US08496394B2
A method or arrangement for clamping at least one first and one second component to each other with a connection by force on all sides is disclosed. The connecting arrangement comprises a bolt extending from a first component through a through opening in a second component, a clamping nut which is screwed on the bolt for clamping the components, and a cone pair comprising an inner cone with a split and an outer cone. One part of this cone pair is formed as a conical clamping element, which is arranged and axially moveable for radial clamping on the bolt between the components and the clamping nut. A locking nut is screwed on the conical clamping element and clampable against an abutment surface of the second component to limit moveability of the clamping element.
US08496388B2
A fusion-splicing device, including a fusion-splicing operation element that fuses ends of opposing optical fiber segments to form a spliced optical fiber; a ferrule holding device that receives and holds a ferrule holder in a predetermined position, the ferrule holder having an open end that receives a ferrule therein and an opposite end from which a string-like stem extends. The ferrule having an optical fiber segment that extends away from the open end of the ferrule holder when the ferrule is disposed in the ferrule holder, one end of the ferrule holding device being open to allow an end of the optical fiber segment of the ferrule to be held at a position to be fused to an end of an opposing optical fiber, and an opposite end of the ferrule holding device being shaped to accommodate the stem.
US08496385B2
A connector incorporating a module, in which an incorporated electrical component may be cooled efficiently and reliably, is provided. A transmission apparatus disposed inside a main body cover of a module-incorporating connector is provided with a ceramic board at which an electrical component and such are mounted. A metal cover touches an upper face of the electrical component. A portion of the metal cover is disposed in an insertion portion of the main body cover. Heat generated by the electrical component is propagated via the metal cover to the insertion portion of a first cover member. When the module-incorporating connector is connected to a socket of a device, the insertion portion is disposed inside an exterior case, in which temperature is controlled by an air conditioner, and cooling is performed reliably and efficiently.
US08496384B2
A re-terminable, no-crimp ST-type optical connector assembly includes a spring-loaded ferrule holder assembly and a reusable activation system for termination of the assembly. The optical connector can be terminated by a suitable cam activation tool. The connector includes a housing, such as a bayonet, matable to a mating adapter, a backbone retained within a rear of the housing, a ferrule holder provided within the backbone, and a cam provided between the ferrule holder and the backbone. The ferrule holder includes an alignment key exposed to mate with a cam activation tool to lock rotation of the ferrule holder relative to other connector components. The cam includes a cam activation cutout at a front face thereof that mates with a cam activation tool interface to enable rotation of the cam between de-activated and activated positions, the cam activation cutout also receiving the alignment key of the ferrule holder therethrough.
US08496374B2
A differential scanning calorimeter (1) includes: a sample container (2) for receiving a measurement sample; a reference substance container (3) for receiving a reference substance; a heat sink (10); a thermal resistance (5), which is connected between the sample container and the heat sink, and between the reference substance container and the heat sink to form heat flow paths therebetween; a sample-side thermocouple (7), which is thermally connected to the thermal resistance at a portion in the vicinity of the sample container with its hot-junction (7c) being insulated; and a reference substance-side thermocouple (8), which is thermally connected to the thermal resistance at a portion in the vicinity of the reference substance container with its hot junction (8c) being insulated, in which the sample-side thermocouple and the reference substance-side thermocouple output a heat flow difference signal indicating a temperature difference between the measurement sample and the reference substance.
US08496365B2
A vehicle lighting assembly is provided which includes a housing, first and second light sources located in the housing, and an articulating lighting device. The articulating lighting device is located within the housing and moves between a use position in front of another light source to provide light and a retracted position. Accordingly, light assembly housing is effectively used to provide a secondary light source, such as a daylight running lamp.
US08496363B2
A wall notification device described herein can draw a lower current by providing a more efficient reflector configuration. The reflector is designed to be positioned on a wall and provide sufficient light output in each of the requisite directions, as required by the UL 1971 standard. The notification device has a reflector unit having a base having a curved portion centered on the vertical axis and a flat portion extending from the curved portion; a reflective flange extending from a location near a top side of the base; a first and second specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base; a third and fourth specular protrusion extending from the base; a fifth and sixth specular protrusion extending from the curved portion of the base; and a sixth and seventh specular protrusion extending form the flat portion of the base.
US08496356B2
A high-intensity light source is formed by a micro array of a semiconductor light source such as a LEDs, laser diodes, or VCSEL placed densely on a liquid or gas cooled thermally conductive substrate. The semiconductor devices are typically attached by a joining process to electrically conductive patterns on the substrate, and driven by a microprocessor controlled power supply. An optic element is placed over the micro array to achieve improved directionality, intensity, and/or spectral purity of the output beam. The light module may be used for such processes as, for example, fluorescence, inspection and measurement, photopolymerzation, ionization, sterilization, debris removal, and other photochemical processes.
US08496350B2
The wiring board comprises an FFC and a through-hole portion as a segmenting portion. The through-hole portion segments the conductive pattern of the FFC into a plurality of conductive pattern segments. The conductive pattern segments connect the light emitting elements to thereby connect the light emitting elements in series to one another.
US08496349B2
The present invention discloses a uniform light emitting lamp structure including a lamp holder, an electric connection portion and a planar portion disposed on both end surfaces of the lamp holder respectively, and the planar portion includes a circuit board electrically coupled to the electric connection portion. The lamp structure further includes an LED light source, a lamp cover and a light guide column with a refractive index n1. After the light of the LED light source is projected from an environmental medium with a refractive index n2 to the light guide column, a portion of the light is reflected from the critical plane in a direction corresponding to the lamp holder through reflections and refractions, such that the light of the LED light source is projected in the environmental medium to achieve the uniform light emitting effect.
US08496347B1
A modular lighting system and method that can utilize a wide variety of members, connectors, power sources, light sources, and light source covers. The system can be implemented in a variety of different ways, with some embodiments involving fully interchangeable components. Some members can be rigid or substantially rigid to allow substantially rigid assembly structures. Light source covers can be removed and added to customize the individual impact of an individual light source as well as the aggregate display of the entire assembly.
US08496346B2
A device for illuminating the interior of a pumpkin, gourd or the like includes a housing having an interior region and a lighting assembly positioned at least in part within the interior region. The lighting assembly includes a rechargeable power source and a lighting element. The device includes a depending skirt extending from the housing and defining a recess. A photovoltaic collector is operably connected to the lighting assembly. The skirt is inserted into an opening in the pumpkin, gourd or the like, and the lighting element illuminates the interior of the pumpkin, gourd or the like. The photovoltaic collector recharges the rechargeable power source when exposed to ambient light.
US08496339B2
A transparent wavelength-selective retroreflector (100) that retroreflects light within a specific wavelength range and is transparent to visible light. A transparent wavelength-selective retroreflector allows visible light to pass therethrough and selectively retroreflects light within a specific wavelength range. One preferred embodiment of a transparent, wavelength-selective retroreflector includes an optical structure layer (101) that is made of a light transmissible material and a wavelength selective reflective layer (102). At least one of the front or rear surfaces includes a cube corner structure, such as cube-corner type trigonal pyramids, cube-corner type cavities, cube-corner type trigonal pyramids with reflective layers, cube-corner type cavities with reflective layers, and the like.
US08496333B2
An illumination module including a light emitting element, a wavelength conversion unit, a control unit, and a determining unit is provided. The light emitting element is capable of emitting an excitation light beam. The wavelength conversion unit is disposed on a transmission path of the excitation light beam for converting the excitation light beam into a color light beam. The control unit is connected to the wavelength conversion unit and capable of driving the wavelength conversion unit to rotate and to shift relative to the excitation light beam. The determining unit is electrically connected to the control unit. When the determining unit determines that a shifting condition is satisfied, the determining unit instructs the control unit to shift the wavelength conversion unit relative to the excitation light beam, so as to change the irradiation position of the excitation light beam on the wavelength conversion unit.
US08496320B2
An ink cartridge includes a body that is adapted to contain ink, an air vent provided on the body adapted to enable air to pass into and out of the body, and a sealing member that covers the air vent, the sealing member being heat staked to the body.
US08496319B2
A fluid container includes a housing unit including a free-fluid chamber, a regulated chamber, and a plurality of valves. The free-fluid chamber is configured to store fluid. The regulated chamber includes an air bag assembly, an outlet, and a plurality of states. The air bag assembly is configured to regulate respective fluid therein and includes at least one air bag including an internal chamber having a volume capacity. The outlet is configured to transport the respective fluid from the regulated chamber. At least one of the plurality of valves is configured to selectively stop fluid communication between the regulated chamber and the free-fluid chamber based on the respective state of the regulated chamber.
US08496306B2
The opening mechanism includes a fixing member, a movable member, a locking member, a first resilient member and a second resilient member. The fixing member is fixed to a first rail and has a guide portion, a stop and a room. The movable member is movably connected to the fixing member and has a first leg, a second leg and an engaging portion. The first leg slidably contacts the guide portion and the second leg extends into the room. The locking member is pivotably connected to a second rail and includes a locking portion. The first and second resilient members respectively provide a force to a third rail and the movable member. When the second rail is forcibly pulled out relative to the first rail, the movable member is moved and pivots at an angle so that the locking portion is disengaged from the engaging portion.
US08496305B2
A furniture unit including a compartment that contains and conceals a subwoofer, wherein the compartment has vent openings that allow air and sound to pass freely between the subwoofer compartment and the outside of the furniture unit while concealing the subwoofer from the view of a person sitting within a typical viewing angle of a television that is placed on top of the furniture unit or mounted on the wall above the unit.
US08496303B2
A pump assembly including a housing, a pump unit having a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion and accommodated in a pump unit receiving portion which is formed in the housing, a suction passage, a low pressure chamber communicated with the suction passage and the low pressure portion, and a discharge passage, wherein when the pump unit is accommodated in the pump unit receiving portion, the low pressure chamber is formed between the pump unit and a wall surface of the housing which defines the pump unit receiving portion, and the discharge passage is formed by a communication pipe which extends through the low pressure chamber and communicates the housing and the high pressure portion of the pump unit with each other.
US08496301B2
A vehicle brake mechanism includes a master cylinder operated with a brake pedal. A first fluid channel connects a first hydraulic chamber of the master cylinder to a first-circuit wheel cylinder. A second fluid channel connects a second hydraulic chamber of the master cylinder to a second-circuit wheel cylinder. A master cut valve is provided in the first fluid channel and is capable of hindering communication between the first hydraulic chamber and the first-circuit wheel cylinder. A slave cylinder is connected to the second fluid channel and is driven by an actuator to generate a hydraulic pressure. A third fluid channel is provided downstream of the master cut valve and the slave cylinder and connects the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel to each other. A connection control valve is provided in the third fluid channel to close the third fluid channel.
US08496299B2
An omnidirectional wheel has a hub that is rotatable around a rotational axis, and two wheel discs connected to the hub and spaced coaxially on the hub. A number of roller bodies are located between the wheel discs, evenly distributed around a circumferential edge of the wheel. The respective roller axes of the roller bodies are aligned at a diagonal angle relative to the rotational axis, and are each supported in a freely rotating manner between the wheel discs at opposite ends thereof. Each roller body is mounted in a freely rotating manner in respective modules respectively attached to the wheel discs.
US08496297B2
Described are several mechanisms for permitting a user to adjust the seat on a stationary exercise bicycle. The described mechanisms can be used to adjust the height of the seat or the fore and aft positioning of the seat on an upright type bicycle. Each of the described mechanisms can be configured to provide users with an optimum seat position and with a convenient latch mechanism to adjust the position of the seat.
US08496296B2
A connecting structure comprises a tubular connection joint and a tubular pipe-shaped cardboard tube for integral engagement with the tubular connection joint. The tubular connection joint is generally curved-shaped and has an insertion portion and a lock projection disposed along a curved inner surface of the insertion portion. The pipe-shaped cardboard tube has an oblique front end portion configured to be inserted into the tubular connection joint so that the oblique front end portion engages between the lock projection and the curved inner surface of the insertion portion.
US08496294B2
A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor includes a support mechanism operatively coupled between a seat back and a seat cushion. A rear end of the seat cushion is released from the support mechanism to pivot the seat cushion from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position in response to pivotal movement of the seat back from an upright seating position to a forwardly folded position. The support mechanism is released from the floor and a stand-up link pivotally coupled between the floor and the support mechanism moves the seat cushion from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position and simultaneously urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion, thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation defining a stand-up position.
US08496293B2
A child restraint in accordance with the present disclosure includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The child-restraint harness includes a crotch belt. A seat-back tether strap is also included in the child restraint.
US08496289B2
A pitman-style foldable frame structure has an innovative and unique assembled design. The frame structure includes foldable panels, a central spindle, lateral frames, oblique connecting rods, a control device, and a central connecting frame. The frame structure offers improvement over the prior art in lowering the material cost and increasing structural support strength and rigidity of the pitman-style foldable frame and achieves practical advancement and better industrial utilization effect.
US08496288B2
An outer side wall structure for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger automobile, having a front section and a rear section, between which at least one door of the motor vehicle can be situated, and having an upper section and a lower section. It is provided that the sections form a peripheral frame.
US08496287B2
A front vehicle body structure includes, on each of left and right sides, a front side frame, an upper member, a frame connecting member, an impact absorbing mechanism. The impact absorbing mechanism has a closed cross-sectional shape in frontal view of a vehicle. The impact absorbing mechanism includes an external wall and an internal wall. The external wall is substantially straight with respect to an upper internal wall of the upper member such that the frame connecting member is disposed therebetween. The internal wall has a shape in which at least a front portion of the internal wall between a central portion of the internal wall in its longitudinal direction and the bumper beam is obliquely bent outward.
US08496283B1
A roll-up tarp apparatus for attachment to an open top truck trailer having a truck box, having end caps at each end that partially cover the top opening. Preferred embodiments include a flexible tarp having at least one magnet, even more preferably a plurality of magnets along each end of the flexible tarp, that are configured to releasably secure the flexible tarp to the end cap when the flexible tarp is in the secured position. Preferably, the flexible tarp is wound around an elongated roll bar that is secured to at least one arm that connects the elongated roll bar to the truck box and selectively activates movement of the elongated roll bar to move the flexible tarp from an open position to a secured position. Various embodiments include biasing members to bias the arm(s).
US08496279B2
A lifting hook device includes a fixed hook for lifting disposed at a head section of a hollow body having an inside maintained airtight, and a rotatable hook for suspending a load, the rotatable hook has a shaft section rotatably supported in the body and vertically suspended from a bottom section, a motor for rotating the shaft section of the rotatable book about the axis of the shaft section through a rotating mechanism, an azimuth sensor mounted to the rotatable hook and detecting the rotational azimuth of the rotatable hook, and a control section for controlling rotation of the motor to restrict the orientation of the rotatable hook to a predetermined direction.
US08496274B2
A threaded connection includes a pin member comprising a first pin step and a second pin step, and pin wedge threads disposed on each of the first and second pin steps and a box member comprising a first box step and a second box step, and box wedge threads disposed on each of the first and second box steps, wherein an axial separation of the first and second pin steps differs from an axial separation of the first and second box steps.
US08496261B2
A mobility chair is arranged for a high degree of maneuverability, and is particularly useful for handicapped individuals in need of a highly stable and maneuverable carriage. The mobility chair may be particularly useful for children, and includes a seat positioned between first and second wheels of a first wheel set, wherein the axial spacing dimension of the first and second wheels is greater than the axle height. The mobility chair is arranged for pivotability about the first wheel set axle to permit the user to freely pivot forward while in the seat of the chair, with the pivoting being limited in both circumaxial directions about the axle axis.
US08496259B2
A frame for a heavy-duty vehicle trailer includes a pair of elongated, spaced-apart parallel main members, each one having a pair of spaced apart parallel vertical walls. At least one cross member extends between and attaches to the main members, and includes a pair of spaced apart parallel transversely-extending vertical walls. Each one of a first pair of hangers includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel vertical walls that generally align and attach to the main member vertical walls. Each hanger includes a hanger support having a pair of spaced apart parallel vertical webs integrally formed with a diagonally extending side member. The hanger support attaches to the inboard hanger wall and also to the cross member. The frame reduces weight and provides improved reaction of longitudinal and side loads, yet still efficiently reacts vertical and racking loads imparted on the frame during operation of the vehicle.
US08496255B2
The invention relates to a clamping system for clamping a number of tools wherein said system comprises: a body; an elongated groove arranged in the body for reception of a clamping part of at least one tool; at least one pusher element extendable into the groove for pushing the clamping part of a tool against a wall of the groove; wherein shape imposed displacement means for displacing the at least one pusher element from a first position substantially freeing the groove, enabling insertion of the clamping part of a tool into the groove, towards a second position, in which the at least one pusher element extends into the groove.
US08496237B2
An apparatus for rotation of a structural beam during fabrication thereof comprises spaced mounting members, each mounting member including a base frame and a circular support bracket supported for rotation by spaced rollers mounted on said base frame. At least one of the spaced rollers includes a drive mechanism to rotate the support brackets with a beam located therein. Each support bracket comprises a beam clamp mechanism with a stationary portion and a movable portion pivotably mounted thereto to form opposable jaws to receivably locate said beam therein.
US08496228B2
A stemless ball valve comprising a first flange, second flange, ball, inner magnetic cartridge, outer magnetic cartridge, and planetary gear assembly. The inner magnetic cartridge is situated inside of the outer magnetic cartridge, and the inner and outer magnetic cartridges actuate the valve. The planetary gear assembly is situated between the inner magnetic cartridge and the ball. The planetary gear assembly comprises one or more planetary gear phases, each planetary gear phase comprising a step-down gear. Each planetary gear phase comprises one or more planetary gears that engage with the inner teeth of the outer ring of the planetary gear assembly and with a step-down gear. The invention further comprises a pressure equalization system comprising inner and outer equalization tubes, a piston situated between the inner and outer equalization tubes, and either a piston spring or spring washer stack that biases the piston in the direction of the clean oil.
US08496226B2
A seal assembly is provided for a rotary ball valve having a top-mounted bonnet, thereby allowing the seal assembly to be installed and removed without removing the valve from the pipeline. In an embodiment, the seal assembly may include a seal ring disposed within the valve interior and biased toward the ball element of the valve. A seal carrier may be disposed between the seal ring and the valve body, and the seal carrier may be removably secured to the valve body by a plurality of bolts disposed in the valve interior. A primary leak path may exist between the seal ring and the seal carrier and a secondary leak path may exist between the seal carrier and the valve body. A bellows seal may prevent fluid flow through the primary leak path, and an auxiliary seal may prevent fluid flow through the secondary leak path.
US08496223B2
A sideform molding accessory (10) includes a cap member (12) for capping an end (14) of a sideform (16). The cap member (12) includes a pair of opposed sides (12.1) and (12.2) and a peripheral portion (13) with at least a part of a profile (18) of the peripheral portion (13) complementing a molding surface (20) of the sideform (16) A retaining member (22) extends from one of the sides (12.2) of the cap member (12) for retaining the cap member (12) in position relative to the end (14) of the sideform (16).
US08496218B2
In some embodiments, a display mounting system may include a display monitor coupled to a display arm that is mounted relative to a guide track. The display arm may be configured to contact the guide track though a track follower. The guide track may have an arc with a height that varies relative to a yaw position along the arc. In some embodiments, the track follower may be configured to move in contact with the arc of the guide track in a yaw direction and movement of the track follower in the yaw direction along the guide track may result in a change in pitch of the display arm. In some embodiments, the arc of the guide track may include a point for a stowed position of the display arm and a second point for a deployed position of the display arm.
US08496217B2
The present invention relates to a pressure-applying telescopic spacer formed by two attached tubes telescopically coupled to one another with sheet metal rings pushed by a spring for establishing a wedging and driving of the sheet metal rings on the inner tube and blocking the axial movement of the latter with respect to the outer tube. The assembly of sheet metal rings and push spring being located in a head belonging to a sleeve with anchoring devices for the fixing thereof on the outer tube. The body determined by the sleeve and the head or expansion forming a handle for manually handling the spacer. Support plates are connected with movable devices for adjusting the spacing length of the spacer itself to the desired measurement are included at the ends.
US08496216B2
In order to enable mounting of a cabinet 1 having a display unit to a supporting base 9, axial members 121 and 131 in the shape of a regular polygonal prism are disposed in the cabinet 1 and fitting holes 91 and 92 into which the regular polygonal prisms can be fitted, respectively, are disposed in the supporting base 9. By opening and then closing, or opening and then moving the axial members 121 and 131, the user can fit or remove them into or from the fitting holes 91 and 92, respectively, so as to mount or demount the cabinet to or from the supporting base. By tilting the cabinet by an angle when fitting the axial members into the fitting holes, respectively, the user can change the rotational attitude of the cabinet 1 with respect to the supporting base. Thereby, the user can use the display unit at different times and at different positions with simple manipulations.
US08496215B2
An elbow bracket for cables or pipes, supported by a structure of an aeronautical device, in which a reinforcing rib of the elbowed main plate is not assembled with the elbowed main plate by welding but by tightening following a twisting of end-pieces traversing slots of the main plate and causing an outer face of the plate to be trapped against an upper face of oblong slits partially cutting into the end-pieces. The support is faster to construct, and has sufficient resistance.
US08496211B2
The invention relates generally to a bracket adaptable to mount upon a wall stud and resist displacement of the bracket in response to external forces, thereby maintaining one or more securely enclosed conductors at least a fixed distance from an installed sheet of drywall. A mounting portion is shaped to permit fastening to a wall stud. A lateral support portion is attached to the mounting portion and at an angle relative to the mounting portion such that upon fastening of the bracket to the wall stud an edge of the lateral support portion engages the wall stud and resists displacement of the bracket. The lateral support portion includes an aperture wherein the conductors may be placed such that they extend substantially parallel to the plane of the wall stud, and are also thereby positioned at least a fixed distance from the plane of the sheet of drywall.
US08496205B2
A dual pivot load restraint for cargo aircraft for restraining pallet type loads from vertical movement having an upper pivot member pivotally mounted on a lower pivot member and the lower pivot member is pivotally mounted on a base member and the upper pivot member having an engagement portion having an engagement position for projecting into pockets on a pallet type cargo load and abutting against a lower wall thereof, and the lower pivot member having an engagement position for the upper pivot member in the engagement position thereof, and the walls of the pallet type cargo load engaging the engagement portion of the upper pivot member to move the upper pivot member to a retracted position for movement of the pallet type cargo load in the aft direction of the aircraft, and the walls of the pallet type cargo load engaging the engagement portion of the upper pivot member to move the upper pivot member with the lower pivot member to a retracted position of the lower pivot member, and having resilient members for resisting movement of the upper pivot member and the lower pivot member from the engagement positions thereof and urging the movement of the upper pivot member and the lower pivot member to the engagement positions thereof after movement therefrom.
US08496201B2
A heat sink is used to absorb heat produced by a vehicle. The heat sink uses a steam reformer to create an endothermic reaction between two fluids. Excess heat from the vehicle's engine is used to heat the reactor to facilitate the endothermic reaction. In some embodiments, the reactant fluids are pre-heated by absorbing heat from various components of the vehicle. Excess heat from the various components or from the vehicle engine is used to vaporize the fluids before the fluids enter the reactor.
US08496197B2
A paper shredder includes a housing, cutters positioned in the housing, and a feeder base adapted to support a stack of paper. The feeder base includes a feeder slot. The feeder base further includes a first aperture on one side of the feeder slot, the first aperture providing a first communication pathway between a top surface of the feeder base and a waste area below the feeder base, and a second aperture on a same side of the feeder slot as the first aperture, the second aperture providing a second communication pathway between the top surface of the feeder base and the waste area below the feeder base. The first and second communication pathways are separated from one another.
US08496193B2
A fluid flow control device, particularly useful for drip-irrigation emitters, for controlling the discharge of a fluid (water) from a discharge port in a fluid conduit (drip irrigation pipe) includes: a housing attachable to the fluid conduit and constructed to define a fluid chamber having an inlet opening communicating with the interior of the fluid conduit, and an outlet opening communicating with the discharge port of the fluid conduit; and a flow control member freely movable within the fluid chamber and having a surface contacting an inner surface of the housing to control the flow of fluid from said fluid chamber out of the fluid conduit via said outlet opening in the housing. One of the contacting surfaces of the flow control member or housing is formed with a protruding pattern such that the two contacting surfaces define small passageways for the flow of fluid from the fluid chamber out of the fluid conduit via the outlet opening. The flow control member is manually accessible, via the outlet opening, to be manually moved away from the outlet opening in the fluid chamber and thereby to flush the small passageways of any clogging particles.
US08496187B2
A removable component for dispensing a physical resource from a dispensing system may include a body defining a reservoir in which a physical resource may be stored, a graphic provided on the removable component having information.
US08496181B2
There is set forth herein a method of providing network connectivity. The method can include introducing a new communication device within a communication range of a portable data collection device, the new communication device comprising a dynamic access module enabling the new communication device to receive data packets from the portable data collection device and route payload data of the data packets to an access point. In one aspect the new communication device can receive data packets from the portable data collection device and route payload data of the data packets to the access point if the new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said access point and the portable data collection device. There is set forth herein a system having a dynamic access module.
US08496178B2
Systems and techniques for image based bar code scanning. A rotating spinner is positioned to reflect images to an imaging device within the scanner so that a field of view of the scanner encompasses images reflected by the spinner to the imaging device. The rotation of the spinner causes the field of view of the scanner to change. Mirrors positioned and oriented to reflect images to the spinner and from the spinner to the imaging device further shift the field of view of the scanner as the rotating spinner causes images reflected from different mirrors to be delivered to the imaging device so that both cashier and customer side imaging sensing may be employed. The image field may be automatically shifted from cashier side imaging to customer side imaging, shifted based on detection of customer presentation of an item in a customer presentation window field of view, or manually shifted by a cashier.
US08496176B2
A scanning apparatus and method for entering a user input into the apparatus uses a non-electrical control device having a target undersurface, which can be manually manipulated to a particular setting. The particular setting of the non-electrical control device is determined by processing an image of at least a portion of the target undersurface captured by a scan sensor of the scanning apparatus.
US08496173B2
A camera-based code reader (10) has an image sensor comprising a line-shaped reading area (18) for capturing an image line, an illumination unit (28, 30) for illuminating the reading area (18), an evaluation unit (46) configured to compose an image from successively captured image lines, and a decoding unit (48) for locating and decoding code information in the image. The code reader (10) further comprises an elongated base body (26) with a plurality of individual image sensors (32) mounted thereon, each of the individual image sensors (32) comprising a line-shaped individual reading area (18a-d), and the individual image sensors (32) together forming the image sensor by being oriented and arranged relative to one another so that the individual reading areas (18a-d) overlap to form the line-shaped reading area (18).
US08496169B2
An enhanced security system utilizes a consumer wireless device and independent secure servers to enhance identification and authentication of the electronic ticketing. The consumer may make an eTicket purchase using a network, such as the Internet, in a conventional manner. The server involved in the purchase may send an eTicket confirmation to a consumer wireless device. However, master records of the transaction are sent via a secure link to a vendor server, typically associated with a wireless service provider. At a point just-in-time, the vendor server transmits symbology to the consumer wireless device and transmits additional data related to the symbology to a security server. When the consumer arrives with the eTicket, the consumer also uses the displayed symbology on the consumer wireless device. The symbology is scanned and compared with data transmitted from the vendor server to the security server. If authenticated, the eTicket may be authenticated. In addition, a near field communicator in the consumer wireless device may be programmed to provide additional security. The programmed NFC may be scanned to provide additional authentication.
US08496168B1
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data corresponding to financial accounts from user cards. The card data is linked in at least one data store to data indicating that the card data corresponds to a financial account that is authorized to be used to conduct at least one transaction through use of the automated banking machine. The automated banking machine may be used to carry out financial transfers involving financial accounts by users who are determined to be authorized users of such accounts. Data corresponding to a financial account can also be linked to a mobile wireless device through inputs by an authorized user through an input device of the automated banking machine.
US08496163B1
High speed document mailing comprises receiving package tracking data electronically from a courier for a document to be shipped via the courier, digitally placing the package tracking data onto a page within the document, printing out the document, and automatically inserting the document into an envelope such that the package tracking data on the page is visible through a window of the envelope.
US08496159B2
Solder bumps of uniform height are provided on a substrate through the use of injection molded solder. Copper pillars or ball limiting metallurgy are formed over I/O pads within the channels of a patterned layer of photoresist. Solder is injected over the pillars or BLM, filling the channels. The solder, which does not contain flux, is allowed to solidify. It forms a plurality of solder structures (bumps) of equal heights. Solder injection and solidification are preferably carried out in a nitrogen environment or a forming gas environment. Molten solder can be injected in channels formed in round wafers without spillage using a carrier assembly that accommodates such wafers and a fill head.
US08496155B2
An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, including an upper surface with two substantially-planar angled surfaces positioned lateral to and angled relative to each other. The staple holder may include staple channels within it, and each staple channel may open to a corresponding angled surface. The stapler may also include at least one feeder belt extending into the staple holder and staples frangibly affixed to the feeder belt. Generally, at least one staple is held within a corresponding staple channel of the staple holder.
US08496152B2
There is provided a surgical instrument incorporating driving force mechanisms capable of transmitting a driving force through an articulated section of the surgical instrument. In one embodiment, a series of racks connect with a transfer gear to pass forces around the articulated section. In an alternative embodiment a series of cable sections and wheels or pulleys are provided to transmit a driving force through the articulated section of the surgical instrument.
US08496149B1
A hunting blind assembly having a frame adapted for shoulder supported carriage; a collapsible hunting blind; a durable flexible sheet fitted for, upon movement of the hunting blind to its collapsed configuration and upon placement of the hunting blind in contact with the frame's back side, and between the frame's left and right ends, arcuately covering the hunting blind; and left and right pluralities of ties interconnecting the frame with the durable flexible sheet, the left and right pluralities of ties, in combination with the frame and the durable flexible sheet, encapsulating the hunting blind.
US08496127B2
A method for producing a stacking column (P) for storing storage items above or alongside one another on pawls (13) which are arranged between two side walls (1, 2) such that they can rotate about an axis (12), the side walls (1, 2), pawls (13) and mounting brackets (7) form an assembly for producing stacking columns (P) of varying pitch.
US08496126B2
A product pusher device includes an elongate track having a front end, a rear end, and a channel and a paddle movably connected to the track for movement along the channel. The paddle has a front face for engagement with a rearmost one of a set of associated products located on the track. The paddle includes a foot which is slidably engaged in the channel and extends forwardly of the front face. A biasing element urges the paddle toward the track front end.
US08496123B2
The invention relates to a process for making porous cross-linked cellulose membranes and processes for coupling a chromatography ligand to cross-linked cellulose membranes. The invention provides methods for separating a first component from a second component in a solution based upon a difference in the size of the first and second components, and methods for separating target molecules from other components in a solution comprising use of membranes obtainable by the process of the invention. The method has particular utility in separating proteins from cell lysates and cultures.
