US08501031B2
Piezoelectric compounds of the formula xNamBinTiO3-yKmBinTiO3-zLimBinTiO3-pBaTiO3 where (0
US08501027B2
A polishing composition includes more than 0.1% by mass of colloidal silica, and water, and has a pH of 6 or less. The polishing composition has the ability to polish a titanium material at a high stock removal rate. Thus, the polishing composition is suitable for use in applications for polishing a titanium-containing object.
US08501021B2
A process for laser forming a blind via in at least one layer of a circuit substrate having a plurality of capture pads of varying geometry can include, for at least one blind via to be formed in at least one layer of a circuit substrate, evaluating a capture pad geometry value (such as area and/or volume) within a predetermined distance from a drilling location with respect to a blind via geometry value (such as area and/or volume) to be formed at the drilling location. The process can include setting at least one laser operating parameter based on the evaluation in order to obtain a desired capture pad appearance after blind via formation. The process can include imaging a capture pad area defined as an area within a predetermined distance from a blind via drilling location in at least one layer of a circuit substrate, quantifying at least one appearance value for the imaged capture pad area, and determining an acceptability of the imaged capture pad areas based on the quantified appearance value.
US08501020B2
A method for making a three-dimensional nano-structure array includes following steps. First, a substrate is provided. Next, a mask is formed on the substrate. The mask is a monolayer nanosphere array or a film defining a number of holes arranged in an array. The mask is then tailored and simultaneously the substrate is etched by the mask. Lastly, the mask is removed.
US08501016B2
A storm water pretreatment chamber is provided. The storm water pretreatment chamber includes; one or more filter sidewalls; one or more optional water-impermeable sidewalls; one or more optional chamber grates; and one or more catch rails. Methods of treating storm water are also provided.
US08501015B2
A centrifuge for separating blood having a camera observing fluid flow, and a controller controlling the flow. The location of an interface is detected by image processing steps, which may comprise the steps of “spoiling” the image, “diffusing” the image, “edge detection”, “edge linking”, “region-based confirmation”, and “interface calculation”. “Spoiling” reduces the number of pixels to be examined preferentially on orthogonal axis oriented with respect to the expected location of the interface or phase boundary. “Diffusing” smoothes out small oscillations in the interface boundary, making the location of the interface more distinct. “Edge detection” computes the rate of change in pixel intensity. “Edge linking” connects adjacent maxima. “Region-based confirmation” creates a pseudo image of the regions that qualify as distinct. “Final edge calculation” uses the points where the shade changes in the pseudo image, averages the radial displacement of these points for the interface position.
US08501013B2
A system is provided for water purification for a recirculation shower in a transport with a filtration unit, a first backwash line and a second backwash line. The filtration unit is designed to filter used shower water. The first backwash line and the second backwash line are designed to clean the filtration unit with a backwashing. The first backwash line is designed to convey backwash water to the filtration unit. The second backwash line is designed to discharge backwash water from the filtration unit.
US08501008B2
The invention relates to a method for reducing the number of leukocytes in blood through treating the blood in an arrangement of a plurality of fibers based on organic polymers, whereby the blood is channeled along the fibers and whereby the reduction in leukocytes from the blood occurs essentially through adsorption on the fibers, characterized in that the plurality of fibers based on organic polymers is fixed in a housing with an inlet arrangement and an outlet arrangement, and that the blood is channeled via the inlet arrangement into the housing, flows through the housing with the plurality of fibers made from organic polymers, and exits the housing via the outlet arrangement, that the arrangement of the fibers shows a high degree of order, that the blood flows along the external surface of the fibers, and that the fibers cause a generation of the complement activation product C5a in a concentration of at least 10 μg per m2 of fiber surface.
US08500996B1
Broadly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a self sustaining green vegetated roof for harvesting and recycling rain water, including a re-created wetland disposed to harvest rain water, the re-created wetland supported on top of a combination of pervious and impervious layers of materials configured on a top surface of a roof of a building; a water filtration system disposed to mimic a natural wetland ecosystem; and a storage system disposed to collect water from the filtration system to be made available for use.
US08500980B1
A cost-effective multi-channel capillary gel-electrophoresis system for highly efficient, nucleic acid-based analysis, in particular HLA SSP (Human Leukocyte Antigen Sequence Specific Primer) typing applications. Twelve DNA samples are automatically injected, electrophoretically separated, detected and analyzed simultaneously by using a multiple usage and disposable multi-capillary gel-cartridge. Using commercially available DNA size markers as indicators, the system provides high resolving power with 12-channel separations in less than 1.5 minutes. The system can hold a total of 96 samples in a PCR plate that can automatically be analyzed within 25 minutes for a full plate of the HLA SSP kits.
US08500978B2
A composite coating apparatus includes a main body, two carrying boards, and two actuators. The main body defines a first chamber and a second chamber with a separating board intervening therebetween. The separating board defines a coating opening intercommunicating with the chambers. The carrying boards are received in the first chamber and rotatably connected to the separating board at two sides of the coating opening. Each carrying board defines a receiving groove for holding a substrate. The actuators are configured for driving the carrying boards to rotate between a first coating position, in which the substrate is exposed to the second chamber for a first coating process carried out in the second chamber via the coating opening, and a second coating position, in which the substrate faces away from the separating board for a second coating process carried out in the first chamber.
US08500977B2
A coating apparatus includes a housing, a sputter mechanism, an evaporation mechanism, and a workpiece transport assembly. The housing defines a receiving space. The workpiece transport assembly includes a fixing plate, a first transport member, and a first shaft. The fixing plate is secured to the housing via the receiving space and divides the receiving space into a sputter chamber and an evaporation chamber. The sputter mechanism is mounted in the sputter chamber, and the evaporation mechanism is mounted in the evaporation chamber. The fixing plate defines a through hole. The sputter chamber communicates with the evaporation chamber via the through hole. The first transport member is configured to transport at least one workpiece. The first shaft is secured to the first transport member and rotatably mounted to the housing.
US08500968B2
An electroplating apparatus having improved contact deplating features includes a bowl assembly having a bowl for holding an electroplating solution. A head having a rotor including a contact ring and a head motor for rotating the rotor cooperates with the bowl assembly during plating operations. A lift/rotate actuator may be used to move the head to position a sector of the contact ring in a ring slot or opening of a deplating module. Since the deplating is performed within the deplating module, and not within the bowl assembly, the electroplating solution in the bowl assembly is not affected by the deplating process.
US08500964B2
A manufacturing method of a bubble-type micro-pump is provided. At least a bubble-generating unit is provided on the bubble-generating section. Because of the varied surface energies on the top of the bubble-generating section, the varied backfilling velocities of the fluid of the front end and the rear end cause fluid moving when a bubble vanishes. The top surface of the bubble-generating section is subjected to a particular surface treatment to form a surface energy gradient. Examples of surface treatment include sputtering a thin film with varied densities or thickness, radiating one or multi-layer thin films by a laser beam, etc.
US08500954B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing the black liquor of a pulp mill to recover the chemicals and energy therein. In the invention, the black liquor is pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis reactor (6), formed gaseous components are lead for utilization, sand is returned to a fluidized-bed boiler, and solid matter is mixed with water, whereby a soda-water solution is returned to the pulping process and solid carbon to the fluidized-bed boiler (1).
US08500953B2
An edge ring assembly surrounds a substrate support surface in a plasma etching chamber. The edge ring assembly comprises an edge ring and a dielectric spacer ring. The dielectric spacer ring, which surrounds the substrate support surface and which is surrounded by the edge ring in the radial direction, is configured to insulate the edge ring from the baseplate. Incorporation of the edge ring assembly around the substrate support surface can decrease the buildup of polymer at the underside and along the edge of a substrate and increase plasma etching uniformity of the substrate.
US08500952B2
Plasma confinement ring assemblies are provided that include confinement rings adapted to reach sufficiently high temperatures on plasma-exposed surfaces of the rings to avoid polymer deposition on those surfaces. The plasma confinement rings include thermal chokes adapted to localize heating at selected portions of the rings that include the plasma exposed surfaces. The thermal chokes reduce heat conduction from those portions to other portions of the rings, which causes selected portions of the rings to reach desired temperatures during plasma processing.
US08500951B2
A method for etching a bevel edge of a substrate is provided. A patterned photoresist mask is formed over the etch layer. The bevel edge is cleaned comprising providing a cleaning gas comprising at least one of a CO2, CO, CxHy, H2, NH3, CxHyFz and a combination thereof, forming a cleaning plasma from the cleaning gas, and exposing the bevel edge to the cleaning plasma. Features are etched into the etch layer through the photoresist features and the photoresist mask is removed.
US08500948B2
The invention relates to the use of a solvent-free, 2 component adhesive for adhering sterilizable composite films, wherein the adhesive comprises a component A made from at least one pre-polymer comprised of NCO groups, said pre-polymer produced from low molecular weight polyether alcohols, polyester alcohols and/or polyalkylene alcohols having a functionality of 2 or 3, implemented having a high molar excess of TDI and removal of the unimplemented monomer diisocyanate, and a component B comprising at least one 2 or 3 functional polyesterpolyol, produced from diols and/or triols on the basis of polyethers or polyalkylene diols implemented having dicarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, wherein at least 10 to 40 wt % must be comprised of aliphatic C8 to C20 dicarboxylic acids, and auxiliary and additive materials in at least one component A or B.
US08500946B2
A method for assembling a fin seal container including folding a container blank into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume and includes an end portion that defines an opening into the internal volume, the end portion including a first fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces and a second fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces, folding the end portion such that the inner major surface of the first fin seal panel is positioned adjacent to the inner major surface of the second fin seal panel, separating the first fin seal panel from the second fin seal panel, treating the inner major surface of the first fin seal panel and/or the inner major surface of the second fin seal panel, and pressing the first fin seal panel into engagement with the second fin seal panel.
US08500939B2
Multi-lumen catheter devices having at least one split-tipped end are disclosed, together with methods of forming such split tip catheters. In one aspect of the invention, the manufacturing methods can include the steps of: providing a catheter body having at least a first and a second internal lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body; removing a distal portion of the catheter body to form a first distal tip segment such that the first lumen extends longitudinally within this tip segment beyond the second lumen; and joining a second lumen tip segment to the catheter body in communication with the second lumen. The second tip segment can be joined to the catheter body such that it is at least partially separated from the first tip segment and, in some embodiments, preferably diverges at an angle relative to the first tip segment.
US08500936B2
A blank for forming a collapsible field director structure comprises nonconductive material sheet having at least three panels thereon, one panel being a master panel and the other two panels being slave panels. Each panel is substantially rectangular in shape and has elongated upper and lower edges and two relatively shorter side edges. Each panel is connected to at least one adjacent panel along an elongated edge. A patch of adhesive is disposed on: the first surface of a first one of the panels; and another patch of adhesive is disposed on: the first surface on one of the other panels; or the second surface of said first one of the panels. The slave panels are each foldable along an elongated edge so that a surface of each slave panel is brought into confronting facial adjacency to and adhered against a surface of the master panel.
US08500930B2
The invention concerns a device and a corresponding method for the jointing of wafers along their corresponding surfaces.
US08500918B1
System and method for cleaning a solar row of solar panels. The solar row has an upper edge elevated from ground level more than a lower edge to provide an inclination of the solar row. A cleaning assembly operates to clean a surface of the solar panels. A support frame supports the cleaning assembly and enables the cleaning assembly to move (1) upwardly and downwardly in the width direction of the solar row, and (2) in the length direction of the solar row. Operation and movement of the cleaning assembly is controlled by a control unit to cause the cleaning assembly to clean a surface of the solar panels during downward movement of the cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly is preferably not operative during its upward vertical movement. During the downward movement, the cleaning assembly removes dirt, debris and dust from the surface of the solar panels and generates an air stream to blow off the dirt, debris, and dust.
US08500912B2
Provided is a plasma processing method capable of removing a Ti-series deposit from the surface of a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus without production of a foreign matter such as a boron oxide. The plasma processing method includes carbon-series deposition discharge which succeeds product etching during which a sample containing a Ti material is processed, and during which a carbon-series film is deposited on a Ti reaction by-product deposited on the surface of the processing chamber, and chlorine-series discharge which succeeds the carbon-series deposition discharge and during which the carbon-series film and Ti that are deposited on the surface of the processing chamber are removed.
US08500909B2
An apparatus for processing coating material includes a crucible having a cylindrical receptacle for receiving coating material, a drive member having a drive shaft, and a cover coupled to the drive shaft. The cover has a flat surface. The drive shaft is configured to drive the cover to rotate thereabout between a closed position where the cover covers the receptacle and the flat surface presses against the coating material to flatten the coating material, and an open position where the cover is moved away from the receptacle.
US08500907B2
The invention relates to a masking system for masking a cylinder bore (2) of a combustion engine (3) during a thermal coating procedure including a masking body (4) which can be placed during the thermal coating of a first cylinder (5) of the combustion engine (3) in the cylinder bore (2) of a second cylinder (7) to cover a cylinder wall (6) of the second cylinder (7). In this arrangement the masking body (4) is designed in such a way that a flow gap (10) of predeterminable breadth can be set between the masking body (4) and the cylinder wall (6) of the second cylinder (7) for the production of a flow (8) of a fluid (9).
US08500906B2
A device for disposing a gas, the device including: a chamber; a plurality of gas jetting plates disposed in the chamber, each gas jetting plate of the plurality of gas jetting plates including a plurality of gas jetting holes disposed on a surface thereof; and a gas pipe fluidly connected to the gas jetting plate and extending outside the chamber, wherein each gas jetting plate includes a first stage, which is fluidly connected to the gas pipe, and a final stage, which includes the plurality of gas jetting holes.
US08500896B2
A solid ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline component, and optionally, a colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the amorphous component is synthesized from an esterification reaction of tartaric acid.
US08500893B2
This invention involves a marine ship flue gas scrubbing equipment and scrubbing method. The equipment includes a shell with an upper scrubbing section and a water tank in the lower section. A smoke pipe leads in exhaust gas to an area between the scrubbing section and water tank. Scrubbing seawater is injected through an inlet above the scrubbing section, and a cooler is located along the pathway of the exhaust gas. The method of scrubbing includes leading-in exhaust gas, cooling the exhaust gas, injecting scrubbing seawater, performing scrubbing operation, and discharging clean gas. Embodiments of the invention provide a highly efficient scrubbing equipment and method suitable for high-temperature exhaust gas within a limited usable space. The methods and equipment are highly effective for emission reduction, has low energy consumption, small size, and long life performance.
US08500886B2
Exhaust gas after coal or oil burning has moisture, which hinders carbon dioxide adsorption. It is necessary to completely remove this moisture with the minimum use of energy. The exhaust gas from the burning apparatus is first lowered of its temperature by passing through an total heat exchanger rotor, and the resultant gas which has low temperature and humidity is sent to a carbon dioxide adsorption rotor, thereby removing carbon dioxide from the gas, which is then sent through the total heat exchanger rotor with the resultant desorption of moisture adsorbed there and is exhausted to outside atmosphere, while the carbon dioxide adsorption rotor is desorbed of its carbon dioxide using water vapor, with the resultant very humid carbon dioxide to be sent to a processing system such as for underground burial.
US08500883B2
A filter media for use in an inlet air filtration system includes a woven glass material and an amount of carbon impregnated within the woven glass material.
US08500874B2
One ozone concentrating chamber is provided therein with a part of a cooling temperature range where ozone can be selectively condensed or an oxygen gas can be selectively removed by transmission from an ozonized oxygen gas, and a part of a temperature range where condensed ozone can be vaporized, and condensed ozone is vaporized by moving condensed ozone with flow of a fluid or by gravitation to the part where condensed ozone can be vaporized, whereby the ozonized oxygen gas can be increased in concentration. Such a constitution is provided that a particle material 13 for condensation and vaporization filled in the ozone concentrating chambers 11 and 12 has a spherical shape of a special shape with multifaceted planes on side surfaces, or an oxygen transmission membrane 130 capable of selectively transmitting an oxygen gas in an ozone gas is provided.
US08500871B2
A water vapor permeable membrane is provided comprising a dense layer and a support layer that are adjacent to each other, wherein the dense layer contains voids with a void length of 0.1 μm or less and the dense layer has a thickness of 0.1 μm or more and 2 μm or less while in the support layer, void (a), i.e. the void with the largest length in the 2 μm thick region measured from the boundary between the dense layer and the support layer into the support layer, has a length of 0.3 μm or more and void (b), i.e. the void with the largest length in the region ranging between 2 μm and 4 μm measured from the boundary into the support layer, has a length of 0.5 μm or more, the length of the void (b) being larger than that of the void (a). A water vapor permeable membrane having both a high water vapor permeability and a low air leakage is provided.
US08500860B2
New and useful system and method concepts are provided, for removing carbon dioxide from a flow of carbon dioxide laden air. More specifically, a sorbent structure is used in new and useful structures and techniques to bind carbon dioxide in a carbon dioxide laden air stream, and process heat is used to separate carbon dioxide from the sorbent structure and regenerate the sorbent structure.
US08500857B2
New and useful system and method concepts are provided, for removing carbon dioxide from a flow of carbon dioxide laden air. More specifically, a sorbent structure is used in new and useful structures and techniques to bind carbon dioxide in a carbon dioxide laden air stream, and process heat is used to separate carbon dioxide from the sorbent structure and regenerate the sorbent structure.
US08500855B2
A method and a system to remove relatively pure carbon dioxide directly from ambient air. The method comprises generating process heat, to co-generate substantially saturated steam; alternately and repeatedly exposing a sorbent to a flow of ambient air, at substantially ambient conditions, to sorb, and therefore remove, carbon dioxide from said ambient air, and exposing the CO2-laden sorbent to a flow of the co-generated steam, at a temperature in the range of not greater than about 130° C, to release the carbon dioxide, thereby regenerating the sorbent, and capturing relatively pure carbon dioxide. To render this process more efficient, admix with the air a minor amount of a pre-treated effluent gas containing a higher concentration of carbon dioxide than in the atmosphere. The captured carbon dioxide can be stored for further use, or sequestered permanently. The purified carbon dioxide is useful for agriculture or chemical processes.
US08500850B2
The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gases which comprises putting a mixture of gases in contact with a zeolite of the ESV type to obtain the selective adsorption of at least one of the gases forming the gaseous mixture. The present invention also relates to particular zeolitic compositions suitable as adsorbents.
US08500838B2
A method of using a modular International Organization for Standardization (ISO) filter house for filtering process fluids is provided. The filter house includes a self-contained rectangular cuboid enclosure having the outside dimension of a standard, transportable ISO shipping container. The filter house has apertures for fluid flow inlet and fluid flow outlet, and a filter element for removing impurities from the fluid flow. The method includes creating one standard filter house design to be used in any multiple to meet various flow requirements. The method further includes creating a common fluid connection between the filter houses and process equipment so that the filter houses operate in parallel. A kit of modular components for filtration of a fluid is also provided. The kit includes an external structure of an ISO shipping container, vanes to direct fluid flow, and a filter element. The kit also includes apertures that allow fluid communication between the interior of the shipping container and the exterior of the shipping container.
US08500835B2
A hollow body for capturing particles includes at least one at least partially permeable wall extending between two at least partially oppositely disposed openings and along a first longitudinal direction. The hollow body has a primary cross-sectional shape defining a first cross-sectional area. At least one of the openings defines a second cross-sectional area. The second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. An exhaust-gas treatment device having an exhaust line and a motor vehicle having an exhaust-gas treatment device are also provided.
US08500828B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a bio-diesel, comprising the steps of, in the presence of an additional free fatty acid source, reacting a raw oil-fat with C1-C6 monohydric alcohol in a reactor, and separating fatty acid esters from the reacted materials, so as to produce the bio-diesel, wherein the amount of the free fatty acid in the free fatty acid source ranges from 2-100 wt % and is higher than the amount of the free fatty acid in the raw fat-oil. The present process can increase the fatty acid ester yield and purity of raw oil-fats having a low reaction activity, and has a high adaptability to raw materials.
US08500820B2
A bone cement collector includes a body having a structure that is permeable to bone cement and has opening for trapping bone cement. The body is releasably attached to an orthopaedic implant component at a location on the implant at which bone cement is likely to escape during positioning of the orthopaedic implant.
US08500818B2
A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component and a bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component. The assembly further includes a tibial tray. Furthermore, the assembly includes a ligament link operably coupled to the tibial tray or the femoral component via a coupling component. The ligament link extending through the other of the tibial tray or the femoral component to couple to the respective one of the femur or tibia. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.
US08500813B2
Systems are provided for reducing the complexity and invasiveness of spinal stabilization procedures and provide an expandable device deliverable to a spinal implantation location. The expandable device can be delivered through a minimally invasive access portal and expanded at the implantation location to manipulate one or more bony structures or maintain a configuration of one or more bony structures.
US08500812B2
Disclosed in this specification are device and method that provides for adjustable, constrained motion of a spinal motion segment that is affected by degenerative disease, microinstability and the like. The device has first and second diagonal connectors, the leading ends of which are disposed within first and second fluid chambers of a housing unit. A liner is provided in the fluid chambers which are accessible through access ports into the housing unit.
