US08454792B2
The present invention includes compositions relating to a hot melt adhesive that includes a copolymer of butene-1, a wax, and a tackifying resin. The present invention further relates to adhesives initially exhibiting adhesion properties and subsequently non-adhesion qualities. Methods of using these adhesives are also part of the claimed invention.
US08454789B2
In certain embodiments, a bond gap control structure (BGCS) is placed outwardly from a substrate. The BGCS is configured to control a geometry of a bond line of a joining material. The joining material is deposited outwardly from the substrate. The substrate is bonded to another substrate with the joining material. The BGCS is at least partially removed from the substrate.
US08454786B2
In a method for producing drip irrigation pipes, a tube body is extruded from a thermoplastic synthetic material and provided with a wall. The tube body is led directly and in non-contact fashion to a pre-cooling chamber in which the tube body is pre-cooled and in which metering elements are pressed on to the wall and connected to the wall. The tube body is sized to a final diameter and further cooled in a cooling chamber.
US08454780B2
A method for producing a stretch laminate includes forming an intermediate stretch laminate. Forming the intermediate stretch laminate includes providing a first substrate and attaching an elastic film to a surface of the first substrate via an adhesive. The first substrate and the elastic film are in a face to face orientation. The intermediate stretch laminate has a residual energy of greater than or equal to 50% at a predetermined applied strain. The method of forming the stretch laminate further includes mechanically activating the intermediate stretch laminate at a strain rate of at least 100 s−1.
US08454773B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, A water-proofing laminate includes a drainboard having a first surface positioned against a hydraulic source and a second surface opposed to the first surface, a fastener plate positioned against the second surface of the drainboard securing the drainboard to the hydraulic surface, the fastener plate comprising a conductive element and a thermoplastic resin, and a self-healing hydraulic barrier comprising a thermoplastic surface adjoined to a geotextile and carrying a water-absorbent material, the thermoplastic surface inductively welded to the fastener plate.
US08454766B2
An extruded material of a free-cutting aluminum alloy excellent in embrittlement resistance at a high temperature, containing from 3 to 6% by mass of Cu and from 0.9 to 3% by mass of Bi with the balance being Aluminum and inevitable impurities, wherein a temperature for reducing the Charpy impact test value to half of the value at room temperature is 180° C. or more.
US08454765B2
An austenitic, substantially ferrite-free steel alloy and a process for producing components therefrom. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08454762B2
A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber and at least one dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has at least one spray arm located in the wash chamber and at least one nozzle located in the wash chamber and configured to provide a spray of liquid into the dish rack. A diverter valve controls the supply of liquid from a liquid supply to the at least one nozzle.
US08454759B2
Washing machine for screen that includes a closed washing chamber having internal nozzles for cleaning the screen. The nozzles are provided on a flushing frame enclosing the screen, and the flushing frame may be moved upwards and downwards within the chamber whereby the screen is flushed and cleaned. A method for cleaning the screen in the washing machine is also described.
US08454751B2
Exemplary surface debris removal systems and methods are operable to remove debris from a signal transmitting/receiving surface. An embodiment provides power to, and then removes power from, a conductive memory wire that is secured to a moveable portion of a two-position snap spring. In response to providing the power to the conductive memory wire, a length of the conductive memory wire decreases so that the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring is pulled from an extended position to a retracted position. When power is removed from the conductive memory wire, the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring moves from the retracted position to the extended position. In response to the moving of the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring from the retracted position to the extended position, an energy is generated and transferred to the surface that dislodges the debris from the surface.
US08454746B2
Silicon single crystals are prepared from molten granules, by producing a first volume of molten silicon between a growing single crystal and the lower end of a silicon conical tube which is closed at its lower end, and encloses a central opening of a rotating silicon plate below which the tube extends, by means of a first induction heating coil arranged below the plate; producing a second volume of molten silicon by a second induction heating coil arranged above the plate; melting the lower end of the tube to form a passage for the second volume of molten silicon, the passage produced at a point in time when the second volume is not yet present or is less than double the volume of the first volume; and crystallizing monocrystalline silicon on the growing single crystal with consumption of molten silicon from the first and the second volume.
US08454744B2
The use of a mixture of at least one polyol and at least one cyclohexanepolycarboxylic acid derivative for reducing or minimizing the dust emission when handling pulverulent construction chemistry products, processes for the preparation of the pulverulent construction chemistry products and hydraulically setting materials containing the mixture according to the invention are proposed.
US08454742B2
A lightweight artificial stone system comprises a plurality of artificial stones, each of the artificial stones formed of at least some portion of cement, expanded glass, and styrene, the lightweight artificial stones having a density in the range of between about 30 and 70 pounds per cubic foot, each of the stones having six sides and including a first height dimension and a second width dimension, each of the height and width dimensions having a length unit being substantially a multiple of two, each of the stones having four ninety degrees corners and four of the six sides having a smooth surface to provide tight, cement-free seams between adjacent stones, the tight, cement-free seams inhibiting viewing of structure behind said plurality of artificial stones, each of the stones being of such a light weight so as to be held in position in the system by a lath-less and cement-free adhesive.
US08454740B2
The invention provides a bituminous composition, a process for preparing a bituminous paving composition and process for bituminous paving having lower mixing, paving, and compaction temperatures than for conventional hot-mix paving while retaining sufficient performance characteristics of conventional hot-mix paving. The inventive paving process comprises the steps of injecting a heated foamable solution comprising a lubricating substance into a heated, asphalt binder to provide a heated, foamed mixture; adding the heated, foamed mixture to a suitable, heated aggregate; further mixing the heated, foamed mixture and heated aggregate to coat the heated aggregate with the heated, foamed, asphalt binder to form a heated paving material; supplying the heated paving material to a paving machine; applying the heated paving material by the paving machine to a surface to be paved; and compacting the applied paving material to form a paved surface.
US08454739B2
The invention provides a bituminous composition, a process for preparing a bituminous paving composition and process for bituminous paving having lower mixing, paving, and compaction temperatures than for conventional hot-mix paving while retaining sufficient performance characteristics of conventional hot-mix paving. The inventive paving process comprises the steps of injecting a foamable solution comprising a lubricating substance into a heated, asphalt binder to provide a heated, foamed mixture; adding the heated, foamed mixture to a suitable, heated aggregate; further mixing the heated, foamed mixture and heated aggregate to coat the heated aggregate with the heated, foamed, asphalt binder to form a heated paving material; supplying the heated paving material to a paving machine; applying the heated paving material by the paving machine to a surface to be paved; and compacting the applied paving material to form a paved surface.
US08454738B2
Disclosed is a mold-releasing agent comprising, as active ingredients, a graft copolymer (A) in which a polyalkylene glycol or an alkyl ether thereof is graft-copolymerized with a polyfluoro-1-alkene represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)bCH═CH2 (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 6, a is an integer of 1 to 4, and b is an integer of 1 to 3), and a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cP(O)(OH)2 (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 6, a is an integer of 1 to 4, and b is an integer of 1 to 3, and c is an integer of 1 to 3) or a salt thereof (B). The mold-releasing agent comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 6 or less carbon atoms, which is said to have low bioaccumulation potential, and having mold release performance equivalent to or more than that of a mold-releasing agent comprising a compound having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms as an active ingredient.
US08454732B2
A membrane composition and process for its formation are disclosed from the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from mixed gases, such as flue gases of energy production facilities. The membrane includes a substrate layer comprising inorganic oxides, a barrier layer of in-situ formed Li2ZrO3, a Li2ZrO3 sorbent layer and an inorganic oxide cap layer. The membrane has a feed side for introduction of mixed gases containing nitrogen (N2) and a sweep side for recovery of CO2 wherein the membrane has a relatively high selectivity for CO2 transport at temperatures in the range of 400° to 700° C.
US08454730B2
Various embodiments of a gas storage and supply system and its operation processes having pre-selected temperature and pressure limits are disclosed. Various temperature and pressure profiles may be used to supply stored gas to a gas consuming device.
US08454724B2
A system and process for the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from a feed natural gas having variable flow rates and inlet CO2 levels.
US08454712B2
A process and system for separating a light fraction, a bio-distillate fraction, and a heavy fraction from a bio-oil, and for producing a renewable distillate including at least in part the bio-distillate fraction and a stabilizing additive, is provided. The process comprises separating bio-oil into light, bio-distillate, and heavy fractions based on their boiling points. At least a portion of the bio-distillate fraction and a stabilizing additive are blended with a petroleum-derived-diesel-range stream, without any prior hydrotreatment, to thereby provide a renewable distillate composition.
US08454702B2
A reverse modular humeral implant for implantation into a humerus that includes a natural humeral shaft and a natural humeral head. The implant includes a humeral stem implantable into the natural humeral shaft, and an adapter couplable to the humeral stem, the adapter including an anchoring projection configured to be coupled to a convex bearing.
US08454701B2
A surgical method for positioning an extraoral bone-anchored implant device in a receiving bone site of a patient, the patient being a human being or an animal, including the following successive steps: a step of preparing the receiving bone site, a step of impacting the implant in the opening formed in the receiving bone site; a step of leveling the implant and the surrounding bone structure and making them continuous, during which the external table of the bone structure is rubbed at its part surrounding the implant, then bone fragments are positioned on the rubbed parts of the external table of the bone structure, then the bone fragments are covered with a membrane to hold the bone fragments in position, the membrane being attached to the bone structure on one side and to the implant on the other side, so as to prevent bone proliferation on the implant.
US08454699B2
The present invention provides artificial disc prostheses, methods and instrumentation for implantation and revision thereof. Each prosthesis may comprise superior and inferior end plates and a nucleus positioned between articular surfaces of the end plates. The end plates may have planar bone engagement surfaces with a plurality of self-cutting teeth. The articular surfaces of the end plates may be planar or include a flattened portion. The nucleus includes superior and inferior articular surfaces which may comprise flattened portions such that when the articular surfaces of the nucleus and the end plates are placed in cooperation in a preferred orientation, the flattened and/or planar portions are aligned. Each prosthesis may provide flexion/extension, anterior/posterior translation, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation degrees of freedom. One embodiment comprises a prosthesis with a first joint providing flexion/extension and anterior/posterior translation, and a second joint providing lateral bending and axial rotation.
US08454695B2
A selectively expanding spine cage has a minimized diameter in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the diameter of the neuroforamen through which it passes in the distracted spine. The cage conformably engages between the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The cage enhances spinal arthrodesis by creating a rigid spine segment. Expanding selectively, the cage height increases and holds the vertebrae with fixation forces greater than adjacent bone and soft tissue failure forces in natural lordosis. Stability is thus achieved immediately, enabling patient function by eliminating painful motion. The cage shape intends to rest proximate to the anterior column cortices securing the desired spread and fixation, allowing for bone graft in, around, and through the implant.
US08454684B2
A valve holder for a prosthetic valve having a stent comprising a stent base and multiple commissure posts projecting from the stent base, the valve holder including a connector hub, a plurality of legs connected to the connector hub, each leg having an elongate portion and a commissure post engaging plate, a sliding member slideably connected to each leg of the plurality of legs and positioned between the connector hub and the commissure post engaging plates of the plurality of legs and slideably positionable at a first position relative to the connector hub with the commissure post engaging plates in an uncompressed configuration and a second position relative to the connector hub with the commissure post engaging plates in a compressed configuration, and a handle extending from the connector hub.
US08454681B2
A catheter assembly including a side branch locator that is moveable between a retracted position within a main vessel of a vessel bifurcation, and an extended position wherein a distal end of the side branch locator extends into a branch vessel of the vessel bifurcation. The side branch locator includes a first end fixed relative to a portion of the catheter assembly that remains in the main vessel. A second end of the side branch locator is moveable between the retracted and extended positions. The catheter assembly can include a moveable sheath that holds the side branch locator in the retracted position. The catheter assembly can further include a stent having a lateral branch opening through which the side branch locator extends.
US08454677B2
A stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular tubular structure is provided. The tubular structure has a longitudinal axis and the stent includes a plurality of circumferential sets of strut members. Each set of the strut members is longitudinally displaced from each other and connected to each other by longitudinally extending links. Each set of the strut members forms a closed and cylindrical portion of the stent. Further, each set of the strut members includes a plurality of connected curve sections and diagonal sections. The sets of the strut members further include end sets of strut members located at each end of the stent and central sets of strut members located between the end sets of the strut members. The diagonal sections of the end sets of the strut members have a center portion and two ends.
US08454663B2
Systems and methods treat at least two vertebral bodies in a spinal column. The systems and methods make use of first and second tool assemblies operable to treat an interior region of, respectively, a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body in the spinal column. The systems and methods provide directions for operating the first and second tool assemblies to treat the first and second vertebral bodies, at least for a portion of time, concurrently.
US08454655B2
An elastically curved suture anchor is resiliently straightened and delivered into tissue by a needle. When the needle is withdrawn, resumption of the curvature provides leverage for anchor rotation as the attached suture is pulled to fasten the anchor within the tissue. A fin at the proximal end of the anchor further increases the rotational leverage and expedites anchor fastening. When two or more anchors with connecting suture are delivered in series on a needle, the tension of the suture helps to draw the anchors together and approximates the pierced tissue.
US08454650B2
A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.
US08454648B1
A prostate immobilizer has a shaft with a fluid passageway extending therethrough, a balloon affixed over an end of the shaft such that the fluid passageway communicates with an interior of the balloon, a lumen extending within the shaft so as to have an end opening adjacent an end of the balloon, and a device for locking a position of the shaft. The device has a positioning member having a stem portion extending from a head portion, and a locking member having a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member cooperates with the stem portion of the positioning member so as to fix a position on the shaft. A channel is formed in the head portion so as to receive the shaft therein.
US08454644B2
A method of dilating an incision to provide access to a surgical site. Such method may include the steps of making an incision in the skin of a patient near a predetermined surgical site, inserting into the incision a dilator, inserting at least one shoe horn in juxtaposition or in direct apposition with the dilator, removing the dilator from the incision, inserting a blunt dissector adjacent the at least one shoe horn, removing the at least one shoe horn, inserting a retractor or a tube over the blunt dissector and into the incision such that the retractor or tube is at or adjacent the predetermined surgical site, removing the blunt dissector from the incision, and performing a surgical procedure at the predetermined surgical site through the retractor or tube.
US08454643B2
The present invention provides a tattoo needle housing, including: a substantially hollow prismatic structure configured to surround a plurality of tattoo needles, wherein the substantially hollow prismatic structure includes a bottom edge portion at one end thereof that has a shape that substantially matches a collective shape of the tips of the plurality of tattoo needles, and wherein the substantially hollow prismatic structure includes an opening manufactured into one or more of a top surface and a bottom surface thereof.
US08454639B2
A percutaneous surgical instrument for de-bulking calculi or drilling bone includes an actuator for generating vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies and a horn coupled to said actuator for amplifying the actuator vibration. A fixed probe is attached to said horn for engaging the calculi and introducing the ultrasonic frequencies thereto. A floating probe is disposed concentric to and under said fixed probe and slidable thereover. A free mass is disposed between the horn and the floating probe for oscillating therebetween, in response to actuator vibration, for causing low frequency impact with the calculi.
US08454631B2
An endoscopic stitching device is provided including an end effector configured and adapted to perform at least a pair of functions; and a single actuation cable operatively connected to the end effector, wherein the actuation cable is capable of effecting operation of at least the pair of functions. The actuation cable is capable of effecting a first operation of the pair of functions upon an axial translation thereof, and a second operation of the pair of functions upon a rotation thereof.
US08454628B2
A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a clevis and first and second jaws mutually rotatable between open and closed positions. The jaws are proximally directed and laterally displaced relative to an axis of a control shaft of the instrument. The jaws hold first and second parts of a fastener, respectively. The first part includes a base having tissue-piercing posts, and the second part includes a second base defining apertures receiving the posts and a portion movable relative thereto between first and second orientations. When the posts are inserted into the apertures, the movable portion can be moved from the first unlocked orientation into the second configuration to lock the fastener parts together in an implanting position determined by various alignment measures, including markings or flags on the jaws or at the housing. The instrument is adapted to move the second part into the second configuration.
US08454622B2
A method for distracting a pair of adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant within the intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae using a posterior angle is described. The method employs a vertebral distractor-inserter comprising a housing, a pair of opposing arms in mechanical communication with the housing, a driving rod extending through at least a portion of the housing and between the arms, wherein the driving rod comprises an axis and a surface with a plurality of angled ratchet teeth on at least a portion of the surface, and a ratchet drive mechanism in mechanical communication with the driving rod.
US08454614B2
The present embodiments relate to a joint treatment device for improved treatment of a diseased joint. The joint treatment device comprises first and second components, which are coupled to first and second bone portions, respectively, at the joint. The first component and the second component are configured to be coupled together in a first configuration to promote fusion of the joint, and further are configured to be coupled together in a second configuration to promote arthroplasty of the joint. Additionally, a screwdriver is disclosed that may advance the first and second component simultaneously or independently. Further, a joint distraction device is disclosed, which may be used to vary spacing between the first bone portion and the second bone portion at the joint.
US08454613B2
Systems and methods for identifying surgical instruments by use of radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) are disclosed. In the systems and methods, each of a plurality of surgical instruments is provided with at least one RFID transponder tag storing identification information associated with the corresponding instrument. The tag may be adhered to, embedded, or potted within a portion of the instrument. Using an RFID reading device, a user may interrogate the tag, thereby identifying the particular instrument. This identification information may be used to index a database and retrieve a data record unique to that instrument. The systems and methods allow a user to track, inspect, and verify inbound and outbound surgical instruments, to assess, for example, the surgical instruments' duty life cycle usage.
US08454612B2
Embodiments relate generally to tissue anchors and methods of delivering same to the intervertebral disc or other sites within the body. In some embodiments, the anchors provide increased pull-out resistance, stability and/or contact with tissue involving a reduced amount of penetration. In some embodiments, delivery methods are minimally invasive and can include linear, lateral, and off-angle implantation or driving of anchors along, against or within tissue surfaces. Several embodiments disclose anchors and anchoring systems that effectively reconstruct or augment vertebral endplate surfaces.
US08454606B2
A device for treating fractures of the femur and includes an intra-medullary pin (1) with a central longitudinal axis (2), a front piece (3), which is introduced into the medullary channel of the femur, a rear piece (4) and a hole (5) going through the rear piece (4) at an angle to the longitudinal axis (2) with a non-circular cross-section (6). A sliding sleeve (10) that is introduced through the hole (5) with non-circular cross-section, has a front end (11), a rear end (12), a central longitudinal drilling (13), an outer sleeve surface (14), an inner sleeve surface (15) and a longitudinal axis (16). A longitudinal bone fixation element (20) with a longitudinal axis (21), a head piece (22) with fixation element (23), which is brought into engagement with the femur head on use and a shaft (24), which is introduced co-axially into the sliding sleeve (10), whereby the outer sleeve surface (14) of the sliding sleeve (10) has a non-circular cross-section (17), at least in a partial region. The inner sleeve surface (5) of the sliding sleeve (10) has a round cross-section (18) and fixation elements (30) are provided for the selective blocking of the rotation of the longitudinal bone fixation element (20) in the sliding sleeve (10).
US08454605B2
Locking mechanism for a broken or fractured bone, comprising a medulla nail with a proximal portion which may incorporate perforations and a distal portion, and at least one locking aid, characterized in that the distal portion has a surface structure which is designed so that the bone can be stabilized by means of the medulla nail due to the at least one locking aid acting on the surface structure of the nail through the bone from outside, preferably preventing it from rotating and/or being subjected to axial stress.
US08454603B2
An external fixation assembly includes a plurality of hollow pins that are inserted into a patient's bone. Each pin has an interior bore and a plurality of apertures extending through the pin wall from the bore. The pin may be coupled to a source of vacuum pressure operable to create reduced pressure in the tissue surrounding the pin. A cover is placed around the pin and sealed to provide a fluid-tight enclosure that maintains reduced pressure around the pin. A method for applying external fixation using the fixator pins described above includes the steps of inserting each pin through a skin opening, positioning the pin apertures near selected tissue, covering the skin opening with a sealed enclosure, connecting the pins to a source of vacuum pressure, and activating the source of vacuum pressure to create reduced pressure in the patient's tissue at or near the bone.
US08454598B2
Methods for using a surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism for improving lesion creation capabilities. The device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about means for coagulating soft tissue. Openings through the covering expose regions of the coagulation-causing elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source and a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.
US08454596B2
An electrophysiology ablation device includes a catheter sleeve (1), an electrode sleeve (2), a steering ball sleeve (4), a central rod (6), an ablation electrode (3) and a steering ball (5). The catheter sleeve (1), the electrode sleeve (2), the steering ball sleeve (4) and the central rod (6) are muff-coupled together, and the steering ball (5) can be deployed radially to define a meshed spherical shape, in order to steer the positioning of the ablation electrode (3) which can be deployed to define a meshed disk shape, so the ablation electrode (3) can be positioned at the ostium of the pulmonary vein accurately.
US08454589B2
A system and method for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy to a tissue in a body is provided. A three-dimensional anatomical map of the tissue is generated and displayed with the map defining a corresponding volume. An index is generated corresponding to a location within the volume with the index indicative of a state of ablation therapy at the location. The index may be derived from one or more factors such as the duration an ablation electrode is present at the location, the amount of energy provided, the degree of electrical coupling between an ablation electrode and the tissue at the location and temperature. A visual characteristic (e.g., color intensity) of a portion of the anatomical map corresponding to the location is then altered responsive to the index.
US08454588B2
An apparatus for moving the esophagus includes an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section. A handle is coupled to the flexible section to adjust the curvature of the controlled curvature section. The length of the controlled curvature section is less than the length of the thoracic portion of the esophagus. Further, a method of adjusting the curvature of the esophagus during a therapeutic procedure in a treatment area outside of the esophagus includes positioning within the esophagus an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section and adjusting the curvature of the controlled curvature section to increase the distance between the esophagus and a treatment area outside of the esophagus.
US08454586B2
An instrument comprises a light guide and a substantially rigid support for the light guide. In a version adapted for the treatment of varicose veins, the support is a needle serving as a sheath to a fibre optic.
US08454576B2
A closed loop/semi-closed loop infusion system provides therapy modification and safeguards against the over-delivery or under-delivery of insulin. A glucose sensor system is configured to obtain a measured blood glucose value. A controller is operationally connected with the glucose sensor system and configured to trigger an alarm based on a measured blood glucose value or amount of insulin delivered, selectively perform calibration of the glucose sensor system when the alarm is triggered, and adjust a therapy delivery parameter when the alarm is triggered, wherein the adjusted therapy delivery parameter is limited to be within a boundary. Thereafter, a delivery system delivers therapy at the adjusted therapy delivery parameter.
US08454573B2
An apparatus for removal of premixed drugs or reconstitution of lyophilized drugs and for the injection of the reconstituted drug into the patient. The apparatus includes a syringe assembly and an adapter assembly that can be removably connected to a medicament container containing a premixed drug or lyophilized medicament. The syringe assembly of the apparatus includes a liquid chamber between the forward end of the body portion and the piston and a syringe cannula assembly. The syringe cannula assembly, which can be removably interconnected with the body portion, comprises a cannula support and a hypodermic needle sealably connected to the cannula support. The adapter assembly comprises an adapter preferably molded from a moldable plastic that includes a top wall, an adapter cannula connected to and extending from the top wall and a variety of connectors connected to the top wall for removably interconnecting the adapter with the medicament container. The adapter assembly further includes syringe connector member connected to the top wall for removably interconnecting the syringe with the adapter in a manner to uniquely position the syringe cannula within the lumen of the adapter cannula wherein it is completely shielded from external contamination to prevent print damage and injury to the user.
US08454561B2
An assembly for connection to a system for injecting a patient is disclosed. The assembly includes an enclosure, a compartment incorporated into the enclosure, a connector, and an output. The compartment is adapted to accept a pharmaceutical container. At least one sealing member is adapted to reversibly seal the compartment. The connector is adapted to establish a fluid connection with a pharmaceutical container in the compartment. The outlet is in fluid connection with the first connector and adapted to connect to the injector.
US08454559B2
Hypodermic syringe having a barrel which with an inner wall thereof defines a reservoir, a closing-off device near the first end of the barrel, and a plunger that is movably placed in the second end of the barrel, wherein the closing-off device comprises a circumferential wall that sealingly abuts the inner wall of the barrel, at the side facing away from the nozzle is provided with a recess extending along a centre line of the closing-off device and over the full width thereof, which recess merges into the through-opening, with in the recess two diametrically opposite flexible locking members, extending in the longitudinal direction of the recess and towards the inner wall, which locking members engage into diametrically placed locking grooves in the inner wall, and at the side facing away from the nozzle, at a circumferential part of the closing-off device situated outside of the recess, is provided with two diametrically opposite and radially outwardly extending blocking members, that engage in diametrically placed blocking grooves in the inner wall.
US08454557B1
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may be configured to detect when at least one component of the pump system is exposed to an impact above a threshold level. In particular embodiments, the infusion pump system can be equipped with an impact detection system that can sense when an impact above the threshold level has occurred to the pump device, which thereby enables the infusion pump system to initiate appropriate patient safety countermeasures.
US08454555B2
The present invention relates to a medical device for analyzing cardiac related input signals. The device is capable of receiving an ECG-signal and a nerve activity signal, such as vagus nerve signal in order to detect a cardiac related neural activity, such as epilepsy. The device is programmed for detecting a trigger feature (e.g. the R-peak) in the signal and extracting a nerve activity signal segment from the nerve activity signal in response to detecting the trigger feature. An activity related feature is generated either based on a combined signal obtained from a number of nerve activity signal segments, or as a segment-based activity related feature obtained from a number of nerve activity signal segments. Moreover, the device is adapted for comparing the activity related feature to a predefine criterion in order to detect the cardiac related neural activity.
US08454554B2
A handheld diabetes managing device that provides a secure and efficient communication link between an insulin pump and an external computing device. The handheld diabetes managing device can include a blood glucose meter, a processor and first and second communication modules. The handheld diabetes managing device can be configured to deliver data between an insulin pump and an external computing device over a secure communication path without a direct communication link between the insulin pump and the external computing device. The secure communication path can include a first secure bidirectional communication link between the handheld diabetes managing device and the insulin pump and a second secure bidirectional communication link between the handheld diabetes managing device and the external computing device.
US08454550B2
An apparatus is disclosed for detecting moisture, which is intended for the use in an apparatus for monitoring an access to a patient for a device by means of which a fluid is conducted to and/or removed from a patient via a hose line, in particular for monitoring the vascular access during an extracorporeal blood treatment, wherein blood of a patient is removed from the patient via an arterial hose line, which has an arterial puncture cannula, and is conducted back to the patient via a venous hose line, which has a venous puncture cannula. The apparatus for detecting moisture is designed as a pad which is made of a flexible material and is to be applied onto the patient's skin and which comprises an upper side facing away from the patient's skin and a lower side facing the patient's skin. The pad comprises an opening for the passage of fluid, in particular blood, and a moisture sensor having contact elements for the connection of the same. The moisture sensor is capable of detecting blood flowing through the opening to the surface of the pad. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the lower side of the pad is impervious to fluid.
US08454544B2
Apparatus for providing physical therapy to a patient, the apparatus comprising a therapeutic support comprising a waist belt and a limb support, wherein the limb support is adjustably securable to the waist belt.
US08454537B2
An intravascular guide wire having two core materials joined together without the use of a connector tube or sleeve, the core materials being stainless steel and psuedoelastic metal alloy, nitinol. The core materials are joined to each other through an intermediate transition piece made essentially of nickel, which is welded on either side to the two core materials. In a multi-segment intravascular guide wire, discrete, high modulus and medium modulus core portions of different materials are welded to a shapeable, low modulus distal core portion made of a third material having a flattened, shapeable section at a most distal end that is not welded to but made from the distal core portion, so the flattened, shapeable section can be deformed to create a steerable tip. Processes such as simultaneous resistance and friction welding can be used to join the core portions.
US08454534B2
The present invention provides an improved arterialized earlobe blood collection device, and an improved process for blood analysis. The device and the process of the invention can be used in many unsual and/or risky situations, including collecting arterialized blood in space missions under microgravity environment and within ambulances or the like. The process of the present invention enables easier and faster blood analysis, since the blood collector device of the invention is coupled with an analyzing apparatus so as no blood or needle manipulation is required.
US08454530B2
A biopsy apparatus has a biopsy needle, which faces a radiation reception surface of a radiation detector and is held obliquely to the radiation reception surface by a biopsy needle holding mechanism. The biopsy apparatus includes a radiographic image capturing apparatus for capturing two radiographic images. One of the two radiographic images is produced according to a scout image capturing mode or a stereographic image capturing mode, and the other is produced according to the stereographic image capturing mode.
US08454525B2
Methods and apparatus for determining blood flow in tissue are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are used to establish a baseline for both thermal properties of the tissue and non-physiologic conditions. Periodic changes in either or both constituents of the baseline are determined and, when the changes correspond to a need for a new baseline, a new baseline is established.
US08454523B2
In a method for intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, in which in an alternating manner the coronary sinus is occluded by an occlusion device and the occlusion is released, the curve of the fluid pressure occurring in the coronary sinus after the release of the occlusion is estimated by calculation and the time of the beginning of the next occlusion is determined as a function of the estimated pressure curve.
US08454521B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a sphygmomanometer that is easy to use. The sphygmomanometer according to the present invention measures blood pressure in accordance with an oscillation in an artery wall, resulting from an arterial pulse correspondent with a change in cuff pressure. It comprises a cuff that is connected to the sphygmomanometer main body by a tube, a display unit for displaying the results of blood pressure measurements, and an air supply unit for supplying air to, and thus pressurizing, the cuff, which is detachable from the sphygmomanometer main body. The air supply unit is screwed into the sphygmomanometer main body with a screw assembly, and the screwed-in state is preserved by a caulking ring. The air supply unit also comprises a filter for keeping dust from entering the sphygmomanometer main body.