US08496122B2
The present invention relates to a membrane being suitable for, for example, hemodialysis. Said membrane comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. According to the present invention the outer surface of the hollow fiber has pores in the range of 0.5-3 μm and the numbers of said pores in the outer surface are in the range of 10,000 to 150,000 pores per mm2, preferably in the range of 18,000 to 100,000 pores per mm2, and most preferably in the range of 20,000 to 100,000 pores per mm2. The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said membrane and use of said membrane in hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration, and in dialysis and filtration in general, for example in water purification or dehydration.
US08496119B2
A fluid filter is described, which includes a housing having a first end portion defining fluid inlet and fluid outlet areas, a filter media disposed in the housing, having inlet surfaces communicating with the fluid inlet and outlet surfaces communicating with the fluid outlet, and a relief valve assembly for selectively opening a filter bypass connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The relief valve assembly has a media plug for anchoring it in the filter media, the media plug having a bypass aperture connecting to the fluid outlet, and a valve element secured to the media plug. The valve element has a valving portion cooperating with the bypass aperture in the media plug for resiliently closing the bypass aperture when an inlet fluid pressure is below a threshold pressure, and for opening the bypass aperture when the inlet fluid pressure is above the threshold pressure.
US08496117B2
The filter apparatus for an incoming liquid which includes a retentate and a permeate includes a housing with a frame and a hollow drum assembly mounted for rotation within the housing. An inlet assembly delivers the incoming liquid under pressure to the drum assembly. A filter assembly is mounted to the inside of the drum. A trough assembly is mounted so as to be in a fluid-tight relationship to the interior surface of the filter assembly as the drum rotates past the trough assembly. A manifold is fixedly mounted and configured to cover successive columns of openings of the drum wall as the drum rotates. Pressurized gas is directed to the manifold, so that as the drum turns, and retentate is collected on the interior surface of the filter, pressurized fluid from the manifold dislodges the retentate into the trough and out an outlet assembly.
US08496110B2
A system for providing a shipping label and a packing list on a container is provided which enables rapid and automated sequential application of a packing list and a shipping label to the container. The shipping label is configured complemental to the packing list whereby the packing list may first be adhered directly to the container and then the shipping label may be placed thereover. The shipping label may be applied over the packing list while the container moves continuously down a conveyor. The invention further includes an apparatus for sequentially applying the packing list and then the shipping label, and a method for applying the packing list and shipping label in registry.
US08496107B2
Methods and apparatus for grasping an object using a re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves. The re-closable bag includes a flexible side panel, an opening on a top end of the bag, and at least two flexible finger sleeves connected to the side panel. The opening includes a closure adapted, when closed, to seal the bag. The at least two flexible finger sleeves, when in a first position, are disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the side panel. Each finger sleeve in the two or more finger sleeves is adapted to accept at least a portion of a human finger. In some aspects, an object grasped using the finger sleeves can be retracted into the re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves and stored within the bag.
US08496103B2
A conveying apparatus (1) moves a transport unit (3) having at least one running section (4, 5). The running section (4, 5) can, in particular, be configured as a runner of a skid. The conveying apparatus (1) has a support (6, 8) which takes up the weight of the transport unit (3) on the running section (4, 5). The conveying apparatus (1) includes at least one drive roller (20) which interacts with the running section (4, 5) of the transport unit (3) for a rolling movement and subjects the transport unit (3) to a force (FK) for movement along the support (6, 8). The drive roller (20) is operatively connected to a force-generating device (44) for providing a press-on force (FP) pressing the drive roller (20) against the running section (4, 5) of the transport unit (3).
US08496098B1
A manual seat height adjuster mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a freewheel brake mechanism having a rotatable output pinion to engage and rotate an adjustment component of the seat to adjust a height of the seat and a locking mechanism selectively engagable and disengageable with the freewheel brake mechanism to allow the height of the seat to be adjusted and to prevent the height of the seat from moving once the height has been adjusted.
US08496091B2
An elevator car layout information editing system 1000 includes a riding car display device 300 and a car layout information editing device 400. The riding car display device 300 stores at least one piece of car layout information showing planar layout of plural elevator cars at a transverse section of a building, displays the above car layout information, and as well carries out an editing process of the displayed car layout information according to an edition instructing signal to instruct the editing process of the above car layout information. The car layout information editing device 400 receives an editing operation for the above car layout information displayed by the riding car display device 300, generates the edition instructing signal to instruct the editing process corresponding to the received editing operation, and sends the generated edition instructing signal to the display device.
US08496078B2
A semi-autonomous vehicle includes a chassis having a repository on a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system, a steering system, a braking system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system of the semi-autonomous vehicle is operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system and signally connected to the extra-vehicle sensory system and the extra-vehicle communications system. A non-load-bearing coupling mechanism of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes a connector, a flexible mechanical link element and a communications link.
US08496072B2
A drop hammer for driving a pile comprising a ram member supported within a housing chamber for movement relative to the housing member between the lower position and the upper position and a lifting system for moving the ram member from the lower position to the upper position. When the lifting system raises the ram member above a preload position, ambient air substantially freely flows into and out of the housing chamber through a vent port. When the ram member falls below the preload position, fluid is prevented from flowing through the vent port such that ambient air within a preload chamber portion of the housing chamber compresses to create a preload force that is transmitted to the pile. When the ram member moves into the lower position, an impact force generated by the ram member is transmitted to the pile.
US08496069B2
A device for cultivating soil or brushing debris includes a frame supporting a transmission and a motor. The transmission defines a housing. A drive shaft, which is at least partially surrounded by the housing, is driven by the motor. The drive shaft is a worm having a first set of threads on an exterior surface thereof and a second set of threads on the exterior surface thereof. The first set of threads are spaced-apart from and angled with respect to the second set of threads. A first gear, a second gear, and a third gear are all supported at least partially within the housing. External teeth of the second gear are in constant engagement with external teeth of both the first and third gears. A shaft is fixedly attached to the second gear and an assembly is removable attached to the shaft.
US08496065B2
A release assembly (200) for releasing a portion of a tool string in a wellbore. The release assembly (200) includes an outer housing (202) having a fishing receptacle (206) disposed therein. The fishing receptacle (206) includes a fishing neck (208). A support assembly (214) is disposed within the housing (202). The support assembly (214) has a first position wherein the support assembly (214) engages the fishing neck (208) to prevent separation of the fishing receptacle (206) from the housing (202) and a second position wherein the support assembly (214) is disengaged from the fishing neck (208) no longer preventing separation of the fishing receptacle (206) from the housing (202). An actuator (224), disposed within the housing (202), maintains the support assembly (214) in the first position until actuation thereof allows the support assembly (214) to shift to the second position.
US08496063B2
A method and device for recovering drilling fluid used in connection with the provision of a subsea well, in which the drilling fluid is circulated from a vessel on a sea surface via a drill string and out through a drill bit into an annulus which is defined by a borehole and the drill string. The device includes a filtering device which is connected, in respect of fluid, to an annulus and which is arranged to contain drill cuttings and drilling fluid. A fluid line extends from a portion of the filtering device to the vessel, the fluid line being arranged to carry drilling fluid which has been separated from the drill cuttings back to the vessel.
US08496047B2
A heat dissipating apparatus includes a thermal conducting base and heat pipes connected to the thermal conducting base. Each heat pipe includes a heated section and a heat dissipating section. The portion connected to the thermal conducting base is the heated section, and the heat dissipating section is extended outward from the thermal conducting base. In the heat pipes, at least one heat dissipating section of the heat pipe is extended outward from a lateral side of the thermal conducting base, and the heat dissipating section of the heat pipe is situated at a position higher than the heated section, and fins are disposed on the heat dissipating section of the heat pipe. Therefore, the heat pipe guides the heat absorbed by thermal conducting base to a lateral side to dissipate heat from a nearby heat source.
US08496046B2
Disclosed is a method for producing alloy ingot including: a step of: charging alloy starting material into a cold crucible in a cold-crucible induction melter, and forming melt pool of the alloy starting material by induction heating in inert gas atmosphere; a step of continuing the induction heating and adding first refining agent to the melt pool, and then reducing the content of at least phosphorus from among impurity elements present in the melt pool; and a step of forming alloy ingot by solidifying the melt, the phosphorus content of which has been reduced. The first refining agent is mixture of metallic Ca and flux, where the flux contains CaF2 and at least one of CaO and CaCl2. The weight proportion of the sum of CaO and CaCl2 with respect to CaF2 ranges from 5 to 30 wt % and the weight proportion of metallic Ca with respect to the melt pool is 0.4 wt % or greater.
US08496039B1
A portable operational privacy pressed on glass-cover blind for doors with oval shape glass and windows that can be mounted to any door or window by means of releasable fasteners mounted on the back side of the privacy screen. The blind-slats can be oriented in either a horizontal or vertical position having the operating-rod perpendicularly mounted to the blind-slats. Additionally, the present invention provides for a privacy screen having a frame with a plurality of fabric slats extending longitudinally across the privacy screen frame without the need of tools, drilling, holes, nails, etc.
US08496038B2
The present invention provides at least one anti-sway trolley assembly used in conjunction with either a single sided partition set or sandwiched between first and second partition side in a double sided partition set. The anti-sway trolley assembly comprises a floating rod affixed at a first end to a trolley. Affixed at a rod second end is a floor contact member which provides frictional resistance to lateral displacement of the door. Each anti-sway trolley assembly rides in a chain guide and is affixed to a partition hinge rod. In this manner, a floor channel is not required to achieve resistance to lateral displacement forces.
US08496030B2
A hydraulic accumulator, especially a pulsation damper, comprises a metal bellows (19) that has a terminal element (35) which can be displaced along the wall of a housing (1) at least on one bellows end (31) during expansion and compression of the bellows (19), a guiding means (47) being interposed between the terminal element and the housing. Said guiding means comprises, on at least one peripheral zone of the terminal element (35), on its outer periphery, first annular sections (51) that are radially spaced apart from the wall of the housing (1) and that are separated from each other by second annular sections (53) and radially project over the first annular sections (51).
US08496028B2
A faucet including a faucet head, a body and a magnetic coupling releasably coupling the faucet head to the faucet body.
US08496017B2
A walking stick has a shaft and a hand guard at one end of the shaft, the hand guard being detachedly secured to the shaft so that it can be removed, inverted, and reattached. The hand guard has a yoke shape with two arms with spaced apart ends for receiving an elastic band therebetween. The hand guard is positionable with the arms of the yoke extending away from the shaft so as to comprise a slingshot.
US08496009B2
A dual arch dental appliance including a body which contains a pair of impact absorbing members located in molar regions of the arches. The impact absorbing members are selected from plastic material that exhibits high impact absorption coupled with low resilience or rebound. The result is an appliance which transfers minimal shock to the wearer. The appliance preferably further includes a bumper for providing enhanced impact protection to all of the user's upper and lower teeth. An airway opening is preferably provided to facilitate breathing when the appliance is clenched between the teeth. A post may be provided for structural reinforcement of the airway opening and, optionally, for receiving a tether for fastening the device to a helmet.
US08496000B2
A snorkel adapter apparatus is disclosed. The snorkel adapter apparatus includes a snorkel tube, a float, a mouthpiece, and a single pivot point. These pieces combined together create a snorkel breathing apparatus that allows the user to submerge the snorkel in water and prevent water from entering the snorkel tube and mouthpiece. When the snorkel is submerged in water, the float rotates around a coupler attached to the pivot attachment point and closes the open end of the snorkel tube. The buoyancy of the float in the water causes it to rotate and seal the snorkel tube closed.
US08495993B2
An engine assembly includes an engine structure, an air intake assembly and a positive crankcase ventilation system. The engine structure defines an intake port and a crankcase. Furthermore, the air intake assembly is in communication with the intake port. The positive crankcase ventilation system includes a fresh air line, a housing and a foul air line. The fresh air line is in communication with the air intake assembly and the crankcase. The housing defines an air inlet and an air outlet with the air inlet being in communication with the crankcase and partially defined by a wall extending into an inner volume of the housing. An oil separation mechanism may be located in the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet. The foul air line is in communication with the air intake assembly and the air outlet.
US08495990B1
A pre-injection fuel atomization system for a combustion engine that reduces droplet size of incoming fuel at air intake, creating an aerosol that is injected by fuel injectors into the combustion chambers. The system uses a vibrating crystal in a transducer, the vibrations atomizing the fuel into an aerosol. The droplet size is reduced to around 0.1 microns, providing more surface area available for fast surface combustion. The fuel droplets are maintained in a stoichiometric ratio to oxygen in the air so that burning is complete and clean.
US08495984B2
An engine control system for a vehicle includes a variable displacement module that deactivates N of M cylinders of an engine during a fuel management mode. N is an integer and M is an integer greater than 1. A spark control module generates a spark timing signal for the N cylinders based on a pre-dwell time and a fuel management dwell modifier during the fuel management mode. The spark control module reduces dwell time of the N cylinders during the fuel management mode based on the fuel management dwell modifier.
US08495977B2
The invention comprises a cylinder block wherein vertical reciprocation of a piston is transmitted to a connecting rod that rotates a crank shaft to generate torque. A cylinder head is joined to the top of the cylinder block, whereof one side is connected to a primary intake and exhaust manifold which is opened and shut by a primary intake and exhaust valve and the other side is connected to a secondary intake and exhaust manifold which is opened and shut by a secondary intake and exhaust valve. A primary cam shaft drives the primary intake and exhaust valve. A secondary cam shaft drives the secondary intake and exhaust valve. A tertiary cam shaft is placed on the upper side of the cylinder head and rotates to interlock with the rotation of the secondary cam shaft. Therefore, intake and exhaust performance of a four-stroke internal combustion engine is improved.
US08495961B2
An improved shipping system includes a base deck section. The system further includes an upper-tier deck section, that moves between a position atop the base deck section through a variety of positions, including positions that put the upper section out of the way of loading and unloading any load on the base deck section. Cartons may be atop both the base deck section and the upper-tier deck section, for shipments, with the upper-tier deck section in the raised configuration. When emptied, the shipping system may be returned with its upper-tier deck section moved down to a position atop the base deck section, and the shipping system stacked upon a similar improved shipping system. Shipping efficiency is increased as much as twenty percent and perhaps more. All components are steel, and may also be plastic, wood and the like.
US08495958B2
In a printer for corrugated cardboard sheets and a box making machine for corrugated cardboard sheets, a control device that controls an operation of an air cylinder is provided such that an ink supply roll is moved toward or away from a printing cylinder relative to an intermediate position of a gap between ends of a printing plate attached on a surface of a printing cylinder. With this configuration, ink of an ink supply roll is appropriately transferred to the printing plate, an ink film on the printing plate is uniformized, and then printing precision is enhanced.
US08495955B1
A tree limb bundling tool includes a cylindrical base container having a bottom surface, a continuous, upstanding outer wall and an open top in communication with an interior chamber. A pair of diametrically-opposed notches extend from the open top to an intermediate portion of the wall. The device also includes a compactor having a circular upper surface with a cylindrical shroud depending therefrom. The shroud likewise includes a pair of opposing notches extending from an intermediate portion to a lower edge. Accordingly, a worker compiles limbs and places them within the notches on the base container. The compactor is inserted into the container with the shroud notches substantially aligned with the base container notches. The worker then either sits or kneels on the upper surface of the compactor at which time a tie or string is wrapped about each end of the compressed limbs.
US08495932B2
A tool for removing lug nuts contains a supporting post including an actuating portion and two guiding portions extending outward from two sides of the actuating portion respectively; a screw rod including a head end and a circular extension extending outward from the head end, wherein an outer diameter of the head end is more than that of the circular extension, the circular extension includes a first and a second thread sections; two retaining arm, each including a hole to insert the guiding portion, an aperture arranged on a top end thereof to communicate with the hole, and an orifice secured thereon below the hexagonal hole and having a third and a fourth thread sections to screw with the first and the second thread sections respectively so that after the screw rod is rotated, the retaining arms are driven to close to each other or leave away from each other.
US08495930B2
A power tong device (1) for handling of a threaded pipe connection wherein the power tong device (1) comprises a frame (6) having a power tong (10) and a holding tong (8) and also a drive gear (12) for the power tong (10), and wherein the power tong (10) is displaceable relative to the holding tong (8) along its rotational axis, as the power tong (10) is radially displaceable relative to the holding tong (8), and wherein the power tong (10) is connected to the drive gear (12) by means of a radially displaceable coupling (26, 54).
US08495919B1
A test apparatus and method for determining at least one characteristic of a test specimen. An exemplary test specimen is a shape memory metal alloy and an exemplary characteristic is a transformation temperature of the shape memory metal alloy. The test apparatus may include a chiller unit including a tank containing a chilling medium, such as isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol, which holds a removable fixture tray that can accommodate up to ten specimens, or more. The fixture tray holds the test specimens in an initial deformed condition, and the cooling medium may be gradually heated to induce transformation of the specimens. The test apparatus may include a vision-based optical system which includes a camera that tracks the specimens within its field of view.
US08495918B2
Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a rigid structure and a beam structure having an outer portion in contact with the rigid structure and an inner portion. The beam structure includes one or more beams extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure and a cantilevered portion extending from the inner portion to inhibit displacement of the inner portion toward the rigid structure. Each beam has a sensing element disposed thereon.
US08495905B2
A gas concentration detection device includes: a first sensor having a resistance layer exposed to a gas, and an electrode covered by the resistance layer, the first sensor producing an output according to a gas component ratio on the electrode surface; and a second sensor having a pump cell that pumps oxygen into a gas chamber that contains part of the gas or discharges oxygen out of the gas chamber, and a sensor cell that produces an output according to a gas component ratio in the gas within the gas chamber, the second sensor producing an output based on the pump cell current when the pump cell is operated such that the output of the sensor cell is a predetermined value; and a hydrogen concentration detection unit that detects a hydrogen concentration in the gas based on an output difference between the first sensor output and the second sensor output.
US08495903B1
A method and apparatus for calibrating a tool. A moveable blade connected to the tool may be deflected towards an inward position with respect to the tool. A force applied to the moveable blade may be detected by a biasing mechanism in the tool using a sensor when the moveable blade is in the inward position with respect to the tool. The biasing mechanism in the tool may be adjusted if the force is not a desired force.
US08495899B2
An electromechanical lock comprises a housing, a rectilinear locking lever slidable within the housing, a blocking element positioned adjacent the locking lever that is movable between a first position that engages with the locking lever and a second position that disengages with the locking lever, and an actuating device operable to control movement of the blocking element between the first and second positions.
US08495898B2
A cam lock for cabinets, drawers, drug cabinets, credenzas, sliding doors, lockers, mail boxes and other door type applications is compact in size, fits an existing cam lock opening and provides electronic access via a keypad or other electronic access. Using batteries, such as AAA size batteries or smaller, the lock has electronics that release a lock turn knob or handle when the correct code is entered. Preferably a set of electronic contacts is included at an accessible position on the lock housing to allow both master access and power jumping with a common manager's implement, for situations of lost codes and/or battery failure. In a particular embodiment the lock is long, narrow and low in profile so as to fit on the margin of a steel or wood file cabinet, compatible with the cam lock opening already provided.
US08495894B2
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular, an evaporator (1), in particular for a motor vehicle air-conditioner, with a number of closely arranged refrigerant tubes and at least one cold reservoir (4), in which a refrigerant medium is provided. The evaporator (1) comprises two parallel regions (1′ and 1″) running across the total width, the first region (V) corresponding to a conventional evaporator in design, the cold reservoir (4) being arranged in a separate second region (1″), through which at least a partial flow of refrigerant can flow which also flows through at least a part of the first region (1′) and the first and the second region are connected to each other by at least one overflow opening (13).
US08495893B2
A hybrid apparatus for cooling water and air while heating water and storing heated water includes a refrigeration system, a first water tank, a water inlet and heat transfer unit for transferring heat from the refrigeration system into a portion of the water from the water inlet. The apparatus also has a conduit for delivering heated water to a first insulated water tank and to a tap for drawing off heated water. In addition, the cooler has a water cooling system and a conduit for cooling a portion of the water from the water inlet and delivering the cooled water to a second water tank. A conduit is also provided for drawing water from the second water tank to a tap of cold water. Further, the cooler includes an air cooler that has a coil and a water pump for pumping cooled water through the coil plus a fan for blowing air across the coil to thereby cool the air.
US08495892B2
Frozen aerated products are produced by providing two forming elements, providing at least one open cavity on a surface of each forming element, providing filling means for filling said cavities with a frozen aerated material at a temperature higher than the temperature of the forming elements, filling two cavities, one on each forming element, with a frozen aerated material having an overrun of between 10% and 130%, allowing the frozen aerated material to expand outside its cavity and moving the two cavities opposite one another so that the frozen aerated material in each cavity is pressed against the frozen aerated material in the other cavity. A stick is placed between the two filled cavities before the frozen aerated material in each cavity is pressed against the frozen aerated material in the other cavity.
US08495890B2
A cooling member for a variable speed drive is disclosed. The cooling member includes including at least two channels, each channel including at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a first passageway configured to provide fluid to the at least two channels through the at least one inlet of each channel, a second passageway configured to receive fluid from the at least one outlet of each channel the at least two channels, and a connector to connect the cooling member to a second cooling member.
US08495884B2
A thermoelectric system includes a first thermoelectric element including a first plurality of segments in electrical communication with one another. The thermoelectric system further includes a second thermoelectric element including a second plurality of segments in electrical communication with one another. The thermoelectric system further includes a heat transfer device including at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is sandwiched between the first thermoelectric element and the second thermoelectric element. The second portion projects away from the first portion and configured to be in thermal communication with a working medium.
US08495883B2
A turbine engine assembly for a generator including a turbine engine having a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. An air bleed line is in communication with the combustor section for receiving combustor shell air from the combustor section and conveying the combustor shell air as bleed air to a plurality of stages of the turbine section. Bleed air is controlled to flow through the air bleed line when an operating load of the turbine engine assembly is less than a base load of the engine to bypass air exiting the compressor section around a combustor in the combustor section and effect a flow of high pressure combustor shell air to the stages of the turbine section.
US08495881B2
A system comprises a turbine combustor cap. The turbine combustor cap includes a plurality of segments. Each segment of the plurality of segments has edges abutting at least two fuel nozzle receptacles. Moreover, each segment of the plurality of segments does not completely surrounding any one fuel nozzle receptacle.
US08495876B2
The present invention relates to a two-stage supercharging system for an internal-combustion engine (10) comprising at least one cylinder (12) with an intake distributor (16) and an exhaust manifold (18), as well as a recirculation line (78) for recycling the exhaust gas to the intake of said engine, said system comprising a high-pressure supercharging stage (22) with a turbocharger including an expansion turbine (26) connected to a compressor (30) and a low-pressure supercharging stage (24) with a turbocharger including an expansion turbine (28) connected to a compressor (32), and exhaust gas purification means arranged between exhaust outlet (40) and turbine (26) of the high-pressure turbocharger.According to the invention, the system comprises an exhaust gas bypass branch (70) going from outlet (40) of the engine exhaust and ending at turbine (28) of low-pressure turbocharger (24).
US08495871B2
A hydraulic system includes an engine driven adjustable hydraulic pump which supplies fluid to a hydraulic consumer, and an electronic control unit. The adjustable pump includes flow controller for controlling a pressure difference between the consumer and the adjustable pump to a pre-determined control pressure difference. The flow controller includes an actuator controlled by the control unit, through which the pressure difference can be controlled. The electronic control unit receives an engine speed signal and controls the actuator to control the pressure difference, in order to make power delivery of the adjustable pump conform to the operating conditions of a vehicle.
US08495860B2
An engine system having a reductant delivery and storage system is described. In one example, a physical condition associated with a reductant storage device is correlated with a characteristic of a fluid stored in the reductant storage device to determine the availability and make-up of the stored fluid. In response, engine operation may be adjusted.
US08495852B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for insulating a component of a home or building. An insulated component may include a generally planar surface and a frame positioned atop one side of the generally planar surface. The frame may include a plurality of outer studs coupled together to form an outer periphery and inner studs that divide the frame into one or more sections. One or more of the sections may include a cavity or hollow space. The insulated component may also include a first layer of insulation within one or more of the cavities. The first layer of insulation may include a pour insulation material that transitions from a liquid state or phase to a solid state or phase.
US08495847B2
An improved roof panel system used on a building that exhibits, upon seaming, a substantially even distribution on both sides of such a seam is provided. Such a system thus permits not only increased resistance to wind uplift forces but also a more reliable roof in terms of load-bearing and load-carrying than typical single seamed roof panel systems. Particularly, the novel roof panel includes a female flange end portion with an extended “T” shape within its periphery and a male flange end portion with its own complementary “T” configuration to fit within the female flange. Such an extended “T” shape within the female flange end portion includes an extra extension that permits, upon engagement with the male flange end portion, two seams on either side of the engagement line of the two end portions of the roof panels. In such a manner, the two seams can also be compressed to become parallel with engagement line, or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roof line itself. A method of constructing a roof with such a roof panel system, as well as the individual roof panels themselves, and the finished roof exhibiting such a roof panel system are all encompassed within this invention.
US08495842B2
A door jamb which is flush with the wallboard. Also a door jamb which provides a pocket into which wallboard fits. The preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a central web having a first surface a second surface, a first side and a second side, with a first right triangular section at the first side and a second right triangular section at the second side. The adjacent leg of the first right triangular section is in line with the second surface and the opposite leg of the first right triangular section projects away from the first surface. Further the adjacent leg of the second right triangular section is in line with the first surface and the opposite leg of the second right triangular section projects away from the second surface.
US08495833B2
A device for decorative purposes, for the vertical cultivation of plants, includes: i) a cultivation support containing a cultivation substrate, and having holes on the front face thereof for the opening out of the above-ground part of the plants, ii) a rigid frame extending in a substantially vertical plane, defining a window in the front face of the cultivation support, and iii) a water reservoir, the cultivation support being placed over the water reservoir, and including at least one hydrophilic wick extending from the cultivation substrate to the water reservoir tank. The cultivation support is hydrated by a continuous supply of water by one or more hydrophilic wicks immersed in the reservoir. It may include an internal framework to give it rigidity and to prevent settling of the substrate in the lower part of the support. A method for obtaining such a plant box is also claimed.
US08495824B2
The invention refers to a distributor plate (12) for fluidized bed equipment (9) with openings (3) and deflector strips (1) arranged directly above them. It is characterised by the deflection strips (1) having an oblong shape, being mounted longitudinally in the fluidized bed equipment (9), in parallel to the main flow direction (19) of the product above the openings (3) in the base plate (2), and having spacers (6) that form an outflow cross-section around the periphery of the deflection strip (1) for the fluidizing gas, where the base plate openings (3) can be designed advantageously with an oblong cross-section. This ensures good fluidization of the material, while also conveying it.
US08495819B2
A linear motion mechanism comprises a second rotating shaft having an external thread portion 48a at least at a part of an area in a length direction and an adjusting pin 40 having an opening 60 through which the external thread portion 48a passes. The opening 60 of the adjusting pin 40 has a cross-sectional shape that enables the adjusting pin 40 to move in a radial direction of the second rotating shaft. An inner thread part 62 that engages with and disengages from the external thread portion 48a of the second rotating shaft depending on a position of the adjusting pin 40 is formed on an inner surface of the opening 60. A spring 56 capable of retaining a state in which the external thread portion 48a and the inner thread part 62 engage with each other is arranged on the adjusting pin 40.
US08495817B2
A transmission assembly for a string trimmer is disclosed. The transmission assembly comprises a liner that includes a sleeve. The sleeve includes an inner surface that defines a passageway for a rotatable core, and the sleeve further includes an outer surface. The liner further includes a plurality of legs that project from the outer surface, and a retainer projection disposed at a position axially adjacent to the plurality of legs. The transmission assembly further comprises a retainer that is held to the liner by the retainer projection. The retainer is configured to axially and radially restrain the liner relative to an outer down-tube.
US08495813B1
A method of making an energy-assisted magnetic recording apparatus is provided. The method comprises the step of aligning a first wafer including a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) with a second wafer including a plurality of magnetic recording heads, such that an emitting region of each of the plurality of VCSELs is disposed over a light redirecting structure of a corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic recording heads. The method further comprises the step of bonding the first wafer to the second wafer.
US08495812B2
A method of manufacturing a highly reliable magnetic head slider, with a simplified manufacturing process which provides reduction in manufacturing time and costs, is provided. The manufacturing method includes a multi-layer forming step for forming a magnetic head section in a multi-layered manner, the magnetic head section including a read element and/or a write element and a magnetic shield for magnetically shielding the read element and/or the write element, and the magnetic head slider is manufactured by being cut off from a multi-layered body having the magnetic head section. The manufacturing method further includes, after the multi-layer forming step, a shield end removing step for removing end portions in a width direction of the magnetic shield located on the flying surface side of the magnetic head slider.
US08495811B2
A bench for the support and manufacturing of parts with complex geometry includes a support base on which one or more mobile units of support/manufacturing move. The mobile units of support/manufacturing can move and relocate independently from other ones on the surface of the support base. The mobile units of support/manufacturing include at least two adhesion feet configured to connect to anchoring elements distributed on the surface of the support base. The anchoring points are distributed on the surface of the support base with a predefined distribution according to a geometry, such that the distance between any anchoring point, and the corresponding anchoring element, from any other said anchoring point, and the corresponding anchoring organ, in the immediate vicinity of the anchoring point and the corresponding anchoring organ, is constant and equal to the radius of a predefined circle.
US08495802B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip including: a flange to be abutting a panel having an attaching hole; and a leg portion to be inserted into the attaching hole. The leg portion includes: an engaging part; and a guide part connected thereto. The guide part include: a distal-end tapered part formed to be gradually reduced in an outer diameter toward an inserting direction of the leg portion; a base-end reversely tapered part formed to be gradually reduced in an outer diameter toward the opposite direction; and a diameter enlarged part formed therebetween to have an outer diameter largest among the guide part. The largest outer diameter of the diameter enlarged part is larger than that of a distal end part of the engaging part.
US08495801B2
A clamping device includes a holding member including a space for allowing an item to be disposed therein, and a tightening mechanism operable to make the holding member clamp the item in the holding member. The space is varied in size depending upon the external diameter of the clamped item. Additionally, the tightening mechanism is provided for enabling a satisfactory securing condition for any size of items.
US08495791B2
Provided is a clip for fixing a mat on a carpet of a vehicle, the clip including: a lower plate disposed on a bottom surface of the carpet, and includes an insert groove on a front portion; an upper plate disposed on a top surface of the carpet, includes a hook coupled to the inserted groove in the front portion, and includes a projection at a top to which the mat is inserted; a pillar penetrating through a hole of the carpet, and connects a rear portion of the lower plate and a rear portion of the upper plate in upward and downward; a first hook formed on a bottom surface of the rear portion of the upper plate corresponding to an inner side of a front portion of the pillar; and a second hook formed on a top surface of the rear portion of the lower plate corresponding to the inner side of the front portion of the pillar, and hooked to the first hook through the hole, when the lower plate moves upward toward the upper plate based on the pillar. According to the clip, a rear portion of the clip is coupled firstly on the carpet by combining the first and second hooks, and then a front portion of the clip is coupled secondly on the carpet by combining the hook and the insert groove. Thus, fixability of the clip to the carpet is reinforced, and movement of the mat is effectively prevented.