US08500808B2
Provided is an artificial eardrum using silk protein and a method of fabricating the same. The artificial eardrum is fabricated in the form of a silk membrane by desalinating and drying silk protein (or silk fibroin) or a silk protein complex solution obtained after removal of sericin from a silkworm cocoon or silk fiber. Thus, regeneration of an eardrum perforated due to disease or a sudden accident is stimulated, a boundary of the regenerated eardrum is clean and biocompatibility and transparency are increased. In addition, the artificial eardrum may be fabricated using the silk protein or silk protein complex solution obtained from a silkworm cocoon alone or mixed with collagen, alginic acid, PEG or pluronic 127.
US08500798B2
A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state. The system is particularly suited for rapid deployment of heart valves in a conventional open-heart surgical environment.
US08500794B2
The stent of the present invention combines a helical strut band interconnected by coil elements. This structure provides a combination of attributes that are desirable in a stent, such as, for example, substantial flexibility, stability in supporting a vessel lumen, cell size and radial strength. The structure of the stent of the present invention provides a predetermined geometric relationship between the helical strut band and interconnected coil elements in order to maintain connectivity at any diameter size state of the stent.
US08500793B2
Preferred embodiments of an implantable medical device with a high degree of flexibility is shown and described. One aspect includes an implantable stent having an intermediate portion with a helical winding and first and second end portions. The implantable stent further includes a coupling portion with a helical winding, and bridges joining struts of defining the helical windings. The stent also includes a paddle providing a bridge joining the ends or the helical windings. Another aspect relates to a radially self-expansible stent with a plurality of radiopaque markers attached to it. The markers are shaped and located at the stent end such that the compressive stress exerted on the end annulus of the stent during release of the stent is shared between the markers and the inflection zones that do not carry a marker.
US08500791B2
System including a delivery catheter and a stent disposed at a distal end of the delivery catheter. The stent includes a plurality of radially expandable rings disposed adjacent to one another to define a tubular member having a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion, and a middle portion, each of the radially expandable rings including a plurality of strut members. The middle portion of the tubular member include a plurality of interconnection members extending between longitudinally adjacent expandable rings, the number of the plurality of the interconnection members being greater than that of the end portion of the tubular member. The stent also includes a transition section between the end portion and the middle portion, the transition section including at least one open cell and at least one closed cell. The stent can be self-expandable or balloon expandable.
US08500788B2
Described herein are flexible implantable occluding devices that can, for example, navigate the tortuous vessels of the neurovasculature. The occluding devices can also conform to the shape of the tortuous vessels of the vasculature. In some embodiments, the occluding devices can direct blood flow within a vessel away from an aneurysm or limit blood flow to the aneurysm. Some embodiments describe methods and apparatus for adjusting, along a length of the device, the porosity of the occluding device. In some embodiments, the occluding devices allows adequate blood flow to be provided to adjacent structures such that those structures, whether they are branch vessels or oxygen-demanding tissues, are not deprived of the necessary blood flow.
US08500768B2
A steerable catheter system to perform a transseptal puncture procedure comprises a steerable catheter shaft with at least one inner lumen, and an inner element slidably positioned within a shaft lumen, wherein the distal tip of the shaft can be deflected, counter-deflected, rotated, and counter-rotated and wherein the inner element can be deployed or retracted. In one embodiment, a single steerable catheter is capable of performing an intended procedure and a transseptal procedure all in one, wherein the catheter comprises an outer steerable catheter and an inner element which can be deployed to perform a transseptal puncture, and wherein, once the inner element crosses the inter-atrial septum, the catheter itself can slide forward without advancement of the inner element.
US08500767B2
A surgical blade is disclosed for use with a surgical tool for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The surgical blade comprises a rotatable support arm capable of being rotated by the surgical tool and a detachable curved cutting blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. The surgical tool causes the curved cutting blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the curved cutting blade is detached from the rotatable support arm. The curved cutting blade is then removed from the incision by pulling the curved cutting blade forward out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.
US08500764B2
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having an open distal end. The drive shaft comprising a fluid impermeable wall, an abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from its distal end, the fluid impermeable wall being formed from a torque transmitting coil and at least one fluid impermeable membrane which define a lumen for the antegrade flow of pressurized fluid through the drive shaft and into a distal fluid inflatable support element to inflate said fluid inflatable support element. The distal fluid inflatable support element is located at the distal end of the drive shaft and has an outer wall comprising an outflow opening.
US08500761B2
The invention provides devices, systems and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The devices, systems and methods of the invention will find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions, including the abdomen, thorax, cardiovascular system, heart, intestinal tract, stomach, urinary tract, bladder, lung, and other organs, vessels, and tissues. The invention is particularly useful in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations, where the instruments utilized must negotiate long, narrow, and tortuous pathways to the treatment site. In addition, many of the devices and systems of the invention are adapted to be reversible and removable from the patient at any point without interference with or trauma to internal tissues.
US08500747B2
Instruments and methods are provided for re-positioning and extracting spinal implants in a space between vertebrae. The instruments can include rotater instruments, hook instruments, and extractor instruments engageable to the implant. The extractor instruments can include a shaft assembly, an actuator assembly at a proximal end of said shaft assembly, and an engaging assembly at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The engaging assembly includes a support member fixedly coupled with and extending distally from the shaft assembly and a clamping member coupled with at least one of the shaft assembly and the support member. The actuator assembly is operably linked to the clamping member with the shaft assembly to move the clamping member toward the support member with the actuator assembly.
US08500743B2
A surgical jig for determining an axis extending into the end of a bone (2). The jig comprises a platform (10) arranged to be supported upon a resected surface (4) at an end of a bone (2), first and second clamps (16) and an alignment guide (18). The first and second clamps (16) are coupled to the platform (10) and are arranged to engage first and second portions of a bone lip (6) extending around at least part of the resected surface (4) to secure the platform (10) to the resected surface (4). The alignment guide (18) defines an axis extending into the end of the bone (2), the alignment guide (18) being pivotally coupled to the platform (10). A method of determining an axis extending into the end of a bone (2) using the surgical jig is also disclosed. The method comprises resecting the end of a bone (2) to leave a bone lip (6), coupling the surgical jig to the resected end of the bone (2), and pivoting the alignment guide (18) until the alignment guide (18) coincides with a required axis extending into the end of the bone (2).
US08500741B2
Alignment clamps, extension caps, and systems, with associated methods, for pedicle screw extension alignment in an orthopedic patient are described. An alignment clamp for alignment of pedicle screw extensions includes a clamp having a hollow interior. The clamp can receive a pedicle screw extension through the hollow interior. The clamp includes opposing open ends in communication with the hollow interior. A straightening rod receptacle is on a side of the clamp. The straightening rod receptacle is oriented to receive a straightening rod therethrough. The straightening rod receptacle can be substantially perpendicular to a direction of the clamp through which the pedicle screw extension is receivable.
US08500740B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing, replacing or otherwise treating bone ligaments using devices designed from patient-specific information, including without limitation, surgical alignment instruments that have a surface that conforms to at least a portion of a patient's bone, cartilage or other component of the joint or ligament being treated.
US08500732B2
Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure.
US08500720B2
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for delivering therapy for a cardiac disorder, wherein the system comprises a source for supplying a protein formulation containing a protein that is otherwise deficient in cardiac cells in a patient with a cardiac disorder, and a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end for delivering the protein formulation to the pericardial sac region of a human heart.
US08500716B2
A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. A base is provided which is adapted to receive a reservoir. The base has a base engagement member, such as a detent, projecting therefrom. A cap is provided which is adapted to receive the base. The cap includes a first cap engagement member, such as a detent opening, which is adapted to removably engage the base detent. The cap further includes a second cap detent opening which is adapted to removably engage the base detent. A piercing member, such as a needle, is disposed in the interior of the cap in such a manner that the needle is separated from the reservoir septum when the base detent is in the first cap detent opening, and the needle pierces the reservoir septum when the base detent is in the second cap detent opening. When the reservoir, the base and the cap are connected to form an integrated unit, this unit is then capable of being inserted and secured in the infusion pump housing.
US08500715B2
Fluid communication to an end of a catheter is afforded through a connection hub selectively attachable thereto. The connection hub includes a catheter receiving element and a fluid coupling element that are relatively rotatable coaxially between a catheter receiving condition and a catheter capture condition of the connection hub. The catheter capture condition, a compressible sealing sleeve disposed interior of the connection hub between a pair of clamping jaws projecting from the catheter receiving element is urged into sealing engagement with the exterior of the catheter, catheter is gripped mechanically through the sealing sleeve by the clamping jaws. The exteriors of each of the catheter receiving element and the fluid coupling element are formed into planar actuation handles that facilitate relative rotation of the catheter receiving element and the fluid coupling element into coplanar alignment in the catheter capture condition of the connection hub.
US08500707B2
A drainable ostomy pouch includes a collection portion and a drain chute extending from the collection portion having a discharge opening for permitting emptying of contents from the pouch. The drain chute is foldable between an open condition in which the drain chute is extended from the collection portion, and a closed condition in which the drain chute is folded towards the collection portion; and a pocket for receiving at least a portion of the drain chute when the drain chute is in its closed condition.
US08500705B2
The present invention relates to the analysis apparatus capable of collecting the body fluid such as urine or blood, for embodiment urination and measuring or calculating the specific constituent from the collected body urine, and the apparatus for collecting body fluid capable of using by connecting to the analysis apparatus and its related article, in which the apparatus for collecting and analyzing for the body fluid of a patient consists of the body fluid collecting part and the collecting part case, the apparatus for collecting body fluid consists of the body fluid collecting part, the total tube and adapter, the collecting part is constructed with the absorbing tube, the sensor tube, the cleansing tube and the passage and is attachable/detachable connected to the collecting part, a diaper and pants exclusive for a patient are provided as the related article such that it is convenient to possess and has effects in the urination having no relations to the intention of a patient or in case of unable to use hand or foot by the intention, moreover in using together with a diaper and in nursing acute and chronic patient.
US08500700B2
A dosing unit for an ambulatory infusion device and a method of operation are disclosed. The dosing unit includes a stationary member, a movable member, and a plunger. The movable member and the stationary member, together, make a charging valve and a discharging valve. The plunger is located, at least in part, in a metering cavity of the movable member and the movable member is adapted to selectively couple and decouple a driving unit, such that, by operating the driving unit with the movable member being coupled with the driving unit, the movable member moves with the plunger to maintain a position of the plunger relative to the movable member along a displacement axis, and by operating the driving unit with the movable member being decoupled from the driving unit, the plunger is displaced while the position of the movable member is maintained.
US08500688B2
A retrograde coronary sinus perfusion catheter including a tubular catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen, and an inflatable balloon spaced proximally from the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the balloon is echogenically enhanced.
US08500684B2
A balloon catheter having an elongated catheter shaft defining a fluid drainage lumen and a balloon inflation lumen. The balloon catheter includes a fluid drainage port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the fluid drainage lumen, and a balloon inflation port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation lumen. A balloon portion is disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation port. A release device is disposed in fluid communication with the balloon portion and the fluid drainage lumen, and includes an activating member. A tether is attached to the activating member of the release device. Tension applied to the tether activates the release device, enabling fluid flow from the balloon portion into the fluid drainage lumen and out of the body.
US08500682B2
A medical injector is provided herein having a body; a reservoir containing first and second mixable component; a stopper; a plunger; a spring disposed to advance the plunger; a first releasable retainer for releasably retaining the plunger in a first state against force of the spring; a first trigger for causing the first releasable retainer to release the plunger; a second releasable retainer for releasably retaining the plunger in a second state against force of the spring; and, a second trigger for causing the second releasable retainer to release the plunger. The spring causes the plunger to advance so that the stopper traverses at least a predetermined extent of advancement thereby causing mixing of the first and second mixable components. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a medical injector is provided which allows for autoreconstitution with subsequent dose setting and autoplunger activation being activated by separate triggers.
US08500673B2
The disclosure pertains to a perfusion system that is easy to set-up, use and monitor during a bypass procedure. In some embodiments, the disclosure pertains to a perfusion system in which at least some of the disposable components used with the perfusion system are configured to be able to communicate set-up and/or operational parameters to the perfusion system. In some embodiments, the disclosure pertains to a blood level sensor that can be used to monitor a blood level or volume within a blood reservoir. The blood level sensor may be utilized in an integrated perfusion system in which the disposable components are configured, as noted above, to communicate with the perfusion system. In some embodiments, the blood level sensor may be utilized with a perfusion system lacking communication with disposables.
US08500668B2
A functional electrical stimulation brace responsive to various positions of an intended wearer's foot. The device includes a plurality of sensors positioned at different locations under the intended wearer's foot to detect the current position of the foot. Outputs from the sensors are fed to a controller that uses logic to activate an electrical stimulation unit that stimulates the peroneal muscles of a patient at the appropriate times during the patient's gait. The device may also employ mechanical stabilization of the ankle in addition to the functional electrical stimulation by means of an ankle foot orthosis with a variable resistance hinge. The electrodes are embedded in fixed locations in the brace upper portion so that optimal location of the electrodes relative to the peroneal muscles is maintained every time the device is applied. Also provided is a method for assistance and rehabilitation for a patient by electrical stimulation of the peroneal muscles. In the method, the position of the foot is detected and the peroneal muscles are stimulated responsive to particular positions of the patient's foot in order to activate the muscles at the appropriate times during the patient's gait. The device also provides lateral and torsional stability by means of the ankle-foot orthosis.
US08500667B2
A device for treatment of limbs affected with Lymphedema. The device is a crevice collar which fits into depressed areas and crevices created by over-hanging lobules and protrusions of tissue so that the tissue may be comfortably wrapped with a pressure wrap with exacerbating sores and crevice areas in the skin caused by the Lymphedema.
US08500663B2
The present invention is a vibrational roller utilizing a motorized vibrational drive using a plurality of eccentric weights and associated supports. The weights are positioned along the axis of rotation in a manner to synchronize them and minimize vibrational dissipation throughout the roller. Each weight has at least one associated support. The supports then transmit vibrational forces to the surface of the roller in an evenly distributed manner. A second co-operational motor may be used to extend motor life and aid in initiating vibrations. A control panel and associated circuitry are utilized to alter vibrational characteristics. The roller may be battery powered or powered through a standard wall outlet. The roller itself is manufactured of a durable yet deformable material, such as foam rubber, and may be inserted into selectable sleeves of varying physical properties for desired effect.
US08500660B2
A system for measuring the size of a gastric lumen includes a gastric banding device, an antenna positioned outside of the patient's body, and a receiver in operative communication with the antenna. The banding device comprises two orthogonal ultrasonic transceiver modules, a microprocessor, and a transmitter in electrical communication with the microprocessor. The microprocessor is in operative communication with each of the two transceiver modules. The transmitter transmits signals to a receiver positioned outside of a patient's body. Another system for measuring the size of a gastric lumen includes a gastric banding device having a first coiled conductor. The system further comprises a circuit external to the banding device, the circuit comprising a second coiled conductor. The circuit further comprises a tunable frequency generator and a spectrum analyzer, the circuit being tunable to allow a resonant frequency.
US08500659B2
A repeatable patient-specific measurement technique. The process employs common anatomical reference points to guide the individual performing the measurements. The measurements taken are logged into a database using a standard format. A volume corresponding to the area measured is then calculated. The series of measurements can be accurately repeated during subsequent evaluations of the individual. Subsequent volume calculations are also made so that the volume of the measured region can be tracked over time. The volumetric information is then used to evaluate certain individual-specific criteria such as efficacy of weight management plan. Computer software will also present the data in a variety of numerical and graphical formats that are useful to the individual.
US08500654B2
A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen includes a housing; an outer cannula that is at least partially received within the housing; and an inner tube received within the outer cannula and is configured to receive a stylet. The needle also includes a snare coil that is formed as part of the inner tube and is coupled to the outer cannula. The needle has a first actuation stage and a second actuation stage that is automatically activated as a result of activation of the first actuation stage. During the first actuation stage, a first mechanism contained at least partially within the housing is actuated to longitudinally and axially advance both the outer cannula and the inner tube as well as causing the outer cannula and the inner tube to simultaneously rotate in unison as the two are longitudinally advanced. In the second stage, a second mechanism contained at least partially within the housing is actuated to cause rotation of the inner tube relative to the outer cannula thereby causing activation of the snare coil.
US08500653B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and algorithms aimed at neurophysiology monitoring, and more particularly to a system capable of quickly finding stimulation thresholds over multiple channels of a neurophysiology monitoring system. For example, the neurophysiology monitoring system may be configured to omit stimulation pulses when the neuromuscular response is predictable.
US08500642B2
An ultrasonic treatment apparatus comprised of: a patient support for supporting a patient, an ultrasound transducer system for ultrasonic treatment of the patient, a region formed in the patient support operable for transmitting ultrasound from the ultrasound transducer system to a treatment zone in the patient, a protective cover for covering the region, and wherein the protective cover is adapted to be removed from the region while the patient is positioned relative to the treatment zone such that the treatment zone is able to receive treatment from the ultrasound transducer system.
US08500632B2
An endoscope includes an elongated insertion portion having a distal end portion provided with an illumination window and an observation window. A single solid-state image sensing device whose image pickup face is provided at an image forming position of an objective optical system mounted on the observation window. In the vicinity of the image pickup face of the solid-state image sensing device, a filter portion that has a first filter having a wideband wavelength transmission characteristic in a visible band and a second filter having a narrowband wavelength transmission characteristic in the visible band two-dimensionally arranged is disposed.
US08500631B2
Methods and devices for illuminating a body cavity or an internal region of a body are disclosed. In one aspect, a percutaneous illumination device for illuminating a body cavity includes an elongate member with an illumination source, and two support members disposed on the elongate member that are adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a tissue surface for stabilizing the device. Variations on such an illumination device, kits that include such devices, and methods of utilizing such devices are all described within the present application.
US08500627B2
A mechanized dildo, including a motor driven coaxial plurality of longitudinally spaced drive cams, and corresponding sets of passive cams that operate within an elastic phallic sleeve to locally cyclically expand a girth of the sleeve. Optional vibratory elements are positioned proximate a distal extremity of the sleeve, and in a laterally extending arm that is formed for clitoral stimulation. A battery powered control handle provides multiple operating modes and speeds.
US08500625B2
The surgical kit comprises at least one elongate strip for supporting the urethra of a patient, the strip comprising a knit of yarns forming empty spaces between one another, at least in the longitudinal middle portion of the strip that is to extend transversely under the urethra when the strip is implanted, said knit comprising both reinforcement constituted by longitudinal chains and an intermediate trellis transversely interconnecting the chains. In order to guarantee light obstructive support of the urethra, the treatment kit further comprises suture means adapted to be connected to the chains of the knit by being passed through the empty spaces so as to join the middle portion of the strip with the anatomical tissue under the urethra at at least two connection spots in alignment in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip.
US08500624B2
The present invention provides devices and methods for delivering an implantable sling to an anatomical location in a patient.
US08500617B2
A method of manufacturing an extraction bag sheet including: (1) a step of placing and holding tags on a rotary supporting body at predetermined intervals; (2) threading a string into a continuous pattern on the circumferential surface of the rotary supporting body; (3) bonding the string to the tags; (4) supplying a water-permeable filter sheet onto the tags and the string; (5) bonding the water-permeable filter sheet to the string; and (6) bonding the water-permeable filter sheet to the tags. In the bonding steps of (3), (5), and (6), bonding heads are used which are moved reciprocally and oscillatingly about the center axis of the rotary supporting body and moved vertically relative to the circumferential surface of the rotary supporting body by an oscillation servo motor and a vertical movement servo motor.
US08500610B2
An exercise device for allowing a user to obtain a full body workout includes an innermost tubular member and an outermost tubular member, the tubular members fitted together and longitudinally and slidably movable in a telescoping manner relative to each other during the workout, a chamber within the outermost tubular member, the chamber receiving a compressible gas that provides resistance to relative movement of the tubular members, a collar between the innermost tubular member and the outermost tubular member, a lower limb connector attachment mounted to an end of one of the innermost or outermost tubular members for attachment to a lower limb of a user, and a gripping area at or near an opposite end of the other of the innermost and outermost tubular members to the lower limb connector attachment to stretch and strengthen the user's body muscles during the workout.
US08500605B2
An assembly for mounting of a hangboard includes first and second brackets each having first and second opposing end regions and a first elongate member having first and second spaced apart connection points configured for attachment to the first end regions of the first and second brackets. A second elongate member has third and fourth spaced apart connection points configured for simultaneous attachment to the first and second brackets. The second elongate member has a third connection point configured for attachment at a point along a portion of the first bracket between the first and second end regions thereof; and the fourth connection point configured for attachment at a point along a portion of the second bracket between the first and second end regions thereof. When the first and second members are so attached the assembly can be suspended within a wall opening.
US08500603B2
The present invention provides a brake system for a vehicle with an idle stop and go comprising a valve assembly disposed in a brake line for supplying brake pressure to the wheels by operation of the brake pedal to open or close the brake line; and a controller controlling the valve assembly.
US08500596B2
A vehicle drive force distributing apparatus includes an irreversible transmission mechanism, an operating state determining component and a command value resolution switching component. The irreversible transmission mechanism prevents a radially oriented pressing force, generated between first and second rollers based on an inter-roller radial pressing force command value, from decreasing during a period while command value is constant to maintain the radially oriented pressing force at a prescribed value without operating an inter-roller radial pressing force generating source. The operating state determining component determines whether first or second vehicle operating states exists during which a first or a lower second precision level of drive force distribution control, respectively, is to occur between main and subordinate drive wheels. The command value resolution switching component provides the inter-roller radial pressing force command value at a constant value for a longer period during the second vehicle operating state.