US08454518B2
An ultrasonic probe is provided capable of eliminating difficulties in processing, increasing the directivity of ultrasonic waves, and obtaining a high-resolution diagnostic image. An ultrasonic probe 10 is configured to include a plurality of piezoelectric elements 1, an acoustic matching layer 2 provided on a front surface in the thickness direction at a subject side (upper side in the drawing) so as to correspond to the respective piezoelectric elements 1, a backing load member 3 provided, as necessary, on a rear surface (lower surface in the drawing) in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric elements 1 at a side opposite to the acoustic matching layer 2, and an acoustic lens 4 provided, as necessary, on the acoustic matching layer 2. The acoustic matching layer 2 is formed of a rubber elastic material and arranged in a non-divided, flat surface shape at one side of the plurality of piezoelectric elements 1.
US08454512B2
A confocal photoacoustic microscopy system includes a laser configured to emit a light pulse, a focusing assembly configured to receive the light pulse and to focus the light pulse into an area inside an object, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive acoustic waves emitted by the object in response to the light pulse, and an electronic system configured to process the acoustic waves and to generate an image of the area inside the object. The focusing assembly is further configured to focus the light pulse on the object in such a way that a focal point of the focusing assembly coincides with a focal point of the at least one ultrasonic transducer.
US08454497B2
An endoscope apparatus includes: an insertion portion including a bending portion provided on a distal end side thereof; a bending drive section that drives bending of the bending portion; an insertion shape detection section that detects an insertion shape of the distal end side of the insertion portion as insertion shape information; a curved state detection section that detects a curved state based on the insertion shape information as curve information; a plane calculation section that performs a calculation to estimate a plane for driving bending of the bending portion from the detected curve information; and a bending control section that drives bending of the bending drive section along the estimated plane.
US08454496B2
The present invention involves a new type of capsule pattern endoscope intended to greatly reduce the effective internal volume of the capsule pattern endoscope through reasonable structure arrangement. The technical proposal to implement the above invention is: a kind of capsule pattern endoscope comprises an intelligent capsule and an image-receiving device. The intelligent capsule includes a shell with an electronic circuit printed thereon, and an image information pick-up device including an image sensor and a lens optical system, an image signal processing and transmitting device, a light source, and a power supply, which are arranged inside the shell.
US08454495B2
A capsule medical apparatus includes a capsule exterior member and a sensor that can detect the change of an atmospheric physical quantity caused outside the exterior member in the non-contact state, and performs, based on the temporary change in atmospheric physical quantity detected by the sensor, at least one of first control for switching operation from the ON-state of energy supply to the electric circuit from the battery to the OFF-state of the energy supply and of second control for switching operation from the OFF-state of the power supply to the ON-state of the power supply, and holds the state of energy supply switched by the control until another change of atmospheric physical quantity is detected.
US08454494B2
A support apparatus connects with and provides fluid communication between a needle and a syringe. The support apparatus includes at least one arm that is configured to provide cantilever support of the needle and syringe while the needle is inserted in a patient. The arm engages the patient's skin, and may be rigid, malleable, hinged, stretchable, telescoping, and/or have other properties. The support apparatus may form part of an adapter that also includes a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor senses the pressure of fluid in a gastric band system when the needle is inserted in an injection port of the gastric band system. A cable may extend from the pressure sensor to a display device, and may include markings configured to provide measurement from the needle to a patient's xyphoid process. Such a measurement may be factored into a calculation to account for hydrostatic pressure differences in pressure readings.
US08454493B2
A conception device includes a dome having a collapsible sidewall, an annular rim, and three or more gripping flanges along the inner surface of the rim. The gripping flanges may effectively position and secure the device over the cervix for the concentration of semen on the cervical os to effect fertilization independently or with the aid of biologically active agents. The device may additionally include a handle extending from the annular rim at an angle.
US08454490B2
A biological rhythm is adjusted based on a time difference as well while individually dealing with moving subjects that move in accordance with moving schedules. In step S1, information including the moving schedule and biological information on the moving subject is input. In step S2, a sleeping schedule is set based on the information obtained in step S1. Step S2 is roughly divided into two steps. In the first step, parameters for setting the sleeping schedule are set based on the moving schedule and the biological information. In the next step, the sleeping schedule is set with the parameters obtained in the first step.
US08454488B2
An apparatus and method for tailoring the radiation intensity about a radiation source, enabling affected zones of a cancerous tissue mass to receive full radiation dosage while limiting the exposure of unaffected regions where radiation exposure is not desired. The assembly includes a radiation attenuator partially covering the outer periphery of a delivery portion of a high dosage radiation catheter, thereby altering the radiation profile that exits the assembly. A method for treating a cancer affected tissue mass includes inserting a plurality of said catheters into a tissue mass about the center of mass and orienting said catheter so that said the maximum radiation intensity is facing substantially toward the center of mass. The radiation source is allowed to dwell in the catheter for a prescribed period of time to deliver the desired dosage of radiation. The radiation source is then removed from the catheter.
US08454487B2
The invention relates to a separation disc and a milk separator comprising a rotor, which separation disc together with other separation discs forms a stack of separation discs rotatable together with the rotor. The separation disc comprises a truncated substantially conical portion and an annular flange element connected to the conical portion at the smallest radius and extends therefrom radially inwards substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The flange element has a radial extent corresponding to at least 10% of the radial extent of the conical portion. The inner radial edge of the flange element includes recesses distributed along the edge and adapted to protrusions on a column connected to the rotor, extending coaxially through the separation discs. The recesses are substantially filled by the protrusions. The radial extent of the recesses corresponds to at least 20% of the radial extent of the flange element.
US08454475B2
A multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system and a method of changing gear ratios thereof are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multi-ratio rotorcraft drive system comprises a rotor system comprising one or more rotors and one or more engines. Each engine of the one or more engines is coupled to the rotor system through a multi-ratio transmission. The multi-ratio transmission comprises an output shaft coupled to the rotor system, an input shaft coupled to a respective engine of the one or more engines, a high speed clutch integrated into a high speed gear train, and a low speed clutch integrated into a low speed gear train. The high speed clutch and the low speed clutch are freewheeling clutches without a friction plate and are capable of disconnecting the output shaft and the input shaft in an overrunning condition when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft.
US08454467B2
The present invention relates to a power split transmission for a motor vehicle, having a mechanical and a hydrostatic power branch (3, 4) disposed parallel to each other and contacting a mutual drive shaft (1), wherein the hydrostatic power branch (4) consists of a hydro motor (6) coupled to a hydro pump (5) and is connected to the drive shaft (1) via a gear stage (7), wherein the branched power from the mechanical and hydrostatic power branch (3, 4) can be combined into a gear drive (13) disposed on the face side, said gear drive being subsequently connected to a drive shaft (2), wherein the mechanical power branch (3) further consists of two planetary gears (8, 9) having sun gears (10, 12), planetary gears (16, 17), and hollow gears (21, 22), wherein the sun gear (10) of the first planetary gear transmission (8) is placed directly on the drive shaft (1) while the sun gear (12) of the second planetary gear transmission (9) is in contact with the gear drive (13) via a sun shaft (11), and wherein the planetary gears (16, 17) of both stages (8, 9) are disposed in a coaxial manner and are supported on a mutual planetary carrier shaft (18).
US08454461B2
A sprocket assembly mounted to a hub has at least eleven sprockets. The hub is able to rotate about a rotation axis and has a plurality of spoke attachment seats and a fastening portion to a frame of the bicycle. On the hub a predetermined axial distance is defined between a plane, substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, comprising the points of the spoke attachment seats closest to the freewheel body and a plane, substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis and defined in the fastening portion to the frame, comprising the attachment points to the frame closest to the freewheel body. All of the sprockets of the sprocket assembly, when associated with the freewheel body, have an overall axial width that is lower than or equal to the predetermined axial distance. The chain has a maximum thickness between 4.6 mm and 5.8 mm.
US08454454B2
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising an outer surface and a geometric center, the outer surface being treated with and comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition, the outer surface further having a first hardness and the geometric center having a second hardness, wherein the first hardness is the same as or different than the second hardness.
US08454450B1
A swing includes a body including a concave central portion defining a recessed seat and a peripheral edge surrounding the concave central portion. The peripheral edge includes a plurality of tether openings, and each of the tether openings is adapted to receive a tether. The peripheral edge of the body is circular such that the body defines a circular disk. The seat includes a drain opening defined therein. The body can be defined as a one-piece molded polymeric construction or from multiple body sections. In another embodiment, the concave central portion defining the recessed seat comprises a flexible material connected to the peripheral edge.
US08454436B2
A method, implemented by an electronic gaming machine (EGM), includes providing an electronic display mounted to the cabinet of the EGM and disposed in a normal operational position to portray a wagering game to a user, the display in the normal operational position having an orientation of one of landscape or portrait. The display is moved from the normal operational position to a maintenance position in order to permit access for a technician to components in a space in the cabinet behind the display when the latter is in the normal operational position, the display in the maintenance position having an orientation of the other of landscape or portrait, the display in the maintenance position displaying information to the technician.
US08454418B2
Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. A plurality of frets can be disposed on a fingerboard and underlying the strings. The frets may include electrically conductive zones that can be electrically insulated from each other, and each zone corresponds to a different string. A polyphonic pickup having a plurality of wire-wound coils coupled to corresponding magnetic returns can be included, and can be adapted to detect striking of at least one of the strings by a user of the game controller. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument.
US08454417B2
The present invention includes a scent-based board game to challenge the olfactory sense of the player, and a method of play thereof, further including a game board having a start space, an end space and a set of spaces positioned between the start and end space; a scented card having a scent, the identity of the scent and an order; and positional markers. The players progress along the game path by following instructions on the game spaces, identifying the correct scent on the scented cards, and avoiding obstacles. The first player to arrive to the end space is declared as winner.
US08454416B1
A concave includes a frame and an array of threshing elements supported by the frame, the threshing elements being spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another. The threshing elements are configured in the form of round bars each having formed on an upper portion thereof disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the frame a longitudinally-extending notch respectively defining an aggressive threshing edge. The spaced apart relationship and round configuration of the threshing elements reduce plugging of the concave. The threshing edges facing in a direction opposite to the direction of crop material flow restrict crop material flow and thereby enable more effective threshing.
US08454415B2
A supply channel is provided with an air distribution system for vehicles, in particular for aircraft. The supply channel includes, but is not limited to an elongated housing, a hollow profile extending in longitudinal direction of the housing, and at least one air shower that includes, but is not limited to an air inlet and at least one air outlet. A generated surface of the hollow profile includes, but is not limited to a multitude of perforation openings. The at least one is designed such that in a region of the air inlet it rests tightly against the generated surface of the hollow profile. Perforation openings that do not lead to an air inlet of an air shower can be sealed off by an adhesive film or foil that has been applied. The supply channel makes possible variable positioning of air showers along the longitudinal direction of the supply channel.
US08454413B2
A flexible membrane for use in a carrier head has a generally circular main portion with a lower surface, an annular outer portion for connection to a base assembly, and an annular flap extending from the main portion on a side opposite the lower surface for connection to the base assembly. At least one surface of the flap has a surface texture to prevent adhesion.
US08454409B2
A nozzle and method of providing CO2 for cleaning includes providing a CO2 flow; phase transferring the CO2 flow into gaseous CO2 and CO2 pellets; interrupting the CO2 flow with a screen member; retaining the CO2 pellets of a select larger size upstream of the screen member; permitting the CO2 pellets of a select smaller size to pass through the screen member for cleaning.
US08454399B1
An amphibious vehicle that may be driven directly between land and water includes a vehicle with an opposed pair of flotation side hulls and a rear hull. The side hulls are movable between a stowed position above the vehicle and a lowered deployed position outboard thereof. Each side hull is mounted by arm assemblies including an upright bracket fixed to the vehicle and an arm pivotally connected to the bracket that can be extended or retracted linearly by actuators to raise and lower the side hulls. A locking mechanism prevents the extended side hulls from moving laterally but allows vertical adjustment thereof. The side hulls may be horizontally adjusted between compact contracted and extended protracted positions. The rear hull assembly is pivotally mounted to the back of vehicle permitting raising and lowering thereof and includes jet drives providing propulsion for water operation.
US08454395B2
An electrical connector (100) for mating with a mating connector includes a housing (1) defining a receiving cavity (10), a rear insulator (32), a central pin (7), a front insulator (31) and a contact member (5) received in the receiving cavity. The contact member includes a first through fourth side walls (513a-513d) surrounding an inserting slot (514), a pair of resilient beams (515) respectively bent from the second and the fourth side walls toward the inserting slot for clasping the mating connector. The first side wall includes a first edge portion (511) having a first protrusion (519) and a first cutout (518) in front of the first protrusion, and a second edge portion (512) having a second protrusion (516) engaged with the first cutout and a second cutout (517) behind the second protrusion and engaged with the first protrusion.
US08454392B2
An adaptor is provided. The adaptor comprises a first portion including a plug insertable into a port of a portable electronic device. The adaptor further comprises a second portion including at least one adaptor contact configured such that, when the plug of the first portion is inserted into the port and the portable electronic device is placed in a pod, the at least one adaptor contact abuts to at least one pod contact in the pod.
US08454390B2
An inline fuse holder assembly encloses a fuse assembly including a fuse, and first and second wire connectors at respective first and second longitudinal ends of the fuse assembly. The inline fuse holder assembly includes first and second components including respective first and second connectors. The first and second connectors include mateable, non-releasable connection components configured to connect the first and second components to one another and form a substantially waterproof, non-releasable connection upon connection. The first and second components together define an enclosure for enclosing an entirety of the fuse assembly when the first and second fuse holder components are connected to one another.
US08454389B2
The invention relates to a fuse-receiving device, in particular for junction boxes in photovoltaic systems, comprising a fastening web and receiving contact portions, arranged on the end faces of the fastening web, for contact blades of fuses, comprising insulating caps which are placed on the fastening web and cover the receiving contact portions at least in part and also have slot openings which allow the contact blades of a fuse to be guided through, the fastening web having at least one groove-shaped socket for an electrical busbar, into which socket a contact tab of one of the receiving contact portions is inserted, and at least one groove which extends along the axis of the fastening web being provided in at least one end face of the fastening web, and a holding member being provided which has a plug means which may be brought into engagement with the at least one groove.
US08454381B2
A cable assembly includes a PCB, a rear housing, a front housing assembled with the rear housing and a locking member. The printed circuit board includes a mating end formed with a plurality of first conductive pads and rear end formed with a plurality of second conductive pads. The rear housing is over molded around the rear end of the PCB. The front housing encloses a part of the PCB. The front housing defines a receiving slot and an engaging portion. The locking member is assembled to the engaging portion. The front housing further has two restricting portions extending upwardly from the upper surface thereof, each restricting portion has a supporting portion, an extension portion forwardly extending from a rear end of the supporting portion and spaced from the supporting portion so that a receiving groove is formed between the supporting portion and the extension portion.
US08454375B2
A closure device for an electrical plug-in coupling arranged on a motor vehicle or a charging station. A locking arrangement is provided for locking the plug coupled to the plug-in coupling. The locking arrangement can be operated via a gear mechanism between the drive motor and the closure flap. The locking arrangement has a locking element which, when the closure flap is transferred from an intermediate open position, in which the plug can be coupled to the plug-in coupling, into the final open position, can be brought into a locked position which prevents the removal of the plug from the plug-in coupling.
US08454364B2
The invention provides a method for creating a physical teeth model. The method comprises the following steps: providing a virtual three dimensional (3D) representation of a patient's dentition that comprises at least a region of the teeth that includes a tooth stump on which a crown is to be fitted or a region on to which a bridge is to be fitted; and preparing a physical model of the jaws of a subject from a blank, based on information from said virtual 3D image.
US08454360B2
The interproximal cleaning apparatus includes a gas reservoir (12) containing a compressed gas, such as CO2, in both liquid and gaseous states. A siphon tube (20) extends down into the liquid region of the gas reservoir when the apparatus is in an upright position. The siphon tube connects the reservoir to a metering valve (18) which has a metered volume to accommodate an amount of liquid compressed gas which is sufficient for good liquid droplet cleaning when it decompresses and forms a gaseous stream, without damage to the dental regions of the user. If the apparatus is severely tilted or turned upside down, gaseous CO2 or a combination of gaseous and liquid CO2 will enter the siphon tube and then the metering valve. The size of the metering valve will limit the volume of the gaseous CO2 to a safe amount, both when liquid CO2 or gaseous CO2 are applied to the metering valve.
US08454355B2
A burning device is provided for fuel cell to be run under high temperature. The burning device uses a specific-designed fuel spraying device having porous medium. The burning device can be used under different statuses of flow in the fuel cell. With the burning device, the fuel cell has improved efficiency by enhancing recycling of system heat and pollution of discharged waste gas is reduced.
US08454344B2
An underwater pelletizer is presented having an electromagnetic clamp that includes an electromagnetic ring body having a series of electromagnets disposed along a contact surface of the electromagnetic ring body. A clamping ring body has a series of mild steel inserts disposed along a contact surface of the clamping ring body, where each mild steel insert is disposed in a position complementary to at least one of the series of electromagnets. The electromagnetic clamp ring has a contact face with a series of electromagnets disposed therein and providing a clamping ring having a contact face with a series of mild steel inserts disposed therein, where the contact face of the clamping ring is configured to engage the contact face of the electromagnetic ring to form a seal and the mild steel inserts are positioned such that each one of the series of electromagnets is adjacent to one of the mild steel inserts when the contact faces of the electromagnetic and clamping rings are engaged. The method involves disposing the electromagnetic ring and the clamping ring between the water chamber and a die face, activating the series of electromagnets to clamp the electromagnetic ring to the clamping ring, and deactivating the series of electromagnets to gain access to the water chamber.
US08454343B2
A blow mold shell assembly includes a mold cavity insert defining a mold profile on an inner surface. A manifold insert is separately formed from the mold cavity insert and disposed outboard of the mold cavity insert. The manifold insert includes at least one coolant channel formed therein. The mold cavity insert is substantially solid throughout its cross-section and precluded from passing coolant. In one example, the coolant channels may be formed longitudinally through the manifold insert. A fluid inlet fitting and a fluid outlet fitting are both in fluid communication with the manifold insert.
US08454337B2
A system for fabricating a septic tank using an outer mold and an inner removable plug, between which hardenable fluid material is poured. Preferably, the plug and mold are positioned with respect to one another in a manner that permits a septic tank to be fabricated in a single pour.
US08454331B2
A plate pump assembly for pumping various fluids including heavy crude. The plate pump assembly includes first and second chambers each having lower and upper valves. Primary upper and lower eccentric cams within the plate pump assembly are connected to an upper plate and a lower plate. A secondary eccentric cam is connected to a piston that separates the first and second chambers. A drive shaft of the assembly rotates the primary upper and lower eccentric cams to actuate the upper and lower plates alternately concealing and revealing the lower and upper valves for the first and second chambers. The drive shaft further rotates the secondary eccentric cam to actuate the piston alternately decreasing and increasing an area of the first and second chambers to receive fluids through the lower valves and compress the area within the first and second chambers to push the fluids through the upper valves.
US08454328B2
A reciprocating pump assembly comprises: a motor with a rotary motor drive shaft; a cam coupled to the motor drive shaft with an axis of rotation and a cam channel cut generally axially into a radial face of the cam; and multiple reciprocating pump units arranged radially about the cam axis of rotation, each with an inlet valve, an outlet valve, a plunger and a plunger sleeve, with a free end of its plunger coupled to the cam by way of a cam follower riding in the cam channel; wherein rotation of the motor output drive shaft causes the plunger in each pump unit to independently reciprocate in its respective sleeve.
US08454321B2
Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. For example, systems, methods and devices for optimizing the heat transfer within an air compression and expansion energy storage system are described herein. A compressor and/or expander device can include one or more of various embodiments of a heat transfer element that can be disposed within an interior of a cylinder or pressure vessel used in the compression and/or expansion of a gas, such as air. Such devices can include hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators to move a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) within the cylinder or pressure vessel. The heat transfer element can be used to remove heat energy generated during a compression and/or expansion process.
US08454319B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a pressurized-oil supply amount control device for a vehicle-mounted crane which has a dual pump system and which is capable of further inhibiting possible noise from an engine and improving fuel consumption. A predetermined control function is set for a controller 2 for the pressurized-oil supply amount control device. Three regions R1, R2, R3 are set for the predetermined control function according to the rate of an operation signal input. Based on the predetermined control function, the rotation speed of the engine 6 is controlled, and the flow rate of pressurized oil is controlled by a flow rate control valve 5. This increases the total flow rate G of pressurized oil supplied to a control valve 3 in proportion to the rate of the operation signal input to the crane.
US08454318B2
The present invention relates to the prevention of deformations in an aerodynamic profile caused by lack of resistance to the bending moment forces that are created when such a profile is loaded in operation. More specifically, the invention relates to a reinforcing element inside an aerodynamic profile and a method for the construction thereof. The profile is intended for, but not limited to, use as a wind turbine blade, an aerofoil device or as a wing profile used in the aeronautical industry.
US08454316B2
This invention relates to a radial blade wheel comprising a first (1,1′) and a second (2,2′) end plate arranged at a mutual distance from each other, the first end plate having an opening (6) which allows inflow to the radial blade wheel, and blades (3) arranged between the first and the second end plate. To achieve optimal efficiency for the radial blade wheel, the radial blade wheel comprises an inner part with blades, in which curvature (R1) of the blades (3) is shaped to bring motion energy to the flowing particles while the radial blade wheel is rotating, and an outer part with blades, in which curvature (R2) of the blades (3) is shaped not to bring motion energy to the flowing particles while the radial blade wheel is rotating.
US08454314B2
A sectional vane for vertical axis wind power generator includes a frame unit and a plurality of vane units. The frame unit is fixedly mounted to a main shaft of the wind power generator, and includes an upper frame member and at least one lower frame member. The upper and lower frame members are provided on inner side with an upper and a lower guide rail, respectively. The vane unit includes a vane body having an upper and a lower guide channel provided on a top and a bottom, respectively, corresponding to the upper and the lower guide rail. The vane units are assembled to the frame unit between the upper and the lower frame member through engagement of the guide channels with the guide rails. The sectional vane can be varied in height and area by providing different numbers of lower frame members and vane units.
US08454309B2
A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.
US08454306B2
A steam turbine (10), especially for the high-pressure range or intermediate-pressure range, includes a rotor (11) which is rotatably mounted around an axis and concentrically enclosed at a distance by an inner casing (12), wherein between the rotor (11) and the inner casing (12) a flow passage (13) is formed, which on the inlet side is axially delimited by a balance piston (18) which is arranged on the rotor (11), and into which flow passage rotor blades (15) and stator blades (17), alternating in the direction of flow, radially project, and wherein, at the entry of the flow passage (13), an inlet scroll (14), through which steam is guided from the outside radially inwards and deflected in a deflection region (27) in the axial direction to the inlet of the flow passage (13), is formed on the inner casing (12). A reduction of the thermal loads and stresses is achieved by a stress-relief slot (20) in the deflection region (27) upstream of the first rotor blade row (15) for reducing stresses in the fastening slot (16) of the first rotor blade row (15) in the rotor (11), and by a heat shield (21) arranged in the region of the stress-relief slot (20) for protecting the rotor (11) against high temperatures.
US08454300B2
To make manifest the above noted desire, a revelation of the present invention is brought forth. A fan assembly (7) is provided including a hub (10) with a plurality of projecting fan blades (12). A recirculating flow element (18) is provided which is generally forward adjacent an outer diameter of the fan blades (12). A plurality of guide vanes (22) are positioned within the recirculating flow element (18). The guide vanes (22) have an inlet angle (24) that is nearly tangential with an outer diameter surface (15) of the recirculating flow element (18). The guide vanes (22) have an outlet angle (26) which is nearly radial along an inner diameter surface (17) of the recirculating flow element (18).
US08454291B2
A device for attaching an element to a holder, the device including a screw having a body and a head, the screw body being able to pass through an opening of the element and to penetrate the holder, and a washer surrounding the screw body when the washer is inserted between the head of the screw and the element, characterized in that the washer comprises an external periphery and an internal periphery each having at least one protruding portion, each protruding portion being able to penetrate respectively the element and the holder to provide the attachment between the element and the holder. Also, an attachment method using such a device, and a front face with including device.
US08454290B2
A fastener assembly includes a bushing having a flange configured to be urged toward a work-piece, and an isolation spring configured to be positioned between the flange and the work-piece. The isolation spring includes a metal core integrally formed with a rubber coating.
US08454289B2
A staple with a breakaway staple holding prong enables a person to more easily observe, hold, position, prepare and/or steady the staple for driving and embedding into a structure. The person can hold the breakaway staple holding prong with two or more fingers of one hand and drive and embed the staple into the structure with the other hand, while minimizing or eliminating the possibility that the incoming blows of the other hand will come into contact with and harm the fingers of the hand holding the staple. The staple includes a first nail prong and a second nail prong connected by a member, creating a substantially U-shaped body, the staple further including a breakaway staple holding prong coupled to the substantially U-shaped body.
US08454278B2
The invention relates to an eight-edged rotatable and reversible cutting insert having two opposite, substantially square base surfaces which are twisted relative to one another about a central axis running perpendicularly to said base surfaces, and having four identical side surfaces. A main lip is formed between each base surface and each side surface and extends only over part of the length of the side surface. Each side surface has two diagonally opposite corner edges which are of circular or curved design and form a secondary lip adjacent to the respective main lip. In addition, each side surface has two chip pockets which are drawn into the side surface and which, starting from the respective corner edge, extend along the main lip assigned to said corner edge up to a rear chip pocket end.
US08454273B2
The invention provides a gabion which may be used to protect military or civilian installations from weapons assault or from elemental forces, such as flood waters, lava flows, avalanches, soil instability, slope erosion and the like, the gabion comprising side walls connected together at spaced intervals by partition walls, the side walls comprising at least one substantially closed side wall element panel, which acts in use of the gabion to prevent a gabion fill material from falling through the side wall, the said action of the substantially closed side wall element panel being effective without the aid of a gabion lining material.
US08454272B2
A jack-up platform (1) has a hull (2) and at least three longitudinally movable support legs (3) for the hull (1), at least one of the support legs (3) has at least one variable speed drive (8, 8A1 to 8F2) as a part of a leg driving mechanism, wherein the platform (1) has a closed-loop control unit (7) for the driving mechanism, the closed-loop control unit (7) being connected with the variable speed drive (8, 8A1 to 8F2) via a bi-directional electronic bus (16) for transmitting control parameters (M*,M,N,R).
US08454264B2
A cover plate system for a gap (15) between two structural members (10, 20) is provided. The system includes an elongated cover (30) that extends across the gap (15) from a first structural member (10) to a second, spaced-apart structural member (20). The cover plate system further includes damped spring anchors (40) for engaging the cover plate (30) to an underlying structural member (10) and dampers (50, 60) for absorbing energy imparted to the cover plate (30) by vehicular traffic. The cover plate system minimizes the strain energy that is absorbed by the cover plate (30), which results in less cover plate slapping and bouncing during operation.
US08454253B2
Disclosed is an arrangement of keypads, entitled Cenky Keyboards, which are uniquely-designed keyboard layouts that utilize data entry keypads having the letters of the English language arranged in natural alphabetical order. This arrangement, or layout, is applicable to electronic hand-held or desktop computing, typing, and calculating devices, and assists users in locating letters and typing more efficiently. Letters A through Z are arranged alphabetically on the keyboard, either horizontally in rows or vertically in columns, thus facilitating quick typing. This product may be used in conjunction with any i-pad, smart phone, computer, or other devices, including those with fixed keyboards, touch screens, and slider keyboards.
US08454248B2
In a first blade unit-driving unit which is rotated by elastic force of a first blade unit-driving spring in shooting, its driving pin rotates a first brake member counterclockwise and a second brake member clockwise against the elastic force of a coil spring fitted to a fitting shaft and against friction resistance force of a friction-providing part including a plate spring or the like at the final stage of the rotation of the first blade unit-driving unit, the plate spring being fitted to the fitting shaft, so that the first blade unit-driving unit is braked, and, at this point, one end part of the first blade unit-driving spring contacts a part to be pushed of the first brake member and controls the counterclockwise rotation of the first brake member, so that braking force to the first blade unit-driving unit acts on the first blade unit-driving unit larger and more surely.
US08454244B2
Disclosed is a modified pre-ferrulized cable assembly that facilitates installation of an optical fiber communication cable through narrow cable guides having sharp bends. The pre-ferrulized cable assembly includes a communication cable having a free, front end, a semi-finished communication connector, and a suction plug. The invention further relates to efficient methods for installing the modified pre-ferrulized cable assembly through a cable guide.
US08454237B2
The spindle motor includes a rotating shaft and a sleeve. The rotating shaft has a stepped portion in a fluid dynamic pressure shafting system. The sleeve is fitted over the circumferential outer surface of the rotating shaft. A sleeve recess is formed in the inner surface of the sleeve so that the edges of the stepped portion are spaced apart from the sleeve.
US08454234B2
Thickness measurer for metal elements (11), comprising a source device (20), able to emit a bundle (F) of ionizing radiations, at a predetermined or predeterminable intensity, a receiver device (24), disposed on an opposite side with respect to the metal element (11) and suitable to detect the residual intensity of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations. The measurer comprises a cooling device, associated with the source device (20). The cooling device comprises a heat pump element (30), to remove heat from the source device (20) so as to keep the source device (20) at a predetermined and controlled temperature. The thickness measurer also comprises detection means (46, 124) for the direct or indirect detection of the intensity, or the variation in intensity, of the bundle (F) emitted by the source device (20). The detection means (46, 124) is associated with the heat pump element (30), in order to keep the emission of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations stable.
US08454232B2
A plug-in sensor for measuring at least one property of a fluid medium, in particular for use in the coolant circuit of an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The plug-in sensor has at least one sensor for detecting the at least one property. Furthermore, the plug-in sensor has at least one sensor body having an external thread for threading the plug-in sensor into a threaded bore hole of a housing. Furthermore, the plug-in sensor includes a sealing surface for sealing an inner space of the housing against an outer space. The external thread has at least two threaded sections: a first threaded section including at least one continuous thread, and a second threaded section including at least one interrupted thread, at least one interruption of the at least one interrupted thread forming at least one blow-out groove.