US08495785B2
/A cleaning tool including a first support member, an absorbent member disposed below the first support member; and a plurality of brush bristles which extend into the absorbent member. Further embodiments of the present invention provide a cleaning tool including a first support member and a second support member, an absorbent member disposed below the second support member, an elastic compressible substrate sandwiched between the first support member and the second support member; a plurality of brush bristles which extend into the absorbent member; and an adjusting mechanism for varying the position of the second support member relative to the first support member, such that the cleaning tips of the brush bristles can be inside, outside or coincident with the absorbent member.
US08495781B2
A cleaning device for cleaning a floor includes a base body, a rotatable roller brush disposed on the base body, a dirt container disposed on the base body, a liquid container configured to receive a cleaning liquid disposed on the base body; and a sponge configured to receive a soiled cleaning liquid disposed on the base body.
US08495777B1
A diver's rescue knife including a handle with a threaded stud at the butt end, a hammer screwed onto the stud and mounting a hard pin with a sharp point.
US08495768B2
A mechanism (100) composed of three primary assembled components, a housing assembly (10), a cable assembly (50), and a lift arm assembly (70) that work in unison to lift a toilet seat (102) via the application of pressure to a foot pedal (32).
US08495767B2
A hazardous materials protective garment may use a two-stage evaporative cooling process to ease heat strain on the wearer of the garment. The garment may include an impermeable inner layer and a wicking outer layer. One or more reservoirs may be disposed interior to the inner layer for collecting condensed and/or unevaporated sweat. One or more pumps may move the sweat to the exterior of the impermeable layer for distribution in the wicking layer and evaporation from the garment.
US08499354B1
An attempted exploit of a vulnerability of an application executed by a computer is detected. The exploit attempts to call an application programming interface (API) and abuse application data through a malicious parameter of the call. The API of the application is hooked and monitored for a call made to the hooked API. A parameter of the call is analyzed to determine whether the parameter has a malicious characteristic indicating an attempt to use data within an address space of the application to execute malicious software. A remediation action is taken responsive to determining that the parameter has a malicious characteristic.
US08499349B1
A monitor agent monitors every write request for files that are capable of being patched (executable files). Once a write request is requested for one of these files, the agent creates a copy of the file and also saves the original file version number. If the program that is requesting the write access has not been digitally signed then that program is flagged as being suspicious. The write request is allowed to proceed and the file is modified by the requesting program. After the modification, if the file version number is not higher then the write is flagged as being suspicious. If both the requesting program has been flagged as suspicious and the file version number has been flagged as suspicious, then the requesting program is labeled as being malware. The monitor agent restores the modified file using the original copy. If either the requesting program is flagged as suspicious or the file version number is flagged as suspicious, then the requesting program is labeled as being suspicious.
US08499344B2
The present invention relates to a communications system (1) for making multimedia calls. The system comprises two multimedia terminals (10,12) and communication means for making a multimedia call over a shared communications network (20), including a firewall (26) through which the multimedia call must pass, and which restricts certain types of communication. Each terminal (10,12) has a number of logical communication ports for the multimedia call, including at least one dynamically assigned port. In the course of setting up the multimedia call, at least one of the terminals (10,12) is adapted to send a request to the other of the terminals to open up one or more of the dynamic ports in the other terminal. The system includes a proxy server (40) between the terminals (10,12) that acts for each terminal as a proxy for the other terminal during the course of the call. The proxy server (40) has logical communication ports for communication with the terminals including one or more pre-assigned ports. The firewall (26) is configured not to restrict communication between one or both terminals (10,12) and the pre-assigned port(s) of the proxy server (40). The proxy server (40) is configured to receive and forward the request(s) to open up said dynamic port(s) via one of its pre-assigned ports.
US08499343B2
An exemplary system includes 1) at least one computing device within a first computing subsystem associated with a hosted media content service, the at least one computing device configured to authenticate a user to the hosted media content service and provide at least one encrypted token to a user device associated with the user, and 2) at least one other computing device within a second computing subsystem associated with the hosted media content service, the at least one other computing device configured to store hosted media content associated with the hosted media content service, receive the at least one encrypted token from the user device, validate the at least one encrypted token, and perform, in response to the validation, at least one action on media content as part of the hosted media content service. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08499332B2
An electronic card is disclosed including circuits of the protected zone include at least one control circuit. The electronic card further includes another zone defining a non-protected environment; the circuits of this zone do not need to comply with the distance constraint. The communication between the circuits of the protected zone and the non-protected environment is carried out by a communication circuit allowing or not allowing the electrical signals to pass. The passage of the electrical signals in the communication circuit is conditioned by an electrical control signal sent by the control circuit. Also disclosed is a method allowing the control circuit to be blocked if the electrical status of the signal controlling the passage of the signals does not correspond to the status imposed by the control circuit.
US08499329B2
A power saving device is described that is disposed in use between a further device and a mains power supply for supplying power to the further device. The power saving device includes: a communications channel input connected in operation to a communications channel output of the further device. The communications channel input is operable to receive control instructions from the further device. The power saving device also includes: a switch for disconnecting the further device from the mains power supply in response to the control instructions received from the further device; and an internal power source operable to provide power to the power saving device.
US08499325B2
A multiplexed transport interface (MTSIF) may be utilized during communication between a demodulation module and a video processing system-on-chip (SoC). The MTSIF may enable concurrent demodulation of a plurality of input modulated video streams, via a plurality of demodulator chips within the demodulation module, by multiplexing data generated by the demodulator chips via the MTSIF during communication between the demodulator module and the video processing SoC. The MTSIF may also be utilized for communicating control signals, which may be used in controlling and/or managing operations of the demodulation module, the video processing SoC, and/or the MTSIF. Communication via the MTSIF may be synchronized. Packets communicated via the MTSIF may be timestamped. Timestamp counters may be used in the demodulation module and the video processing SoC to generate and/or track timestamps in communicated packets. The timestamp counter may be synchronized, using control signals communicated via the MTSIF.
US08499322B2
The present invention discloses a method, a system and an apparatus for hiding programs. With the technology solution, which involves obtaining a sub-EPG identifier, receiving a total EPG, which contains sub-EPG identifiers and sub-EPGs each of which corresponds to one of the sub-EPG identifiers and which is transmitted by a central front end, searching the received total EPG for a sub-EPG corresponding to the obtained sub-EPG identifier and hiding programs based on the found sub-EPG. With technology solution, the program hiding is realized, and the regional program hiding and the programs hiding from particular subscribers may be realized.
US08499316B2
According to one aspect, a portable communication device records a program being presented by a media presenting apparatus as media data, generates a query regarding a media channel and a program on that channel, which query includes said media data and sends said query to a system for determining a program on a media channel operated by a program determination service provider. The system receives the query, compares the query media data with data of a number of sets of reference media data related to at least one reception environment, where each set corresponds to a broadcast media channel, identifies the media channel, identifies a program in the media channel through using an electronic program guide, and sends data identifying the channel and the program to the portable communication device.
US08499314B2
Disclosed herein is a disc loading device applied to small-sized and slim type disc players. The disc loading device may include a first guide lever, a second guide lever, a trigger lever, a chucking unit, a slider, and a connecting unit. The connecting unit may be selectively operatively connected to the second guide lever, upon loading a first disc or a second disc, to change a timing at which a rotational force of the trigger lever may be transmitted to the slider.
US08499311B2
A system and method for integrating a diverse set of web/remote user interface technologies into one runtime architecture using a Web container extension is described. This integration simplifies execution, cross-usage, and technology integration between different user interface technologies and other application server offerings.
US08499304B2
In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can perform displaying, on a handheld device, multiple icons associated with multiple segments; receiving first user input indicating a first segment of the multiple segments; executing a first virtual machine associated with the first segment on the handheld device; executing a first application on the first virtual machine; receiving second user input indicating a second segment of the multiple segments; executing a second virtual machine associated with the second segment on the handheld device; and executing a second application on the second virtual machine. In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can further perform before executing the second virtual machine, receiving authentication information and determining that the user is authenticated. In one or more embodiments, the authentication information can include at least one of a user name, a password, and/or biometric information.
US08499300B2
System and methods for task management of rule based tasks. The task management system of the invention includes various modules that work together to accomplish task monitoring, scheduling, prioritization, compliance and reporting. A task management module facilitates the development of task compliance by scheduling and prioritizing tasks based on the needs of the enterprise. The tasks are provided in task modules that set out specific steps for completing the tasks. A common database is operatively connected to the task management module, task module and other modules to maintain the rules and policies, the tasks to be completed and the responses to those tasks.
US08499298B2
A multiprocessing transaction recovery manager, operable with a transactional application manager and a resource manager, comprises a threadsafety indicator for receiving and storing positive and non-positive threadsafety data of at least one transactional component managed by one of the transactional application manager and the resource manager; a commit protocol component for performing commit processing for the at least one transactional component; and a thread selector responsive to positive threadsafety data for selecting a single thread for the commit processing to be performed by the commit protocol component. The thread selector is further operable to select plural threads for the commit processing to be performed by the commit protocol component responsive to non-positive threadsafety data.
US08499283B2
Systems and methods for protecting client computers are described. One exemplary system includes an initial filter that gathers scripting-language-data from webpage data and a signature database of signatures of known scripting-language-data exploits. In addition, a parser generates a parse tree from the scripting-language-data, and a normalization and signature matching component reduces a complexity of the parse tree, generates a representation of at least a portion of a structure of the parse tree, and prevents the scripting-language-data from reaching an intended recipient if the representation matches one of the signatures of known scripting-language-data exploits.
US08499281B2
A technique is disclosed for identifying impact of database changes on an application. Given a proposed database change, affected source code is identified that is affected by the proposed database change. References to the affected source code are created and organized into a hierarchy. A user can ascertain the extent of the impact by viewing the hierarchy and by using the hierarchy to access and view the affected source code in a visually distinct manner.
US08499277B2
A shared-label extracting unit extracts a shared label to be associated with a device corresponding to a memory shared by a plurality of control devices. A shared-label write/read information generating unit identifies a control device writing data and a control device reading data with respect to the shared label by referring to a control program, and generates shared-label write/read information. A device batch assigning/associating unit sorts shared labels using the shared-label write/read information, and associates the shared label with an address of the device for each sort based on a result of determining a configuration of the control system.
US08499272B2
A semiconductor device includes: first and second circuit cell arrays extending in first direction; first and second power supply lines each extending in first direction and arranged over first circuit cell array, first power supply line being supplied with first power source voltage; third power supply line extending in first direction separately from second power supply line, arranged over second circuit cell array, and supplied with second power source voltage; first transistor coupled between second and third power supply lines; and first circuit arranged on first circuit cell array and operating on first and second power source voltages supplied from first and second power supply lines, respectively.
US08499262B1
An electric design automation (EDA) tool for generating a design of a system on a field programmable gate array. (FPGA) includes a graphical user interface to create a block based schematic. The EDA tool includes a library that includes a parameterizable filter block selectable by a designer to include in the block based schematic to represent a component in the design that filters data. The EDA tool includes a design adjustment unit to automatically modify previously programmed and selected components and wires in the block based schematic without input from the designer upon determining a change made to the parameterizable filter block by the designer.
US08499242B2
An image editing method comprises: a step of acquiring identification information on each of a plurality of operation instruction units for instructing editing of an image, a step of automatically selecting one or more images for editing from a group of images to classify the one or more images into a group of usable images based on the identification information, a step of determining a right to edit reaching contents of processing which each operation instruction unit is authorized to perform against each image in the group of usable images, and a step of performing editing processing on an image to be edited in the group of usable images based upon the determined right to edit according to an editing instruction supplied from each operation instruction unit.
US08499237B2
A novel method of application enabling of a web page at least includes: a) via a World Wide Web browser, connecting to a website targeted for application enabling; b) generating browser-compliant end-user code for the rendering of a web page on an end-user device; c) rendering a web page associated with the website; d) providing the website source code; e) via a graphical user interface (GUI), providing on a rendered web page, locations in the end-user code corresponding to sections or aspects of the rendered web page selected by the user; f) via the GUI, providing application enabling code to be inserted at the locations identified in element e) according to an action chosen by the user corresponding to a third party application to be enabled in the website; g) automatically mapping code locations selected in element e) with corresponding locations of the website code; and h) inserting the code of element f) into the corresponding website source code locations is of element g); wherein the code of element f) enables a third party software application adapted to modify the functionality of the website.
US08499235B2
Presented is a method of posting content to a web site. A user input is obtained on a machine readable paper with a predefined template. Later, an electronic image of the machine readable paper is captured along with the user input. The electronic image of the machine readable paper is decoded to identify the predefined template and the predefined template is searched against a repository to find a web site corresponding to the predefined template of the machine readable paper. A web site based on user input is created or modified depending upon whether a web site corresponding to the predefined template of the machine readable paper is found.
US08499229B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed related to a memory device, such as a flash memory device that includes an array of memory cells. One such method includes detecting values of charges stored in selected memory cells in the memory cell array. The method also includes processing the detected values in accordance with a Viterbi algorithm so as to determine data stored in the selected memory cells. In one embodiment, the flash memory cell array includes word lines and bit lines. Detecting the values of charges includes detecting values of charges stored in a selected row of memory cells by selecting one of the word lines. The Viterbi algorithm provides correct data where inter-signal interference between the cells affects the accuracy of read data. For example, the Viterbi algorithm can decode error correction codes (ECC).
US08499227B2
In one embodiment, an encoder reads a set of data from memory cells to obtain retrieved data influenced by one or more distortion mechanisms as a result of having been stored. A quality metric is generated responsive to the retrieved data that changes in value responsive to differences between the user data and the associated retrieved data. A quality monitor establishes a relationship between a current value of the quality metric and a threshold value and monitors the relationship as being indicative of a degradation of the quality of the retrieved data, and selectively initiates an error response. In another embodiment, a correction value is iterated through a set of values as a quality metric is monitored such that the value of the quality metric which most closely approaches the value of the quality metric immediately subsequent to an initial writing of the data can be selected.
US08499211B1
A system and method are disclosed for the repair of IP multicast sessions. A repair server polls multiple transmit servers to accumulate as many of the packets missing from the multicast session as possible. A network includes a source of multicast packets in a multicast session and a plurality of multicast recipients in that session. A repair server in the network provides the packets it receives to the recipients. The repair server includes a missing packet detector. There is a plurality of retransmit servers in the network buffering portions of the packets they respectively receive during the session. The repair server maintains an ordered list of the retransmit servers that are most likely to have buffered copies of packets missing from the session. When the repair server detects that there are packets missing from the session it has received, it uses the ordered list to sequentially request the missing packets from respective ones of the plurality of retransmit servers.
US08499208B2
The content and order of a predetermined sequence of hard-coded and/or quasi-programmable test patterns may be altered during a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) routine. As such, knowledge gained post design completion may be reflected in the selection and arrangement of available tests to be executed during a BIST routine. In one embodiment, a sequence of hard-coded and/or quasi-programmable tests is executed during a BIST routine by receiving test ordering information for the sequence of tests and executing the sequence of tests in an order indicated by the test ordering information. A corresponding BIST circuit comprises a storage element and a state machine. The storage element is configured to store test ordering information for the sequence of tests. The state machine is configured to execute the sequence of tests in an order indicated by the test ordering information.
US08499207B2
In a memory device, an on-die register is provided that is configured to store a row address as well as a column address of a memory cell that fails a test. Storing the row address frees testing from being limited to activating at one time only rows related to a common redundant segment. Storing the row address also guides repair using segmented redundancy. As an addition or alternative, information may be stored in an anti-fuse bank that is designed to provide access to a redundant cell but has not yet enabled access to that cell. If the information stored in the anti-fuse bank relates to the failure of the redundant cell, such information may be used to avoid repairing with that redundant cell.
US08499205B2
A data reception device that receives scrambled and transmission data as received data and that descrambles and outputs the data after adjusting the timing with the transmitter has a descramble circuit 10 detect timing adjustment data included in a timing adjustment data set that adjusts the timing with the transmitter in the data which the descramble circuit 10 has not descrambled, and comprises an LFSR suspending signal generation circuit 9 that outputs a required number of LFSR suspending signals, after first normal timing adjustment data has been received, at the output timing of data received thereafter so as to simulate a situation as if a desired number of timing adjustment data included in the timing adjustment data set were received.
US08499202B2
A method and system for recovery of a computing environment includes monitoring during a pre-boot phase and a runtime phase of a computing device for selection of a hot key sequence by a user and performing a recovery action in response to the selection of the hot key sequence by the user. The recovery action may be any one of a number of predetermined and/or selectable actions such as restoring system defaults, migrating memory, displaying a menu of options, setting various software flags, restarting or rebooting the computing device, and/or the like.
US08499196B2
A first test script that includes at least one first step for executing a test of a test portal is provided in a computing device. An indication that an event has occurred in response to the test is received in the computing device. A second test script that includes at least one second step for executing the test is generated in the computing device, the at least one second step being at least in part a response to the event.
US08499187B2
Apparatuses, master-slave detect circuits, memories, and methods are disclosed. One such method includes performing a master detect phase during which a memory unit in a memory group is determined to be a master memory unit, determining at each memory unit its location relative to other memory units, and determining at each memory unit its location in the memory group based on a total number of slave memory units and its location relative to other memory units.
US08499186B2
A clock generator is provided. The clock generator includes a crystal oscillator, an inverter coupled to the crystal oscillator in parallel, a first circuit and a second circuit. The crystal oscillator has a first terminal and a second terminal. The inverter generates a first signal and a second signal at the first and second terminals of the crystal oscillator, respectively. The first circuit coupled to the first terminal of the crystal oscillator generates a first clock signal with a constant frequency according to the first signal. The second circuit coupled to the second terminal of the crystal oscillator generates a second clock signal with a variable frequency according to the second signal.
US08499178B2
An information handling system having plural processing modules, such as an information handling system blade chassis having plural information handling system blades, allocates power by determining an actual load sharing power loss associated with plural power supplies and applying the actual load sharing power loss to determine how much power to allocate to the information handling system modules. A chassis manager determines actual load sharing power loss by retrieving power information from plural power supplies. The actual load sharing power loss replaces a worst-case load sharing power loss assumed value to increase the amount power available for allocation to the information handling system modules.
US08499175B2
A semiconductor device includes a first buffer element configured to buffer a first mode signal inputted from the outside of the semiconductor device, and a second buffer element configured to buffer a second mode signal inputted from the outside by being enabled in response to an output signal of the first buffer element.
US08499171B2
A system and method for providing a secure environment for mobile telephones and other devices are disclosed. The system and method may utilize trust zoning, layered memory, and a secure matrix model having, for example, a memory protection module for protecting memory; a secure debug module for ensuring security of the debug module; a secure file system module for protecting the secure file system; and a trusted time source module for protecting components. Embodiments of the present invention may protect against security attacks on a variety of hardware and software components while permitting suitable levels of accessibility for developmental and maintenance purposes.
US08499169B2
A method of authenticating a data processing device includes receiving a request to authenticate the data processing device. In response, an authentication key is accessed an authenticated at an authentication module. The authentication key is stored at a storage module that is located within the same integrated circuit package as the authentication module, so that the authentication key can be communicated to the module without exposing the key to unauthorized probing. The integrated circuit package also includes a tamper detection module to determine whether a memory of the data processing device has been accessed. In response to determining the memory has been accessed, the tamper detection module instructs the authentication module to not authenticate the data processing device.
US08499167B2
Apparatus, processes, and related technologies for comparison between a target item of software code and a reference set of software code. The target item is preprocessed to be compared against a reference item from the reference set to identify a selected set of lines of software code from the target item to be used for the comparison. Each line of the selected set of lines from the target software item is individually compared with lines of software code from the reference set to produce a measure of similarity between the target software item and at least one reference item of software code from the reference set. Various techniques for maintaining and updating a numerical representation of similarity of the target item with each reference item, the numerical representation being stored in a corresponding element of a data structure.
US08499156B2
The invention discloses a method for implementing encryption and transmission of information and system thereof. The method comprises the following steps when a sender sends information to a receiver: a client of the sender encrypts the information by using a unique identifier of a receiver identity as a public key; the sender sends the encrypted information to the receiver; the receiver receives the encrypted information, and a client of the receiver performs decryption by using a user private key; wherein the client of the receiver obtains the user private key by one-off registration and the user private key matches with the unique identifier of the receiver identity. The system comprises an information transmission platform, a sender and a receiver connected to each other by the information transmission platform, clients provided in the sender and the receiver, and a registration component. According to the present invention, secure communication between the sender and the receiver is realized without a process of establishing any initial key, and the negotiation process between the sender and the receiver before encryption/decryption and the interactions with any other entities during every encryption/decryption procedure are avoided.
US08499147B2
A root-account management apparatus generates an electronic signature based on a survival condition and a secret key when an authentication result of a user of a client apparatus is proper, and transmits derived-account credence element information including the survival condition, the electronic signature and a public key certificate to a derived-account management apparatus. The derived-account management apparatus creates derived-account information which becomes valid when the survival condition is satisfied so that the derived-account information includes both the derived-account credence element information which becomes invalid when a validity term of the public key certificate expires and a biometric information template of the user which is valid regardless of this validity term. Accordingly, even if an authentication element as a root (public key certificate) becomes invalid, a derived authentication element (biometric information template) can be prevented from becoming invalid.
US08499144B2
Updating settings of a processor core concurrently to the operation of a multi core processor system
The present invention provides an improved method for updating the settings of a processor or a processor core, respectively, concurrently to the operation of the respective processor system in which the processor or processor core, respectively, is running. This enables the insertion of new scan chain data and thus enabling the modification of the hardware characteristics of the processor.
US08499137B2
Described embodiments provide a memory manager for a network processor having a plurality of processing modules and a shared memory. The memory manager allocates blocks of the shared memory to requesting ones of the plurality of processing modules. A free block list tracks availability of memory blocks of the shared memory. A reference counter maintains, for each allocated memory block, a reference count indicating a number of access requests to the memory block by ones of the plurality of processing modules. The reference count is located with data at the allocated memory block. For subsequent access requests to a given memory block concurrent with processing of a prior access request to the memory block, a memory access accumulator (i) accumulates an incremental value corresponding to the subsequent access requests, (ii) updates the reference count associated with the memory block, and (iii) updates the memory block with the accumulated result.
US08499135B2
In a data read-and-write controlling device, without waiting for confirmation that data is written in a RAM, data is written in a WER and an ADR, and at the same time, address information of the data is written in the RAM write-information table. That is, the data read-and-write controlling device associates an address retained at a data register of a write controlling unit with the value (a write request is present=“1”) of a write request that makes a request for writing data in the RAM, the value being retained in a write request register, and then causes the result to be stored in the RAM write-information table as the address information.
US08499133B2
An apparatus and method for improving performance in high-availability systems are disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, pages of memory of a primary system that are to be shadowed are initially copied to a backup system's memory, as well as to a cache in the primary system. A duplication manager process maintains the cache in an intelligent manner that significantly reduces the overhead required to keep the backup system in sync with the primary system, as well as the cache size needed to achieve a given level of performance. Advantageously, the duplication manager is executed on a different processor core than the application process executing transactions, further improving performance.
US08499130B2
A method and an apparatus include storing history information into a first storage section that accumulates history information concerning a process performed, transmitting a received acquisition request of the history information accumulated into the first storage section, transmitting the accumulated history information to the history information accumulation section having transmitted the acquisition request, transmitting the history information to the another history information accumulation section, transmitting the acquisition request to the first history information accumulation section at a time of startup, and storing the transmitted history information into a second storage section.
US08499129B1
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reading mirrored data. In one embodiment, a node receives a read request for data, identical copies of which are maintained on a primary storage device and any number of corresponding minors. A read generator coupled to the node generates a number of read operations for smaller portions of the data. Preferably, the read generator then transmits the read operations in parallel to at least two storage devices on which identical copies of the data are maintained (e.g., a primary storage device and a corresponding mirror, two mirrors of a primary storage device, etc.). The read operations may then be processed in parallel by the storage devices to which the read operations were transmitted.
US08499125B2
To prevent a decrease in performance of controlling a snoop tag. A queue is stored with REPLACE target WAY information and an index as an entry associated with a REPLACE request received from a processor, the index stored in the queue is compared with an index of a subsequent READ request, and, as a result of the comparison, a process based on the index-coincident READ request is executed with respect to the snoop tag corresponding to a content of a cache memory of the processor. Further, the REPLACE target WAY information of the READ request is replaced with the WAY information in the index-coincident entry within the queue.
US08499120B2
A data storage device can include at least one non-volatile storage medium, at least one data cache, and a controller configured to perform cache writing operations between the at least one non-volatile storage medium and the at least one data cache based on user-selected caching modes. Also presented is a user interface that can be configured to selectively enable and disable one or more caching modes, which selection of a caching mode directs cache writing operations performed by a controller. In some examples, a caching mode can be selected in a manner that is independent of a host computer system.
US08499114B1
Various embodiments disclosed herein including systems and methods for improving allocation of computing resources in a virtual machine (VM) environment. Embodiments maintain data relating to how VM image data is stored in storage devices and loaded into volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM). The data is then used to identify common content in the volatile memory that can be shared across VM instances. In some embodiments, multiple VM instances can share at least a portion of a single common VM image loaded into a shared volatile memory.
US08499108B2
An apparatus, system and method for providing health-care equipment in a plurality of customizable configurations. A configuration includes a selection and arrangement of health-care equipment modules that each provide specialized support for the provision of health care, including the measurement of physiological parameters. Various types of configurations include those adapted to be mounted upon a desk top or a wall surface, or adapted for wheel mounting or hand-carriable mobile configurations.
US08499106B2
A data processing apparatus is provided comprising a buffer for buffering data contained in a data stream generated by a data stream generator and received by a data stream receptor. Buffer occupancy tracking circuitry is provided and configured to maintain a high buffer utilisation value providing an indication of a high buffer occupation level for a given time period during utilisation of the buffer. Alternatively, in an apparatus where the buffer is implemented in dedicated memory, the buffer occupancy tracking circuitry is configured to store a programmable buffer size limit controlling a maximum allowable buffer storage capacity.
US08499105B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a buffer manager and a buffer management method based on an address pointer linked list. In the embodiments, address pointers of all buffer blocks in a buffer are divided into several groups, lower bits of address pointers in each group are used to record a linked list between the address pointers in the same group, and an address pointer which is pointed by one predetermined address pointer of each group and is in a different group is further recorded to upbuild a linked list between the groups. Thereby, an address linked list can still be stored without a RAM with a width equal to a pointer depth and with a depth equal to the total number of buffer blocks in the buffer as required by the conventional art, which greatly reduces hardware resources required.
US08499103B2
A converter apparatus is provided enabling conversion of data between different form factor pluggable standards. The converter comprises a first connector that connects to a first device according to a first form factor pluggable standard, and a second connector that connects to a second device according to a second form factor pluggable standard. The converter further comprises a signal processor coupled between the first connector and the second connector. The processor converts at least one of transmit signals in the first form factor pluggable standard to transmit signals in the second form factor pluggable standard and receive signals in the second form factor pluggable standard to receive signals in the first form factor pluggable standard. A controller in the converter is coupled to the processor and to the first and second connector. The controller configures the processor to be used for converting signals between the form factor pluggable standards.
US08499101B2
A method and a device for exchanging data between a computer and at least one expansion card of an equipment item having a network interface and at least one expansion card is disclosed. The computer and the network interface are connected by a communication network. The network interface and the at least one expansion card are connected to the same industrial bus. After assignment of a virtual network address in the communication network to the at least one expansion card, the network interface is configured with the virtual network address in order to make it possible to identify the network interface in the communication network as representing the at least one expansion card.
US08499092B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for validating download success are disclosed. A method can include receiving a request to transmit a digital item to a computing device, transmitting a modified digital item to the computing device, and receiving confirmation that the computing device has received the modified digital item in its entirety. The method can also include for each of N invalid data portions included in the modified digital item, transmitting to the computing device a location of the invalid data portion in the modified digital item, and the existing data portion previously replaced by the invalid data portion; and receiving confirmation that the computing device has received the existing data portion. In response to receiving confirmations, an indication that the computing device has received all N existing data portions replaced by the N invalid data portions can be transmitted to the computing device.
US08499087B2
System(s), method(s), and device(s) that enable establishment of data session based in part on services are presented. When establishing a data session for a communication device, the desired mobility gateway can be dynamically assigned via a specified policy mechanism or provisioned using a predefined service policy table, where particular services are linked with respective identifiers associated with respective mobility gateways. A communication device can reference the service policy table to locate a service that is to be used for the data session and can identify an identifier(s) linked to the service(s) and associated with a mobility gateway(s). The identifier(s) can be received and used to facilitate selecting one or more respective mobility gateways for the data session(s). The service policy table can be automatically pushed to the communication device or the communication device can initiate a download of the service policy table when the default data connection is established.
US08499069B2
A method comprises estimating a performance of a processing system using queueing theory wherein the processing system comprises a network that accepts at least one input message stream from a plurality of publishing clients, transforms the at least one input message stream into at least one output message stream utilizing the plurality of transforms distributed in a first assignment among the plurality of brokers, and delivers the at least one output message stream to at least one of the plurality of subscribing clients, performing optimization upon the assignment of the plurality of transforms using the estimated performance to produce a second assignment, and reassigning the plurality of transforms in accordance with the second assignment.
US08499067B2
The present invention includes a computing system for discovering a physical location of a physical server device in a datacenter. The computing system obtains at least one physical property of the physical server device pertaining to the physical location of the physical server device. The computing system acquires at least one logical property of the physical server device pertaining to a logical server name of the physical server device. The computing system correlates the at least one physical property and the at least one logical property. Thereby, the computing system matches the logical server name to the physical location.
US08499066B1
Techniques are described for performing automated predictions of program execution capacity or other capacity of computing-related hardware resources that will be used to execute software programs in the future, such as for a group of computing nodes that execute one or more programs for a user. The predictions that are performed may in at least some situations be based on historical data regarding corresponding prior actual usage of execution-related capacity (e.g., for one or more prior years), and may include long-term predictions for particular future time periods that are multiple months or years into the future. In addition, the predictions of the execution-related capacity for particular future time periods may be used in various manners, including to manage execution-related capacity at or before those future time periods, such as to prepare sufficient execution-related capacity to be available at those future time periods.
US08499053B2
Systems and methods are provided for fine level access control over message content in an electronic messaging system. Access criteria associated with the message content define requirements that a user must satisfy in order to perform specified actions on message content. The user's complete profile is examined at run time and compared to access criteria to make a real time decision about the level of access that a user should have to message content. Depending on the access criteria associated with content, stronger authentication or weaker authentication of the user profile information may be performed on the user profile to determine the level of access that should be granted to the user.