US08500594B2
A differential assembly and method of manufacturing such an assembly are provided. A method for manufacturing a differential assembly includes forming a first portion of a differential carrier; forming a second portion of the differential carrier; securing the first portion to the second portion to form the differential carrier; forming a differential housing; and securing the differential carrier to the differential housing to form a differential assembly. A sintering process may be used to form the first portion and second portion of the differential carrier, and the first and second portions may be secured together by a brazing process. The forming of the first and second portions of the differential carrier and the securing of the first and second portions to form a differential carrier may be achieved by a sinter-brazing process.
US08500592B2
Through holes are formed in a revolving gear which revolves while being engaged with a ring gear, and penetration pins which are configured to extract rotation of the revolving gear are inserted in the through holes. The ring gear and the revolving gear are divided into halves in the thickness direction. Two sheets of ring gears are biased to rotate in reverse directions.
US08500586B2
Provided is a transmission system including: a planetary gear, a first-side mechanism including a chamber and a first-side shaft connected to the chamber, at least one transfer arrangement, including a transfer mechanism and a transfer shaft connected thereto and a second-side mechanism including a second-side shaft. The planetary gear includes a planet carrier, at least one planet gear mounted thereon and at least one of a sun gear and a ring gear. The chamber is fluidly coupled to the transfer mechanism for transfer of rotary motion therebetween. The chamber is connected to one of the gear elements: a planet carrier, a sun gear, or a ring gear, the transfer shaft is connected to one of the gear elements: a planet carrier, a planet gear, a sun gear, or a ring gear, and the second-side shaft is connected to one of the gear elements: a planet carrier, a sun gear, or a ring gear. The connection is such that each of the gear elements: a planet carrier, a planet gear, a sun gear, or a ring gear is only coupled to one of the chamber, the transfer shaft and the second-side shaft.
US08500579B1
A bolt-arrow system having a shaft with a first end and a second end, an arrowhead component having a pointed end and a shaft end, the shaft end removably engages the first end of the shaft, a fletch head having a shaft end and a back end, the shaft end removably engages the second end of the shaft, and a plurality of fletchings extending outwardly from the fletch head, the fletchings each comprise a sharp edge.
US08500564B2
Provided is a shaft-and-yoke coupling structure for coupling a steering transmission shaft and a yoke of a universal joint. An end portion of the steering transmission shaft joined to the yoke has a stepped portion and an insertion convex portion protruding from the stepped portion in the axial direction of the steering transmission shaft. The yoke has an annular receiving portion facing and fixed to the stepped portion via a welded portion and an insertion recess portion surrounded by the receiving portion in which the insertion convex portion is inserted. The insertion convex portion and the insertion recess portion are arranged to be engaged with each other with a predetermined amount of play in the direction of rotation when the welded portion is broken.
US08500556B2
A two-wire exchange system is disclosed that enables a gaming device having one communication port to function as a gaming device having a plurality of communication ports. The two-wire exchange system allows a gaming device having only a single communication port to connect to two or more system hosts simultaneously. The two-wire exchange system is an intelligent multiplexer that communicates using the same protocol as the system hosts to which it is connected. The two-wire exchange system has the ability to respond to a poll from the system host by indicating that the gaming device is busy, and that the system host should poll the gaming device again. This is provided to avoid and to prevent data collisions. The two-wire exchange system is also able to directly arbitrate and facilitate the communication between one or more peripheral hosts and the system hosts.
US08500548B2
A gaming system and method which forms, tracks and maintains one or more groups or teams. The gaming system and method also maintains at least one team progressive award. At any designated point in time, each group or team includes one or more players, wherein as a player plays one or more games at one or more gaming devices, the player accumulates or builds up equity in their current team or group. Upon a determination to provide a team progressive award to a player of a designated team, each eligible player actively associated with the designated team (i.e., each player actively belonging to the team) is provided a portion of the team progressive award. Each player's provided portion of the team progressive award is based on that player's relative accumulated equity in the designated team compared to each other eligible player's accumulated equity in the designated team.
US08500547B2
An apparatus and method for cashless gaming wherein a player can access credits via a pin activated keypad located on a gaming machine with a card reader and a player card. Real-time accounting allows the player to redeem credits and secure perquisites as a function of patronage. The apparatus and method can prompt the player in regards to credits remaining on a credit meter of the gaming machine if the player card is left in the card reader when credits remain on the credit meter.
US08500545B2
A gaming machine displays a number of symbol locations with a respective graphic symbol at each symbol location. Each symbol location is shown on a display system which may comprise a set of mechanical reels or reels simulated on a video display device. The display system is capable of displaying a target symbol or any other one of a number of graphic symbols included in a group of presentation symbols. In response to a first player input, each of the number of symbol locations is caused to conduct a respective symbol change process one or more times to change the graphic symbol included at each respective symbol location. At least some of the awards available in the game are based at least in part on the absence of the target symbol at one or more of the number of symbol locations.
US08500531B1
A method of playing a game, comprising (a) providing a plurality of cards, wherein each card has a first side having indicia thereon representative of a first value for each card, (b) placing the cards in a row, the first side of each card not viewable, wherein the row comprises a plurality of positions, wherein each card occupies one of the positions, and wherein each position corresponds to a second value, wherein the second value for each position is determined by counting from either end of the row, (c) revealing the first side of a selected card, (d) determining a subset of valid cards based on the first value of the selected card and the at least one second value of each position, and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) with subsequently selected cards from the subset of valid cards until the subset of valid cards is empty.
US08500521B2
The invention relates to a hand-held power tool, particularly an angle grinder having a housing that has a flange neck, having a protective device that can be accommodated on the flange neck and that can be pivoted in the circumferential direction, and having at least one device for blocking at least one pivoting direction of the protective device. The invention proposes that the device for locking includes at least one stop and at least one counter-stop interacting with the stop.
US08500515B2
A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on spherical-rotation two-piece spindle-mount devices that are attached to a nominally-flat abrading machine base. The spindle-top flat surfaces are precisely co-planar with each other. The three spindles are positioned to form a triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading-surface. Flat surfaced workpieces are attached to the spindles and the rotating floating-platen abrasive surface contacts the workpieces to perform single-sided abrading on them. The disk abrasive surfaces can be re-flattened by attaching abrasive disk-type components to the three spindles that are rotated while in abrading contact with the rotating abrasive disk. There is no wear of the abrasive-disk protected platen surface.
US08500512B2
A motorized doll includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The upper body portion may include a torso and a pair of arms. The lower body portion may include a pelvis connected to the torso at a universal joint, a pair of legs, and a pair of feet rotatable with respect to the legs. The doll is actuated to walk by a torso motor which drives the torso to tilt and rotate about the universal joint, which causes the doll to shift from foot to foot and repeatedly rotate forwards in a realistic walking motion. The doll includes a shoulder motor for rotating the pair of arms and a pelvis motor for driving the legs between a standing position and one of a crawling position or sitting position depending on the position of the pair of arms when the doll is tipped forward.
US08500509B2
The present document describes an entertainment device including one or more mini-crafts provided in a fluid medium within the sides of an electromagnetic frame. Each mini-craft includes a magnet and has a different cutoff frequency. Motion of the mini-crafts may be controlled by a user using a controller such as joystick, remote control etc. A processor computes, based on the multidirectional navigation signals received from the controller, electromagnetic signals for each coil in the electromagnetic frame. The electromagnetic signals are amplified and sent to the coils to generate superimposed rotating magnetic fields which cause the mini-crafts to rotate separately within the electromagnetic frame, each mini-craft following a distinct magnetic field with a frequency that is lower than its cutoff frequency.
US08500505B2
Provided is a film formation mask capable of preventing slit-like openings from being closed by vibrations so as to form a highly precise patterned film with stability. In a film formation mask formed by providing multiple slit-like openings in a metal foil, the shape of the opening of at least one end of the slit-like openings is asymmetrical with respect to a center line of the width direction of the slit-like openings.
US08500502B2
A floating device (2, 102) for pipes (1) is described comprising at least two floating elements (3) each comprising a substantially semi-tubular body (4) and removably associable so as to define a pipe (1) housing seat (5), wherein the substantially semi-tubular body (4) of the floating elements (3) comprises at least a first protrusion (6) and at least a first slot (7) at a first longitudinal edge (8) thereof and at least a second protrusion (9) and at least a second slot (10) at a second opposite longitudinal edge (11) thereof; advantageously, the protrusions (6, 9) are substantially aligned with the slots (7, 10) at opposite parts with respect to a longitudinal centerline plane (TXL) of the floating element (3) so as to allow at least a partial interpenetration of the substantially semi-tubular bodies (4) of the floating elements (3).
US08500492B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus provides an electrical signal path between an electrically conductive portion of a device plug and a signal port. The apparatus includes a first housing segment having a longitudinal axis. The first housing segment includes a first receptacle configured to receive at least the electrically conductive portion of the device plug and a signal port coupler configured to selectively conductively engage with the signal port. The apparatus includes a second housing segment having a second receptacle configured to receive at least the electrically conductive portion of the device plug. The second housing segment is coupled to the first housing segment for movement relative to the first housing segment about the longitudinal axis of the first housing segment.
US08500488B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contact terminals (2) arranged in an X direction and a metallic shell (3) covering an outside of the insulative housing thereby forming a mating space (151) with a mating opening (152). The metallic shell (3) has a main plate (30) and a plurality of T-shaped retaining tabs (31) extending into mating space from the main plate and engaging with an inner surface (111) of the side wall (11).
US08500482B2
A flexible concentrated wiring connector includes a flexible concentrated wiring member, a first member, a second member. The flexible concentrated wiring member is clamped between the second member and the first member. A second clearance is set to be greater than a first clearance. The first clearance is defined as a difference between an internal dimension and an external dimension in the width direction of the flexible concentrated wiring member in a state that a first positioning boss of the first member is inserted into the center of a first positioning hole of the flexible concentrated wiring member. The second clearance is defined as a difference between an internal dimension and an external dimension in the width direction in a state that a second positioning boss is inserted into the center of a second positioning hole.
US08500481B2
A connector mechanism includes a housing whereon an opening is formed, a socket, and a rotary casing for rotatably covering the opening. The rotary covering includes a main body, a pivoting portion, a stopping portion, and an engaging portion for engaging with an engaging structure of a plug as the plug is inserted into the opening and fastened on the socket so as to fix the plug. The connector mechanism further includes a resilient component for driving the rotary covering to rotate relative to the housing so that the engaging portion engages with the engaging structure of the plug as the plug is fastened on the socket, and a stopping component for stopping the stopping portion of the rotary covering as the resilient component drives the rotary covering to rotate relative to the housing.
US08500479B2
A cable connector assembly includes a first cable connector, a second cable connector, a locking member, and a retaining frame. The first cable connector includes a first base portion. The second cable connector includes a second base portion. The retaining frame includes a front wall. The front wall defines a mounting hole. The first base portion and the second base portion are received in the mounting hole with the second base portion contacted to the first base portion. The locking member is detachably mounted in the mounting hole at one side of the second base portion. When the locking member is slid to the second base portion and pressing on the second base portion, the second base portion presses on the first base portion. The first base portion and the second base portion are locked in the mounting hole.
US08500473B2
A projected end of a bus bar (20), including projection portions (21A, 22B, 23C, 24D, 25E, 26F), and a recessed connector (30), including a cylindrical portion (43A), a recess portion (31B), a cylindrical portion (42C), a recess portion (31D), a cylindrical portion (41E), and a recess portion (31F), are engaged with each other, thereby enabling the bus bar (20) and the connector (30) to electrically connect with each other. That is, only inserting the bus bar (20) into the connector (30) makes an electrical connection possible, so it is not necessary, for example, to fasten the terminal with a screw. Therefore, this facilitates the connection between the bus bar (20) and the connector (30).
US08500464B2
An electric SMD connector comprises a body of plastic material (2) having a base lower surface (2a) which is substantially planar, to which there is associated a metal plate (4) for soldered connection to a printed circuit board (B). A plurality of metal contacts (3) carried by the body of the connector have front end portions (3a) for coupling with the contacts of a female connector and projecting from a front surface (2c) of the body of the connector, parallel to, and spaced apart from, the lower surface 2a. The contacts further comprise rear end portions (3b) which project from a rear surface (2e) of the body of the connector, in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of said lower surface (2a). The front end portions (3a) of the contacts are in a circumferential arrangement which is oriented so that the theoretical projections of said contacts (3) on the plane of said base lower surface (2a) are substantially equally spaced from each other, so that the rear end portions (3b) of the metal contacts (3) are also equally spaced from each other.
US08500463B2
The present invention relates to a USB connector, which comprises: a connector main body having plural open slots, plural first terminals and plural second terminals; and a substrate having plural first contact pads and plural second contact pads respectively exposed outside the substrate, and the plural first contact pads and the plural second contact pads are staggeringly arranged for being respectively coupled to the plural first terminals and the plural second terminals, thereby forming a USB connector. The USB connector allows a USB2.0 connector and a USB3.0 connector to be respectively inserted.
US08500451B2
An apparatus for simulating an image-guided procedure. The system comprises an input for receiving a three-dimensional (3D) medical image depicting an organ of a patient, a model generation unit for generating a 3D anatomical model of the organ according to the 3D medical image, and a simulating unit for simulating a planned image-guided procedure on the patient, according to the 3D anatomical model.
US08500450B1
A method and software for presenting reading fluency training to a user via a computer. The method includes presenting reading lessons to the user in a variety of formats and automatedly collecting data on the user's performance. The method uses the collected data to dynamically vary presentation formats, rates and content of the reading lessons throughout a reading fluency training session.
US08500449B2
Disclosed in this specification is a dental implant assembly with an abutment head integrally joined to an implant body. The top section of the abutment head a shape formed by a linear wall adjacent to an arcuate wall; a ledge is located beneath the top section of the abutment; and the abutment head extends above the ledge a distance of from about 1.5 to about 10 millimeters. The implant body has a base section and a neck section, each of which has a different degree of roughness.
US08500445B2
Orthodontic braces include at least one thread 2 and at least one tightener 3, wherein the thread 2 is wound around one or more teeth “D” and is appropriately tensioned by the tightener 3, so as to exert at least one force on the one or more teeth “D” in order to treat malocclusions, labioversions, and mandibular regressions.
US08500438B2
A device for the stretch blowing of plastic containers in a continuous single-stage process, having at least one injection rotor, with injection molds for preforms, which are fed via controlled valves from an extruder head and by way of a melt distributor from a central extruder, wherein the axis of the extruder is placed at least essentially in the axis of the injection pipe, and at least the extruder head and the melt distributor can be permanently and synchronously rotationally driven by the injection rotor. A method where, during the manufacture of each preform in the injection mold, injection molding phases and a compression molding or dwell pressure phase are combined and superimposed.
US08500437B2
Process for manufacturing a plastic hollow body, the process comprising the following steps: a) a tubular stream of molten plastic is extruded; b) this stream is taken up by means of a tensioning device; c) a transverse cut is made in this stream so as to create a parison having one free edge that is not taken up by the tensioning device; d) the parison is moved relative to the tensioning device so that the free edge of the parison is also taken up by the tensioning device; and e) at least one longitudinal cut is made in the parison over its entire length. Equipment suitable for implementing this process.
US08500435B2
A system for the after-treatment of parisons (7) produced in an injection molding mold, comprising at least two after-treatment tools. To provide a system for the after-treatment of parisons produced in an injection molding mold, by means of which a plurality of after-treatment tools can be easily positioned, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that there is provided a positioning device for positioning the first after-treatment tool in at least one positioning direction, and the at least two after-treatment tools are connected together so that with the positioning device for positioning the first after-treatment tool at least one further after-treatment tool can be positioned by suitable positioning of the first after-treatment tool.
US08500433B2
A screw machine, in particular an extruder, has a housing which has a supply opening at a supply end. At least one bore with a longitudinal axis is provided, in which a screw shaft is rotatably arranged. The drive takes place by means of a drive motor using a gear, the output shaft of which has a rotary drive connection to the screw shaft. Provided between the housing and the gear is a slide connection, which allows a displacement of the housing relative to the gear in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
US08500430B2
The invention relates to a vulcanizing press comprising two plates capable of adopting a proximal position in which said plates close a mold, so as to give a tire a predetermined shape, and a distal position in which the mold is open; and at least one bore formed in one of said plates called the support plate, the diameter of said bore being defined so as to let the head of a pin pass thereinto. The vulcanizing press further includes a locking/unlocking device comprising a first movable stop that can move between a rest position and an active position, in which said stop is interposed between the head of the pin and the support plate in order to keep said pin in the bore, the shank of said pin being fixed to the mold.
US08500423B2
A rotary fluid pressure device includes a gerotor gear set having a ring gear and a star gear orbitally moveable about a longitudinal axis relative to the ring gear. The star gear includes an annular spacer ring disposed at one end of the star gear. A brake pin is moveable along the longitudinal axis into and out of interlocking engagement with the annular spacer ring. The brake pin includes an outer surface for engaging an interior surface of the spacer ring. The outer surface of the brake pin and the interior surface of the spacer ring are each angled relative to the longitudinal axis to engage each other in a tapered engagement, to generate an axial force along the longitudinal axis to move the brake pin out of engagement with the star gear in response to a torque being applied to the star gear.
US08500422B2
A vacuum pump housing comprises first (12) and second half-shell stator components (14) defining a plurality of pumping chambers separated by partition members (26, 28, 30, 32). Each pumping chamber comprises an inlet port (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) for receiving fluid and an outlet port (54, 56, 58, 60, 62) through which pumped fluid is exhausted from the chamber. The inlet ports are open on an external surface of the first stator component, and the outlet ports are open on an opposing external surface of the second stator component. The stator components further define transfer channels (66, 68, 70, 72) for conveying fluid between the pumping chambers. Each transfer channel preferably comprises first and second portions located on opposite sides of the housing.
US08500417B2
A motorized vacuum pump apparatus, may include an electric motor operating in response to an electric signal, a pumping unit connected with a motor shaft of the electric motor, and a sound absorbing unit enclosing the pumping unit and having an inlet for sucking external air, a damping chamber and an outlet, wherein the sound absorbing unit is directly combined with the electric motor, and wherein the external air is compressed and supplied by the pumping unit to the damping chamber and discharged through the outlet such that noise is reduced by damping compressed air in the damping chamber.
US08500416B2
A pump assembly in the context of a piston pump having a piston carrying a disk which extends radially outwardly to engage a wall of a chamber to substantially prevent fluid flow in one direction and yet permit deflection of the disk away from the wall of the chamber to permit flow in the other direction; the improvement in which two or more of similar such disks are provided spaced axially adjacent one another.
US08500412B2
An alarm system is provided for generating an alert when a water-powered sump pump is activated and water is being used by the water-powered sump pump. The alarm system includes a water sensor for detecting if water within a sump reaches the sensor and a housing for containing sensor electronics, wherein the water sensor is supported by the housing. In addition, a clamp is attached to the housing for releasably attaching the housing to a pipe such that the alarm system may be positioned to alert a user when water-powered sump pump is activated.
US08500411B2
A turbine airfoil usable in a turbine engine and including a depth indicator for determining outer wall blade thickness. The airfoil may include an outer wall having a plurality of grooves in the outer surface of the outer wall. The grooves may have a depth that represents a desired outer surface and wall thickness of the outer wall. The material forming an outer surface of the outer wall may be removed to be flush with an innermost point in each groove, thereby reducing the wall thickness and increasing efficiency. The plurality of grooves may be positioned in a radially outer region of the airfoil proximate to the tip.
US08500409B2
Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates.
US08500399B2
The present invention provides a non-axisymmetric flow member disposed in a duct of a gas turbine engine. The flow member narrows the area aft of a vane to reduce the cross sectional area through which a wake from the vane traverses.
US08500395B2
A vane (234) is provided which reduces leakage of gas in a variable geometry turbocharger (210) from the high pressure side of the vane (234) to the low pressure side of the vane (234). The vane (234) can have a channel (330, 430) along a gas bearing surface (325, 425) for reducing the leakage. The channel (330, 430) can be defined at least in part by sideplates (300, 350). The sideplates (300, 350) can be integrally cast with the rest of the vane (234). At least one of the sideplates (300, 350) can have a hole therein for a vane shaft (228) which allows movement of the vane (234) for gas flow control. The sideplates (300, 350) can have edges (301, 351) that conform to the shape of the gas bearing surface (325, 425).
US08500392B2
A seal housing is provided to substantially cover at least one duct wall of vane array duct of a gas turbine engine, and one example arrangement is employed in a mid-turbine frame. The arrangement provides improved sealing of the vane array duct through the provision of a plurality of cavities extending along the duct wall. The arrangement may also include insulation tubes to assist in sealing around load transfer spokes passing through the vane array.
US08500391B1
A supersonic gas compressor with bleed gas collectors, and a method of starting the compressor. The compressor includes aerodynamic duct(s) situated for rotary movement in a casing. The aerodynamic duct(s) generate a plurality of oblique shock waves for efficiently compressing a gas at supersonic conditions. A convergent inlet is provided adjacent to a bleed gas collector, and during startup of the compressor, bypass gas is removed from the convergent inlet via the bleed gas collector, to enable supersonic shock stabilization. Once the oblique shocks are stabilized at a selected inlet relative Mach number and pressure ratio, the bleed of bypass gas from the convergent inlet via the bypass gas collectors is effectively eliminated.