US08454231B2
A mounting structure (34) for receiving a sensor (18) having a sensing portion (26) and a base portion (30) includes a substantially flat sheet of material (20) having a first surface (20a), a second surface (20b) opposite the first surface (20a), and an aperture (36). The aperture (36) is configured such that the sensing portion (26) of the sensor (18) is passable through the aperture (36), and the base portion (30) is not passable through the aperture (36), but instead rests on the first surface (20a). The mounting structure (34) also includes a pair of tabs (38) that extend in a downward direction away from the second surface (20b) of the sheet of material (20) and are configured to immobilize the sensor (18) within the aperture (36).
US08454228B2
A testing device for testing thermal detectors includes a hollow sleeve, open on at least one end, configured to receive a thermal detector. The hollow sleeve can have a length greater than a diameter. A heater is positioned is in proximity to the hollow sleeve, and is configured to provide heat for testing the thermal detector. The heater can be a flexible foil heater. A power source is provided to supply power to the heater. A power control module can be provided for variably adjusting a set point temperature or a rate of temperature rise for the heater.
US08454227B2
In a watchcase of a time-piece an internal blocking device for simultaneously blocking the push-buttons (10, 20) of the timepiece comprises an internal collar (11, 21) for each push-button pressing a gasket (12, 22) thereof against the watchcase (30) and at least one sliding element (40) providing blocking members (41, 42) for blocking the movement of the push buttons (10, 20). The sliding elements (40) are operated from outside the timepiece through the wind/set crown (50), a specific screw down button, the bezel (60) or other external members of the timepiece. The internal push buttons blocking device of the invention improves watertightness of the timepiece by a simple and reliable mechanism which is very easy and rapid to use.
US08454220B2
There is provided an illuminator comprising a plurality of light source units that include: a light guide plate; and a plurality of point light sources arranged on a lateral side of the light guide plate, each of the light source units being configured as that light introduced from the plurality of point light sources to the light guide plate is adapted to exit from a main surface of the light guide plate, wherein the plurality of light source units are radially positioned at a reference point of the base frame.
US08454218B2
An illuminating apparatus includes a plurality of light source units and a light guide plate. The light guide plate has a flat part and a protruding part, wherein the light source units provide a side light beam into the light guide plate at an edge surface, the side light beam is guided in the light guide plate and exits at the protruding part.
US08454216B2
It is provided a lamp assembly (10) for an automotive headlamp, comprising an LED (12) for emitting light rays, a housing (16), to which the LED (12) is detachably connectable, wherein the housing (16) comprises an entrance window (20) assigned to the LED (12), and a guiding element (22) for guiding the light rays passing through the entrance window (20), wherein the guiding element (22) is connected to the housing (16). Since the LED (12) is detachable connected to the housing (16) a defect LED (12) can by exchanged by only exchanging the LED (12) itself without exchanging the whole lamp assembly (10) including the housing (16) and the guiding element (22). Since the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff may be provided by the entrance window (20) and/or the guiding element (22) only, a misalignment of a newly inserted LED (12) does not affect the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff. The exchange of a LED (12) is facilitated and without affecting the correct position of the bright/dark-cutoff.
US08454195B2
A lighting device, a lighting panel and a circuit board thereof are provided. The circuit board comprises a substrate; a plurality of light sources disposed on the substrate and at least one circuit layer, being patterned onto the substrate to form a plurality of traces for electrically connecting the light sources. Therein, the circuit board is capable of being assembled with other circuit boards to construct the lighting panel. The lighting device is capable of having the lighting panel of a large size by assembling a plurality of the circuit boards and individually controlling each light source disposed on the lighting panel so as to provide the function of local dimming.
US08454187B2
A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.
US08454177B2
A low cost parabolic solar concentrator can be formed by deforming a hybrid plate. Force can be placed on an edge portion of the hybrid plate and/or a middle portion of the hybrid plate. The selective application of the force deforms the hybrid plate into a parabolic solar concentrator, instead of a sinusoidal shape. The hybrid plate can be formed from a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate attached to each other. The characteristics of the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate, can be chosen to allow the hybrid plate to be deformed into the parabolic shape with the selective application of forces.
US08454172B2
A projector device includes: an image generation unit that generates an image; an irradiation unit that irradiates light for projecting the image generated by the image generation unit upon a projection surface; and a change unit that changes luminance of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit.
US08454170B2
A projector includes a plurality of lamps serving as light sources, the lamps being arranged next to each other, and a single exhaust fan disposed adjacent to the lamps, the exhaust fan discharging air around the lamps.
US08454165B2
A method is presented to address quantitative assessment of visual contrast sensitivity in a subject, where the method comprises the steps of: (1) presenting at least one scene to the subject on a display, the scene comprising a plurality of elements and a background; (2) modulating the contrast of at least one element; (3) receiving feedback from the subject via at least one input device; (4) quantitatively refining the received feedback relative to the scene; (5) adjusting the contrast relative to accuracy of the quantitatively refined feedback; (6) calculating a critical threshold parameter for the subject; and (7) recording a critical threshold parameter onto a tangible computer readable medium. An apparatus for quantitative assessment of visual contrast sensitivity of a subject comprising a display device, an input device, a control device, and a tangible computer readable medium. In its simplest sense, quantitative assessment profile of visual contrast sensitivity by psychophysical responses is generated on a tangible computer readable medium.
US08454163B2
An ophthalmic imaging apparatus includes an illumination unit configured to illuminate a fundus of an eye to be examined; an imaging unit configured to obtain a fundus image by capturing the illuminated fundus; a detection unit configured to detect flare in an edge portion of the fundus image based on a photometric value of light from the fundus; a control unit configured to control correction processing for the fundus image for adjustment of a light amount at the edge portion of the fundus image in accordance with a flare detection result obtained by the detection unit; and a correction unit configured to perform the correction processing for the fundus image in accordance with the control.
US08454157B2
A pair of three-dimensional glasses include two lenses, a frame holding the two lenses, a circuit board controlling the two lenses, and a power unit powering the circuit board. The power unit includes a control switch. The control switch extends from an inner surface of the frame. The circuit board is powered on when the control switch is contacted, and powered off when the control switch is not contacted.
US08454156B2
A device for enhancing support of eyeglasses on the head of a person. The device is in the form of an independent support member or an adjustable strap having a support member to enhance support of eyeglasses. The strap may include a cushion to provide comfort. The support member includes a hook for supporting the eyeglasses. The device is useful for supporting eyeglasses from the bridge of the nose of a person who has undergone rhinoplasty surgery or for supporting heavy equipment associated with eyeglasses used for surgical applications. The independent support member is easily attached to a head-engaging device and eyeglasses to enhance support of the eyeglasses.
US08454155B1
Eyewear which is suitable for routine wear and within masks which are sealed against noxious environmental gases or penetration by water is provided by a frame made up of resilient metal parts including wires to provide the frame with a shape, which facilitates the placement of the eyewear on the head of the user while limiting the movement of the eyewear when in use so as to avoid breaking the seal of a mask inside of which the eyewear is disposed when the mask is donned by the user. The eyewear has a lens holding frame for holding lenses adjacent the eyes of the user's head and connected by a bridge across the user's nose. Flexible members bent arcuately around and in conformance with the sides of the head of the user have a kink whereby to facilitate acceptance between the sides of the head and the seal of the mask with sufficient tightness against the side of the head to limit movement of the frame and the space between the seal and the head thereby avoiding breaking of the seal when the mask is in operation.
US08454148B2
A liquid ejection head includes a common liquid chamber for storing liquid, a plurality of flow paths that communicate individually with the common liquid chamber and through which liquid from the common liquid chamber flows, a plurality of ejection orifices that communicate individually with the plurality of flow paths and eject liquid supplied from the common liquid chamber, a plurality of ejection energy generating elements corresponding to the plurality of ejection orifices and generating energy necessary to cause liquid to be ejected from the plurality of ejection orifices, and a movable pressure buffer provided in the common liquid chamber and capable of absorbing a pressure wave generated by driving the plurality of ejection energy generating elements.
US08454141B2
A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with the apparatus electrical contacts, the liquid container includes a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of the apparatus contacts; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; a controller for controlling emission of light of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative of individual information supplied through the container electrical contact and the information stored in the information storing means.
US08454133B2
An inkjet head is disclosed. In the inkjet head a vibrating plate is formed on a liquid chamber substrate on which multiple dedicated liquid chambers are aligned; a first insulating film and a second insulating film are formed between a dedicated electrode wiring and a lower electrode in an area in which the dedicated electrode wiring and the lower electrode overlap; a third insulating film and a fourth insulating film are stacked in an area which includes a forming area of the dedicated electrode wiring; in at least a portion of a forming area of the dedicated liquid chamber, there is provided a non-film forming area; and, in an area including a piezoelectric element forming section, either the first insulating film and the fourth insulating film are formed in the non-film forming area, or the fourth insulating film is formed in the non-film forming area.
US08454130B2
A method of producing a liquid ejection head includes preparing an element substrate including energy generating elements for generating energy and connecting terminals electrically connected to the energy generating elements, an electrical wiring member including lead wires electrically connected to the connecting terminals, and a support member supporting the element substrate and has a recess for accommodating the element substrate and a protrusion protruding inward from an inner surface of the recess; providing adhesive on a bottom surface of the recess, positioning the element substrate in the recess and pressing the adhesive to introduce a portion of the adhesive into a space between the protrusion and the element substrate, and sealing a connected portion of the connecting terminals and the lead wires with a sealing material, the sealing material being prevented from flowing by a portion of the adhesive filling the space between the protrusion and the element substrate.
US08454126B2
A print head includes a fluid cavity and nozzle in fluid communication with the fluid cavity. A stopper is positioned adjacent the nozzle and adapted to control flow of fluid through the nozzle. An arm supports the stopper and is configured to pivotally move the stopper with respect to the nozzle. An electromagnet is positioned adjacent the arm and configured to move the arm toward the electromagnet to open the nozzle.
US08454122B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to jet droplets of recording liquid; a maintenance device configured to maintain/restore a condition of the recording head, whereby the maintenance device is detachably attached to a body of the image forming apparatus; and a waste liquid tank configured to hold waste liquid collected by the maintenance device, whereby the waste liquid tank is disposed adjacent to the maintenance device. The maintenance device has a jetting tube configured to discharge the waste liquid into the waste liquid tank. The waste liquid tank includes an induction opening surrounding the jetting tube, whereby the induction opening has a notch through which the jetting tube passes when the maintenance device is detached from the body. The image forming apparatus further includes a wall member configured to block at least part of the notch when the maintenance device is attached in the body.
US08454121B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid through nozzles, a liquid container with a sloped bottom surface which receives the liquid ejected from the nozzles, an absorber disposed in the liquid container which absorbs and stores the liquid ejected from the nozzles, and a suction unit which sucks the liquid held by the absorber and discharges the liquid from the liquid container. The liquid container includes a restriction portion which restricts the flow of the liquid in the absorber due to gravity, forming collection portions in the absorber where the liquid may be collected at a plurality of positions with different elevations when the liquid container is rotated so that the bottom surface is sloped away from the horizontal plane.
US08454118B2
A supply unit is provided to supply humidified gas near a nozzle array of a line-type recording head. The flow-rate distribution of the supplied humidified gas in a direction of the nozzle array is changeable in accordance with a conveying region where a sheet is conveyed while opposing the nozzle array.
US08454106B2
A continuous web printer that has an inlet for receiving a web of media from a media web roll unwinder, an outlet for delivery to a media web roll winder, a media feed path extending from the inlet to the outlet, a plurality of pagewidth inkjet printhead assemblies positioned adjacent the media feed path for printing on both sides of the web and a central processor for inputting print data to the pagewidth inkjet printhead assemblies such that during a print run, the pagewidth inkjet printhead assemblies print many copies of a document The central processor is configured to selectively alter one or more of the copies to be non-identical to the remainder of the copies without interruption to the print run.
US08454101B2
A waterproof assembly for an electronic device includes a watertight door and a case. The watertight door includes a cover, a water absorbing ring, and a water blocking ring. The cover is provided for being disposed into an opening of the case. The water absorbing ring and the water blocking ring are disposed between an outer peripheral surface of the cover and an inner peripheral surface defining the opening. The water absorbing ring includes deformable material and water absorbent, such that the water absorbing ring expands by absorbing water and contacts the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The water blocking ring is normally compressed and contacts the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. When water penetrating occurs, the water block ring blocks water preliminarily, and then the water absorbing ring block blocks fully water after completely expanding.
US08454099B2
A wheel for vehicle comprising: a rim 2 having a drop portion; and a disk 10 formed integrally from a plate material, the rim and the disk being welded together, wherein the disk has: a hub mounting portion 10a; a plurality of spokes 10b radially extending from the hub mounting portion toward an outer periphery of the disk; and a ring-shaped disk flange 10c that is connected to the spokes through a curved-surface connecting portion R that is formed by bending the spokes at an outer circumferential end thereof in a wheel axial direction, the disk flange extends in the wheel axial direction, and a decorative hole 20 is defined by the adjacent spokes, the hub mounting portion, and the disk flange, and a part that faces a distal end 12 of the spoke in a fitting area between an inner circumferential surface of the rim and an outer circumferential surface of the disk flange is welded.
US08454098B2
The invention relates to a wheel for a furniture roller having a locking device, having a rigid wheel core with a hub for holding an axle and having an elastic wheel casing as a running surface. According to the invention, in order to be able to realize a locking device which is effective even for small wheel diameters, an inwardly pointing toothing is provided on an outer ring of the wheel core, wherein at least one aperture is formed in the outer ring between the tooth flanks, into which aperture a web, which is aligned axially in parallel and which is offset radially inward with respect to the running surface, of the wheel casing engages in a positively locking manner.
US08454095B1
A system for treating biomass for the production of ethanol is disclosed. The system comprises an apparatus for unloading bulk material, comprising: a liner positioned against a wall and a floor; wherein the floor comprises an outer edge and an inner edge; wherein the wall comprises an upper edge and a lower edge; wherein the liner comprises an upper edge and a lower edge; wherein the liner can be in a first position or a second position; wherein the bulk material is loaded onto the liner in the first position; and wherein the liner is moved into the second position to facilitate the unloading of the bulk material. The apparatus for unloading bulk materials may comprise one or more cables to move the liner. The apparatus for unloading bulk materials may also comprise a mechanism to retract the one or more cables wherein the mechanism comprises a roller system.
US08454075B2
A front portion structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle which is constructed to install a combination lamp on a front cowl and improve visibility of a blinker of one of left and right sides of the vehicle from the other side, wherein Lens-side recess portions are formed as concavities which are recessed to the rear of the vehicle and extend in a vertical direction in front of the blinker lamps as well as on the inner side of a vehicle width direction.
US08454067B2
A gripper head assembly for a product processing machine includes a gripper support and a plurality of grippers secured to the gripper support to grip a plurality of product routed through the product processing machine. The gripper head assembly is configured such that a spacing of the plurality of grippers is changeable relative to the gripper support. A product processing machine includes a grid assembly for guiding product to a destination and a gripper head assembly for gripping product and guiding the product into the grid assembly. The gripper head assembly includes a gripper support and a plurality of grippers secured to the gripper support to grip a plurality of product routed through the product processing machine. The gripper head assembly is configured such that a spacing of the plurality of grippers is changeable relative to the gripper support.
US08454064B2
An arrangement for fastening a bumper to a vehicle includes a deformation organ having one end for attachment to the bumper, and another end for sliding into a side member. The insertion section includes an inner wall which is stretchable when subjected to a tensile force. For elongating the inner wall, a material strip is received in a receiving space and equipped with a threaded breakthrough, which is aligned with a breakthrough of the adjacent transverse wall for receiving a tensile screw. The tensile screw extends through a breakthrough in a side member and exerts a force which elongates the inner wall. This initially provides a loose sliding-in of the insertion section in the side member and, following stretching of the inner wall, a tight seat of the insertion section in the side member.
US08454047B1
An improved hitch pin system for improving the speed and safety of attaching a receiver insert into a receiver on a tow vehicle.
US08454045B2
A tricycle has a frame, a front wheel with drive pedals, a seat, and a footboard. The footboard of the novel tricycle can optionally be mounted on the frame in a first orientation and in at least one second orientation.
US08454012B2
A sheet conveying apparatus has a first pair of rollers which nip and convey a sheet; a second pair of rollers provided on a downstream side of the first pair of rollers in a conveying direction of the sheet, which nip and convey a sheet; and a position detecting sensor which detects a position of a sheet in a width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction. When the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers nip and convey the sheet, the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers are simultaneously moved according to a position detected by the position detecting sensor in the same direction of the width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction.
US08454007B1
A sheet separation mechanism adapted for being used in an automatic sheet feeding device includes a bearing supporter for positioning papers thereon, a sheet separation spring and a sheet separation holder. The bearing supporter defines a receiving groove. The sheet separation spring shows a rough outer periphery surface. The sheet separation spring is disposed in the receiving groove with an axis thereof being parallel to a bottom wall of the receiving groove. The sheet separation holder mounted to the bearing supporter defines an opening corresponding to the receiving groove. The sheet separation spring is restricted in the receiving groove by the sheet separation holder with a top of the rough outer periphery surface thereof being exposed through the opening beyond a top face of the sheet separation holder so as to separate the papers whereby and further ensure the automatic sheet feeding device transports the papers piece by piece.
US08454002B2
A fluid filled vibration damping device having an orifice passage formed in a partition member to connect a pressure receiving chamber and an equilibrium chamber, wherein a first end section of the orifice passage extends in along a plane of the partition member, and a communication hole is formed to bend at a right angle from the first end of the orifice passage and open towards the pressure receiving chamber to form a dead water region by orthogonal wall faces of a terminal end face and a bottom face of the orifice passage in a connecting corner section of the orifice passage with the communication hole. A shunt hole of smaller cross-sectional area than the orifice passage and the communication hole is formed in a bottom wall so that the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber communicate through the shunt hole in the dead water region.
US08454000B2
An apparatus and method for mixing gas and liquid including a pipe having an enclosure positioned in-line with the pipe, wherein a sealed space is defined, at least one blower, the blower regulates the barometric pressure in the sealed space at or above fluid line pressure in the pipe, wherein intermeshed rotating sets of discs operate on parallel shafts driven by variable speed drives, and strakes are radially mounted on the discs to carry liquid up into a mixing area and to carry air and liquid down into a mixing area resulting in a shear force that drives air into the oxygen depleted liquid. Strakes provide leading and trailing rotor wipes to maximize pull of liquid flow from the pipe into the mixing area and back into the pipe and acute angled energy capture strakes for capturing the energy from liquid flow exerted against the back side of strake.
US08453991B2
One embodiment includes a method including providing a first portion of a product, the first portion of the product having a body and a flange extending therefrom; and casting a material around at least a portion of the flange to enclose the same and to provide a second portion of the product and wherein the at least the portion of the flange is constructed and arranged to provide frictional damping of the product.
US08453985B2
A mounting device includes a clamping device, a spacing device, and a receiving device. The clamping device includes an upper clamping element and a lower clamping element. The upper clamping element includes a first side plate and an upper clamping plate, the first side plate defines a guiding element and a number of position holes thereon thereon. The lower clamping element includes a second side plate received in the guiding element and a lower clamping plate opposite to the upper clamping plate. The second side plate defines a spacing hole therethrough. The spacing device is positioned on the first side plate and extends outward a position pole, the poison pole penetrates the position hole and receives in the spacing hole for fixing the lower clamping element. The receiving device is rotatably connected with the first side plate and defines a receiving room.
US08453972B2
A device for connecting movable parts with structural components of airplanes or other high-speed vehicles, including at least one fitting provided with at least one bearing. In order to provide such a device exhibiting low thermal stresses, a low weight, a high bearing capacity and a producibility as simple as possible, it is provided that the at least one fitting is made of a synthetic material and glued with the movable part. The resin transfer molding (RTM)-method is particularly suitable to produce the fitting.
US08453970B2
The present invention relates to an under-floor system for providing a functional space for an aircraft. The under-floor system comprises a support-member structure and a cover element. The support-member structure is designed such that the support-member structure can be fastened to an aircraft structure element. The cover element can be fastened to the support-member structure such that the cover element is spaced apart from, for example, the aircraft floor. By means of spacing the cover element apart from the aircraft floor, the functional space can be provided.
US08453962B2
The invention is a modular vehicle having an air vehicle that can be coupled to cargo containers, land vehicles, sea vehicles, medical transport modules, etc. In one embodiment the air vehicle has a plurality of propellers positioned around a main airframe, which can provide vertical thrust and/or horizontal thrust. One or more of the propellers may be configured to tilt forward, backward, and/or side-to-side with respect to the airframe.
US08453961B2
Disclosed is a supersonic aircraft design having a single structural component that simultaneously joins the wings to the aircraft fuselage, the engines to the aircraft fuselage, and the wings to the engines, resulting in an airframe planform, which, in combination aerodynamic shaping and structural morphing technologies within the aircraft fuselage, enables the aircraft to be optimized to reduce sonic boom.
US08453958B2
A method of winding a tape-like laminated film in a disk form, in which the winding tension force applied to the tape-like laminated film is so controlled as to be 0%/winding meters to +0.10%/winding meters to the tension value at the start of winding in accordance with the length of the tape-like laminated film wound around a core. According to this method, the occurrence of the deformation and the winding breakage of the tape-like laminated film during the transportation and storage thereof can be suppressed.
US08453957B2
A yarn package halter comprises a frame for supporting a series of contact members that are used to maintain slight contact with the base or back portion of a yarn package during an unwinding operation as part of a textile manufacturing process. In a preferred embodiment, the contact members are elastic cords, which serve to hold the yarn package together in order to prevent the yarn package from unraveling, which can lead to entanglements and other processing problems. The frame member is structured so that the contact members form a cone shape or a partial cone shape, and this arrangement allows the contact members to maintain slight contact throughout the manufacturing process, even as the size of the yarn package is reduced during the unwinding operation.
US08453950B2
Described is a fluid dispensing container having a bottle and fluid withdrawing assembly for liquids, such as liquid cleaners and the like. The bottle has an integral dip tube formed therein connecting at a landing below the top of the bottle neck, fluidly connecting the inside of the bottle with the top opening of the bottle. A fluid dispensing mechanism, such as a hose sprayer, is attached to the top of the bottle to take fluid up through the integral dip tube and dispense the fluid accordingly. The fluid dispensing mechanism may be aligned to allow a direct connection between integral dip tube and the fluid dispensing mechanism at a landing below the bottle opening. The fluid dispensing mechanism may be attached to the bottle with a snap-fit connection.
US08453949B2
Provided is a multi-color paint application apparatus, which includes: a paint storage portion having a number of paint containers in the inside of a storage body; a cover portion that can open and close the upper side of the storage body of the paint storage portion; a discharge portion which includes discharge tubes, and auxiliary containers paint discharge valves; a sensor portion having sensors which are respectively fixed to the discharge tubes, in which an alarm sound is produced by a buzzer if electric power is short-circuited; an air inlet portion including a 3-way valve which makes pressure of air selectively flow into the center of the cover portion; a dehumidification portion which is connected with an expansion tube where a drain plug that can remove moisture by adiabatic expansion of the compressed air is formed with the 3-way valve in the air inlet portion; and a spray gun which can selectively spray the compressed air through a switch formed in a handle lever.
US08453943B2
This heating cartridge includes a thermally conductive tube (42) to be immersed in a thermo-expandable substance of the thermostatic element, electric heating means (6) arranged inside the tube, and a base (7) made of a plastic substance, integral with a terminal longitudinal portion (44) of the tube and adapted to support the electric connection between the heating means and an external current source. In order to make the connection between the base and the tube both resistant and precisely adaptable to various heating cartridge geometries, and to do so economically, the terminal portion of the tube comprises an outwardly flared free end (45), which extends protruding both radially and axially from the rest of the terminal portion and in which the base is attached by overmolding.
US08453939B2
A smart card that may include a first interface circuit to perform a first type interface with the outside using first and second pads; a second interface circuit to perform a second type interface with the outside using the first and second pads; and a mode selector to enable one of the first and second interface circuits according to whether a power supply voltage is supplied through a third pad.
US08453937B2
Disclosed herein is a security hang tag that includes a body, a head and a strap. The body includes a head-receiving compartment defining a circumferentially-extending flange. The head includes a circumferentially-extending lip to engage the flange, capturing the lip within the compartment such that the head is rotatably secured to the body. The head has a first strap-receiving channel including a first locking shoulder and a second strap-receiving channel including a second locking shoulder. The strap has first and second ends and includes a first cavity at the first end and a second cavity at the second end. The first end is configured for insertion within the first strap-receiving channel until the first cavity engages the first locking shoulder and the second end is configured for insertion within the second strap-receiving channel until the second cavity engages the second locking shoulder.
US08453925B2
The method for authenticating a mail order or telephone order transaction according to the present invention includes receiving authentication information from a cardholder, providing authentication information to an issuer, and determining whether the authentication information is valid. If the authentication information is valid, the issuer informs the merchant that the transaction is valid. In an embodiment, the issuer may not supply a personal assurance message and/or other confidential cardholder information previously supplied by the cardholder in response to the authentication information.
US08453924B1
An automated banking machine of a banking system operates responsive to data read from bearing records. The machine includes a card reader operative to read card data including financial account identifying data, and causes financial transfers responsive to the read card data. The machine also includes a sheet acceptor that separates each sheet from a received stack of sheets. Each sheet is aligned with a sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices which include at least one magnetic read head, an imager, and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to be genuine are returned to the machine user. Sheets determined to be genuine are processed and stored in the machine. At least one surface area image sensor and at least one image data processor are used to determine sheet movement in the sheet path.
US08453923B2
A method of performing a money transfer transaction involves receiving information at an automated kiosk from a user for a money transfer transaction, including a transaction type selection and, responsive to the information from the user received at the kiosk, building a staging record for the transaction. The staging record includes at least a retrieval key to identify the staging record and a transaction type identifier. The method provides to the sender from the kiosk a machine readable staged transaction token with staging information stored thereon, including the retrieval key for use in transaction fulfillment.
US08453921B2
Data transfer with of bar codes including presenting a plurality of bar codes making up the data transfer, displaying a unique sequence identification for each bar code and the total number of bar codes making up the data transfer; reading a plurality of bar codes; reading, for each bar code read, the unique sequence identification of the bar code and the total number of bar codes making up the data transfer; determining, in dependence upon the number of bar codes read and the total number of bar codes making up the data transfer whether all of the bar codes making up the data transfer have been read; and providing to a user a positive notification if all of the bar codes have been read; or providing to the user a negative notification if all of the bar codes making up the data transfer have not been read.
US08453919B2
A container carrier for bottles having a blank made of cardboard for wrapping around a group of bottles, a grip portion is stabilized between the two handle openings and the further handle opening by at least three layers of cardboard, a first layer is formed by the web defined by the handle openings in the top wall.
US08453899B1
Disclosed is are quick-release strap attachment features for releasably securing an article to a support surface. The system includes securement straps, which may be PALS webbing, and includes an elongate and flexible connector strap with a pull end that, when pulled away from an endmost securement strap of the article, causes the connector strap to be withdrawn from a loop channel to release the article from the support surface.
US08453893B2
A wearable hydration belt comprising: a belt; at least one flexible liquid container coupled to the belt, wherein at least one flexible liquid container is substantially flat and belt shaped, the at least one flexible liquid container being more than half the length of the wearable hydration belt; a port located on the liquid container; an extendible drinking tube configured to couple to the port at one end and a spout in communication with a second end of the extendible drinking tube to allow liquid contained in the flexible liquid container to flow through the port, the extendible drinking tube and the spout.
US08453889B2
A spout cap having a two steps type straw part comprises a coupling part fixedly coupling with the pouring hole of the metal container; a first straw part extending at a predetermined length on the interior face of the coupling part; a cap coupling part having a pouring outlet through which contents in the metal container flow out, wherein the cap coupling part is selectively positioned in an overlapped disposition or an unfolded disposition with respect to the first straw part; an extension part between the first straw part and the cap coupling part, wherein the extension part is capable of extending the unfolded length when the cap coupling part is unfolded with respect to the first straw part; a second straw part extended from the upper inner face of the extension member at a predetermined length and coupled with the lower end of the cap coupling part.
US08453881B2
A mounting system for securing inverted bottles to a refrigerated dispensing apparatus housing, which system includes a valve body with external locking splines and grooves to secure a bottle to which it is threadedly connected to a socket in the housing having mating splines and grooves.
US08453879B2
The present application describes a product dispenser. The product dispenser may include at least one macro-ingredient source, at least one micro-ingredient source positioned about the dispenser, a diluent source, a dispensing valve, a number of pumps or metering devices, and a user interface. The user interface receives a request for a product type and instructs the pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of macro-ingredients, micro-ingredients, and diluent to the dispensing valve for a predetermined flow rate.
US08453874B2
A dispenser (200) and method for dispensing pills to patients from cartridges (224) featuring downloadable remotely programmable timer (1B) and network communications links (504), alerting timer, databasing, printer, and battery (60).
US08453869B2
A vessel for holding a pressurized fluid is disclosed, the vessel having a hollow inner shell formed from a moldable material and forming a cavity therein, an intermediate shell formed over the inner vessel, and an outer shell formed over said intermediate shell, said outer shell having a ceramic layer formed on an outer surface thereof.
US08453867B2
An externally threaded closure plug for tightly closing off the internally threaded opening in shipping and storage containers such as drums, pails and the like. The plug is formed as a cup having a bottom wall and threaded cylindrical sidewall terminating in a circumferentially enlarged rim. Immediately beneath the rim of the plug is a gasket seat defined by the undersurface of the plug rim, the plug sidewall and an annular gasket retaining lip lying in a plane parallel to the undersurface of the plug rim. In use, the plug is screwed into and out of a container wall opening, having an internally threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the sealing gasket being compressed between the unthreaded opening portion and the plug gasket seat and lying in close proximity to the internal thread. The gasket seat acts to prevent interengagement of the sealing gasket and the opening internally threaded portion.
