a community of interest. At least one network device is attached to the network, the at least one network device being associated with the community of interest and configured to receive data from the network using only the one color.
US08424095B2
Policy verification arrangements effecting operations of: modifying address information of system component information for all system components, stored in a system management server, to redirect-address information to a test tool as a substitute destination in order for the test tool to be able to receive a result of system management operations during testing, instead of a corresponding system component; acquiring configuration information of the information processing system from the system management server; generating a test item specifying a test event; transmitting the test event specified by the generated test item to the policy manager and/or said system management server; and recording a result of the system management operations which is requested by the policy manager and/or system management server responsive to the test event specified by the generated test item, but which is redirected back to the test tool via the redirected-address information stored in the system management server.
US08424094B2
An automated collection of forensic evidence associated with a security incident is provided by an arrangement in which different security products called endpoints in an enterprise network are enabled for sharing security-related information over a common communication channel using an abstraction called a security assessment. A security assessment is generally configured to indicate an endpoint's understanding of a detected security incident that pertains to an object in the environment which may include users, computers, IP addresses, and website URIs (Universal Resource Identifiers). The security assessment is published by the endpoint into the channel and received by subscribing endpoints. The security assessment triggers the receiving endpoints to go into a more comprehensive or detailed mode of evidence collection. In addition, any forensic evidence having relevance to the security incident that may have already been collected prior to the detection will be marked for retention so that it is not otherwise deleted.
US08424088B1
During a migration or installation of a software application (e.g., a security software application), a computer can be left vulnerable to attack by malicious code. However, a computer can be protected during an installation process by disabling routes through which a malicious attack might occur. More specifically, a determination module determines that the installation process for the security software application will be performed. When the installation process begins, a communication disabling module disables substantially all communication through external network connection ports for the computer that are unneeded for the installation process. In some embodiments, a process restriction module also restricts execution of processes which are not associated with the installation of the security software application. An installation module allows the installation process for the security software application to be performed on the computer. A communication reopening module then reopens the communication through the external network connection ports upon completion of the installation process.
US08424083B2
User operates a selection switch to instruct temporary activation of an application. For the application of which the temporary activation has been instructed, a CPU of a console allocates resources necessary for signal processing by a DSP of an engine and for a parameter editing function of the console. In the DSP, a bypass parameter is set to ON. Thus, there is provided a state capable of accepting various parameter setting operation related to the application, but the signal processing based on the application program is prevented from being started in a substantive manner. In response to a full activation instruction of an application via a full activation instruction switch, the bypass parameter is set to OFF, so that audio signal processing based on the application can be started. In this way, preparatory work for setting parameters related to the application can be performed efficiently.
US08424082B2
A system that safely executes a native code module on a computing device. During operation, the system receives the native code module, which is comprised of untrusted native program code expressed using native instructions in the instruction set architecture associated with the computing device. The system then loads the native code module into a secure runtime environment, and proceeds to execute a set of instructions from the native code module in the secure runtime environment. The secure runtime environment enforces code integrity, control-flow integrity, and data integrity for the native code module. Furthermore, the secure runtime environment moderates which resources can be accessed by the native code module on the computing device and/or how these resources can be accessed. By executing the native code module in the secure runtime environment, the system facilitates achieving native code performance for untrusted program code without a significant risk of unwanted side effects.
US08424076B2
The disclosure herein provides data security on a parallel computer system using virtual private networks connecting the nodes of the system. A mechanism sets up access control data in the nodes that describes a number of security classes. Each security class is associated with a virtual network. Each user on the system is associated with one of the security classes. Each database object to be protected is given an attribute of a security class. Database objects are loaded into the system nodes that match the security class of the database object. When a query executes on the system, the query is sent to a particular class or set of classes such that the query is only seen by those nodes that are authorized by the equivalent security class. In this way, the network is used to isolate data from users that do not have proper authorization to access the data.
US08424073B2
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for refreshing a page validation token. In response to a request for a form from a client, a server responds with the requested form, a page validation token, and a page token refresh program. The client executes the page token refresh program in response to a request to post the contents of the form to the server computer. The page token refresh program determines whether a preset period of time has elapsed since server computer generated the page validation token. If the period of time has not elapsed, the form is posted to the server with the page validation token and processed by the server computer. If the page timeout has elapsed, the page token refresh program refreshes the page validation token prior to posting the form by requesting an updated page validation token from the server.
US08424072B2
Described herein are techniques for operating a security server to determine behavioral profiles for entities in a network and to detect attacks or unauthorized traffic in a network based on those behavioral profiles. In one technique, a behavioral profile may be generated based on requests for security operations to be performed that are received at a security server from an entity in a network. The behavioral profile may be generated using learning techniques, including artificial intelligence techniques such as neural networks. When the security server receives from an entity one or more requests for security operations to be performed, the security server may compare properties of the requests to the behavioral profile for the entity and properties of requests commonly sent by the entity. The security server may determine a similarity score indicating how similar the request are to the behavioral profile and to requests commonly received from the entity.
US08424050B2
It is an object to provide a broadcast receiving device capable of shortening the time from turning-on until display of an IP broadcast. A broadcast receiving device 1, after its start-up, automatically performs setting related to an Internet protocol (IP) including setting of an address of a DNS server and receives an IP broadcast of a specified channel by multicast communication, wherein the broadcast receiving device starts to receive the IP broadcast from an IP broadcast server 53a through an IP network 4 by specifying a multicast address corresponding to the specified channel that is stored beforehand, before completion of the setting of the address of the DNS server.
US08424039B2
The invention concerns user profiles associated with terminals. It consists of a method for adapting a common user profile (4) used by a service provider of audio and/or video broadcast on a common terminal to customize the service provided, including: a step of detecting at least one new terminal (5, 6 or 7) in the neighborhood of the common terminal; a step of enabling at least one new terminal detected on at least one first condition that it is to remain in the neighborhood of the common terminal for a duration compatible with the customization of the service provided; a step of determining one or more user profiles corresponding to one or more new enabled terminals; a step of correlating one or more predetermined profiles with one or more parameters representing the common profile used by the service provider so as to obtain a new common user profile; a step of implementation, by the service provider, of said new common user profile at least if the new common user profile is sufficiently different from the common user profile used by the service provider, to modify the customization of the service provided.
US08424038B2
Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides.
US08424027B1
An optical disc drive is provided. The optical disc drive includes a housing having a protruding pin, an optical head engaged to a lead screw, a tray slidably disposed in the housing and a tray locking device disposed on the tray. The tray locking device includes a pushing member, wherein the pushing member and the optical head are driven by the lead screw to move, a latching hook used to latch and release the protruding pin, and a transmission assembly disposed between the pushing member and the latching hook. The transmission assembly has a driving portion disposed on a moving path of the pushing member, wherein the pushing member pushes the driving portion so that the transmission assembly is actuated and drives the latching hook to release the protruding pin.
US08424023B2
A method, system, and device embodiments for interfacing a program are disclosed. A computing device can include an application layer, an operating system layer, and an interface module. The operating system layer can include a first type of operating system and associated application program interfaces (APIs). The interface module can be coupled between the application layer and the operating system layer. The interface module can receive program instructions from a program in the application layer written for a second type of operating system and can process the instructions by directing the instructions to APIs that correctly execute the instructions.
US08424017B2
The method determines whether a particular process is currently executing or not executing. The method embeds process identification information and a process name in a process pathname that binds to a socket. The method creates a socket and binds to the socket a process name and associated process identifier if that process is currently executing. A status file may store the socket pathnames of those processes currently executing. A socket pathname appears in the status file if a corresponding process is executing, but does not appear in the status file if the process is not executing. To determine if a particular process is currently executing, the method tests the status file to determine if the status file contains a match for the socket pathname associated with the particular process under test. The presence of a match for the socket pathname in the status file indicates that the particular process associated therewith is currently executing.
US08424010B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring and allocating shared resources. For example, in one embodiment, the status of resource dependent entities is continuously monitored to determine the current use of a shared resource. When a resource dependent entity requires use of the shared resource, a (a) request for use of the shared resource can be generated and (b) determination can be made as to whether any of the current allocations of the shared resource can be released for use by the resource dependent entity.
US08424008B2
A first information resource denoting which logical volume is allocated to which application program is prepared in a management computer. The management computer either regularly or irregularly acquires from the storage system information as to which logical volumes were updated at what times, registers the acquired information in a second information, references the first and second information, acquires update management information, which is information denoting which logical volume is updated at what time, and the application program to which this logical volume is allocated, and sends this update management information to a host computer. The host computer, based on the update management information from the management computer, displays which logical volume has been updated at what time, and which application program is allocated to this logical volume.
US08424007B1
A computer-implemented method for prioritizing virtual machine tasks may include receiving a request to perform a first task from a virtual machine. The request may include information relevant to determining a priority of the task. The method may include determining the priority of the task based on the information. The method may further include scheduling the first task based on the priority of the task. The method may include selecting the first task for execution based on the scheduling. The method may include notifying the virtual machine that the first task has been selected for execution. Various related methods, computer-readable media, and systems are also disclosed.
US08423997B2
According to an aspect of the embodiment, a host virtual machine operated on the CPU controls the virtual machine system and a guest virtual machine, and has save information of system information which defines a save location to save the system information of the guest virtual machine. The save location is in the storage device used by the host virtual machine. A virtual machine monitor operated on the CPU controls the plurality of virtual machines, and includes monitoring unit which monitors the guest virtual machine to detect occurrence of a failure in the guest virtual machine, and collecting unit which collects the system information from the save location based on the save information of system information when the monitoring unit detects the failure in the guest virtual machine.
US08423996B2
A distribution system comprising a server device and a terminal device communicably connected to each other via a network. Wherein, the terminal device transmits an acquisition request of the distribution package to the server device, receives the distribution package from the server device and stores the distribution package, determines whether current date and time is the application start timing based on the application start timing information included in the distribution package, and applies the resource by executing the application script when the current date and time is determined to be the application start timing. And the server device receives the acquisition request of the distribution package from the terminal device, and transmits the distribution package to the terminal device when the acquisition request is received.
US08423984B2
An object code generating system includes: a storage unit configured to store a first source file; and an object code generating section. The object code generating section is configured to read the first source file, generate function data indicating an arrangement address and size of each of the functions in the first source file, generate an execution format file for the first source file; and read a second source file obtained by modifying at least one of the functions as a specific function in the first source file, and the function data from the storage unit, generate a dummy function corresponding to the modified specific function when the modified specific function is discovered in the second source file, arrange the dummy function at an arrangement address different from the arrangement addresses of the functions, and arrange a branch command to the dummy function at the different arrangement address.
US08423982B2
The invention is a method and apparatus for use in developing a program. More particularly, a method and apparatus for compiling a source code program during editing of the same is disclosed, where editing can be initial entry or modification subsequent to initial entry. The method comprises compiling at least a portion of a source code program defined by a waypoint during the editing of the source code program. In other aspects, the invention includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, perform this method and a computer programmed to perform this method. The apparatus includes a computing apparatus, comprising a text editor through which a source code program may be entered; and a compiler that may compile the source code program. The control block is capable of determining at least one waypoint in the source code program and invoking the compiler to compile the source code program up to the waypoint.
US08423981B2
Compiling a graphical program including a textual program portion for execution on a real time target. The graphical program may be created on a display or stored in a memory medium. The graphical program may include a plurality of connected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program. The graphical program may include at least one node which corresponds to a textual language program portion. The textual language program portion may be written or specified in a dynamically typed programming language. The graphical program may be compiled for deployment on the real time target. Compiling the graphical program may include compiling the plurality of connected nodes and the textual language program portion for deterministic real time execution on the real time target.