US08499047B2
The present invention comprises a method, apparatus and business system for allowing on-line communications with members of a group of recipients for whom the invention has been implemented. A group may, for example, comprise members of a particular business or profession. For example, a group may consist of doctors admitted to practice medicine in the United States. Individual members of the group may or may not have existing internet presences. The invention allows online users to communicate with each member of a given group regardless of whether or not the member has an existing internet presence. In one or more embodiments, the invention does so by setting up a database of contact information for members of the group, creating an internet presence for each member of such group, creating an on-line user interface allowing a user to access the member's created internet presence, and providing means of communications between the created internet presence and the member recipient.
US08499046B2
Techniques for capturing images of business cards, uploading the images to a designated computing device for processing and recognition are disclosed. A mechanism is provided to update extracted data from the images when there are any changes. Depending on implementation, there are a number of ways to capture images of business cards (e.g., via a phone camera, a PC camera, or a scanning device). A transmission means is provided to transport the images to the designated computing device for centralized management of integrated contact information for individual users. As a result, a user may access his/her updatable integrated contact information database anywhere anytime from a chosen device.
US08499044B2
A MIME or XML formatted message is stored and a map is processed in place of a message. The map is a compact representation of the message. The map is indicative of the content and structure of the message. The map comprises tags that map to and are indicative of portions of the message. When a portion of the message is to be accessed, the associated tag in the map is processed to determine the location of the associated portion of the message, and the associated portion of the message is accessed at the location. To allow accurate decryption of signed messages, the format of the message is preserved.
US08499041B2
A system for facilitating collaboration among users via a network includes a server and user computers. Each user computer has a browser client configured with the server to provide collaborative services relative to applications invoked by users on the user computers. The browser clients and the server make available to each user computer, in web format, content from heterogeneous content sources, at least some content obtained via the applications. The browser clients are configured with the server to capture in a web layer and make available to the user computers explicit social information and implicit social information provided by the users via the browser clients using the collaborative services.
US08499039B2
A customized list of real-time conference participants are obtained by selecting one or more logical operators such as AND or OR and applying the one or more logical operators to conference groups the user has selected. The logical operators and selected conference groups are sent to a conference server, which applies the operator to the selected groups to arrive at a shortlist of conference participants. The invention is particularly useful for cellular telephones initiating a real-time conference using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and a SIP server resident on a network.
US08499033B2
A technique for acquiring a web page includes: receiving, at a client, a user instruction; obtaining from the instruction a page number of a web page that a user desires to access; searching for web page data in a hidden form that is cached in advance at the client, the search being based at least in part on the page number and the hidden form comprising web page data for a plurality of page numbers and in the event that web page data is found in the hidden form, generating, by the client, the web page using the web page data.
US08499024B2
An application server, configured for executing an application defined by XML documents for delivering voice portal services, accesses subscriber attributes from a standardized information database server (such as LDAP). The application server, upon receiving a request from a proxy browser serving a user, accesses the standardized database server to obtain attribute information for responding to the application request. The application server sends a request to a content server for media content based on the HTTP request and the attribute information. The application server generates an HTML page, for execution of the prescribed voice portal service application having XML tags configured for controlling delivery of the media content in an audible format, based on the HTTP request.
US08499020B2
Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for estimating and applying a step size value for a least mean squares echo canceller. A power estimate of an excitation signal is compared to a reference power level to determine a shift adjustment. The shift adjustment is added to a reference shift amount to determine a shift amount. The product of an excitation signal and an error signal is then calculated and the product is stored in a memory register comprising a plurality of bits. The bits stored in the memory register are shifted either left or right based upon the shift amount. The shift adjustment may be based in part upon the ratio of the excitation signal power estimate and the reference power level.
US08499013B2
Directories in a file system are defined with a dummy cluster in a file allocation table as the initial entry. Subsequent clusters in a directory's definition may define any data for the directory that can be changed in a transaction-safe mode. A directory may be modified in a transaction-safe mode by modifying any of the subsequent clusters while tracking changes in a second file allocation table. When the changes have been made to the directory, a pointer to the second file allocation table may be switched to indicate that the second file allocation table is now last known good. The first file allocation table may then be synchronized with the second.
US08499008B2
The disclosed embodiments of computer systems and techniques utilize an ensemble semantics framework to combine knowledge acquisition systems that yield significantly higher quality resources than each system in isolation. Gains in entity extraction are achieved by combining state-of-the-art distributional and pattern-based systems with a large set of features from, for example, a webcrawl, query logs, and wisdom of the crowd sources. This results in improved query interpretation and greater relevancy in providing search results and advertising, for example.
US08499003B2
One or more embodiments determine a distance between at least two vectors of n coordinates. A set of heavy coordinates is identified from a set of n coordinates associated with at least two vectors. A set of light coordinates is identified from the set of n coordinates associated with the at least two vectors. A first estimation of a contribution is determined from the set of heavy coordinates to a rectilinear distance between the at least two vectors. A second estimation of a contribution is determined from the set of light coordinates to the rectilinear distance norm. The first estimation is combined with the second estimation.
US08499002B2
A registry storage stores information of device configurations and device identifiers, on a per-device basis. A repository storage stores a correspondence between the device identifiers and device controllers which match the respective devices. A sub-plurality of the plurality of device controllers provide the same function, and are executed in the respective devices, by calling a common interface which is shared between the device controllers. At least one of the device identifiers which corresponds to one associated device is retrieved from the registry storage, a device controller which corresponds to the retrieved device-identifier is retrieved, the retrieved device controller is installed into a library and executed, and the executed device controller is uninstalled from the library.
US08498997B2
A system includes a first site having a first server and a first storage system, a second site including a second server and a second storage system, and a third site coupled to the first and second sites, the third site having gold images. A method of migrating a virtual server image comprises storing a first gold image at the first site; storing a second gold image at the second site; creating a first snapshot volume at the first site based on the first gold image; sending the first gold image ID, update data of the first gold image, and address information for the update data, from the first site to the second site; creating a second snapshot volume at the second site based on the second gold image corresponding to the first gold image ID; allocating storage for storing the update data at the second site with reference to the address information; and storing the update data in the allocated storage.
US08498994B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for creating and sharing social files in an on-demand database service environment. In one embodiment, a first document file is received at a computing device configured to provide on-demand computing services via a network. The first document file may be capable of being displayed on a display device. The first document file may be stored on a storage medium accessible via the network. The first document file may be designated as being associated with a social file. A reference to the social file may be stored as a first one of a plurality of feed items in a feed table in a database. The feed items may be capable of being published in an information feed displayed on a display device.
US08498980B2
In an electronic presentation of information, search is made easier and more personal by identifying words, symbols or images (collectively called terms) in text and allowing users to select any of those terms to refine their search. The technology is called “cherry picking” because it allows each user to select what they judge to be the best terms among many available terms in the text, and use those terms to their own advantage. Terms in text are identified by a visual indicator such as a change in the shape of the cursor. “Stop words,” words that do not change the outcome of the search, and words that meet other specific criteria are not selectable.
US08498977B2
The present invention provides for quick and efficient searching. One embodiment includes a first instruction configured to read at least a first search string and a second search string entered into a same first search field, and a second instruction configured to incrementally filter search results to locate at least a first document that has a least a first word that begins with the first string and a second word that begins with the second string.
US08498973B2
Making data available from a database is disclosed. Making data available includes specifying a query function having a query function name, wherein the query function includes a structure and a member, determining the structure and the member included in the query function, wherein the query function has a query function name and includes the structure and the member, creating an index for the structure on the member, and compiling the query function to be available to a user by invoking the query function name without the user having to specify the structure and the member. Retrieving data from a database is disclosed. Retrieving includes invoking a query function that specifies a plurality of structures and a value, accessing a cross index of the plurality of structures, and using the cross index to access the data.
US08498971B2
Maintaining consistent DNS information is disclosed. Information associated with a resource is received. A resource record is populated with the information. View information is derived from the resource record.
US08498965B1
One embodiment relates to a computer-implemented method for generating difference data between reference and target files. A difference engine implemented using a computer receives the reference and target files. The difference engine performs a first procedure to generate difference data representing the difference between the reference and target files if the size of the reference file is less than a first threshold size. The difference engine performs a second procedure to generate the difference data if the size of the reference file is less than a second threshold size and greater than the first threshold. The difference engine performing a third procedure to generate difference data if the size of the reference file is greater than the second threshold size. Other embodiments relate to apparatus for generating difference data between reference and target files and for reconstructing the target files from the reference files using the difference data.
US08498960B2
A device retrieves information associated with personal inventory from a personal inventory database, and provides for display of an input personal inventory option, a search personal inventory option, and a search loaned personal inventory option based on the retrieved personal inventory information. The device further receives selection of one of the input personal inventory option, the search personal inventory option, or the search loaned personal inventory option, and receives information associated with a new personal inventory item when the input personal inventory option is selected. The device also provides for display of search personal inventory information when the search personal inventory option is selection, and provides for display of search loaned personal inventory information when the search loaned personal inventory option is selected.
US08498953B2
A method and system for allocating users as trip accompanies provides for: creating a first trip prediction algorithm, collecting input parameters, predicting by the first trip prediction algorithm using the collected input parameters as input, at least one first trip, executing a matching method, the matching method comparing attributes of the predicted at least one first trip with attributes of at least one second trip, and allocating the first and the second user to each other as trip accompanies in dependence of the matching score of the first and second potential trip data object.
US08498952B2
Systems and methods may include receiving a respective plurality of objective function values for each chromosome data structure of a population, where the respective plurality of objective function values are obtained based upon an evaluation of each chromosome data structure; mapping the respective objective function values to respective epsilon values, where the respective epsilon values define a respective address associated with the plurality of objective functions; and performing non-domination sorting of the population to generate a reduced population of chromosome data structures; and performing epsilon non-dominated sorting to identify an elite set of addresses, where the prior steps are performed for a current generation, where the elite set of addresses are compared to a prior elite set of addresses for a predetermined number of prior generations to determine one or more variance values, where the one or more variance values are utilized to determine whether a current job of an evolutionary algorithm is to be halted.
US08498948B2
Production data classified from a data source, such as a plurality of handprinted forms, is compared to provisional truth data independently classified from the same data source for constructing master truth data. The production data is compared to the master truth data for evaluating the quality with which the production data was classified.
US08498947B1
Various systems and methods are described for insertion of optional stops in delivery routes. To this end, a plurality of delivery routes is provided in a computing device, where each delivery route has a plurality of stops. A determination is made in the computing devices as to whether an optional stop can be inserted between a pair of the stops in at least one of the delivery routes without violating a predefined set of criteria. The optional stop is ultimately inserted between a respective pair of stops in a selected one of the delivery routes.
US08498942B2
A device initialization method includes generating a license request for a personal media device. A timeout indicator may be obtained for a subscription associated with the personal media device. The license request and the timeout indicator may be combined to form a device license for the personal media device. The device license may be digitally-signed to form a signed device license.
US08498940B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to register one time, at a server associated with an authenticating entity, information comprising an identity uniquely associated with an individual account owner and an account held by the authenticating entity. Further activity includes receiving an authentication request at the server from a requesting party to authenticate an unauthenticated individual purporting to be the individual account owner, and authenticating, by the server, the unauthenticated individual as the individual account owner by matching a token presented by the unauthenticated individual, to the identity. Responsive solely to the authenticating, only a selected portion of the information previously authorized by the individual account owner is provided for sharing with the plurality of selected requesting parties. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08498937B1
Systems and methods for managing financial accounts associated with residents of controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving information corresponding to a pooled account (e.g., a trust account, etc.) held by a financial institution (e.g., a bank), at least in part, for the benefit of residents (e.g., work-release inmates, etc.) of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail, prison, etc.). The method may also include allocating funds within the pooled account to corresponding residents. The method may further include designating a first portion of the funds allocated to a given resident as inaccessible to the resident and designating a second portion of funds allocated to the given resident as accessible to the resident. A magnetic card, near-field communications (NFC) device, or the like may be associated with the accessible portion of a resident's funds and used to complete transactions inside and/or outside of the controlled-environment facility.
US08498933B1
A method, system and program product, the system computers configured to perform the steps: accessing databases comprising: aggregated accounts held at a first banking institution participating in an interchange program, the interchange program comprising a plurality of FDIC-insured and interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in a plurality of banking institutions; and client account information obtaining transfer data for client accounts; receiving aggregated account transfer information for aggregated deposit accounts held in the first banking institution, based at least in part on a difference between the amount comprising a total of funds from the client transaction accounts of the first banking institution held in the aggregated deposit accounts in the other banking institutions participating in the interchange program and the total of funds held in the one or more aggregated deposit accounts held in the first banking institution; receiving a transfer of funds; updating the databases.
US08498926B2
A method of trading a foreign currency option on an electronic trading system may include executing a trade of the foreign currency option between a buyer and a setter, locking the trading system with respect to the traded foreign currency option, querying the buyer whether the buyer desires to buy or sell additional volume of the option, querying the seller whether the seller desires to sell or hay additional volume of the option, and authorizing additional participants to join the trade and querying the additional participants whether each of the additional participants desires to buy or sell a volume of the option.
US08498923B2
An electronic exchange system network includes a trader site having an automated trading system capable of submitting orders to an exchange site. The automated trading system determines whether an order should be submitted based on, for example, the current market price of an option and theoretical buy and sell prices. The theoretical buy and sell prices are derived from, among other things, the current market price of the security underlying the option. A look-up table stores a range of theoretical buy and sell prices for a given range of current market price of the underlying security. Accordingly, as the price of the underlying security changes, a new theoretical price may be indexed in the look-up table, thereby avoiding calculations that would otherwise slow automated trading decisions. Other techniques may be used in addition or in the alternative to speed automatic decision-making. In addition, a system of checks may be conducted to ensure accurate and safe automated trading. The automated trading system may be capable of automatically submitting orders in connection with the underlying security in order to hedge part of the delta risk associated with the automated option trades.
US08498904B2
The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method, system and apparatus to enable data-driven, multi-channel communications to facilitate business processes. By providing more than one channel for communication between market participants, which includes suppliers and consumers, real-time requests for information, services, or the like can be solicited in a way that those selected to provide responses have certain attributes, and the supplier is selected for the solicitation automatically and instantaneously notified of the request based on automatic selection of those attributes. The notification is instantaneously communicated using more than one channel of communication, potentially in a mode that the potential supplier has indicated is a more likely way of actually and instantly receiving the request. The system further provides at least one mechanism by which all of the selected suppliers can instantly respond to the request, which is then communicated to the requestor.
US08498902B1
A method and system for the clearing and settlement of funds among a plurality of participants facilitates the integration of a “closed” special purpose industry sector, such as the transit industry, within an open financial payment system. A method for clearing and settling funds among a plurality of participants comprises receiving data relating to transactions from the plurality of participants, organizing the data into groups associated with each of the plurality of participants, summing the data in the groups to determine a total funds due to and from each of the plurality of participants, and settling the difference among the plurality of participants by transferring funds to the participants owed funds and collecting funds from the participants who owe funds.
US08498900B1
A method for allowing a customer to view and at least partially pay a bill incurred in a bar or a restaurant operating a POS system tracking the bill. The customer operates a mobile computing device running a mobile app communicating with the POS system. The bar or the restaurant has staff. The method includes receiving, via the POS system, check-in data in response to checking-in via the app and payment account data as a security in response to authorizing access to the payment account data via the app. The method includes receiving, via the staff, an order from the customer and associating, via the staff, the order with the payment account data in the POS system. The method includes displaying the bill in real-time via the app. The bill includes the order. The method includes receiving at least partial payment in response to such authorizing via the app.
US08498887B2
A system for effective project size estimation. In response to receiving an input to predict a size of effort required to complete a project, a set of metrics associated with the project is identified. All possible subsets of metrics are constructed from the identified set of metrics associated with the project. One project size prediction model is generated for each constructed subset of metrics from the identified set of metrics associated with the project. An accuracy score is calculated for each generated project size prediction model. A project size prediction model is selected with a highest calculated accuracy score to identify a subset of effective metrics for the project. The subset of effective metrics is associated with the project size prediction model with the highest calculated accuracy score. Then, the project size prediction model with the highest calculated accuracy score is outputted for use by a project developer.
US08498882B2
The invention relates to a system for automatically, rapidly, and dynamically funding biological cells for transplantion, treatment, or research purposes between collection centers or banks (storage places) and hospitals, transplant centers, or research facilities, monitoring and assisting with processes from the transmission of requests, the delivery of cell preparation suitable for allogeneic transplantation, and the use of the found preparations to the monitoring of the result in the patient, and making said data available for statistical and other purposes, wherein samples are taken before and after the transplantation to analyze genomes, proteomes, transcriptomes, epigenomes, and/or metbolomes.
US08498877B2
This method of converting a computational formula having been acquired in the form of a tree structure containing at least one node associated with a parameterized conditional branching operation and connected to at least a first and a second child node, the child node which is associated with the operation which is not executed and the set of nodes which have this child node as parent node being called ‘dead branch’, this method comprising: —the identification and the deletion (198) of the dead branch corresponding to the acquired value of a conditional parameter so as to obtain a computational formula pruned of this dead branch, and—the compilation (208) of the computational formula pruned of the dead branch so as to obtain the code executable by a chip card.
US08498876B2
The present invention proposes a new method for improving the performance of a real-valued filterbank based spectral envelope adjuster. By adaptively locking the gain values for adjacent channels dependent on the sign of the channels, as defined in the application, reduced aliasing is achieved. Furthermore, the grouping of the channels during gain-calculation, gives an improved energy estimate of the real valued subband signals in the filterbank.
US08498873B2
Establishing a multimodal advertising personality for a sponsor of a multimodal application, including associating one or more vocal demeanors with a sponsor of a multimodal application and presenting a speech portion of the multimodal application for the sponsor using at least one of the vocal demeanors associated with the sponsor.
US08498857B2
A system and method for porting of existing speech recognition solutions in a source language to a target language has been disclosed. The system envisaged by the present invention enables porting of a working speech recognition solution in the source language to a working system in the target language, thus minimizing the development process and reusing existing speech recognition solution components to recognize multiple languages.
US08498853B2
Method for prediction of mechanical properties used in the description of large-strain plastic deformation for any subsurface rock strata of interest. The method is not specific to any geographic region, geological environment or subsurface depth interval, nor is it constrained to a specific lithology or plastic mechanical property. Predictive algorithms for triaxial compressive strength and rock compressibility are derived (23) from a mechanical properties database (21), and used to predict subsurface variation in mechanical properties such as rock strength or rock compressibility, with petrophysical properties generated from, for example, geophysical wireline logs as input to the algorithms (26).
US08498852B2
Methods and systems for characterizing hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation based upon inputs from sensors measuring field data in conjunction with a fracture model. Such characterization can be generated in real-time to automatically manipulate surface and/or down-hole physical components supplying hydraulic fluids to the subterranean formation to adjust the hydraulic fracturing process as desired. The hydraulic fracture model as described herein can also be used as part of forward calculations to help in the design and planning stage of a hydraulic fracturing treatment. In a preferred embodiment, the fracture model constrains geometric and geomechanical properties of the hydraulic fractures of the subterranean formation using the field data in a manner that significantly reduce the complexity of the fracture model and thus significantly reduces the processing resources and time required to provide accurate characterization of the hydraulic fractures of the subterranean formation.
US08498849B1
The device comprising an arm joint wrinkle simulator, wherein when the arm joint angle value represents a first angle value, a first wrinkle image of the fabric covering the arm joint is generated on or near the arm joint, when the arm joint angle value represents a second angle value, a second wrinkle image of the fabric covering the arm joint is generated on or near the arm joint, and when the arm joint angle value represents a third angle value, the fabric covering the arm joint with no wrinkle image is generated on or near the arm joint.
US08498846B2
This disclosure describes a joint-aware deformation framework that supports the direct manipulation of an arbitrary mix of rigid and deformable components. The deformation framework may include at least a joint-analysis and a joint-aware deformation enabling a more realistic deformation of a joint-aware model.
US08498841B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for use with thermal electric cooling devices (TECDs). An apparatus is mapped so as to identify the heat dissipating entities and zones thereof. A first cooling plan is devised in accordance with the mapping, the cooling plan being dependant upon TECDs. At least one other cooling plan is devised that is distinct from the first cooling plan. The coefficient of performance (COP) for each of the cooling plans is calculated. One of the cooling plans is selected and implemented in accordance with a comparison of the COPs. Precision, zone-oriented cooling is provided, avoiding excessive material scale and wasted energy.
US08498828B2
The calculating device has first and second Fourier transform portions performing Fourier transforms on two respective inputted signals; a complex conjugate deriving portion deriving a complex conjugate of a value outputted from the first Fourier transform portion; a multiplier multiplying the complex conjugate with the value outputted from the second Fourier transform portion, and outputting the value after the multiplication; a Hilbert transform portion performing a Hilbert transform on the value after multiplication; first and second inverse Fourier transform portions performing respective inverse Fourier transforms on the value after multiplication and the value outputted from the Hilbert transform portion; a phase relationship deriving portion deriving a phase relationship between the two inputted signals based on the values outputted from the first and second inverse Fourier transform portions; and a time difference deriving portion deriving a time difference between the two inputted signals based on the phase relationship.
US08498824B2
Methods and apparatuses for nucleic aced sequencing using a compacted code technique are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a nucleic acid to be sequenced, determining the identity of each base in a subsequence of bases in the nucleic acid, encoding the identity of the subsequence in a format having a number of bytes that is less than the number of bases, and storing the encoded identity.
US08498822B2
The invention is directed to methods and kits that allow for classification of colorectal cancer cells according to genomic profiles, and methods of diagnosing, predicting clinical outcomes, and stratifying patient populations for clinical testing and treatment using the same.
US08498821B2
The invention is directed to methods and kits that allow for classification of malignant melanoma cells according to genomic profiles, and methods of diagnosing, predicting clinical outcomes, and stratifying patient populations for clinical testing and treatment using the same.
US08498819B2
The present invention relates to a method for predicting the expected value of the quality features in agricultural and horticultural product and a method for predicting the expected optimal time of harvest by comparing expression parameters at the moment prior to harvest or during the postharvest path of genes and/or proteins related to such quality features for that agricultural and horticultural product, with (a) predetermined calibration line(s). The invention also comprises the markers M8, GAST and GDSL motif lipase and the uses thereof, as well as antibodies against them.
US08498818B1
According to various embodiments, an emissions calculation system calculates the emissions resulting from transporting a shipment that includes an individual or group of packages. In certain embodiments, the calculated emissions are based on estimated amounts of fuel used in the transportation process based on historical fuel usage and shipment data. In addition, various embodiments of the system generate and display (or otherwise make available) one or more reports of the calculated emissions information. For example, the reports may provide a total amount of carbon dioxide emitted for a particular shipment or group of shipments. In addition, the report may provide a breakdown of the amount of emissions resulting from various operational activities in the transportation process (e.g., resulting from pickup, delivery, and/or transportation between carrier facilities, and resulting from stationary operational activities, such as sorting or movement within each carrier facility).
US08498817B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for predicting a future location of a mobile user. A recent location of a mobile user is received. Past location data for the mobile user is retrieved from storage. A future location of the mobile user is predicted based at least in part on the recent location and on the past location data. The prediction is provided in response to a query or by subscription.
US08498807B2
An approach is provided for retrieving mapping information of a premise for use by a mobile device upon the mobile device reaching the premise. A prompt is generated for presentation by the mobile device for a destination point within the premise. A determination is made of the position information of the mobile device. Navigation information for guidance to the destination point is generated using the mapping information and the determined position information. Presentation of the navigation information is initiated via the mobile device.
US08498801B2
A 720-degree motor stage storage means for holding the result of stroke discrimination for the engine E also in the period for carrying out an idle stop control is provided. At the time of restarting the engine E from an idle stop state, a new stroke discriminating processing is not conducted, but the result of stroke discrimination stored in the 720-degree motor stage storage means is used, to thereby drive a fuel injection system and an ignition device. A stage decision unit for allocating a period of two revolutions of a crankshaft to 720-degree motor stages based on the result of stroke discrimination, a fuel injection and ignition stage correlation table having predetermined correlations of 720-degree motor stages with fuel injection stages and ignition stages, and restarting time motor stage conversion means for conversion of a 720-degree motor stage into a fuel injection stage and an ignition stage, are provided.
US08498798B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas cleaning system that includes a SCR catalyst. In conjunction with a cold start and/or a warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is operated using a cold start engine operation method having predefineable values for predefineable operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. An amount of nitrogen oxides stored in the SCR catalyst is estimated, and the cold start engine operation method is activated when the estimation indicates that the nitrogen oxide storage amount exceeds a predefineable nitrogen oxide storage amount limit value.
US08498791B2
A lock-up control apparatus includes a kick-down instruction detector configured to detect a kick-down shift transmission instruction during application of a lock-up clutch. A first lock-up control amount changer is configured to change the lock-up control amount when the kick-down shift transmission instruction is detected. An intermediate gear speed determinator is configured to determine whether the kick-down shift transmission instruction includes an intermediate gear speed shift transmission instruction to an intermediate shift transmission gear speed. A second lock-up control amount changer is configured to change the lock-up control amount when the kick-down shift transmission instruction includes the intermediate gear speed shift transmission instruction. A target gear speed shift transmission instruction detector is configured to detect a target gear speed shift transmission instruction. The third lock-up control amount changer is configured to change the lock-up control amount when the target gear speed shift transmission instruction is detected.
US08498790B2
The driving output of the electric oil pump during an engine automatic stop is learnt by gradually increasing the driving output of the electric oil pump after an engine automatic stop and discriminating a state immediately before engagement on the basis of the behavior of an input shaft rotation number and a turbine rotation number. Thereby, the working oil pressure supplied by the electric oil pump during an engine automatic stop immediately after an engine automatic stop can be made suitable even if a vehicle is in a stopped state without adding an oil pressure sensor and an oil pressure switch, and a vain increase in power consumption, a deterioration of acceleration responsiveness at the time of an engine restart, generation of shock, or a soaring of the number of engine rotations can be prevented.
US08498787B2
A monitor system for an electric cable shovel determines when the shovel has completed a digging operation, and a subsequent dumping operation. The system includes an inclinometer, a current sensor, and a monitor circuit. The inclinometer is mounted on the dipper arm for providing an output indicative of the inclination of the dipper arm. The current sensor senses the level of the electrical current supplied to the electric motor. The monitor circuit determines when the current sensor provides an indication of a current level in excess of a digging current threshold level for a period of time in excess of a predetermined period, and during such period of time the inclinometer indicates that the inclination of the dipper arm is below a digging threshold inclination. In such a case, the monitor circuit provides an output indicating that the shovel has completed a digging operation. A subsequent dumping operation is monitored in a similar manner, with the rotation of the monitor and the actuation of the trip lever being sensed. GPS receivers on the electric cable shovel body provide an indication of the location at which the shovel is digging, and a worksite model is referenced to determine the material being mined.
US08498783B2
A method for controlling a steering apparatus (10) of a vehicle produces an error signal (128) by subtracting a hand wheel torque (118) and a column torque (126) from a desired operator torque (112) to be applied to a hand wheel (14) of the vehicle. A controller (102) receives at least one vehicle condition signal (106, 108, 110) and determines the desired operator torque (112). The desired operator torque (112) is filtered into a low frequency torque component (112a) and a high frequency torque component (112b). The steering apparatus (10) is controlled based on the low frequency torque component (112a) and the high frequency torque component (112b).
US08498782B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for keeping a traffic lane and preventing lane-deviation for a vehicle that controls a steering direction and a steering amount so as for the vehicle to keep the traffic lane by using information on a left traffic lane of a vehicle while travelling and information on a curbstone provided at a right side of the vehicle and a method thereof.
US08498780B2
An embodiment of a method of controlling a road vehicle having a number of wheels; a frame housing a passenger compartment; and a number of suspensions suspending the frame from respective wheels, and expandable or contractable to adjust the height of the frame with respect to the ground; the method including the steps of: determining a collision; and raising the frame with respect to the ground by expanding at least some of the suspensions on determining a collision.
US08498778B2
A turn signal control system for use with a right turn signal and a left turn signal of a motor vehicle and a vehicle navigation system is provided. The turn signal system includes a processor configured to be operably coupled to the vehicle navigation system. The processor is configured to receive map data and route data from the vehicle navigation system. The processor is configured to determine a turn zone of the vehicle based on a set of criteria. A turn signal controller is operably coupled to the processor and configured to activate one of the right and left turn signals when the vehicle is in the turn zone. A method of controlling a right and left turn signal is also provided.
US08498776B2
A system and method for fault diagnosis includes receiving information defining a relationship between failure modes and diagnostic trouble codes and extracting diagnostic trouble code data, including set times, frequency data and diagnostic trouble code sequence information for a plurality of diagnostic trouble codes relating to a plurality of failure modes. The system and method further include constructing a Markov chain using the diagnostic trouble code data for each of the plurality of failure modes, training the Markov chain to learn a set of state parameters using the diagnostic trouble code data, and computing a likelihood of a diagnostic trouble code sequence for each of the plurality of failure modes using the trained Markov chains.
US08498774B2
Provided is a method for transportation asset monitoring. In one example embodiment, the method comprises collecting data related to operation and location of a transportation asset, comparing the collected data with values of one or more predetermined parameter thresholds, and generating an alarm signal whenever the one or more predetermined parameter thresholds have been exceeded. The method may further comprise generating a report related to the transportation asset's operational characteristics and performance output.
US08498771B2
Various embodiments include methods, systems, and computer-program products for wireless vehicle servicing. Instructions for performing a vehicle servicing operation may be received at a servicing terminal. Further, vehicle servicing operation data based on the instructions and data communication rules for communicating data to a vehicle computing system may be received. Servicing request data stored in computer-readable media may be generated and may include the vehicle servicing operation data and the one or more data communication rules. The servicing request data may be transmitted to the vehicle computing system and servicing return data may be received. Servicing status information may be presented on the servicing terminal based on the servicing return data.
US08498770B2
Upon a driver of a vehicle setting a target parking position, a parking assist system calculates a recommended parking start position which the vehicle can reach with a current steering angle of the vehicle unchanged and from which the vehicle can reach the parking target position with a constant steering angle. The parking assist system then draws a parking start frame figure F2 indicating a recommended parking start position on an overhead image around the vehicle generated using images captured by onboard cameras and displays the same on the display unit. It is therefore possible to properly assist the driving operation for parking allow inexperienced drivers to easily perform parking.
US08498767B2
A power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle comprises a first electricity-storage device to supply electric power to a starter for starting engine, a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle during a vehicle deceleration to electric energy for energy recovery, a second electricity-storage device coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, a feeder circuit coupling the second electricity-storage device to an electric load with a relatively-small electric-load capacity via a DC/DC convertor, a coupling line coupling the second electricity-storage device to the first electricity-storage device via a coupling relay, and a controller to control the electric power passing through the feeder circuit and the coupling line, wherein the controller executes a control to make the coupling relay on the coupling line in an OFF state when the starter operates.