US08453862B2
A foldable storage box comprises a soft walled body open at its top end and closed at the opposing end, a top frame being mounted with the walled body and contiguous to the open top end, and a bottom frame being mounted with the walled body and contiguous to the closed opposing end; wherein the top frame are provided with attachment elements respectively on its bottom and side surfaces, the bottom frame are provided with attachment elements respectively on its top and side surfaces, such that separate boxes can be held in stacks or side by side with the attachment elements. A plurality of supporting bars are provided within the walled body to each serve as a support between the top and bottom frames to form a container. The supporting bars can be detached from the both frames to enable the walled body to be folded into a flat pack.
US08453858B2
A closure cap for containers has a cap mantle, a circular head portion with a central axis and a pivoting member (4). The cap mantle extends in the same general direction as the central axis, and in which, the cap mantle has a ripping-open-section extending circumferentially with respect thereto. The pivoting member (4) is attached to the ripping-open-section and extends in the same general direction as the central axis. Towards the head portion, the ripping-open-section comprises a thin region, which extends circumferentially with respect to the central axis and which forms a rotational axis. The pivoting member comprises a stop member, which extends in the same general direction as the central axis at least up to the rotational axis. The form of the stop member and its relative, spaced position with respect to the head portion are such that pivoting of the pivoting member around the rotational axis causes the stop member to lie against the head portion.
US08453857B2
The present invention relates to a closure preferably for containers which have a standard threaded neck, which comprises a metal cap to prevent liquid from escaping from the container, a metal sleeve and a polymer ring which are coaxial relative to the latter, wherein the polymer ring comprises a first portion which has a diameter D1 and a second portion which has a diameter D2
US08453854B2
A display structure has a base with non-rotatable sides and rotatable sides containing a first part with and a second part, the parts fastened by a rotatable fastener; a post containing a first and second face, the two non-rotatable sides fastened to the lower end of the posts, and the rotatable sides fastened to the lower end of the posts, a rotatable fastener specially located so as to allow rotation of the parts in regards to the post; and a top with non-rotatable and rotatable sides, the non-rotatable sides of the top fastened to the top of the post, the rotatable side of the top fastened to the non-rotatable sides of the top with rotatable fastener, said rotatable fastener of the top are specially located to allow rotation of the parts in regards to the non-rotatable side.
US08453853B1
A multi-skateboard storage rack may include a rigid frame and a plurality of vertical rods statically connected to the frame. A plurality of horizontal peg extensions may be attached to the rods. A plurality of locking jaws may be pivotally connected to corresponding ones of the peg extensions such that associated pairs of the locking jaws may be selectively articulated between a closed locked position and an open unlocked position respectively. Each pair of locking jaws includes a top and a bottom hook which may be independently articulated along mutually exclusive arcuate paths oriented about the corresponding peg extensions. A plurality of locks may be removably fastened to the associated pairs of locking jaws for prohibiting the pairs of locking jaws from being articulated. The multi-skateboard storage rack may further include a plurality of non-linear guide tracks attached to the frame. The multi-skateboard storage rack may further include an optional flexible fenced closure formed from a mesh screen.
US08453852B2
The present invention relates to a clothes drying rack consisting of two separate rectangular racks which are mounted against the wall to form a mountain fold configuration, but can be folded flat against the wall for storage when not in use.
US08453845B2
The invention is a method and system for screening materials with a tube-shaped screen. The tube that has at least one section with a plurality of screen openings, which are placed in the wall of the tube, and that form a screen frame which defines at least the length and the cross section of the tube, and a screen mesh, that is tensioned on the screen frame, to form at least a part of the wall of the tube-shaped screen. The system further includes at least one ultrasonic converter and at least one feed-line sound conductor placed between the ultrasonic converter and the tube, with the tube being configured, to be subjected to ultrasonic excitation so that the amplitude of the ultrasonic excitation transferred to the tube has a component in a direction perpendicular to, and a component in a direction parallel to, the central axis of the screen.
US08453839B1
A compact and portable chewing gum disposal system for sanitary and responsible disposal of a chewing gum cud. The system has a generally cylindrically-shaped hollow container that has a hollow top member with a circular orifice on a top surface and a lid pivotally attached that fully covers the orifice. The hollow container also has a hollow bottom member that is sized to snuggly slide into and attach to the hollow top member. The hollow container has a fluted disposal wrap stack, consisting of a plurality of fluted disposal wraps, located inside with the circular bottom surface of the fluted disposal wraps facing upward. The top surface and a rim around the orifice retain the fluted disposal wrap stack inside the hollow container when the lid is in a first open position. The fluted disposal wrap stack is compacted by moving the lid into a second closed position.
US08453837B1
An electronic device enclosure includes a side plate, a fixing member, and a handle pivotally mounted on the fixing member. The side plate defines a depression portion therein. The fixing member is mounted in the depression portion. The fixing member includes two fixing portions and at least one elastically resisting portion. The two fixing portions are aligned in a line. The handle includes two mounting portions extending in the two fixing portions in a first direction. The at least one elastically resisting portion abuts the handle to prevent the handle from moving out of the two fixing portions in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
US08453830B2
A wear pad for use on a slide of an endless track conveyor belt comprising an elongated body having a flat top surface for slidably supporting a conveyor belt during travel of the belt over the top surface between leading and trailing edges of the top surface, and a plurality of grooves having V-shaped cross-sections in said top surface extending between the leading and trailing edges of the body for discharging liquid falling onto the top surface, whereby drag between the wear pad and the belt is reduced.
US08453827B2
A modular spiral belt and method for molding belt modules for constructing a heat-resistant belt. The spiral belt is constructed of a series of hingedly interconnected belt modules. The modules have single hinge links at the outside of a turn and dual hinge links elsewhere. All the hinge links extend outward from opposite faces of a central transverse spine. The dual hinge links, which each have a pair of parallel legs joined at a distal end by a yoke, are separated by a transverse pitch greater than the transverse pitch of the single one-legged hinge links at the outside of a turn. When molded from a blend of a thermoplastic polymer and a nanoclay, belt modules are useful in heat-resistant applications without sacrificing beam stiffness.
US08453821B2
A device for transporting articles within a packaging machine is disclosed. The device includes at least one conveying system for the articles to be packaged or for the packaging units for the articles to be packaged. The conveying system includes a continuously circulating transport track. The at least one conveying system has several trays that can be connected to each individual transport track. Each conveying system is configured with an upper level and a lower level. A first lifting unit is associated with each conveying system at the beginning and a second lifting unit is associated with each conveying system at the end, said lifting units moving the trays at the beginning and at the end of the conveying system between the upper level and the lower level.
US08453809B2
A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube and divides the interior volume into a rod side chamber and a cap side chamber. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from the cap side chamber to the rod side chamber. A flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area.
US08453806B2
A damping device for a two-wheeled vehicle having a first and a second damper chamber which are coupled to one another through a flow connection. The flow connection includes at least one flow valve provided with a damping channel. A magneto-rheological fluid is provided in the damping channel of the flow valve wherein the flow valve includes at least one magnetic device such that the damping channel of the flow valve can be exposed to a magnetic field of the magnetic device. The flow valve further includes at least one spring device. The magnetic device of the flow valve is provided on a valve piston and the valve piston is received in a deflection chamber to resiliently deflect counter to a spring force of the spring device such that the magnetic field of the magnetic device effective in the damping channel depends on the resilient deflection of the valve piston.
US08453803B2
A brake actuating apparatus includes a caliper body with a cylinder. An electric motor is fixed to the caliper body. A pressing piston is installed in the cylinder. A rotational shaft is installed at the center of the housing to be rotated by the motor. A head is attached to the rotational shaft and defines a fluid-receiving space in cooperation with the housing. The rotation of head varies the volume of space, thereby moving the pressing piston.
US08453802B1
A brake mechanism for a beam trolley on a beam has a body member on the beam trolley adjacent the beam. The body member has a recess and axially aligned bores and a rotatable lateral pin extends through the aligned bores. The lateral pin has a rotatable elongate cam portion extending across the recess, and a brake pad is in the recess adjacent to the beam and abutting the cam portion. A handle is connected to the lateral pin for rotating the pin and the cam portion to displace the brake pad against the beam. The brake pad frictionally secures the beam trolley on the beam and locks the rotatable cam in place. Rounded end portions on opposite ends of the lateral pin and sleeve-like bushings between the axially aligned bores and rounded end portions permit rotation of the cam portion by the handle.
US08453800B2
An elevator, comprising an elevator car (1), car guide rails (3) on one side of the elevator car (1), an elevator shaft or equivalent (5), at least one stop block (9) attached to the car guide rails (3) or to the elevator shaft or equivalent (5), at least two movable stop blocks (7) attached to the elevator car (1), the latter stop blocks (7) being arranged to be moved transversely relative to the elevator shaft direction into a position aligned with at least one stop block (9) attached to the car guide rails (3) or elevator shaft or equivalent (5) and away from said position aligned with said stop block (9). The aforesaid at least two movable stop blocks (7) attached to the elevator car are connected to each other by a horizontal shaft (10) oriented substantially in a direction parallel with the wall of the elevator car (1) on the side of the car guide rails (3) to synchronize the motion of the movable stop blocks (7).
US08453797B2
A method of servicing a wind turbine generally comprises rotating a rotor of the wind turbine until a blade extends downwardly next to the wind turbine tower. A work platform is positioned next to the tower with at least one steering wheel in contact with the tower. The work platform is connected to an upper part of the wind turbine with at least one cable and then moved vertically and horizontally to a first position. A section of the blade within reach is serviced in the first position, and then the work platform is moved vertically and horizontally to a second position for servicing a different section of the blade. The steering wheel is in contact with the tower when the work platform is moved.
US08453795B2
A stepping device is provided and includes a first step member having a first riser and a first tread; a second step member having a second riser and a second tread; and a third step member having first, second, and third panels oriented orthogonal to one another. The first step member is fixedly attached to the second step member. The third step member is rotatably attached to the second step member and is rotatable relative to the second step member to configure the stepping device between a two-step configuration and a three-step configuration. In the two-step configuration, The first panel is generally planar with the second tread.
US08453794B2
An anchor assembly releasably securable to a structure with a receiving hole therethrough. The anchor assembly permits an object or person to be anchored to the structure and comprises a longitudinal member for placement through the receiving hole of the structure, first and second end portions, means to draw the first and second end portions into contact with the structure about the openings of the receiving hole with the longitudinal member positioned therethrough to secure the anchor assembly to the structure, and a visual indicator associated with at least one of the end portions. The end portions are larger in size than the openings of the receiving hole through the structure and the first and second end portions are received on opposite ends of said longitudinal member when the longitudinal member extends through the receiving hole. The visual indicator presents a visual signal identifying when the anchor assembly is secured to the structure.
US08453793B1
The invention describes a method for making a composite panel and the product made by the method. The composite panel is made from a soft septum treated with a composition containing silane and an organic acid. The treated soft septum is adhesively bonded between two honeycomb panels, forming a sandwich of the septum between the two honeycomb panels.
US08453788B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing dynamic noise elimination. A system frame includes a plurality of acoustical sensory devices monitoring the system for problem frequencies. The system frame includes a plurality of tubes. When the tube is open, airflow is allowed. When identified tubes are closed, quarter-wavelength attenuation is provided for a frequency in a range of frequencies, based upon a length of the tube when closed. Each of the plurality of tubes is selectively controlled to be operable open or closed at a particular length, responsive to identified problem frequencies.
US08453786B2
A front section for a motor vehicle body features a main frame that includes, but is not limited to an upper bumper carrier, a lower reinforcing element for the bumper that extends underneath the upper bumper carrier and a sub-frame that is elastically fixed on the main frame by means of a buffer. The buffer is held between an end piece of the reinforcing element and the main frame.
US08453783B2
A vehicle with a load sensing hydraulic control system is disclosed.
US08453777B2
A fan duct assembly is provided for a vehicle having an engine-driven main cooling fan. The fan duct assembly includes a hollow housing and a pair of duct members which communicate with the housing and extend from the housing and laterally in side directions. An auxiliary cooling unit is received in the housing. A pair of auxiliary fans is received in the housing. Each fan is positioned between the auxiliary cooling unit and a respective one of the duet members. The hollow housing and the duct members are positioned in front of the main cooling fan. The hollow housing is positioned above a fan drive for driving the main cooling fan. Each of the fans draws air from a different direction.
US08453774B2
An in-wheel motor system for mounting a direct drive motor to a steering wheel comprises a first knuckle 4 which is connected to the non-rotary side of a geared motor 3 by a connection member I0 having elastic bodies and direct-moving guides for limiting movement to a vertical direction and locked in a steering direction by upper and lower suspension arms 5a and 5b and a second knuckle 7 which is connected to a steering rod 8 and fitted with a brake unit 9 and a wheel 2 through a hub 6. This second knuckle 7 is connected to the above first knuckle 4 in such a manner that it can turn on a king pin axis J in the steering direction and to the output shaft of the above geared motor 3 by a connection shaft 20 having constant velocity joints 21 and 22 at both ends, thereby reducing an increase in steering torque.
US08453760B2
An apparatus and method for reducing temperature along a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is provided. In one aspect the bottomhole temperature may be reduced by drilling a borehole using a drill string having a bottomhole assembly at an end thereof, circulating a fluid through the drill string and an annulus between the drill string and the borehole, diverting a selected portion of the fluid from the drill string into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce pressure drop across at least a portion of the bottomhole assembly to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly during the drilling operation.
US08453754B2
A system for correcting skewing in an agricultural implement where the implement includes a plurality of ground engaging tools laterally spaced across a width of the implement and operative to selectively engage the ground to perform a desired operation on a field surface has a skew detecting device operative to sense when the implement is travelling in a skewed orientation and send a correction signal indicating the skewed orientation to a correction mechanism. A drag force is exerted on the ground engaging tools by engagement with the ground when performing the desired operation on the field surface, and the correction mechanism is operative to change the drag forces exerted on at least some ground engaging tools on one side of the implement to correct the skewed orientation.
US08453751B2
A fire control system according to various aspects of the present invention includes an extinguishant configured to absorb heat from the fire. In one embodiment, the extinguishant is configured to absorb thermal radiation from the fire and inhibit reflection of thermal radiation from the extinguishant and/or other surfaces back into the fire. In additional and alternative embodiments, the extinguishant includes a thermal absorbant may be configured to transfer heat into the surface and/or interior of suppressant particles or droplets to promote activation of the suppressant.
US08453749B2
A control system for an annulus balanced subsurface safety valve. A system for operating a safety valve in a well includes a piston of the safety valve being responsive to displace due to a pressure differential between chambers exposed to the piston; and a valve controller which alternately exposes at least one of the chambers to pressure in an annulus surrounding the safety valve, and to pressure greater than that in the annulus. A method of operating a safety valve in a well includes the steps of: opening the safety valve by biasing a piston of the safety valve to displace in response to a pressure differential between a chamber exposed to pressure greater than well pressure, and another chamber exposed to well pressure; and closing the safety valve by exposing both of the chambers to the well pressure.
US08453748B2
A method of actuating a valve in a well can include storing energy as a result of a differential pressure across a closed closure device of the valve, and releasing at least a portion of the stored energy while opening the closure device. A valve for use in a well can include a closure device, a biasing device, and an actuator which stores energy in the biasing device in response to a pressure differential across the closure device. A well system can include a tubular string, and a valve which controls fluid flow through the tubular string. The valve may include a closure device and an actuator which actuates the valve at least partially in response to a pressure differential across the closure device.
US08453746B2
Well tools utilizing swellable materials. Actuators for well tools may incorporate swellable materials as force generating devices. A well tool includes an actuator which actuates the well tool in response to contact between a swellable material and a well fluid. A method of actuating a well tool includes the steps of: installing a well tool including an actuator; contacting a swellable material of the actuator with a well fluid; and actuating the well tool in response to the contacting step. A well system includes a well tool with a flow control device and a swellable material. The well tool is operative to control flow through a passage of a tubular string in response to contact between the swellable material and well fluid.
US08453741B2
Treatment fluids may include an aqueous fluid, a microemulsion surfactant, and an amphiphilic polymer that itself includes a hydrophobic component and a hydrophilic component. Such treatment fluids may be utilized in subterranean formations such that the microemulsion surfactant forms a microemulsion that comprises the amphiphilic polymer within the subterranean formation.
US08453735B2
An inhibitive water-based polymer mud system and method for using the system in drilling and in stabilizing wellbores is disclosed for use in water sensitive formations as an alternative to oil-based muds. The system comprises a fresh water or salt water base thinned or dispersed with a water soluble, biodegradable polyamide-based copolymer having at least one grafted side chain formed from ethylenic unsaturated compounds. This system is effective and has stable rheology over a broad pH range, even at a near neutral pH of 8.0. The drilling fluids do not contain heavy metals and are rheologically tolerant to contaminants such as cement, anhydrite and sodium and temperatures as high as about 400° F.
US08453734B2
Gravel packing apparatus and method. The apparatus can include a conduit configured to extend between first and second wellbore intervals and through an isolation valve assembly separating the first and second intervals. A sliding sleeve can be configured to slide between an open position and a closed position. When the sliding sleeve is in the open position, it is configured to allow a flow of gravel slurry through the conduit between the first and second intervals, and when the sliding sleeve is in the closed position, it is configured to completely isolate the first and second intervals from each other.
US08453730B2
A technique improves the operational characteristics of a well device while the device is used in a wellbore environment. The well device benefits from a unique material, in the form of a negative stiffness material or a negative Poisson's ratio material, positioned to improve the operational characteristics of the well device. The material can be located to reduce vibration and/or other detrimental effects that can interfere with operation of the well device.
US08453723B2
A method of selectively actuating from a remote location multiple downhole well tools includes: selecting one of the well tools for actuation by applying a voltage polarity to a set of conductors in the well, thereby operating a downhole pump connected to the well tool and displacing a piston of the well tool in one direction; and selecting the well tool for actuation by applying an opposite voltage polarity to the set of conductors, thereby operating the downhole pump and displacing the piston in an opposite direction. A system includes multiple electrical conductors in the well; and multiple control devices that control which of the well tools is selected for actuation in response to current flow in a set of the conductors, each of the control devices including at least one downhole pump which applies a pressure differential to an actuator of a respective one of the well tools.
US08453721B2
A stacked plate heat exchanger includes a core having an outer periphery and a longitudinal axis, a shell having an inner periphery and at least partially surrounding the core to define a fluid gap therebetween. A seal between the shell and the core at least partially divides the fluid gap into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, and includes at least one core fin projecting generally radially outwardly and having at least one core fixed end proximate the outer periphery of the core and at least one core free end distal the outer periphery of the core, and also includes at least one shell fin projecting generally radially inwardly and having at least one shell fixed end proximate the inner periphery of the shell and at least one shell free end distal the inner periphery of the shell, and being interleaved with the at least one core fin.
US08453719B2
A heat exchanger, turbulizer or heat transfer surface, and a method of making same wherein the turbulizer is a corrugated member having parallel, spaced-apart ridges and planar fins extending therebetween. The planar fins have spaced-apart apertures with opposed peripheral edge portions including transversely extending flanges.
US08453718B2
A sintered heat pipe, a manufacturing method thereof and a manufacturing method for a groove tube thereof are provided. The sintered heat pipe includes a groove tube, a sintered powder layer and a working fluid. The groove tube has a plurality of grooves and a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. Each groove extends along an axial direction of the groove tube. The first end and the second end are closed. The sintered powder layer is formed on an inside wall of the groove tube, and the groove tube is filled with the working fluid. The size of each powder in the sintered powder layer is greater than a width of each of the grooves.
US08453710B2
For saving of time and effort during replacement of soiled filter plate locked onto a seal cover of a core shooter, the filter plate is placed on a gas chamber after releasing the lock and by its lateral outward motion from the core shooter is engaged with a receptacle of a tilting plate holder. A subsequent retraction of the gas chamber without the filter plate into the core shooter clears the path for tilting of the plate holder and with it positioning of a second receptacle carrying a cleaned filter plate into the vacant position. A renewed to-and-fro motion of the gas chamber serves the acceptance of the cleaned filter plate and its retraction to the seal cover of the core shooter, in order to lock the plate to the cover.
US08453707B2
A drive arrangement for a roller curtain covering an opening defined by a frame includes a drum mounted horizontally across one side of the opening, a pair of hollow drive shafts fixed against rotation in opposite ends of the drum, and a pair of coaxial tension shaft portions fixed to the frame and received through respective hollow drive shafts. At least one coil spring is associated with each tension shaft portion, each spring having a first end fixed to a tension shaft portion and a second end fixed to the drum. A pair of drive motors are operatively connected to respective hollow drive shafts for synchronously rotating the drive shafts in order to coil a roller curtain on the drum.
US08453703B2
A vertical lift, self-storing door system includes a plurality of panels supported by a first and a second single track guide rail which engages guide rollers associated with the panels. The guide rail has a vertical segment which defines a closed position of the door and a horizontal segment which defines an open, storage position for the door. When the door is closed, the individual panels are stacked in an edge-to-edge relationship so that their front faces are coplanar. When the door is in an open position, the panels hang vertically from the guide rails in a spaced apart, generally plane parallel relationship with regard to their front and rear faces. Bevels in the top and bottom edges of the panels accommodate panel motion and ensure a tight seal when the door is in a closed position, and these bevels may include connecting features such as notches or tabs.
US08453701B2
Methods and other embodiments associated with a fabric welding machine are presented. The fabric welding machine includes a base, a welding machine body, and a support beam with a first end and a second end. A first roller is positioned adjacent to the first end of the support beam opposite the welding machine body. A swing arm with a body end and a roller end is attached to the welding machine body. The roller end is opposite the welding machine body and is configured to move to a first position and a second position. A heat element attached to the first end of the support beam.
US08453699B2
A molding material 22 from an extruding machine 33 is fed by a molding material feed pump 34 to a molding material discharge pump 32, which discharges the molding material from a coating gun 31 to a peripheral edge portion 21a of a multilayer glass panel 21. The rate at which the molding material 22 is discharged from the coating gun 31 is adjusted by controlling the rotational speed of the molding material discharge pump 32 depending on the relative speed between the multilayer glass panel 21 and the coating gun 31. An amount of molding material 22, which is commensurate with the difference between the rates at which the molding material 22 is fed to and drawn into the molding material discharge pump 32, is circulated through a flexible circulation hose 39 to the extruding machine 33.
US08453689B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire, in which a light is prevented from occurring on a wear indicator itself, edge portions and surfaces of a land portion located in the vicinity of the wear indicator, as well as a tire vulcanizing die therefor. In order to achieve the object, the main groove of the pneumatic tire includes on a groove bottom a wear indicator protruding by a predetermined height and in wall portions of the main groove located at both sides of the wear indicator as viewed in a width direction of the groove, at least one of the wall portions of the main groove is formed with at least one concave portion opening to a tread surface.
US08453686B2
Tubes are directed to a filling station (15) for filling the tubes (T) in a tube-filling machine, and, in the filling station, a liquid or highly viscous product (P) is poured into the tubes by means of a filling apparatus (16). Each tube is also weighed and the actual weight is compared with a desired weight. The filling apparatus is adjusted if the variance between the actual weight and the desired weight lies outside predetermined limits. In the process, the weighing of the tubes in the tube-filling machine occurs within 5 sec. after the end of the filling operation, either already in the filling station or between the filling station and an ejection station (22) for bad tubes (T′).
US08453681B2
A flexible, stretchable, crush resistant hose particularly well suited for supplying breathing gases to patients in medical applications and the like has a helix defined by coils of thermoplastic material, and a web of thermoplastic material bonded or welded to adjacent ones of the coils, preferably along inner diameter portions of the surfaces of the coils. The web extends radially outwardly from between the adjacent coils to define a helical reverse-direction crease at a maximum outer diameter of the hose when the hose is in a normal minimal-length condition wherein the coils are situated side-by-side sandwiching portions of the web therebetween. The thermoplastic material of hose is stress relieved by an annealing process after the hose is formed, to enhance the flexibility of the hose and the ease with which the hose can be extended.
US08453677B2
A valve (50) comprising a first part (401) defining a first array of apertures and a second part (2) defining a second array of apertures, the first part (401) being moveable laterally relative to the second part (2) between a closed configuration in which the first and second arrays of apertures are not registered to substantially prevent passage of a fluid through the valve and an open configuration in which the first and second arrays of apertures are registered to allow passage of fluid, wherein the first and second parts (401, 2) are configured to lock in the closed configuration in response to a pressure differential across the valve (50). In one embodiment, the first part (401) is configured to be sealed against the second part (2) by a pressure differential across the valve when the first and second parts (401,2) are locked in the closed configuration.
US08453666B2
A method for testing the integrity of a plumbing system. A first step involves affixing a seal with a releasable adhesive over a component of the plumbing system having a bore to occlude the bore. A second step involves charging the plumbing system with a fluid.
US08453662B2
An assistive walker for assisting a user in going on foot and for reinforcing recommended walker use technique includes a walker frame including opposed leading and trailing ends formed between opposed handled and footed ends and that together define a user-receiving area extending from the trailing end of the walker frame to the leading end of the walker frame, and the walker frame is for supporting a user in the user-receiving area and aiding ambulation thereof. The walker frame is formed with a motion sensor apparatus including a motion sensor assembly to detect user movement at the user-receiving area, and a signal device operatively coupled to the motion sensor assembly to emit the signal in response to a substantial lack of detected user movement at the user-receiving area.
US08453659B2
The outdoor shading device includes a supporting frame, an awning frame, and an outdoor AV (Audio-Video) display arrangement. The AV display arrangement is coupled with the supporting frame of the outdoor shading device via a supporting arm and is connected with the portable electronic device by a connected unit such that the user is able to enjoy greater visual effects through watching relatively large display in comparison with the portable electric device but without sacrificing a portable controlling functionality of the portable electric device.
US08453656B2
Processing and drying of a sample, such as a semiconductor or MEMS device, is achieved using a single pressure chamber. The pressure chamber holds the sample in a sealed interior volume throughout various process steps, such as, but not limited to, photoresist removal, sacrificial layer etching, flushing or rinsing, dehydration, and critical point drying. The pressure chamber is constructed of a chemically-resistant and pressure-resistant material to withstand the various chemicals and pressures that are encountered in the various process and drying steps. For example, the pressure chamber is constructed from a nickel-copper alloy. Automated release etching and critical point drying of a MEMS or semiconductor device is provided without removing the device from the sealed pressure chamber.
US08453644B2
A system and a method for circuit compliance compensated pressure control in a patient respiratory ventilation system, having a pressure regulated feedback servo control loop, a pressure-regulated volume controller, and a patient volume observer. The patient volume observer is operative to estimate a patient volume, that is, the volume actually delivered to the patient by accounting for volume deviation or loss caused by patient circuit leakage and valve dynamics. Based on the difference between the estimated patient volume and a set tidal volume, the pressure-regulated volume controller is operative to generate and update a circuit compliance pressure compensation factor. The pressure regulated feedback servo control loop is operative to modulate the peak airway pressure based on the circuit compliance pressure compensation factor, so as to achieve the set tidal volume while maintaining a constant inspiratory time and a constant I:E ratio.
US08453638B2
A flexible pneumostoma management device maintains the patency of a pneumostoma while controlling the flow of material through the pneumostoma. The pneumostoma management device includes a pneumostoma vent having a tube which enters the pneumostoma to allow gases to escape the lung, a flange and a filter/valve to control flow of materials through the tube. The flange is a thin flexible patch which conforms and attaches to the chest of the patient. The flange secures the tube in position in the pneumostoma. The flange is formed in one piece with the tube.
US08453636B2
An archery bow comprises an archery bow body defining opposing limb tips, a bowstring extending between the limb tips along a bowstring axis, and an elongate member extending from the bow body, the elongate member having a length and a proximal end arranged adjacent the bowstring. The archery bow further comprises a dampening element made of a vibration dampening material mounted to the proximal end of the elongate member between the proximal end and the bowstring. The elongate member extends from the bow body along a first axis non-perpendicular to the bowstring axis. Additionally, the elongate member may be curved along at least a portion of its length. In certain embodiments, the archery bow body defines a nested mounting area configured as an open channel to receive a distal end of the elongate member.
US08453633B2
A spring-piston airsoft gun includes a cylinder-and-piston assembly disposed in a barrel to force air through a muzzle end to make a shooting action, and a coil spring disposed to exert a biasing action to drive a piston head of the cylinder-and-piston assembly when changed from a compressed state to a released state. Front and rear anchor shanks are disposed for respectively mounting front and rear coil segments of the coil spring. A major shell and a minor ring are sleeved on the rear anchor shank to permit the coil spring to be sleeved thereon. The minor ring is in frictional contact with and angularly moveable relative to the major shell such that, when the coil spring is released to expand to the released state, the rear coil segment is tensed to drag the minor ring to angularly move therewith so as to minimize the frictional force therebetween.
US08453629B2
A spark-ignition engine comprises a plug hole (13) formed in a cylinder head (2), an ignition plug (10) and a plug cap (9) of the type integral with an ignition coil, which is attached to the ignition plug (10) as it is inserted into the plug hole (13). In this spark-ignition engine, the plug hole (13) is arranged at a position outside a head cover (5) in the cylinder head (2), a head surface (2a) of which is opened to provide the plug hole (13) and has a plug-cap attaching flange (11) attached thereto, and the plug-cap attaching flange (11) is formed with an extending cylinder-portion (15A) having an extension-hole (15) communicated with the plug hole (13). The plug cap (9), as it is inserted from the extension hole (15A) into the plug hole (13), has a coil portion (9C) fixed to the extending cylinder-portion (15).
US08453626B2
An arrangement for mixing a first and a second gas flow, for example, an inlet flow with an exhaust gas return flow in a diesel engine. An air conduit has an inlet for the first flow and an inlet for the second flow, in order to achieve the mixing. A valve body is arranged to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the air conduit at the inlet for the second flow in order to achieve a variable venturi effect and in this way a variable suction effect and mixture of the mixed flow. One or more fuel injectors inject fuel into the air conduit to pre-mix fuel with the first and second gas flows before reaching the engine cylinders for combustion.