US08423979B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for compiling source code for performing a complex operation followed by a complex reduction operation. A method is determined for generating executable code for performing the complex operation and the complex reduction operation. Executable code is generated for computing sub-products, reducing the sub-products to intermediate results, and summing the intermediate results to generate a final result in response to a determination that a reduced single instruction multiple data method is appropriate.
US08423971B2
Generating an application software library comprises: a static analyser processing a binary input library to identify one or more locations in the binary input library which satisfy a semantic analysis condition; inserting metadata into the binary input library at the one or more locations which satisfy the semantic analysis condition; and linking the binary input library with a binary aspect library to generate the application software library, wherein the binary aspect library includes an aspect definition using the metadata.
US08423964B2
An indication of a change to at least one source file associated with a software build is received via a processor. A set of test levels of a level-based testing suite are sequentially processed, where each test level subsequently processed includes tests with decreasing qualitative testing information relative to tests associated with previously-processed test levels. For each processed test level, at least one test is selected that tests the change to the at least one source file associated with the software build, test coverage relative to a target risk level for the software build is determined for each selected test, and test selection is terminated upon determining that the test coverage for the selected tests at least meets the target risk level for the software build.
US08423963B2
The present invention monitors usage of an operating system at an application program interface (“API”) level and monitors changes in API functionality associated with an upcoming release to manage the version change process. A computer system is configured to track a collection of API functions associated with a first version operating system currently installed and to record the subset of API functions that have been called by applications during operation of the first version operating system. The computer system is further configured to manage the subset of API functions and generate a comparison between the subset and a list of API functions that have changed between a second version and the first version operating system. Finally, the computer system is configured to report the result of the comparison back to the user.
US08423960B2
A method for software processing in which software locations are assigned priorities indicative of respective likelihoods that the locations contain program faults, based on review information pertaining to reviews that have been conducted on respective locations in software code. In some methods, a software location is detected to be critical based on the priorities.
US08423954B2
Methods, systems, and software for providing or utilizing a software solutions bag of development components and enterprise knowledge—whether developed internally or by third parties—are described herein. One method for managing reusable development components comprises providing a catalog of a plurality of development components to a user. The cataloged development components may include or reference at least a first development component of a first type and a second development component of a second type. A software solutions bag is then generated based on a user selection of at least one of the cataloged development components.
US08423949B2
The present disclosure is directed to a technique that can be applied to a situation in which a single product is designed by multiple designers using a CAD. During a modification operation of feature data, portions that are referenced to are accumulated in a referenced portion accumulation unit. A portion that has been modified is obtained from new and old feature data, and a determination is made as to whether a reference to the modified portion has been made, based on the information accumulated in the referenced portion accumulation unit. Information about the modified portion that is determined as having been referenced to is displayed on a display.
US08423945B2
Techniques, systems, and methods are provided for optimizing pattern density fill patterns for integrated circuits. The method includes adjusting an area of a scribe line and a density of dummy fill shapes in the adjusted scribe line, while maintaining an area of the die, to achieve a pattern density associated with technology ground rules for a particular design of the die.
US08423943B2
A method of filling dcaps in an integrated circuit includes identifying a set of dcap-eligible areas of the integrated circuit for areas large enough to accommodate at least one dcap cell having a selected size smaller than a default size. The dcap cell includes at least one built-in power track. A set of dcap cells are filled in the identified set of dcap-eligible areas. Each of the built-in power tracks included in the set of dcap cells is connected to a corresponding power grid. An integrated circuit including a power grid channel formed between at least two power grids and a plurality of dcaps including a first dcap included in a dcap cell, the dcap cell including built-in power tracks, each one of the built-in power tracks being connected to a corresponding one of the at least two power grids is also described.
US08423941B2
Methods and systems for migrating circuit layouts. A floorplan layout is built for a target circuit using a subset of constraints that characterize a layout structure of an original circuit. Shape-constraint-based scaling is used on the floorplan layout by scaling parts of the floorplan layout in accordance with a plurality of different scaling ratios such that portions of the floorplan layout are concurrently scaled with the plurality of different scaling ratios. Cells are placed at locations defined by the floorplan layout. The floorplan layout is checked with shape-constraint-based legalization using all of the constraints to produce a migrated layout.
US08423938B2
A wire-spacing verification method for a computer includes calculating a characteristic impedance of each wire model disposed in a substrate model on a basis of a propagation rate of a signal in the wire model and rise time or fall time of an element model for transmitting the signal, calculating a reference impedance for predetermined sections, creating a distribution map in a direction of a section length with respect to the characteristic impedance of each of the sections for which the reference impedance is calculated, calculating an index indicating a degree of mismatch with the reference impedance, on a basis of the created distribution map, and making an approval/denial determination on the wire model on a basis of the index.
US08423935B1
One embodiment of a method for verifying functional equivalency between a design of an integrated circuit and a corresponding clock-gated design utilizing output-based clock gating includes selecting a first one of a first plurality of internal state elements in the design and a corresponding first one of a second plurality of internal state elements in the clock-gated design, wherein an input to the first one of the first plurality of internal state elements serves as a first comparison point and an input to the corresponding first one of the second plurality of internal state elements serves as a second comparison point, and the design is to be compared against the clock-gated design at the first comparison point and the second comparison point and generating a test bench that identifies the first comparison point and the second comparison point as a set of comparison points.
US08423934B1
An electronic design automation (EDA) tool to validate representations of a design is disclosed. Reference and compared representations of the design are intended to respond to stimulus in the same way, but at different levels of abstraction. The reference and compared representations are simulated, at some point, to each generate waveform signals and measured results. Simulation can be with the same tool or different tools. The same or different testbench can be used on the reference and compared representations in the simulation. A design representation validation function compares the two sets of generated waveform signals and compares the two sets of measured results to identify any violations. The measured results and/or waveform signals could be loaded from previous simulations and just validated within the validation tool. Loaded simulations could be for the reference representation with just simulation of the compared representation by the validation tool, or for both with no simulations run by the validation tool. Through an optional design representation validation interface, the violations are identified and are linked to interfaces that detail the violations in greater detail, for example, to aid in debugging why the reference and compared representations are not equivalent.
US08423929B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to automatically generate a processor architecture for a custom integrated circuit (IC) described by a computer readable code. The IC has one or more timing and hardware constraints. The system extracts parameters defining the processor architecture from a static profile and a dynamic profile of the computer readable code; iteratively optimizes the processor architecture by changing one or more parameters until all timing and hardware constraints expressed as a cost function are met; and synthesizes the generated processor architecture into a computer readable description of the custom integrated circuit for semiconductor fabrication.
US08423926B2
According to one embodiment, an acceptance determining method of a blank for an EUV mask includes evaluating whether or not an integrated circuit device becomes defective, on the basis of information of a defect contained in a blank for an EUV mask and design information of a mask pattern to be formed on the blank. The integrated circuit device is to be manufactured by using the EUV mask. The EUV mask is manufactured by forming the mask pattern on the blank. And the blank is determined to be non-defective in a case that the integrated circuit device is not to be defective.
US08423922B2
In one embodiment, a photomask designing method for creating a pattern layout having an assist pattern placed around a design pattern is disclosed. The method can place a plurality of evaluation points around the design pattern and set an evaluation index for imaging properties of the design pattern on an imaging surface. The method can combine a light intensity distribution of the design pattern with light intensity distributions of the evaluation points to obtain a light intensity distribution on the imaging surface and evaluate the light intensity distribution on the imaging surface using the evaluation index to determine a region having an effective evaluation point placed. In addition, the method can determine a placement condition for the assist pattern based on the region where the effective evaluation point is placed and place the assist pattern around the design pattern based on the placement condition to create the pattern layout.
US08423921B2
Data including information related to each area with a graphic disposed therein is inputted to the writing apparatus. The area is delimited with meshes each having a predetermined size. Next, an area value of a graphic lying within each of the meshes and its center-of-gravity position are determined. For every mesh, a check is made whether the area value is less than or equal to a predetermined value. When the area value is less than or equal to the predetermined value, a range allowable for an x coordinate of the center-of-gravity position is determined and a check is made whether an actual x coordinate falls within this range. Next, a range allowable for a y coordinate of the center-of-gravity position is determined and a check is made whether an actual y coordinate falls within this range.
US08423918B2
A method and system for designing a photomask. The method provides a single machine methodology for inspecting photomasks having regions that repeat and regions that do not repeat. The method includes generating a chip dataset representing an integrated circuit chip design to be included in a cell region of a photomask, generating a kerf dataset to be included in the cell region, generating a kerf copy dataset, and merging the chip dataset, the kerf dataset and the kerf copy dataset into a photomask dataset representing a pattern of clear and opaque regions of the photomask.
US08423913B1
A system detects an association of at least one style to at least one file, the file containing a reference to the style, and displays a representation of the style. The system also displays a representation of the file, and a representation of the association of the style to the file. The system displays a number of times the style is defined within the one file, and the number of times the style is used within the at least one file.
US08423911B2
A multifunction device displays a plurality of selectable user interface objects on the display. In response to detecting the first input, the device moves a first object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects across the display to a location on the display that is proximate to a second object in the plurality of selectable user interface objects. In response to detecting that the first input meets predefined folder-creation criteria while the first object is proximate to the second object, the device creates a folder that contains the first object and the second object.
US08423908B2
Incoming e-mails, instant messages, SMS, and MMS, are analyzed by a handheld electronic device to identify the language of text.
US08423890B2
This invention provides a user interface that aligns an object corresponding to an image or a text on an object corresponding to a page of an electronic album and displays the object in a list so that the user can easily, visually, and correctly recognize change of alignment of the objects when editing a layout of the objects. In an information processing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of pages and reduced images corresponding thereto are orderly displayed in a list in a window. When first one of the reduced images is dragged and overlaps with second one of the reduced images, the second reduced image is shifted from an original alignment position and displayed in the window. When the first reduced image is dropped at an original alignment position of the second reduced image, an order of each page is changed.
US08423873B2
Two levels of error correction decoding are performed using first and second level decoders. A composite code formed by combining an inner component code and an outer component code can be used to decode the data and correct any errors. Performing two level decoding using a composite code allows the size of the inner parity block to be reduced to a single Reed-Solomon symbol while keeping a good code rate. The first level decoder generates soft information. The soft information can indicate a most likely error event for each possible syndrome value of the inner component code. The soft information can also include error metric values for each of the most likely error events. The second level decoder generates corrected syndrome values based on the soft information using the outer component code. The most likely trellis path that corresponds to the corrected syndrome values is then selected.
US08423870B1
A method for generating a data frame for data transmission includes using a processor to generate a first padding field. The method also includes using the processor to generate one or more parity bits by encoding an input comprising the first padding field, a syncmark and data to be transmitted. The method also includes using the processor to add the one or more parity bits to the data frame. The method also includes using the processor to add a second padding field after the one or more parity bits.
US08423869B2
A decoding apparatus includes maximum decoding iteration count controller 52 which determines maximum decoding iteration counts of respective received code words based on modulation schemes and error-correcting coding ratios which are applied to the received code words and average error ratios of the received code words before the code words are decoded, and turbo decoding engine 53 which decodes each of the received code words according to a maximum decoding iteration count determined by maximum decoding iteration count controller 52.
US08423867B2
Technologies are generally described herein for encoding a message. Technologies are also generally described herein for decoding an encoded message. The message may be encoded and/or decoded according to a mapping rule. The mapping rule may enable multiple messages to be successively written to the same block in a solid state drive without an erasure operation.