US08500386B2
A front-mounted loader includes a pair of loader arms each having a rear end pivotally coupled to a loader mast which, in turn, includes lower and upper cross pins respectively located in an upwardly opening and forwardly opening pin receptacles. The forwardly opening receptacle of each loader mounting frame forms a fixed part of a latch assembly defining an upper region of the mounting frame and including latch member mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis and having a forward nose provided with a downwardly opening receptacle which engages the upper cross pin when the mast is latched to the mounting frame. An over center biasing spring is connected to each latch member and resists movement either from a latching position or an unlatching position. Each mast carries a latch member operating rod which, during detaching the mast from the associated loader mounting frame, acts to engage and move the latch member from its unlatching position, to which it has previously been manually moved, to a latching position once the upper cross pin is moved forwardly from the associated forwardly opening pin receptacle of the mounting frame.
US08500385B2
A robotic arm is for holding a molding item. The robotic arm includes a mount; a lifting mechanism mounted to the mount; a horizontal driving device; a rotating assembly mounted between the lifting mechanism and the horizontal driving device to rotate the horizontal driving device relative to the lifting mechanism; a holder for holding the molding item, the holder mounted on the horizontal driving device. The lifting mechanism cause the holder to move relative to the mount in a first direction, the horizontal driving device moves the holder relative to the mount and the lifting mechanism in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08500383B2
In one embodiment of a trailer and/or unloading device, a front and rear roller assembly and chock may be moved along the length of the trailer. The front and rear roller assemblies may each include two rollers that may be actuated between a first and second position. The chock may include a stop that may be actuated between a first and second position. The arrangement of front and rear rollers and chock allows the operator to unload a plurality of objects placed on the trailer deck, one object at a time, while remaining in the cab of a prime mover. The moving components of the trailer and/or unloading device may be powered hydraulically. The trailer and/or unloading device may include strategically placed cameras and a control panel for operating the various elements of the trailer and unloading device placed in the cab of the prime mover.
US08500380B2
A washer for a fastener system includes a washer body and a through opening in the washer body configured to allow passage of a fastener tip therethrough. A retention feature is operably connected to the washer body and configured to retain the washer to an inner surface of a setting tool barrel. A method for securing a fastener to a workpiece includes retaining a washer to an inner surface of a barrel of a setting tool and discharging a fastener from the setting tool. A tip of the fastener extends through a through opening in the washer into the workpiece. A head of the fastener is urged into contact with the washer thereby releasing the washer from the setting tool.
US08500378B1
A system for transporting tower with a first end, a second end, and an elongated portion, using a railcar with a deck for carrying a load. The system includes a first support means for disposition between the railcar and the tower at a first location, and that is adapted to support the tower above the deck. The system also includes a first saddle assembly with a base for resting upon the deck of the railcar, and a saddle that conforms to the shape of a large tower. The saddle assembly is adapted to support the tower above the deck. The system also includes a plastic spacer assembly, for disposition between the saddle of the first saddle assembly and a second location along the elongated portion of the tower, and that has a saddle rest that conforms to the shaped of the saddle, and that has a spacer saddle that conforms to the shape of the elongated portion of the tower at the second location.
US08500375B2
The invention relates to a cutting insert (10) with a base, having a supporting surface, a covering surface, at a distance therefrom and side faces (101, 102), connecting said surfaces, whereby two or several adjacent surfaces form cutting edges (103, 104, 105). According to said invention, the supporting surface is connected in a non-detachable manner to a supporting surface of a cutting plate (11), the geometry of which is different from the cutting insert (10) and suitable for another metal cutting operation.
US08500364B2
A method is provided for installing a barrage across a body of water for generating electricity or current flow, the barrage being formed from a series of modules, each of which comprise a base structure carrying a number of substantially vertical pipe structures in a spaced, side-by-side arrangement, and a deck structure extending across the top of the pipe structures and supported by at least two pipe structures, the method comprising: preparing a series of foundation terraces across the bed of the body of water substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow, each foundation terrace providing a substantially flat base on which the base structure of one or more modules on the terraces side by side such that the base section of each module rests on a terrace and the deck structure of each module is located at substantially the same height as that of its neighboring modules.
US08500359B2
Disclosed is a nonstop traffic system using a half (½) cloverleaf and a traffic method applied with the same, including a loop-type traffic system for connecting a half (½) cloverleaf (100) to half (½) underground U-turn lanes (200E, 200W, 200S and 200N) that can make vehicles drive and pedestrians walk nonstop in every direction without relation to traffic signals at existing intersections or roadways for left-turn and U-turn, and crosswalks. The half (½) cloverleaf (100) is constructed at existing intersections and the half underground U-turn lanes (200E, 200S, 200S and 200N) are constructed on left-turn roadways in existing four directions (East, West, South and North) that connect to the intersections, U-turn roadways and crosswalks. As mentioned, all structures in the nonstop traffic system using the half (½) cloverleaf in a loop-type that connects the half (½) cloverleaf (100) to the half (½) underground U-turn lanes (200E, 200W, 200S and 200N) in four directions (East, West, South, North) is adopted to the bisectional construction method, thus the height of all lanes can be differentiated. As mentioned, the half (½) cloverleaf (100) includes a half (½) overpass (10), a half (½) underpass (20), a half (½) underground U-turn roadway (30) and a half (½) ground pedestrian bridge (40). Moreover, the half (½) underground U-turn lanes (200E, 200W, 200S and 200N) includes a half (½) overpass (50), a half (½) underground U-turn roadways (60) and half (½).
US08500357B2
A locking device interacting with a drive member and including an inner tube and an outer tube; where the inner tube has a first free end that projects from, and is axially displaceable from, a first end of the outer tube; where there is a locking member on the other end of the inner tube, said locking member providing the means whereby the inner tube and the outer tube can be releasably locked in various axial positions relative to each other; where the locking member includes a tubular locking sleeve that is slotted by at least one axially aligned slot and a wedge that includes wedge surfaces, the wedge surfaces being, when acted upon by a drive member, displaceable along and relative to interacting wedge surfaces of the locking sleeve, such displacement pressing the locking sleeve against the outer tube, the inner tube and the outer tube.
US08500349B2
A machine having a card processing assembly. The card processing assembly has a card drive and a heating device. The heating device is operable to cause a human-readable symbol to be viewable on a data card.
US08500323B2
The invention pertains to the field of high frequency watch movements. The invention relates to a timepiece including a movement that has a resonator of the type with a balance and balance spring and an escape system of the type with a wheel and Swiss lever. According to the invention, the balance oscillates at more than 36,000 vibrations per hour and the escape system is at least partially pierced to decrease the inertia thereof.
US08500320B2
A gas mixer (10) for mixing a first gas stream with a second gas stream includes an impact labyrinth (24) in the first gas stream having structures (25), e.g., corrugated walls, forming a tortuous path through which the first gas stream must pass en route to a mixing point (20) in the gas mixer. The labyrinth fosters ignition of particles entrained in the first gas stream. Elongate, straight pipes (30) receive the first gas stream from the impact labyrinth (24) and carrying the first gas stream to the mixing point (20) the pipes (30) are positioned with a vessel (12) carrying the second gas stream. The pipes (30) have openings which are substantially aligned with the flow direction of the second gas stream at the mixing point (20) thereby introducing the first gas stream into the second gas stream in a low shear manner.
US08500312B2
A light assembly includes a fixing unit and a lighting unit located within a lamp cover. The fixing unit includes a substrate board with a recessed shape, and an elastic steel ring is engaged with the hook flange of the substrate board in order to increase the tightness between the substrate board and the lamp cover so as to prevent water vapor and salt mist from entering into the light assembly, and thereby the corrosion of light source and circuit can be avoided. The light emitting diode is used as a light source instead of the conventional halogen lamp.
US08500308B2
A light source device is provided with an LED having strong directivity, a reflective hood which has an interior reflecting surface for reflecting the illumination light from the light source, and a pair of first and second polarizing reflective plates for polarizing the illumination light from the LED in a specific direction. The first and second polarizing reflective plates have a specific length and width, and a back surface formed from a high reflectance plate. The light source is secured to the reflective hood. A specific interval is provided between the first and second polarizing reflective plates and the reflecting surface of the reflective hood, and a specific interval is provided between the two plates with the optical axis passing through the 0° direction angle of the light source in between.
US08500299B2
A narrow angle LED illuminated spotlight in which the light-emitting output of an LED light source is coupled with an optic element, in the form of a focusing reflector or focusing lens, and a masking element is interposed between the light source and the optic element to partially mask off the output area of the light source and significantly reduce the area of the emitted light reaching the optic element. This enables the light passed by the masking element to be concentrated into a, narrow beam (i.e., 18° or less) using an optic element of much smaller size than otherwise, thus making the use of an LED light source module a practical source of light for narrow beam spotlights.
US08500295B2
An energy-saving illumination system includes a piezoelectric floor, a revolving door, an accumulator, a light source, and an electrical power sensing device. The piezoelectric floor contains piezoelectric material therein. The revolving door comprises a power generating device. The accumulator is electrically connected to the piezoelectric floor and the power generating device. The light source is electrically connected with the accumulator. The electrical power sensing device is configured to detect the quantity of electric charge in the accumulator; the power generating device of the revolving door charges the accumulator according to the detected result obtained from the electrical power sensing device in respect to the accumulator.
US08500289B2
A projector is provided which can reduce power consumption while preventing the deterioration of a luminescent material by heat by controlling a luminescent wheel to rotate or stop rotating. The projector of the invention includes a light source unit having an excitation light source, a luminescent wheel on which a luminescent material layer is laid circumferentially which becomes luminous using light emitted from the excitation light source as excitation light and a wheel motor for driving the luminescent wheel, a display device, a light guiding optical system which guides light emitted from the light source unit to the display device, a projection side optical system which projects projection light generated in the display device, and a motor control part which determines whether to stop or drive the wheel motor in such a state that excitation light is shone on to the luminescent material layer by the excitation light source.
US08500284B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for displaying images, and for implementing volumetric user interfaces. One exemplary embodiment provides a system comprising: a light source; an image producing unit, which produces an image upon interaction with light approaching the image producing unit from the light source; an eyepiece; and a mirror, directing light from the image to a surface of the eyepiece, wherein the surface has a shape of a solid of revolution formed by revolving a planar curve at least 180° around an axis of revolution.
US08500283B1
The present invention contemplates a new and improved wavefront aberrometer attachable to an ophthalmic microscope. The present invention also contemplates implementation of a long working distance and a large measurement range into the wavefront aberrometer. The present invention further contemplates to make it quick and easy to insert the wavefront aberrometer and to move it away from the working space of the ophthalmic microscope. The present invention still further contemplates implementation of a keratometry measurement to monitor the corneal status at the time of wavefront power measurement.
US08500278B2
Apparatus for testing a subject's visual field includes a data processor, which can be provided by a general purpose computer, coupled to a pupil tracking system. The data processor is programmed to cause targets to be displayed at different locations on a display screen and to determine from the pupil tracking system whether the subject's pupil has moved in response to display of each target. In some embodiments, the pupil tracking system comprises an infrared camera.
US08500276B2
Imaging optics for optical devices, with which reflections of the illumination light, which is guided through the same optical elements as the observation light, are kept from reaching the observation pupil of the imaging beam path. The non-reflective imaging optics include at least two refractive optical elements, which are utilized for illumination as well as observation. The at least two refractive optical elements are designed approximately wedge-shaped and are tilted at a random azimuth angle of at least 5° and/or are positioned off-center in the beam path to block out the single reflections of the illumination, occurring at the optical system surfaces, for the observation. The imaging optics are for optical devices, particularly in ophthalmology thought the invention is applicable to other ophthalmological devices as well as to optical devices outside of this field.
US08500273B2
A soft contact lens for treating ametropia having an optical zone, a pressure control zone, an alignment zone, and a peripheral zone.
US08500271B2
Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.
US08500267B2
There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: a colorant including a self-dispersible pigment modified by a carboxylic acid group; a highly polymerized compound containing a carbodiimide group; an ether sulfate-based anionic surfactant; water; and a water-soluble organic solvent.
US08500256B2
According to one embodiment, an inkjet device includes: an ink circulating device configured to communicate with an inkjet head to form an ink circulating system; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate, on the basis of pressure detected from the ink circulating system, pressure in an ink discharge port section according to an arithmetic expression set in advance; a pressure determining unit configured to determine, with proper nozzle pressure in the ink discharge port not discharging ink set as a reference value, whether a value calculated by the arithmetic unit is positive pressure or negative pressure with respect to the reference value; and a negative pressure regulator configured to communicate with the ink circulating system and perform, if the pressure determining unit determines that the value is the positive pressure, an ink reducing operation in the ink circulating system and increase a negative pressure value on the ink discharge port. The pressure determining unit changes the reference value to a negative pressure side.
US08500254B2
A liquid supply apparatus configured to supply a liquid for a liquid-consuming apparatus, includes: a liquid container including a storage chamber which stores the liquid and an engaging portion which is provided on an outer surface of the liquid container; and an attaching section to which the liquid container is attachable, which is formed with an opening, and which includes: a holding member configured to have an attitude which is changable between a first attitude and a second attitude; a cover configured to selectively have an open attitude for opening the opening and a close attitude for closing the opening; and a closing-preventive member on the cover and configured to prevent the cover from having the close attitude when the holding member has an attitude different from the first attitude.
US08500251B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head which jets inks, and a cable which is connected to the recording head and which is provided with a driving circuit for applying a driving voltage of the recording head. The recording head is formed with nozzle arrays for jetting an ink of a dark color and an ink of a light color respectively. The nozzle array, which jets the ink of the dark color, is disposed farther from the driving circuit than the nozzle array which jets the ink of the light color. The nozzle array, which jets the ink of the dark color, is hardly affected by the heat from the driving circuit. Therefore, the deterioration of the recording quality, which would be otherwise caused by the disturbance of ink discharge from nozzles, is suppressed.
US08500249B2
A printhead module is provided for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead module includes a support. An elongate carrier is mounted to the support. The carrier defines a plurality of transverse ribs and an ink channel located between the ribs. A subassembly includes a micro-electromechanical integrated circuit (IC) configured to eject ink. The subassembly is mounted to the carrier so that the support, carrier and subassembly define a plurality of sealed ink chambers which can feed ink to the IC via the ink channel.
US08500248B2
The method of manufacturing a nozzle plate which includes a nozzle having a tapered section and a linear section includes the steps of: forming an etching stopper layer for stopping dry etching of a silicon substrate, on a first surface of the silicon substrate; forming a mask layer on a second surface of the silicon substrate reverse to the first surface; performing a first patterning process with respect to the mask layer so that an opening section is formed in the mask layer; carrying out the dry etching of the silicon substrate through the opening section in the mask layer so that the tapered section of the nozzle is formed in the silicon substrate; carrying out dry etching of the etching stopper layer through the opening section in the mask layer so that at least a part of the linear section of the nozzle is formed in the etching stopper layer; and removing the mask layer.
US08500245B2
A sub-carriage includes a first head mounting portion and a second head mounting portion. The second head mounting portion includes at least a portion of constitution members of an adjustment mechanism which adjusts a position of the second head, a first recording head of one side of the same set is fixed in a state of being positioned to the first head mounting portion so that the nozzles are disposed in a defined position, and a second recording head of the other side is fixed to the second head mounting portion in a state where the relative position to the first recording head is defined by the adjustment mechanism based on a landing position in a recording medium of ink ejected from predetermined nozzles of the second recording head with respect to a landing position in a recording medium of ink ejected from predetermined nozzles of the first head.
US08500229B2
An ink-jet printer performs the ordinary jetting operation in which the printing is performed on a printing area of the recording paper while transporting the recording paper frontwardly by transport rollers and the marking jetting operation in which a marking is formed at an edge portion of the recording paper. A control unit of the ink-jet printer allows nozzles to jet liquid droplets therefrom in the marking jetting operation, the liquid droplets having larger volumes as compared with those jetted in the ordinary jetting operation. Therefore, in the marking jetting operation, a larger amount of the ink liquid droplets can be permeated in the thickness direction of the recording paper as compared with the ordinary jetting operation. Accordingly, the marking, which can be easily confirmed from the side of the printing medium, is formed.
US08500223B2
A slide assembly has a gravity biased latch arm on a slide member with a head having opposing barbs each insertable into a respective one of opposing cutouts in a bearing retainer of the slide assembly to provide a bearing retainer function. The latch arm and the cutouts in the bearing retainer are positioned such that the latch head may enter a cutout when an inner slide member is removed from the slide member. The use of dual barbs and opposing cutouts allows for unhanded operation of the bearing retainer function.
US08500220B2
The invention relates to a vehicle braking system having regulating devices determining the transversely dynamic behavior of the vehicle, in order to maintain or restore stable vehicle behavior, by setting the braking torque on individual vehicle wheels independently of the driver. The performance of the braking system is controlled in this manner to help prevent vehicle rollover (overturning laterally) when negotiating curves. This is accomplished by generating a braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve (or increasing a braking torque that is already set).
US08500211B2
Cleaning cloth includes a cleaning surface and an attachment surface of loop type arranged to allow attachment of the cleaning cloth to a cleaning instrument. The cleaning cloth includes a single textile layer having an activated arming yarn stiffening the cloth. There is also provided a method of producing such a cleaning cloth.
US08500209B2
A degradation assembly comprises a rotary portion and a stationary portion. The rotary portion includes a cemented metal bolster bonded to a tip. The tip comprises a symmetric, substantially conically shaped tip formed of diamond and a cemented metal carbide substrate. The stationary portion comprises a holder configured to be coupled to a block mounted to a driving mechanism. A compressible element is disposed intermediate, or between, and in mechanical contact with both the rotary portion and the stationary portion.
US08500206B2
A mechanical tailgate (3) for a dump body (1) of an underground truck, the purpose of the mechanical tailgate is to increase the loading capacity of the dump body, which mechanical tailgate is pivotably arranged between an opened and a closed position, comprising a tailgate sheet (4) attached to two lifting arms (5), which are pivotably arranged to the dump body (1), the dump body (1) comprises also a controlled tailgate (2) arranged to be controlled between opened and closed position of the dump body, the opening and closing movement of the controlled tailgate (2) is effected in the form of a circular movement. In the closed position of the mechanical tailgate (3) and the controlled tailgate (2), the tailgate sheet (4) and the controlled tailgate (2) are arranged to be positioned overlapping each other in such a way that a lower edge of the tailgate sheet (4) is placed on the inside of an upper edge of the controlled tailgate (2) for locking the tailgate sheet (4) towards the controlled tailgate (2).
US08500189B2
An off-road vehicle has a frame, at least four wheels, a seat, a steering assembly, an engine, and a cargo box pivotally mounted to the frame rearwardly of the seat. The cargo box includes: a cargo box body having a front wall, a pair of side walls, a lower floor, and an opened rear side; an upper floor supported inside the cargo box body above the lower floor; an upper tailgate for selectively closing an upper opened portion of the opened rear side; a lower cargo space defined at least in part between the front wall, the pair of side walls, the lower floor, and the upper floor; and an upper cargo space defined between the front wall, the pair of side walls, the upper floor, and the upper tailgate when the upper tailgate closes the upper opened portion of the opened rear side.
US08500187B2
A hydraulic system for a vehicle, comprising a hydraulic actuation device for moving one or more moveable components of the vehicle. The actuation device comprises a hydraulic pump with an associated drive means, a reservoir for hydraulic fluid as well as one or more hydraulic actuators connected to the pump through hydraulic hoses. The hydraulic actuators act on the one or more moveable components. The pump is designed to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to the one or more hydraulic actuators. A pressure ripple reduction device for reducing pressure ripples in the hydraulic fluid originating from the hydraulic pump is provided, having an expansion chamber.
US08500182B2
An apparatus for supporting a wafer includes a base, and a gas-penetration layer. The gas-penetration layer and a portion of the base directly underlying the gas-penetration layer form a gas passage therebetween. The gas passage is configured to be sealed by the wafer placed directly over the gas-penetration layer. The apparatus further includes a valve connected to the gas passage.
US08500169B2
A saddle-ride type vehicle which for preventing the fuel tank from receiving a load imposed on the tank cover and for achieving a weight reduction of the fuel tank. A motorcycle includes a vehicle body frame; a fuel tank, fixed to the vehicle body frame, for storing fuel; a tank cover for covering at least part of the fuel tank; a flange part, provided to the fuel tank, for fastening the fuel tank to the vehicle body frame; and a cover supporting member, fastened to the flange part, for supporting the tank cover.
US08500167B2
A trailer has a body, a primary wheel, and an adjustable leg for providing secondary support. The leg has a terminal end moveable between retracted and extended positions and a secondary wheel rotatably attached to the terminal end, such that the secondary wheel is off the ground when the terminal end is in the retracted position and is in contact with the ground when the terminal end is in the extended position. A pneumatic or hydraulic drive unit is mounted on the trailer body for adjusting the leg to move the terminal end between the extended and retracted positions. A drivetrain is mounted on the trailer body and operatively connected to the secondary wheel for driving the secondary wheel. A controller controls operation of the drive unit to automatically adjust the leg to maintain balance of the trailer, and controls operation of the drivetrain to drive the trailer.
US08500165B2
Disclosed is a passenger airbag apparatus that can suppress the deployment pressure of an airbag cushion when the airbag cushion and a passenger are excessively close to each other and maintain the deployment pressure of the airbag cushion when the airbag cushion and the passenger keep an appropriate distance from each other.