US08498766B2
A hybrid vehicle (1) includes a battery (10-1), a motor-generator (32-2) operable to produce driving force using electric power of the battery (10-1), a charger (28) operable to charge the battery (10-1) by means of an external power supply, and an ECU (40). The ECU (40) stores a given parameter used in battery model expressions. The parameter varies according to the status of the battery (10-1). During running of the hybrid vehicle (1) and during charging of the battery (10-1) with the external power supply, the ECU (40) collects data related to the status of the battery (10-1), corrects the parameter based on the data, and calculates a value of charging rate (SOC) of the battery (10-1). The ECU (40) controls charge/discharge of the battery (10-1), based on the calculated SOC value.
US08498763B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing user preferences associated with charging transactions for electric vehicles. In one embodiment, a set of principals associated with a charging transaction for an electric vehicle is identified in response to receiving a request for a set of preferences from an energy transaction planner. The vehicle preference service is located on the electric vehicle. The set of preferences are retrieved from a plurality of preferences. The set of preferences comprises a subset of preferences for each principal in the set of principals. A preference in the set of preferences specifies a parameter of the charging transaction that is to be minimized, maximized, or optimized. The set of preferences are sent to an energy transaction planner.
US08498762B2
A method of planning the movement of plural trains over a train network utilizing route protection for the route immediately ahead of a train to avoid undesirable changes to the planned route of the train.
US08498759B1
An apparatus determines a condition and relative location of an inner tire and an outer tire of a tire pair. Each tire has an associated tire-based sensor assembly that senses a tire condition, senses acceleration, and transmits, in response to its associated acceleration signal, having a unique tire identification and associated sensed tire condition. A tire rotation sensor senses rotation of the tire pair during vehicle movement and provides a tire rotation signal indicative thereof. A vehicle-based controller associates each of the unique identification signals with one of the inner tire location and the outer tire location responsive to a phase relationship between the received transmitted signals from the tire-based sensor assemblies and the tire rotation signal.
US08498757B2
An interface system including a vehicle system having an operational data representing a setting of the associated vehicle system and an interface module in communication with the vehicle system to directly modify the operational data of the vehicle system based upon a personalized data, wherein the personalized data is in a platform independent format.
US08498755B2
A device for the coherent management of data deriving from different surveillance systems of an aircraft includes: a flight management system, the function of which is to assist the crew in following a flight plan of the aircraft and an associated trajectory; a surveillance system, the function of which is to detect any obstacles in proximity to the aircraft; a warning management system, the function of which is to detect abnormal situations and to display for the crew, where appropriate, warnings, such as potentially critical alarms or non-critical alerts, and the associated procedures to be followed when such exist; in which said flight management system, said surveillance system and said warning management system are interconnected and cooperate so that at least the warning management system has access to the flight plan of the aircraft, and is configured to display for the crew a summary of the situation when the surveillance system detects an obstacle that the aircraft should avoid according to the flight plan, and to not display, consequently, unnecessary warnings.
US08498738B2
A method is provided to that allows for the broadcast the status of a self-service dispensing device that a user is likely or scheduled to visit. A diagnostic program may be installed on a self-service dispensing device and/or a central server. The diagnostic program monitors the health and status of the self-service dispensing device. If a problem is detected by the diagnostic program, the self-service dispensing device or the central server proactively contacts likely visitors to the device as well as creates a service call to support personnel in order to have the problem repaired.
US08498729B2
Manufacturing execution systems and methods thereof used to monitor and execute a baby formula manufacturing process are disclosed herein. Consequently, the methods and systems provide a means to perform validation and quality manufacturing on an integrated level whereby baby formula manufacturers can achieve data and product integrity and ultimately minimize cost.
US08498713B2
The present invention is a visor for retinal stimulation of visually impaired subjects. The visor comprises a frame, an external coil, a camera and a mounting system. A connector allows the external coil to be positioned along a first direction. A sliding device allows the external coil to be positioned along a second direction. Positioning of the visor on a subject's nose allows the external coil to be positioned along a third direction. Positioning of the external coil along the first, second or third direction is useful to maximize coupling RF coupling between the external coil and an internal coil implanted on a subject wearing the visor.
US08498698B2
The disclosure describes techniques of reducing or eliminating a commonality between two modules within the same implantable medical device. Each module within the implantable medical device provides therapy to a patient. The commonality between the two modules exists due to at least one common component shared by the two modules. The commonality between the two modules may create common-mode interference and a shunt current. In accordance with this disclosure, various isolation circuits located at various locations are disclosed to reduce or eliminate the commonality between the two modules. The reduction or elimination of the commonality between the two modules may reduce or eliminate common-mode interference and the shunt current.
US08498692B2
To allow safe treatment of a patient, in particular a puncture or biopsy using a needle, a 2D sectional image of an implant plane and a further 2D sectional image of an orthogonal plane are generated from a 3D image data record of a region to be examined. The two planes are hereby oriented such that the needle is on the one hand located within the implant plane and on the other hand is oriented in a perpendicular manner in respect of the orthogonal plane. The parallel display of the 2D images allows the doctor to acquire the relative position of the needle in relation to the region to be examined in a simple and intuitive manner.
US08498690B2
A blood flow dynamic analysis apparatus analyzes the kinetics of a blood flow in a subject by injecting a contrast medium into the subject. The apparatus includes a map generation device computing the value of a parameter related to time change in the concentration of the contrast medium injected into the subject and generating a map of the parameter, and a display condition determination device determining a display condition for the map based on a threshold value of the parameter for discriminating between a lesion region where a lesion exists and an unaffected region where no lesion exists in the map.
US08498688B2
A device for magnetic resonance imaging of a body placed in an examination volume is configured to generate a series of MR spin echo signals from a first nuclear spin species by subjecting at least a portion of the body to an MR imaging pulse sequence. The MR imaging pulse sequence includes a spatially non-selective excitation RF pulse, a plurality of refocusing RF pulses, and a plurality of phase encoding switched magnetic field gradients. The device is further is configured to acquire the MR spin echo signals without application of frequency encoding magnetic field gradients; and to reconstruct an MR image from the acquired MR spin echo signals.
US08498683B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to display features that facilitate observation of monitored physiological data. According to certain embodiments, a monitoring system may include a monitor capable of receiving data related to the physiological parameters and storing data related to the parameters. The monitor may include a microprocessor capable of determining a respiration rate baseline from the data and establishing an alarm sensitivity for respiration rate based on the respiration rate baseline. The alarm sensitivity may comprise a first tier, a second tier, and a third tier. Each tier may correspond to a specific respiratory rate range and the alarm sensitivity may be selected based on which specific respiratory rate range encompasses the respiration rate baseline. Further, in certain embodiments a blood pressure baseline may be determined and an alarm sensitivity established based on the blood pressure baseline.
US08498678B2
A wireless transceiver is provided for transmitting and receiving audio data, comprising: a microphone configured to generate a digital audio signal that includes the audio data, based on a received sound sampled into digital format; a voice detection circuit configured to detect the presence of voice activity in the audio data, and to generate a voice detection signal indicating whether the voice activity is present in the audio data; a transceiver circuit configured to transmit the audio data over a wireless medium; and a control circuit configured to control transmission of the audio data over the wireless medium by the transceiver circuit, based on the voice detection signal. This allows saving of transmission power since no transmission is done during the silence periods. The digital audio signal is at least one of a pulse code modulated signal without compression, and a Bluetooth signal.
US08498675B2
A mobile communication device and an incoming call noticing control method thereof are provided. The incoming call noticing control method is used for controlling a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes a main body and a ring unit. The main body has a body surface. The ring unit is used for emitting a ringtone. The incoming call noticing control method includes the follow steps. The vibration frequency and the vibration amplitude of the main body are detected. Whether the body surface is substantially facing a predetermined orientation is detected. The volume of the ringtone is controlled according to whether the body surface is facing the predetermined orientation and according to the vibration frequency and the vibration amplitude.
US08498674B2
A task display switching method, a portable apparatus and a portable communications apparatus which, when a plurality of software applications are activated and processed in parallel, make it possible to switch a display between each of the software applications with ease. According to the task display switching method, a portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel and of displaying a plurality of display regions for displaying data, an icon associated with a task displayed on a first display region is generated automatically or manually, and the generated icon is displayed in a second display region. When any icon thus generated is selected from a plurality of icons displayed on the second display region, the task associated with the selected icon is restored and displayed in the first display region.
US08498664B2
A method of handling a barred cell in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method of handling a barred cell in a user equipment using a plurality of frequencies includes releasing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the user equipment and a network if authentication between the user equipment and the network fails, and regarding a cell having a first uplink radio link and a first downlink radio link, a cell having only a second uplink radio link and a cell having only a second downlink radio link as barred cells, if the RRC connection is released.
US08498662B2
In a communication system including a plurality of base stations and a plurality of terminals belonging to each of the base stations, the base station receives information on subcarriers allocated to a terminal that belongs to an adjacent base station from the adjacent base station. Thereafter, the base station generates power control information on the basis of the subcarrier information and transmits the power control information to the terminal, and the terminal controls uplink power on the basis of the received power control information. At this time, the power control information, as information based on estimating hitting between subcarriers used by the terminal that belongs to the base station and subcarriers used by the adjacent base station, may be a ratio found by dividing the total number of subcarriers used by each terminal that belongs to the adjacent base station by the entire number of subcarriers that can be used by the base station.
US08498644B2
A wireless communication system includes: a macrocell base station device; a micro base station device serving a cell having a region including at least a part of a region of a cell served by the macrocell base station device; and a mobile station device. One of the macrocell base station device and the micro base station device includes a reporter configured to report, to the mobile station device, micro base station information indicating the micro base station device to which the mobile station device can perform a handover. The mobile station device includes a handover destination selector configured to select a handover destination based on the micro base station information reported. Thereby, a handover is prevented while preventing the processing load on the mobile station device.
US08498639B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided that facilitate a flexible channel quality indicator (CQI) reporting directives or policies. A CQI reporting directive delivers an improved tradeoff between reporting accuracy and overhead by establishing subband-specific reporting periods, reporting repetitions, or power requirements. The CQI reporting directive is based at least in part on channel conditions, traffic requirements, and scheduling techniques. Automated optimization and negotiation of a CQI reporting directive based on communication performance is also incorporated.
US08498632B2
Method, communications device and computer program product for determining network quality for the communications device which is capable of communicating over a communications network. The method comprises determining location information associated with a location of the device, querying a database using the determined location information, wherein the database stores a plurality of entries each comprising location information and corresponding network quality information, and obtaining, from the database in response to the query, network quality information from at least one entry of said entries which comprises location information corresponding to the determined location information.
US08498630B2
There is disclosed a method and apparatus for initiating a call in a mobile telephone system, comprising the steps of: comparing a current location of a mobile terminal to at least one predetermined location; and, responsive to a location match, initiating a call from the mobile terminal to a predetermined number associated with said at least one predetermined location.
US08498626B1
A system is configured to receive, from an enterprise device, a request to access a network domain, and is configured to determine whether the network domain is associated with a wireless service provider service. Based on determining that the network domain is not associated with the wireless service provider service, the system is configured to route the request to a private network associated with the enterprise device. Based on determining that the network domain is associated with the wireless service provider service, the system is configured to route the request to a domain name system server associated with the wireless service provider, receive a domain name system response to the request, the domain name system response identifying a network address, and route the domain name system response to the enterprise device.
US08498622B2
A data processing system includes a satellite storage device communicating with a central storage device via a network. The satellite storage device is capable of accessing the data of the central storage device and includes a storage unit capable of storing data duplicated from the central storage device. The satellite storage device is capable of selecting a synchronization policy which determines how to synchronize data between the storage unit and of the central storage device.
US08498621B2
A server device of a communication system provides a web interface to allow a user to modify user interface settings and contact information. The server device communicates the modified settings and contact information to the mobile communication device via a wireless communication network. Accordingly, the user can conveniently configure user interface settings, such as ring tones, alarm settings, or the like, via a web interface, rather than through a cumbersome interface at the mobile communication device. In addition, the user interface settings are communicated to the mobile communication device via the same wireless communication network that carries voice data. Thus, the user interface of the mobile communication device, as well as the stored contact information, can be updated without requiring the user to connect the device to a computer.
US08498613B2
A method and system for location-dependent billing for services that are available to mobile terminals. A mobile terminal may access a fixably installed external location tag, and may obtain from the external location tag a billing rate code, which may then be forwarded from the mobile terminal to a central unit of a mobile communication network, in which the mobile terminal is logged. The central unit may determine a geographic location identification of the external location tag—e.g., by evaluation of the billing rate code—and may select a billing rate for billing for service(s) available to the user, based on the billing rate code at the external location tag. The mobile terminal may access the external location tag via a local communication connection, which may be set up between the mobile terminal and external location tag, such as using a corresponding wireless interface therebetween.
US08498610B2
A method and a system for transmitting an emergency call from a vehicle in an accident to an emergency call center, including: (a) an automatic accident monitoring unit in the vehicle with a sensor system for detecting an accident of the vehicle, (b) a vehicle navigation unit for determining the associated geographic accident coordinates (x,y) of the vehicle, wherein electronic means for generating an emergency call in text form, including at least the accident coordinates (x,y) determined for the vehicle, which includes the official license number of the vehicle for the purpose of dataset identification, and (c) a mobile radio unit for transmitting the text form of the emergency call for the reception for the emergency call center.
US08498607B2
Techniques for signaling a mobile communications device in a special operating state that data bursts contain messages relevant to the special operating state. The signaling may be implemented using one or more bits in a frame control header (FCH). As a result, the mobile communication device may be decode the FCH first and decode data bursts only if there is an indication the data bursts contain a relevant message. Power savings may be achieved at the mobile communications device by avoiding decoding data bursts with no relevant messages.
US08498605B1
A passive frequency translator with positive conversion voltage gain including at least one input node for receiving an input signal, at least one output node for providing an output signal, and a network coupled to the at least one input node and to the at least one output node, in which the network includes multiple capacitors and switches operatively coupled thereto. The switches are controlled by corresponding clock signals to capture charge of the input signal onto the capacitors and to develop the output signal by performing frequency translation of the input signal by a mixing frequency in such a manner that DC energy of the input signal is substantially blocked from the output signal. The output signal has a net voltage gain relative to the input signal in which energy of the output signal is predominantly derived from energy of the input signal.
US08498599B2
Methods and apparatus in a receiver for estimating a received power of at least one signal having a pattern known to the receiver, the signal having being transmitted by at least one antenna. A method includes using a first method of measuring the received power based on the pattern, the first method generating a first sequence of first power estimates; determining whether a predetermined first event has occurred; and if the first event has occurred, changing to a second method of measuring the received power, the second method being different from the first method and generating a second sequence of second power estimates.
US08498597B2
To provide a broadcast receiving apparatus including an AM detector, an AM noise detector, an FM detector, an FM noise-level detector, and a threshold control unit. The AM detector performs AM detection on a broadcast signal in airwaves received by a receiving antenna that receives incoming airwaves to acquire an AM detection signal. The AM noise detector detects a signal portion, in which the AM detection signal exceeds an AM noise threshold, as an AM noise component. The FM detector performs FM detection on the broadcast signal to acquire an FM detection signal. The FM noise-level detector detects an FM noise level of the FM detection signal. When the FM noise-level detector detects the FM noise level of the FM detection signal, the threshold control unit changes setting of the AM noise threshold in the AM noise detector based on the FM noise level of the FM detection signal.
US08498594B2
A diversity receiver includes a plurality of antennas to receive radio frequency signals. A plurality of receiver circuits are each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas to process the received radio frequency signals, and a channel estimator is coupled to at least one of the receiver circuits to determine at least one of channel estimation values for the received radio frequency signals. A controller is coupled to the channel estimator and to at least one of the receiver circuits and selectively activates or deactivates the at least one receiver circuit based on the determined at least one channel estimation value.
US08498587B2
The handheld personal electronic device has a first body having a display, a second body having a plurality of manual inputs, the second body capable of attachment to the first body, the personal electronic device having an open position wherein the display of the first body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed. And, the personal electronic device having a closed position wherein the display of the first body is protected by the second body and the manual inputs of the second body are accessibly exposed.
US08498585B2
Full duplex radio wireless systems and methods and especially transceivers for full duplex radio wireless systems with reduction of self-interference are described. MIMO (=multiple input multiple output several antennas for output and input) is used within one device with multiple antennas to remove self-interference in a proactive way. For example, a transceiver is described having self-interference suppression, comprising, within one transceiver device: two or more transmitters comprising one or more signal generators for transmitting transmit signals having transmit center frequencies in a selected first subchannel; and one or more receivers having receiver inputs for simultaneously receiving a desired receive signal in a second subchannel and an undesired accumulated interference signal due to said transmitted signals; and at least one of said transmitters also comprising a precompensation circuit that modifies the transmit signals such that said accumulated interference signal at the receiver(s) inputs is reduced.
US08498584B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for an electronically adjustable signal filter system, which comprises, in some embodiments, a first filter coupled to an antenna coupling network and a second filter, a power amplifier coupled to the first filter, an antenna connected to an antenna coupling network, a pilot tone generator coupled to the first filter, and a first signal source connected to the power amplifier and first filter. In some embodiments, the power amplifier amplifies the first signal, the first filter places a notch into the first signal transmitted to the antenna coupling network, the antenna coupling network combines the first signal and a second signal received from the antenna and transmits a third signal to the second filter.
US08498580B2
A method for estimating qualities of links between a transmitter and a receiver on respective carrier frequencies in a multi-carrier wireless communication system from measurements made during a scanning interval in which pilot signals may be transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver in a plurality of carrier-time bins, each carrier-time bin corresponding to a respective carrier frequency of the multi-carrier system and a respective time slot within the scanning interval, are provided. The method includes, during the scanning interval, making test measurements in less than all of the carrier-time bins, each test measurement comprising transmitting a respective signal from the transmitter to the receiver in a respective carrier-time bin and measuring a strength of the corresponding signal received by the receiver, and using the test measurements to determine at least one of: a value indicative of a predicted quality of a link between the transmitter and the receiver in a carrier-time bin of the scanning interval in which no test measurement is made during the scanning interval, and a value indicative of a predicted quality of a link between the transmitter and the receiver over a period of time within or equal to the scanning interval on a carrier frequency for which no test measurement is made in at least one carrier-time bin during said period of time.
US08498579B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for communicating among stations coupled to a communication medium by receiving signals from a plurality of the stations, determining signal strength values for each of the received signals based on at least a portion of the signal, and based on the signal strength values, selecting a detection threshold such that, in response to a signal having a signal strength in excess of the detection threshold, the signal is processed according to a protocol of a subset of the stations.
US08498576B2
The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to inverse-mode Radio-Frequency (“RF”) switching circuits and methods of using the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inverse-mode RF switching circuit. The inverse-mode RF switching circuit comprises a bipolar transistor, a shunt element, a first RF channel, and a second RF channel. The bipolar transistor comprises a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the base and emitter are in electrical communication first via a base-emitter junction and second via an electrical connection element. The shunt element is in electrical communication with the collector. The first RF channel is in electrical communication with the base and emitter. The second RF channel is in electrical communication with the collector and the shunt element. The base-collector junction operates as a switching diode between the first RF channel and the second RF channel.
US08498575B1
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with reducing interference between wireless networks are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes negotiation logic implemented in at least hardware configured for determining a quiet interval between a first device and a second device, where the first device and the second device communicate wirelessly via a first network according to a first wireless protocol and are within a wireless area of a second network that communicates with a second wireless protocol. Control logic implemented in at least hardware is configured for controlling wireless transmission of data from at least the first device on the first network by prohibiting transmissions from the first device during the quiet interval.
US08498567B2
A training system that provides web-based distribution, centralized control of pedagogy consistency and content customization, and efficient and economical resource utilization via group oriented training in which a plurality of trainees can be trained without the overhead of providing each trainee with an individual PC. Because the proven education delivery method includes entertaining situational modeling videos, game playing, and a high degree of interactivity, it assures high trainee comprehension with a minimum investment in hardware and instructor overhead.
US08498559B2
This disclosure relates to a lubricating supply system for a fuser assembly of a printing process having a perforated sleeve, the perforated sleeve supporting a semi-porous foam roll. The perforated sleeve slips around the outer surface of a rotating shaft in order that the lubricant supplied to the hollow of the rotating shaft is diffused through the perforated sleeve and foam roll to lubricate a heated surface of the fuser assembly. A lubricant port connects a source of lubricant to the hollow portion of the rotating shaft.
US08498550B2
A copier comprises a housing, an image reading section, an image forming section, a paper discharge section, a paper supply section and an ion generating unit. The ion generating unit is disposed below the paper discharge section and above the paper supply section. The ion generating unit includes a duct that defines a path of flow guiding air sucked from outside of the housing to outside of the housing again.
US08498549B2
A cooling device having a cooling unit including an air suction port that is disposed at a front surface side of a main body of the cooling device to suck air, and an air exhaust port that is disposed at a rear surface side of the main body of the cooling device to exhaust air, in which the cooling unit transfers heat from a cooling target to air sucked from the air suction port to cool the cooling target, and discharges the heat-transferred air from the air exhaust port.
US08498547B2
A fixing device of belt fixing type is provided. A fixing device includes a connector to be connected to wires provided therein. The connector includes integrally primary-side wiring connector terminals to be connected to primary-side wires each leading to a heat generating resistor, and secondary-side wiring connector terminals to be connected to secondary-side wires including wires each leading to a heat generating element-side thermistor, the secondary-side wires flowing current smaller than the primary-side wires.
US08498540B2
A system for acquiring data of a multi-channel signal includes a channel-voltage transmission module disposed in a shield room blocking electromagnetic waves, connected with a plurality of channels from which analog signals are output, and configured to generate a serial digital signal having information about an analog signal and information about a channel from which the analog signal is output, and an optical fiber cable through which the serial digital signal is transmitted from the channel-voltage transmission module to the outside of the shield room.
US08498539B1
Techniques, devices and systems for using dielectric materials, without metal or electrically conductive materials, to construct photonic RF and microwave receivers and concentrators.
US08498533B2
In a communication system in which data is transferred by packets, a ranging method in which a receiver, in a given ranging window, periodically compares received data with expected data to find a match. The periodic comparison includes searching for known preamble and/or delimiter sequences of ranging packets and involves timeouts for each search period. In case a match between the known sequences and received sequences is not found and the respective timeout is exceeded, the search and comparison process is restarted and continues until a global timeout is exceeded.
US08498525B2
In light-irradiation heating with a total irradiation time of one second or less, two-stage irradiation is performed, including a first stage of light irradiation of a semiconductor wafer, which irradiation produces an output waveform that reaches a peak at a given emission output; and a second stage of supplemental light irradiation of the semiconductor wafer, which irradiation is started after the peak, producing an emission output smaller than the above given emission output. The emission output in the second stage is two thirds or less than the above given emission output at the peak. The first-stage light-irradiation time is between 0.1 and 10 milliseconds, and the second-stage light-irradiation time is 5 milliseconds or more.
US08498521B2
Provided is a video reproduction method with a less difference between a target speed and an actual speed, when fast forward reproduction or fast rewind reproduction is performed on reproduction units consisting of a plurality of connected video units. When the video units are switched, in fast forward reproduction, as an elapsed jump time duration, a difference between a reproduction time of a last displayed picture in a source video unit and an end time of the source video unit is calculated (S104), then, as a remaining jump time duration, a value is calculated by subtracting the calculated elapsed jump time duration from the jump time duration corresponding to the designated speed (S105), then, as a reproduction start time, a time is calculated by adding the calculated remaining time duration to a start time of a destination video unit (S106), and the video is reproduced from the reproduction start time.
US08498519B2
A copy protection method and apparatus is disclosed. Various protection signals are added to a video signal in the vicinity of the color burst part of the signal. The protection signals are selected to interfere with the frequency down conversion process in the video recorder so that the color burst cannot be recorded properly. The protection signals are chosen so that when a modified video signal containing the original video signal and the protection signals has been recorded by a video recorder, playback of the modified video signal exhibits visual artefacts that are not visible before recording of the modified signal occurred. The protection signals are also used to carry digital control information for controlling the operation of a digital recorder.
US08498513B2
A control method for recording audio/video data streams in a display device of a wireless network comprises transmitting a Give Tuner Device Status message to a tuner device to request status information of the tuner device that senses a record command signal input from a user and transmits A/V data streams to the display device; receiving a response message, Tuner Device Status message, which includes the status information of the tuner device, from the tuner device in response to the Give Tuner Device Status message; transmitting a record on message, which includes the status information of the tuner device, to the source device; and receiving a record status message from the source device in response to the record on message, wherein the response message includes information indicating whether caption information is included in the A/V data streams transmitted from the tuner device to the display device.
US08498512B2
An ophthalmic illumination system includes a collimated light beam focused onto an optical fiber for transmission of the light beam to an ophthalmic light probe. A light attenuator includes a pair of arrays positioned serially in a path for the collimated beam. The arrays are movable in parallel in the path about a rotational axis orthogonal to the path and between the arrays. Each array includes a plurality of regularly spaced-apart parallel plates, the parallel plates of one array being non-parallel to the plates of the other array.
US08498496B2
Processing method of a digital image to filter red and/or golden eye artifacts, the digital image comprising a plurality of pixel each comprising at least one digital value represented on a plurality of bits, the method comprising: a step of selecting at least one patch of pixels of the digital image comprising pixels potentially representative of a red and/or golden eye artifact; a step of classifying the at least one patch of pixels as “eye” or “non-eye”; a step of filtering said potentially representative pixels if said patch of pixels is classified as “eye”; wherein the classifying step comprises the operations of: converting the digital values of said patch of pixels into a Gray Code representation, overall obtaining a plurality of bit maps from said patch of pixels, each bit map being associated with a respective bit of said Gray Code; an operation of individually comparing said bit maps with corresponding bit map models belonging to a patch classifier produced by a statistical analysis of bit maps obtained by converting patches of pixels of digital images containing or not red and/or golden eye artifacts into said Gray Code representation.
US08498479B2
An image processing device for dividing an image imaged by imaging means into multiple regions includes: processing means for grouping, when difference of the pieces of image data between a single pixel within the image and a pixel adjacent thereto is less than a predetermined threshold, the single pixel and the adjacent pixel, and dividing the image into multiple regions with finally obtained each group as each region of the image; and average-value calculating means for calculating the average value of the image data within the group including the single pixel; with the processing means comparing the image data of the single pixel, and the average value calculated at the average-value calculating means regarding the group to which the adjacent pixel belongs; and when the difference thereof is equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold, doing not group the single pixel and the adjacent pixel.
US08498477B2
A system and method for gathering bulk images are provided herein.
US08498473B2
Systems and methods provide for quantifying the similarity between images that appear similar. Given a set of images, one image is selected as the base image, to which the remaining images are compared. One or more portions of the base image are selected for comparison and the color composition of these areas is calculated. Then, the color compositions are examined to quantify the similarity or difference between the images, which is assigned a score reflective of the quantitative similarity or difference. The results are displayed. These systems and methods allow, e.g, a website owner to check whether web pages have come through imperfectly across different browsers; the analysis identifies not just blatant errors, but even single-pixel shifts.
US08498467B2
Method for inspecting a zone of the surface of a tire, said surface comprising markings in relief, wherein the three-dimensional profile of the surface to be inspected is determined, characteristic points on the surface to be inspected are located and these points are matched with the corresponding points originating from the three-dimensional data of a reference surface, so as to create a set of pairs of matched points, in an iterative manner, a first affine transformation function is sought, applied to the characteristic points of the reference surface, so that the value representing the sum of the distances between each of the characteristic points of the reference surface, which points are transformed with the aid of said first transformation function, and the points of the surface to be inspected that are matched with them, is minimal, and said first transformation function is applied to all of the points of the reference surface in order to obtain a transformed reference surface.
US08498459B2
A method of verifying a registration of a digital image includes receiving a reference image and a moving image registered to the reference image representing the same object, selecting one or more landmarks in the images, defining a neighborhood in the domain of each image near each selected landmark, extracting feature sets from the neighborhoods for the reference image and the registered moving image, calculating a total quality measure of the registration of the moving image from a distance metric applied to the feature sets extracted from the neighborhoods of the reference image and the registered moving image, comparing the total quality measure to a threshold determined from a reference atlas for the object represented in the image, and determining whether to accept or reject the registration of the moving image based on the comparison result.
US08498454B2
A technique for optimizing object recognition is disclosed. The technique includes receiving at least one image of an object and at least one reference image. The technique further includes identifying at least one performance metric corresponding to an object recognition task. The identified performance metric is optimized to generate the corresponding optimized performance metric by determining an optimal subspace based on a determined objective function corresponding to the object recognition task and a difference between the received image and the corresponding reference image. Subsequently, the technique includes comparing the received image with the reference image based on the optimized performance metric for performing the object recognition task.
US08498443B2
The present invention provides a watermark information embedding device, a watermark information processing system, a watermark information embedding method and program that can provide a two-dimensional code enabling detection of copying. The watermark information embedding device comprises a first wavelet transform unit (12), a watermark information embedding unit (14) and an inverse wavelet transform unit (150). The first wavelet transform unit (12) performs a discrete wavelet transform on an original image of a two-dimensional code and decomposes this into various frequency components, namely an LL component, an LH component, an HL component and an HH component. The watermark information embedding unit (14) embeds the watermark information in the HH component as a high-frequency component in an oblique direction. The inverse wavelet transform unit (150) recomposes the two-dimensional code by performing an inverse discrete wavelet transform on the HH component in which the watermark information is embedded, and on each of the frequency components namely the LL component, the LH component and the HL component.
US08498434B2
A hearing aid comprises a wireless Frequency-Shift-Keying (FSK) receiver. The receiver has an antenna receiving an FSK signal, a first amplifier stage amplifying the FSK signal, a limiter stage limiting the amplified FSK signal, a plurality of parallel phase detection stages and a lookup table block. Each phase detection stage comprises a local oscillator, a mixer stage, a filter stage, and a comparator stage. The output of each of the respective comparator stages is provided to the input of the look-up table block. The invention also relates to a method for processing a wireless FSK signal for providing a signal for a hearing aid, and a wireless FSK receiver.
US08498433B1
The instant development relates to utilizing the sonic motion generated by a speaker to move objects in various directions in response to the variation in the frequency and amplitude of the sonic vibrations. This can be used to move objects in a linear and/or rotating manner. This is accomplished by the utilization of directionality oriented members.
US08498423B2
A method is provided which is suitable to cope with non-linear echo paths during acoustic echo cancellation in speakerphones. Non-linear paths occur particularly in hands-free operation of, e.g., a mobile phone, due to driving the amplifier and loudspeaker in the non-linear range. The idea is to combine the commonly known one microphone approach of linear acoustic echo cancellation using an adaptive filter and a post-processor together with a multiple microphone approach using beam forming which separately removes the non-linear part of the echo.