US08423864B2
A receiving apparatus includes: a deinterleaving device configured to perform a deinterleaving process on an LDPC-coded data signal having undergone an interleaving process, the LDPC representing Low Density Parity Check, by use of a memory which has columns capable of storing as many as “a” data, the “a” being an integer of at least 1; and a control device configured such that if the data signal is supplied in units of N data, the N being an integer smaller than the “a,” the control device controls the deinterleaving device to write the data signal to a predetermined address of the memory while reading previously written data from the predetermined address in a write period, the control device further controlling the deinterleaving device to stop writing the data signal to the predetermined address of the memory while reading the previously written data from the predetermined address in a write inhibit period.
US08423859B2
It is possible to provide a terminal device, a terminal device control method, and a recording medium which enables an error correction without modifying hardware. The terminal device receives a data stream formed in the NAL Unit by a hard decoder based on the H.264 standard. The terminal device includes error correction means which analyzes data encoded in the data stream by software and performs an error correction before inputting the data to the hard decoder.
US08423858B2
A method of performing HARQ performed by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes receiving a bundling indicator which indicates the number of bundled downlink subframes, determining whether at least one bundled downlink subframe is missed by comparing the bundling indicator with the number of detected bundled downlink subframes, generating a representative ACK/NACK signal when no bundled downlink subframe is missed, and transmitting the representative ACK/NACK signal on an uplink channel. Recovery capability is maximized and the packet loss is reduced in such a situation that less number of ACK/NACK signals are fed back than that of downlink packets.
US08423853B2
Methods and apparatus for communicating and utilizing persistent allocation of resources are described herein. A base station can allocate persistent resources to a client station, and can associate the client station or persistent resource allocation with a particular shared NACK channel. The base station can monitor the NACK channel for a NACK indicating a map error. The base station can also monitor the resource allocation to implicitly determine a map error. The base station can resend one or more persistent resource allocation information elements in response to the NACK or implicit error determination. A client station having a persistent resource allocation can monitor persistent resource allocation information elements in map messages and can indicate failure to receive a persistent resource allocation information element in a NACK message on a preassigned share NACK channel.
US08423849B2
A method and system reuse data logs generated from testing of programmable devices in order to provide an input file of parameter values and settings for use in automatically configuring a device simulator. The programmable device testing process generates a data log output with data formatted so that parameter data are associated with unique variable labels. The data log output file is processed in a parser operation that filters out private and unnecessary information, organizes the data and generates a simulation input file in a format compatible with the simulator. The process can be fully automated.
US08423848B2
A server includes a baseboard management controller (BMC). More than one inter-integrated circuit (I2C) device may be connected to the BMC via a multiplexing switch. The server sets a first identifier for indicating which channels of I2C device are open, and a second identifier for indicating which channels of the I2C devices are closed, and sends the set information to the BMC. To test a selected I2C device, the server opens a channel to the selected I2C device and assigns the first identifier to the channel of the selected I2C device. During testing of the selected I2C device, if the BMC intends to access a different I2C device, the BMC waits for the identifier of the selected I2C device to change from the first identifier to the second identifier, and then opens a channel to the different I2C device.
US08423840B2
An address signal generating circuit generates an address signal which designates the address in memory to be accessed. An inversion inhibition signal generating unit generates multiple patterns of inversion inhibition signals each having the same bit width as that of the address signal, and each having a function of preventing particular bits of the address signal from being inverted. A selector selects one of the multiple patterns of inversion inhibition signals generated by the inversion inhibition signal generating unit, and outputs the inversion inhibition signal thus selected. When an inversion control signal is asserted, an address signal inverting circuit inverts only the bits of the address signal which are not prevented from being inverted according to the inversion inhibition signal selected by the selector, and outputs the resulting address signal.
US08423833B2
A method for monitoring the quality-of-service (QoS) of high priority transactions in a software system includes receiving a specific QoS metric of a high priority transaction, where the QoS metric associated with a plurality of buckets and comparing the sampled specific QoS metric to an expected value for the specific QoS metric. If the sampled specific QoS metric exceeds the corresponding expected value, a bucket for the specific QoS metric is incremented, otherwise the bucket is decremented. If the bucket for the specific QoS metric overflows, the current bucket is reinitialized to zero, a depth of a next bucket for the specific QoS metric is computed, and a number of standard deviations from a mean value for the specific QoS metric is incremented. When the bucket for the specific QoS metric exceeds a threshold, a software rejuvenation routine is executed.
US08423828B2
The present application discloses a preventative, diagnostic maintenance system designed for gaming systems. Sensor and software monitor, accumulate, store and share information for efficient maintenance of the gaming systems. Diagnostic and prognostic tests are run and results prioritized wherein minor and intermittent problems that indicate potential future problems are stored. When a technician visit is prescribed, the system will present via a GUI a visualization of the status of gamed devices, and, forearm the technician with the high and low priority information regarding the high priority problems along with the low priority problems for all the game devices at the same site. The technician will be able to bring the specific tools, programs and parts to service the high and the low priority problems of all the game devices.
US08423819B2
The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device is coupled to a host, and comprises a downgrade memory and a controller. The downgrade memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages, each of the pages comprises a plurality of sectors, and some of the sectors are defect sectors. The controller generates a defect table for recording a plurality of defect addresses of the defect sectors in the blocks, receives a plurality of data sectors to be written to the downgrade memory from the host, determines a plurality of first physical sector addresses for storing the data sectors according to the defect table, and sends write commands to the downgrade memory to direct the downgrade memory to write the data sectors to the downgrade memory according to the first physical sector addresses.
US08423817B2
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include detecting a fault associated with a network element that is communicatively coupled to a network. After detecting the fault, the network element may receive a reset signal in response to the fault detection. After receiving the reset signal, the network element may store a new image of an operating system of the network element into memory associated with the network element. After storing the new image, the network element may reboot. During reboot, the method may load the stored new image of the operating system from memory associated with the network element.
US08423806B2
The present invention relates to a power management system comprising at least one power management subsystem. Each power management subsystem comprises a first power module coupled to a first load and comprising at least one first power supply for supplying power to the first load; a second power module coupled to a second load and comprising at least one second power supply, wherein at least one second power supply is retractably installed in the second power module and selectively coupled to the second load; and a pass-through module comprising at least one pass-through unit retractably installed in the second power module to replace with the at least one second power supply and selectively connecting the first power module to the second load for allowing the first power module to supply power to the second load.
US08423803B2
A management controller, method and program product for forcing one or more power states on a display, the management controller comprising: a computer (110) configured to receive a power management electronic signal; the computer (110) comprising control logic that operates without use of an operating system to determine a desired level of the power management electronic signal and to set the power management electronic signal to the desired level; and the computer (110) configured to send the power management electronic signal at the desired level to a monitor (120).
US08423801B2
An electronic device including an external-memory-medium installing portion in which an external memory medium storing contents data, a display portion for displaying the contents data, a sound generating portion for generating a sound, a power-shut-down-requirement receiving portion for receiving a requirement for shutting-down a power supply to the electronic device, a monitoring portion for determining whether the external memory medium is installed in the external-memory-medium installing portion, a sound-generation commanding portion for commanding command the sound generating portion to generate an alarming sound when the monitoring portion has determined that the external memory medium is not installed in the external-memory-medium installing portion while the contents data are displayed, and a power supply control portion for inhibiting an operation to shut down the power supply to the electronic device when the power-shut-down-requirement receiving portion has received the requirement for shutting down the power supply while the contents data are displayed.
US08423791B1
A computer-implemented method and system of quarantining user location information receives from a user device user location information that includes personally identifiable user data and user position data associated with one or more geographic positions of the user. The user location information is temporarily stored in a quarantine data storage database for a predetermined quarantine time, during such time it can be used for various analyses. After the quarantine time, personally identifiable user data of the user location information is filtered out before the user position data is sent for long-term storage to a filtered data storage system.
US08423783B2
A mechanism is provided for secure PIN management of a user trusted device. A user trusted device detects a memory card coupled to the user trusted device. The user trusted device receives user input of an external PIN (ext_PIN). The user trusted device identifies a key (K) associated with the external PIN, wherein the key is stored in the persistent memory. The user trusted device computes a card PIN (card_PIN) using a function (f) and the key as stored on the persistent memory, wherein the card PIN is computed using the following equation: card_PIN=f(K, ext_PIN). The user trusted device unlocks the memory card using the card PIN, thereby forming an unlocked memory card.
US08423780B2
The presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides an encryption based security system for network storage that separates the ability to access storage from the ability to access the stored data. This is achieved by keeping all the data encrypted on the storage devices. Logically, the invention comprises a device that has two network interfaces: one is a clear text network interface that connects to one or more clients, and the other is a secure network interface that is connected to one or more persistent storage servers. Functionally, each network interface supports multiple network nodes. That is, the clear text network interface supports multiple client machines, and the secure network interface supports one or more storage servers.
US08423773B2
A multimedia messaging system for receiving/sending multimedia messages, includes: a wireless LAN; and a MMS gateway. The MMS gateway performs: receiving/sending the multimedia message to/from a MMS user device via the wireless LAN; and encrypting the multimedia message. The encryption is performed by: issuing a certificate to the MMS user device; sending a session ID and a master key encrypted by the MMS gateway's private key to the MMS user device in response to a request of the MMS user device having the certificate; generated a shared secret key using an algorithm combining the master key with the MMS user device's phone number and the session ID; and encrypting the multimedia message using the shared secret key.
US08423768B2
The method is for authentication in a communication network. A mobile station and an authentication server give access to services in the network. A user of a mobile station first sends a request for a service or a password in a message from the mobile station. The authentication server controls the location information for the mobile station, and sends a password to the mobile station or grants access to the user as a reply to the request if the location information is accepted by the server.
US08423765B2
A system and method for remote device registration, to monitor and meter the injection of keying or other confidential information onto a device, is provided. A producer who utilizes one or more separate manufacturers, operates a remote module that communicates over forward and backward channels with a local module at the manufacturer. Encrypted data transmissions are sent by producer to the manufacturer and are decrypted to obtain sensitive data used in the devices. As data transmissions are decrypted, credits from a credit pool are depleted and can be replenished by the producer through credit instructions. As distribution images are decrypted, usage records are created and eventually concatenated, and sent as usage reports back to the producer, to enable the producer to monitor and meter production at the manufacturer.
US08423762B2
What is disclosed is a system and method that allows a secondary certificate authority to rely on one or more existing primary certificate authorities to establish identity of a user and provide identity certificates. The secondary certificate authority applies business rules to those identity certificates to establish a community of privilege, and then issues and maintains new privilege certificates without issuing new private keys or smart cards. The new privilege certificates bind the original identity, the sponsor, i.e., the primary certificate authority, and the privilege. The new privilege certificates can be used on a Public Key Infrastructures (PKI) transaction basis, for example, to grant access to unclassified and Multi-Level Secure (MLS) resources without further reference to the existing primary certificate authorities.
US08423740B2
Described herein are systems and methods for fast boot from non-volatile (“NV”) memory. The exemplary embodiments relate to systems and methods for significant improvements in performance speed with simple implementations. One embodiment relates to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions executable by a processor, the set of instructions operable to identify a page fault, determine whether the page fault occurred due to a read from a NV memory, copy a page from the NV memory to a random-access memory (“RAM”) storage, and create an identity mapping for the page in the RAM storage. A further embodiment relates to a system comprising a NV memory, a random access memory, and a processor executing a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions being operable to identify a page fault, determine whether a page fault occurred due to a read from the NV memory, copy a page from the NV memory to the RAM storage, and create an identity mapping for the page in the RAM storage.
US08423736B2
Maintaining cache coherence in a multi-node, symmetric multiprocessing computer, the computer composed of a plurality of compute nodes, including, broadcasting upon a cache miss by a first compute node a request for a cache line; transmitting from each of the other compute nodes to all other nodes the state of the cache line on that node, including transmitting from any compute node having a correct copy to the first node the correct copy of the cache line; and updating by each node the state of the cache line in each node, in dependence upon one or more of the states of the cache line in all the nodes.