US08500160B2
Provided is a knee airbag apparatus including an airbag cushion that develops upward without sagging downward to protect the passenger's knee.
US08500156B2
An elastic wire which is linearly moved in an assembling direction parallel with an orthogonal surface perpendicular to an axial line of a steering shaft and thus assembled to a core member includes an attaching part that is attached to a core member and an engaging part that is engaged into a pin in a through-hole. The core member is provided with a surface restraint part that permits the attaching part to linearly move in the assembling direction and restrains the engaged attaching part from moving in a direction parallel with the orthogonal surface. The surface restraint part includes a restraining protrusion that permits the bent part 58 of the attaching part 56 to surmount the restraining protrusion as the elastic wire is linearly moved and restrains the bent part having surmounted the restraining protrusion from moving in an opposite direction to the assembling direction.
US08500148B2
A device for reducing roll in motor vehicles. The device includes a first and second traction mechanism and at least a first and second deflecting and rebounding suspension part connected to different vehicle sides of a vehicle body, the first and second traction mechanisms connected at one end to the first suspension part at a first connecting point and at the other end to the second suspension part at a second connecting point. Furthermore, the first traction mechanism is guided deflectably between the first and second connecting points by a first guide means mounted on the vehicle body above the first connecting point and below the second connecting point, and the second traction mechanism is guided deflectably between the first and second connecting points by a second guide means mounted on the vehicle body below the first connecting point and above the second connecting point.
US08500147B2
A folding scooter has an upright handlebar position, suitable for riding the scooter, and a folded handlebar position, suitable for storing the scooter. The folding scooter features a base, a handlebar shaft having locking hinge plates, and a base shaft having a lower locking hinge plate. The locking hinge plates of the handlebar shaft rotate with respect to the lower locking hinge plate as the handlebar shaft moves from the upright position to the folded position. A locking mechanism has a first locked position when the handlebar shaft is in the upright position, and a second locked position when the handlebar shaft is in the folded position.
US08500145B2
A skateboard includes a frame and a pedal. The frame has two opposing ends including a first end and a second end. The frame further has a connecting portion formed between and connected to the first end and the second end. The first end includes at least one guiding portion formed on one side thereof. The pedal is installed to the first end of the frame and includes a coupling portion. The pedal has at least one retaining portion formed on one lateral side of the coupling portion and corresponding to the guiding portion. The retaining portion is slidably disposed to the guiding portion. The frame and the first pedal are separately manufactured.
US08500140B1
A front wheel folding device for a three-wheel cart including a golf bag cart, a baby cart or a goods transport cart includes: a fixed base with an upper end coupled to a cart frame and having an elastic press plate and a plurality of teeth; a moving base coupled to the fixed base by a rod and having a gear disk engaged with the teeth of the fixed base for performing a reciprocal rotating movement; and a front wheel set mounted to the moving base and having a front wheel. By pressing the press plate, the moving base is released to perform a rotating movement to drive the front wheel to be disposed at a horizontal state and folded. The aligning and folding processes can be completed all at the same time to achieve a convenient and quick operation.
US08500129B2
A slide ring seal for high circumferential velocities for sealing liquids with little or no electrical conductivity, such as low-salt feed water for feed water pumps including a pair of slide rings, one of which is rotationally fixed and the other of which rotates with a rotating component. The slide rings have interacting sliding surfaces which form a region loaded with the liquid to be sealed relative to a sealing gap. One ring is formed of material with satisfactory electrical conductivity and the other of low conductivity material. The seal is arranged in a dead-end circuit of a rotating component to be sealed and is connected to a cooling system. A metering device is provided in the circuit for introducing a substance as a function of a slide ring seal leak to maintain the electrical conductivity of the liquid between 3 and 500 μS/cm.
US08500127B2
A wellhead seal assembly that forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer legs that are threaded to each other and separated by a slot and provide bi-directional sealing. The threaded connection provides a pathway for annular pressure into the slot. The inner and outer legs have inner and outer walls, respectively. Inner and outer legs have a soft metal inlay on their interior surfaces. Wickers may be located on the outer surface of the inner wellhead member and on the inner surface of the outer wellhead member. An energizing ring is moved into the slot to force the outer and inner walls of the seal into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. The soft metal inlays deform onto the energizing ring. If present, wickers on the wellhead members embed into the walls of the seal ring.
US08500118B2
A sheet feeding apparatus including sheet feeding unit; a pressure plate on which sheets are stacked and which is biased so that an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets comes in pressure contact with the sheet feeding unit; a first pressing-down mechanism which presses down the pressure plate to separate the uppermost sheet and the sheet feeding unit by a constant distance when the sheet feeding unit is not operated; a second pressing-down mechanism which is adopted to press down the pressure plate when an amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate is smaller than a predetermined amount, and is given a load from the pressure plate depending on a position of the pressure plate; and sheet stacking amount detecting unit which measures the load and detects a stacking amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate on the basis of the measured load.
US08500117B2
A sheet cassette has a lock lever that engages a lock projection in an engagement portion of an stacking plate located in a lower position to enable the stacking plate to turn in a locked position in which the stacking plate is locked in a cassette body and an unlocked position in which the lock projection is separated from the engagement portion in lifting the stacking plate. In a state in which the sheet cassette is mounted on the apparatus body, the lifting and lowering device turns the lock lever to the unlocked position in lifting the stacking plate locked in the lower position by the lock lever.
US08500113B2
A printed material holding device includes a printed material tray for receiving printed material, an adjustable mechanism located above the printed material tray, a binding mechanism, and a transmission mechanism attached to the binding mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a driving device, a first gear wheel driven by the driving device, a second gear wheel driven by the first gear wheel, and a belt. The driving device meshes with the first gear wheel, and the belt encircles the first gear wheel and the second gear wheel.
US08500112B2
A printed material holding device includes a printed material tray for receiving printed material and a transmission mechanism. A first claw is disposed on the printed material tray. The transmission mechanism includes a mounting plate attached to a main body of a printer. A clipping hole is defined in the mounting plate. The first claw is configured to move between a first configuration, where the first claw is engaged in the clipping hole, so that printed material tray is secured to the mounting plate, and a second configuration, where the first claw is disengaged from the clipping hole, so that the printed material tray is withdrawn from the mounting plate.
US08500107B2
An aeration device adapted for the introduction of gas into a liquid medium is provided, including an elongated primary distribution member with a proximal end adapted to be connected to a gas source and a distal end adapted to be immersed into the medium. Additionally, at least one aeration member is connected to the primary distribution member at a location on the distribution member spaced from the proximal end thereof and being in fluid communication with the distribution member, adapted for bringing the gas into a state entrappable within the liquid medium. Also, a flotation member is provided, mounted onto the primary distribution member and adapted to assume various positions along the distribution member according to the level of the liquid medium. An aeration system is also provided, the system including an array of aeration devices as described above.
US08500099B2
Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.
US08500098B2
An elevation mechanism includes a platform, a base assembly, a scissor lift assembly and a sliding assembly. The base assembly includes a threaded rod having two threaded portions and two threaded members threadedly engaging with the threaded rod. Rotation directions of the two threaded portion are opposite to each other. The scissor lift assembly includes a plurality of articulated first scissor legs and a plurality of articulated second scissor legs pivotedly coupled to the respective second scissor legs. The sliding assembly includes two fixing members fixed to the platform, a sliding rod fixed between the two fixing members, and two sliding members slidablely connected to the sliding rod. The two sliding members are correspondingly pivotedly connected to the upmost first and second scissor leg. The two threaded members are pivotedly connected to the lowermost first and second scissor legs.
US08500097B2
A method of locating a flooring element includes: laying a flooring element; providing a spacing member; positioning the spacing member between the flooring element and a fixed element; providing a separating member, the separating member having first and second faces inclined at an angle to one another so that at least a part of the separating member is in the form of a wedge having a wider end and a narrower end; positioning the separating member so that one of the first and second faces contacts the flooring element and the other of the first and second faces contacts the spacing member; and driving the separating member between the flooring element and the spacing member in a direction passing from the wider end of the wedge to the narrower end thereof, thereby exerting forces on the flooring element and the spacing member in directions to separate the flooring element and the spacing member.
US08500084B2
A module (4) in a support structure (5) for container handling machines (2), comprises a connecting bar (6) provided with bearing expansions (7) at its ends, each of the bearing expansions (7) being detachably connectable with a corresponding bearing expansion of another module in such a way as to define a support (8) for a star wheel conveyor (3).
US08500083B2
This invention concerns a device for vibration damping of an object (1) moving along a trajectory arranged on a frame (7), whereas the object (1) involves spaces filled-in with magnetorheologic fluid which moves towards the object (1) and the device contents at least one control electromagnet (2,12) for achieving magnetorheologic fluid condition change to which a signal for vibration damping is fed from a control unit, whereas the control electromagnet/s (2,12) is/are arranged firmly on the frame on which the object's (1) trajectory is positioned. The control electromagnets (2,12) are arranged evenly with regard to the object's (1,5) trajectory (4,14), in case of need evenly to one another. In case of an object (1) pivoted on a frame (7) and fitted with at least one centrifugal pendulum (6) connected to the object (1) through a damper (11) with magnetorheologic fluid which moves towards the object (1) and the device involves at least one control electromagnet (12) for achieving magnetorheologic fluid condition change, to which a signal is fed from a control unit, at least one control electromagnet (12) regulated by controllable power supply for electromagnetic field intensity control is arranged along the circular trajectory (14) of the dampers (11) on the frame (7).
US08500078B2
A modular bracket (10) comprising a mounting portion (11) adapted to be mounted to a vertical or horizontal surface and an arm (13) extending from the mounting portion (11), the arm (13) having a coupling formation (23) at its free end for coupling to a further member having a complementary coupling (28). The further member may comprise a hook member (25) which may extend substantially linearly from the arm (13) or be inclined downwardly. In another embodiment the further member includes an arm having a plurality of hooks for supporting fishing rods.
US08500076B2
A cup holder fastening structure includes a cup body, a fastening means hinged on the cup body and a pivotal unit. The cup body has a first coupling portion extended therefrom. The fastening means includes a strap containing a latch teeth section and a holder. The strap is fastened to an upper end of the holder. The holder has a slot to be threaded through by the strap and a second coupling portion extended from one side to mate the first coupling portion. The pivotal unit is hinged between the first and second coupling portions to adjust the angle of the cup body. Through the strap the invention can be strapped on any type of vehicle bars and installed and removed easily. Through the pivotal unit the cup body can be adjusted to a desired use angle to provide greater usability and practicality.
US08500067B2
An aircraft for unmanned aviation is described. The aircraft includes an airframe, a pair of fins attached to a rear portion of the airframe, a pair of dihedral braces attached to a bottom portion of the airframe, a first thrust-vectoring (“T/V”) module and a second T/V module, and an electronics module. The electronics module provides commands to the two T/V modules. The two T/V modules are configured to provide lateral and longitudinal control to the aircraft by directly controlling a thrust vector for each of the pitch, the roll, and the yaw of the aircraft. The use of directly articulated electrical motors as T/V modules enables the aircraft to execute tight-radius turns over a wide range of airspeeds.
US08500064B2
A hybrid power distribution system for an aircraft generates hydraulic power from one of a plurality of power sources based on which power source provides energy most efficiently. Power sources includes an electric power distribution bus that distributes electrical energy onboard the aircraft, a pneumatic distribution channel that distributes pneumatic energy onboard the aircraft, and mechanical power provided by one or more engines associated with the aircraft.
US08500062B2
A rotor system for a rotorcraft, the rotor system is a rotor hub having six rotor blades attached to a rotor mast via a rotor yoke assembly. Each rotor blade is angularly spaced in 30° and 90° alternating angular increment about a mast axis of rotation. Such rotor blades spacing reduces the vibration that is translated into the rotorcraft through the rotor mast.
US08500051B2
An articulating flexible overhead boom disposed on one aggregate processing plant and configured to pivot so as to hold a power cable connecting two adjacent aggregate processing plants at an elevation above the ground so as to permit walking and/or driving a vehicle between the adjacent plants while the connection power cable remains overhead.
US08500037B2
An adjustable water jet device that allows for the arc of the jet of water to be adjusted while the water is still flowing through the device. A multipurpose tool is disclosed which has a central hollow cavity surrounded by a grip. The multipurpose tool can be used to adjust the arc of the water jet, allowing the water to flow through the central hollow cavity of the tool. The multipurpose tool can also be used to adjust the flow rate of water through the device and to disassemble the device for maintenance purposes.
US08500035B2
A thermostatic mixing valve including a cold water bypass passageway controlled by a pressure-operated check valve that opens upon a failure of a hot water supply to the valve for use with safety devices, such as eyewash and drench shower stations. The thermostatic mixing valve allows the continued delivery of cold water upon a failure of a hot water supply. The lack of hot water causes a cold water valve opening to be closed by a thermal motor, which retracts upon the lack of hot water, yet the bypass passageway is adapted to allow cold water to bypass the thermal motor-controlled cold water valve opening and be directed to the outlet of the valve.
US08500033B2
A transponder for a radio frequency identification system, the transponder comprising a UHF antenna, an LF antenna, an HF antenna, a charge storing device and an electronic circuit comprising UHF, LF and HF antenna ports; a UHF RFID protocol engine; a DF RFID protocol engine; shared memory for the two protocol engines; a UHF receiver, rectifier and data extractor; an LF receiver, rectifier and data extractor; a UHF modulator; an HF modulator; a decision circuit for selecting either the UHF energy source or the LF energy source; and a digital controller capable of selecting either the UHF protocol engine or the DF protocol engine or both, depending on which energy source is present and the strength of that energy source.
US08500028B2
Stored value products, their packages, packaging content, displays, and associated methods for providing the same, are described. The stored value products described herein include gift cards having one or more 3D images and 3D glasses. The stored value product packing described herein include gift card package having one or more 3D images. The packaging content described herein includes collapsible 3D glasses. The displays described herein include displays having one or more 3D images and sample 3D viewers. Methods for production and use of the stored products, their packages, packaging content, and displays are also described.
US08500018B2
A financial transaction card reader device includes a housing having a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card to complete a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. A read head is in the housing, reads data stored on the magnetic stripe and for produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. An output jack is adapted to be inserted into a microphone input associated with a seller's mobile device for providing the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to the mobile device. The signal is decoded in the mobile device.
US08500016B2
An analog ballistic system calculator for long range shooting is constructed of a pair of rugged, waterproof rotatable transparent discs superimposed over a base member on one side and a single transparent rotatable disc on the opposite side of the base. The hand held calculator device provides a wind speed and direction and air temperature adjusted calculator device for long distance rifles.
US08500011B2
A computerized method and apparatus are established to identify a subject of common interest among multiple parties without releasing the true identity of any subject. Furthermore, a computerized network provides different parties at different locations with a mechanism to conduct cooperative activities concerning such a subject of common interest without exposing that subject to possible identity theft.
US08500004B2
In a method for obtaining a resource to read a symbol, an image containing at least one of the symbol and an indicator of the symbol is obtained. At least a portion of the obtained image is sent to a symbol identification service and the resource from the symbol identification service is received, wherein the resource enables the symbol to be read.
US08500000B2
The invention relates to a device for locking and unlocking the roller shutter (12, 15) of a container (10) that can be inserted into a rack (11) and removed therefrom. The roller shutter (12, 15) is pulled open by a stationary pin engaging therewith during insertion of the container (10), it is pulled shut by the same engagement of the pin (14) when the container (10) is pulled out of the rack (11). In the closed position, the roller shutter (12, 15) shall be locked reliably and accurately. Two locking pins (21, 22) that can be actuated by cam tracks (35, 36) extending in longitudinal direction of the rack (11) and provided at the rack (11) serve for this purpose. The first locking pin (21) serves to lock the roller shutter (12, 15), the second locking pin (22) keeps the roller shutter (12, 15) in its exactly defined closed position during the locking by the first locking pin (21). As a result thereof, position errors of the roller shutter (12, 15) during locking and unlocking are prevented.
US08499999B2
A folding box for the storage and presentation of products is provided, which includes an outer packaging body with a front wall, a rear wall, at least two side walls, a top element, and a bottom element, and which also includes a hollow inner chamber with a polygonal cross section in the interior of the outer packaging body. The inner chamber is formed by a front wall element, a rear wall element, and two side wall elements, and holds a product securely in the folded-open state of the folding box. The folding box is formed from a one-piece blank, and the outer packaging body and the inner chamber are glued to each other, providing the width of the inner chamber being less than the width of the outer packaging body, such that, between at least one side wall in the interior of the outer packaging body and at least one side wall element of the inner chamber, an empty space is formed. At least part of only one of the outer surfaces of the inner chamber elements, namely, either part of the front wall element or part of the one of the two side wall elements, is glued to only one of the inner surfaces of the outer packaging body. The inner chamber is formed by folding the front wall element, the rear wall element, and the side wall elements toward the outer side of the blank.
US08499997B2
The present invention provides assembly for use with a cartridge for the generation of hydrogen and a method for bonding metals with the cartridge. The cartridge includes a case, an igniter, and a structural component. The case defines an interior cavity and the igniter is positioned within the cavity. The structural component is also positioned within the cavity and is formed of a particulate embedded in a matrix and the particulate includes a metallic material. An oxidizing agent is positioned within the cavity. The structural component is configured such that the metallic material and the oxidizing agent react together to generate hydrogen after the igniter generates sufficient heat to remove the matrix from the structural component and to initiate the reaction between the metallic material and the oxidizing agent. The cartridge is positioned within the assembly relative to a metal flyer such that when the cartridge is discharged, the flyer is bonded to a metal anvil.
US08499992B2
A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
US08499988B2
A vehicle roof rack assembly comprises a pair of rails defining retention channels therein. A locking slot is disposed on an inboard surface of the rails and is in communication with the retention channels. The rook rack assembly further comprises a crossbar having a rotatable locking cam with retention tabs. The locking cam is designed to frictionally engage the locking slot during rotation and the retention tabs are adapted to extend into the retention channels, thereby securing the crossbar to the rails.
US08499982B2
Embodiments of foam pumps and refill units for foam dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment of a foam pump includes a housing, a mixing chamber located within the housing, an inlet into the mixing chamber and an outlet valve located downstream of the mixing chamber. In addition, a sealing member movable in a first direction and a second direction is included and provided in the housing, the sealing member being movable in the first direction by pressurized air. The pressurized air causes the sealing member to move in the first direction and open a pathway for pressurized air to travel through the inlet and enter the mixing chamber. Upon a decrease in the air pressure, the sealing member moves in the second direction and closes off the inlet from pressurized air.
US08499981B2
Foam dispensers having a housing and an air compressor connected to the housing are disclosed herein. The air compressor releasably mates with a refill unit. The refill includes a container and liquid pump housing. The liquid pump housing includes: a liquid reservoir; an inlet valve; an outlet valve; an air inlet opening through the liquid pump housing; a foaming screen; and a foam dispensing nozzle secured to the liquid pump housing. The liquid pump housing is configured to releasably mate with an air compressor that is not part of the refill unit but is secured to a foam pump dispenser housing, and the refill unit is configured to be removed from the foam dispenser without removing the air compressor from the foam dispenser.
US08499976B2
A multichamber dispensing device for dispensing a mixture consisting of a plurality of substances includes a receptacle unit (10) with several chambers that are aligned parallel in relation to each other. Each chamber has an open first end for inserting a piston and a second end having an outlet opening. A dispensing unit (30) including a dispensing channel and an adapter section (36) is connected to the receptacle unit (10). The adapter section includes at least one detachable separating element (38) which protrudes radially to the inside and interacts with at least one locking means of the receptacle unit (10), so that after loosening the separating element (38), the dispensing unit (30) opposite the receptacle unit (10) can be shifted in an axial direction.
US08499968B2
It is provided a dispensing device for a fluid container, which includes a container cap, a switching nozzle, a securing mechanism and a dispensing compartment. The container cap has apertures, and the switching nozzle has a closing state and an opening state, wherein in the closing state the switching nozzle hermetically sealing the apertures. An oval skirt is attached to the switching nozzle embracing the container cap, having protrusions for fixing the skirt to the container cap. Pressing the skirt releases the fixing and allows switching to an opening state. The dispensing compartment includes an annular portion, a setting mechanism, and a cover mechanism. The setting mechanism determines the limited volume of the dispensing compartment and secures the limited volume from undesired variation. The annular portion has a plurality of clefts and an associated plurality of quantity markings. The setting mechanism encompasses the annular portion and has setting bumps bulging proximate to the annular portion, and barrel apertures. Upon mating the setting bumps with a cleft, a marking associated with the certain t structural deviation is exposed though the apertures. The cover mechanism complements enclosing of the limited volume of the dispensing compartment, and has child-proof closing mechanism.
US08499953B1
The invention consists of non-self supporting containment bag used in conjunction with a dumpster container. The bag has a zipper or other sealable means, and a series of pick-up or attachment loops or handles may also be attached to the outer bag material. The bag may additionally have an internal lining to resist leakage of fluids or wet materials stored in the container.
US08499952B2
The invention relates to a transport container (1) consisting of a bottom part (2) and lateral walls (3, 4) extending perpendicularly therefrom. The transport container has cut-outs (7) provided in the bottom region for receiving with accurate fit the goods to be transported, and also a further support means for the goods above the bottom region. The support means is formed by an intermediate wall (10) that can be positioned vertically and fixed laterally to the corresponding lateral walls (4) and to the bottom part (2).