US08453624B2
Disclosed is an environmentally responsible apparatus and method for increasing fuel economy and increasing engine performance. The apparatus further provides a method for reducing engine emissions and reducing greenhouse gasses. The apparatus attaches to an engine's fuel line and passing the fuel through a compacted copper wire mesh housed within. The compacted wire mesh is thought to increase the fuel's vapor pressure which reduces fuel consumption and increases engine performance.
US08453620B2
A control system for a vehicle that includes an engine includes an engine-stop module and a fuel control module. The engine-stop module determines whether to stop the engine based on at least one of input from a driver of the vehicle and vehicle operating parameters. The fuel control module stops the engine and controls a rate of engine speed decay by disabling fueling to cylinders of the engine according to a predetermined sequence.
US08453618B2
A multi-part piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper piston part with a piston crown, and a lower piston part, each of the piston parts having an inner and an outer support element that delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel and an inner cooling chamber. The cooling chamber bottom has an opening. A holding element is disposed in the inner cooling chamber and extends from the underside of the piston crown vertically toward the opening. The holding element carries a closure element that closes the opening and has at least one cooling oil opening.
US08453614B2
A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a phase limiting mechanism that locks a rotational phase between a housing rotor and a vane rotor at an intermediate phase. The phase limiting mechanism engages a first limiting pin with a first engaging groove and engages a second limiting pin with a second engaging groove to lock the housing rotor to the vane rotor. A retard-side side surface of an engaging hole is configured so as to be able to adjust a clearance between the second limiting pin and the retard-side side surface when the first limiting pin is engaged with a first advance end portion.
US08453609B2
The pet toy of the present invention comprises a light weight body and a pet treat dispenser for dispensing a treat to a pet animal upon accessing the pet toy with the pet treat dispenser affixed to the body at a location at or substantially close to the center of gravity of the pet toy and comprising a flexible material divided into at least two sections with each section including one or more layers of flexible material extending from a border area surrounding the perimeter of the pet treat dispenser such that the flexible layer(s) form a plurality of flaps for removably gripping the pet treat.
US08453607B2
Embodiments include a mesh bird cage having a fabric collapsibly forming an enclosed volume, the fabric being a screen-like mesh with holes to enable air to circulate through the fabric. The fabric may be equipped with extendible rods to adjust the volume enclosed by the fabric.
US08453606B2
Devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to animal enclosure latches. Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to animal enclosure latches having a slide bolt and a pendant, where the operation of the slide bolt and pendant require separate movements, thus decreasing the likelihood that an animal may open the latch.
US08453605B2
An aquarium system for aquatic organisms easily performs maintenance of a purifying device and a circulation pump and downsizes a purifying zone. The system includes an aquarium, a partition wall dividing the aquarium into a nurturing zone and a purifying zone, a circulation pump for circulating water between the nurturing zone and the purifying zone, and a purifying device selected from a filter for filtering water by making the water pass through a filtering material, a protein skimmer for removing proteins contained in the water by making the proteins adhere to air bubbles, and an ultraviolet light irradiator for sterilizing the water by irradiating ultraviolet light to the water. The circulation pump and the purifying device are mounted on a mounting frame and are accommodated in the purifying zone in a removably inserted manner.
US08453604B2
Animal litter is provided that causes little damage to the legs or the like of animals using a litter box and generates a small amount of ammonia. The animal litter includes a plurality of particulate matter, in which the plurality of respective particulate matter includes a group of particles configured with an inorganic porous material and an inorganic binder which binds the group of particles together, and the inorganic binder includes a non-cement solidifying agent.
US08453601B2
A method for managing health of ruminants or other animals. The method includes providing a feed dispenser for feeding ruminants nutrient supplements, and the feed dispenser includes a gas analyzer where a ruminant places its head. The method includes determining a particular ruminant has accessed the feed dispenser such as by reading an identifier from an RFID ear tag and operating the feed dispenser to provide a ration of methane-controlling nutrient supplement. The method may include using the identifier to determine that the animal should be vaccinated such as based on their age and no record of prior vaccination. The method includes dispensing a dose of a nasal vaccine into the feed dispenser near the animal's nostrils. The method may include discharging a diagnostic agent such as propane or carbon monoxide and processing data collected to diagnose the animal as having a disease or condition such as a lung-related sickness.
US08453599B2
A resist solution supply apparatus of the present invention includes: a resist solution supply source storing a resist solution therein; a supply tube for supplying the resist solution from the resist solution supply source to a coating nozzle; a filter provided in the supply tube for removing foreign matter in the resist solution; and a heating unit provided along the supply tube at a position closer to the resist solution supply source than the filter, for heating the resist solution in the supply tube to a predetermined temperature higher than room temperature to make a resist gel to aggregate to become coarse so that the coarse resist gel can be collected and removed by the filter.
US08453596B2
An apparatus for applying fluids such as adhesive, in particular hot melt adhesive, to a substrate movable relative to the apparatus, comprising a main body having a feed passage connectable to a fluid source, an application valve for selectively interrupting or enabling the flow of fluid in the feed passage, and a nozzle arrangement having a distributor passage connectable to the feed passage and at least one nozzle opening communicating with the distributor passage for delivery of the fluid. A body is movable in the distributor passage and has through passages which can be selectively associated with the nozzle opening by means of movement of the body in such a way that fluid is passed out of the distributor passage into the nozzle opening through at least one through passage.
US08453590B1
Self-tensioning load-equalizing mooring systems and methods (of mooring a ship) that employ at least one mooring line and at least one counter-weight.
US08453589B2
A novel hatch and with cover for boats comprising: a hatch, a hatch cover with handle hinged to said hatch, and cooperating means on the hatch and cover including cam surfaces whereby the said handle can be rotated to secure the cover to the hatch.
US08453582B2
A workstation with position memory includes a stationary flat mounting, a plate translatably mounted relative to the stationary flat mounting and a locking system secured to the plate. The workstation also includes a fastener secured to the stationary flat mounting, a strap including a first end, an intermediate portion and a second end, the first end being attached to the fastener and the second end being free from any strain. The locking system has a first open position in which the locking system can slide along the intermediate portion and a second closed position in which the locking system is retained in a locked position along the intermediate portion. The invention has a direct application in the field of military vehicles.
US08453576B2
A roller coaster amusement device adapted to provide for the passengers a ride wherein the passengers experience at least a portion of the ride in a racing position, the amusement device wherein an endless guide structure at least including multiple curves, one or more carriages displaceable along the guide structure, a passenger assembly associated with a carriage, said passenger assembly being adapted to accommodate at least one passenger such that said passenger experiences at least a portion of the ride in a racing position, a station along said guide structure allowing the passenger to board the passenger assembly.
US08453572B2
A gun fired projectile includes a rocket motor housing including a pressure chamber and an exhaust nozzle. A plurality of propellant cells are positioned within the pressure chamber. The rocket motor propellant is mechanically supported during the severe gun fire event. This support may take several forms, each of which is discussed herein. The projectile further includes a support structure including one or more supports: wherein each of the one or more supports is engaged with the rocket motor housing. Each of the one or more supports is engaged with one propellant cell of the plurality of propellant cells, and each of the one or more supports suspends an individual propellant cell from the remainder of the plurality of propellant cells. All of these approaches provide the opportunity to tailor the performance of the rocket motor by combining a combination of propellant formulations and geometries to optimize the projectile performance.
US08453570B2
There is provided an apparatus and a method of printing a diffraction grating. In particular, the present invention relates to diffraction gratings applied to a substrate, such as a hologram.
US08453568B2
In a screen printing apparatus, a first printing table and a second printing table are alternately driven to move horizontally between a workpiece introducing section and a workpiece printing section by a table driving unit. The table driving unit is constituted so that the first printing table is vertically moved from a first level to a second level during the horizontal movement of the first printing table, and so that the second printing table is maintained at the first level during the horizontal movement of the second printing table, whereby the first printing table can pass by the second printing table without interference therebetween when these tables meet each other. In either of the workpiece introducing section and the workpiece printing section, each of the first and second printing tables is always located at the same first level, and thus an unprocessed workpiece (W) loaded onto each of the first and second tables can be subjected to a screen printing process in the same control manner.
US08453564B1
An apparatus that crushes beverage cans and similar containers to reduce waste volume in recycling bins comprises two (2) metal platens held when closed by a hinging mechanism that allows one (1) of the platens to be moved away from the other. The surfaces of the platens which face each other are provided with a textured or ribbed surface to prevent the object to be crushed from slipping out from between the closing platens. A first platen is mounted onto a pair of mounting brackets and a second platen is attached onto a pair of moving links. A pair of parallel operating arms is interconnected by a handle and operates the connected hinging mechanism. The hinging mechanism provides a toggle action which generates an adequate force between the platens to crush the containers. When the handle and the hinging mechanism are returned to the starting position, the opening between the platens allows the crushed object to fall out into the recycling bin.
US08453563B2
A method and apparatus for placing an item of food into a cooking vessel capable of quickly achieving an effective frying temperature after placement into the hot cooking oil of a deep fryer is disclosed. The vessel includes a food containment area where food is placed in intimate contact with an interior wall of the vessel. Using a rack, the vessel is submerged into the oil to an effective depth such that the food item containment area remains below the surface of the cooking oil in the deep fryer while a vent of the cooking vessel remains above the cooking oil surface. Heat is substantially instantaneously transferred from the oil through the cooking vessel to the food item contained therein, causing the food to fry. Steam emitted from the food during cooking escapes through the vent.
US08453562B2
An apparatus for quickly preparing infant formula and beverage comprising: a powder container for storing dry formula or beverage powder, a powder dispenser for dispensing controllable amount of formula or beverage powder into a milk bottle or a cup, a water container for storing water, a heat-exchanging reservoir for heating up or cooling down water to an ideal temperature, a water delivery system for delivering controllable amount of water from the water container to the heat-exchanging reservoir and then from the heat-exchanging reservoir to the milk bottle once the water is adjusted to the ideal temperature. The device has a main setting and controlling system to set up parameters of powder dispensing amount, water dispensing temperature and water dispensing volume prior to a formula or beverage preparation, so that the apparatus can prepare infant formula or beverage with ideal volume, concentration and temperature. The apparatus in present invention can also include an external mixing system which apply shaking or vibration (can be ultrasonic) to the bottle or cup for mixing and dissolving powder with water inside it and a remote controlling system so that a user can start the formula or beverage preparation process from a distance.
US08453556B2
A brake actuator having a plurality of actuator housing portions includes a diaphragm seal partially delimiting a parking brake de-actuation chamber and retained between adjacent portions of the housing. To produce brake actuation upon depressurization of the parking brake de-actuation chamber, a push rod extends into and out of a service brake actuation chamber upon release of fluid pressure from and supply of fluid pressure to the chamber. A clip or similar element receivable over the end section of the push rod is securable on the end section to compress the diaphragm seal axially relative to the push rod against a seat carried by the push rod while permitting a radial inner edge of the diaphragm seal to remain spaced from an outer surface of the end section.
US08453550B2
A blast treatment method for blasting a treatment subject having an outer shell and a chemical agent charged into an interior of the outer shell includes the steps of: disposing an explosive to cover a periphery of the treatment subject; and detonating the explosive from respective end portions of a specific direction toward a predetermined cutting position of the treatment subject between the respective end portions so that detonation waves of the explosive advancing from respective sides of the cutting position collide in the cutting position, wherein, in the step of detonating the explosive, the chemical agent is exposed by cutting the outer shell in the cutting position through detonation of the explosive, and the chemical agent is decomposed using the detonation.
US08453544B2
A feeder for rods into a lathe by a motorized thruster for sliding and pushing a rod along a guide towards a processing lathe until the rod is taken by the lathe. An automatic control device actuates the thruster to advance according to a first thrust value and a sensor detects the movement of the thruster. If the sensor detects a minimum movement or no movement at all a thrust increase is commanded up to a predetermined maximum value. If the thruster does not move at all, this indicates jamming.
US08453541B2
A power tong body having a central opening comprises upper and lower cover plates and a rotary gear contained there between. The tong incorporates the centering guide, e.g. rollers, that extend between the rotary gear and respective tong covers. Such centering guides through the central openings in the tong body covers and provide contact surfaces carried that permit differential rotation of the rotary gear with respect to such covers. The rollers may roll on circular races formed by the inside edge face surfaces of the tong covers bordering the central opening. The support rollers may also extend beyond the upper and lower cover plates and engage with a guide surface or race formed on the respective cage plates of the tong, centrally locating such cage plates with respect to the rotary gear while allowing differential rotation of the cage plates with respect to the rotary gear.
US08453512B2
A shaker for enabling the testing of gyros and/or other devices for performance under realistic 6DOF motions. The shaker may be implemented as a hexapod, comprising a plate and six individually, simultaneously, and real-time controllable strut assemblies that are capable of extending and contracting linearly. The strut assemblies may comprise high-precision, linear electromagnetic actuators. The strut assemblies may also comprise high-precision non-contact sensors to sense the extension/contraction of the strut assemblies along their stroke length. In addition, the strut assemblies may comprise, at each end thereof, stiff, bendable flexures to attain the repeatable and linear motion required. The controller preferably has a control bandwidth of 1000 Hz or more, so that the motion of the plate can be precisely controlled to realize realistic 6DOF motions.
US08453500B2
A system for measuring physical parameters of a tire, according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a sensor layer and a circuit layer. The sensor layer is communicatively coupled to the circuit layer. The sensor layer is configured as a first thin film and embedded in the tire. The sensor layer provides a signal related to a physical parameter of the tire. The circuit layer is configured as a second thin film and embedded in the tire. The circuit layer processes the signal provided by the sensor layer.
US08453495B2
A test head assembly for supporting at least a portion of a protective mask to be tested for leaks. Preferably, the test head assembly includes a test head having a test space that is generally coextensive with an inner surface of the protective mask being tested. Although the test space is generally coextensive with the inner surface of the protective mask being tested, it is designed such that it has minimal volume to enhance the testing process by expediting test response time, reducing the time period it takes for a mask tester to reach one or more prerequisite test conditions, eliminate or greatly reduce lag time when the mask tester is operating in the probe mode and prevent dilution of challenge concentration. Preferably, the test head is formed from two or more removable sections to allow the size of the test head to be readily modified.
US08453494B2
A semiconductor-based gas detector enhances the collection of gas molecules and also provides a self-contained means for removing collected gas molecules by utilizing one or more electric fields to transport the gas molecules to and away from a metallic material that has a high permeability to the gas molecules.
US08453471B2
A high-velocity low-pressure cooling system (100), especially suited for data center applications, includes an air coolant loop (102), a non-air coolant loop (104) and a cooler unit (126) for heat transfer between the loops (102 and 104). The air loop (102) is used to chill ambient air that is blown across heat transfer surfaces of equipment mounted in data center racks (110). In this manner, effective cooling is provided using a coolant that is benign in data center environments.
US08453468B1
A system and method for controlling cooling of a thermal load having different cooling requirements in different sections based on direct thermal exchange using a two-phase refrigerant employs the pressure/temperature characteristics of the refrigerant to particular benefit for this multi-level cooling system. The two-phase refrigerant is first adjusted to have temperature/enthalpy characteristics chosen as the starting level for different cooling demands at related temperatures. After appropriate generation of a mixture of two-phase refrigerant initial reference temperature and pressure are established. Thereafter, incremental changes in the comprising hot gas and expanded cooled liquid/vapor, an temperature cooling medium area made by lowering the pressure by predetermined amounts, or alternatively by bypassing the pressure drop and proceeding to the next stage.
US08453465B2
A device (30) for optimizing the cooling in a gas turbine of the type comprising at least one compressor, equipped with a combustion chamber (10) and an outer casing (16) and inner casing (32), at least one turbine wheel (14), equipped with a series of blades 12), and at least one high-pressure rotor (38), equipped with one or more supporting bearings (34), the compressor being capable of generating cooling air sent to the turbine wheel (14) through a suitable channel (20). On the outer surface of the device (30), there are one or more grooves (26) which allow the passage of additional flow-rates of air from the compressor towards the channel (20), in order to increase the overall cooling air flow towards said turbine wheel (14). The device (30) can be easily installed without the necessity of dismantling the outer casing (16), and is assembled on pre-existing machines in substitution of the vent tube (22) of the seals (36) of the supporting bearings (34).
US08453451B2
In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.
US08453449B2
An electrical power generation system comprises a vertical axis solar powered generator having a bottom side grounded and a top side connected to a vertical rotor shaft, a central rotating hub having a center connected to the vertical rotor shaft, a solar energy collecting and converting unit enclosed in a transparent dome mounted on a top side of the central rotating hub, and a plurality of rotating arms having a proximal end secured to the central rotating hub and a distal end connected to a dual-V roller bearing. The system further comprises an electric motor with a propeller mounted proximate to the distal end of rotating arms, a shroud attached to ground, and a pair of hollow tubes attached to the shroud. Solar energy collecting and converting unit provides electric energy to electric motor which turns the propeller and rotates the rotating arms thereby causing electric energy generation by generator.
US08453443B2
An engine for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy is provided. The engine includes a body of fluid having a first zone and a second zone, a thermal energy source thermally connected to the first zone for providing thermal energy thereto, and a thermal energy sink thermally connected to the second zone for removing thermal energy therefrom such that the first zone has a temperature greater than the second zone. The engine further includes a movable loop, which extends between the first zone and the second zone, and a plurality of containers which are positioned in the body of fluid and attached to the loop such that the loop and the containers move conjointly between the first zone and the second zone. Each of the containers expands to a first volume when it is in one of the first and second zones, and contracts to a second volume when it is in the other one of the first and second zones. A working fluid is provided in each of the said containers to cause the containers and the loop to move between the first and second zones.
US08453436B2
An anti-fouling device for an internal combustion engine aftertreatment injector includes a member mountable as an interface between an exhaust conduit and the aftertreatment injector. The member has an inlet to receive air from an air source, and is formed with a passageway to guide the received air to at least one outlet to direct the air to a nozzle of the injector. The air flow surrounds the nozzle to prevent or inhibit exhaust gas from the exhaust conduit from contacting the nozzle.
US08453434B2
A method for adapting a kinetic model of a SCR is described. In one example, the kinetic model is adapted for stored ammonia, ammonia release rate, and ammonia storage capacity. The method may be useful for adjusting engine control parameters for the purpose of reducing engine emissions.
US08453416B2
An adjustable lally column apparatus is described that has a first end portion and an opposed second end portion. A cap plate has a first side and an opposed second side that is adapted to connect to a beam. The cap plate includes a selective retention mechanism. An adjustment mechanism connects to the second end portion of the column. The adjustment mechanism includes a base plate that is adapted to be positioned on a floor. The adjustable column has a first position wherein the cap plate is connected to the first end portion of the column and beam and the column is suspended from the beam. The adjustable column has a second position wherein the adjustment mechanism provides an adjustable load-bearing interface between the floor and a terminal end of the second end portion of the column. The adjustment mechanism adjusts to extend between the suspended column and the floor to place the column in a load bearing position between the beam and floor. A method of adjusting a column includes providing a column, a cap plate and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism connects to a second end portion of the column. The column is raised and a first portion of the column and the cap plate are connected to a beam. The column is then freely suspending from the beam. The height of the adjustment mechanism is adjusted such that the suspended adjustable column is moved between the suspended position and a load bearing position.
US08453406B2
A composite floor panel includes a concrete floor deck having a side portion and an edge member secured to the side portion. The edge member is configured to be positioned in proximity to an adjacent edge member. The adjacent edge member is coupled to an adjacent concrete floor deck. The edge member is further configured to have a junction formed between the edge member and the adjacent edge member to define a channel. The edge member is further configured to have a binder material placed in the channel to form a joint between the concrete floor deck and the adjacent concrete floor deck.
US08453389B2
A flashing for sealing around a pipe or conduit includes a dome portion with an opening with an inwardly extending lip, and a replaceable seal sized to fit in the dome opening so as to seal around a vent pipe. The seal includes a downwardly extending locking member to grip and lock the inwardly extending lip of the dome portion. The flashing may include a flange portion to facilitate installing the flashing on a roof. Once installed, the replaceable seal may be replaced without replacing the entire flashing, yet securely grips to the base of the flashing.
US08453387B2
A display arrangement includes at least one profile, at least one essentially horizontally oriented planar rack element and at least one bracket element. The profile has at least one central web having two parallel inner flanges. The at least one profile can be oriented vertically, and the bracket element may be formed from a top part and a bottom part which can be drawn against one another by at least one tensioning screw. The top part and/or the bottom part are/is provided with clamping rails and/or clamping-rail segments which can be connected in a force fitting and releasable manner to the inner flanges by being plugged thereon, it being possible for each of the at least one rack element to be fixed in a force-fitting manner between the tensioning surfaces of a bracket element by the tensioning screw or of the tensioning screws being tightened.
US08453385B2
A safety door apparatus is described that includes a door with a removable and replaceable safety edge. The door defines a notch in at least one of the elongate edges of the door. The notch defines a recessed surface that conformingly mates with the resilient safety edge. A safety hinge assembly connects to the door and receives the safety edge. The recessed surface of the notch can extend partially or the full length of the elongate edge of the door. The safety edge can similarly extend partially or the full length of the elongate edge of the door. The safety door can include multiple configurations of removable and replaceable edge portions that can include a non-safety edge. A decorative molding is positionable over the connection between the safety edge and notch.
US08453382B2
An entry control apparatus includes a pair of spaced barriers forming a pathway therebetween. The barriers are positioned adjacent a doorway to control ingress into and egress from a building or the like. An arm is pivotally mounted and extends across the pathway and permits free movement of people in one direction and selectively restricts movement in the other direction. A motion sensor is provided and a motion control system is associated with the sensor. The sensor and motion control system cooperate to selectively allow the arm to move to a normally open position for normal traffic in an approved direction. In the event a person approaches the apparatus, as if to exit, or move in the wrong direction through the pathway, the sensor detects the movement and effects operation of the motion control system that locks the arm against movement to prevent movement through the passageway. An alarm system can be provided to alert personnel that an unauthorized movement through the pathway may be underway.
US08453381B2
A plant container includes a container body having a conduit extending between an inlet connection and an outlet connection. A float valve assembly is in communication with the conduit within the container body for automatically controlling fluid entry into the container body from the conduit. A soil retention element is arranged in the container body above the float valve assembly. A method of using the self-watering plant container includes adding soil to an interior volume of the container body above the soil retention element, planting at least one seed in the soil, and connecting a water supply to an inlet connection of the conduit.
US08453380B1
A horticulture and floriculture device that typically includes a track system, a plurality of hanging basket receiving hooks, and at least one motor assembly is provided. The track system receives and carries a moveable chain system and typically includes a plurality of track segments that have a chain carrying portion and an upper portion. The track segments are interconnected with one another to create a travel path. The moveable chain system includes a series of interconnected chain links having an aperture wherein the chain links include horizontally oriented and vertically oriented chain links. The plurality of hanging basket receiving hooks have a cap portion having a base and a main hook portion between the distal end and the base of the cap portion where the cap portion engages, is at least partially spaced within, and is seated in the chain link's aperture such that the chain is capable of moving within the track and carrying the hook around the track with the main hook portion accessible by a user to hang a hanging basket on the hook.
US08453373B2
A mount for being positioned on a rail and for receiving a fishing rod holder is provided. The mount includes a retaining member having a pair of spaced-apart walls that are interconnected on respective first ends by a connecting wall, the pair of spaced-apart walls defining a gap therebetween and a compression block selectively receivable within the gap of the retaining member and having a width that approximates a width of the rail. A fastener engages the compression block and extends from about respective second ends of each wall of the pair of spaced-apart walls and is configured such that tightening of the fastener deforms at least one wall of the pair of spaced-apart walls into engagement with the compression block, thereby providing an interference fit between the pair of spaced-apart walls of the retaining member and the rail.
US08453371B1
A powered jigging device for fishing includes a base section secured to an upright support section. A pole holder assembly pivotally attached to the upright support section includes a plate portion parallel to the upright support section and pivotally attached at a pivot point thereto, and a pole attachment portion secured to the plate portion above the pivot point thereof. A fishing pole is mounted in the pole attachment portion. A motor member rigidly secured to the upright support section is operatively attached to a rotor member positioned below the pivot point of the plate portion. A multipivot point linkage is pivotally secured at one end to the rotor member and at an opposite end to the plate portion of the pole holder assembly below the pivot point thereof. Rotation of the rotor member by the motor member causes pivoting movement of the pole holder assembly through the multipivot point linkage there between.
US08453366B2
A magazine loader is disclosed that facilitates the rapid loading of firearms magazines. A loader, as disclosed, can receive magazines and ammunition and, by means of manipulation of a handle or shaft, a gear within the loader may motivate a plate to push ammunition into a magazine. Ammunition may be pushed into the magazine until the magazine is filled to capacity. Once filled, the magazine may be ejected from the loader by operation of the plate. Ammunition and magazines may be oriented in any manner and several magazines may be loaded at once.
US08453365B1
A firearm with movable cheek riser is a rifle stock having a stock body having a facility for receiving a rifle action and a rear extending portion, a stock butt portion telescopically connected to the rear extending portion, the butt portion being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a cheek riser having a rear portion connected to the butt portion and a front portion connected to the stock body, and the cheek riser being movable between an elevated position and a lower position. The cheek riser may be pivotally connected to the butt portion. The cheek riser may include a downwardly-depending post received in a post bore defined in the stock body, wherein the post is curved such that a pivoting motion of the stock is facilitated. The invention may be a rifle including the rifle stock receiving a barreled rifle action.
US08453355B2
A cover for cleated shoes. The shoe cover has a ball area, a heel area, and a mid-foot area between the ball area and the heel area. At least the mid-foot area is formed of stretchable material and is thinner than the material forming the ball area and heel of the sole. An internal support member is located internally in the ball area and/or heel area of the sole. An upper portion extends upward from the sole portion and defines a toe cup and a heel cup, with the upper portion being formed of stretchable material in at least the mid-foot area, and which has an opening formed therein to allow shoe and/or foot access to the shoe cover.
US08453346B2
An orthotic foot device for footwear may include a flexible insole chassis adapted to extend substantially between the heel and the toe of the footwear and at least one support component attached at a lower side of the chassis. The chassis may include a cushioned layer composed of conforming resilient material overlying the upper side of the chassis.
US08453342B2
A post sleeve installation device is used to install post sleeves at selected positions and orientations to support the fence posts of a fence. Data, such as relative spacing, orientation, and elevation of the post sleeves is collected for off-site manufacture of fence panels. A consumer views a rendering of the fence and selects a fence design on a web site or at a retail location. A manufacturer obtains the collected data and the consumer-selected design, and fabricates the fence panels accordingly. The panels are then transported to the fence location and installed on the fence posts. Additionally, a repository is provided, to which the data is transmitted for retention, and from which the data can be retrieved for manufacture of replacement fence panels.
US08453341B2
This invention relates to a portable and easy to use device for measuring and cutting a starter course set for shingling a roof.
US08453339B2
A coordinate measuring robotic device includes a housing movably supported on a base and mounting a vertical pillar along which rides a carriage engaged by a horizontally translating arm carrying a probe. The movement of the housing, carriage, and probe can be driven by motors in the housing transmitted by a cable and pulley assembly. Tools such as a laser beam emitter can be located on the arm and supplied with laser light by a plurality of mirrors positioned on the device.
US08453335B2
A vehicle wheel assembly service system configured to acquire measurements of the physical characteristics of a vehicle wheel assembly such as during a vehicle wheel balancing procedure, with the functionality to obtain and utilize a measurement of a vehicle wheel assembly offset or rear spacing. The vehicle wheel assembly service system is configured to display the wheel assembly offset or rear spacing measurement to an operator, and optionally, to display guidance and/or installation instructions to the operator associated with the installation of the vehicle wheel assembly on a vehicle. The displayed guidance and/or installation instructions may optionally include fitment information, vehicle performance data, or vehicle braking data.
US08453332B2
Method and apparatus for cutting and terminating POF cable with error prevention. The apparatus comprises a hand tool with a blade supporting top bar linked to a bottom bar. The bottom bar comprises two aligned rows of holes perpendicular to the blade and opposite each other with a space between the rows for providing the blade the movement space needed for the cutting and terminating POF cable when at least one of the top bar and the bottom bar is pressed against the other.
US08453331B2
The scrubbing razor includes a housing and one or more cutting blades with a rounded cutting edge. The housing includes a top cover, a tubular outer safety ring mounted to the top cover, and one or more tubular anchor rings disposed within the tubular outer safety ring and mounted to the top cover. The one or more cutting blades are mounted to the one or more tubular anchor rings.
US08453329B2
A method of fabricating an inkjet printhead is provided in which a supporting substrate is provided, a conductive layer is deposited and patterned on one side of the supporting substrate, an insulating layer is deposited on the conductive layer, holes are etched through the insulating layer to the conductive layer, metal is deposited in the holes to form metallic vias, an outer surface of the insulating layer and one end of each of the metallic vias are planarized, and a layer of heater material is deposited and patterned on the outer surface to form a heater with a resistive element extending between a pair of contacts. The metallic vias electrically connect the contacts to the conductive layer.
US08453324B2
A method for manufacturing a FPCB substrate includes the following steps. First, a FPCB material including an insulation layer and an electrically conductive layer formed on the insulation layer is provided. The electrically conductive layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The insulation layer has a third surface and an opposite fourth surface. The third surface comes into contact with the second surface. Secondly, a through hole extends from the first surface to the fourth surface is formed. The through hole includes a metal hole in the electrically conductive layer and an insulation hole in the insulation layer. Thirdly, the insulation hole is enlarged to expose a portion of the electrically conductive layer around the metal hole. Finally, the exposed portion is bent to form a hook which passes through the enlarged insulation hole and protrudes out from the fourth surface of the insulation layer.
US08453321B2
A method for manufacturing a multilayer FPCB which includes providing a first substrate, a second substrate and a binder layer; defining an opening on the binder layer; defining a first slit in the dielectric layer of the first substrate; laminating the first substrate, the binder layer and the second substrate; forming a second slit in the conductive layer of the first substrate, the second slit being created so as to align with the first slit, cutting the first substrate, the binder layer and the second substrate thereby forming a multilayer flexible printed circuit board having different numbers of layers in different areas.