US08423732B1
A technique enables creation and use of a writable, read-only snapshot of an active file system operating on a storage system, such as a multi-protocol storage appliance. The writable, read-only snapshot comprises a read-only “image” (file) residing in a snapshot and a writable virtual disk (vdisk) residing in the active file system. The writable vdisk is a “shadow” image of the snapshot file image and, as such, includes an attribute that specifies the snapshot file as a backing store.
US08423726B2
Redundant data is globally de-duplicated across a shared architecture that includes a plurality of storage systems. The storage systems implement copy-on-write or WAFL to generate snapshots of original data. Each storage system includes a de-duplication client to identify and reduce redundant original and/or snapshot data on the storage system. Each de-duplication client can de-duplicate a digital sequence by breaking the sequence into blocks and identifying redundant blocks already stored in the shared architecture. Identifying redundant blocks may include hashing each block and comparing the hash to a local and/or master hash table containing hashes of existing data. Once identified, redundant data previously stored is deleted (e.g., post-process de-duplication), or redundant data is not stored to begin with (e.g., inline de-duplication). In both cases, pointers to shared data blocks can be used to reassemble the digital sequence where one or more blocks were deleted or not stored on the storage system.
US08423707B2
A data access method for accessing a flash memory storage system, a storage system and a controller using the same are provided. A flash memory has a plurality of physical blocks, which are grouped into a system area, a data area, and a spare area. One or more variable tables are established to record transient information of each set of mother-child blocks of the data area and the spare area. The number of the variable table could be adjusted adaptively according to time required for writing the variable table into the system area, such that an overall data access efficiency of the flash memory storage system is enhanced.
US08423705B2
A semiconductor device includes a first nonvolatile storage area including a plurality of sectors, a second nonvolatile storage area, a third nonvolatile storage area located in the first nonvolatile storage area, a fourth nonvolatile storage area located in the second nonvolatile storage area, and a control portion selecting one of a first mode and a second mode. In first mode, sectors where the third nonvolatile storage area is not located in the first nonvolatile storage area are used as a main storage area, and the second nonvolatile storage area is used to store a program or data that is read before the first nonvolatile storage area is accessed, the third nonvolatile storage area being used to store control information that controls writing, reading, and erasing of data involved in the first nonvolatile storage area or the second nonvolatile storage area. In the second mode, the first nonvolatile storage area is used as the main storage area, and the fourth nonvolatile storage area is used to store the control information.
US08423704B2
A method for dynamically optimizing the memory use in a digital recording device. The disclosed method includes recording a plurality of digital files collected by said digital recording device on a recording medium and assigning each file of said plurality of recorded digital files a priority ranking of high, medium or low based on at least one predetermined criteria. The method also includes recording additional digital files on the recording medium and compressing the files assigned a low priority ranking when the recording medium reaches a first predetermined threshold of the recording medium's total storage capacity. The method further includes compressing the files assigned a medium priority ranking when the recording medium reaches a predetermined threshold in the recording medium's total storage capacity and deleting files designated as low priority files when the recording medium reaches a predetermined threshold in the recording medium's total storage capacity.
US08423698B2
Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for converting resets in a shared I/O system. One embodiment includes a method that propagates a first type of reset from a host computer to a multi-function device that shares I/O operations with other hosts. The first type of reset is converted to a second type of reset to prevent the host from resetting functions bound to the other hosts at the multi-function device.
US08423695B2
A dual bus interface PCB includes a main chipset component, a first type bus interface connector, and a second type bus interface connector. The PCB can be configured at fabrication time to enable a variety of configurations for operation. Optionally, the PCB can also be provided at least one memory chip and a NIC (Network Interface Card) chip. By virtue of having a dual interface, the PCB can be used with either the first type or the second type bus. Furthermore, the dual interface PCB eliminates the need by chipset manufacturers to carry multiple PCB variations of the same product in order to support various bus interfaces. In one embodiment, the PCB is a dual PCI-X/PCI-E interface PCB.
US08423691B2
A system and a method for recognizing removable devices of a computer device, and displaying a dialog box to prompt whether a removable storage device needs to be renamed and if so to receive input data accordingly from a user, if a USB port has been newly connected to the removable storage device. The recognition method further includes acquiring a unique port number of the USB port actually connected to the removable storage device, and acquiring a device name of a system disk name of the removable storage device originally allocated by the computer device, if the removable storage device needs to be renamed. The recognition method further may utilize the unique port number of the USB port as the new device name of the removable storage device in renaming it.
US08423684B2
A display apparatus operable in plural modes and a mode changing method thereof are disclosed. The display apparatus includes a storage unit which stores information about a final mode, and a controller which changes a mode of the display apparatus to the final mode and displays a corresponding screen if the display apparatus is connected to a host device.
US08423680B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for inserting a gap in information sent from a drive to a host device. In operation, one or more commands are received at a drive from a host device. Additionally, information is queued to send to the host device. Furthermore, a gap is inserted in the information to send to the host device such that the host device is capable of sending additional commands to the drive.
US08423678B2
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a resilient network database. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The invention is directed to an interface for a database node comprising: a port for receiving a request for information from a network node; a processor for determining if the database node can respond to said request; and a transmitter for forwarding the request to another database node if the particular database node cannot respond. The invention is also directed to a distributed database comprising a number of database nodes, wherein a request received by one node is forwarded to other nodes in the distributed database if the particular node cannot handle the request.
US08423668B2
In one example embodiment, a system and method are shown that includes calculating a first SPF tree for a first device, the first SPF tree including a root node and a first child node, the first device being the root node of the first SPF tree. Additionally, the system and method may include calculating a second SPF tree for a second device that is a neighbor of the first device, the second SPF tree including a root node and a first child node, the second device being the root node of the second SPF tree. Further, the system and method may include building a set of interested nodes including the second device, if the first child node if the first SPF tree and the first child node of the second SPF tree are distinct.
US08423665B2
Management arrangements receiving plural failure information from plural host computers for a predetermined period; storing the failure information; extracting one or more of the plural failure information, received from a first host computer among the plural host computers; retrieving the failure information about one path from the extracted failure information, about multiple paths; registering the first host computer via refresh information in the memory, refresh information indicating a host computer of which path information is to be updated; sending a request to the first host computer to acquire a status of a first path of the first host computer; updating a first path information in the plurality of path information of the first host computer, based on the status; and deleting the one or more of the plurality of failure information of the extracting from the failure reception information.
US08423653B2
An exemplary method includes generating an access record associated with a data session provided by at least one access layer element over an access network, generating an application record associated with an application provided by at least one application layer element over the access network, transmitting data representative of a correlation parameter associated with application from the at least one application layer element to the at least one access layer element via an inter-layer liaison subsystem, and inserting the correlation parameter associated with application and received from the at least one application layer element via the inter-layer liaison subsystem in the access record. In some examples, the method further includes correlating the access record and the application record based on the correlation parameter associated with the application. Other exemplary inter-layer parameter liaison methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08423649B2
A computer-implemented process facilitates communication with an entity over a network. A static HTTP URL is associated with the entity. Communications information reflecting the entity's current online presence including the entity's dynamic session information as determined using the HTTP protocol is linked with the URL. Communication with the entity is facilitated using the URL and the communications information. The forms of communication facilitated include type chat/instant messaging, voice communication over a computer network, video communication over a computer network, voice communication from a computer network to a telephone network and two-way text messaging to Internet enabled wireless devices.
US08423645B2
A method of, system for, and product for managing a denial of service attack in a multiprocessor environment comprising. The first step is establishing normal traffic usage baselines in the multiprocessor environment. Once the baseline is established the next step is monitoring outgoing traffic to detect a high proportion of packets being sent to a specific destination address, and a high number of outbound packets compared to said baseline. Next is monitoring ports and protocols to detect a high proportion of packets sent to a specific port, and a consistent use of a protocol for all packets for that port. If there is such consistent use of a protocol for all packets for that port as to evidence a denial of service attack, blocking measures are started to mitigate the apparent denial of service attack.
US08423644B2
According to a tendency of a resource allocation request from a customer, a resource configuration that a resource provider provides is changed. The resource allocation request from customer's client machine with respect to a resource that a local domain including a server, a network, and a storage provides is accumulated together with an allocation result, and, on the basis of the accumulated resource allocation information and resource configuration information that the local domain provides, a resource planning algorithm determining the resource configuration to be provided next is executed, and, on the premise that approval of a system manager is obtained via a manager's client machine, the resource configuration change that is a result of the resource planning is applied to a group of resources, and disclosure is made so as to cope with the next resource allocation request by a customer's client machine.
US08423642B2
A method and system for controlling a recipient's access to a user's information. The method includes receiving a plurality of contact information, registration information and access information from the user. Only person's knowing the user's registration information can update the contact and access information of the user. The contact information entered by a user is about that user. The access information defines accessible sets of contact information to be made accessible to recipients. A telephone exchange is associated with each recipient; and a local server is associated with each telephone exchange. The accessible set of information is stored in the local server for access by the recipient. The system handles updates to information on the local servers when a user updates their contact information. The system can automatically place calls for a recipient to a user that has granted the recipient access to a number for communicating with the user.
US08423635B2
A method and exploration engine for automatically detecting a call flow path of a voice application having a plurality of dialog states, the method comprising the steps of: identifying, in an automated manner, the plurality of dialog states of the voice application through execution of the voice application; and identifying at least one relationship between the plurality of dialog states. The method may further comprise some of the following steps: creating a unique identifier (ID) for one of the plurality of dialog states, wherein the unique ID is based on information received when executing the voice application, wherein the information comprises attributes associated with one of the plurality of dialog states; storing the unique ID and other information associated with the dialog state; and graphically illustrating a call flow path of the voice application based on the unique ID and other information stored in the database.
US08423631B1
A method of intelligently sorting packets/datagrams for sending through appropriate branches of a N-way split VPN tunnel according to embodiments of the present invention allow for efficient movement of network traffic to and from a remote network location. Intelligent sorting may be based on a wide range of criteria in order to implement different policies. For example, datagrams may be sorted for sending through the branches of a 3-way split tunnel so that all traffic from a remote network location ultimately destined to servers at a central location may be sent via a secure VPN tunnel, all traffic that matches a “white-list” of trusted external sites may be sent directly to and from these sites to the remote network location, and all other traffic may be redirected through a Web service that scrubs and filters the traffic to/from questionable sites. Furthermore, the VPN tunnel may be chosen to minimize latency, to detour around network failures, or to conserve energy by minimizing the number of routers a datagram passes through.
US08423626B2
A system for selection by a user and delivery to the user over an internetwork transmission channel of selected audio data files at a delivery rate of at least twice the delivery rate for normal, audibly perceptible playback of an audio data file. The user registers the user's selection of audio material with a central library of audio and/or text data files, and a digitized and optionally compressed omnibus file containing the user's selections is prepared and transmitted to the user at a high data transfer rate. The user receives downloads the selected data files to a personal computer or to a portable storage and playback unit (SPU) that may store and play back digitized text or audio data, using a docking station. The user carries this SPU until the user has an opportunity to audio process and play back the text or audio data files in audibly perceptible form.
US08423609B2
Provided are a network apparatus and system that may request or receive the same contents stored in a plurality of network apparatuses. In a network system sharing data, specific segments from a plurality of segments constituting the data may be received from mutually different terminals. For this, a transmission region may be determined by calculating a transmission offset corresponding to the plurality of terminals, and at least one segment included in the determined transmission region may be received from a corresponding terminal.
US08423608B2
A method and a corresponding device for communicating between clients and servers of a client/server system using an OPC UA protocol, OPC UA service calls can be used for the interaction of an OPC UA client with an OPC UA server. The OPC UA client requests additional services within an OPC UA session. The additional services are requested by a client part for using additional services and are handled by a server part for providing additional services.