US08498421B2
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal are provided. In the encoding method, spatial information is calculated based on a multi-channel audio signal and a down-mix signal, and a compensation parameter that compensates for the down-mix signal is calculated based on the multi-channel audio signal and the down-mix signal. Thereafter, a bitstream is generated by encoding the spatial information, the compensation parameter, and the down-mix signal and combining the results of the encoding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of sound regarding a multi-channel audio signal by compensating for the multi-channel audio signal using a compensation parameter that compensates for a down-mix signal.
US08498417B1
A key management server in a storage area network (SAN) provides encryption keys for source and destination storage objects and also associates destination storage objects with source storage objects. When a source object is to be replicated, a replication facility in a storage system of a new destination object requests the key management server to associate the destination object with the source object and assign the data encryption key of the source object or a new data encryption key to the destination object. For recovery of the source object, a replication facility in the storage system of the source object obtains information from the key management server about the replica associated with the source object for replicating data from the destination object back to the source object.
US08498411B1
A method, integrated circuit chip, and computer program product for cryptographically processing an input value with Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) using ECC scalar multiplication are provided. The ECC scalar multiplication is performed with the use of an enhanced acceleration table (EAT). The EAT uses multiple running totals with multiples above 2. The EAT, in some embodiments, uses reference values other than 0 and 2^window size.
US08498410B2
A key variable loader receives a set of Rijndael parameters that were verified using a simulation computer, wherein the set of Rijndael parameters provide an input for implementing at least one step of the Rijndael block cipher and when used with a secret key allow a conversion between plain text and cipher text using the Rijndael block cipher. The key variable loader further stores the set of Rijndael parameters and subsequently provides the set of Rijndael parameters to a device having a customizable Rijndael block cipher, like a subscriber unit or a key management facility.
US08498406B2
A data entry system using a number of different input signals provided by interacting with input means such as keys wherein to at least some of the different input signals a number of symbols including substantially all of the letters of the alphabet of one language are distributively assigned such that at least two of the letters are ambiguously assigned to at least one of the some input signals. The data entry system includes a database of words and uses a word predictive system such that in order to enter a word of the database the user provides a first input information consisting of providing the input signals corresponding to the characters, generally the letters, of the word, and an additional input information corresponding to at least one of the characters of the word and its corresponding input signal provided through the first input information, and wherein the system precisely recognizes the character among the ambiguous characters assigned to the input signal and provides a word of the dictionary that corresponds to the first and the additional input information.
US08498395B2
A computer-implemented method for auto play of a status in a telephone conference is provided. The method includes receiving, at an e-mail server, a status message of a party to a telephone conference, and determining from the status message whether the party will be able to attend the telephone conference. When it is determined that the party cannot attend the telephone conference, the method further includes forwarding the status message to a voice box for conversion of the status message into audio that is saved in an audio file. The method may also include notifying a teleconference bridge that the party associated with the status message will not be able to attend the telephone conference. The teleconference bridge creates an entry in a repository indicating that the party will need a voice proxy from the audio file, and, during the telephone conference, the status of the party is provided to other parties to the telephone conference by playing the audio file.
US08498394B2
An anonymous communication system allows a third party, which is not a communicating party, to determine the anonymities of the communicating parties. An anonymity notifying apparatus to be installed in an anonymous communication system enables anonymous communication. An anonymous communication system and method detects the anonymities of communication parties and notifies them to a third party device other than communication devices of the communication parties.
US08498393B2
A method for provisioning a terminal device in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a provisioning element that selectively establishes a telephony usage profile for each of a plurality of users sharing the terminal device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08498389B2
There is provided a system for facilitating a conference call. The system includes a module to generate a real-time voiceprint from a voice input of a participant in the conference call, and a module to provide information indicative of the participant based on the real-time voiceprint.
US08498381B2
An x-ray window comprising a plurality of thin film layers stacked together, including a thin film layer and a polymer layer. The thin film layer can be diamond, graphene, diamond-like carbon, beryllium, and combinations thereof. The polymer layer can be a polyimide. A boron hydride layer may also be included.
US08498380B2
The present invention refers to an X-ray tube of the rotary-anode type which comprises at least one temporarily negatively biased auxiliary grid electrode (119) with an aperture through which an electron beam (115) emitted by a tube cathode's thermoionic electron emitter (111) can pass. As an alternative thereto, the auxiliary grid electrode (119) may also be positively biased so as to enhance electron emission from a thermoionic electron emitter (111). The auxiliary grid electrode may thereby be connected to a supply voltage UAUX of a controllable voltage supply unit by means of a feedthrough cable (120) serving as a feeding line for providing the main control grid (112) with a grid supply voltage UG.
US08498377B2
An imaging apparatus for irradiating an object includes a source arrangement, from which x-rays from different positions that form an at least one-dimensional structure may be emitted. The imaging apparatus also includes a detector arrangement for detecting the x-rays. An object is positioned between the source arrangement and the detector arrangement so that, with the detector arrangement, the x-rays attenuated by the object are recorded. The imaging apparatus also includes an evaluation apparatus for evaluating the signals recorded by the detector arrangement. A region of the detector arrangement is assigned to different positions of the structure, from which x-rays are directed at the region in partial irradiations. The region is aligned relative to the structure, such that the partial irradiations that are produced from the different positions of the structure with a region of the detector develop a radiation geometry that irradiates the object in a planar fashion.
US08498367B2
Disclosed is a digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having an improved reception performance and in a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TS stream generator for inputting robust and normal packets having stuff bytes in predetermined positions and generating dual TS stream by inserting the robust packets between the normal packets; a randomizer for randomizing the dual TS stream; a stuff byte exchanger for replacing the stuff bytes of a randomized data streams from the randomizer to a predetermined known data; and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08498356B2
An apparatus and method of generating a codebook. The codebook generation apparatus includes a matrix extender to generate a candidate matrix set by multiplying a base matrix and at least one diagonal matrix, wherein the at least one diagonal matrix includes elements of a constrained set as diagonal elements; and a codebook generator to generate the codebook where a minimum distance between the elements is maximized, based on the candidate matrix set. According to aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a precoding codebook that can reduce an amount of feedback from a terminal.
US08498354B2
A carrier frequency offset can be present in a signal received by a communications receiver, when the receiver has a local frequency oscillator that generates a carrier frequency different from a carrier frequency generated by a local frequency oscillator at a transmitter that transmitted the signal. A residual carrier frequency offset can remain after most of the carrier frequency offset has been removed from the received signal using conventional techniques. The residual carrier frequency offset is estimated using first and second channel impulse responses derived from first and second portions of the received signal. An estimated phase difference between the first and second channel impulse responses is computed. An estimate of the residual carrier frequency offset is computed using the estimated phase difference.
US08498350B2
A wireless radio transceiver system configured to transmit and receive a communications signal waveform having a time division multiple access physical layer structure and which includes a sequence of orthogonal frequency division multiple access symbols. The transceiver provides transmit diversity through space-time coding and the use of orthogonal channel probes from each transmitter. The waveform is packet based and contains a packet header definition that supports local receiver synchronization. Examples of the waveform also incorporate transmission security features.
US08498339B2
The invention provides a video processing method, which includes: performing motion estimation upon the target image block and a plurality of reference image blocks to calculate a plurality of block matching differences; determining a minimum block matching difference from the plurality of the block matching differences; comparing the minimum block matching difference with at least one of the reference block matching differences to obtain at least a comparison result; and according to the at least a comparison result, selectively determining a target motion vector of the target image block referred to a motion vector of at least a neighboring image block of the target image block or a motion vector corresponding to the minimum block matching difference.
US08498331B2
The present invention provides a motion picture receiving device, comprising: image data receiving means for receiving encoded image data; decoding means for decoding the image data received by the image data receiving means; output means for outputting the image data decoded by the decoding means; and control means for determining an encoding condition of image data by communicating with a motion picture transmitting device which transmits the image data, and for controlling the decoding means to enable decoding of the image data encoded in accordance with the encoding condition; wherein, when the number of motion picture transmitting devices changes, the control means determines the encoding condition on the basis of the changed number of the motion picture transmitting devices.
US08498319B2
A disclosed surface emitting laser device includes a light emitting section having a mesa structure where a lower reflection mirror, an oscillation structure, and an upper reflection mirror are laminated on a substrate, the oscillation structure including an active layer, the upper reflection mirror including a current confined structure where an oxide surrounds a current passage region, a first dielectric film that coats the entire surface of an emitting region of the light emitting section, the transparent dielectric including a part where the refractive index is relatively high and a part where the refractive index is relatively low, and a second dielectric film that coats a peripheral part on the upper surface of the mesa structure. Further, the dielectric film includes a lower dielectric film and an upper dielectric film, and the lower dielectric film is coated with the upper dielectric film.
US08498317B2
A temperature controller for a gas laser which controls temperatures of temperature-controlled apparatuses including a first temperature-controlled portion requiring a high-precision temperature-control and a second temperature-controlled portion requiring a low-precision temperature-control and allowing a temperature-control with a low or high temperature as compared with the first temperature-controlled portion, comprises a first temperature control portion generating a cooling agent or a heating agent for adjusting a temperature of each first temperature-controlled portion, a second temperature control portion generating a cooling agent or a heating agent for adjusting a temperature of each second temperature-controlled portion, a first piping system connecting the first temperature control portion and each first temperature-controlled portion in parallel, and a second piping system connecting the second temperature control portion and each second temperature-controlled portion in parallel.
US08498316B2
A laser device for intra-cavity frequency conversion, in particular, for the second harmonic generation, the device comprising a laser cavity, formed by the first and the second laser cavity end reflectors wherein the said laser cavity end reflectors are highly reflective for the radiation about the laser fundamental frequency and as such provide for a predetermined level of circulating inside the cavity fundamental frequency power; an active medium provided within the said laser cavity; at least one non-linear crystal, in particular, for the second harmonic generation provided within the same laser cavity; tuning means adapted for tuning at least one of laser cavity end reflectors; wherein at least one of the laser cavity end reflectors comprises an interferometric layout providing spectrally selective reflection for the radiation about the laser fundamental frequency with the value of reflectivity nearly to 100% within a spectral range close to the free spectrum range of the laser cavity and with a sufficiently lower reflectivity outside the above spectral range such that the laser cavity restricts the spectrum of the laser radiation to a single longitudinal mode.
US08498299B2
An enhanced, flooding-based routing protocol is described that provides burst-rate and average-rate flow control. A routing device comprises a network interfaces configured to send and receive packets over a layer-two (L2) communication medium. A flooding-based link state routing protocol executes on a processor of the routing device to maintain network topology information for a network and establish an adjacency with a peer router over the layer-two (L2) communication medium. A database of the routing device stores a minimum packet interval and a credit specified by the peer router for the adjacency. When sufficient credit has been allocated to the L2 communication medium, a scheduler of the router dequeues link state messages from an outbound packet queue and floods each of the link state messages to the L2 communication medium while maintaining at least the specified minimum packet interval between each of the plurality of link state messages.
US08498292B2
The disclosure relates to the mesh network technology, and in particular, to a network node and a method for establishing a path and transmitting data. A method for establishing a network path is provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes: receiving a gateway notification forwarded by a node with a trunk path and setting up a routing request timer; sending a routing request that contains information about whether a path is the trunk path after the routing request timer times out; receiving a route reply that is generated by the gateway after receiving the routing request from the gateway through the trunk path. In addition, a network node for implementing the method is provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
US08498291B2
Switching between communication ports of a notebook is typically accomplished using an off-chip local area network (LAN) switch or an off-chip high speed analog multiplexer. This off-chip component is disadvantageous for several reasons, including: added cost of an additional component; increased overall power consumption because transmit amplitude loss; and reduced cable reach and link performance due to hybrid mismatch and signal distortions. To reduce cost and preserve electrical and networking performance, an integrated switch is provided to multiplex signals of a networking communication chip to multiple network paths.
US08498278B2
A system is provided for a wireless local area network. The system includes, but is not limited to, at least one cell controller and simplified RF ports which are configured to provide lower level media access control functions. Higher level media access control functions are provided in a cell controller, which may service one or more RF ports that are capable operating with at least two wireless local area subnetworks. Mobile units can also be configured with the higher level media access control functions being performed in a host processor.
US08498271B2
A method of adjusting quality of service (QoS) with respect to changes in a transmission environment of a mobile terminal receiving data based on a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) session. When the transmission environment of the mobile terminal receiving data based on the SCTP session changes, the mobile terminal transmits link information indicating a new transmission environment to a destination node, and the destination node adjusts the quality of data or the size of a transmission window based on the link information. Thus, without adding separate network devices, the QoS of the data being transmitted can be adjusted with respect to the changed transmission environment, only by adding functions with software to the transmission terminal and the reception terminal. Also, since the destination node manually adjusts the transmission window according to the link information, packet loss can be minimized compared to the conventional congestion control method.
US08498269B2
Methods and systems are provided for efficient handover of a media session between heterogeneous IP networks. A mobile device with Internet access can operate a software program to communicate with a corresponding node. The corresponding node may access the Internet through either (i) a NAT router or (ii) a public IP address. The mobile device establishes a media session with a corresponding node via the transmission of a first media stream and receipt of a second media stream, and a media control channel can optionally be implemented. The mobile device can acquire Internet access through a second IP address, and packets routed between the second IP address and the Internet may traverse a NAT router. A software routine can determine that handover of the media session from the first IP address to the second IP address is preferred.
US08498264B2
Disclosed is a session handoff method of an access terminal (AT) in a high-rate packet data (HRPD) mobile communication system. The session handoff method comprises performing a close procedure of a session in negotiation upon receiving a close request for a session negotiation from the AT performing session handoff; allocating a new unicast access terminal identifier (UATI) to the AT upon receiving a request for allocation of a new UATI from the AT after the session close procedure; and acquiring prior session information from a source session controller using an old UATI included in received prior session information upon receiving configuration information including the prior session information from the AT after allocating a new UATI to the AT.
US08498258B2
According to one example embodiment, a method may include receiving, by a first femto base station via a femto base station air interface, at least one neighbor preamble from at least one neighbor femto base station. The method may further include sending, by the first femto base station to a macro base station via a guided (DSL) Internet connection, an interference report, the interference report being based at least in part on the at least one neighbor preamble received from the at least one neighbor femto base station. The method may further include receiving, by the first femto base station from the macro base station via the guided Internet connection, a resource allocation message. The method may further include sending, by the first femto base station via the femto base station air interface, a first femto base station preamble, the first femto base station preamble being sent at a time determined at least in part by the resource allocation message.
US08498254B2
A method for allocating resources of physical hybrid ARQ indicator channels is disclosed, comprising: a transmitting end dividing evenly all resources of Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channels (PHICHs) to be allocated into a plurality of configured PHICH groups, and then mapping them to sub-carriers of resource groups corresponding to the PHICH groups to transmit signals in the PHICHs through the sub-carriers. The present invention enables Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest function to be implemented in a practical system, and also ensures minimum interference between different users and improves the utilization of system resources.
US08498249B2
A unified two-stage network entry procedure is provided for OFDM multi-carrier wireless communications systems. During a first stage, a mobile station performs a common network entry procedure using a primary radio frequency carrier and then exchanges multi-carrier capability information with a base station. In one embodiment, the base station transmits a network entry allowance indicator to assist the mobile station in selecting the primary carrier. The network entry allowance indicator comprises information of preference of one or more available carriers. During a second stage, the mobile station enables multi-carrier transmission over multiple frequency channels if both the mobile station and the base station support multi-carrier capability. Before enabling multi-carrier transmission, the mobile station may optionally perform additional ranging by transmitting a ranging request for a secondary carrier. In one embodiment, the base station replies with a ranging response in response to the ranging request through the primary carrier.
US08498242B2
Techniques for transmitting beacon signals to assist user equipments (UEs) perform cell search and techniques for detecting for beacon signals are described. In an aspect, cells may be assigned beacon patterns defined based on orthogonal grouping of subcarriers. U subcarriers usable for beacon may be arranged into G orthogonal groups, with each group including S subcarriers. P=SG different beacon patterns may be defined based on the G groups of S subcarriers. In another aspect, the cells may transmit their beacon signals at configurable transmit power levels, which may be determined based on target beacon detection performance. In yet another aspect, a UE may perform overlapping DFTs in order to capture more received power when symbol timing at the UE is not aligned with symbol timing of cells being detected. In yet another aspect, the UE may perform beacon detection with maximal likelihood decoding.
US08498237B2
Methods and/or apparatus for communicating and/or using device capability information are described. Device capability information may be broadcast by a device using a first protocol. The protocol may be a beacon signal based protocol. The device information is used to select a second protocol and/or a device configuration to be used to communicate user data. In some embodiments the first protocol is a low bit rate protocol supporting less than 300 bits per second while the second protocol is a much higher rate protocol supporting in some embodiments data rates in the range of kilobits per second or even much higher data rates. The second protocol normally uses signal phase to communicate information while the first protocol does not use signal phase in many but not necessarily all embodiments.
US08498235B2
A communication apparatus in a mobile communication system includes a first control information generation unit configured to generate first control information including retransmission information on a previously received data channel, a second control information generation unit configured to generate second control information including scheduling information on radio resources and a transmission signal generation unit configured to generate a transmission signal including a lower layer control channel including at least one of the first control information and the second control information. The transmission signal generation unit generates the transmission signal to transmit the first control information in any of subframes arriving at a first cycle and to transmit the second control information in any of subframes arriving at a second cycle longer than the first cycle.
US08498234B2
A repeater (200) facilitates wireless communication between a first communication device (100) and a second communication device (105) in a wireless network using a time division duplex protocol for data transmission. The repeater (200) includes a receiver (310, 315) for receiving a signal on either of at least two bi-directional communication frequencies simultaneously. A signal detector (362) is operatively coupled to the receiver (300, 310, 315) for determining if the signal is present on at least one of the two bi-directional frequencies. A frequency converter (320, 321, 323, 324, 360, 361) is for converting the signal present on one of the bi-directional frequencies to a converted signal on the other of the bi-directional frequencies. A transmitter (300, 325, 330, 335, 345, 350) is for transmitting the converted signal on the other of said bi-directional frequencies.
US08498228B2
A method of signal transmission/reception by a transmitter in a wireless mobile communication system is provided. The method includes determining a signal transmission/reception corresponding relation between a downlink and an uplink of the wireless mobile communication system using a super-frame, the super-frame including at least one frame, said at least one frame including at least one downlink sub-frame and at least one uplink sub-frame, the signal transmission/reception corresponding relation enabling each sub-frame within a link including fewer sub-frames to correspond to at least one sub-frame within a link including more sub-frames when the downlink and the uplink of the wireless mobile communication system include different numbers of sub-frames, wherein the signal transmission/reception corresponding relation is also determined when the downlink and the uplink of the wireless mobile communication system include a same number of sub-frames, and transmitting and receiving signals to and from a receiver through at least one downlink sub-frame and at least one uplink sub-frame according to the determined signal transmission/reception corresponding relation.
US08498218B2
A communication apparatus including: a reception unit configured to, receive a first frame having a first format and a second frame having a second format in which information is reduced with respect to the first format and extract a first identifier existing in both the first frame and the second frame; a first frame processing unit configured to process the first frame; a second frame processing unit configured to process the second frame; a table including a correspondence between the first identifier and a second identifier indicating whether the first frame and the second frame having the first identifier is in the first format or the second format; and a control unit configured to transfer the first frame or the second frame to one of the first frame processing unit and the second frame processing unit based on the table when the frame is received.
US08498217B2
Aspects of a method and system for adaptive tone cancellation for mitigating the effects of interference are provided. In this regard, an Ethernet PHY may receive one or more signals via a corresponding one or more physical channels and generate one or more estimate signals, each of which approximates interference present in a corresponding one of the received signals. The Ethernet PHY may subtract each one of the estimate signals from a corresponding one of the received signals. The subtracting may occur at the input of one or more slicers in the Ethernet PHY. The received signals may be processed via one or more equalizers in the Ethernet PHY. A decision output of a slicer in the Ethernet PHY may be subtracted from one of the said one or more received signals, and a signal resulting from the subtraction may be utilized to generate the one or more estimate signals.
US08498210B2
Methods and apparatus for encoding a number of small dynamic values over an n-bit field. Also methods and apparatus allowing for the stateless extraction of separate sequences from repetitions of a single field whereby to communicate more than one signal at once.
US08498205B2
A system for monitoring a plurality of network devices within a network comprises a network monitor embedded within one of the network devices for automatically discovering and requesting status information from other network devices. The network monitor, in the event that another network monitor is discovered, initiates cooperation with the other network monitor to share discovering and requesting.
US08498203B2
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling routers, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.
US08498202B2
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing Diameter network management information in a communications network. The method includes steps occurring at a Diameter signaling router (DSR). The method also includes determining whether successful Diameter communications are available with a first Diameter application. The method further includes in response to determining that successful Diameter communications are not available with the first Diameter application, generating a first Diameter network management message (DNMM) indicating that successful Diameter communications are not available with the first Diameter application. The method also includes sending the first DNMM to a second Diameter node.
US08498194B2
A method for controlling uplink power is provided, which is used for implementing the uplink power control of the virtual multiple input multiple output system, so as to save the system resource. The method includes: determining at least two user equipments being paired in a virtual multiple input multiple output system; and in accordance with the orthogonality of the at least two user equipments, adjusting at least the power of one of the user equipments. In addition, a device for implementing the method is provided.
US08498190B2
An optical head capable of recording or playing back optical discs is provided. The optical disc comprises a light source to emit a beam, an objective to focus the beam on an optical disc, a beam dividing element having a plurality of divided areas with which to divide a cross section of the beam reflected from the optical disc, and a light detector to receive the beams divided by the beam dividing element, wherein the beam dividing element has in at least one of the plurality of areas an aberration imparting function of imparting an astigmatism or defocus aberration to a beam passing through that area.
US08498184B1
A media processing system for processing media having differing properties, the media processing system having a base. The base has a base radial alignment portion, a base vertical alignment portion, and a base retention portion. A set of removable media clamps is included, where each of the set of removable media clamps is adapted for the differing properties of the media, each removable media clamp has a removable media clamp radial alignment portion for engaging the base radial alignment portion and radially aligning the removable media clamp with the base, a removable media clamp vertical alignment portion for engaging the base vertical alignment portion and vertically aligning the removable media clamp with the base, and a media engagement portion for engaging the media. The retention portion is controllable by the media processing system to selectively retain and release a mounted one of the removable media clamps without manual intervention.
US08498182B1
The presented embodiments generally relate to designing an antenna of an optical transducer (e.g., a near-field transducer or near-field optical source) that focuses the optical energy of a radiation source (e.g., a laser) onto a magnetic media, thereby heating the media. Specifically, the antenna is designed to wrap-around an aperture of the optical transducer such that at least a portion of the antenna is between a main pole of a write head and a surface of the aperture that faces the main pole. Moreover, the antenna may wrap-around the aperture such that it directly contacts the main pole.
US08498181B1
An alarm clock application for a device having a touch screen, in which time entry consists of progressively entering data into each of three singularly functional groups of keys, comprises: a) a 4 digit time display portion; and, b) a keypad portion consisting of three separated, functional groups of keys: i) a first functional group of keys which provides only a choice between a clock time set function key and an alarm time set function key; ii) a second functional group of keys for time entry, which provides only a ten numeric key group numbered 0-9 for entering numbers; and, iii) a third group of keys which provides only a choice of AM-PM function keys, to finalize any time setting sequence. After time entry consisting of progressively using each of the three singularly functional groups of keys, all entries can, at any time, be reviewed with a glance.
US08498177B2
Determining geological layer location in a subterranean formation, including receiving seismic data representing an interaction of the geological layer with propagation of a seismic wave, identifying a source wavelet representing a portion of the seismic wave impinging on a boundary of the geological layer, providing a geological layer template of the geological layer including primary and secondary reflection interfaces associated with reflectivity based on material properties of the geological layer, generating a wavelet response template by applying the source wavelet to the geological layer template using a mathematical convolution operation to model seismic wave interference caused by the primary and secondary reflection interfaces, identifying an extremum of the seismic data, and determining, based on the extremum, the location of the geological layer in the subterranean formation using the wavelet response template.
US08498174B2
An innovative dual-port subthreshold static random access memory (SRAM) cell for sub-threshold voltage operation is disclosed. During write mode, the dual-port subthreshold SRAM cell would cut off the positive feedback loop of the inverters and utilize the reverse short-channel effect to enhance write capability. The single-ended read/write port structure further reduces power consumption of the lengthy bit line. Therefore, the dual-port subthreshold SRAM cell is a suitable for long operation in a first-in first-out memory system. Although the lower voltage reduces the stability of the memory cell, the dual-port subthreshold SRAM cell of the present invention can still stably operate.
US08498168B2
A method of detecting manufacturing defects at a memory array may include utilizing test circuitry to provide a selected voltage as drain bias on a bit-line of the memory array where the memory array is configured to employ a first voltage as the drain bias for a read operation and the selected voltage is higher than the first voltage, and determining whether a leakage current indicative of a manufacturing defect between the bit-line and another component of the memory array is present responsive to providing the selected voltage as the drain bias. A corresponding test device is also provided.
US08498165B2
A data outputting method of a memory circuit is illustrated. The memory circuit having at least 16 data buffers DQ[0]˜DQ[15] for storing at least 16 batches of data is provided. If a quadruple data outputting mode is selected for the memory circuit, when the clock signal triggers the 16 data buffers DQ[0]˜DQ[15], the 4 batches of the data stored in the 4 data buffers DQ[0], DQ[1], DQ[8], DQ[9] via 4 input/output pins connected to the 4 data buffers DQ[0], DQ[1], DQ[8], DQ[9], the batch of data stored in the data buffer DQ[2n+2] is transferred to be stored in the data buffer DQ[2n], and the batch of the data stored in the data buffer DQ[2n+3] is transferred to be stored in the data buffer DQ[2n+1], for n is an integer from 0 through 2, and from 4 through 6.
US08498162B2
A method, apparatus, and manufacture for a memory device is provided. The memory device includes memory cells that each store two bits, and a memory controller. During write operations, for each bit in each memory cell that is to be programmed, the memory controller determines whether both bits of the memory cell are being programmed. While controlling an application of programming pulses to the memory cell to program the bit, if both bits of the memory cell are being programmed, the memory controller causes the application of each programming pulse to the bit to occur for a reduced duration. Otherwise, the memory controller causes the application of each programming pulse to the bit to occur for a standard duration. The reduced duration is less than three-fourths of the standard duration.
US08498159B2
Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, for example, are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple independent semiconductor well regions each having strings of memory cells are independently biased during a programming operation performed on a memory device. Reduced charge leakage may be realized during a programming operation in response to independent well biasing methods.
US08498155B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a substrate including device regions extending in a first direction, a memory cell array region including a plurality of memory cells disposed on the device regions, bit lines extending in the first direction, a sense amplifier circuit connected to ends of the bit lines, and bit line contacts connecting device regions to bit lines. The memory cell array region includes first to N-th regions where N is an integer of two or more, and a K-th region is located at a greater distance from the sense amplifier circuit than a (K−1)-th region, where K is an arbitrary integer of 2 to N. Contact resistance of the bit line contacts in the K-th region is lower than contact resistance of the bit line contacts in the (K−1)-th region, each device region having constant width in the memory cell array region.
US08498144B2
A semiconductor storage device includes first to fourth switch circuit. The semiconductor storage device includes a row decoder which controls a voltage of a word line. The semiconductor storage device includes a first selection transistor of which a control terminal is connected to the word line. The semiconductor storage device includes a first resistance change element which is connected in series to the first selection transistor between the first bit line and the second bit line, and of which a resistance value changes according to a flowing current. The semiconductor storage device includes a second selection transistor of which a control terminal is connected to the word line. The semiconductor storage device includes a second resistance change element which is connected in series to the second selection transistor between the second bit line and the third bit line, and of which a resistance value changes according to a flowing current.
US08498135B2
Embodiments of circuits and methods for a switching mode power supply are described in detail herein. In one embodiment, a switching mode power supply includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding to supply power to a load, a feedback circuit that generates a feedback signal that varies in relation to the load on the secondary winding, a switching circuit coupled to the primary winding to control current flow through the primary winding, and a control circuit coupled to the switching circuit to control the on/off status of switching circuit in response to the feedback signal and the current flow through the primary winding. The control circuit comprises a spectrum shaping circuit configured to generate a spectrum shaping signal in response to the feedback signal. The spectrum shaping signal can then be used to regulate the switching frequency and the spectrum shaping range.
US08498119B2
An electronic device includes a chassis, a rotatable door, and a latch member. An opening is defined in the chassis. A first flange extends from an edge of the opening. A first mounting slot is defined in the first flange. The rotatable door is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. The rotatable door includes a second flange with a second mounting slot defined therein. The latch module includes a latch piece with a mounting hole defined therein and a slidable pin securely engaged in the mounting hole. The latch piece is movable between a locked position where the latch piece is engaged into the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot, and an unlocked position where the latch piece is disengaged from the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot.
US08498108B2
A disk drive assembly includes a disk drive and a drive bracket. The disk drive includes a sidewall. The sidewall includes a sidewall body, a first resilient tab extending from the sidewall body, and a second resilient tab extending from the sidewall body. A first securing opening and a second securing opening are defined in the drive bracket. The first securing opening engages the first resilient tab to prevent the disk drive from moving along a first direction. The second securing opening engages the second resilient tab to prevent the disk drive from moving along a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US08498100B1
Flexible hinge and removable attachment techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.
US08498093B2
An electrostatic chuck includes an electrostatic electrode embedded in a ceramic base having a wafer-supporting surface capable of holding a wafer, the electrostatic electrode being parallel to the wafer-supporting surface. The ceramic base is composed of a dense ceramic having a MgO content of 99% by weight or more. The electrostatic electrode is a disc-like electrode composed of, for example, at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe. The electrostatic electrode includes a conductive tablet connected to the center thereof. The tablet is exposed at the bottom of a counter-bored hole formed so as to reach the tablet from a back surface of the ceramic base, and is connected to a feeding terminal, composed of Ni, inserted into the counter-bored hole.
US08498079B1
A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around design wherein the leading shield, side shields, and composite trailing shield are comprised of an anisotropic (−Ku) magnetic layer, and where the leading shield and side shields adjoin a gap layer. The composite shield has a first layer made of an isotropic magnetic material adjoining the write gap, and the anisotropic (−Ku) layer adjoins the first trailing shield layer on a side opposite the write gap. The main pole may have a tapered leading side and a tapered trailing side with the anisotropic (−Ku) leading shield and trailing shield layers extending a greater distance from the ABS than the ends of the tapered main pole sides. Adjacent track erasure is minimized while on-track write field and field gradient are improved.