US08453320B2
A coaxial connector for interconnection with a coaxial cable with a solid outer conductor by ultrasonic welding is provided with a monolithic connector body with a bore. An annular flare seat is angled radially outward from the bore toward a connector end of the connector; the annular flare seat open to the connector end of the connector. The flare seat may be provided with an annular flare seat corrugation.
US08453288B2
The present invention relates to a tooth cleaning bristle, which is configured as a monofilament and has a outer surface having a contour that is structured preferably in the shape of a longitudinal flute and that has projections and depressions, alternating in the peripheral direction. The invention further relates to a toothbrush head having a bristle holder to which at least one such tooth cleaning bristle is fastened, and finally to a preferably electric toothbrush having such a toothbrush head.
US08453277B2
A baby carrier with an adjustable back plate comprises a main body, a back plate, a belt and a belt adjustment mechanism. The main body has a bottom wall, two long side walls and two short side walls. The back plate is pivoted on the bottom wall for support baby-occupant in a selected inclination. The belt has a distal end affixed to one side of the main body and an adjustable length for passing across underneath the back plate for retaining the back plate in the selected inclination angle. The belt adjustment mechanism is mounted on the opposite side of the main body for adjusting the adjustable length of the belt by pulling the free end thereof and pressing the back plate downwardly just under the instinct of the care-giver.
US08453272B2
An automatic cleaning assembly having an outer body and an inner lid which, when attached to each other, may define an inner chamber and an outer chamber. Refill water may enter the inner chamber through a fluid flow path of an inlet. A cleaning agent disposed within the inner chamber may be partially dissolved upon contact with the water. The water with the dissolved cleaning agent begins to fill the outer chamber and exit out of the outlet of the automatic cleaning assembly. The outlet of the automatic cleaning assembly is positioned above the inlet of the automatic cleaning assembly such that water is retained within the outer chamber to prevent gas caused by the cleaning agent from escaping into the environment. Moreover, the automatic cleaning assembly may have a check valve to prevent water from back flowing into a ball cock of the toilet.
US08453262B2
A respirator apparatus including an improved helmet or headgear construction with a unique shield including a protective lens and cuff attachment therefor. The protective lens is a thin clear plastic sheet designed to be used as a lens with a (PAPR) respirator and the cuff is an attached fabric or similar material designed to form a facial seal around the wearer.
US08458810B2
Provided are atomic force microscope probes, methods for making probes for use in atomic force microscopes and systems using such probes. The probes include at least a body portion and a cantilever portion. The cantilever portion may include a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The cantilever portion further includes a first material arranged on the first surface, such that the cantilever portion twists about a center axis of the cantilever portion when the cantilever portion is heated. The first material may be arranged symmetrically or non-symmetrically on a portion of the first surface, or it may be arranged non-uniformly over the first surface. The cantilever portion of the probe may also include a second material arranged on the second surface of the cantilever portion. The first and second materials have a different thermal expansion than the material forming the cantilever portion.
US08458805B2
A forensic device allows a user to remotely interrogate a target computing device in order to collect and analyze computer evidence that may be stored on the target computing device. The forensic device acquires the computer evidence from the target computing device and filters the computer evidence using an application-specific system-level privilege profile that describes the aggregate exercise of system-level privileges by a plurality of software application instances executing throughout an enterprise. The forensic device presents a user interface through which the remote user views the filtered computer evidence acquired from the target computing device. In this manner, forensic device allows the user to filter the collected computer evidence to data that is likely to have forensic relevance.
US08458802B2
A method, device, and system for managing digital usage rights of documents includes a mobile computing device having a digital rights management (DRM) enforcement engine included therein. The mobile computing device may communicate with a server, such as an enterprise digital rights management (EDRM) server, to retrieve a secured document and an associated document usage rights policy. The document and usage rights policy are stored in a secured storage of the mobile computing device. The DRM enforcement engine of the mobile computing device provides access to the requested document while locally enforcing the associated document usage rights policy. In some embodiments, the mobile computing device may act as a proxy for other computing devices communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device and/or act as a local EDRM to such computing devices.
US08458799B2
An approach is provided for building a scalable service platform by initiating transmission of encrypted data from a public network cache. An access control server platform determines a first authorization key for a user and a second authorization key for a resource, and then encrypts the resource with the second authorization key, and encrypts the second authorization key with the first authorization key. The access control server platform initiates distribution of the encrypted second authorization key with the encrypted resource over a network. The access control server platform further initiates caching the encrypted second authorization key with the encrypted resource that meets a predefined threshold value (e.g., a data size, an access frequency, a modification frequency, or an auditing requirement) in a cache in the network, and initiates transmission of the cached and encrypted second authorization key with the cached and encrypted resource from the cache to at least one authorized entity.
US08458796B2
Methods and systems are provided for hardware-based pattern matching. In an embodiment, an intrusion-prevention system (IPS) identifies a full match between a subject data word comprising subject-data blocks and a signature data pattern comprising signature-data blocks. The IPS receives the subject data word via a network interface, and thereafter makes a partial-match determination that two or more but less than all of the subject-data blocks respectively match the same number of the signature-data blocks stored in partial-match hardware with respect to both value and position. Thereafter, the IPS makes a full-match determination that all of the subject-data blocks respectively match all of the signature-data blocks stored in the IPS's full-match hardware with respect to both value and position. The IPS then stores an indicator that the full-match determination has been made, and may carry out one or more additional intrusion-prevention responses as well.
US08458780B1
Methods and systems are disclosed that generally involve handling logins for a user accessing a plurality of computer resources. In one embodiment, once a user enters login information for a first computer resource, the login information can be stored and/or re-used to access a plurality of other computer resources without the user having to re-enter the login information for each resource. The methods and systems can involve a software framework in communication with various plugins, each plugin including one or more login candidates representing a type of a computer resource. The plugins and/or login candidates can allow the framework to pluggably and dynamically recognize and log into various types of computer resources.
US08458778B2
A method includes storing a security credential associated with a communication network on a portable storage device. The method also includes detecting removal of the portable storage device from a specified location. The method further includes allowing at least one communication device to communicate over the communication network using the security credential. In addition, the method includes revoking the security credential after a specified time period has elapsed. The portable storage device could represent a card, and the specified location could represent a card reader/writer. Also, the communication network could represent a wireless network, and the security credential could represent a cryptographic key.
US08458774B2
The present invention provides a new method of site and user authentication. This is achieved by creating a pop-up window on the user's PC that is in communication with a security server, and where this communication channel is separate from the communication between the user's browser and whichever web site they are at. A legitimate web site embeds code in the web page which communicates to the security server from the user's desktop. The security server checks the legitimacy of the'web site and then signals both the web page on the user's browser, as well as the pop-up window to which it has a separate channel. The security server also sends a random image to both the pop-up window and the browser. If user authentication is requested by the web site the user is first authenticated by the security server for instance by out of band authentication. Then the security server computes a one time password based on a secret it shares with the web site and sends it to the pop up window. The user copies this one time password into their browser which sends it to the web site, which can re-compute the one time password to authenticate the user.
US08458773B2
A method for authentication includes: a Gateway Mobile Station (G-MS) receives an authentication trigger message from a host, and sends the authentication trigger message to an authentication server through an Ethernet Convergence Sublayer (Eth-CS) to trigger authentication. A network system includes a G-MS, which is connected to a host and an authentication server in communicable mode. The G-MS is configured to: receive an authentication trigger message from the host and send the authentication trigger message to the authentication server through the Eth-CS. The authentication server is configured to: receive the authentication trigger message that the G-MS sends through the Eth-CS, and authenticate the host. A G-MS includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive an authentication trigger message from the host; and a sending unit, configured to send the authentication trigger message received by the receiving unit to the authentication server through the Eth-CS.
US08458772B2
In an apparatus, if it is detected that a condition is met to switch the apparatus from the normal power mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, a communication speed for the apparatus to communicate via a network is changed, an authentication process is executed, and the apparatus is switched from the normal power mode to the power saving mode when the authentication process is completed.
US08458770B2
Access control for an application is described. An exemplary method includes receiving a first command of an application to invoke a function of a user interface, identifying a first authorization context based on a first user context and the function of the user interface invoked, retrieving a first access policy providing access criteria associated with the first authorization context, and applying the first access policy to the accessibility of the function. The method includes receiving a second command to invoke the function in a second instance of the application and identifying a second authorization context based on a second user context and the function of the user interface invoked. The second authorization context is different than the first authorization context. The method includes retrieving a second access policy providing second access criteria associated with the second authorization context and applying the second access policy to the accessibility of the function.
US08458760B2
System and method for providing location data associated with broadcasted media to a display device. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving broadcasted media data over a communication network connection, displaying the received media data on a display device and receiving location data associated with the broadcasted media data. The method may further include displaying a graphical representation of the location data on the display.
US08458750B2
In one form, the present teachings provide a method and apparatus for broadcasting an event. The method includes receiving data related to an event via an uplink. Another aspect of the method includes determining whether the data is broadcast on a recurring basis. The method also includes determining whether a transponder channel associated with multiplexed program channels has any unused data or bandwidth to broadcast a portion of the data along with the multiplexed program channels. Additionally, the method includes broadcasting the portion of the data in a data stream.
US08458748B2
A system and method for commanding a controlled device. An intelligent navigation server detects a transition from a current state of a remote control device. A context for transition is also determined. The current state, the new current state and the context are evaluated to select a set of commands appropriate to the context and the new current state. The selected commands determine behavior options for the controlled device. The set of selected commands are sent to the remote control device. Text and/or graphical data appropriate to the new current state may also be sent to the remote control device. The remote control device may generate display data based on the selected commands to provide one or more soft buttons linked to one or more of the selected commands. The remote control device may also display the text and/or graphical data.
US08458743B2
For allowing large numbers of users to receive targeted TV advertisements during advertisement breaks without requiring unicast content transmission a method is provided for distributing TV content over a network, especially an IP network, wherein the TV content includes a main content and an advertisement content and wherein a multicast address on which a TV channel for the main content is distributed within the network is transmitted to a user as a connectivity information. The method includes the step of transmitting further connectivity information to the user, the further connectivity information depending on at least one advertising segment of the advertisement content which the user is requesting or which the user is assigned to. Further, a system for distributing TV content over a network, preferably for carrying out the above mentioned method is also described.
US08458728B2
A browser-enabled device includes a browser-based user interface and control architecture, which has a browser core, a browser framework, and a user interface. The user interface is written using a markup language. In processing event registrations, the browser framework receives an event registration. The received event registration having a response unique resource identifier (URI) content and a priority field. The priority field of the received event registration is examined to determine priority of the received event registration. If the browser core is loading the response URI content of a prior event registration and if the priority of the received event registration is higher than the priority of the prior event registration, then the loading of the response URI content of the prior event registration is halted, and loading of the response URI content of the received event registration is begun.
US08458718B2
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for partitioning a data processing system comprising a number of cores and a partitioning process. The partitioning process is configured to assign a number of partitions to the number of cores. Each partition in the number of partitions is assigned to a separate number of cores from the number of cores.
US08458717B1
Some embodiments provide a method. The method interfaces with several nodes of a hosting system to collect statistics that includes available resources of each node for hosting virtual machines. The method identifies a set of nodes with sufficient available resources to host a configuration for a virtual machine based on the collected statistics. The method determines an optimal node from the set of nodes that hosts the configuration with a particular set of performance parameters that yields improved performance than when hosting the configuration using any of the other nodes in the set of nodes. The method deploys the configuration for the virtual machine to the optimal node.
US08458716B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for operating an enterprise resource planning system. The method includes running a placeholder job in said enterprise resource planning system in response to a request from at least one client application for notification of at least one background processing event, wherein the placeholder job is executed in response to the at least one background processing event.
US08458715B1
Described is a Distributed Resource Allocation System (DRAS) for sensor control and planning. The DRAS comprises an information framework module that is configured to specify performance goals, assess current performance state, and includes sensor models to achieve the performance goals. The DRAS is configured to further allocate the sensors to achieve the performance goals. Once allocated, the DRAS then reassesses the current performance state and continues reallocating the sensors until the current performance state is most similar to the performance goals.
US08458713B2
A unit for defining resources for a software configurable computing environment. The unit can include an entity configured to be software associated with at least one asset. Each asset can be a physical asset that provides at least one resource. The software configurable computing environment can include the entity. The inclusion of the entity in the software configurable computing environment can cause at least one resource to be allocated to said software configurable computing environment.
US08458710B2
A technique includes determining an order for projects to be performed on a computer system. Each project is associated with multiple job sets, such that any of the job sets may be executed on the computer system to perform the project. The technique includes selecting the projects in a sequence according to the determined order to progressively build a schedule of jobs for execution on the computer system. For each selected project, incorporating one of the associated job sets into the schedule based on a cost of each of the associated job sets.
US08458707B2
An approach that uses a handler to detect asynchronous lock line reservation lost events, and switching tasks based upon whether a condition is true or a mutex lock is acquired is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) invokes a first thread and, during execution, the first thread requests external data that is shared with other threads or processors in the system. This shared data may be protected with a mutex lock or other shared memory synchronization constructs. When requested data is not available, the SPU switches to a second thread and monitors lock line reservation lost events in order to check when the data is available. When the data is available, the SPU switches back to the first thread and processes the first thread's request.
US08458698B2
Methods and systems for improving performance in a virtualization environment. The method comprising: detecting, by a first software, a first set of features supported by a hardware device, wherein the first software runs on the hardware device; detecting a second set of features with which to run a second software, wherein the second software is launched by the first software with the second set of features; exposing one or more features in the second set of features to the second software, wherein the second software detects and enables the exposed features for a third software launched by the second software; and emulating a first feature without causing a trap such that control is transferred to the second software, in response to determining that the first feature is an exposed feature not included in the first set of features, wherein one or more sensitive events are associated with the first feature.
US08458683B2
A system and method are provided in which an enumerated type is extendable. In an embodiment, additional attributes are assigned to instances of a class, thus extending the enumerated type. The addition of values to an enumeration may depend upon the surrounding system environment and/or the calling application.
US08458666B2
This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing a test automation framework. The method may include receiving test scenarios. Each of the test scenarios may include at least one test case. The method may further include spawning a process for each of the test scenarios. The processes may be executed in parallel on a Linux based operating system. The method may parse each of the test cases using a parser, execute the parsed test cases using an execution module, and generate test results for each of the test scenarios. Further, the method may display the test results on a Windows based graphical user interface (GUI).
US08458660B1
Methods, systems, frameworks, and software products are disclosed for building well-defined software modules through the optionally nested, aggregation of other similar modules at any depth. The invention provides visual methods of aggregation and nesting of software interfaces within composite software services with an automated runtime platform. Other aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, innovative methods for routing the flow of invocation, inter-service communication, and exception handling. Industry standards are leveraged to integrate the methods discussed in this invention to any computer system, programming language or software platform. The semantic-based and visual nature of the inventions discussed can significantly reduce the complexity of building, maintaining and deploying computer systems and software products.
US08458658B2
An application support module can be configured to dynamically build software appliances for users. The application support module can be configured to build the software appliances based on a request by a user. The request can include a desired pre-built appliance or available applications to be included in a custom appliance. Once the requested appliance is built, the application support module can be configured determine operating requirements for the complete software appliance. The operating requirements can include the minimum necessary computing requirements to utilize the software appliance, such as required storage space, required processing power, required execution memory. The application support module can be configured to provide the software appliance to the user, if the user accepts the software appliance. Additionally, the application support module can be configured to repeat the building process if the user requests reconfiguration.
US08458653B2
System and method for debugging a graphical program deployed to hardware. The graphical program may be received. The graphical program may include a plurality of nodes and connections between the nodes which visually represents functionality of the graphical program. A hardware description may be generated based on the graphical program. The hardware description may describe a hardware implementation of the graphical program. The hardware description may be deployed to the programmable hardware element and the programmable hardware element may be executed. The graphical program may be displayed on a display of a host computer system that is coupled to the programmable hardware element. Debugging information may be received from the programmable hardware element during the executing. The debugging information from the programmable hardware element may be displayed in the graphical program displayed on the display. The displayed debugging information may be used to debug the hardware implementation of the graphical program.
US08458651B2
Source code for a transactions on Unix® extended for distributed operation (Tuxedo®) application, is parsed by an application migration module. At least one application service routine that each specifies a Tuxedo® service within the parsed source code is identified. At least one identified application service routine includes at least one associated application-to-transaction manager (ATMI) application programming interface (API) routine. Stub code that includes an invocation call for an associated customer information control system service for each application service routine identified within the source code is generated. A customer information control system environment executable is created based upon the source code, the stub code, glue code, and a migration library. The migration library includes, for each associated ATMI API routine, a mapping routine that processes data format differences between each ATMI API routine and at least one associated customer information control system API routine.
US08458646B2
A system for planning and managing a software development project uses an extreme programming (XP) process and includes a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying graphs and for entering, displaying and modifying underlying planning data. In one embodiment, the GUI includes first, second and third windows. The first window displays bar graphs reflecting both estimated development work and available resources (developer hours) for working on development. The second window displays bar graphs representing both estimated testing work and available resources for working on testing. The third window displays underlying data (e.g., project components and assignment of project components to scheduled development periods). A project manager may use the third window to adjust underlying data in order to better balance work and resources displayed in the first and second windows. Additional underlying data (individual developers, assigned hours, estimates of work on individual project components, etc.) may be displayed in other windows.
US08458624B2
A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices is disclosed. The method includes determining fractured shots that do not overlap each other based on a final pattern; determining overlapping shots that are shots that overlap each other based on the final pattern; generating area difference data by comparing the areas of the overlapping shots and the fractured shots with each other; calculating a radiation influenced pattern based on the area difference data; and correcting the overlapping shots based on the radiation influenced pattern.
US08458620B2
A mechanism is provided for optimizing a photolithograph mask. A given target pattern is received. An initial fictitious mask is generated from the given target pattern and an initial value of α2 is selected where the initial value of α2 is used to determine a light intensity and a wafer image. The light intensity for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask and the wafer image for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask are then determined. A determination is then made as to whether a convergence has been achieved by comparing the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern. Responsive to a convergence of the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern, a final mask is generated to use to transfer an image to a wafer.
US08458619B2
Authorized priority alerts are permitted to “pop up” on top of a running screensaver in a computer display without suspending operation of the screensaver. A windows manager monitors for priority alerts from applications. If the screensaver is active in the display, the windows manager determines if the alert issuing application and alert type are permitted to breakthrough the screensaver. If so, an alert notification window identifying the content of the alert is generated and displayed in z-order on top of the screensaver, without interrupting the operation of the screensaver displayed underneath. Some notification windows implement security features by displaying only a portion of the content of the corresponding alert or completely obscuring the content of the alert and only notifying of the presence of the alert. An additional security feature requires the user to enter a password in the notification window before the content or type of alert is displayed.
US08458612B2
Various embodiments are directed to an application management framework for web applications that may provide speed improvements, capability improvements, user experience improvements, increased advertising profit opportunities, and simplified application development to wide range of network devices. The described embodiments may employ techniques for containing, controlling, and presenting multiple web-based applications in a shared web browser application management framework. Sharing a web browser application management framework provides the capability for rapidly switching between applications, allows for multitasking, facilitates using a common set of input controls for applications, and makes it possible for applications to be available with little perceived startup (“boot”) time. The described embodiments also provide incentives for web application users, web application developers, web application portal providers, and web advertising providers to share in transactions between one another.
US08458608B2
Focus state themeing is accomplished by separating the processing of the focus state from the processing of an operative state of a control element. The operative states of the control element are entered or exited based upon the detection of input from a user or the detection of control availability by the operating system or by an application running on the operating system. Once an operative state is determined for a control element, the focus state of the control element is detected and merged with the operative state to generate a theme state for the control element. The theme state is a combination of the operative state and the focus state. There is one combined theme state for each operative-focus combination. Various display configurations may be used to represent a control element with a combined operative-focus state. The control element is then rendered on a display based on the operative state theme and the focus state theme.
US08458604B2
In one embodiment, a computer-readable medium comprises code representing instructions to cause a processor to receive a fetch response based on a webpage address that may be associated with a webpage. The code can additionally represent instructions to calculate a webpage validity score for the webpage. The validity score can be based on at least one of content or metadata associated with the webpage. The code can also represent instructions to cause the processor to store a thumbnail image of the webpage, along with an indicator of the validity score. The validity indicator can be based on the webpage validity score and a threshold value.
US08458600B2
A mashup session manager maintains state of the mashup session to ensure presentation consistency/uniformity across the execution environments. The mashup session manager also tracks the participating execution environments associated with a mashup session (e.g., usernames, device identifiers, network addresses, etc.), and transmits data for presentation consistency to the participating execution environments. In some cases, a view of the mashup session at a participating execution environment may not be current (“stale mashup session view”). The mashup session manager can detect if a view at a participating execution environment is of a past mashup session state, and provide data for the stale mashup session view to become current. In addition, the mashup session manager can propagate design modifications to the participants of the mashup session.
US08458598B1
Example embodiments provide apparatuses and methods directed to a system for presenting customized advertisements and branding in conjunction with an audio-visual presentation, e.g., an online slideshow with audio enhancement, played on a player module on an access device. In example embodiments, the online slideshow includes a customized pre-roll advertisement, a customized post-roll advertisement, and/or a customized banner advertisement on the final slide of the slideshow. The system also might customize the GUI views displayed by the player module which plays the online slideshow and/or the player landing page on the CDN that hosts the player module. In example embodiments, the system might base the customization on branding (e.g., in support of “white labeling”), seasonal themes, and/or personalization.
US08458591B2
An image pickup apparatus includes a touch panel used for displaying various screens, each including a plurality of buttons from which a user selects a desired button, a menu screen display controlling unit for controlling the touch panel to sequentially display menu screens through which the user navigates to a setting screen for setting a predetermined function in accordance with the selected buttons, and a guide screen display controlling unit for controlling the touch panel to sequentially display guide screens through which the user navigates to the setting screen in accordance with the selected buttons in a path different from that of the menu screens, each of the guide screens displaying a button or description regarding at least the purpose or effect of the operation. An initial screen of the touch panel includes a menu button for entering the menu screen and a guide button for entering the guide screen.
US08458587B1
A method of entering page layout constraints into a computer. The method comprises providing a container for representing a page layout. The method further comprises providing a set of graphical objects, each having a set of object gridlines for delimiting important graphical features. Each of the set of object gridlines has a span. The method further comprises selecting and placing the set of graphical objects one by one within the container. Each of the selected graphical objects are positioned by snapping the position of the span to a non-empty gridline or by adding a new gridline. The method further comprises determining at least one pair of colliding gridlines. Colliding gridlines have a parallel direction and at least one pair of spans which at least partially overlap in the parallel direction. The method further comprises inserting page layout constraints between the at least one pair of colliding gridlines.
US08458586B2
A method for creating a web application adapted to run in a Silverlight® run time environment from an X/HTML source file. The visual elements of the X/HTML source are converted to a corresponding Silverlight® custom control with a comparable visual presentation. The X/HTML source file is first converted to XAML which is then combined with the Silverlight custom controls into a web application.
US08458583B2
It is expected to provide a document image generating apparatus, a document image generating method and a computer program that can keep a layout of original text present in the original text image and then can improve the readability of original text and the readability annotation corresponding to the original text (e.g., translation).A translation 421 of original text 411 is aligned at the interline space between the original text 411 at the first line and the original text 412 at the second line. When the interline space is narrow as shown in FIG. 4B, the original text 411 overlays the translation 421. At that time, the color regarding the original text 411 is changed to be a low visibility color, and the color regarding the translation 421 is changed to be a high visibility color.
US08458579B2
A method in a communication system, where a systematic code obtained by systematic encoding of information bits having dummy bits inserted and by deletion of the dummy bits from results of the systematic encoding is transmitted. On a receiving side, the deleted dummy bits are inserted into the received systematic code and then decoded. The method includes: deciding a size of dummy bits for insertion into information bits; segmenting the information bits into a number of code blocks when a bit size of the information bits is greater than a stipulated size; inserting dummy bits into each block of the segmented information bits in conformity with a dummy bit insertion pattern; performing systematic encoding of each block of the information bits into which the dummy bits are inserted, and deleting the dummy bits from the results of the systematic encoding to generate a systematic code.
US08458578B2
According to an example embodiment, a method of generating a soft decision value using an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) having a given resolution may include receiving metric values calculated based on levels of a transmission signal and output levels of the ADC. Metric values corresponding to a level of a received signal may be selected from among the received metric values. A first maximum metric value may be detected from among the selected metric values when a transmission bit is a first level, and a second maximum metric value may be detected from among the selected metric values when the transmission bit is a second level. The soft decision value may be generated based on a difference between the first maximum metric value and the second maximum metric value.
US08458575B2
A decoder, encoder and corresponding system are disclosed for providing fast Forward Error Correcting (FEC) decoding and encoding of syndrome-based error correcting codes. Three-parallel processing is performed by elements of the system. More particularly, in an illustrative embodiment, a decoder performs three-parallel syndrome generation and error determination and calculations, and an encoder performs three-parallel encoding. Low power and complexity techniques are used to save cost and power yet provide relatively high speed encoding and decoding.
US08458574B2
A method and an apparatus that has Chien search capabilities, the apparatus includes a first hardware circuit and a second hardware circuit. The first hardware circuit evaluates an error locator polynomial for a first element of a finite field over which the error locator polynomial is defined to provide a first set of intermediate results and a first Chien search result and provides the first set of intermediate results to the second hardware circuit; the second hardware circuit evaluates the error locator polynomial for a second element of the finite field to provide a second Chien search result in response to the first set of intermediate results. The first hardware circuit may be substantially bigger than the second hardware circuit and the first element may differ from the second element.
US08458559B2
A method of encoding a bit sequence over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) having Downlink Control Information (DCI) including: determining DCI bits to provide a DCI bit sequence; performing a CRC calculation on the DCI bit sequence to provide a CRC parity bit sequence; scrambling the CRC parity bit sequence to provide a scrambled CRC bit sequence; if the DCI format is LTE-A, further scrambling the DCI together with the attached scrambled CRC bit sequence to provide a LTE-A scrambled bit sequence; channel coding either the DCI attached scrambled CRC bit sequence or LTE-A scrambled bit sequence to provide a channel coded bit sequence; modulating the channel coded bit sequence to provide a modulated symbol sequence; layer mapping the modulated symbol sequence to one or more antennas associated with a transmitter to provide one or more layers having a symbol sequence; and precoding the layered symbol sequences.
US08458556B2
In this invention, a new class of finite precision multilevel decoders for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes is presented. These decoders are much lower in complexity compared to the standard belief propagation (BP) decoder. Messages utilized by these decoders are quantized to certain levels based on the number of bits allowed for representation in hardware. A message update function specifically defined as part of the invention, is used to determine the outgoing message at the variable node, and the simple min operation along with modulo 2 sum of signs is used at the check node. A general methodology is provided to obtain the multilevel decoders, which is based on reducing failures due to trapping sets and improving the guaranteed error-correction capability of a code. Hence these decoders improve the iterative decoding process on finite length graphs and have the potential to outperform the standard floating-point BP decoder in the error floor region. The description and apparatus of 3-bit decoders for column-weight three LDPC codes is also presented.
US08458550B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a method of transmitting data via a wireless transmission path that may include a user equipment as a first end point, a base station as second end point, and at least one relay station as an intermediate point(s). The method may include receiving a data transmission from a prior point in the transmission path. Substantially simultaneously: forwarding the received data to the next point in the transmission path, and determining if the received data is corrupt. Transmitting a transmission message to the next point in the transmission path indicating whether or not the received data was corrupt. And, if the data is not corrupt, transmitting a receipt message to the prior point indicating that the data was uncorrupt when received.
US08458546B2
In described embodiments, a transceiver supports two or more rates using an oversampling clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit sampling high rate data with a predetermined CDR sampling clock. A timing recovery circuit detects and accounts for extra or missing samples when oversampling lower rate data. An edge detector detects each actual data symbol edge and provides for an edge decision offset in a current instant's block of samples. An edge error is generated from the previous instant's actual and calculated edges; and an edge distance between actual edges of the current and previous instants is generated. Filtered edge distance and error are combined to generate a calculated edge position for the data symbol edge for the current instant. The edge decision offset is applied to the current calculated edge position to identify a sample value to generate a decision for the data symbol to detect the current data value.
US08458540B2
A integrated circuit include: a first selection circuit selecting first data from input-data or scan-data, scan-data being for performing a diagnosis of a combinational circuit, input-data being received from a combinational circuit; a first latch circuit holding first data as first output-data in accordance with a first signal; a second latch circuit holding first output-data as second output-data in accordance with which of the first signal and a second signal, the second signal being used to force the second latch circuit to hold first output-data; a third latch circuit holding first output-data as third output-data in accordance with which of the first signal and a third signal, the third signal being used to force the third latch circuit to hold first output-data; and a second selection circuit selecting second data from among the data which include second output-data and third output-data.
US08458535B2
The packet interleaving method includes selecting successive input sets of consecutive input packets (X1 . . . XNin) received from a forward correction module (14), each input packet (Xj) being a vector of constellation points of a predetermined constellation diagram. For each input set, it further includes generating an output set of output packets (O1 . . . ONout), each output packet (Om) being a vector of constellation points, by distributing the constellation points of each input packet (Xj) of the input set, and sending the output packets (O1 . . . ONout) of the output set to a modulator (18). The input set including Nin input packets (X1 . . . XNin) and each of the Nin input packets (X1 . . . XNin) including a same number Lin of constellation points, the number Nout of output packets in the output set is related to Lin by the relation Lin=A×Nout, where A is a fixed whole number.
US08458534B1
A system and method for distributed fault detection. In an exemplary method, unplanned application exits and crashes may be detected at a node local level. Further, application hangs may be detected using at least one of a script and a binary at the node local level. Also, node crashes and operating system crashes may be detected using node to node heart-beating.
US08458522B2
Model-based testing is performed by repeatedly constructing a test strategy in which each test stimulus will lead to increased test coverage regardless of the nondeterministic choices made by the system under test, and following said strategy until coverage is increased. As soon as no such strategy exists, testing stops.