US08423607B2
A method and/or apparatus for intelligent domain name server selection are provided. A mobile device may wirelessly receive one or more domain name server Internet Protocol (IP) addresses from a network serving agent during a call setup or a network registration. The mobile device then determines whether one or more of the received domain name server IP addresses is valid prior to attempting to contact a domain name server associated with one of the received domain name server IP addresses. A fallback sequence of valid domain name server IP addresses may be generated and provided (either individually or as a group) from a link layer to an application layer for domain name resolution. Received domain name server IP addresses that are geographically closer to a current location of the mobile device or its visited network may be given priority.
US08423606B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for fragmenting a media stream (e.g., for HTTP streaming) by generating fragments that can have variable relative durations. The disclosed technologies enable fragmenting the media stream by two or more media streaming server systems to obtain respective sets of fragments having a framing structure that is consistent across the two or more media streaming server systems. Consequently, a client computer system can place HTTP requests for fragments of the media stream, e.g. for switching mid-stream, to any of the two or more media streaming server systems that generated the respective sets of fragments.
US08423602B2
A system, computer architecture, and method of enabling asynchronous callback and broadcast notification between a server and a client software application in a network, wherein the method comprises processing computer logic instructions in the network; requesting a notification of a completion of the processing of the computer logic instructions; storing the notification request in a registry; queuing the notification request according to a response to the notification request and a list of user endpoints requesting the notification of a completion of the processing of the computer logic instructions; and notifying a recipient system of the completion of the processing of the computer logic instructions upon execution of the queued notification request.
US08423601B2
A communication device includes an IC chip storing information in a predetermined area and functioning as a reader/writer that reads out or writes information stored in another IC chip. Also, the communication device downloads an agent from an information processing device connected to the network. Here, the agent is provided as application software operating the IC chip as a reader/writer. Furthermore, the communication device downloads a role from the information device connected to the network using the agent downloaded therefrom, where the role is provided as script data in which part of the contents of processing of the reader/writer performed by the agent.
US08423597B1
A method and system for adaptive matrix trimming in an inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) operation. At least one row of an input matrix is accessed. At least one matrix element of the row having a value of zero is detected. During execution of an IDCT multiplication operation on the row for generating an output row, IDCT multiplication operation for a matrix element having a value of zero is skipped.
US08423594B2
A method for implementing a hash map to improve performance consistency is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a hash map comprising a set of tables, the set of tables initially containing a first table. When the first table is full, the method augments the hash map by adding a second table to the set of tables. Similarly, when the second table is full, the method augments the hash map by adding a third table to the set of tables. A similar technique may be used to add additional tables to the hash map. When searching for a value in any of the tables in the hash map, the method uses the same hash code. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed herein.
US08423590B2
For each section of a buffer, a string of characters is retrieved and reordered to generate a reordered string of characters for the section. Thereafter, for each section of the buffer, the string of characters within the section is copied over with the reordered string of characters for a different section of the buffer. The buffer is then output to a file. If a desired length of the file has not yet been reached, then this process is repeated, or the buffer is again output to the file, based on a desired amount of duplicate data to be included within the file. The resulting file can be used to test a single-instance storage algorithm. The file is thus adapted to mimic a non-artificially generated file in relation to testing a single-instance storage algorithm.
US08423587B2
A system and methodology for real-time content aggregation and syndication is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for assisting a user with extracting items relevant to search queries from documents including items of various types, the method comprises steps of: receiving a search query specifying a search phrase and a particular item type; identifying documents matching the search phrase; for each matching document, determining whether the document includes an item having the particular item type; and extracting items having the particular item type from the matching documents for display to the user. The solution enables a user to aggregate and syndicate content without a professional content manager or complicated content management software tools.
US08423584B2
Creating a device tree is provided. It is determined whether more than one version of a resource for a data processing system exists in a resource location code array table. In response to determining that more than one version of the resource for the data processing system does exist in the resource location code array table, it is determined which version of the resource was installed in the data processing system. A presence detection procedure is performed for the resource in the data processing system. It is determined whether the resource is present in the data processing system. In response to determining that the resource is present in the data processing system, an entry is created in a device tree for the resource based on the determined version of the resource. The device tree is cached in firmware.
US08423576B2
A method includes parsing input from a requestor, where the input includes at least one of a query and a command that is parsed into a structured query having an indication of at least one data stream or set of data streams and at least one action to be performed on the at least one data stream or set of data streams. The method further includes mapping the structured query into a graph of processing elements that are selected and interconnected so as to execute the structured query; instantiating the graph of processing elements and connecting and initializing the instantiated graph of processing elements with an identified at least one data stream or set of data streams to receive data there from; and outputting a result of the structured query to the requestor.
US08423572B2
An apparatus for detecting presence of a selected complex string in a data stream has a primary processor, detecting coherent strings of the selected complex string; and a secondary processor, pipelined to the primary processor, and detecting ambiguous strings interleaving said coherent strings. The primary processor is configured to determine a number of coherent strings in the selected complex string, each coherent string preceded by a prefix of indefinite characters, with a last coherent string succeeded by a suffix of indefinite characters; and to locate sequential portions of the data stream that are identical to successive coherent strings of the selected complex string. The secondary processor is configured to ascertain congruence of portions of the data stream preceding and interleaving the sequential portions to prefixes of the coherent strings; and to ascertain congruence of the suffix to a corresponding portion of said data stream following the sequential portions.
US08423567B1
Fields in a query result of a query may be classified as numerical, date, or text according to their field type. Depending on the classification of the fields, different fields or functions applied to the fields may added to first dimension, second dimension, and/or filter menus in an interface. A user may make a selection of fields and/or functions from the menus, and additional query terms may be generated and appended to the query. The appended query may then be executed and the results may be displayed in a first and a second dimension of the interface depending on the selections made by the user.
US08423564B1
A method and systems are provided for managing database data. A data repository stores existing immediate mode data in the form of immediate mode database records. Transaction mode database records for modifying and adding to the immediate mode records are created and stored, with the transaction mode records being organized into transactions. Each transaction includes a definition, such as a transaction definition record, and transaction mode records are associated with a transaction using a field in each transaction mode record including a reference to a transaction. A transaction can be posted, causing values stored in the transaction mode records associated with the transaction to be used to create added or modified immediate mode records. Transactions can also be used in operations providing views to show the effects of the transaction mode records, or to create data structures for export.
US08423550B2
A computer-readable medium includes a program including processes of correlating electronic information which is correlated to a first correlation location in a first correlation structure also to a second correlation location in a second correlation structure according to a correlation condition based on the first correlation location or the electronic information, and executing an operation on the electronic information or the first correlation location in the first correlation structure, wherein there can be switched permission and forbiddance of execution of at least a part of the operations, among the operations, which changes a correlation result in the correlating.
US08423540B2
In order to give a presentation of related information that unexpected a user, while maintaining some relevance to certain information, a method includes: a link information application step of applying any one of a plurality of link information items stored in a link information storage section for storing the plurality of link information items each associating one or more information items with one or more information items to select an information item related to a given information item; an information acquisition step of acquiring an information item which serves as a base point; a related information selection step of selecting, by repeatedly executing the link information application step a plurality of times, an information item which is indirectly related to the information item acquired in the information acquisition step; and an information presentation step of presenting the information item selected in the related information selection step to a user.
US08423539B2
It is also an object of the present invention to provide objective advertisement plan(s). The target specifying information storage part 202 stores information for specifying target attribution including information for specifying information delivery medium of an object to contact with correspondently with searchers' id. The search term storage part 203 correspondently stores a searcher's id, the timing of search, and the term used for the search. The extraction part 204 extracts the timing of search for such search term for each searcher's id, segments the extracted search timing for each searcher's id into a predetermined number in chronological order and then extracts searcher's id belonging to each segment. The advertising medium data determination part 205 extracts information on candidate of information delivery medium for the each segment from the extracted each searcher's id using information for specifying a target and determines candidate(s) of information delivery medium from the extracted candidate of information delivery medium.
US08423538B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clustering query refinements. One method includes building a representation of a graph for a first query, wherein the graph has a node for the first query, a node for each of a plurality of refinements for the first query, and a node for each document in the document sets of the refinements, and wherein the graph has edges from the first query node to each of the refinement nodes, edges from the first query to each document in the respective document set of the first query, edges from each refinement to each document in the respective document set of the refinement, and edges from each refinement to each co-occurring query of the refinement. The method further includes clustering the refinements into refinement clusters by partitioning the refinement nodes in the graph into proper subsets.
US08423535B2
The present invention provides techniques for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency that includes a method that stores the information on the database among a plurality of tables arranged in columns and rows. For each of a subset of the plurality of tables, sets of the rows are distributed amongst different storage nodes on the database, with the set of rows stored at a common node having a common index value. Data storage and retrieval capabilities to the database are provided to allow access to the information, in response to requests from one of a plurality of remotely disposed computer systems. The retrieval capability includes a query condition that includes a query index value, with the query condition and the query index value being established to control retrieval latency. Also disclosed is a machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency when executed by one or more processors and cause the one or more processors to carry out steps of the method. A data center for storing information on a multi-tenant database system to control query latency is also disclosed that carries-out the functions of the method.
US08423534B2
A computer-implemented method, apparatus and article of manufacture for optimizing a database query. Resource usage of one or more resources of the computer system are monitored. A condition code representative of the monitored resource usage is stored. A cost model is modified using the stored condition code. A query execution plan is generated for the database query using the modified cost model. The query execution plan is then executed in order to retrieve data from a database stored on the computer system, wherein the retrieved data is presented to a user for subsequent use and analysis.
US08423533B2
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.
US08423525B2
Techniques are disclosed for performing identity resolution using life arcs as a feature. Space and time data may be received for an entity. A life arc template may be provided that specifies data that a life arc for each entity should include. A life arc may be generated for the entity based on the space and time data and the life arc template. An assertion for identity resolution may be made for the entity, based on the generated life arc.
US08423521B2
A method and an apparatus for storing document data in a docbase management system are provided. In the method, document data is described by using a tree structure, the document data is split into multiple data fragments based on the tree structure when the document data is being stored, and the data fragments are stored, and the relation of the data fragments is recorded, wherein, each data fragment corresponds to a subtree or a node in the tree structure.
US08423518B2
A method and apparatus for representing three or more related markup language source files in a single delta file is provided. The markup language source files are represented in such a way that the delta file is easily processed to produce one or more merged combinations of the source files. The method and apparatus ensure that any one of the original files can be extracted from the delta file. Moreover, when one or more documents are deleted from the delta file, leaving two or more documents within the modified delta file, the remaining file is a valid delta file for any remaining documents. The method and apparatus are suited for use, but not exclusively, with XML documents/files.
US08423516B2
Techniques are described for speculatively executing operations on data in a data stream in parallel in a manner that increases the efficiency of the stream-based application. In addition to executing operations in parallel, embodiments of the invention may determine whether certain results produced by the parallel operations are valid results and discard any results determined to be invalid.
US08423512B2
When an XML-annotated document is saved, a process automatically stores the document's data in the tables of a database. The database server validates the document's data against a user-specified XML schema. Queries can be executed against a set of documents in order to find documents in which a specified XML element contains specified content. Query results can be customized to return only the contents of specified XML elements. The document data can be linked with other data in the database such that the document data is updated based on the other data every time that the document is opened, thereby producing a “live” and dynamic document. Different file formats can be generated based on the document data, thus separating the presentation of the document data from the data itself. Contents of different elements may be obscured based on users' privileges, thereby maintaining the privacy of the document's information.