US08499950B2
A tamper evident closure (TEC) includes a closure cap and at least one tamper evident ring forming a recessed space therein. The ring has a body attached by at least one frangible bridge member to the cap. The ring includes at least one protrusion member spaced there around such that the protrusion members are formed by being stamped to protrude into the recessed space. There is also a related protrusion member forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a base end and a forming end. The forming end includes shaped protuberances which during use cause a stamping or deforming action with respect to a holding action on an inner ring member and outer ring member of a tamper evident ring of a tamper evident closure, to form the protrusion members in the inner ring member. There is also a method of manufacture of a tamper evident closure (TEC).
US08499941B2
A gravity-fed display hook for displaying retail merchandise. The gravity-fed display hook includes a metal wire having first and second bends. The metal wire includes a label-holding wire with a horizontal bar attached at one end, the horizontal bar configured to hold a product label. The metal wire includes a hang wire substantially parallel to the label-holding wire, and a bridge wire connecting the label-holding wire to the hang wire. In an embodiment, the bridge wire is substantially perpendicular to the label-holding and hang wires. A cross wire is attached to the bridge wire and has two bends that form upturned portions configured to fit into openings in a vertical support structure. In an embodiment, the label-holding and hang wires project outwardly from the vertical support structure. The cross wire is configured to position the label-holding and hang wires at a downward angle between 10 and 20 degrees from horizontal.
US08499937B2
A suspension packaging system can include a foldable member configured to form a cavity as well as a suspension device for suspending an article to be packaged within the cavity. The suspension portion can include foldable portions configured to cooperate with a retention member having pockets. The foldable portions can fit into the pockets and then be folded so as to generate tension in the retention member. The entire device, with the exception of the retention member, can be made from a single piece of material, such as corrugated cardboard, which thus reduces waste and simplifies bulk distribution of such a suspension packaging system.
US08499936B2
A lockable product package assembly containing an outer sleeve and an inner tray slidably engaged within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve includes a tray locking recess disposed in an inner surface of a first wall of the outer sleeve. The inner tray includes a product portion with a protruding release button and a locking portion integrally connected to the product portion. The locking portion of the tray is configured to engage with the tray locking recess in the outer sleeve, so as to prevent sliding movement of the tray relative to the sleeve, when the inner tray is fully inserted into the outer sleeve. To release the tray, the protruding release-button on the inner tray is depressed, which disengages the locking portion of the tray from the locking recess in the outer sleeve, so as to permit sliding movement of the tray relative to said outer sleeve.
US08499934B2
There is provided a package structure for packing a flat display unit which improves workability in taking a flat display unit out of a packing box. A lower cushioning material which supports a display portion of the flat display unit from below has a manual insertion portion so that the display portion can be held at a portion close to a lifting person's body when the display portion is taken out of a lower part of the packing box. A reinforcing rib is provided on a front side of the lower cushioning material to prevent damage to the lower cushioning material due to a reduction in strength. To prevent the lower cushioning material from being taken out together with the display portion when the display portion is taken out, a recess is provided in the lower cushioning material so that the recess is caught on a bending portion in the lower part when the display portion is taken out.
US08499929B2
A slide and shell container comprising a shell, and a slide, which is movable in the shell along a sliding path from a closed position to an open position, wherein in the closed position the interior of the container is inaccessible, and wherein in the open position the interior of the container is accessible. The shell comprises a guide slit, extending along the sliding path, wherein a guide means of the slide engages with the guide slit. Further, a single blank for forming a slide and a single blank for forming a guide means is disclosed.
US08499928B1
The chain boards of a metal filings conveyer are respectively formed with a rectangular base plate having two short sides respectively bent inward to form a side plate. The base plate has two broadsides respectively provided along a lengthwise axis with plural pivotal tubes arranged in stagger, and the pivotal tube abutting upon the side plate is cut short to form a notch for the chain board for facilitating the base plate to be compressed and bent to form the side plates. A filling collar with a central insert hole is positioned in the notch of the chain board to fill up the notch for preventing metal filings from dropping into a location between two chain boards and protecting the chain boards from being worn off by the metal filings.
US08499927B2
A pin assembly for a chain of a material moving system includes a pin having a first end and a second end, the first end having a threaded portion extending to a guide region having a reduced cross-section compared to the threaded portion, the threaded portion being at least partially modified during fabrication of the pin, the guide region extending to a transition region of increasing cross-section with respect to the guide region from the first end toward the second end, the transition region terminating at a shoulder. A fastener is configured to engage the threaded portion during construction of the chain. During construction of the chain, the pin and the fastener form a compression fit therebetween in response to a predetermined torque applied to the fastener, damaging at least a segment of the fastener, substantially limiting reuse of the fastener after the fastener has been disassembled from the pin.
US08499926B2
Modular belt module of the type having a width, and a length, where the width and length defines a plane, and a thickness orthogonal to said plane, such that the basic module is limited by two longitudinal sides, and a front and rear side, where the module along front and rear sides is provided with eye parts, spaced by openings, such that an eye part on one edge fits inside an opening between two eye parts on an adjacent module, whereby apertures provided in the eye parts parallel to the front and rear sides overlap and may accommodate a hinge pin, characterized in that adjacent and parallel to the two longitudinal sides, upstanding flanges are provided, where each flange is provided with means for accommodating an axle, arranged parallel to the front and rear sides.
US08499925B2
A conveying roller facilitates conveyance of a sticky material in the form of sheet or web to be conveyed. An outer peripheral layer of the convey roller is formed on its rolling surface with a plurality of pits at a predetermined occupancy ratio defined by an occupancy ratio of a total area occupied by all of the pits to an area of the rolling surface of the outer peripheral layer. The outer peripheral layer is formed on the rolling surface thereof with a plurality of pits at the occupancy ratio set depending on a degree of stickiness expressed by the sheet material to achieve peel properties of the outer peripheral layer which is compatible with the stickiness of the sheet material and thereby to prevent the sticky sheet material from twining around the conveying roller.
US08499920B2
In a conveyor device including a branch path, the number of articles sorted to the branch path is counted accurately. The conveyor device conveys a plurality of articles and includes a main conveyor, a first branch path, a first detector, a second detector, a detection information processing section, and a charging conveyor. The first branch path branches from the main conveyor at a first branch point. The first detector and the second detector are arranged upstream and downstream, respectively, of the branch point along a conveyance direction and are arranged to detect articles on the main conveyor. The detection information processing section is configured to calculate the number of articles sorted to the first branch path based on a difference between the number of articles detected by the first detector and the number of articles detected by the second detector.
US08499907B2
A tunable vibration isolator with active tuning elements having a housing, fluid chamber, and at least one tuning port. A piston is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration isolation fluid is disposed within the fluid chambers and the tuning ports. The tunable vibration isolator may employ either a solid tuning mass approach or a liquid tuning mass approach. The active vibration elements are preferably solid-state actuators.
US08499905B2
A front fork for easily optimizing an oil quantity in a damper cylinder with a relatively simple structure without affecting operability of a free piston even in an assembled state. An escape portion is formed on an outer periphery of a piston rod at a position where a seal member mounted on a sealing cap faces in an opposed manner when a front fork extends to the maximum.
US08499900B1
A retarder for controlling the speed of a railcar is provided. The retarder includes a brake and a brake actuator that includes a hydraulic piston-cylinder and a spring. One of the piston and the cylinder acts on the brake and the other of the piston and the cylinder acts on one end of the spring. The other end of the spring acts on the brake. In this arrangement, supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston-cylinder causes both the piston-cylinder and the spring to move the brake towards a closed position in which the brake will apply braking pressure on the wheel of the railcar. The spring resiliently biases the brake into the closed position to maintain a substantially constant braking pressure on the wheel of the railcar as it moves through the retarder.
US08499899B2
A wheel chock system for preventing movement of one or more wheels. The system may include a pair of chocks for clamping onto one or more wheels. The chocks may be connected through a linkage mechanism that can be rotated to draw the chocks together or move the chocks further apart. A handle may be attached to the linkage mechanism for moving the chock system from a blocking position to a released position. The handle may be configured to stand upright such that the chock system can be installed and removed by a user in a standing position without the need to bend or crouch. One embodiment of the chock system may be attachable to two different wheels in a tandem wheel arrangement, whereas another embodiment of the chock system may be configured to clamp onto a single wheel.
US08499898B2
A braking system for a stroller includes: a brake pedal positioned near a first rear wheel of the stroller; a braking cam operationally coupled to the brake pedal and rotatable around a pivot point from a first position to a second position; and a brake lever having a first end configured to contact the braking cam when the braking cam is in the second position, and a second end having a plurality of teeth configured to engage at least one gear driven by the first rear wheel of the stroller when the braking cam is in the second position. A depression of the brake pedal causes the braking cam to rotate around the pivot point from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the teeth of the brake lever to engage the at least one gear to prevent rotation of the first rear wheel.
US08499897B2
An example wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted or release position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the release position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its release position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its release position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, much of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock can be transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway.
US08499890B2
A personal escape device which can be used by men, women, and children, including physically disabled persons, to descend in a controlled and secure manner from high structures such as office buildings, multistory homes, and the like. The device is designed for a relatively low-cost, small size which may be used by payloads of variable weights. The rescue device of the invention may be a single-use device or a multi-use device.
US08499885B1
A power transducer failure detection device detects a failure on a power transducer, making a power transducer control device stop driving the power transducer. A first switching control device turns off a first power supply relay of a power supply source switching device and turns on a second power supply relay of the power supply source switching device. While the power transducer stops driving, a motor may rotate due to an external force to generate a regenerative voltage. The regenerative voltage is then regenerated in a battery through a route from the power transducer via the second power supply relay being turned on and a parasitic diode of the first power supply relay. This can protect elements such as switching elements and a smoothing capacitor of the power transducer against a regenerative voltage and prevent the elements from being destroyed or reducing the useful life due to overvoltage.
US08499884B2
A ring-mount joint between two vehicle units of an articulated bus, with the joint comprising two cantilevers, wherein each cantilever is arranged on one of the vehicle units, with each cantilever comprising a slewing ring, wherein the two slewing rings of the cantilever are mounted in each other so that they can be pivoted, wherein a damping device is provided for damping the rotational motion of the two cantilever relative to each other, wherein in the space enclosed by the inner slewing ring, there is arranged an annular chamber damper, wherein the annular chamber damper comprises two inter-mounted housing parts that are rotatable relative to each other, wherein the one housing part is in connection with the one cantilever and the other housing part is in connection with the other cantilever.
US08499882B2
A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame including a main frame including a floor member and a pair of right and left side members and a sub-frame for reinforcing the main frame, each of the side members includes a side pipe element, a first pillar pipe element, a second pillar pipe element and a third pillar pipe element, the sub-frame includes a first cross member provided between and coupled to second pillar pipe elements, one end portion of the first cross member is detachably coupled to one of the second pillar pipe elements and an opposite end portion of the first cross member is detachably attached to the other second pillar pipe element.
US08499880B2
A vehicle is provided that includes an intake device including a throttle body that is connected to a rear-side surface of a cylinder head which constitutes a part of an engine body which is mounted on a vehicle-body frame in a state where an axis of a crankshaft is arranged along the longitudinal direction. A sufficient clearance can be ensured between the intake device and a member which is arranged above the throttle body. A posture of the throttle body 30 is set such that an axis C2 of an intake passage formed in the throttle body 30 extends in the rearward and downward direction.
US08499878B2
A rear portion structure (100) of a motorcycle (1) comprises a chassis frame (5); a rear wheel (17) positioned below the rear portion of the chassis frame (5); a fender main body portion (110) anchored to the rear portion of the chassis frame (5) and positioned above the rear wheel (17); a fender hanging portion (120) configured separately from the fender main body portion (110) and covering at least a portion of the rear wheel (17); and a support stay (130) anchored to the rear end portion of the chassis frame (5) (rear end frame portion (5a), extending aft approximately horizontally from the rear end portion, and supporting the fender hanging portion (120).
US08499875B2
An energy storage system, for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine having an output shaft and a transmission operably coupled to the output shaft, includes a reservoir containing working fluid, a reversible pump/motor in fluid communication with the reservoir, a first clutch selectively drivably coupling the output shaft of the engine and the reversible pump/motor, a second clutch selectively drivably coupling an output shaft of the transmission and the reversible pump/motor, and an accumulator containing working fluid and gas. The accumulator is in fluid communication with the reversible pump/motor to deliver pressurized working fluid to the reversible pump/motor when operating as a motor to drive one of the respective output shafts of the engine and the transmission, and to receive pressurized working fluid discharged by the reversible pump/motor when operating as a pump driven by the one of the respective output shafts of the engine and the transmission.
US08499874B2
The present invention combines the principles of a gas turbine engine with an electric transmission system. A method and apparatus are disclosed for utilizing metallic and ceramic elements to store heat energy derived from a regenerative braking system. The subject invention uses this regenerated electrical energy to provide additional energy storage over conventional electrical storage methods suitable for a gas turbine engine. The subject invention provides engine braking for a gas turbine engine as well as reducing fuel consumption.
US08499873B2
In a motor device 300 mounted on a mobile body, a pressurizing mechanism for increasing the pressure in a motor chamber 14 in which a motor is installed has a compressor 30, which is driven to rotate by an engine 20 serving as driving means for driving the mobile body, to produce compressed air for motor chamber pressurization, and the compressed air coming from the compressor 30 is fed into the motor chamber 14 through a pipe 72 almost constantly while the engine 20 is being driven.
US08499872B2
The present invention relates to a steering device for a self-propelled construction or utility machine. The construction or utility machine includes a cab having a carriage, which is adjustable transversely to the travel direction, on which operating and/or actuating elements and at least one steering wheel for steering the construction or utility machine are situated. The steering wheel is coupled via a steering drive shaft, which is mounted on the adjustable carriage, and is carried along upon adjustment, to a steering output shaft, which is situated fixed in place on the construction or utility machine and runs transversely to the steering drive shaft. The steering movements applied to the steering wheel are transmitted by means of a direction change gearing, which is also mounted on the carriage, from the steering drive shaft to the transversely running steering output shaft, the direction change gearing also being carried along upon adjustment of the carriage and being situated so it is axially displaceable to the steering output shaft.
US08499864B2
[Task] To allow a wheel that provides a performance required for use in an omni-directional vehicle to be manufactured in an efficient manner.[Solution] An annular member (51) comprises a C-shaped main body (61) and a complementary member (62) defining an endless annular shape jointly with the main body (61), a joint (63) between the main body (61) and complementary member (62) includes mating surfaces that are non-perpendicular to the cross sectional center line of the annular member, and the main body (61) and the complementary member (62) are fixedly joined to each other by using a threaded bolt (64) passed radially through the mating surfaces.
US08499863B2
In a friction drive device comprising first free rollers and second free rollers contacting each other at the outer circumferential surfaces thereof to frictionally transmit power from the second free rollers to the first free rollers, in order to minimize the slippage between the first and second free rollers, minimize the power loss and cause the first free rollers to move as designed, an outer peripheral part of each first free roller defining an outer circumferential surface thereof has a different stiffness from that of an outer peripheral part of each second free roller defining an outer circumferential surface thereof.
US08499861B2
Ultra-hard composite constructions comprise an ultra-hard body having a plurality of diamond crystals bonded to one another by a carbide reaction product. A reactant material is selected from materials that are strong carbide formers to form a carbide reaction product with diamond at HPHT conditions. The body includes a high-density diamond region positioned along a surface portion of the body and that is substantially exclusively diamond, and that has a diamond volume content of 95 to 99 percent or more. The high-density diamond region can form a working surface of the composite construction. A substrate can be attached to the body, thereby forming a compact, and can include metallic materials, ceramic materials, carbides, nitrides, cermets, and mixtures thereof. An intermediate layer can be interposed between the body and the substrate depending on the substrate and/or method of attaching the same.
US08499849B2
A roller cleaning assembly for a grass processing apparatus, such as a grass or turf roller, has a roller housing releasably mountable in a hollow cavity in the body of a smoothing head, where the smoothing head contains idler or smoothing rollers. A pair of roller brushes is rotatably journalled in the roller housing, and are driven by the idler or smoothing rollers via friction drive rollers. Each brush roller has at least one spiral brush and/or spiral wiper blade to clean the external surfaces of the adjacent idler or smoothing rollers and deposits the clippings or other waste in collector sections in the roller housing.
US08499846B2
The present invention provides a fire extinguishing device including an upright standing hollow body. An air compressor pump is connected to the hollow body for providing pressurized air to the hollow body. At least one heat activated fluid release valve is connected to the hollow body. The present invention further provides a method of configuring a tree display.
US08499838B2
A connector is lowered onto and secured to a subsea member, effecting a seal between subsea member and the connector. The connector includes an outer body defining a cavity, and an inner body defining a bore, wherein the lower end of the inner body resides within the cavity. The connector also includes an engaging member coupled to the outer body and adapted to engage the subsea device, the engaging member radially movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The connector includes a seal carried by the inner body and adapted to form a seal between the bore and the subsea device. Finally, the connector includes a pre-loading member coupled to the outer body, operable to urge the inner body and seal against the subsea device to exert a pre-loading force on the seal. A differential pressure between the bore and a subsea environment energizes the seal.
US08499826B2
A pressure pulse signal is processed and a valve is operated to allow tubing or annulus pressure to move a piston against an atmospheric or low pressure chamber. Movement of the piston triggers the release of the dogs that previously held two components together for a separation. Redundant release mechanisms that respond to discrete pressure pulse signals are provided for backup purposes.
US08499823B1
A radiant heating panel has a receptacle for heat transfer tubing and divided into immediately-adjacent tracks, each for receiving respective heat transfer tubing, and with a partition extending between the immediately-adjacent tracks and defining a wall therebetween.
US08499820B2
An apparatus for casting metal strip includes a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls having casting surfaces laterally positioned to form a nip therebetween through which cast strip can be cast, and on which a casting pool of molten metal can be formed supported on the casting surfaces above the nip, a pair of molten metal delivery nozzles disposed above the nip and capable of discharging molten metal to form the casting pool supported on the casting rolls, a pair of side dams adjacent ends of the pair of casting rolls capable of confining the casting pool, a pair of delivery nozzle actuators capable of positioning the delivery nozzles independently of the side dams and a pair of side dam actuators capable of positioning the side dams independently of the delivery nozzles during casting, and a control system capable of controlling desired distance between the delivery nozzles and the side dams.
US08499818B2
A composite ballistic armor or other composite component may be formed by encapsulating one or more ceramic elements in a casting shell and introducing molten base metal into the casting shell, such that the molten base metal encapsulates the one or more ceramic elements to form the composite component. Prior to the pouring process, the ceramic elements are pre-heated to, or near, the melting point temperature or pouring temperature of the encapsulating metal. Additionally, the cooling rate following the metal pour may be less than a predetermined rate for a predetermined period of time. The encapsulating metal may comprise, for example, a steel alloy, such as 4140 or 8630 AISI, a stainless steel alloy, or FeMnAl.
US08499815B2
A louver turning mechanism and a hollow glass door or window with a built-in magnetically controllable louver, comprising a turn traction member, a turn transmission member and a slat turning member which are connected in turn, wherein the turn transmission member comprises a slat turning wheel and a joint interlocking mechanism which are used in cooperation, the joint interlocking mechanism is, at one end thereof, eccentrically fixedly connected to the slat turning wheel to drive it to rotate, and, at the other end thereof, connected to the turn traction member through a connecting push rod; the slat turning wheel is coaxially fixedly connected to a horizontal rotation shaft of the slat turning member is provided.
US08499813B2
A system is disclosed for ejecting a semiconductor die from a tape to which the die is affixed during the wafer dicing process. In embodiments, the system includes an ejector tool including a support table, ejector pins and a pick-up arm. The support table is connected to a vacuum source for creating a negative pressure at an interface between the tape and support table. The support table further includes an aperture with one or more chamfered sidewalls. The vacuum source is connected to the aperture so that, upon placement of the tape on the support table with a die centered over the aperture, the vacuum source pulls a portion of the tape around the edges of the semiconductor die away from the die and into the space created by the chamfered edges.
US08499812B1
A tape dispensing system having an interior dispenser frame with an interior wall. The interior wall has lateral edges. Extending between the lateral edges are a curved edge and a corner. The interior dispenser frame also has a top wall having its lateral edges. Extending between those lateral edges is a first locking edge. The first locking edge has a locking cut out. The interior dispenser frame has a dispenser spool assembly with a first base. Extending from the first base are concave sections, the concave sections being connected by convex sections. An exterior dispenser plate has an exterior wall. The exterior wall also has lateral edges. Extending between those lateral edges are a curved edge and another locking edge. This locking edge also has a locking cut out. The exterior dispenser plate further has a plate spool assembly with a circular wall.
US08499808B2
A tire comprising a carcass-type reinforcement structure formed from reinforcing elements anchored on each side of the tire to a bead, the base of which is intended to be mounted on a rim seat, each bead being extended radially outwards by a sidewall, the sidewalls joining, radially outwards, a tread and having, beneath the tread, a crown reinforcement structure consisting of at least two layers of reinforcing elements called working layers, said reinforcing elements of the working layers being of identical nature. In a given circumferential plane, the extensional stiffness per unit width of a first working layer measured along the principal direction of the reinforcing elements of said first layer is strictly higher than the extensional stiffness per unit width of a second working layer measured along the principal direction of the reinforcing elements of said second working layer, the second working layer being radially further away from the carcass structure than said first working layer.