US08498077B1
A magnetic head includes first to third coils, a main pole, a write shield, first and second yoke layers, and first and second coupling parts. The first and second yoke layers are magnetically connected to the write shield. The first yoke layer is located on the leading side relative to the main pole, whereas the second yoke layer is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole. The first coupling part magnetically couples the main pole and the second yoke layer to each other. The second coupling part magnetically couples the first yoke layer and the second yoke layer to each other. The first coil is wound around the first coupling part, whereas the second and third coils are wound around the second coupling part.
US08498075B2
In a controller of a tape drive, a command processing unit receives a request to write new data, an offset determination unit determines whether old data is not partially overwritten with new data, and if old data is not partially overwritten with new data, a head position management unit makes a write head offset toward the unoverwritten portion. Then, a channel input/output unit reads pattern data that disables old data from a pattern storage unit and outputs the data to the write head to thereby overwrite the old data with the pattern data. After that, a tape transport management unit rewinds a tape and the head position management unit returns the write head to the original position to overwrite the old data with the new data as usual.
US08498072B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for determining a location of a spiral pattern. As an example, a location detection circuits is discussed that includes: a pattern detection circuit, a computation circuit, and a center determination circuit. The pattern detection circuit is operable to identify a subset of a series of data samples corresponding to a defined pattern, and to indicate a location of the identified subset of the series of data samples. The series of data samples corresponds to a spiral pattern. The computation circuit operable to sum an absolute value of each sample of the subset of the series of data samples to yield a sum. The center determination circuit operable to identify a location of the spiral pattern using the sum.
US08498061B2
An image pickup lens has a configuration of five lenses whose aberrations are corrected favorably despite its compactness compared to a conventional type.
US08498057B2
A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group and a positive third lens group, in that order from the object side. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases, and the distance between the second and third lens groups increases. The first lens group includes a negative lens element and a positive lens element; and the second lens group includes a cemented lens including a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and a negative lens element, in that order from the object side. The following conditions are satisfied by the zoom lens system: 1.8
US08498049B2
A holding device for retaining a number of slides with tissue specimens is described. The holding device includes an elongated hanger having a clamping mechanism for releasable clamping of the microscope slides at their upper ends and for retaining the microscope slides in a hanging position with the surfaces of the microscope slides in said a common plane. The clamping mechanism preferably is arranged to cooperate with a loading rack having a supporting surface for support of the microscope slides in the common plane, the hanger being able to be introduced into the rack and the clamping mechanism being able to be actuated so that all microscope slides placed on the supporting surface are clamped in the holding device.
US08498042B2
A multi-layer film, useful as a front sub-assembly in electro-optic displays, comprises, in this order: a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer (114); a light-transmissive first protective layer (112); a light-transmissive moisture barrier layer (108); and a light-transmissive second protective layer (106). This multi-layer film can be used in forming an electro-optic display by the processes described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,179 or Patent Publication No. 2007/0109219.
US08498041B2
An electrophoretic display element includes: a cell containing first and second electrophoretic particles mutually oppositely charged with positive and negative polarities; and first and second electrode sections disposed opposite to each other across the cell in a viewing direction of the cell, wherein the first electrode section includes first and second electrodes whose application voltages are individually controlled, and the second electrode section includes third and fourth electrodes whose application voltages are individually controlled.
US08498037B2
A method for processing workpieces includes performing a laser processing operation in which a laser beam is directed at a first mirror face and at a second mirror face of a redirecting mirror. The second mirror face is at least partially surrounded by the first mirror face. During the laser processing operation, the second mirror face performs a pendulum movement relative to the first mirror face.
US08498036B2
An optical scanning apparatus that scans a light beam from a light source includes: a movable portion and a fixed portion. The movable portion includes: a rotating member, which is capable of rotating about a rotation axis being parallel with an optical axis of the light beam, has an open hole through which the light beam passes, and is provided with a first coil; and a mirror that is provided to the rotating member, electrically connected with the first coil, and reflects the light beam that passes through the open hole of the rotating member in a variable angle with respect to the optical axis of the light beam. The fixed portion includes: a magnetic member; and a second coil capable of supplying an electromagnetic field to the first coil. One of a part and a whole of the magnetic member is made of a magnetic material and the magnetic member serves as a magnetic core of the second coil.
US08498035B2
Coherent light from a laser is magnified, made into a parallel light flux, and irradiated on a hologram recording medium in which a hologram image of a scatter plate is recorded. A hologram reproduction real image of the scatter plate is generated using the parallel light flux as illumination light for reproduction. The spatial light modulator consisting of a liquid crystal display, etc., is disposed so as to overlap on the position of the hologram reproduction real image, and a modulated image is obtained on the surface of the reproduction real image of the scatter plate. The modulated image is projected onto the screen by the projection optical system.
US08498034B2
A method for producing a security element (55) and a security element (55) in the form of a multilayered film body having a top side facing the observer. The security element (55) has a volume hologram layer, in which a volume hologram is recorded, which provides a first optically variable information item. The security element (55) has a replication layer, in the surface of which a relief structure providing a second optically variable information item is molded and which is arranged above the volume hologram layer. A partial metallic layer is arranged between the volume hologram layer and the replication layer, wherein the metallic layer is provided in one or a plurality of first zones of the security element and the metallic layer is not provided in one or a plurality of second zones of the security element.
US08498024B2
It is an object to provide image processing apparatus and method which can execute a drawing combining instruction and a trimming instruction of illustration/characters or the like on the basis of a disclosure on one sheet in a composite print of a sheet scanning system. When a trimming instruction command is issued, an image process for trimming is executed to a given one of closed areas detected from a drawing instructing area on the sheet. Another image process for a combining process of characters/illustration is executed to the other closed areas.
US08498017B2
A system and method allows a user to display the appearance of an image when printed on one of a plurality of configurable color printers. The configurable color printers include at least one replaceable colorant. The system and method take the effect of the currently mounted colorant into account when generating the displayed image. The displayed image can be used as a soft proof for printing purposes.
US08498012B2
A print job management method and system receive variable information print instructions in a container file. The container file includes print files and resource files. The method/system decomposes the container file into multiple sub-container files and processes the sub-container files through at least two print engines. In additional embodiments, the method/system can reprocess less than all of the print files if there is a need to reprint any portion of the original print job. In one embodiment, the sub-container files each comprise a subset of the print files and all of the resource files. In a different embodiment, the resource files are stored on a shared resource and the sub-container files only comprise a subset of the print files.
US08498011B2
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof configured to input PDL data and render the PDL data into image data to form an image, wherein a rendering speed in rendering the PDL data into the image data and an image forming speed are changeable, and by changing the rendering speed and the image forming speed within a predetermined power consumption, suppresses degradation in image forming speed. When an amount of rendered and stored image data yet to be used for image forming equals or exceeds a first threshold, the speed of an image data rendering process is reduced while image forming speed is increased. Conversely, when the amount of rendered and stored image data yet to be used for image forming equals or falls below a second threshold, the speed of an image data rendering process is increased while image forming speed is reduced.
US08498010B2
A method and system according to the disclosure facilitates subscription based access to services for image systems including an image acquisition device configured to generate image data describing a target object in a target area of the image acquisition device and an image display device configured to generate a human perceptible rendering of the target object based on the image data.
US08498009B2
A system for determining a cause of lateness of a print job may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a late print job, identifying a plurality of document production stations that processed at least a portion of the late print job, determining an associated contribution value representing a contribution of the document production station to the lateness, determining sources of the lateness, displaying a first visual depiction that visually depicts a measure of a contribution of each of the identified document production stations to a collective lateness of the print shop, receiving a user selection of one of the document production stations and a time period, and displaying a second visual depiction of one or more print jobs processed by the document production station during the time period.
US08498004B2
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information about an other image processing apparatus different than the image processing apparatus that operates with the image processing apparatus, an acquiring unit configured to acquire function information indicating a function provided by a first image processing apparatus, and a control unit. In the control unit, in a case that a comparison result of the comparing unit indicates that the first image processing apparatus includes at least one function not provided by the image processing apparatus, information about the first image processing apparatus is stored in the storage unit, and in a case that a comparison result of the comparing unit indicates that the first image processing apparatus doesn't include at least one function not provided by the image processing apparatus, information about the first image processing apparatus is not stored in the storage unit.
US08497998B2
The size of a medium update program for adding a medium to a printer driver and printer is becoming larger due to an increasing number of available media, a larger-size profile used for image processing, and a variety of media lineups. A medium update program according to this invention searches for necessary medium integrated information based on an area and lineup information selected by a user. Then, the medium update program selects and inputs necessary medium integrated information, and shares information common to media, thereby creating all-media integrated information.
US08497996B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement for measuring relative movement. The measuring arrangement comprises a light source (110, 210) for emitting a light beam, a moving element (120, 220) having a reflective surface (121, 221) adapted to reflect a first wavefront portion of the light beam, and a reference element (130, 230) having a reflective surface (131, 231) adapted to reflect a second wavefront portion of the light beam. The arrangement further comprises detecting means (140, 240) for detecting changes in a spatial interference pattern produced by the light reflected from the moving element and the reference element, and processing means (150, 160, 250, 260) for calculating the relative movement between the moving element and the reference element from the phase change in the detected spatial interference pattern. The invention also relates to a method for measuring relative movement.
US08497992B2
A system for determining whether interaction occurs between a trial substance and a target substance. The system includes a photonic crystal sensor having a photonic crystal structure and a defect member disposed adjacent the photonic crystal structure. The defect member defines an operative surface able to receive the target substance and the trial substance. The system further includes a light source that inputs a light signal to the photonic crystal structure and the defect member. The light signal is internally reflected, and a resultant output signal is outputted. The output signal relates to whether the trial substance interacts with the target substance at the operative surface. Furthermore, the system includes an identity detector that identifies the trial substance that interacts with the target substance.
US08497988B2
A spectral distribution measuring device includes an illumination unit configured to illuminate white light to a surface of an object being measured; a slit array having a plurality of slits formed in alignment at equal intervals; a linear image sensor including a light receiving face having a plurality of rectangular pixels adjacently arranged in alignment and a plurality of spectral light-irradiated areas divided in each predetermined number of neighboring pixels; a plurality of areas being measured which is set on the surface of the object being measured, and reflects the light irradiated by the illumination unit to the plurality of slits; and a diffraction unit configured to diffract and disperse reflection light which is reflected from the areas being measured and has passed through each slit, the diffraction unit being disposed such that a direction where a diffraction image expands is inclined at an angle to a direction where the light receiving face expands.
US08497977B2
Optical integrator, illumination optical system, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An optical integrator used in an illumination optical system for illuminating an illumination target surface on the basis of light from a light source has a first fly's eye optical system having a plurality of first optical elements arranged in parallel at a position optically conjugate with the illumination target surface in an optical path between the light source and the illumination target surface, and a second fly's eye optical system having a plurality of second optical elements arranged in parallel so as to correspond to the plurality of first optical elements in an optical path between the first fly's eye optical system and the illumination target surface. At least one first optical element out of the plurality of first optical elements, and another first optical element different from the at least one first optical element have their respective postures different from each other about an optical axis of the illumination optical system or about an axis parallel to the optical axis.
US08497975B2
A scatterometer configured to derive a property of a substrate, includes an optical arrangement that produces a beam of radiation. An objective lens is arranged to focus the beam of radiation onto a target on the substrate. The optical arrangement is arranged to change the divergence of the beam incident on the objective lens, thereby changing spherical aberration caused by the objective lens on the beam focused on the target. A detection arrangement is arranged to detect the beam of radiation after reflection or scattering from the substrate.
US08497967B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for a FFS TFT LCD with a high refresh rate without limiting the aperture of individual pixels. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide for the use of common bus lines to reduce the effective resistance of the common electrode and to therefore allow for higher refresh rates of the display. Furthermore, the common bus lines can be positioned in such a manner so that they do not further reduce the aperture of the display. More specifically, the common bus lines can be positioned above or below existing elements of the display that are already opaque. Thus, adding the common bus lines need not reduce the aperture. The above can be achieved by, for example, placing the common bus lines above or below existing non-transparent lines, such as gate lines or data lines.
US08497965B2
An array substrate of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of manufacturing the array substrate area disclosed. An array substrate of an LCD device includes an insulation substrate, a gate line, a data line, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a common electrode disposed at a pixel area, a pixel electrode overlapping with the common electrode, and a common line. The common line is connected to the common electrode and overlaps with a gap between the common electrode and the data line.
US08497957B2
A display device in which an image with a wide color reproduction range and bright red can be displayed is provided. The display device is a display device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a cathode ray tube, an organic electroluminescent display device, a plasma display panel, and a field emission display. The display device includes a display surface including a pixel having red, green, blue, and yellow sub-pixels, wherein the red sub-pixel preferably has the largest aperture area.
US08497951B2
An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel having a display surface; an accommodation member having a side wall that accommodates the electro-optical panel; and a wiring substrate with an end portion thereof connected to the electro-optical panel, wherein the other end portion side of the wiring substrate is bent to the opposite side of the display surface of the electro-optical panel, wherein the other end portion side of the wiring substrate is bent in the state of coming into close-contact with the side wall of the accommodation member and is fixed to the accommodation member or an accommodation object member that is accommodated in the accommodation member, and wherein the wiring substrate is in close-contact with the side wall of the accommodation member in the state in which a tension acts between the one end portion side and the other end portion side.
US08497938B2
An image-processing method determines the interpolation reliability for interpolated pixels in a progressive image, generated by interpolation of an interlaced image, by combining at least any of a first interpolation reliability determined based on the absolute value of the difference between pixels in an upper line and pixels in a lower line used to calculate the value of the interpolated pixels, a second interpolation reliability determined based on the width of the region used to determine the pixels in the upper line and the pixels in the lower line used to calculate the value of the interpolated pixels, and a third interpolation reliability determined by combining the change in luminance for the upper line and the change in luminance for the lower line within the region.
US08497934B2
An actively addressable aperture disposed ahead of the rear surface of a camera lens allows the camera to capture a full-resolution, five-dimensional (5D) light field that describes every possible view from every possible angle of the scene being imaged. Shifting the aperture over the entire aperture plane and acquiring an image at each step yields a 2D grid of 2D images of the scene, otherwise known as a 4D parameterized light field. Estimating the 3D depth of the objects in the imaged scene yields a 3D model with 2D surface irradiance patterns, which is the full, non-parameterized 5D light field. The 5D light field can be used to display perspective changes in a way that mimics cognitive processing of the same scene or object. 5D light fields can also be used to create high-precision, 3D depth maps suitable for 3D movies, interactive displays, machine vision, and other applications.
US08497924B2
An apparatus for eliminating background noise from a security marker authenticating system including a first sensor for capturing an image of a background of the security marker; a light source for illuminating the security marker; the first sensor or a second sensor or both captures a plurality images of the optical response of the security marker; a computer which averages the plurality of optical response images; the computer smoothes the background image; and the computer subtracts the smoothed background image from the average of the plurality of optical response images.
US08497921B2
When a conventional circuit is used in an image sensor which employs a pixel sharing technique, selection of pixels is not properly performed, that is, an invalid operation may be performed. To address this problem, a first storage unit which stores an address of a reading row, a second storage unit which stores an address of a shutter row, and a third storage unit for controlling an element shared by a plurality of pixels are provided in a row selection unit.
US08497918B2
An image capture apparatus comprises a shake detection unit which detects a shake of the image capture apparatus; a motion vector detection unit which detects a motion vector indicating a movement of an image; a first calculation unit which calculates a first shake correction amount; a second calculation unit which calculates a second shake correction amount; a shake correction unit which optically corrects a blur of a captured image; a panning determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus performs a panning operation; a determination unit which determines whether or not the image capture apparatus is in a constant point capturing state; and a control change unit which changes the first threshold to a second threshold and amplifies the second shake correction amount when the determination unit determines the constant point capturing state.
US08497915B2
An apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus are provided that can realize high-accuracy correction of image shake due to shift shake. Rotation radiuses at a plurality of frequencies among the frequency components of the shift shake are obtained. Correction amount is determined based on a result of assigning a respective weight to the rotation radius at each of the plurality of the frequencies based on information regarding at least one of an angular velocity and acceleration.
US08497910B2
In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.
US08497899B2
A biological sample image acquiring apparatus includes: a sample stage on which a biological sample is placed and which can move in a direction; an objective lens magnifying a region of the biological sample; an imaging device imaging the region magnified by the objective lens; a stage on which the imaging device or the objective lens is placed and which can move in a corresponding direction of the direction; a first moving mechanism moving the sample stage so that a target region of the biological sample is located at an imaging range; a second moving mechanism moving the stage in the corresponding direction at a movement speed obtained by multiplying a movement speed of the sample stage by a magnification of the objective lens; and an imaging controller starting the exposure of the imaging device before the sample stage moved by the first moving means is stopped.
US08497898B2
An endoscope system includes an image pickup section, provided in an endoscope, which performs image pickup, a determining section that determines whether a specific observation object exists inside an image pickup region of the image pickup section, a recognizing section that determines whether the specific observation object can be recognized as an image from the picked-up image in the image pickup region picked up by the image pickup section, a low visibility determination output section that determines, when the determining section determines that the specific observation object exists inside the image pickup region and the recognizing section cannot recognize the specific observation object as an image, that the image pickup section is in a low visibility condition and outputs a low visibility determination result, and an obstacle estimation section that estimates an obstacle or a type of obstacle which causes the low visibility according to the low visibility determination result.
US08497895B2
A computing device determines a schedule for monitoring an immersive video-telepresence (IMV-TP) network, and receives, based on the schedule, immersive video (IMV) information directly from one or more of devices, software, or systems associated with the IMV-TP network. The computing device aggregates the received IMV information, generates a report based on the aggregated IMV information, and provides the generated report to one or more users associated with the IMV-TP network.
US08497891B2
Optical density is enhanced on print media darkened by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The print media is divided into at least one track. A defocused spot of electromagnetic radiation is created within the track. The defocused spot of electromagnetic radiation darkens the print media within the track.
US08497881B2
An image processor for combining video data and graphic data is provided. The image processor includes a scaler that is configured to scale compressed graphic data in a horizontal direction using bilinear scaling, to scale a horizontally scaled graphic data in a vertical direction using line copy, and to process a data value of a pixel at a border of a vertically scaled graphic data based on a data value of the compressed graphic data and a data combiner that is configured to combine video data with processed graphic data output from the scaler.
US08497869B2
A character generating system (10) includes a pickup image information acquiring unit (14), a face part texture generating unit (15), a shape model generating unit (16), and a texture pasting unit (17). The face part texture generating unit (15) has the function of generating part textures that correspond to face parts and are pasted to a head portion shape model of a character (70), which will become an anime-like portrait based on face pickup image information of an object, and includes a characteristic point extracting unit (151), a part selecting unit (152), a flesh color setting unit (153), and a part arrangement setting unit (154).
US08497860B2
The invention relates to image decomposition strategies and computer-based methods for implementing them. In one method of the invention, the ordering of tetrahedral shapes that define or approximate an image is performed in such a way that neighboring tetrahedral shapes can be identified, located and efficiently used. In one aspect, binary location code array is used to represent an image and the method for identify the neighbor shape employs a bit manipulation step in code or psuedo-code for operating a computer. In this aspect, the invention allows one to move between adjacent tetrahedra, and any data corresponding to the tetrahedra, in constant time.
US08497854B2
A display drive apparatus includes a detection voltage applying circuit that applies a predetermined detection voltage to the drive element of the pixel drive circuit, a voltage detecting circuit that detects a voltage value corresponding to a device characteristic unique to the drive element after a predetermined time elapses after the application of the detection voltage to the drive element by the pixel drive circuit, and a gradation designating signal generating circuit that generates a gradation designating signal based on an absolute value of a voltage component according to a gradation value of display data and a value, acquired by multiplying an absolute value of the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit, by a constant greater than 1, and applies the gradation designating signal to the pixel drive circuit, whereby a change in device characteristic.
US08497836B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by a user identifier circuit, a button pressure signature specifying a sequence of button pressure values sampled while a corresponding identified button of a user input device is pressed by a user; the user identifier circuit identifying the user of the user input device based on the button pressure signature; and the user identifier circuit outputting a message identifying the identified button and the identified user.
US08497816B2
A crossed monitoring device for a head-up display that can be used for displaying a representation of at least one first datum. The device includes a mechanism generating at least one first image from the at least one first datum, a mechanism receiving from the at least one second display at least one second image generated from at least one second datum, and a mechanism selecting one of the first and at least one second image. The device can further include a mechanism modifying images according to characteristics of the displays. Each display can modify the images to be displayed according to its characteristics, and each display can modify the images according to the characteristics of each display.
US08497815B2
A dielectrically loaded quadrifilar helical antenna has four quarter turn helical elements centered on a common axis. Each helical element is metallised on the outer cylindrical surface of a solid dielectric core and each has a feed end and a linked end, the linked ends being connected together by a linking conductor encircling the core. At an operating frequency of the antenna the helical elements and the linking conductor together form two conductive loops each having an electrical length in the region of (2n−1)/2 times the wavelength, where n is an integer. Such an antenna tends to present a source impedance of at least 500 ohms to receiver circuitry to which it is connected. The invention includes an antenna assembly including a dielectrically antenna and a receiver having a radio frequency front-end stage with a differential input coupled to the feed ends of the helical elements.
US08497814B2
The present invention refers to a triple-band antenna array for cellular base stations operating at a first frequency band and at a second frequency band within a first frequency range, and also at a third frequency band within a second frequency range. Said triple-band antenna array comprises a first set of radiating elements operating at the first frequency band, a second set of radiating elements operating at the second frequency band, a third set of radiating elements operating at both the third and the first frequency bands, and a fourth set of radiating elements operating at both the third and the second frequency bands. The radiating elements are arranged in such a way that at least some of the radiating elements of the first set are interlaced with at least some of the radiating elements of the third set, and at least some of the radiating elements of the second set are interlaced with at least some of the radiating elements of said fourth set. Further the invention relates to a slim triple-band base station for mobile/cellular services that includes in its radiating part two or more of said triple-band antenna arrays.
US08497813B2
A panel antenna having an enclosure, an internal cover, one or more micro radios and RF modules, and a radome is provided. The enclosure may include a rectangular rear panel, side walls with an interior surface to mount micro radios and an external surface to receive heat sinks, and a hinged front cover providing an internal cover. The internal cover may also have a plurality of RF radiating modules fastened thereto. The internal cover may also provide environmental sealing and electromagnetic shielding. The plurality of micro radios are located inside the cavity of the enclosure, and each micro radio is coupled to an RF radiating module. The micro radios may be mounted inside the enclosure on the side walls. The radome encloses the RF radiating modules. The radome may be mounted to the internal seal. Additionally, the panel antenna may further include a heat sink mounted on an exterior side of the rear panel. The heat sink on the rear panel may dissipate heat from additional active electronics, such as a communications hub or calibration radio. The micro radios and active electronics may be mounted such that the heat sinks dissipate heat generated by the micro radios.
US08497805B2
Aspects of a method and system for configurable antenna in an integrated circuit package are provided. In this regard, a phased array antenna embedded in a multi-layer integrated circuit (IC) package may be utilized for transmitting and/or receiving signals. An IC enabled to transmit and/or receive signals may be bonded to the multi-layer IC package and may communicate a reference signal and/or one or more phase shifted versions of said reference signal to the antenna. One or more phase shifters (fabricated, for example, in planar transmission line) may be embedded in the multi-layer IC package and may be controlled via an IC bonded to the multi-layer IC package. The phased array antenna may comprise a plurality of antenna elements which may each comprise an interconnection for communicatively coupling to an associated transmitter and/or receiver, a feeder line, a quarter wavelength transformer, and a radiating portion (e.g., a folded dipole).
US08497788B1
Systems and methods for performing compression of data. A data buffer is separated into equal-sized segments of data. A frequency count is performed to determine how often each segment of data appears in the data buffer. Frequently occurring segments are encoded with unique compression codes, while all other infrequently occurring segments are encoded with a common compression code. The compressed data buffer includes the compression codes, which are all of the same bit-length, and the uncompressed segments. The compression codes and the uncompressed segments are stored in the compressed data buffer in the order in which the corresponding segments appear in the original data buffer.
US08497783B2
The invention relates to the determination of direction, speed and/or distance of vehicles on a roadway by means of a sensor, which operates according to the light-section procedure and is directed onto the roadway, for recording the surface contour of a vehicle, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the sensor and determines the direction, speed and/or distance of the vehicles therefrom.
US08497781B2
A power supply extracts electrical power from the electro-magnetic field surrounding a high voltage power conductor and conditions the derived input power to provide a stable power source for instrumentation and communications equipment. The communications controller is a local network router that routes serial data traffic to selected communication devices such as an instrumentation processor, a power supply processor, or a maintenance port controller. The router forwards the data to other communications equipment and forwards data from the communicating equipment to an external network providing substantially simultaneous communications between the external network and the instrumentation processor, power supply processor and maintenance port controller.
US08497779B1
Disclosed are various embodiments that are employed to ensure power source redundancy for a computing device. A plurality of power inputs of a computing device are coupled to at least one of a plurality of power sources. A determination is made as to whether at least two identifiers embodied in a corresponding at least two data signals transmitted over at least two power lines are the same. Each of the power lines is coupled to a respective one of the power inputs, and the data signals are transmitted by at least one of the power sources.
US08497778B1
A fishing line monitoring apparatus includes a base support to adjustably span an ice fishing hole, a tip-up rig frame rotatably mounted to the base support, a visual and an audible alarm, and a radio transmitter assembly. The tip-up rig includes a support arm having a fishing line and reel. The visual and audible alarms provide both visual and audible indication when the fishing line is tugged. The rotating tip-up rig allows the tip-up rig frame and support arm to rotate for simple positioning and use. The transmitter includes a transmitter and a power source. The audible alarm is actuated by contacts located on a support arm and the reel, such that the audible alarm emits a series of audible beeps over when the reel spins, such as from a fish moving on the line. The transmitter transmits the audible beeps over a wireless RF signal to a remote receiver.
US08497775B2
A system and method for utilizing RFID tags in environments where radiation is used is disclosed. RFID tags are secured to various components of a pharmaceutical system, thereby enabling the customer to download pertinent information about the component, such as lot number, date of manufacturer, test parameters, etc. The tags can be applied to the component immediately after manufacture and can be subjected to the sterilization process without risk of data loss or corruption. The memory device within the tag utilizes a technology that does not rely upon charge storage as its mechanism to store information.
US08497772B2
A tire pressure monitoring system includes tire sensors mounted in, on or adjacent respective tires of the vehicle, LF antennas mounted on the vehicle, and an ECU. Each tire sensor is configured to transmit an RF signal and to detect an LF field. Each antenna is configured to transmit an LF field to wake up the tire sensors. The ECU is in communication with the antenna, the tire sensors and a radio configured to receive AM broadcast signals. The ECU can communicate with the radio to inhibit speakers in communication with the radio from emitting sound while each LF field to wake up the tire sensors is being transmitted.
US08497754B2
The electromagnetic actuator is a linear electromagnetic actuator in which the relative position between a slide table that supports permanent magnets thereon and a guide rail that supports a coil, which is arranged in confronting relation to the permanent magnets, is displaced by means of a thrust force generated by a current flowing through the coil. The coil is disposed on the guide rail through a low coercive force magnetizable material body, the coercive force of which is lower than a predetermined value. Consequently, generation of residual magnetization can be suppressed, and an influence on the thrust force caused by such residual magnetization can also be suppressed.
US08497749B2
A low attenuation surface wave transmission line system for launching surface waves on a bare and unconditioned conductor, such as are found in abundance in the power transmission lines of the existing power grids. The conductors within the power grid typically lack dielectric and special conditioning. Accordingly, the present invention includes a first launcher, preferably including a mode converter and an adapter, for receiving an incident wave of electromagnetic energy and propagating a surface wave longitudinally on the power lines. The system includes at least one other launcher, and more likely a number of other launchers, spaced apart from one another along the constellation of transmission lines. The system and associated electric fields along any given conductor are radially and longitudinally symmetrical.
US08497737B2
An amplifier circuit includes a power amplifier configured to amplify an RF input signal to obtain an RF output signal, and a bias controller configured to control a bias of the power amplifier. The bias controller is configured to determine a measure of a load impedance of a load coupled to an output of the power amplifier and provide a bias control signal to adjust the bias of the power amplifier based on the determination of the measure of the load impedance.
US08497735B2
Variable attenuation systems having continuous input steering may be used to implement vector or quadrature modulators and vector multipliers. Discrete implementations of attenuators with continuous input steering may have two outputs which may be cross-connected to provide four-quadrant operation. A symmetrically driven center tap may provide improved zero-point accuracy.
US08497733B2
The present invention quickly detects an offset and prevents cutoff of low frequency signals. Offset detection circuits smooth an output of a variable gain amplifier at a predetermined time constant and detects the offset, which is a DC component. The detected offset is added to the input of the variable gain amplifier by an adder and the offset in the output of the variable gain amplifier is corrected. The time constant in the offset detection circuit is changed by the resistance values of the variable resistors. Then, the time constant is changed to a small time constant when the gain of the variable gain amplifier is changed and thereafter to a large time constant.
US08497732B2
According to one embodiment, a three-dimensional semiconductor integrated circuit includes first, second and third chips which are stacked, and a common conductor which connects the first, second and third chips from one another. The first chip includes a first multi-leveling circuit, the second chip includes a second multi-leveling circuit, and the third chip includes a decoding circuit. The first multi-leveling circuit includes a first inverter to which binary first data is input and which outputs one of first and second potentials and a first capacitor which is connected between an output terminal of the first inverter and the common conductor. The second multi-leveling circuit includes a second inverter to which binary second data is input and which outputs one of third and fourth potentials and a second capacitor which is connected between an output terminal of the second inverter and the common conductor.
US08497725B2
A circuit includes circuit portions operating from separate power supplies which are switched sequentially. An output of a first portion powered by a power supply (A) is provided as an input to a second portion powered by another power supply (B). Power supply (A) is switched-ON a delay interval later than power supply (B). In an embodiment, the first portion also receives a control input which enables or disables response of the first portion to changes in its inputs. An active circuit is connected between the control terminal and a constant reference potential node of the circuit, and has one transistor of a current-mirror pair connected across supplies (A) and (B). The active circuit connects the control terminal to the constant reference potential node in the delay interval, but is an open circuit otherwise. Power dissipation in the circuit is thereby reduced.
US08497720B2
A semiconductor device includes: a voltage-control-type clock generation circuit having a plurality of stages of first delay elements and whose oscillation frequency is controlled according to a control voltage applied to the first delay elements; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages of second delay elements connected serially; and a selection circuit selecting one from pulse signals output by the plurality of stages of respective second delay elements. The first delay elements and the second delay elements have a same structure formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and a delay amount of the second delay elements is adjusted according to the control voltage.