US08458511B2
Techniques are provided for isolating faults in a software program by providing at least two code paths that are capable of performing the same operation. When a fault occurs while the one of the code paths is being used to perform an operation, data that indicates the circumstances under which the fault occurred is stored. For example, a fault-recording mechanism may store data that indicates the entities that were involved in the failed operation. Because they were involved in an operation that experienced a fault, one or more of those entities may be “quarantined”. When subsequent requests arrive to perform the operation, a check may be performed to determine whether the requested operation involves any of the quarantined entities. If the requested operation involves a quarantined entity, a different code path is used to perform the operation, rather than the code path from which the entity is quarantined.
US08458506B2
A real time clock for outputting data indicating a time of day includes: an event detection circuit for detecting that an event detection signal has been inputted from outside; a timing circuit for generating the time-of-day data according to a signal outputted from an oscillator circuit; a memory; and a control circuit for, if the event detection circuit detects input of the event detection signal, recording event data in the memory, the event data including additional data indicating an operating state of the real time clock and the time-of-day data generated by the timing circuit.
US08458505B2
A method comprises a system comprising a host device coupled to a first remote device actively operating according to a state diagram that the host device and all remote devices follow during operation of the system. The method further comprises powering up a second remote device while the host device and first remote device are actively operating according to the state diagram. The second remote device waits for a synchronization point sequence. Upon detecting the synchronization point sequence, the second remote device implements a predetermined feature set and synchronizes itself to the state diagram at a common point as the host device and first remote device.
US08458493B2
A method of storage of digital data on a physical medium equipped with calculation circuitry, by ciphering the data using a symmetrical algorithm with a ciphering key independent from the recorder, and by transferring the ciphering key onto the medium or its calculation by an asymmetrical algorithm and a read method in which, on first reading from the physical medium, a user key is transferred to the calculation circuitry by an asymmetrical ciphering process, a ciphered key of the data ciphering key is calculated in the calculation circuitry of the medium and by a symmetrical algorithm with the user key, and the asymmetrical ciphering portion of the calculation circuitry are deactivated.
US08458478B2
A signature is generated by a scheme in which x denotes a secret key of a signature generating apparatus, mrec∈{0, 1}M denotes a recovery message, k denotes an arbitrary value, g denotes a generator of a cyclic group G of order q, R represents gk∈G, H1 represents a hash function H1: {0, 1}*→{0, 1}L, H2 represents a hash function H2: {0, 1}*→{0, 1}M that has a variable output length, H3 represents a hash function H3: {0, 1}*→Zq, r=H1(R, mrec)|mrec(+)H2(R, H1(R, mrec)), where (+) represents an exclusive-OR operator, t is defined for γ, which depends on r, as t=H3(γ), s is defined as s=k−t·x∈Z, and a signature is σ=(r, s).
US08458475B2
The present invention relates to both systems and methods for product authentication. A system used herein, for example, comprises a population of entities which comprises at least two distinct clusters of entities having detectable counts or relative counts of entities per cluster; a measurement system capable of measuring a signature array of said population of entities; and a means for analyzing said signature array. The methods involve the systems of the invention for authenticating a given product.
US08458472B2
An authentication method authenticates between subscribers of a communications system using an asymmetric elliptic curve encryption algorithm. The method involves providing a first and at least one second subscriber having a first or second secret key known only to the respective subscriber and a public key; authenticating an inquiry transmitted by the first subscriber with respect to the validity of the first certificate contained therein and associated with the first subscriber; calculating the response of the second subscriber associated with the inquiry; randomized encryption of the calculated response and a second certificate associated with the second subscriber using the public key; decryption and authentication of the response transmitted by the second subscriber with respect to the validity of the second certificate contained therein.
US08458466B2
A system and associated method for handling a system call in a hybrid system. The hybrid system comprises a first computer system and a second computer system coupled to the first computer system at a respective kernel of the respective computer system. A user application of the first computer system requests a kernel service by invoking a system call to a first kernel. The first kernel determines that the system call is remotely executed by a second kernel of the second computer system. The system call and associated parameters are converted to be executable in the second computer system and transferred to the second computer system. The second computer system executes the system call and a result is returned to the first computer system. The result is reversely converted for the first computer system and the user application receives the result.
US08458461B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing authentication and decryption operations. A record including multiple encrypted blocks is received. An encrypted block in the record is extracted and decrypted first in order to obtain context information for performing authentication operations. Each remaining block is then decrypted and authenticated by using the available context information. Authentication operations can be performed without having to wait for the decryption of all of the blocks in the record.
US08458456B2
A method for verifying the identity of a communication partner, in particular in real-time communications, wherein a caller (A) sends a message towards a callee (B), and wherein the caller (A) attaches a self-signed certificate to the message, characterized in that the caller (A) and the callee (B) are part of a web-of-trust, wherein certificates of users within the web-of-trust are stored by one or more key-servers (3), wherein trust relationships between users within the web-of-trust are employed to compute a trust-chain between the caller (A) and the callee (B) based upon the certificate attached to the message and upon the callee's certificate, and wherein the further processing of the message received by the callee (B) is based on the length of the derived trust-chain. Furthermore, a corresponding system is described.
US08458454B2
A conditional access apparatus receives a filter condition from another conditional access apparatus to set the filter condition to a filter unit 1 thereof. When key information meeting the above-mentioned filter condition is outputted from the filter unit 1, the conditional access apparatus informs the key information to the other conditional access apparatus, and also informs the filter condition set to the filter unit 1 by the key information control unit 3 to the other conditional access apparatus and acquires key information meeting the above-mentioned filter condition from the other conditional access apparatus.
US08458453B1
A system and method of providing secure communications between two or more hosts connected to a public network, where a secure virtual network (SVN) is established among the two or more hosts.
US08458451B2
This invention introduces a new paradigm for outsourcing the transaction processing backend of a multi-client database application to an untrusted service provider. Specifically, the invention enables untrusted service providers to support transaction serialization, backup and recovery for clients, with full data confidentiality and correctness. Moreover, providers learn nothing about transactions (except their size and timing), thus achieving read and write access pattern privacy.
US08458435B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for detecting sequential write threads in non-volatile storage media. The embodiments described herein detect write commands directed to a range of logical addresses corresponding to a write thread. Upon detection of a write command directed to a write thread, the write command is assigned a physical write address associated with the write thread. Identification of write threads can be implemented with a hardware component which performs comparison operations between the write command address range and the write thread address range.
US08458432B2
Provided is a computer system, in which a storage system includes a first control module for logically dividing first resources of the storage system and operating them as independent virtual storage systems. A computer includes a second control module for logically dividing second resources of the computer and operating them as independent virtual machines. The computer system holds first information indicating a correlation among the virtual machine, the virtual storage system, and the first resources. The first control module specifies the first resource allocated to the virtual storage system whose power is cut based on the first information, and powers off the specified first resource. Thus, system power consumption can be reduced by managing power of the storage system shared by a plurality of virtual machines in a virtualization environment.
US08458419B2
Systems and methods for backing up applications executing on a virtual machine are provided. The method comprises submitting a first notification to a remote computing system to prepare an application running on a virtual machine for backup, such that application data consistency is maintained during the backup process; receiving a second notification from the remote computing system, indicating that the application is prepared for backup; creating a snapshot of the virtual machine in response to the second notification; and receiving application data from the computing system to process the snapshot and complete an application-specific backup for the virtual machine.
US08458418B1
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing information are disclosed. In some embodiments, this includes mapping a target multi-controller system, determining a target controller to send a data chunk to based on the mapping, determining if the target controller is missing any portion of the data chunk, and sending the missing portions of the data chunk to the target controller. In some embodiments, sending the missing portions of the data chunk to the target controller includes sending the missing portions of the data chunk from a source multi-controller system to the target. The source multi-controller system may have a first number of controllers and the target multi-controller system may have a second number of controllers.
US08458416B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for selecting data encoding. As an example, some embodiments of the present invention provide methods that include receiving a data set to be written to a plurality of multi-bit memory cells that are each operable to hold at least two bits. In addition, the methods include determining a characteristic of the data set, and encoding the data set. The level of encoding is selected based at least in part on the characteristic of the data set. In some instances of the aforementioned embodiments, the characteristic of the data set indicates an expected frequency of access of the data set from the plurality of multi-bit memory cells.
US08458414B2
A memory accessing method including the following steps is provided. Firstly, two instructions are fetched. Next, the two instructions are respectively decoded to obtain two operation fields and two address fields. The two operation fields indicate the type of operation in accessing the memory. One of the address fields includes a first upper address corresponding to the first memory block and a first lower address corresponding to a first memory unit of the first memory block. The other one of the two address fields includes a second upper address corresponding to the second memory block and a second lower address corresponding to a second memory unit of the second memory block. Then, whether two instructions are performing the same type of operation on the same memory block is determined. If yes, the type of operation indicated by the two operation fields is performed on the corresponding memory block parallelly.
US08458407B2
A method for generating cache user initiated pre-fetch requests, the method comprises initiating a sequence of user initiated pre-fetch requests; the method being characterized by: determining the timing of user initiated pre-fetch requests of the sequence of user initiated pre-fetch requests in response to: the timing of an occurrence of a last triggering event, a user initiated pre-fetch sequence delay period and a user initiated pre-fetch sequence rate.
US08458405B2
Various embodiments of the present invention manage access to a cache memory. In one embodiment, a set of cache bank availability vectors are generated based on a current set of cache access requests currently operating on a set of cache banks and at least a variable busy time of a cache memory includes the set of cache banks. The set of cache bank availability vectors indicate an availability of the set of cache banks. A set of cache access requests for accessing a set of given cache banks within the set of cache banks is received. At least one cache access request in the set of cache access requests is selected to access a given cache bank based on the a cache bank availability vectors associated with the given cache bank and the set of access request parameters associated with the at least one cache access that has been selected.
US08458402B1
Various systems and methods can decide whether information being evicted from a level one (L1) operating system cache should be moved to a level two (L2) operating system cache. The L2 operating system cache can be implemented using a memory technology in which read performance differs from write performance. One method involves detecting that a portion of a file (e.g., a page) is being evicted from a L1 operating system cache. In response to detecting the imminent eviction of the portion of the file, the method determines whether the portion of the file has been read more frequently or written more frequently. Based upon this determination (e.g., in response to determining that the portion of the file has been read more frequently, if the L2 cache provides better read than write performance), the method decides to copy the portion of the file to the L2 operating system cache.
US08458392B2
A method and device for upgrading a guest operating system (OS) of an active Virtual Machine (VM). The method includes: replicating the active VM to generate a backup VM; upgrading a guest OS of the backup VM; merging changes to be made to a virtual disk image file during running of the active VM and changes to be made to the virtual disk image file during the upgrading; pausing the backup VM; migrating an active process of a Java application program running in the active VM into the backup VM to generate a backup process; migrating resources occupied by the active process of the Java application program into the backup VM such that the backup process occupies the same resources; and resuming running of the backup VM. The device includes: a replicating unit; an upgrading unit; a merging unit; a migrating unit; and a control unit.
US08458389B2
An apparatus and method for converting a protocol interface are provided. A protocol converter may analyze a protocol of protocol data, and may sequentially output a plurality of sub-data of the input protocol data according to types of the plurality of sub-data and a plurality of phase information representing the types of the plurality of sub-data. A phase channel line may transmit phase information received from the protocol converter among the plurality of phase information. A data channel line may simultaneously transmit the received phase information and a sub-data corresponding to the received phase information.
US08458388B2
A method for data communication between a programmable controller (2) and a data processing device (12) via a universal data interface (11b) of the data processing device (12) is described. In the method, at least one communication interface implemented by means of software drivers and selected in dependence on the availability is allocated to a programmable controller (2) connected to a hardware connection in a wire-connected manner or wirelessly. The method has the following steps: reading at least one identification of the programmable controller (2) out of at least one data memory of the programmable controller (2); selecting at least one further communication interface in dependence on the at least one identification read out; and allocating the at least one selected communication interface to the hardware connection in such a manner that the data communication takes place both via the at least one communication interface selected in dependence on the availability and via the at least one communication interface selected in dependence on the identification.
US08458385B2
A chip includes a receiver circuit that uses a reference voltage to receive a data signal such that a logic level of the received data signal is determined using the reference voltage, and a register to store a value that represents an adjustment to the reference voltage.
US08458383B1
On programmable device, each layer of a programmable interface, for a protocol which has a protocol stack including at least a physical layer, a data link layer and a transaction layer, is selectably bypassable. When a layer is bypassed, all other layers downstream of that layer also are bypassed. In addition, the interface may be divided into different clock domains running at different clock rates, reflecting clock rates within the programmable device and outside the programmable device. Layers may be bypassed to allow a user to substitute a custom layer in programmable logic, or to substitute an updated layer for debugging purposes.
US08458382B2
A method of facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader, the method comprising: receiving from the smart card resource manager a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card; and responding, prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, to the smart card resource manager with a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command.
US08458377B2
Disclosed is a method and device for concurrently performing a plurality of data manipulation operations on data being transferred via a Direct Memory Access (DMA) channel managed by a DMA controller/engine. A Control Data Block (CDB) that controls where the data is retrieved from, delivered to, and how the plurality of data manipulation operations are performed may be fetched by the DMA controller. A CDB processor operating within the DMA controller may read the CDB and set up the data reads, data manipulation operations, and data writes in accord with the contents of the CDB. Data may be provided from one or more sources and data/modified data may be delivered to one or more destinations. While data is being channeled through the DMA controller, the DMA controller may concurrently perform a plurality of data manipulation operations on the data, such as, but not limited to: hashing, HMAC, fill pattern, LFSR, EEDP check, EEDP generation, XOR, encryption, and decryption. The data modification engines that perform the data manipulation operations may be implemented on the DMA controller such that the use of memory during data manipulation operations uses local RAM so as to avoid a need to access external memory during data manipulation operations.
US08458376B1
A USB peripheral device with a power connector, such as a card reader, which serves as a peripheral device when it is connected to a host device such as a smart phone, while which can directly charge the host device when a charger is plugged in, is disclosed. The peripheral device has a USB connector and a controller. The ID, D+, D− and VBUS pins of the USB connector are connected to the controller and the power connector through a plurality of relays depending upon whether the power connector is connected by a charger or not. The peripheral device can be automatically switched to serve as a B-device or a power bridge transferring power from the charger to the host device.
US08458375B2
A portable electronic device includes an audio port, a universal serial bus (USB) circuit, an audio circuit, a detecting unit, a switch, and a microcontroller. The detecting unit is connected to the audio port. The detecting unit generates a detecting signal in response to detection of either the earphone/microphone or the USB apparatus being connected to the audio port. The microcontroller is connected to the detecting unit and the switch. The microcontroller selects the audio circuit or the USB circuit to the audio port by the switch according to the detecting signal.
US08458374B1
A method and an arrangement for configuration of a mobile appliance in a communication arrangement, with a communication address that is linked to its location in each case being assigned to the mobile appliance are provided. For this purpose, the location of the mobile appliance is determined in a first step, a configuration which is linked to the determined location is checked in a second step from a database, and this determined configuration is assigned to the mobile appliance in a third step.
US08458371B2
Provided in some embodiment is a computer system, including a first peripheral device, having a first external data input, a first peripheral storage device to store the measurement data, a first peripheral device output to couple to a system interconnect of the computer system. The first peripheral device capable of receiving measurement data via the external data input the first peripheral device capable of transferring at least a portion of the measurement data to a second peripheral device of the computer system via the system interconnect, and where the second peripheral device is capable of processing at least a portion of the measurement data transferred to the second peripheral device.
US08458367B2
An SMBus message handler, an integrated circuit and a method for controlling an SMBus are disclosed which identifies starting address of a program being stored in a memory. Instructions of the program are fetched one after another into a finite-state machine which controls the data transfer between an SMBus interface and a register set in compliance with the instruction present in the finite-state machine. Further, an SMBus test device and a method for controlling a testing system are described which check as to whether a key is input from a second interface. Upon inputting of a key it is mapped to a sequence of instructions for controlling devices connected to the SMBus or transferring data or receiving data from the devices connected to the SMBus.
US08458366B2
In general, the invention relates to a method for processing packets. The method includes receiving a first packet by a network interface card (NIC) connected to a host, classifying the first packet using a classifier, sending the first packet to a receive ring based on a classification of the first packet by the classifier, and sending the first packet from the receive ring to a first virtual network interface card (VNIC) located on the host. The method further includes determining, using a first policy associated with the first VNIC, whether to process the first packet using offload hardware. When the first packet is to be processed using the offload hardware, the method includes sending the first packet to the offload hardware, receiving a first processed packet from the offload hardware by the first VNIC and sending the first processed packet from the first VNIC to a first packet destination.
US08458358B2
The invention relates to a method for managing a data connection between a sending network component and a receiving network component via a network, and a network component, the method comprising the following steps: sending an initiating message to the receiving network component by the sending network component, to initiate a data connection between the sending network component and the receiving network component; receiving the initiating message by the receiving network component; sending further messages to the receiving network component by the sending network component; receiving the further messages by the receiving network component; calculating a transmission delay for at least one of the further messages received by the receiving network component; estimating optimal transmission parameters for transmitting messages between the sending network component and the receiving network component based on the calculated transmission delay, wherein estimating of the optimal transmission parameters substantially excludes the initiating message; and sending subsequent messages to the receiving network component by the sending network component at the estimated optimal transmission parameters.
US08458356B2
A system for sharing playlists utilizes a network, such as the Internet. A player device other than a general purpose computer, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server over the network. The player device is configured to receive a playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to identify playlists that are likely to contain selections of interest to the user.
US08458350B2
An industrial automation system is provided. The system includes a link layer that includes one or more ports that can communicate via one or more communication protocols. An application layer communicates with one or more network objects and a core layer bridges the application layer and the link layer.
US08458346B2
A tenant multiplexer in an administrative tenant of a multi-tenant software architecture can call an administrative agent in the administrative tenant and receive, from the administrative agent, an action framework and a trusted connection protocol for accessing each of the plurality of client tenants. The trusted connection protocol can establish, without tenant-specific authentication information, a trusted system connection to an update agent in each of the plurality of client tenants. An action framework can be simultaneously implemented using the update agent of each of at least a subset of the plurality of client tenants under control of the multiplexer via the trusted system connection to begin execution of the software process for the at least the subset of client tenants.
US08458338B2
In order to more efficiently use port resources, which are finite global address resources assigned to an address translation device, the address translation device holds a session-port assignment table showing a correspondence between an existing session and a local endpoint (port resource) in the address translation device, and a port assignment rule indicating port usage about assignable ports. An address translation unit translates address information of a packet received according to the correspondence between the existing session and the port resource shown in the session-port assignment table, and assigns the port according to the port usage indicated by the port assignment rule for a packet for opening a new session. An assignment rule update unit changes a ratio of the port usage in the port assignment rule while the correspondence between the existing session and the port resource in the session-port assignment table is not changed.
US08458337B2
Methods and apparatus for providing role-based access control of a resource by a subject in an access control system are provided. The system comprises one or more roles capable of association with one or more subjects, and a plurality of permission sets. One or more of the plurality of permission sets are associated with each of the one or more roles. The system further comprises a plurality of resources. One or more of the plurality of resources are associated with each of the one or more permission sets, and each of the plurality of resources is associated with a set of one or more subjects. A given subject in a set of one or more subjects for a given resource and having a role-permission association with the given resource is provided access control of the given resource.
US08458336B2
An interactive system, such as a webserver, is described of the type wherein responses to a user are associated with states of a state machine, the responses being generated as a result of a transition into a state associated with the response, the system comprising a state machine controller arranged to change states of the state machine according to the processing of user-initiated events. To provide for handling of concurrent events, the state machine controller is arranged, during processing of a current event, to determine whether the current event was initiated at an earlier time than another event and, if so, (i) restore the state machine to a condition consistent with that immediately prior to processing of the current event, and then (ii) carry out a state transition according the other event.
US08458334B2
A computer implemented method, system and/or program product determine capacity planning of resources by utilizing a stochastic analysis of application workloads. Average workloads, which describe past resource utilization, of each of multiple applications are computed. A random sequence of the multiple applications is encoded into a first generation chromosome. The first generation chromosome is executed using a set of computing resources in a resource cloud. In response to execution of the first generation chromosome on the set of computing resources meeting a predetermined service level agreement (SLA) for the first generation chromosome, the first generation chromosome is scored in accordance with how many computing resources within the set of computing resources are utilized in order to meet the predetermined SLA. Next generation chromosomes, derived from the first generation chromosome, are executed and scored until an optimal chromosome, which utilizes the fewest computing resources, is identified and deployed.
US08458330B2
A facility for congestion management and latency prediction is described. In various embodiments, the facility sums a series of fractional transmission delays wherein each fractional transmission delay is measured as a probability of a failed transmission attempt multiplied by the cost of the failed transmission attempt, and provides the sum.
US08458328B2
Resource-aware dynamic bandwidth control uses information about current network state and receiver performance to avoid, minimize and/or recover from the effects of network spikes and data processing spikes. Linear models may be used to estimate a time required to process data packets in a data processing queue, and are thus useful to determine whether a data processing spike is occurring. When a data processing spike occurs, an alarm may be sent from a client to a server notifying the server that the client must drop packets. In response, the server can encode and transmit an independent packet suitable for replacing the queued data packets which can then be dropped by the client and the independent packet present to the processor instead.
US08458318B2
A method for managing an amount of IO requests transmitted from a host computer to a storage system is described. A current latency value of an IO request most recently removed from an issue queue maintained by the host computer in order to transmit IO requests from the host computer to the storage system is periodically determined. An average latency value is the calculated based on the current latency value and a size limit of the issue queue is adjusted based in part on the average latency value. Upon receiving an IO request from one of a plurality of client applications running on the host computer, it can then be determined whether a number of pending IO requests in the issue queue has reached the size limit and the IO request can be transmitted to the issue queue if the number of pending IO request falls within the size limit.
US08458313B2
A method for data exchange among computing systems, such as first and second computing systems, that each operate management systems that normally communicate given data to a target computing system in first and second disparate formats. Representative management systems may be a human resource management system (HRMS), and the target computing system operates an application, such as a payroll application, that interacts with the HRMS of each computing system. The first and second computing systems typically are located in first and second geographic locations distinct from one another. The method begins by instrumenting each of the first and second computing systems to respond to a trigger event from an ODBC-compliant data source to generate a WSDL (Web Services Description Language) object that encapsulates the given data, such as human resource (HR) data. The WSDL objects that are generated as a result of the trigger events are received, preferably via a Web service, at the target computing system. The target computing system then processes information in the WSDL objects.
US08458311B2
A system for managing a queue order may receive queue order registration requests from a plurality of user terminals, generate queue order information of the plurality of user terminals, and broadcast, when the queue order information changes, notification information about the change of the queue order information.
US08458303B2
A gateway may be utilized to assign Internet protocol (IP) addresses to client devices in a shared subnet. The gateway may include a dynamic host protocol configuration (DHCP) proxy server. The proxy server may receive discover messages from the client devices. The proxy server may send proxy discover messages to a master DHCP server and receive offer messages containing IP addresses and local options. The proxy server may add/modify the local options to create proxy offer messages, send the proxy offer messages to the client devices and receive IP address request messages from the client devices. The proxy server may send proxy IP address request messages to the master DHCP server and receive acknowledgement messages. The proxy server may add/modify local options in the acknowledgement messages to create proxy acknowledgement messages and send the proxy acknowledgement messages to the client devices to assign the IP addresses and the local options.
US08458297B2
A system is provided for configuring data synchronization between two devices. The first device generates a user configuration interface to be presented on the second device. The user interface elicits information from a user regarding a personal information manager (PIM) that is installed on the second device. This information is transmitted to the first device, which downloads to the second device a synchronization application package based on the PIM. The user interface installs the synchronization application on the second device, obtains information regarding data to be synchronized, and transmits that information to the synchronization application.
US08458292B2
A computerized aggregation system, the system including: a master server system programmed to receive data from a user computer, to store the received data, and to process the received data to produce information including credentials, and to provide the information to a client-side application piece at the user computer system, the user computer system adapted to receive said provided information and to communicate said credentials received from the master server system respectively to each of a plurality of third party server systems to facilitate obtaining information from the third party server systems, whereby the user computer system is enabled to aggregate at least some information from the third party server systems on an aggregation template.
US08458268B1
A computer-implemented method for distributing spam signatures may include identifying a set of spam e-mails. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a plurality of clients, each client in the plurality of clients having received at least one e-mail in the set of spam e-mails. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying at least one mailing list by identifying at least one group of clients within the plurality of clients that have received a subset of the set of spam e-mails. The computer-implemented method may additionally include identifying at least one additional spam e-mail sent via the mailing list. The computer-implemented method may also include transmitting information identifying the additional spam e-mail to at least one client on the mailing list. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08458259B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for responding to data requests made by a client. The apparatus includes an input receiving a first data request that includes a sequence of nodes corresponding to a sequence of servers. The apparatus also includes decision logic determining whether the data specified in the data request is available on a selected server, and if the data is not available determining a next node from the sequence of nodes. The apparatus also includes a mapper mapping a server to the next node, and an output requesting the data by transmitting a second data request to the server mapped to the next node.
US08458258B2
A system for supporting collaborative activity in a network includes a storage component storing data related to the network and a model of the network; a processor that accesses the stored data and the model to process the data according to the model, where the stored data relates to the collaborative activity including user-defined data created by interaction of a user and the model, and context data related to the user, where the user-defined data and the context data, as metadata, are stored in the storage component; and a user interface, provided by the processor, that presents the user-defined data, the context data, and the model in a form readable by the user, the interface permitting the user to define a set of arbitrary domains, relate the user-defined data to the domains, and view relationships between the user-defined data and the context data, and the domains.
US08458251B2
This invention provides a conference aided system, which is configured by interconnecting a conference management server, an input board having a board surface and used to input handwritten information, and an image storage device via a network, and aids execution of process associated with a conference. The server stores conference information including address information indicating the storage location of image data used in a conference. The server acquires conference information corresponding to an acquisition request of conference information in response to this request sent from the input board, and transmits the conference information to the input board. The input board receives the conference information corresponding to the acquisition request from the server. The input board acquires image data in the image storage device on the network, which is designated by the address information in the conference information. The input board renders the image data on its board surface.
US08458247B2
A system for generating web analytic reports is provided. The system includes a processor configured to receive an input web page link, execute a unified tag for the input web page link, and generate unified tagged data based on the executed unified tag. The system also includes a server side translation unit configured to translate the unified tagged data to corresponding client tagged data for each of a plurality of clients. The system further includes a plurality of client side analytical units associated with a corresponding client among the plurality of clients and communicatively coupled to the server side translation unit, wherein at least a portion of the client side analytical units are configured to analyze the corresponding client tagged data for each of the plurality of clients and generate a corresponding client side web analytics report for each of the plurality of clients.
US08458243B1
Digital signal processing (“DSP”) block circuitry on an integrated circuit (“IC”) is adapted for use (e.g., in multiple instances of the DSP block circuitry on the IC) for implementing finite-impulse-response (“FIR”) digital filters in systolic form. Each DSP block may include (1) first and second multiplier circuitry and (2) adder circuitry for adding (a) outputs of the multipliers and (b) signals chained in from a first other instance of the DSP block circuitry. Systolic delay circuitry is provided for either the outputs of the first multiplier (upstream from the adder) or at least one of the sets of inputs to the first multiplier. Additional systolic delay circuitry is provided for outputs of the adder, which are chained out to a second other instance of the DSP block circuitry.
US08458224B2
A method comprises receiving one or more search requests from one or more users, each search request comprising a request for relationship information that is determined using email data, and each search request including at least one of a first name, a last name, and a company name of a target individual. The method further comprises storing search information associated with the one or more search requests. The search infatuation comprises a plurality of fields including a user identification associated with each of the one or more users, a name of the one or more users, a type of search request received, a name of the target individual, an email address associated with the target individual, and a time at which the search request is received. The method may further comprise generating an audit report based at least in part on the stored search information, wherein the audit report comprises at least one of the plurality of fields. The method further comprises storing the audit report.
US08458222B2
The present invention provides a system, method, and data structure for packaging assets for processing and distribution over a multi-tiered network. An asset may represent network and/or application components (e.g., data, objects, applications, program modules, etc.) that may be distributed among the various resources of the network. In an embodiment, the package structure includes at least one representation of an asset having a logic/data portion and an asset extended environment portion, and a package extended environment that includes package information associated with at least one asset.
US08458220B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium for early notification of a pending deletion event by a digital playback device. Programs associated with the digital playback device can be scheduled for deletion in advance by a digital playback device interface manually and/or automatically. A deletion event can be notified through a remote delivery by analyzing scheduled recordings and hard drive space if the digital playback device recognizes a recording is close to the deletion event. The notification of the deletion event can be enabled by configuring a number of notification options maintained for each user profile by the digital playback device at a predefined time. The deletion event can be modified through the remote means, which allows a user to send information back to the digital playback device after a deletion notification is received. The deleted files can be moved to a deleted programs folder from which the program can be recovered and the recording can be irrevocably removed after a time period.
US08458214B1
In one aspect of the invention, a memory is described for facilitating splitting data by taxonomy. The memory is accessed by an application program, and includes one or more top-level categories, where each top-level category comprises a subset of the items; and also includes a category group corresponding to at least one of the top-level categories and the subset of the items belonging to the top-level categories.
US08458210B2
A computing cluster may include servers that connect database servers. In one implementation, a server may receive a resource request from a client and extract a session identifier from the resource request. The server may determine, based on the session identifier, one of the database servers to use in fulfilling the resource request.
US08458208B2
A database query is received including a logical table identifier, a data element, and at least one data source assurance indicator at a distributed database node within a distributed network of databases. The data element is encrypted based upon the at least one data source assurance indicator. A data portion of a local query response to the database query is formed including data retrieved from a local physical database table mapped by a local logical table that matches the received logical table identifier. A node identifier and the encrypted data element are added as an authentication portion of the local query response to authenticate the data portion of the local query response. The database query is responded to with at least the authenticated local query response. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08458207B2
A search engine can provide referencing information as context for a particular search result when an excerpt from the search result, comprising at least some similar elements to the user's query, is not generated. Referencing information can include one or more anchor texts having similarity to at least some elements of the user's query, the anchor texts being used by referencing pages to link to the page returned as a search result. User selection of the anchor text can enable the user to visit a referencing page using that anchor text to link to the page returned as a search result, and having a high static rank.