US08499800B1
A highly corrosion and abrasion resistant coating combination for high precision metal tubing comprises a passivation layer applied to the tubing and a thermoplastic jacket extruded onto the passivated tubing.
US08499797B1
A vehicle brake line de-icing device for deicing the air brake lines of a tractor trailer or the like. The device is compact with a reservoir having flat sides for best chosen fit and/or mounting. The reservoir can selectively pivot and lock in differing rotational positions on the tubes on each end that are affixed to gladhand connectors for communicating with those on a vehicle. To thaw the brake lines, the user releases air through the brake lines and thereby circulates the antifreeze therethrough. This process thaws the brake lines in approximately 5 to 7 minutes, as opposed to an expensive 2-hour service call.
US08499794B2
The present invention relates to a liquid channel device capable of easily opening the liquid channel from the closed mode, including a base plate in which a liquid channel, through which a liquid containing at least one of a sample and a reagent, flows, and a metering chamber for holding the liquid, are formed to at least one side thereof, the metering chamber has a liquid transport section for transporting the liquid inside the chamber downstream, and this liquid transport section is operated by means of external pressing on a cover plate in the area opposite the metering chamber.
US08499792B2
Compositions, systems and methods for using a nanoparticle composite to act as a valve within a microfluidic conduit to regulate fluid flow therethrough are provided. The nanoparticle composite includes a core having magnetic particles and Au particles and includes a hydrogel coating surrounding the core. The size of the nanoparticle composite is controlled by causing the hydrogel coating to lose water or absorb water, thus decreasing or increasing the size of the nanoparticle composite within the microfluidic conduit.
US08499790B2
An adjustable coolant quick coupler has a coolant supplier seat and a transmission seat that can be optionally connected or disconnected. The coolant supplier seat has a regulator assembly. The regulator assembly is able to adjust quantity of flow-in coolant and quantity of flow-out coolant. When the coolant supplier seat is connected to the transmission seat, the coolant can flow automatically from the coolant supplier seat to the transmission seat, so as to cool down electronic components inside a rack. When the coolant supplier seat is disconnected from the transmission seat, the coolant instantly stops flowing into the transmission seat. Because of the quick coupler, the rack installed inside a narrow space is convenient to set up or disassemble. Furthermore, by adjusting the quantity of flow-in coolant and the quantity of flow-out coolant, the electronic components can have a better effect of heat-dissipation.
US08499782B2
A fluid delivery system for delivering at least one service fluid to at least one construction type equipment. The fluid delivery system includes a modular body including a main platform with a variety of different sizes of fluid vessels and at least one pump associated therewith. The fluid delivery system further includes hoses to facilitate the transfer of the fluids to construction equipment and hoses to facilitate the transfer of used fluids from construction equipment. A containment component is integrally formed with the modular body so as to provide the retaining of the fluid reservoirs during transit. An optional additional platform containing additional fluid vessels is capable of being attached to the front portion of the main platform, thereby increasing the total fluid storage capacity.
US08499773B2
The device (1) comprises: a body (2) in which is formed a receptacle (3) having a mouth (4) and intended to receive a quantity of washing agent, a cover (5) connected to the body (2) and movable between a position in which the mouth (4) of the said receptacle (3) is closed and a position in which the mouth is open, and a return spring tending to move the cover (5) towards the open position. The cover (5) has a first portion (5a) hinged to the body (2) about a first axis (7) parallel to the mouth (4) of the receptacle (3) and translatable along guides (6) provided in the body (2), and a second portion (5b) connected to a crank element (8) by hinging about a second axis (9) parallel to the first axis (7). The crank element (8) is, in turn, hinged to the body (2) about a third, fixed axis (10) which is parallel to the first and second axes (7, 9).
US08499770B2
The device (1) for creating hair bundle effects to a hair bundle (11) described herein comprises a first portion (10) movably joined to a second portion (20) by means of a connection (30). The second portion (20) is associated with a system (70) for bending a hair bundle (11) within a cavity (12) provided in the first portion (10). The system (70) for bending the hair bundle (11) consists of at least a first fin (71) and of a second fin (72). The free distal edge (712) of the first fin (71) points toward the free distal edge (722) of the second fin (72). The device (1) preferably comprises a first metering layer (81) and more preferably also a second metering layer (82) to achieve evenness during the application of a hair treatment composition (15) to hair.
US08499767B2
A smoking article comprises a rod of smokable material circumscribed by a rod wrapper and a filter comprising at least one filter segment circumscribed by a filter wrapper. The rod of smokable material and the filter are attached to one another by tipping paper and the smoking article comprises a tear ribbon between the at least one filter segment and the tipping paper. The tear ribbon is affixed to at least one of the tipping paper and the filter wrapper.
US08499766B1
An electronic cigarette with an illumination function, and that generates an aerosol of a fluid when air is drawn through it, includes a housing with a translucent tip, a mouthpiece, and a battery. A fluid reservoir and an atomizer assembly selectively generate an aerosol of the fluid. A draw pressure sensor generates a draw signal in response to a pressure change induced while air is drawn out of the mouthpiece. A draw control circuit activates the atomizer assembly in response to the draw signal. The draw circuit also outputs a lamp signal in response to the draw signal. A lamp circuit with an actuator, a first color lamp, and a second color lamp that are both aligned to illuminate the tip. The lamp circuit selectively, and alternatively in response to subsequent actuations of the actuator, selects between illuminating the first color lamp and the second color lamp in response to the lamp signal.
US08499765B2
Easier handling during packing and reduced pouch spotting is seen when a moist smokeless tobacco product is at a sub-refrigeration temperature during formation and sealing of portioned product.
US08499760B2
A variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.
US08499756B2
The invention relates to systems and methods for controlling angular position of a pivotable platform relative to a radiation source. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling angular position of a pivotable platform relative to a radiation source includes a frame, a thermal actuation element coupled to the frame, a pivotable platform positioned between the radiation source and the thermal actuation element so as to at least partially block energy from the radiation source from impinging on the thermal actuation element, and apparatus for pivoting the pivotable platform in response to a thermally controlled deformation of the thermal actuation element.
US08499753B2
A cocking device for drawing the bowstring of a crossbow that can be selectively installed on an existing crossbow. The cocking device comprises a shape designed to prevent the cocking device from being improperly installed.
US08499749B2
Arrangements for use in crankcase ventilation are described and shown. Included are serviceable crankcase ventilation filter cartridges which include a media pack axial drain arrangement, for preferred, efficient, operation. A crankcase ventilation filter arrangements including a housing and such a serviceable cartridge is shown. Also shown and described are methods of assembly, operation and use.
US08499744B2
During travel of a vehicle, an apparatus acquires vehicle velocity information detected by a vehicle velocity sensor and a reference accelerator opening degree and an estimated gear position from a reference accelerator opening degree table indicative of relationship between vehicle velocities and accelerator opening degrees during travel of the vehicle at cruising velocity. The apparatus also acquires an estimated number of prime mover rotations at the vehicle velocity from a vehicle-velocity vs. number-of-prime-mover-rotation correlation table, and then calculates a difference between the estimated number of prime mover rotations and an actual number of prime mover rotations detected by a number-of-prime-mover-rotation sensor. Further, a value, obtained by multiplying the calculated difference by a compensating coefficient determined in accordance with characteristics specific to the vehicle, is added to the reference accelerator opening degree, to thereby calculate an estimated accelerator opening degree.
US08499739B2
A fluid injector for an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The fluid injector may have a housing at least partially forming a fluid chamber. The housing may have a central axis, and a fluid passageway configured to supply fluid to the fluid chamber. The supply of fluid may be in a tangential direction relative to the central axis.
US08499722B2
A portable, on-demand hydrogen generation system producing hydrogen and injecting the hydrogen into the air intake of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced with an electrolyzer from nonelectrolyte water in a supply tank. The hydrogen and oxygen is passed back thru the supply tank for distribution and water preservation. The gases are kept separate by a divider in the tank. The device is optionally powered by the vehicle battery, a stand alone battery, waste heat of the internal combustion engine or solar energy. The system utilizes a vacuum switch or other engine sensor that permits power to the device and therefore hydrogen production only when the engine is in operation.
US08499716B2
A portable overspray painting containment enclosure with an air curtain seal formed between the enclosure and a surface being painted that entrains overspray inside an air flow that is directed into the interior of the enclosure and through a filter system to prevent overspray from escaping into the atmosphere.
US08499713B2
A method for applying a water-based coating (53) to a painted workpiece (49) is provided. The method includes spraying water (51) from an application nozzle unit (10) to the workpiece (49), feeding the water-based coating (53) to the workpiece (49), and finally applying streams of compressed air onto the water-based coating (53) to spread uniformly the water-based coating (53).
US08499702B2
Char-handling processes for controlling overall heat balance, ash accumulation, and afterburn in a reheater are provided. Carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed using a heat transfer medium forming pyrolysis products and a spent heat transfer medium. The spent heat transfer medium is separated into segregated char and char-depleted spent heat transfer medium. The char-depleted spent heat transfer medium is introduced into a dense bed of heat transfer medium fluidized by a stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. All or a portion of the segregated char is combusted in the dense bed using the stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. A portion of the segregated char may be exported out of the pyrolysis system to control the overall heat balance and ash accumulation.
US08499699B2
A worksurface arrangement comprising at least a first support member, a first worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a first vertical height, a second worksurface forming member supported by the first support member at a second vertical height and extending to a first side of the first support member where the second vertical height is different than the first vertical height, the second worksurface forming member including an undersurface, a first cover extending downward below the first worksurface forming member to a lower edge below the second vertical height, a second cover extending downward from a height proximate the undersurface of the second worksurface forming member and spaced from the first cover wherein the first and second covers bound a housing cavity width.
US08499690B2
There is described a method and an inking apparatus (50) for forming an ink pattern (80) on the surface of a form cylinder (15b) of a printing press, which ink pattern (80) exhibits, at least in part, a two-dimensional ink gradient extending in an axial direction and a circumferential direction on the surface of the form cylinder (15b). At least first and second chablon cylinders (20, 25) are placed one after the other along an inking path of the ink train (20, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35a, 35b, 36, 37) inking the form cylinder (15b) for distributing ink in the axial and circumferential directions and means (200, 201, 210, 211, 212, 250, 251, 260, 261, 262) are provided for subjecting the first and second chablon cylinders (20, 25) to cyclical oscillation movements in the axial direction and the circumferential direction.
US08499688B2
There is provided a screen printer capable of concurrently, efficiently subjecting a plurality of substrates, including different types of substrates, to printing operation. In a screen printer 2 that makes up an electronic component mounting line 1 and that prints electronic component bonding paste on a substrate, a substrate conveyance section 8 that conveys a substrate 5 forwardly or backwardly in a direction of conveyance of a substrate is disposed at an intermediate position between a first screen printing section 7A and a second screen printing section 7B arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line CL. It thereby becomes possible to adopt a variety of substrate conveyance forms, as required, such as return conveyance for returning the substrate 5 from a downstream machine to an upstream side of the screen printer 2 and bypass conveyance for letting the substrate sent from an upstream side pass through the screen printer, to thus be conveyed to a downstream machine. The plurality of substrates 5, including different types of substrates, can concurrently, efficiently undergo printing operation.
US08499685B2
A round baler has bale chamber partly covered by a web spanning at least the distance between its side walls. The web is guided slideably on a path following the shape of the bale chamber.
US08499682B2
The labyrinth capsule consists of a cup-shaped capsule wall (1), the capsule base formed from a labyrinth plate (4) having a labyrinth structure and puncturing pins (14) on its upper side. A hole (10) with a central round stud (12) is located in the labyrinth plate center. A sealing film (7) is placed on the labyrinth plate and is welded along its edge to the edge of the labyrinth plate. The capsule wall (1) is sealed on its upper edge (2) with a closure film, thereby closing in the filling. When liquid presses in through the closure film, the sealing film is pressed against the labyrinth plate. The puncturing pins puncture the sealing film. The liquid flows through the puncture holes to the labyrinth plate and drains out between the labyrinth ridges (5). Finally, a laminar liquid stream is formed from the round stud in the spout hole (10).
US08499680B1
In a hydrostatic device using an axial piston pump, a yoke is mounted so that it contacts the movable swash plate of the hydrostatic transmission. The yoke is biased by a spring-type mechanism to force the swash plate to return to neutral, and the set position of the yoke plate may be externally adjusted. A bias or load arm rotatably fixed to a housing at one end and connected to a spring at the other end is engaged to the yoke to provide the return force to the yoke plate. The yoke plate may have two legs to provide a return to neutral force to the swash plate in either direction, or one leg to provide the return to neutral force in only a single direction.
US08499678B2
An armoring element for a structure, such as a vehicle, and comprising a case integral with said structure and enclosing at least two passive or reactive armoring modules, separated by a layer of shock-absorbing material, said case containing two fixed lateral walls parallel to one another and integral with a back wall intended to be positioned on said structure, wherein said armoring modules are mounted sliding on slides integral with the lateral walls of said case, and wherein they may thus be individually introduced or removed from said case via a front opening positioned opposite said back wall and delimited by said lateral walls, stop means ensuring the retention of each of said armoring modules with respect to said lateral walls when it is put into place on said lateral walls.
US08499677B2
The present embodiments relate to hull have a geometric shape where a first wall, second wall, and third wall are designed to mitigate the effects of an explosion. In an exemplary embodiment, the hull may have a double-vertex shape.
US08499675B2
Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric and/or electromagnetic discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively, or in addition to, electromagnetic energy may be directionally propagated to the device through a waveguide. Such electromagnetic energy may be in the microwave region and may heat and/or induce electric current in the explosive device. In either instance, the directionally propagated energy may be time varying. In one embodiment, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the directionally propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the device is inhibited.
US08499672B2
A power miter saw comprises a saw base having a fence for positioning a work piece, a table rotatably connected to the saw base; a miter arm assembly for angularly positioning the table relative to the saw base, a saw blade and motor assembly operatively connected to the table, a linear guide mechanism attached to the table and being configured to support the saw blade and motor assembly and enable movement of the assembly along a predetermined linear path in either forward or rearward directions, the mechanism having a horizontal shaft about which the assembly is pivotable to move a saw blade vertically into and out of cutting position, the mechanism also having a multiple link hinge pivotally interconnecting the motor assembly and the table with horizontal shafts that are parallel to one another.
US08499671B2
A supplemental frame and adjustable edge stop assembly are mounted to a front lower edge of a panel saw. A first quick release mount on the supplemental frame cooperates with a second quick release mount on the edge stop assembly to enable quick interchange of assemblies. One form of edge stop assembly includes a movable panel for movement as a unit of multiple edge stops into and out of operative position. A mounting plate for a cutting tool has workpiece rise limiters for pressing the workpiece against the panel saw face. Adjustable hold-downs engage a top edge of the workpiece to hold it down against support rollers. The edge stops, rise limiters and hold-downs form a pocket supporting the workpiece along three mutually perpendicular axes. A stand-off panel removably positioned on a front face of the panel saw supports thin workpieces closer to the cutting tool.
US08499662B2
A pull handle structure of a hand puller contains a base including two opposite holes to insert two shafts respectively, with each hole including a ratchet. A pulling handle includes a rotating member with two side plates, each including first and second ends. Each first end includes an axial connecting portion on which a circular opening is formed so that the rotating member swings axially relative to the base. The side plate includes a sliding rail. Between the two side plates is defined a movable retaining element to contact with the ratchet. A movable bar includes two elongated stems and a grip rod defined between the two elongated stems. Each elongated stem is fitted in the sliding rail to move slidably. Between the rotating member and the movable bar is defined a locking device to obtain a positioning purpose when the movable bar is expanded and retracted.
US08499660B2
The one end side portion is nipped by a jig including a jig member having a pair of convex portions which are to be fitted to a depressions in contact with a tooth side face and a inclined portion and positioning a bar and a jig member which is to be clamped/opened with respect to the jig member. A die having an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery is pressed onto the outer periphery of the end portion of the cylindrical end side portion projected from the jig up to a press-in depth determined preliminarily based on the rack, so as to reduce the diameter of the end portion.
US08499638B2
A tri-axis accelerometer for use in seismic surveying is provided. The accelerometer comprises at least three fiber optic accelerometer elements which have respective fiber sensor coils, and which are characteristic in that the fiber sensor coils are coiled about a common coiling axis and at least one of the accelerometer elements is a slant angle accelerometer element. A corresponding method of manufacturing a tri-axis fiber optic accelerometer is also disclosed. A fiber optic tri-axis accelerometer for sensing acceleration in three directions is also provided, which comprises a first, a second, and a third sensor base, each base including a first, a second, and a third fixed element, respectively, and a first, a second, and a third movable element, respectively, each pair of fixed and movable elements carrying a fiber sensing coil. The fiber sensing coils are all coiled around a common coiling axis and at least one of the movable elements is designed and mounted so as to be movable in a direction that is slanted with respect to the common coiling axis.
US08499630B2
A MEMS piezoelectric sensor comprises a plurality of capacitors some of which may be used for sensing and others used for feedback. The capacitors may be switched to connect or disconnect selected capacitors from the sensor. Embodiments convert a two port sensor into a four port sensor without significant changes in hardware design and improve SNR and correct for offset and out-of-axis errors due to process mismatch and variations.
US08499627B2
A pressure-receiving cylinder (11) is in a columnar shape extending in the direction of a center axis (O), and having an orthogonal cross section to the center axis (O) that defines a rotationally symmetrical contour. In a piezoelectric ceramic structure (12), piezoelectric ceramic modules are arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner around the center axis (O), each piezoelectric ceramic module including a pair of piezoelectric ceramic and electrodes connected thereto in the polarization direction. Containers (8, 10) are connected to respective ends of the piezoelectric ceramic module (15) in the polarization direction, and apply a stress corresponding to an external force received by the pressure-receiving cylinder (11) to the pressure-receiving cylinder (11) and the piezoelectric ceramic structure (12). Respective voltages output by the plurality of piezoelectric ceramic modules are added together.
US08499625B2
An automatic process for the identification and working of defects (12) on used tires (6) is disclosed, comprising the steps of assembling the used tire (6) on rotative support and centring means (7), starting the rotation of the tire (6), automatic scanning of the working surface (30) of the tire (6) to identify the morphology of defects (12) by means of automatic identification means (8, 41) of defects (12), comparison between the morphology of the defect (12) identified and a virtual library of defects (12′) of reference for the selection of the working and of the tool (9) to be used, charging the tool (9) chosen on an anthropomorphic robot (31), and executing the selected working on the defect (12) to form a crater (13) that is suitable for being coated, said steps being managed by a computerized control unit (11) comprising said virtual library of defects (12′).
US08499618B2
A device for automatically taking out a sample liquid contained in a reservoir and measuring the viscosity of the liquid is described herein. In one embodiment, the device includes a base body and a transferring part provided on the stage of the base body for taking the sample liquid out of the reservoir and supplying the sample liquid to a viscosity measuring part. The viscosity measuring part is provided on the stage for measuring the viscosity of the sample liquid supplied from the transferring part. The device also includes a control part for controlling operations of the transferring part and the viscosity measuring part. Additionally, the device includes a display part for displaying the results measured by the viscosity measuring part.
US08499611B2
A disk drive emulator for testing a test slot of a disk drive testing system includes an emulator body, an interface connecter disposed on the emulator body, and at least one vibration sensor disposed on the emulator body. The emulator body comprises a material having a tensile modulus of at least 40×10^6 Psi.
US08499608B2
A bending tool for bending and shaping general purpose building wire and cable. The bending tool including a main body having a first end opposite a second end. The first and second ends each include a pair of metal dowels fixedly attached with couplings. Each pair of metal dowels are spaced apart and define a spacing sized for releasably receiving a cable wire such as the 500 MCM cable, between the pair of metal dowels. Preferably, each of the pair of metal dowels define an outer knurled surface.
US08499597B2
A device for surface peening, in particular for ultrasonic shot peening, of a component of a gas turbine, having at least one vibration device that includes a surface that impinges the blasting material, and having a holding device by which a surface area of the component can be positioned relative to the surface of the vibration device, the surface of the vibration device being subdivided into at least two adjacent partial surfaces, each including an overlapping part by which a part of the surface area of the component can be treated by blasting material impinged both by the one and by the other partial surface.
US08499596B2
The invention relates to an antitheft device (2) for the steering column of a vehicle, comprising: a locking portion including a bolt for locking the steering column, and a mobile member capable of controlling the locking-in-position of the bolt; and an access portion including a latch, wherein said device includes a rocker arm for converting a movement of the mobile control member into the release of a super-lockout element.
US08499593B2
An apparatus for waking up a user, the apparatus (1) comprising a light source (3) that is adapted to produce a light effect (L), such as a light beam, that is directed to a user, or at least to a user's head, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises means for displacing the light effect (L) in an upward (Ru) or downward (Rd) direction during a period of time, in order to change a position of the light effect with respect to the user, or at least to the user's head, wherein the means to displace the light effect (L) is adapted to displace the light effect (L) gradually along an amount of displacement during the time period, for instance during a wake-up period until reaching a final wake-up time.