US08423505B2
A method for reorganizing a catalog to improve I/O performance includes initially placing a shared lock on a source catalog. The method then makes a point-in-time copy of the source catalog to generate a target catalog. Once the target catalog is generated, the method reorganizes the contents of the target catalog. Optionally, while reorganizing the contents of the target catalog, the method temporarily releases the shared lock on the source catalog and mirrors I/O intended for the source catalog to a buffer. The buffered I/O may then be used to update the target catalog to bring it current with the source catalog. When the target catalog is reorganized and up-to-date, the method upgrades the shared lock on the source catalog to an exclusive lock, overwrites the source catalog with the target catalog, and releases the exclusive lock. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08423503B2
The present invention discloses a knowledge annotation result checking system and method. The knowledge annotation result checking system comprises: a receiving unit for receiving a knowledge annotation result; and a checking unit, for comparing the received knowledge annotation result with information within a tag registration database to obtain comparison information. According to the present invention, inconsistent tag information can be detected.
US08423496B1
A method for updating rule statistics in an execution environment by an agent that utilizes a rule engine, comprising collecting an activation statistic when a rule is activated, collecting a firing statistic when a rule is fired; and storing the activation statistic and the firing statistic in a rule history once processing by the rule engine is complete.
US08423493B2
An approach is provided for condition monitoring from log messages and sensor trends based on time semi-intervals. The approach may be applied to machine condition monitoring. Patterns are mined from symbolic interval data that extends previous approaches by allowing semi-intervals and partially ordered patterns. The semi-interval patterns and semi-interval partial order patterns are less restrictive than patterns using Allen's relations. Combinations and adaptations of efficient algorithms from sequential pattern and itemset mining for discovery of semi-interval patterns are described.
US08423492B2
A system and method that provide for decision support and/or training support in crisis decision-making situations are provided. In one implementation, for example, a method identifies patterns from known cases based on information from a crisis event. Each of the known cases includes attributes and at least one outcome. The method also identifies a first subset of the known cases that relate to the identified patterns from the known cases. The method also analyzes the identified patterns to determine a cue that, if answered, will provide a second subset of the known cases including a more converged range of decision outcomes than the first subset.
US08423487B1
Sea characteristics are determined by using a buoy with multiple tilt switches configured to sense at plural tilt angles of the buoy. The tilt switches provide binary outputs of tilt data corresponding to the tilt angles. The binary outputs are received by a processor and are compared with sample patterns of tilt data. The comparison is used to provide an output corresponding to sea conditions.
US08423484B2
The present invention provides a novel prognostic and health management method for natural aging systems. This prognostic and health management method can detect anomalies in a system in advance, and can determine whether the detected anomalies are due to natural aging or other aging processes. In this prognostic method, a moving window method for improving the performance of the conventional data-driven prognostic methods is described. This prognostic and health management method combines with the detections by the data-driven prognostic method based on the conventional training and moving window methods to determine whether the detected anomalies are due to natural aging or other aging processes and in so doing can reduce the number of false alarms; reduce cost of a system by decreasing the unnecessary maintenance, downtime, and inventory; can extend the life of systems; and can assist in the design and qualification of future systems to improve their reliability.
US08423481B2
A self-learning method for keyword based human machine interaction is disclosed. At least one of a plurality of keywords predetermined in a database is selected and a priority score of the selected keyword is updated and a weighted factor is generated for the selected keyword. A weighted score and the weighted factor of the selected keyword are transmitted to the keywords related to the selected keyword. The selected keyword is pushed to a keyword buffer and linkage strengths between the keywords in the keyword buffer are strengthened. When a keyword has been stored in the keyword buffer for over a predetermined reset time period, a reset operation is performed to remove the keyword from the keyword buffer.
US08423480B2
An image forming apparatus that executes a job and determines a billing amount for the job depending on a parameter value given to a parameter that relates to the execution of the job, the image forming apparatus comprising: a storage that stores therein a first table and a second table, the first table defining billing amounts for a plurality of non-overlapping value ranges in one-to-one correspondence, the second table defining billing amounts for a plurality of specific values in one-to-one correspondence; and a determiner operable to refer to the second table before referring to the first table and judge whether the parameter value is identical to any one of the plurality of specific values in the second table (step S402), and if identical (Yes in step S402), determine the billing amount for the job according to the second table (step S403).
US08423476B2
A system and method for facilitating electronic transactions using an intelligent instrument is disclosed. An authorization server enables users to obtain authorization credentials through the use of the intelligent instrument by issuing a challenge to an intelligent token of the intelligent instrument. The intelligent token generates a challenge response and transmits the challenge response to the authorization server, which assembles credentials including a key for the electronic transaction upon validating the response. The authorization server sends the assembled credentials to the intelligent instrument and the intelligent instrument transmits the assembled credentials to the authorization server during a subsequent transaction. The authorization server validates the assembled credentials and provides authorization for the transaction in response to the validating the assembled credentials.
US08423474B2
A system and method for data recipient invoked electronic commerce allowing data subjects to provide and data recipients to receive information over a network relating to the needs of a data subject such as purchases, distribution of application information and the like. The system includes a server having software which gathers the information from a data subject to complete a transaction. The system has a data subject data structure that stores information for registered data subjects. The software can access the data subject data structure and enter the data subject's information during subsequent transactions. Having the software obtain and enter the data subject's purchasing information, the data subject does not have to enter the same information every time the data subject desires to effect a transaction over the network. In alternate embodiments, the same technology can be applied to other arenas where a user enters the same repetitive information.
US08423473B2
Techniques are provided for controlling the activation of computer games. In one embodiment, the technique may involve receiving a combination of a game identifier for the game and a device identifier for the device. The technique may further involve accessing a database of known game identifiers, each known game identifier being associated with a device count corresponding to a total number of known devices on which a known game was previously played or activated, and obtaining a usage policy for the game.
US08423471B1
In some embodiments, techniques for computer security comprise displaying an electronic document, detecting a request to traverse a link, such as a hyperlink or a form submission, wherein the link is associated with an element of the document, evaluating an attribute, wherein the attribute is associated with the element of the document, and determining whether to perform the action based on the evaluation. Applications of these techniques include mitigating the effect of an attempt to modify web pages for fraudulent purposes, such as by a “phishing” attack incorporating malicious scripting.
US08423469B2
A computer system and method, for real estate transactions concerning the purchase or sale of real property, comprises engaging a realtor and a mortgage originator for providing unified communication among a client, the realtor and the mortgage originator, providing a simplified loan process for the client and upon a sale and purchase of the property, distributing to the client a predetermined portion of money from the real estate commission received by the realtor and a portion of the mortgage origination proceeds to the realtor, such that upon any combination of a sale and purchase of the property, the client receives a predetermined portion of money from the purchase price of the property, the loan amount and the listing fee, the realtor receives the full amount of the predetermined real estate commission for the sale consummated, and the mortgage originator receives a proportionately smaller portion of the mortgage origination proceeds.
US08423463B1
A method for managing the use of a gift card with a personal financial management application (PFMA), including storing a balance of the gift card in the PFMA, obtaining, using a central processor (CPU) of a computer and within the PFMA, a transaction of a user, identifying, using the CPU, the gift card as a payment source of the transaction, and adjusting, using the CPU and in response to identifying the gift card as the payment source, the balance in the PFMA based on the transaction.
US08423458B2
A method of providing for a money transfer over a network includes the steps of: providing a stamp having a face value and a lifespan both indicated on the stamp, the stamp being a string that is a concatenation of two or more fields including the face value and the lifespan, with at least one of the fields calculated according to a prescription involving a hashing or encryption of a concatenation of others of the fields or of some other field not part of the stamp; affixing the stamp to an e-mail; and allowing the recipient of the e-mail to obtain value for the stamp if the stamp is presented to a predetermined entity (such as a stamp issuer) for the stamp value within the lifespan indicated on the stamp. The stamp may comprise a concatenation of a set of fields, including a lifespan, a stamp value; and hash/encryption.
US08423457B1
Anonymous mobile payments enable a user to make and/or receive payments without disclosing personal or private information to another party. In some aspects, a provider of a payment may request an anonymous payment for a specified value from a host. In response, the host may transmit to the provider a code that is available for redemption. The provider may then relay the code to a recipient, who may redeem the code from the host. In other aspects, a recipient may request a temporary identifier (special code) from a host. The recipient may relay the temporary identifier to a provider, who may in turn transmit a payment, via the host, using the temporary identifier. The recipient may then claim the payment from the host. In additional aspects, the codes of the anonymous payments may include expiration times and/or restrictions on a number of uses of the code.
US08423449B2
A method includes accepting financial product information through a provider computer; accepting advisor information and client information; allowing access to a portion of the financial product information, based on the client information, through a client computer; allowing access to another portion of the financial product information not accessible through the client computer, based on the advisor information, through an advisor computer; and tracking and reporting the advisor information and the client information through metrics.
US08423444B1
Various embodiments are directed to a computer system comprising at least one computer programmed to provide a user interface to a user via a first computer device. The user interface may comprise a first axis describing a desired level of involvement of the user in investment decisions and a second axis describing a risk tolerance of the user. The user interface may also comprise a first icon representing a first position on the first and second axes and a second icon representing a second position on the first and second axes. When the first or second icons are activated, the interface may display a description of respective example investors having investment characteristics corresponding to the respective first and second positions on the axes. The user interface may also comprise first and second slider bars corresponding to the respective axes. The slider bars may be movable in response to a signal from a first input device in communication with the computer system. The computer system may be further programmed to receive from the user, via the user interface, an indication of a user position on the first and second axes; and store first data describing the user position on the first and second axis in association with an identifier of the user.
US08423441B2
A computer based system and method for processing financial accounts. Each account is defined by multiple daily account balance records. Each daily account balance record is defined by a daily account balance record posting state that defines the types of transactions that may be posted to the daily account record balance at any one time. The various daily account balance records defining a single account may have different daily account balance record posting states, thereby allowing different types of transactions for different account days to be posted to the same account simultaneously. The resulting account processing system and method provides customers greater flexibility in transferring money between accounts and provides banking entities greater flexibility in account processing timing and reducing operational costs.
US08423427B2
Provided is a method of delivering an audio and/or visual media file comprising, without limitation, for example, one or more of full or partial master recordings of songs, musical compositions, ringtones, videos, films, television shows, personal recordings, animation and combinations thereof, over the air wirelessly, from one or more servers to an electronic device with or without an Internet connection, said method comprising transmitting and audio and/or visual media file in compressed format to said electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is effective to receive said audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content on demand by a user.
US08423424B2
A web page fact checking system verifies the correctness of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with one or more sources. The web page fact checking system automatically analyzes the information, fact checks the information, and indicates a status of the information.
US08423422B2
The claimed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented architecture that can facilitate computer-assisted haggling and/or negotiation between multiple parties simultaneously. For example, various proxies associated with both buyers and sellers can be configured to negotiate with other proxies to buy or sell an item. The negotiations can be required to be progressive and during the negotiations a buyer or seller is, typically, allowed to withdraw his or her proposals. The architecture can include a registration component that can resolve concurrency and facilitate a registration of an agreement between two of the parties. The registration of an agreement can create a binding obligation between the parties after which other outstanding proposals can be terminated.
US08423421B2
An e-commerce system and method combining different product presentation formats, where each format has a video presentation component. One such format is the presentation of a live, pre-existing “shop at home” video production feed, consisting of continuously scheduled 5 segments, each segment presenting a product or set of products. A Video on Demand (VOD) format, where users may request different video streams. The VOD streams being similar to the live feed, but stored on a server and organized in one or more different segment orders, as compared to the original order of the live feed. Third, a traditional e-commerce product catalog may be provided. However, as an enhancement, the product catalog may be connected to the VOD server, and stream the presentation segment associated with each product, when a user is viewing the product detail page for that product.