US08458199B2
Methods and systems consistent with this invention manage a database of delivery destination information. Such methods and systems identify an item to be delivered to a destination; determine a batch of items for delivery having the item to be delivered to the destination; determine when the batch of items has been delivered; and update the database to indicate a delivery of the item destined to the destination after determining when the batch of items has been delivered.
US08458195B1
A method and system for determining similar users may include receiving information for a source user, the information including at least one topic and a user value for each topic, where the value represents how strongly the user is associated with that topic. Similarity scores may be generated based on a value for each topic for the source user and a value for the same topic for each user in a set of users, where each user in the set of users is associated with a value for each topic. One or more similar users may be selected based on the generated similarity scores, and one or more of the selected users may be output.
US08458189B1
A system and method for establishing cross-relationships between objects is presented. A primary search is executed on a first object. A set of tagger identifiers is then determined based on the primary search. Each tagger identifier includes an internal instance key and one or more attributes of a match with the first object related to the primary search, and each tagger identifier of the set of tagger identifiers provides data for a secondary search. The secondary search is then executed on each of a secondary object that is tagged by the first object scanned by the primary search, the secondary search using the internal instance key and one or more attributes of the match with the first object.
US08458186B2
A computer-implemented method for indexing data for use by a plurality of applications may include receiving a data object at a first application of a plurality of applications. The method may include tokenizing the common-form data object to extract tokens from the data object and creating an index of the tokens extracted from the data object, the index being formatted to be utilized by each of the plurality of applications. The method may further include storing the index in a database that is accessible by the plurality of applications. The plurality of applications may comprise two or more application types. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08458183B2
A system and method for identifying unique and duplicate messages is provided. Messages are maintained, and a header and message body are extracted from each of the messages. A hash code is calculated for each message over at least part of the header and the body of that message. The messages with matching hash codes are grouped. One message in each group with two or more messages is randomly selected as a unique message. The remaining messages in the group are marked as exact duplicate messages.
US08458177B2
A system and method for automated search which may allow users to program their mobile devices to automatically bring up search results when a user or his mobile device meets a certain set of spatial, temporal, activity, or social context conditions.
US08458173B2
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is provided for processing a query for points of interest (POIs) using a hierarchical grid structure representing a geographic area. The method includes receiving a query for POIs; defining a query footprint for the query based on a location corresponding to the query, wherein the query footprint comprises query spatial identifiers for a plurality of levels of the hierarchical grid structure; matching the query spatial identifiers with one or more POI spatial identifiers organized into a plurality of indexes, wherein each one of the plurality of indexes comprises an index of the POI spatial identifiers for one of the plurality of levels; and providing an output specifying one or more POIs corresponding to the matched POI spatial identifiers.
US08458157B2
A system and method of filtering search results is provided. Certain embodiments provide an improved user experience in filtering large sets of data in a computer system through the use of multidimensional associative arrays which allow results to be filtered within a web interface without needing additional calls to web server or online database.
US08458155B2
A records management system and method that permits paper records to be tagged, stored and retrieved according to user criteria. The system includes a scanning module, a central server, one or more user workstations and an optical character recognition server. After scanning, the records may then be serialized and categorized by project, and then supplemented automatically by the system with a hypertext data file. The system provides for the manual input of additional hypertext data and merger of the hypertext data file with other records in the project. The end user may then search and/or filter records according to information contained in the hypertext data file. Output from the system may include summary excerpts whereby summaries for data contained in select pages of each document in a project are associated with at least dates, page numbers, and providers for the data.
US08458152B2
A system which includes a cell phone or other mobile device which uses RSVP (rapid serial visual presentation) to present text information. The mobile device software receives the textual material to be displayed in a mark-up language, preferably XML. The markup language is used to provide information about the actual content being displayed to indicate certain features using enhanced RSVP techniques. To provide these marked-up language files to the mobile device, a backend system is utilized. The backend system receives the files to be read and parses them to provide the markup language based on the desired changes to be used by the advanced RSVP display of the mobile device. The marked up file can be forwarded on a routine basis or can be requested by the user. The mobile device receives the marked up file and displays the material in the enhanced RSVP methods according to the commands.
US08458151B2
A network device and method for updating parameters of the network device provides an object adapting interface. The object adapting interface generates a service access interface and a configuration adapting interface. A management agent of the network device sends a requirement command. If the requirement command is a write command, the configuration adapting interface updates configuration parameters of the management agent stored in a configuration database of the network device. If the requirement command is a read command, the service access interface reads configuration parameters stored in the management agent.
US08458150B2
A method of performing transactions in accordance with fairness criteria is provided wherein one of a plurality of entities initiates a transaction on an object at a database. The steps or operations of the initiated transaction are immediately processed up to the transaction ownership step. Propagation delays are determined between the database and at least some of the other entities that are capable of initiating transactions to the database. The propagation delays and a fairness criteria is used to determine the fair propagation delay period. Upon determining that the fair propagation delay period has been exceeded, it is detecting whether any of the other entities initiated a transaction on the same object during the fair propagation delay time period. If not, then the transaction initiating entity performs the transaction ownership step on the initiated transaction.
US08458139B2
An image processing apparatus is provided that reduces a data size of a composite file without affecting output when generating a composite file by merging multiple files containing objects. To accomplish this, in merging multiple files, the image processing apparatus determines whether or not objects (images or the like) contained in the multiple files are hidden behind another object. Further still, the image processing apparatus merges objects that are hidden behind another object as link information in the composite file, and image data corresponding to the objects is stored in a separate file.
US08458138B1
In one aspect, dynamic determination generates a storage resource graph corresponding to a storage topology. The generating may comprise iterating through storage resources in the storage topology and using a discovery handler to generate a node in the storage resource graph corresponding to each of the iterated storage resources. Dynamic determination generates an operation graph by iterating through nodes in the storage resource graph and using an operating handler to generate operation-specific metadata corresponding to each iterated node of the storage resource graph. Dynamic generating executes the operation graph in a way specific to the operation.
US08458135B2
In order to back up a user's set of data (Ens) through a telecommunications network (RT), a terminal (TC) retrieves, from an application server (SA), a table (Tab) containing sets of risk factors (Frn) respectively associated with backup servers (SVn), assigns a trust level (Kn) to each backup server (SVn) identified in the table (Tab) based on the set of risk factors (Frn) associated with the backup server (SVn), selects at least three backup servers based on the trust levels (Kn) respectively assigned to the backup servers (SVn), and transmits the set of data (Ens) to each selected backup server (SVn), which saves the set of data.
US08458133B2
Systems and methods for coordinating sync points between a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) and a file system are provided. In some embodiments, a file system can issue one or more commands to control circuitry of a NVM, which can indicate whether a transaction is journaled or non-journaled. This way, the control circuitry can maintain a list of journaled transactions and corresponding LBA(s). By keeping track of journaled transactions, the control circuitry can ensure that sync points are not prematurely erased during a garbage collection process. In addition, upon detecting device failure events, the control circuitry can roll back to sync points corresponding to one or more journaled transactions.
US08458130B2
Documents are replicated among servers comprising a search engine based on the value of each document by approximating its value as one of the top search results for one or more exemplary queries. Documents are allocated among servers comprising a search engine by calculating a relevance value for each document and then distributing the documents evenly to the servers. A subset of servers are selected from among a plurality of servers comprising a search engine using term-based, server-specific histograms reflecting the number of instances of the term in each document allocated to each server, and then selecting servers to service a query based on the documents on those servers.
US08458126B2
A method for updating web pages on a web server without republishing the web pages involves providing a live version on a production database and a quality assurance version on a quality assurance web server. A maker at a business workstation can access the quality assurance database server and enter a change to data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables, and a checker at the business workstation accesses the quality assurance database server to review and approve or reject changes to the data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables, and if the checker approves the changes, the changes to the data on the quality assurance version of the business data tables are replicated from the quality assurance database server to the live version on the production database server.
US08458119B2
A people matching system and method matches people in computer-implemented communities in which users subscribe to information generated by other users. The computer-generated suggested matches may be based on inferences of mutual interests, as well as on factors such as proximity and environmental conditions. The inferences of mutual interest may be based on behaviors such as subscriptions and physiological responses. Explanations for the suggested matches may be delivered to users.
US08458117B2
The embodiments described herein describe a computerized system and method for retrieving and processing data to provide dependency and root cause information for a process. The computerized system and method include receiving historic data of the process, detecting temporal dependency or precedence tasks in the process from the historic data, generating a historic dependency graph, aggregating the historic dependency graph into a probabilistic precedence network (PPN), pruning the PPN, and presenting results to a user.
US08458113B2
A decision support for real time command center, in one aspect, classifies, using a decision tree, an observed network state of a network into at least one category. A meta-model associated with the classified at least one category may be selected from a plurality of meta-models, the plurality of meta-models having been calibrated using results of simulations of a plurality of scenarios occurring in the network. One or more action plans may be evaluated by running the selected meta-model with data of the observed network state. One or more recommended action plans may be generated for the real time command center, based on the evaluation. Actual network state data resulting from having applied the one or more recommended action plans may be evaluated and used to recalibrate the meta-model and/or the decision tree.
US08458112B2
An affective model device and a method of deciding the behavior of an affective model device are provided. The affective model device has affective components representing trait, attitude, mood, emotion, and the like. The affective model device updates the emotion at regular time intervals or when a stimulus is received, and decides the behavior based on the updated emotion. The emotion may be updated depending on trait, attitude, and mood.
US08458105B2
A method for automatically organizing data into themes, the method including the steps of retrieving electronic data from at least one data source, storing the data in a temporary storage medium, querying the data in the storage medium using a computer-based query language, identifying themes within the data stored in the storage medium using a computer program including an algorithm, and organizing the data stored in the storage medium into the identified themes.
US08458101B2
A method for installation capacities of a hybrid energy generation system is disclosed. The hybrid energy generation system may include a plurality of power systems. According to the environment factors and practical requirements of the installation site, the mechanism of the present invention may find the golden ratio of the installation capacities among the different power systems. Furthermore, the present invention may obtain the combination of installation capacities associated with the minimum recovery period, thereby further decreasing the installation cost and the efficiency of the hybrid energy generation system.
US08458096B2
A system and method of cashing a check which reduces wait times and automates a very manual process. An example method includes capturing an image of the check, sending a request including an image file containing the image of the check to a check approval system, receiving an approval to cash the check from the check approval system, and submitting the image file and the approval during a check cashing transaction at a self-service terminal.
US08458092B2
Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal.
US08458083B2
The present invention generally relates to financial data processing, and in particular it relates to credit scoring, consumer profiling, consumer behavior analysis and modeling. More specifically, it relates to risk modeling using the inputs of credit bureau data, size of wallet data, and, optionally, internal data.
US08458082B2
An automated loan risk assessment system and method are described. The system is adapted to receive information about a loan or an insurance application requesting insurance to cover same. The system calculates a risk score for the loan based on a plurality of risk factors including at least two of a fraud risk factor, a credit risk factor and a property valuation risk factor. The risk score can be used by a loan service provider in deciding whether or not to fund or insure the loan.
US08458078B1
A trading screen may include a plurality of next trade quantity regions that comprise a plurality of locations, each location being associated a price on a price axis. The quantities can be entered into the various locations in the next trade quantity regions and the entered quantities can be used as a parameter of a future trade order at the associated price level. The trading screen may also include a plurality of quantity entry regions that are displayed with respect to the price axis. The quantity entry columns may each include plurality of sub-regions or locations corresponding to different price levels in the price axis. The quantity entry columns may be used to specify next traded quantities that may be used in placing orders for tradeable objects.
US08458064B1
Systems and methods enable transfer of electronic account information from a first account provider to a second account provider. Through a receiving account provider system, an interface is presented to the user, the interface comprising a display of one or more selectable accounts associated with a first account provider. The user then selects one or more accounts to transfer and then the receiving account provider system effects the transfer of information from that selected account or accounts to an account associated with the receiving account provider system.
US08458061B1
A loan structured to require payment of lower monthly payments in payment periods than would be required were conventional loan structuring be applied, accompanied by payment of at least one higher “Mini-Baloon”™ payment.
US08458057B1
An automated cost accounting reporting method for interdepartmental data tracking related to the cost of a business meeting, comprising the steps of: identifying individuals attending a business meeting, collecting data about the individual participants at the business meeting from a storage data base and loading the data into a process module, timing the duration of each individuals attendance at the meeting, calculating the cost of the business meeting per business unit based on the number of individuals in attendance, generating one or more currency cost reports from the calculations, transmitting one or more reports to a particular business unit to be displayed, and displaying the reports on a computer screen.
US08458052B2
A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds. Communications may be delivered through a variety of means, such as the internet, the mails, by facsimile, on a host communication, etc.
US08458048B2
An incentives points-based on-line auction method is presented that is based upon an on-line system including a catalog of potential auction items and a database of participants that are eligible to take part in the auction and the participants' associated eligible points. The method includes designating a set of auction items from the catalog of potential auction items. Thereafter, participants submit bids via on-line access for the set of auction items. The auction facilities initially prompt a participant to logon to gain access to the auction. Authorized, logged on participants are then provided access to a database describing the auction items and current bid information.A participant may bid upon an auction item. In response, to receiving a bid from a participant, the auction facilities determine whether the participant has sufficient points in a point bank to submit the bid. Proper new high bids are registered by the auction facilities. At the close of a period for an auction, the auction facilities notify the high bidders of their successful bids for particular auction items.
US08458034B2
In one embodiment, a method includes determining a group identity for an audience associated with an event, accessing a plurality of announcements, identifying at least one announcement of the plurality of announcements based on the group identity, and providing the identified announcement to the audience at the event. The group identity is indicative of at least one characteristic of the audience. The plurality of announcements are processed to identify at least one announcement that approximately matches the group identity.
US08458024B1
An initiator computing device may acquire a digital coupon having a first value. The initiator computing device may share the digital coupon with a recipient computing device. An advertisement server may be notified that the initiator computing device has shared or has an intent to share the digital coupon with the recipient computing device. The advertisement server may calculate a second value associated with the digital coupon and assign the second value to the digital coupon responsive to the initiator computing device sharing the digital coupon with the recipient computing device. Further, the advertisement server may receive logging information associated with sharing the digital coupon. The logging information can facilitate monitoring the influence of the digital coupon.
US08458019B2
A system and method for using a discount display system are provided in which a plurality of purchase option screens are displayed to a user. For each discount-eligible item identifier selected by the user, the price of the item is added to the user's total, the current discount available to the user is re-calculated and the updated discount is displayed to the user.
US08458018B1
A consumer is provided with a first asset in return for a promise to earn an agreed to number of points over an agreed to redemption period. The consumer subsequently earns the points by purchasing one or more second assets. At least one of the second assets is different than the first asset. Each purchase has an associated point value, at least one of the point values being different than at least one other point value.An electronic trading system includes a first set of web sites where a consumer can select a first asset it wants to obtain in return for a promise to earn points by making future purchases of one or more second assets.The number of points which the consumer must earn varies as a function of which of the first assets is selected by the consumer. The consumer can fulfill its obligation to earn the stated number of points by purchasing one or more second assets at a second set of web sites. Each of the second assets has an associated point value.
US08458016B1
Disparate account holders may form a group or buying club within which points or rewards for credit or debit card use are allocated into a pool for the account holders. At the end of a billing cycle, transaction totals may be weighted based on the type or number of items purchased by members of the group to making point or reward allocations into the pool. Account holders may be added to the group by invitation as members of a group operate to solicit friends having similar interests and character to join the group. Merchants may market products to like-minded account holders in the group through one or a few members in a manner consistent with social networks or viral marketing approaches.
US08458015B2
Systems and techniques for analyzing information relating to a user to determine whether the user requires assistance. Information for a user is received from sources selected to provide information relating to the user's activities and analyzed to determine whether conditions exist indicating a possible need for assistance for the user. User location, motion, and activity information is received and analyzed against expected information stored in the user profile and analyzed to determine if assistance is needed. If a determination is made that the user's behavior indicates that assistance may be needed, communication is initiated to summon appropriate assistance.
US08458011B2
A method of dynamic pricing of a resource is presented. For example, the method includes determining a set of anticipated demands for one or more users to acquire the resource according to uncertainty of the one or more users in preferring one or more certain time periods of a plurality of time periods for acquiring the resource. Prices for the resource differ between at least two of the plurality of time periods. Each anticipated demand of the set is associated with a different one of the plurality of time periods. The method further includes setting prices for the resource during each of the plurality of time periods according to the determined set of anticipated demands. The determining of the set of anticipated demands and/or the setting of prices are implemented as instruction code executed on a processor device.
US08458009B1
A method and system for estimating complex projects including one or more tasks. The estimating system includes a user interface, an analyzer, and an estimator. The system determines characteristics for a basic task, and receives an assigned cost for the basic task. Then task information for the complex project is analyzed based on the characteristics of the basic task. The system then determines costs for one or more additional tasks, complexity, input timing, and input quality, and estimates the total project cost based on these costs.
US08458005B2
A method of and system for managing on-demand service offerings in a service delivery chain. The method comprises the steps of a service provider announcing upfront capacity pricing, an on-demand premium structure, and an on-demand exercise structure; a service distributor committing to upfront capacity and to units of on-demand options; and the service provider provisioning a number of resources to the collection of service distributors. Preferably, the upfront capacity pricing includes three components. A first component is a price structure for capacity or resources to be purchased for immediate use, a second component is an on-demand premium structure, and a third component is an on-demand usage fee structure.
US08458001B2
A management database is queried to determine which customers have failed to respond to recall notices. The resulting list of customers may be sorted or filtered so that some customers are preferentially contacted first, based on expected value or office preferences. The list may also be sorted or filtered to fill specific providers' schedules first. Customer names and contact information are then presented to schedulers so that customers may be contacted. The time and date of each contact is automatically recorded along with the outcome of the contact. A customer name is presented to a scheduler only if the same name is not being simultaneously presented to other schedulers and that customer was not too recently contacted, so that redundant or too frequent contacts are avoided.
US08458000B2
A client-server based system for building and executing flows (i.e., interconnected systems of algorithms). The client allows a user to build a flow specification and send the flow specification to the server. The server assembles the flow from the flow spec and executes the flow. A flow may be configured to analyze the impact (e.g., the financial impact) of a number of uncertainties associated with a plurality of assets. Uncertainty variables are used to characterize the uncertainties associated with the assets. An uncertainty variable associated with one asset may be functionally dependent on an uncertainty variable associated with another asset.
US08457999B2
Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner. The present invention provides an one view software program that would be able to provide an organized control and viewing of all documents regardless which software programs they are generated under.
US08457996B2
A business process model (BPM) handler may determine a business process model including tasks arranged according to a directed graph, at least some of the tasks associated with requirements for executing the tasks. An information technology topology model (ITTM) handler may determine an information technology topology model with connected resources used to perform at least some of the tasks. A behavior model generator may determine behaviors of the resources from a behavior information library, and may generate a behavior model in which the tasks and their respective requirements are connected to the resources and to their respective behaviors. A continuity analyzer may thus provide a continuity analysis, based on the behavior model.
US08457990B1
A smart placement module determines components of received medial data, such as medical reports and image montages, to forward to one or more secondary location, such as an EMR system, based on smart placement rules that are established by a user that receives the medical data, such as a referring doctor. Thus, the smart placement module decreases or removes the need for the receiving user to manually select and transfer certain medical data for storage at the EMR system. Accordingly, the receiving user, and other authorized EMR system users, may have prompt access to the medical data via their respective connections to the EMR system. In one embodiment, the smart placement module transmits a patient identification file that is usable by the receiving EMR system to allow the EMR system to associate received medical data with other data regarding a respective patient.
US08457989B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable media are described for communicating an adverse event report directly to an end-user receiving party and tracking one or more adverse event reports. An adverse event may be detected manually or automatically by a system and an electronic adverse event reporting form presented to a user with one or more data fields pre-populated with data from a patient's electronic health record (EHR). The user may enter and edit data in the electronic form and may submit the data in the electronic form directly to an end-user receiving party such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One or more receipts may be received from the receiving party and indicia from the receipts recorded to one or more records. The submitted adverse event reports may be tracked, accessed, and interacted with through a user interface and additional information may be provided to a user therein.
US08457980B1
A method of administering the delivery of health care services comprises identifying a plurality of patient-centric tasks which form at least a portion of a health care delivery process, classifying the tasks as physical and/or virtual tasks, and mapping a patient-centric workflow which incorporates the tasks. In certain embodiments physician-performed and nonphysician-performed tasks are further identified, as are tasks which require the physical presence of both patient and physician or nonphysician at particular locations at particular times. Automated means for facilitating performance of the tasks may also be provided. The method may be applied to an existing health care delivery process, used in the modification of an existing process, or used in the design of a new process.
US08457973B2
A method and a processing device for managing an interactive speech recognition system is provided. Whether a voice input relates to expected input, at least partially, of any one of a group of menus different from a current menu is determined. If the voice input relates to the expected input, at least partially, of any one of the group of menus different from the current menu, skipping to the one of the group of menus is performed. The group of menus different from the current menu include menus at multiple hierarchical levels.
US08457971B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device including a controller to detect a plurality of users engaging in a voice conference related to a presentation of a media program, convert speech dialog detected in the voice conference to textual dialog, detect from the textual dialog a behavioral profile of at least one of the plurality of users, and identify at least one of advertisement content and marketable media content based on the behavioral profile of the at least one user. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08457968B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for tracking multiple dialog states. A system practicing the method receives an N-best list of speech recognition candidates, a list of current partitions, and a belief for each of the current partitions. A partition is a group of dialog states. In an outer loop, the system iterates over the N-best list of speech recognition candidates. In an inner loop, the system performs a split, update, and recombination process to generate a fixed number of partitions after each speech recognition candidate in the N-best list. The system recognizes speech based on the N-best list and the fixed number of partitions. The split process can perform all possible splits on all partitions. The update process can compute an estimated new belief. The estimated new belief can be a product of ASR reliability, user likelihood to produce this action, and an original belief.
US08457967B2
A procedure to automatically evaluate the spoken fluency of a speaker by prompting the speaker to talk on a given topic, recording the speaker's speech to get a recorded sample of speech, and then analyzing the patterns of disfluencies in the speech to compute a numerical score to quantify the spoken fluency skills of the speakers. The numerical fluency score accounts for various prosodic and lexical features, including formant-based filled-pause detection, closely-occurring exact and inexact repeat N-grams, normalized average distance between consecutive occurrences of N-grams. The lexical features and prosodic features are combined to classify the speaker with a C-class classification and develop a rating for the speaker.
US08457966B2
An approach for providing speech recognition is disclosed. A name is retrieved from a user based on data provided by the user. The user is prompted for a name of the user. A first audio input is received from the user in response to the prompt. Speech recognition is applied to the first audio input using a name grammar database to output a recognized name. A determination is made whether the recognized name matches the retrieved name. If no match is determined, the user is re-prompted for the name of the user for a second audio input. Speech recognition is applied to the second audio input using a confidence database having entries less than the name grammar database.
US08457954B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a sound quality control apparatus, including: a characteristic parameter extractor; a speech score calculator; a music score calculator; a power value acquisition module; a first storage configured to store speech scores and music scores; a second storage configured to store power values; a power-based score corrector configured to correct a current music score or a current speech score based on a first comparison result between a current power value and past power values, a second comparison result between the current music score and past music scores and a third comparison result between the current speech score and past speech scores; and a sound quality controller configured to perform a sound quality control by using at least one of the speech score and the music score corrected by the power-based score corrector.
US08457951B2
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed in which auxiliary information is added to or removed from an audio signal. In one example, the information may be added to the audio signal using at least two frequencies that are dictated by two different frequency transformation block sizes, such that the two frequencies are not fully visible when an incorrect block size is used to perform a frequency transformation. Additionally, in another example, a decoder may compensate for time and frequency affects caused by removing old samples and adding new samples, which, in one example, alleviates the need to perform repeated frequency transformation using different frequency transformation block sizes. Other examples are described.
US08457948B2
A content generation service is described that generates content for electronic documents in different languages based upon templates. The templates may include paragraph templates composed of sentence types including sentence templates. The sentence templates may further include variables having corresponding attributes. Each of the paragraph templates, sentence templates, and attributes may be hierarchically organized. The content generation service may obtain data describing an item of interest, such as a travel item. The obtained data may further specify a document language, section and paragraph for which content is to be generated. Content is generated for variables in hierarchical order, with higher ranked paragraphs considered first. Within the highest ranked paragraph, a sentence type is selected and the variables within the highest ranked sentence template of the sentence type are considered. Sentence templates which contain attributes matched by the data obtained for the item of interest are added to the generated document.
US08457940B2
A method for modeling a subterranean formation of a field, including receiving a structural model and restoring geological layers thereof to create boundary conditions each associated with a corresponding geological layer, and iteratively modeling each geological layer by alternatively applying a petroleum system model (PSM) and a geomechanical model (GMM) to a first geological layer while exchanging data between the PSM and GMM for convergence prior to applying the PSM and the GMM to a second geological layer.
US08457936B2
Apparatus and methods for simulating a steady state condition for an unknown variable in a system are provided. One apparatus includes a processor and memory configured to store a model of the system, and first and second predictions modules. The model is configured to receive a plurality of fixed inputs representing known variables for the model, the first prediction module is configured to generate an open loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the fixed inputs, and the second prediction module is configured to generate a closed loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the open loop prediction. A method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of fixed inputs in the system model, generating an open loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the plurality of fixed inputs, and generating a closed loop prediction for the unknown variable based on the open loop prediction.
US08457926B2
The present invention relates to a disk protrusion detection/flatness measurement circuit and a disk glide tester, in which protrusion detection and average value calculation can be performed without switching signal processing circuits of two systems, one for the protrusion detection of a disk and the other for the average value calculation with respect to a track or a sector of the disk. This also makes it possible to reduce the size of the measurement circuit. In the protrusion detection/flatness measurement circuit, a signal from a protrusion detection sensor is amplified and converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. The signal passes through a band-pass filter to obtain a digital signal with a predetermined bandwidth. Then, peak detection and average value calculation processes are applied in parallel to the obtained digital signal. Thus, pass/fail decision of the disk can be made based on the detected peak and average values.
US08457921B2
An electronic device tester is connected to an electronic device needed to be tested. A test program is stored in a data storage of the tester. The test program includes a number of test instructions. The tester encapsulates the test instructions of the test program to a number of script files, stores the script files to the data storage, and records a name of each script file to the test program. After the test instruction is encapsulated, the tester selects desired script files of the test program and calls the selected script files according to the names of the script files to implement the test program to test the electronic device.
US08457919B2
A process for testing an integrated circuit includes collecting a set of points of a physical property while the integrated circuit is executing a multiplication, dividing the set of points into a plurality subsets of lateral points, calculating an estimation of the value of the physical property for each subset, and applying to the subset of lateral points a step of horizontal transversal statistical processing by using the estimations of the value of the physical property, to verify a hypothesis about the variables manipulated by the integrated circuit.
US08457914B2
The apparatus corrects multi-phase signals for detecting a position of an object and obtains a phase corresponding to the position of the object. The apparatus includes a correcting unit correcting the multi-phase signals with error coefficients, respectively, a phase calculating unit performing calculation for the corrected multi-phase signals to obtain the phase, a regression unit performing regression for the calculated phases to obtain reference phases, a Fourier transform unit respectively performing Fourier transform for the corrected multi-phase signals whose phases having been respectively changed into the reference phases, and an updating unit updating, using Fourier coefficients obtained by the Fourier transform unit, the error coefficients respectively corresponding to the Fourier coefficients. The updating unit updates the error coefficients if a regression error in the regression performed by the regression unit satisfies a predetermined condition.
US08457913B2
Embodiments of a system that determines a condition associated with an integrated circuit disposed on a circuit board are described. During operation, the system receives electromagnetic-interference (EMI) signals from one or more antennas while the integrated circuit is operating, where the one or more antennas are disposed on the circuit board. Then, the system analyzes the received EMI signals to determine the condition.
US08457910B2
A method for analyzing an electrical power system includes analyzing data representing a signal of interest of the power system, the data containing at least one power system event; and based on the analysis, associating the power system event with a root cause. A computer program product is also provided for carrying out the method.
US08457892B2
An own-vehicle-path determining method includes calculating a first evaluation value of each of plural predicted own-vehicle-path candidates, calculating a second evaluation value of each of the plural own-vehicle-path candidates, selecting own-vehicle-path candidates with high first evaluation values from the plural own-vehicle-path candidates, selecting own-vehicle-path candidates with high second evaluation values as appropriate own-vehicle-path candidates from the selected own-vehicle-path candidates, and selecting any one of the appropriate own-vehicle-path candidates as an own-vehicle path.
US08457889B2
A display system and method for a vehicle are provided. The display system includes a processor configured to receive data representative of a waypoint and terrain and to supply display commands associated with the waypoint and the terrain; and a display device coupled the processor for receiving the display commands and operable to render three-dimensional terrain and a first symbol elevated from the terrain representing the waypoint.
US08457888B2
A method of notifying a user of an appointment at a remote location includes receiving an appointment time and an appointment location inputted into a personal navigation device operated by a user, determining the current location of the personal navigation device, and determining the user's routing preferences when traveling to the appointment location. The method also includes estimating a travel time for the user to travel from the current location to the appointment location when traveling according to the user's routing preferences, determining a notification time based on the estimated travel time and the appointment time, and notifying the user of the appointment at the notification time.
US08457887B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing travel-related information associated with a calendar appointment is presented. The method comprises monitoring a calendar application for travel-related appointments. In response to identifying a travel-related appointment, the method retrieves travel-related information associated with a location of the travel-related appointment and provides the travel-related information to a user.
US08457885B2
Technology is generally described for computing paths between geographical localities. The technology can receive a request for a path between two or more geographical localities, and compute a path based at least on a popularity rating of intermediate geographical localities.