US08497718B2
A data I/O interface for an integrated circuit device includes a noise detector receiving a power supply voltage, detecting a power supply voltage noise component, and providing a clock delay control signal in response to detected power supply voltage noise component. The data I/O interface also includes a clock delay circuit providing a delayed clock signal in response to the clock delay control signal, and a data transfer circuit powered by the power supply voltage and providing output data synchronously with the delayed clock signal.
US08497717B2
The disclosed is a reference frequency generating device (11), which includes a GPS receiver (21), a PLL circuit (31), a detector (28), a memory unit (29), and a controller (22). The PLL circuit (31) controls the digitally controlled oscillator (26) based on a synchronizing control signal acquired based on a reference signal from the GPS receiver (21). The memory unit (29) stores a correspondence relation between a control value of the synchronizing control signal, and a voltage value and a temperature at that time. When the reference signal is not acquired, the controller 22 determines a holdover control signal based on the correspondence relation, and the voltage and temperature detected by the detector 28, and controls the digitally controlled oscillator (26).
US08497712B2
A circuit includes a comparator, a programmable current source, and a control circuit. The comparator is operable to compare an internal supply voltage of the circuit to a reference voltage. The programmable current source is operable to supply a first current for the reference voltage. The control circuit is operable to control the first current through the programmable current source based on an output signal of the comparator.
US08497697B2
Film frame assemblies and apparatus for testing and singulating integrated circuit packages, as well as associated methods for forming a film frame assembly, and testing and singulating integrated circuit packages are disclosed. A plurality of leads on a lead frame are cut to form singulated integrated circuit packages. Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mechanically aligning a set of electrical contacts attached to a contactor body with a plurality of leads on a singulated integrated circuit package.
US08497689B1
A method and test setup for reducing the RF power requirement in active load pull uses impedance tuners between the output of the test transistor and the active RF power injection network. The active network uses either a closed loop (active load) configuration or an open loop network employing split or synchronized signal sources. The impedance tuners are wideband (fundamental) tuners, harmonic rejection tuners or multi-harmonic tuners. A 7:1 transforming ratio of the tuners represents the best compromise between power matching and tuner loss, yielding a reduction of 11dB in power requirements from the active load or the synchronized source(s); if only the fundamental signal is injected at the output of the DUT, a multi-harmonic tuner or a harmonic rejection tuner is used for independent harmonic tuning; if multiple harmonic signals are injected, a multi-harmonic tuner is used and creates passive harmonic loads while reducing at the same time the power requirements from the harmonic injection sources.
US08497686B2
According to one embodiment, a method for making a battery value evaluation index, includes applying a predetermined charge/discharge pattern to a predetermined battery, detecting a largest SOC value and a smallest SOC value of the predetermined battery, and setting a width between the largest SOC value and the smallest SOC value as “A”, detecting a charge limit SOC value at which the predetermined battery shows the highest SOC value, detecting a discharge limit SOC value at which the predetermined battery shows the lowest SOC value, and setting a width between the charge limit SOC value and the discharge limit SOC value as “B”, and determining that a life of the predetermined battery has ended in the predetermined charge/discharge pattern when a state of B>A has changed into a state of B≧A.
US08497675B2
An angle detector includes a rotating member, a housing, a detector and an urging member. The rotating member is rotatable with a shaft inserted therethrough. The housing rotatably supports the rotating member. The detector detects a rotating angle of the rotating member with respect to the housing. The urging member urges the rotating member in a rotating direction of the rotating member. An engagement portion is provided on the housing. An engaged portion is provided on the rotating member. The engaged portion is adapted to be brought into engagement with the engagement portion by urged by the urging member.
US08497674B2
A magnetic detection apparatus includes a first comparison circuit that waveform-shapes the amplitude of a detection signal from magneto-electric transducers by DC coupling, a third comparison circuit that waveform-shapes the detection signal by AC coupling, an oscillation circuit having a natural frequency, a control circuit that counts the output of the first comparison circuit by using the oscillation means, and a selection circuit that selects the output of the first comparison means and the output of the second comparison means. The control circuit counts rising from the next rising or falling from the next falling of an output rectangular wave of the first comparison circuit, and provides output to the selection circuit at the time point at which the count value reaches a desired value. The selection circuit selects and outputs the output rectangular wave of the first comparison circuit or the third comparison circuit.
US08497664B2
A generator system that includes a six-phase AC machine and an active rectifier bridge employing low on-resistance switches, such as MOSFET switches, for converting the AC current from the machine to a DC current. The system also includes a switch control circuit to switch the MOSFET switches in synchronization with the six-phase current flow. The system determines the phase-to-ground voltages of the machine for inputs to the switch control circuit. The control circuit calculates the phase-to-phase voltages from the phase-to-ground voltages. The control circuit uses a specific control scheme to determine if each of the phase-to-phase voltages is above or below first and second predetermined threshold voltages, where if the phase-to-phase voltage is above the first threshold voltage, the control circuit closes the switch, and if the phase-to-phase voltage is below the second threshold voltage, the control circuit opens the switch.
US08497662B2
A charging device has a charging unit and a control unit. The charging unit charges a battery pack the battery pack being either a first type or a second type of battery pack. The first type of battery pack includes a single battery cell or a first plurality of battery cells connected in series. The second type of battery pack includes a single battery unit or a second plurality of battery units connected in series. Each battery unit includes at least two battery cells connected in parallel. The control unit controls the charging unit to control at least one of a charging current flowing through the battery pack and a charging voltage applied across the battery pack, depending on the battery pack to be charged.
US08497660B2
A charging system of an electric vehicle and a method for charging the electric vehicle are described in the present invention. The system uses a smart card for battery management when charging a battery. Furthermore, the system can prevent the battery or the electric vehicle from being stolen. Compared to existing charging systems for electric vehicles, the present invention can save more cost for users and provide safety mechanism for battery or electric vehicle.
US08497659B2
A video game controller charging system for charging at least one video game controller is provided. The system includes a controller adapter including a battery unit, at least one first induction coil, and at least one first magnet, and is adapted to be received by the at least one video game controller; and a base including a power input, at least one second induction coil, and at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to the controller while the controller is being charged, the at least one structure including at least one second magnet. The base is configured to inductively charge the battery unit through inductive coupling between the at least one first induction coil and the at least one second induction coil when the controller is held in place on the structure by magnetic attraction between the magnets.
US08497656B2
A solar umbrella and table apparatus with attached chairs features stand-alone AC power, generated from solar energy. The apparatus features an umbrella having solar collection devices and a table with attached seating chairs. The electrical system of the apparatus converts collected solar energy to an electrical voltage. Batteries store the energy provided by the solar panels. Inverters convert the DC voltage output from the storage batteries to 120 volts AC. Power outlet terminals are located on the umbrella and table apparatus allow 120 volts AC powered devices to access the output of the sine wave power inverters.
US08497653B2
An amount of a motor drive current is controlled to an appropriate value. Two coils are provided, and a rotor is rotated by the coils by setting different phases for the supplied currents to the two coils. During a phase where one of the coils is in a high-impedance state, an induced voltage generated in the coil is detected. According to the state of the induced voltage, an output control circuit controls the amounts of the motor drive currents supplied to the two coils.
US08497649B2
A motor driving control apparatus includes a motor driving unit which drives a motor and a driving control unit which supplies to the motor driving unit a command value for the motor driving unit to drive the motor. A power characteristic acquiring unit acquires a power characteristic of an AC power supply that supplies power to the motor. A control parameter determining unit determines based on a voltage characteristic of the AC power supply whether, during driving of the motor, the voltage of the AC power supply drops to a level that adversely affects the driving of the motor, and if positive, the control parameter determining unit sets a control parameter so that the voltage of the AC power supply does not drop below that level and supplies the control parameter to the driving control unit in order for the driving control unit to determine the command value.
US08497645B2
A control device that controls an electric motor drive device is configured with a current control portion that determines a voltage command value, a voltage control portion that generates a switching control signal, and a current control period determining portion. The control device is also configured with a voltage control period determining portion that determines a voltage control period, and a control period setting portion. In the control device, the current control period determining portion determines, according to a target torque, the current control period as a value that increases continuously or stepwise as the target torque decreases. Furthermore, the voltage control period determining portion determines, according to a rotating speed, the voltage control period as a value that increases continuously or stepwise as the rotating speed decreases.
US08497643B2
Disclosed is a linear scale for obtaining a distance from a reference point. A scale detection mechanism is adapted to output waveform signals of the same phase. Also the scale detection mechanism corresponds to a magnetic flux density generated by magnetic bodies of a scale element. The scale detection mechanism may be sensors. The sensors are arranged at even intervals corresponding to a scale length of the scale element. The sensors are adapted to output sine-wave signals having the same phase to continuously detect the scale element in a movement direction of the scale element. The scale element has opposite ends each has the same polarity and configured such that an output voltage of the single sensor detecting the end of the scale element is reduced to one-half of an output voltage of the single sensor detecting the remaining portion of the scale element.
US08497642B2
A motor device comprising a motor, and a drive control circuit for driving and controlling the motor, in which the drive control circuit includes a control unit for generating a control signal for controlling the rotation of the motor, a drive unit for driving the motor on the basis of the control signal, and a communication unit for making serial communications via a serial communication bus for transmitting serial data. This communication unit has an address generating function for generating and setting addresses.
US08497641B2
To provide a disk drive capable of inhibiting the occurrence of acoustic noise caused by a voltage pulse when the head is retracted using a speed control method using voltage obtained by rectifying a back electromotive force after the power source has been cut off from the rotation of a spindle motor. Retraction control circuit is used to control the on and off modes of transistors in accordance with the speed of VCM. The voltage across VCM becomes a voltage that can be regulated with VCM voltage control circuit. At this time, voltage is supplied to the terminals based on the voltage of ISO5V that is the rectified voltage of the back electromotive force of the spindle motor and the pulsating voltage is synchronized and produced at both terminals. As a result, the potential difference across VCM is such that the pulsating voltage is negated and acoustic noise is inhibited.
US08497629B2
A color-temperature-tunable device comprises a first light emitting diode (LED) chip group comprising at least one first blue LED chip that emits a first light having a first peak wavelength, a second LED chip group comprising at least one second blue LED chip that emits a second light having a second peak wavelength different from the first peak wavelength, and a wavelength converting layer above at least a portion of the first LED chip group and a portion of the second LED chip group. The first LED chip group and the second LED chip group are driven by a first driving current and a second driving current, respectively.
US08497627B2
A display device includes: a substrate; a display unit that is formed over the substrate; a driving driver positioned outside the display unit and including a plurality of signal lines; a sealing substrate fixed to the substrate by a bonding layer surrounding the display unit and the driving driver. The sealing layer includes a composite member including a resin matrix and a plurality of carbon fibers and a first metal layer positioned over the composite member. The display device further includes a plurality of pads positioned outside the bonding layer and electrically connected to the plurality of signal lines; and a plurality of second metal layers positioned over one surface of the composite member facing the plurality of pads and connected to the plurality of pads, respectively, through a conductive bonding layer.
US08497622B2
Energy-saving lamps contain a gas filling of mercury vapor and argon in a gas discharge bulb. Amalgam spheres are used for filling the gas discharge bulb with mercury. A tin amalgam having a high proportion by weight of mercury in the range from 30 to 70% by weight is proposed. Owing to the high mercury content, the amalgam spheres have liquid amalgam phases on the surface. Coating of the spheres with a tin or tin alloy powder converts the liquid amalgam phases on the surface into a solid amalgam having a high tin content. This prevents conglutination of the amalgam spheres during storage and processing.
US08497618B2
A stator for a rotary electrical machine, includes a stator core in a cylinder shape and having plural magnetic pole teeth, which are arranged in a circumferential direction of the stator while keeping a distance therebetween and each of which protrudes in a radial direction of the stator core, a coil configured with a conductive wire wound around each of the magnetic pole teeth, an insulating bobbin provided between the coil and the corresponding magnetic pole tooth, and an electric power supply portion arranged axially outwardly of the stator core, electrically connecting the coil with an outside of the stator, and including an outgoing wire, which corresponds to a portion of at least one of a winding start and a winding end of the conductive wire being extended by a predetermined length, and an isolating member having a groove portion for accommodating and guiding the corresponding outgoing wire.
US08497615B2
A stator winding is configured by connecting a first three-phase stator winding and a second three-phase stator winding in parallel. A U1-phase winding of the first three-phase stator winding is configured by connecting a U1-1-phase winding portion and a U1-2-phase winding portion in series, and a U2-phase winding of the second three-phase stator winding is configured by connecting a U2-1-phase winding portion and a U2-2-phase winding portion in series. The U1-1-phase winding portion and the U2-2-phase winding portion are m-turn wave windings, and the U2-1-phase winding portion and the U1-2-phase winding portion are n-turn wave windings (where n does not equal m). The U1-1-phase winding portion and the U2-1-phase winding portion are mounted into a first slot group, and the U1-2-phase winding portion and the U2-2-phase winding portion are mounted into a second slot group.
US08497600B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for managing battery circuits in systems such as wireless communications service base stations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a battery circuit having multiple strings of one or more serially connected batteries. The apparatus may be configured to rotate between battery strings such that one or more strings are maintained at or near an upper threshold while other string(s) are disconnected from the maintained string(s). The apparatus may also be configured to charge the battery circuit, to test the battery circuit, and to handle power failures.
US08497596B2
It is intended to provide a power generating apparatus of renewable energy type which can transmit large torque and has a low-cost and readily processable structure of fixing a hydraulic pump to the main shaft and a method of mounting the hydraulic pump. A plurality of key slots 25 are formed at an end on the back-end side of the main shaft 4. A plurality of keys 30A, 30B are inserted in the key slots 25. The keys 30A, 30B include a reference key 30A to be inserted in one of the key slots and a split key 30B to be inserted in the other of the key slots. The split key 30B is separated into a first key piece 34 having a projection to be inserted in a first groove formed in the main shaft and a second key piece 36 having a depression to be inserted in a second groove formed in the cylindrical member. The pair of key pieces 34, 36 are arranged so that the projection and the depression engage with each other. The projection and the depression of the first and second key pieces have side surfaces 34A, 34B, 36A and 36B formed along a radial direction of the main shaft 4. The side surfaces 34A, 34B, 36A and 36B are contact surfaces of the first and second key pieces 36 and incline with respect to the axial direction of the main shaft.
US08497593B2
A device for collecting swell energy that comprises a float, a turbine mounted under the float and adapted for moving relative to the float when the float is moved by the swell, and a power generator driven by the turbine. The turbine is rotatingly mounted about a vertical rotation axis, so that a tilting motion of the float always results in a torque applied onto the turbine in a single predetermined rotation direction.
US08497591B2
Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine, the engine coupled to a traction alternator for vehicle travelling. In one example, the method includes, in an off-highway vehicle running mode of operation, supplying current from the traction alternator to a traction motor via a traction inverter to propel the vehicle, and, in a starting mode of operation, supplying stored energy from a first energy source and a secondary energy source to the traction alternator to start the engine.
US08497589B2
The invention relates to an electric energy generation system based on the use of static weight. The static weight can be placed, pushed, or rolled onto a platform or shelf, controlled in its vertical motion downward, and connected to an electric generator, which transforms the vertical linear motion to electricity. A gearing system, hydraulic transmission, fluid coupling, or torque convertor to convert linear to rotational motion is employed as necessary, thereby turning the generator. A return means, of various forms, allows the platform or shelf to return to original position, and provides an opportunity to make use of vertical motion once again for energy production. A flywheel may be used to provide more sustained and smoother power over a longer period, and other amplification means may be used to increase duration or amount of power, as well as conversion means to provide electricity in usable form.
US08497579B1
A semiconductor packaging method includes providing a substrate having a plurality of pads, each of the pads comprises a first coupling surface having a plurality of first conductive contact areas and a plurality of first non-conductive contact areas; forming a conductible gel with anti-dissociation function on the substrate, said conductible gel includes a plurality of conductive particles and a plurality of anti-dissociation substances; mounting a chip on the substrate, said chip comprises a plurality of copper-containing bumps, each of the copper-containing bumps comprises a ring surface and a second coupling surface having a plurality of second conductive contact areas and a plurality of second non-conductive contact areas, wherein the conductive particles are electrically connected with the first conductive contact areas and the second conductive contact areas, said anti-dissociation substances are in contact with the second non-conductive contact area, and the ring surfaces are covered with the anti-dissociation substances.
US08497577B2
An apparatus includes a Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) having electrical contacts and a MEMS device in electrical communication with the electrical contacts. A lid is oriented over the MEMS device and not the electrical contacts. The lid has a base region and a top region, the base region being wider in dimension than the top region and oriented in closer proximity to the MEMS device than the top region.
US08497571B2
A thin flip chip package structure comprises a substrate, a chip and a heat dissipation paste, the substrate comprises an insulating layer and a trace layer. The insulating layer comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures formed at the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the insulating layer comprises a disposing area and a non-disposing area. Each of the apertures is located at the disposing area and comprises a lateral wall and a base surface. A first thickness is formed between the base surface and the insulating layer, a second thickness is formed between the top surface and the bottom surface, and the second thickness is larger than the first thickness. The chip disposed on the top surface comprises a chip surface and a plurality of bumps. The heat dissipation paste at least fills the apertures and contacts the base surface.
US08497566B2
A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a conductive first capacitor electrode material comprising TiN over a substrate. TiN of the TiN-comprising material is oxidized effective to form conductive TiOxNy having resistivity no greater than 1 ohm·cm over the TiN-comprising material where x is greater than 0 and y is from 0 to 1.4. A capacitor dielectric is formed over the conductive TiOxNy. Conductive second capacitor electrode material is formed over the capacitor dielectric. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated, including capacitors independent of method of fabrication.
US08497565B2
In a disclosed embodiment, a stacked capacitor (100) has bottom, middle and top metal electrode layers (141A, 141B, 141C) interleaved with dielectric layers (142A, 142B) conformally disposed within holes (140A, 140B, 140C) in a protective overcoat or backend dielectric layer (110) over a top metal layer (115) of an integrated circuit (105). A top electrode (155) contacts the top metal electrode layer (141C). A bottom electrode (150) electrically couples an isolated part of the top metal electrode layer (141C) through a bottom electrode via (165A) to a first contact node (135A) in the top metal layer (115) which is in contact with the bottom metal electrode layer (141A). A middle electrode (160) electrically couples a part of the middle metal electrode layer (141B) not covered by the top metal layer (115) through a middle electrode via (165B) to a second contact node (135B) in the top metal electrode layer (115). The sidewalls of the top and middle electrode vias (165A, 165B) are lined with insulating material to electrically isolate the metal electrode layer ends.
US08497558B2
In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a first cavity disposed through it, and conductive material covers at least the bottom portion of the first cavity. An integrated circuit is disposed on the top surface of the conductive material. The device further includes a cap disposed on the top surface of the substrate, such that a cavity disposed on a surface of the cap overlies the first cavity in the substrate.
US08497554B2
In a replacement gate approach for forming high-k metal gate electrode structures, electronic fuses may be provided on the basis of a semiconductor material in combination with a metal silicide by using a recessed surface topography and/or a superior selectivity of the metal silicide material during the replacement gate process. For example, in some illustrative embodiments, electronic fuses may be provided in a recessed portion of an isolation region, thereby avoiding the removal of the semiconductor material when replacing the semiconductor material of the gate electrode structures with a metal-containing electrode material. Consequently, the concept of well-established semiconductor-based electronic fuses may be applied together with sophisticated replacement gate structures of transistors.
US08497553B2
A semiconductor device includes a first transistor formed on a first element region, and a first protecting element including a second transistor formed on a second element region. A second protecting element ohmic electrode is connected to a first gate electrode, a first protecting element ohmic electrode is connected to a first ohmic electrode, and a first protecting element gate electrode is connected to at least one of the first protecting element ohmic electrode and the second protecting element ohmic electrode. The second element region is smaller in area than the first element region.
US08497545B2
A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device is provided. The method includes forming isolation patterns defining an active region on a substrate, forming a floating gate pattern on the active region, and forming a gate line on the floating gate pattern. The floating gate pattern is self-aligned on the active region and has an impurity ion concentration that becomes relatively low as the floating gate pattern gets nearer to the active region.
US08497544B2
A memory module includes multiple memory devices mounted to a substrate and one or more discrete heating elements disposed in thermal contact with the memory devices. Each of the memory devices includes charge-storing memory cells subject to operation-induced defects that degrade ability of the memory cells to store data. The discrete heating elements, or single discrete heating element, heats the memory devices to a temperature that anneals the defects.
US08497533B2
An embodiment is directed to a method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device, the method including preparing a substrate having a cell array region and a contact region, forming a thin film structure on the substrate, including forming sacrificial film patterns isolated horizontally by a lower isolation region, the lower isolation region traversing the cell array region and the contact region, and forming sacrificial films sequentially stacked on the sacrificial film patterns, and forming an opening that penetrates the thin film structure to expose the lower isolation region of the cell array region, the opening being restrictively formed in the cell array region.
US08497529B2
Trench-generated device structures fabricated using a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer, design structures embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, as well as methods for fabricating trench-generated device structures. The device structure includes a trench extending through the semiconductor and insulator layers of the SOI wafer and into the underlying semiconductor substrate, and a first doped region in the semiconductor substrate. The doped region, which extends about the trench, has a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The device structure further includes a first contact extending from the top surface through the semiconductor and insulator layers to a portion of the semiconductor substrate outside of the doped region, and a second contact extending from the top surface through the semiconductor and insulator layers to the doped region in the semiconductor substrate.
US08497499B2
A gated electrical device includes a non-conductive substrate and a graphene structure disposed on the non-conductive substrate. A metal gate is disposed directly on a portion of the graphene structure. The metal gate includes a first metal that has a high contact resistance with graphene. Two electrical contacts are each placed on the graphene structure so that the metal gate is disposed between the two electrical contacts. In a method of making a gated electrical device, a graphene structure is placed onto a non-conductive substrate. A metal gate is deposited directly on a portion of the graphene structure. Two electrical contacts are deposited on the graphene structure so that the metal gate is disposed between the two electrical contacts.
US08497494B2
An organic thin film transistor includes source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other on a substrate, an organic semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes on the substrate, a gate insulating layer including an organic insulating material on the organic semiconductor layer, the gate insulating layer having a thickness of about 1,800 Å to about 2,500 Å, and a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer.
US08497489B2
A chamber apparatus used with a laser apparatus may include: a chamber provided with at least one inlet for introducing thereinto a laser beam outputted from the laser apparatus; a target supply unit provided to the chamber for supplying a target material to a predetermined region in the chamber; a recovery control unit for instructing the target supply unit to execute recovery operation if a predetermined condition is met; a recovery unit for executing the recovery operation in response to the instruction from the recovery control unit; and a position measuring unit for measuring a position of the target material supplied from the target supply unit into the chamber.
US08497486B1
An ion source includes arc chamber housing defining an arc chamber. The arc chamber housing has an extraction plate in a fixed position, and the extraction plate defines a plurality of extraction apertures. The ion source also includes a shutter assembly positioned outside of the arc chamber proximate the extraction plate. The shutter assembly is configured to block at least a portion of one of the plurality of extraction apertures during one time interval. The ion source combined with relative movement of a workpiece to be treated with an ion beam extracted from the ion source enables a two dimensional ion implantation pattern to be formed on the workpiece using only one ion source.
US08497482B2
A radiation detector module includes a radiation detecting substrate including a plurality of semiconductor devices mounted thereon for detecting radiation, a fixing member for holding the radiation detecting substrate, and a circuit substrate connected to the radiation detecting substrate. The radiation detecting substrate further includes a mounting board including an edge portion connected to the circuit substrate at one end thereof, and a flexible substrate including a wiring pattern connected to the plurality of semiconductor devices. The fixing member includes a bottom, a first side wall extending in a normal direction to the bottom from one end of the bottom, a second side wall extending in the normal direction to the bottom from the other end of the bottom, and substrate supporting portions on the first side wall and the second side wall.
US08497481B2
According to one embodiment, a radiation detector comprises an array substrate having thereon a photoelectric conversion element for converting fluorescence into an electrical signal and having the outermost layer covered with a protective film, a scintillator layer provided on the protective film and converting incident radiation into fluorescence, and a reflective layer filmed by coating and drying paste-like material containing light-scattering particles and a binder provided on the scintillator layer, wherein the protective film is made of a thermoplastic resin having a softening point not higher than the film formation temperature of the scintillator layer and extending on the array substrate over an area of the reflective layer.
US08497477B1
A system and technique for imaging a subject at a scene overcomes the weaknesses in the existing gain fluctuation techniques by switching the environmental temperature at the scene at a rate sufficiently fast enough to obtain subsequent samples in a time period where the gain has not fluctuated sufficiently to have a negative effect on detection sensitivity. This technique is utilized in conjunction with the method of subsequent subtraction of alternate samples which both reveals the reflectance of the scene and removes gain fluctuation.
US08497471B2
Methods are described for measuring the amount of a methylation TPMT enzyme product in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying 6-MMP or isotopically labeled 6-MMP in a test sample utilizing mass spectrometric techniques and for using such methods to determine the activity of TPMT enzyme that is present in a sample.
US08497468B2
An encoder includes a rotor including: a shaft and a code disk attached to the shaft; a stator including a scanning unit configured to generate an electrical signal corresponding to an angular position of the code disk; a cable configured to transfer the electrical signal; and a cover overmolded onto the stator, where the scanning unit is sealed from an outer environment by the cover.
US08497466B2
An apparatus for checking mechanical component parts, such as tools in machine tools, uses optical devices for emitting and receiving a light beam, for example a laser beam, and sensors for detecting the interruption of such light beam. A protection device for at least one of the optical devices includes pneumatic conduits and a nozzle outputting an air stream from a plurality of holes located around the central conduit through which the light beam passes, so generating a tubular shield which embraces the light beam. The protection device further includes a shutter which can be displaced from a rest position, wherein the central conduit is closed and the inside of the protection device is pressurized, to a working position, wherein the nozzle delivers the air stream in the form of a tubular shield. Passing from the rest position to the working position, the shutter assumes an intermediate transit position in which an air blast is outputted through the central conduit for a short time interval. The shutter has cylindrical surfaces and slides inside a shell of the protection device, driven by plane antirotation surfaces, too.
US08497463B2
A device for counting photons includes a detector unit that is configured to generate an detected signal. A switching unit is configured to be impinged upon by the detected signal and to trigger a switching state for each detection pulse so as to generate a state signal. A sampling unit is configured to sample the state signal at a predetermined sampling frequency. A serial-parallel converter unit is configured to parallelize the serially generated sampled data by grouping successive sampled data into a sampled data packet. An evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the binary values of sampled data packets so as to identify a partial counter result indicating the number of switching state changes occurring in the switching unit, and to add partial counter results identified in individual clock cycles.
US08497459B2
The inventors disclose a new high performance optical sensor, preferably of nanoscale dimensions, that functions at room temperature based on an extraordinary optoconductance (EOC) phenomenon, and preferably an inverse EOC (I-EOC) phenomenon, in a metal-semiconductor hybrid (MSH) structure having a semiconductor/metal interface. Such a design shows efficient photon sensing not exhibited by bare semiconductors. In experimentation with an exemplary embodiment, ultrahigh spatial resolution 4-point optoconductance measurements using Helium-Neon laser radiation reveal a strikingly large optoconductance property, an observed maximum measurement of 9460% EOC, for a 250 nm device. Such an exemplary EOC device also demonstrates specific detectivity higher than 5.06×1011 cm√Hz/W for 632 nm illumination and a high dynamic response of 40 dB making such sensors technologically competitive for a wide range of practical applications.
US08497456B2
Embodiments of a guided munition are provided, as are embodiments of a method for equipping a guided munition with an interlocking dome cover. In one embodiment, the guided munition includes a munition body, a seeker dome coupled to the munition body, and an interlocking dome cover. The interlocking dome cover includes a plurality of detachable dome cover sections collectively enclosing the seeker dome and a dome cover deployment device coupled to the plurality of detachable dome cover sections. When actuated, the dome cover deployment device initiates separation of the plurality of detachable dome cover sections to expose the seeker dome.
US08497451B2
An exemplary brittle non-metallic workpiece (70) is made by the laser beam (31), a cutting surface (701 ) of the brittle non-metallic workpiece has no micro cracks. A method for making the brittle non-metallic workpiece includes: focusing a laser beam on the brittle non-metallic substrate to form an elliptic beam spot; driving the laser beam to move along a predetermined curved cutting path, making a center of a major axis of the elliptic beam spot intersecting along the predetermined curved cutting path and the major axis being tangent to the predetermined curved cutting path at the intersecting point; a coolant stream following the elliptic beam spot to move, thus producing a crack in the brittle non-metallic substrate corresponding to the predetermined curved cutting path; separating the brittle non-metallic substrate along the crack. A laser cutting device (40) for making the same is also provided.
US08497446B1
An encapsulated vacuum interrupter with grounded end cup and drive rod is disclosed. The double break vacuum interrupter includes a first contact system including an annular stationary contact which is engaged by a primary moving contact with the moving contact drive rod extending through the primary moving contact and through the opening of the annular stationary contact. A second contact system includes a secondary moving contact placed on the end of the moving contact rod, which engages and operates a floating contact, which moves along the same axis. A mechanical adjustment system is provided for the floating contact. A coaxial moving contact drive rod system is provided. With the encapsulated vacuum interrupter, the lower portion of the vacuum envelope is insulated from the current path, which allows for the elimination of the long internal cavity in the encapsulation as the lower end cup of the vacuum envelope may be grounded.
US08497444B2
An electronic system including an electronic circuit, an actuation device, a spacer and a protection device. The electronic circuit has a surface on which at least two first conductive tracks are arranged. The actuation device includes at least one first bearing element. The spacer is interposed between the electronic circuit and the actuation device and includes at least one opening at least partially receiving the bearing element. The protection device is interposed between the electronic circuit and the spacer and includes at least one second conductive track having ends respectively connected to first conductive portions of first deformable regions of the protection device. Each first portion is capable of contacting one of the first conductive tracks of the electronic circuit to electrically supply the second track under the effect of a deformation of first regions.
US08497441B2
A luminous switch using an inorganic EL material is provided with a plurality of switch sections so as to reduce acoustic noise. The switch sections are provided with a plurality of protruding parts (112) and a plurality of supporting sections (113) formed on a surface of a structure (101); an elastic deformable conductor (124) arranged to have a convex surface opposed the protruding parts (112); a wiring sheet (102A) for covering the conductor (124); a luminous sheet (160) for covering the wiring sheet (102A); and a plurality of switch buttons (125) arranged above the luminous sheet (160). The luminous switch has a structure in which at least two supporting sections (113) are arranged around the protruding parts (112), and a space (111) is formed between the protruding parts (112) and a switch sheet (102). The conductor (124) is accommodated in the space (111). In a case main body (101), an electronic component (103) is mounted and a substrate (104) provided with wiring is arranged. The switch buttons (125) are fixed on a key sheet (129). A top plate (106) is arranged on the key sheet (129) by surrounding the switch buttons (125). The top plate (106) is arranged to cover lower components.