US08423419B2
A method of identifying related parts is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a product, receiving a selection of at least one part of a product, and identifying at least one related part structurally associated with the selected at least one part. The method further includes generating a parts list containing the selected at least one part and the identified at least one related part, and presenting the parts list.
US08423414B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing transactions on point-of-sale terminals comprising a peer-to-peer network in a retail data processing system. A purchase transaction for a customer is initiated on a point-of-sale terminal in the system. Responsive to receiving a first input from a user of the point-of-sale terminal, the purchase transaction is suspended to form a suspended purchase transaction. Information about the customer is added to the suspended purchase transaction. The suspended purchase transaction is stored as a file on the point-of-sale terminal. Responsive to receiving a second input from the user of the point-of-sale terminal, a locally-stored list of suspended purchase transactions on the point-of-sale terminal is searched using the information about the customer. Responsive to locating the suspended transaction matching the information about the customer, the suspended transaction is selected to restart the suspended purchase transaction on the point-of-sale terminal.
US08423409B2
A system and method for monetizing user-generated web content are provided. The system includes a tracking engine operable to track user activity taking place a plurality of social networks. The tracking engine is in communication with an branding engine, which is notified when a user publishes content on a social network. The ad branding engine is configured to analyze user-published content and select at least one advertisement contextually related thereto. The ad branding engine incorporates the advertisement with the user-published content, and in turn, the user is compensated.
US08423407B2
The disclosed embodiments describe an automatic, adaptive system and method for efficiently and effectively scheduling advertising spots in commercial break locations across various networks, zones, channels, dates, times, and specific products, for example. The disclosed embodiments make use of fixed and relative factors, that may be user-defined, which assign a “cost” to one or more particular breaks which thereby allow for quick and accurate scheduling of spots. The “costs” may represent a value, or desirability, of a break for the advertiser and may be a function of both the fixed and relative factors. The fixed and relative factors may be configurable and may change for different advertising clients, different contract lines, different networks, different spot placement, etc.The placement of spots may be accomplished through the use of an ordered list which may be generated based on a number of inputs that may be user-selected. A non-limiting example of user inputs may include: spot length, spot cost, contract line priority, beginning date/time of contract line, ending date/time of contract line, a predefined value index for the client, and contract line number, among others.
US08423400B2
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data.
US08423388B1
A memory device stores machine-readable instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to graphically depict on a display device a first category of risk analysis data related to a plurality of insurance claims. The processor also causes the display to graphically depict a relationship between a first analysis result and a first benchmark value corresponding to the first analysis result, and graphically depict one or more user controls for selecting a second category of risk analysis data.
US08423386B2
The present invention is made to prevent accident of mistaking blood glucose meter among a plurality of blood glucose meters used in a hospital ward.The blood glucose meter is provided with a nickname area in a nonvolatile storage thereof, and the nickname area can be written from outside. Further, when the blood glucose meter is powered on, a nickname is displayed on a display thereof. A measurement data managing device is provided with a blood glucose meter individual setting table in which the serial number and the nickname of the blood glucose meter are is register in association with each other. When the measurement data managing device is connected with the blood glucose meter and communication is started, the serial number of the blood glucose meter is automatically read out, and the nickname obtained from the blood glucose meter individual setting table is displayed on the display.
US08423378B1
A peer system of subjects with health-related issues is formed based on an association of subjects and a particular type of electronic device or devices which provides information related to a specific health-related issue or issues obtained from particular subjects. By means of such associations, subjects can transmit to and receive messages from other subjects associated with the same type of electronic device. One way to associate subjects with health-related issues is through an association of a subject with a type or types of sensors. For example, each monitoring device may be associated with a subject, and the type or types of sensor or sensors may be associated with the subject and/or monitoring device. Devices, systems, methods and computer program products may be provided leveraging this association for various applications, e.g., management of the health care of subjects, peering among subjects with a common heath-related issue or issues, advertising, research and other applications involving such subjects.
US08423373B2
A client device coalesces data received from an exchange, and provides a client application such as a graphical user interface with the opportunity to process fewer, but up-to-date, data updates from an exchange when a large volume of prices becomes available. Accordingly, the trader can be assured of receiving updated information that are fed to the client applications at a rate that is cohesive with that client device's processing speed.
US08423368B2
A system is described for providing biofeedback to hearing-impaired persons as to the degree of nasalization of vowel-like sounds in their speech, in order to monitor their own nasality and thus correct inappropriate nasalization. In a preferred embodiment, this feedback uses tactile vibration, with the vibration frequency or amplitude reflecting the nasalance of the speech.
US08423367B2
Variation over time in fundamental frequency in singing voices is separated into a melody-dependent component and a phoneme-dependent component, modeled for each of the components and stored into a singing synthesizing database. In execution of singing synthesis, a pitch curve indicative of variation over time in fundamental frequency of the melody is synthesized in accordance with an arrangement of notes represented by a singing synthesizing score and the melody-dependent component, and the pitch curve is corrected, for each of pitch curve sections corresponding to phonemes constituting lyrics, using a phoneme-dependent component model corresponding to the phoneme. Such arrangements can accurately model a singing expression, unique to a singing person and appearing in a melody singing style of the person, while taking into account phoneme-dependent pitch variation, and thereby permits synthesis of singing voices that sound more natural.
US08423365B2
A contextual conversion platform, and method for converting text-to-speech, are described that can convert content of a target to spoken content. Embodiments of the contextual conversion platform can identify certain contextual characteristics of the content, from which can be generated a spoken content input. This spoken content input can include tokens, e.g., words and abbreviations, to be converted to the spoken content, as well as substitution tokens that are selected from contextual repositories based on the context identified by the contextual conversion platform.
US08423364B2
A method and apparatus for training an acoustic model are disclosed. A training corpus is accessed and converted into an initial acoustic model. Scores are calculated for a correct class and competitive classes, respectively, for each token given the initial acoustic model. Also, a sample-adaptive window bandwidth is calculated for each training token. From the calculated scores and the sample-adaptive window bandwidth values, loss values are calculated based on a loss function. The loss function, which may be derived from a Bayesian risk minimization viewpoint, can include a margin value that moves a decision boundary such that token-to-boundary distances for correct tokens that are near the decision boundary are maximized. The margin can either be a fixed margin or can vary monotonically as a function of algorithm iterations. The acoustic model is updated based on the calculated loss values. This process can be repeated until an empirical convergence is met.
US08423362B2
A method of circumstantial speech recognition in a vehicle. A plurality of parameters associated with a plurality of vehicle functions are monitored as an indication of current vehicle circumstances. At least one vehicle function is identified as a candidate for user-intended ASR control based on user interaction with the vehicle. The identified vehicle function is then used to disambiguate between potential commands contained in speech received from the user.
US08423350B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for segmenting text for searching are disclosed. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes receiving text; segmenting the text into one or more unigrams; filtering the one or more unigrams to identify one or more core unigrams; and generating a searchable resource, including: for each of the one or more core unigrams: identifying a stem, indexing the stem, and associating one or more second n-grams with the indexed stem. Each of the one or more second n-grams is derived from the text and includes a core unigram that is related to the indexed stem.
US08423342B2
A simulation parameter extracting method of a MOS transistor according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes evaluating a measured value that includes a true gate-overlap capacitance by measuring a capacitance between the gate and the drain in each of a plurality of layout patterns at a predetermined bias voltage, only the number of contact plugs being different for each layout pattern, evaluating a gate-overlap capacitance calculation value of each layout pattern by subtracting a contact parasitic capacitance between the contact plug and the gate from the measured value, the contact parasitic capacitance being obtained by a simulation with varying a model parameter for evaluating a parasitic capacitance between the contact plug and the gate, and extracting the gate-overlap capacitance calculation value as the true gate-overlap capacitance at the model parameter when the gate-overlap capacitance calculation value is about constant regardless of the number of the contact plugs.
US08423330B2
The data acquisition unit acquires data in correspondence with each dimensional axis and the time axis. The mode setting unit makes setting and clearing of a dimensionality investigation mode. In the dimensionality investigation mode, the axis-determinative variation-rate calculation unit calculates axial data variation rates. The axis determination unit determines whether or not the axial data variation rate corresponding to each axis is low. The objective-axis setting unit sets each axis as an objective axis when the axial data variation rate corresponding to the axis is determined to be high. While the dimensionality investigation mode is cleared, the recording-determinative variation-rate calculation unit calculates axial data variation rates. The recording determination unit determines, on the basis of the axial data variation rate, whether to record the acquired data. The recording unit does not record the data when the data is determined not to be recorded.
US08423317B2
A temperature detection method for a semiconductor device and a power conversion apparatus are disclosed. A temperature detection device is used to detect the temperature for thermal protection of a power semiconductor device. The temperature detection device is placed in the proximity of a component having the power semiconductor device packaged therein, and either an emitter terminal or a collector terminal of the power semiconductor device. Since the temperature detection device is mounted on a circuit board, it does not require insulation from a cooling fin on which the power semiconductor device is mounted and lead wires can be eliminated.
US08423313B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing a valve control system in an aircraft fuel supply system having a plurality of control valves, wherein the control system includes relay means for outputting control signals to each of the plurality of control valves. The method includes providing connection means for electrically connecting a test device to the control system relay means, connecting a test device to the relay means such that the test device is adapted to receive control signals output by the control system to any one of the plurality of control valves, detecting an electrical control signal output from the relay means to any one of the plurality of control valves, and identifying the particular one of the plurality of control valves to which a detected control signal is output by the relay means and identifying the nature of the control signal output to that particular control valve.
US08423307B2
An apparatus for estimating and evaluating characteristics of large-area series-connected solar battery cells from a measured current-voltage characteristic of a small-area single cell, includes an analysis model construction unit, an analysis operation unit and an evaluation unit. The construction unit reads shape parameters and material physical properties of the cells and automatically constructs a finite element method model. The operation unit obtains a current at a voltage based on the measured characteristic, sets the current as a current load, calculates potential distributions of transparent electrode and rear electrode of the cells, corrects the current load based on a difference between the distributions and the measured characteristic, recalculates the distributions based on the corrected current load, and repeats the recalculation until the distributions converge. The evaluation unit evaluates whether a converged calculation result is a pattern exhibiting a desired current-voltage characteristic of the cells.
US08423305B2
The advantageous embodiments provide a method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for monitoring a wiring system. A number of responses to signals transmitted in a portion of the wiring system are measured to form a measured signature. Design data for the portion of the wiring system is retrieved. A number of expected responses for the signals in the portion of the wiring system are identified using the design data to form a computed signature. The measured signature is compared with the computed signature.
US08423295B2
A method and an apparatus for outputting body information of a user. The method of outputting the body information of a user comprises: designating coordinate points of the body information according to first, second, and third body information on a three-dimensional coordinate having the first, second, and third coordinates as coordinate axes; and outputting comparison information between the user body figure and the average body figure from the distance between the coordinate point of the body information of the average body figure designated on a three-dimensional coordinate in advance and the coordinate point of the body information of the user.
US08423293B2
A user can visually and instinctively understand an operation to be executed, and a corresponding operation screen or input screen is easily displayed and operated. Plural flat display objects each having a predetermined displace face having each kind of information displayed in a virtual three-dimensional space are arranged in a predetermined area every category and classified into one main display object 51A and sub display objects 51B other than the display object 51A, the main display object 51A is rotated so that a display face thereof is perpendicular to or intersects to the overhead-view direction, and moved in the virtual three-dimensional space so as to be located in the overhead-view direction or in the neighborhood of the overhead-view direction while following variation of the overhead-view direction, and displayed on the display device, and the sub display objects 51B are controlled to be rotated in the virtual three-dimensional space so that display faces thereof are perpendicular to or intersect to the overhead view direction and displayed on the display screen of the display device 16.
US08423288B2
A computing device can access a calendar entry having an associated time and an associated location, in a calendar application. The computing device can dynamically determine an estimated travel time to the location associated with the calendar entry. The computing device can provide an alarm indication for the calendar entry at a time based on the estimated travel time.
US08423287B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is determined for one or more of the street segments and associated with one or more of the street segments.
US08423285B2
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for presenting map data on a computing device. The map may be dynamically adapted based on a physical characteristic, such as display resolution, of the computing device. The map may be further adapted based on a user activity, such as shopping, that is taking place. Input from a user in response to a rendered map may be used to create a manual override or a learned override to further adapt the map for the computing device. The input may be from the user of the computing device or from users of other computing devices.
US08423284B2
A testing system is described. The testing system is adapted to evaluate navigation systems. The testing system includes: a recording system adapted to collect and record signals received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation; a time-synchronized database adapted to receive and store data representing the signals collected and recorded by the recording system: wherein the stored data is able to be used to test operation of one or more navigation systems under test. A method of testing navigation systems includes: gathering data that would be received and interpreted by a navigation system during field operation, wherein the gathered data includes data associated with received radio signals; storing gathered data in a time-synchronized database; and using the stored data to test the operation of one or more navigation systems. A system adapted to test navigation systems includes: a recording system; a playback system; and a simulation system.
US08423282B2
A method of providing a route guidance service and a navigation system for performing the method are provided. The method of providing a route guidance service includes: extracting outdoor advertisement information and advertisement production and installation information, which correspond to destination information entered by a user, from an outdoor advertisement database; generating virtual building image information using the extracted advertisement production and installation information; generating first navigation information by combining the generated building image information with the extracted outdoor advertisement information and advertisement production and installation information; and providing a route guidance service to the destination information using the first navigation information.
US08423280B2
A method for collision avoidance for a machine is disclosed. The method includes detecting an obstacle with an obstacle detection system and generating a corresponding signal. The obstacle detection system includes an operator input device. The method also includes providing an obstacle detection warning in response to the signal. The method further includes determining with a controller whether the operator input device has been activated in response to the obstacle detection warning.
US08423276B2
Systems and methods are operable to determine that a navigation system has entered a structure. An exemplary embodiment monitors a magnetic field at an outdoor position, monitors a magnetic field at a current position, compares a characteristic of the monitored magnetic field at the current position with a corresponding characteristic of the outdoor magnetic field, and determines entry into the structure at least as a function of a change in the determined characteristic of the monitored magnetic field from the corresponding characteristic of the outdoor magnetic field.
US08423269B2
An exhaust gas recirculation system including an exhaust gas passageway which routes a flow of exhaust gas from an exhaust gas source to an intake manifold; an exhaust gas passageway valve which controls flow to the intake manifold; a cooling system coupled with the exhaust gas passageway positioned at a location upstream of the exhaust gas source and downstream of the intake manifold and operable to transfer heat from the flow of exhaust gas to a coolant in flow communication with the cooling system; a bypass passageway coupled with the exhaust gas passageway and bypassing the cooling system; a bypass valve operable to control flow through the bypass passageway; at least one valve operation sensor; and a controller operable to control the bypass valve to direct the flow of exhaust gas to the bypass passageway during exhaust gas recirculation based on a signal from the valve operation sensor.
US08423246B2
The in-lane running support system includes a steering input device and a steering input detector. The in-lane running support system further comprises a reaction force device that changes a condition of the steering input device between a normal operation mode that provides a normal reaction force to the driver, and a hapthic operation mode that performs a notification operation to the driver, a turning output device that is in a state mechanically disconnected from the steering input device and that turns steerable wheels, and a turning output controller. A running state detecting device acquires information of a running state of the vehicle with respect to a lane. An in-lane running support device controls the turning output device and the haptic device based on the information of the running state such that the vehicle runs in the lane, and has a first control mode that controls the turning output control device and causes the reaction force device to operate in the normal operation mode, and a second control mode that controls the turning output control device and causes the reaction force device to operate in the haptic operation mode.
US08423244B2
A method and device for controlled damping of a vehicle stores a set of controller parameters R1 to Rn for controlling the damping of the unloaded vehicle as a function of the dynamic driving situation thereof 1 to n, detect a loading condition b of the vehicle, adapt the set of controller parameters R1 to Rn as a function of the detected loading condition b to a set of controlled parameters R1b to Rnb, and dams the vehicle as a function of the set of controller parameters R1b to Rnb as a function of the dynamic driving situation thereon 1 to n.
US08423238B2
Systems and methods of monitoring battery health in an HVAC system. The charge state of a rechargeable battery and the number of amp-hours provided to or from the rechargeable battery are monitored. The number of amp-hours provided is recorded and an end-of-life condition is detected based on the number of amp-hours provided during the charge or discharge cycle. In some constructions, the end-of-life condition is detected by comparing the number of amp-hours provided during the charge or discharge cycle to a threshold. In some constructions, the end-of-life condition is detected by calculating a rate of change of the number of amp-hours provided during a charge or discharge cycle and comparing the rate of change to a threshold.
US08423236B2
In a method for detecting a rolling motion of a wheel in a motor vehicle, a wheel acceleration variable characterizing a wheel acceleration is recorded using at least one sensor element, the wheel acceleration variable is scanned at various scanning points in time, and the presence of a rolling motion is detected with the aid of the scanned values. The wheel acceleration variable is scanned in a cycle, including at least three scanning points in time, of nonequidistant points in time.
US08423234B2
The invention relates to a device for measuring the movement of a self-guided vehicle, that comprises onboard thereof: at least one accelerometer provided with a measurement axis arranged in the longitudinal direction of a potential main rectilinear movement of the vehicle, a first tachometer provided on an axle upstream from the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, a second tachometer provided on a second axle downstream from the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, wherein measure signals from the accelerometer and from the first and second tachometers are supplied to a computing unit. Accordingly, it is advantageously possible to determine the speed and the position of the vehicle on a vehicle route while taking into account an adhesion loss of at least one of the axles as well as an exact slope and turn effect on a vehicle route that does not remain rectilinear and changes horizontally and/or vertically.
US08423232B2
A vehicle control device includes: an abnormality detecting portion that detects an abnormality in at least part of a shift position detection portion detecting a shift position; a shift-operatoin determining portion that determines, based on a detection signal from the shift position detection portion, whether a shift operating device is shift-operated or not by a driver, and a vehicle movement prevention control portion that, in a case where a movement of a vehicle is prevented by an actuator and in a case where the abnormality in part of the shift position detection portion is detected by the abnormality detecting portion, permits the actuator to release the prevention of the movement of the vehicle if it is determined by the shift-operation determining portion that the shift operating device is shift-operated by the driver.
US08423209B2
A vehicle (1) includes a plurality of chargeable and dischargeable batteries (B1, B2), a load device, a bus for supplying electric power to the load device, a plurality of voltage step-up converters (12-1, 12-2) provided in association with a plurality of batteries (B1, B2) respectively, a charging line (PCL) for supplying electric power provided from outside the vehicle to a connection point of the first battery (B1) and the first voltage step-up converter (12-1), and a control device (30). When charging from an external source is started, the control device (30) causes the first voltage step-up converter (12-1) to perform a rectifying operation for supplying electric current from the charging line to the bus in a case where a voltage of the bus is lower than a voltage of the charging line, and causes the first voltage step-up converter (12-2) to connect the bus and the second battery (B2).
US08423200B2
An electronic device and a method for controlling heat reflux of the electronic device include setting a speed decrease value and standard temperatures for each of the first device and the second device. The control method further includes detecting a working temperature of the second device using a temperature sensor of the electronic device, if a speed of the second fan is at a full speed. The control method further includes reducing a speed of the first fan according to the speed decrease value, if the speed of the second fan is at the full speed and the detected working temperature exceeds the standard temperature of the second device.
US08423197B2
A heater energization control apparatus. When an engine is stopped, a microcomputer of a GCU enters a power save mode. When the microcomputer returns to a normal mode in response to an interruption signal periodically generated from an interruption timer, the microcomputer supplies electricity to a heating resistor for a short time and obtains its resistance (S19). When the resistance is greater than a first reference value, the microcomputer determines that a glow plug is removed from the engine; that is, the glow plug is being exchanged (S29). The microcomputer sets an exchange flag to “1” (S30), and performs calibration for the heating resistor of a new glow plug after the engine is operated next time (S35). When the current resistance becomes smaller than the past resistance, the microcomputer determines that the glow plug has been exchanged.
US08423196B2
A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communication module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convert a second low voltage electricity from a low voltage power line to a second high voltage electricity. The communication module is programmed to provide time data representing time of day information along the low voltage power line to an electrical device and provide location data representing location information along the low voltage power line to the electrical device. The location information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer.
US08423195B2
The present invention provides a way to more effectively estimate energy usage by devices such as servers, including traditional mainframes as well as other enterprise systems. One core idea surrounds the fact that when detailed power consumption information is unavailable for a specific configuration, power consumption is computed/projected/estimated by de-rating the maximum power rating by a power adjustment factor that would more closely project the true power consumption. Under this approach, the power consumption is then provided as a range specifying probable expected lower and upper limits for a given device. This range is more meaningful for planning and decision-making and shows the client a more likely best and worst case energy consumption scenario for their specific device(s), and hence is helpful for planning or server comparison decisions. Cooling, energy costs, energy efficiency, and energy expanded per MIPS are also projected and given as a range instead of a single number. This gives the IT decision maker more accurate information upon which to base IT decision-making.
US08423172B2
Methods, systems, and techniques for automatically determining jet orientation parameters to correct for potential deviations in three dimensional part cutting are provided. Example embodiments provide an Adaptive Vector Control System (AVCS), which automatically determines speeds and orientation parameters of a cutting jet to attempt to insure that a part will be cut within prescribed tolerances where possible. In one embodiment, the AVCS determines the tilt and swivel of a cutting head by mathematical predictive models that examine the cutting front for each of “m” hypothetical layers in a desired part, to better predict whether the part will be within tolerances, and to determine what corrective angles are needed to correct for deviations due to drag, radial deflection, and/or taper.
US08423168B2
A method and system of specifying a device that is the root cause of impeding productivity of a production line in consideration of even mutual influence among processes of production fluctuation with respect to the subject of specifying a device in which productive capacity is reduced due to a problem that the productive capacity of the device is changed due to production that one machine works for multiple process and a problem that the productive capacity of device is changed due to high product mix and low product volume production. A measure for changing productive capacity of devices intentionally and simulating influence to the whole production system, a measure for measuring mutual influence among processes of production fluctuation produced by the simulation and a measure for specifying a device that is the root cause of impeding the productivity on the basis of the measured result are provided.
US08423165B2
A digital/analog conversion apparatus for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. The digital/analog conversion apparatus can generate a high-quality analog signal, even when elements configuring the digital/analog conversion apparatus have variance, with high resolution and a small circuit size. The data conversion apparatus is provided with a first data converter for reducing the number of bits of an input signal, a second data converter for converting the format of the first output signal, and a third data converter for conversion into a code which corresponds to the history of the output from the second data converter.
US08423162B2
An information processing system including a plurality of server apparatuses coupled to one another, wherein failover is executed. A management server is coupled to the server apparatuses, and is configured to, when detecting occurrence of a failure in an active server apparatus, execute failover from the active server apparatus to a standby server apparatus after turning on a power supply of the standby server apparatus. The management server is enabled to acquire information on the standby server apparatus after turning on the power supply of the standby server apparatus, turn off the power supply of the standby server apparatus after acquiring the information, and, based on the acquired information, judge whether failover to the standby server apparatus can be executed.