US08499590B2
A filter assembly of a washer is disclosed, by which particles contained in water can be efficiently filtered off in the course of washing the laundry and by which the filtered-off particles are prevented from being discharged from the filter assembly. In a washer including an inner wall having an outlet and a circulation passage provided between the inner wall and a wash tub to enable water to circulate to the outlet from a bottom of the wash tub, the present invention includes a closed-type filter unit configured to filter off particles from the water discharged from the outlet and to prevent the filtered-off particles from being externally discharged.
US08499584B2
A molten glass delivery system is modified to match it with the overflow downdraw process. A substantial number of defects not removed by the finer are diverted to the unusable inlet and distal edges of the sheet. In one embodiment, the stirring device is relocated from the outlet to the inlet of the finer. In another embodiment, the basic shape of the finer is preferably changed from a cylindrical shape to a Double Apex (or Gull Wing) shaped cross-section, whereby the apexes of the finer contain the glass that will form the unusable inlet end of the glass sheet. The finer vent or vents are preferably located at these apexes such that any homogeneity defects caused by the vents are diverted to the unusable inlet end of the glass sheet. The finer cross-section has a high aspect ratio for increased fining efficiency as compared to a cylindrical finer.
US08499581B2
A method and apparatus for conditioning imported liquefied natural gas to conform to a particular pipeline heating value specification and recovery of liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas liquids from liquefied natural gas are disclosed. An input stream containing liquefied natural gas is split into a direct stream and a bypass stream. The direct stream is heated in a cross-exchanger to produce a heated rich liquefied natural gas stream, which is split into a primary column feed and a secondary column feed. At least a major portion of the secondary column feed is vaporized to produce a vaporized secondary column feed, which is expanded in an expander to produce a vaporized and expanded secondary column feed. A top feed, the primary column feed, and the vaporized and expanded secondary column feed are fractionated to produce an overhead product stream and a bottom product stream. The overhead product stream is compressed in a compressor coupled to the expander. At least a major portion of the compressed overhead product stream is condensed by cooling in the cross-exchanger to produce a compressed and condensed overhead product stream. A reflux stream of at least one of the compressed and condensed overhead product stream or an output stream is directed to a top of the fractionation unit as the top feed. The bypass stream is mixed with a balance stream of the compressed and condensed overhead product stream to produce the output stream, which is vaporized to produce a conditioned natural gas product.
US08499578B2
A water product dispensing system includes a dispenser mounted for selectively releasing a water product, a display provided on the dispenser and a sensor operatively coupled to the dispenser. The dispensing system also includes a sensor for determining a fault condition. In the event that a fault condition exists, the fault condition is presented upon the display only upon operation of the dispensing system. The water product dispensing system also includes a water filter, with the fault condition indicating a need to replace the water filter.
US08499577B2
An ice making apparatus for a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ice making compartment; an icemaker disposed in the ice making compartment and including an ice mold body, the ice mold body defining therein a plurality of ice cavities for containing water therein for freezing into ice cubes, and a channel for transport of a working medium, the channel having an outlet; and a temperature sensor disposed in the ice making compartment and adjacent the outlet.
US08499574B2
While an inverter compressor 32 is driven in a control range, an actual temperature drop S is calculated based on a detected inside temperature TR at every predetermined sampling time. Further, a target temperature drop Ac for the inside temperature TR is taken out of data on a cooling characteristic Xc. If the actual temperature drop S is smaller than the target temperature drop Ac, the inverter compressor 32 is controlled to increase a speed thereof. If it is larger, the inverter compressor 32 is controlled to decrease the speed. Inside of a cold storage is cooled down along the cooling characteristic Xc through those controls. Especially after the inside temperature TR has decreased from an upper limit temperature TH and reached the target temperature To, the speed of the inverter compressor 32 is controlled such that the target temperature drop remains at substantially zero (cooling characteristic Xc2).
US08499561B2
A system and a method are provided that may be used to control the temperature of steam being reheated by a moisture separator reheater (MSR). The temperature of a steam being reheated by a MSR may be sensed, and controller embodiments may use the sensed temperature to control the transfer of heat from various MSR components into the reheated steam. By using such control embodiments, the MSR may provide optimally heated steam to other power plant components, thus increasing the performance, efficiency, and safety of a power plant.
US08499560B2
The invention relates to a method and to an autonomous device (10d) for injecting a fluid (F), that uses pyrotechnical means (1d). The invention can be used in particular for injecting a protection fluid (F) into a system that is subject to overheating (8d). The method is characterized in that it uses a thermally triggered charge (1d).
US08499559B2
A turbine housing for a high-pressure turbo-charger of a turbo-charger engine system for an internal combustion engine is provided that includes, but is not limited to a low-pressure charger opening for taking up a low-pressure turbo-charger and a high-pressure charger opening for taking up a high-pressure turbo-charger. A high-pressure exhaust opening is attached to a corresponding flange at an exhaust manifold of the engine and there is a short-cut exhaust opening with a high-pressure turbine by-pass valve area attached to a corresponding flange at the exhaust manifold. An external connection opening is attached to a muffler, a waste gate valve area being provided in the close vicinity of the external connection opening.
US08499553B2
A piston type pneumatic engine, including a cylinder block, a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a connecting rod, a camshaft, and a device for controlling the opening or closing of a gas valve. A cylinder cover arranged on the cylinder block is provided with an inwardly-opened type compressed-gas intake valve and an exhaust valve. An intake cam and an exhaust cam are arranged on the camshaft. The opening or closing of the intake and the exhaust valves is controlled by a rocker arm which is driven by the camshaft. The camshaft is driven by the rotated crankshaft via a timing chain or belt.
US08499551B2
A first heat medium is circulated in a first circulating path (engine cooling circuit) of a heat source (engine) to cool the heat source down by the first heat medium, and exhaust heat from the heat source is absorbed by the first heat medium. A second heat medium is circulated in a second circulating path (exhaust heat recovering circuit) to exchange heat of exhaust air with the second heat medium, and heat of the first heat medium is exchanged with the second heat medium circulating in the second circulation path. The heat of the second medium to which heat is applied due to these heat exchanges is stored in heat storage means (heat storage tank).
US08499549B2
An exhaust gas control system and an exhaust gas control method are provided. The exhaust gas control system includes an exhaust gas throttle valve in an exhaust gas duct and an actuation device of the exhaust gas throttle valve having an actuating rod. An exhaust gas pressure control device controls the exhaust gas pressure occurring upstream of the exhaust gas throttle valve in the exhaust gas duct. The actuating rod also includes a control actuator that interacts with a pressure compensation volume. The pressure compensation volume is pneumatically connected to a throttle opening upstream of the exhaust gas throttle valve.
US08499543B2
An insensitive munitions casing, such as a motor case, for housing a propellant charge is disclosed. The casing is formed by winding, wrapping or rolling a fiber, tape or sheet of material such that the casing has a plurality of reinforcing layers. At least some of the reinforcing layers have discontinuous interfaces. Other reinforcing layers may overlap the discontinuous interfaces. The reinforcing layers are coated with adhesive bonding material for adhering the reinforcing layer to itself and bonding the discontinuous interfaces. The adhesive bonding material has a bond-strength breakdown temperature which is below the auto-ignition temperature of the propellant charge. Once the bond strength breakdown temperature of the adhesive is reached, the bond fails at the discontinuous interface, thereby enabling release of propellant charge pressurization.
US08499534B2
A system for packaging a plurality of tablets is disclosed that includes a container. The container comprises a generally elongated channel having a first end and a second end positioned below the first end. The first end has an aperture for receiving a plurality of tablets in series into the channel. The system also includes a container holding and vibration apparatus operable to hold the container and concurrently apply linear vibration in a direction to the container. A tablet delivery system is provided that is operable to deliver the tablets in series to the container in a direction that is substantially in alignment with the direction of linear vibration of the container. The linear vibration of the container provided is operable to align the tablets in a stacked formation within the channel of said container.
US08499533B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a cover, a method of covering, and a cover system to be used with shipments of products transported by air with ULDs. The dimensions of the cover system can vary depending on the ULD they are designed to be used with. The cover system can also be adapted to any individual skid such as wooden or plastic pallets used for smaller loads used in air transport or any other mode of transportation. The cover system can include one or multiple parts that wrap the shipment. Each part of the cover system can be made of one or more layers. Each layer can be made of a single material or a combination of different materials, and different layers can incorporate different materials. The different parts of the cover can be made of different materials or different combination of materials. In specific embodiments, materials used for the cover system are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) friendly. The cover system provides thermal protection to temperature-sensitive products in or on the ULD. The cover system maintains the proper relative humidity level and gas concentrations (oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene) for horticultural product loads. The cover system can also have antimicrobial properties. In addition, the cover system decreases the amount of water vapor released in the cargo holds which is known to affect the reliability of the aircraft smoke detection system and to cause false fire alarms.
US08499522B1
A lightweight concrete masonry unit for veneering the face of a building. The veneer block includes a body with planar front, top, bottom, and side surfaces with the top, bottom, and sides perpendicular to the front surface. One or more channels are formed in the rear surface. The depth of the channels are restricted to maintain no less than one inch of remaining wall thickness between the channel bottoms and the opposite front surface. The novel shape and larger minimum wall thickness of the lightweight veneer block enables production on a commercial block machine within the standard cycle time, provides weight and raw material cost savings up to 50%, and allows block heights that are not attainable with conventional hollow core veneer blocks.
US08499518B2
A molded synthetic polymer based shingle is provided as is a roof made up of underlying and overlying of courses of such shingles. The shingles are generally rigid and are provided with upwardly protruding moisture guards on the upper surfaces of their headlap portions, for guarding against wind-blown moisture entering fastener locations at which fasteners are used to attach shingles to a roof. The moisture guards may be of various configurations and by either completely or incompletely surround the fastener locations. Shields having recesses for receiving moisture guards therein, or other downward projections, may be provided at under surface locations of the shingles in cooperative engagement for further protection against moisture penetration and for facilitating alignment of shingles relative to other shingles.
US08499515B1
Systems, methods, and components for the construction and disassembly of raised panel assemblies. These systems, methods, and components may include a flow-limiting structure that is configured to define at least one boundary of a channel that includes at least a portion of a gap between adjacent raised panels and is configured to receive a sealant material. The flow-limiting structure may limit a flow of the sealant material therepast, thereby decreasing an overall volume of sealant material needed for construction of the raised panel assembly and/or limiting undesired adhesion of the raised panels to other structures. These systems, methods, and components also may include an elongate disassembly aid that is configured to sever at least a portion of the sealant material from between adjacent raised panels upon removal from the raised panel assembly, such as to decrease a time needed for disassembly and/or repair of the raised panel assembly.
US08499514B2
This invention relates to screed methods and building panels. According to the invention there is provided a construction panel comprising two outer wire mesh members and a middle member secured therebetween. The wire mesh members may have a plurality of V-shaped impressions along their length which serve as a built in visual and mechanical screed for finishing the panel with shotcrete or plaster. Alternatively, the wire mesh members may have a clipped-on-screed member attached thereto which serves as a visual and mechanical screed for finishing the panel. The middle member may comprises a composite of alternating layers of wire trusses and polystyrene foam. The middle member may be secured in a compressed state and released after attachment to the wire mesh members.
US08499495B2
A drive mechanism for a door operator comprises a drive member and a driven member. The drive member is adapted to be operably connected between a motor assembly for rotating the drive member and a door closer assembly rotating with the driven member. The drive member and the driven member both include a protrusion. The driven member protrusion moves in the free space defined by driving surfaces of the drive member protrusion. Rotation of the drive member from a first angular orientation to a second angular orientation causes rotation of the driven member for powered opening of the door. The driven member protrusion moves in the free space without engaging the protrusion surfaces when the door is opened manually and allowed to close.
US08499489B2
A method and kit of components for destroying organisms and toxins in from an enclosure such as a building. Temperature sensing probes are installed in the enclosure to indicate structure temperature and a recorder is used to record the temperature of said sensing probes in real time. Hot air is introduced into the enclosure through one or more ducts to raise the structure temperature to at least about 120° F., as monitored by the temperature sensing probes. This is sufficient to kill essentially all insects, bacteria, virus, dust mites, spiders, silver fish, fungi and toxic molds such as aspergillus oryzae, aspergillus terreus, aspergills versicolor, cladosporium hergbarum, stachybotrys chartarum, penicillium aurantiogriseum, pencillium chrsogenum, pencillium glabrum and fusarium oxysporum. and the like. The air can exit through open doors and windows or through ducts to a filter assembly that captures the remains of the organisms. Ozone may be added to the heated air to improve efficiency. Preferably, air when extracted from an egress duct downstream of the filters improves air flow through the enclosure and filters. A typical building can be treated in six to eight hours.
US08499487B2
The grip of certain embodiments includes a flexible mounting tube that can engage a rod and a sheet that including a polymer outside layer and inside layer and is attached to the tube. The sheet includes a friction enhancing feature and can have a seam joining edges of the sheet in either a substantially vertical or a substantially helical fashion.
US08499475B2
A boot includes an upper formed of articulating panels that permit portions of the boot to move in substantial independence from one another in response to loads experienced by the boot. The boot generally comprises a sports boot that is positioned around a wearer's foot for coupling to an external appliance, such as a snowboard, wakeboard, skating appliance (such as a blade or wheels), or any other appliance.
US08499473B2
An upper cabinet of a rotary-drum laundry dryer outer casing can include a rear wall. The rear wall can include a sink-shaped bulge or recess. The bulge or recess can project outwards of the upper cabinet, be roughly centered to a rear rim of a dryer drum, and include a through opening. The upper cabinet can also include a substantially circular, basin-shaped lid or cover fixed to the inner face of the cabinet rear wall substantially coaxial to the drum. The lid or cover can be shaped so as to completely cover and close the outwards-projecting bulge or recess on the cabinet rear wall. This can form, on that rear wall, a cavity which communicates with the inside of drum and also with a hot-air generator via the through opening.
US08499471B2
The present disclosure provides, among other things, a system and process for drying a biosolid or sludge, such as wastewater sludge. The system and method include a fluidized bed dryer in which the sludge is dried. The fluidized bed includes bed media. In particular examples, the bed media is different than the sludge. The system and method can include additional features, such treating the sludge using a thermochemical process in a thermochemical reactor, such as a gasifier, to produce a fuel. The fuel is then combusted to produce energy and heat. The heat is recycled to the drier to help dry sludge. In particular examples, sludge input to the dryer is not first treated using a high-pressure dewatering technique. In some embodiments, the system and method include an anaerobic digester coupled to a combustion unit coupled to the dryer.
US08499469B2
An edge finder includes a housing having a power source included therein. The edge finder includes a probe extending outward from a bottom portion of the housing, the probe including a tip portion located at a distal end, a centrally-disposed spherical portion, and a columnar portion located at a proximal end. The edge finder includes a notification element disposed within the housing, the notification element including the ability to be engaged via the power source, such as for example a light source. The edge finder includes a contact element within the housing such that when lateral pressure is applied to the conical portion, the probe rotates about the spherical portion and columnar portion causes the contact element to engage the power source for activating the notification element. Thus, the edge finder is able to determine X, Y, and Z axes of an item using the notification element for guidance.
US08499467B2
A clay cutting and beveling tool (100, 300) includes a guide ruler (115) including a guiding edge (410) and a cutting guide (120) in sliding engagement with the guiding edge. The cutting guide includes a body (520) formed with a plurality of angled through holes (530) each passing through the body at a different angle. The tool (100) is placed onto a clay slab (105) with a support surface (445) in contact with a top surface of the clay slab. A pin tool (110) is inserted into one of the angled through holes and left in engagement with the angled through hole as the cutting guide is advanced along the guiding edge. The pin tool cuts the clay slab with a beveled cut. A non-beveled through hole (535) also passes through the body (520) and is used to make non-beveled cuts.
US08499465B2
A system and method for calibration of golf shots is provided. Specifically, a tool for providing a reference target superimposed over a magnified image of the cup for calibration purposes is provided. An optical putter calibration tool may include an eye lens; an object lens; a target lens; a beam splitter; and a target reticle. The eye lens, the object lens, the target lens, the beam splitter and the target reticle may be integrated in a shaft of a golf club, such as a putter, for providing a simultaneous magnified view and projecting a reticle image. Comparison of the reticle image and the magnified view may provide a reading of a playing surface characteristic.
US08499460B1
A spring-assisted folding knife, including a one-piece knife blade having a proximal end and including a receiver on one side of its proximal end having a through bore; a blade insert made of a separate piece of material than the blade having a rear surface configured to be seated into the receiver, an opposite front surface, and a central bore extending between the rear surface and the front surface; and a coil spring received on the rear surface of the blade insert, the coil spring having a first end secured to the blade insert and an opposite second end secured to a fixed rigid surface of the knife.
US08499457B2
A fixed type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member, an inner joint member, a plurality of balls interposed between the outer and inner joint members, and a cage to hold the plurality of balls. At least one of the plurality of track grooves of the outer joint member and the plurality of track grooves of the inner joint member is formed by cold-forging finishing. The outer joint member, the inner joint member, the balls, and the cage are assembled to each other based on matching in which the plurality of balls and the cage each having a rank corresponding to a measured value of a pitch circle diameter of the outer joint member and to a measured value of a pitch circle diameter of the inner joint member, which have been arbitrarily selected, are selected with respect to the arbitrarily selected outer and inner joint members.
US08499454B2
A steering wheel of a vehicle includes a steering wheel main body. The steering wheel main body includes a rim part, a boss part, a core metal, and a resin layer. The core metal includes a ring part and an offset part such that a distance from a center of the boss part to the offset part is smaller than a distance from the center of the boss part to the ring part. The resin layer includes a ring part resin layer covering the ring part, and an offset part resin layer covering the offset part. A thickness of the offset part resin layer at an outer side of a radial direction with respect to the offset part is thicker than a thickness of the ring part resin layer at the outer side of the radial direction with respect to the ring part. The resin layer is a complete circle.
US08499432B2
A wastegate assembly (200) for a turbocharger (101) or the like is provided having a support plate (300), an actuator (275), a linkage (250) operably connected to the actuator (275), and a valve plate (225) operably connected to the linkage (250). The linkage (250) translates actuation of the actuator (275) to movement of the valve plate (225) thereby sealing or unsealing the bypass outlet (500). The actuator (275), linkage (250) and valve plate (225) can be pre-assembled to the support plate (300) prior to the support plate (300) being connected to the turbine housing (102). The actuator (275), linkage (250) and valve plate (225) can be calibrated prior to the wastegate assembly (200) being connected to the turbine housing (102). The bypass outlet (500) can be machined via access provided by the wastegate port (400).
US08499430B2
An assembly method is capable of assembling a transfer mechanism which transfers a target and includes a pick unit for holding the target, a slide unit for sliding the pick unit and a drive unit for driving the slide unit. The assembly method includes installing a lifting mechanism for lifting the units at a ceiling portion of a transfer chamber where the transfer mechanism is accommodated; and assembling the units loaded into the transfer chamber inside the transfer chamber by using the lifting mechanism.
US08499428B2
A method of repairing array substrate of display panel includes the following steps. An array substrate including a substrate, gate lines, data lines, common lines and repairing segments is provided. The gate lines and the data lines are intersected to define a plurality of pixel areas. The data lines include a first data line. The common lines include a first common line. The first data line has a broken line defect. A cutting process is performed to form a first cutting part and a second cutting part on the first common line, and thus the first common line between the first cutting part and the second cutting part forms a floating common repairing segment. A connecting process is performed to electrically connect the repairing segments, the first data line and the common repairing segment, so that the common repairing segment serves as a substitution line of the first data line.
US08499421B2
A restraining device for restricting mobility an individual is provided. The restraining device includes an elongated strap having first and second ends. An attaching member, having first and second portions, is secured to the elongated strap, where the first portion is attached to the first end and the second portion is slidably attached to the second end creating a retaining loop for tightly wrapping around an individual's legs. The second end of the elongated strap is extended out a car door leaving the second end hanging outside the car. A retaining strap, defining a series of loops, is attached to a side of the second end of the elongated strap between the second portion of the attaching member and a ring which is attached to the second end of the elongated strap. A fastening member is attached to the ring and is used to adjust the length of the second end hanging outside the car.
US08499417B1
A luggage handle structure includes a handle seat, a button, a press rod and an upper lid. Two ends of the handle seat are connected with retractable pull rods and control rods. The handle seat has two first holes, protruding walls surrounding the two first holes and limit troughs. The upper lid has two second holes and a through hole. The button and the press rod are mounted in the handle seat. The button extends out of the through hole. Through the design of the first and second holes, the luggage handle structure is light and saves the plastic material. The button is confined by the recess, the limit troughs and the protruding walls to press the press rods stably and to enhance the retractable pull rods so that the control rods and the retractable pull rods can be controlled exactly.
US08499413B1
A castor includes a castor body, an operation unit, a locking unit, and two rollers. The operation unit includes a pressing plate and a rotation member. The locking unit includes a locking module, a stop ring, a locating member, and an upper positioning plate. The locking module has a locking member and a braking member. When the driving portion of the rotation member presses the first ramp of the pressing plate, the locating member is locked in the locking hole of the upper positioning plate. When the driving portion presses the second ramp of the pressing plate, the first engaging portion of the locking member engages the first locking portion of the stop ring, while the second engaging portion of the braking member engages the second locking portion of each of the rollers.
US08499405B1
An apparatus is provided for cleaning algae and other debris from a water treatment tank including a mechanically driven component. The apparatus includes a breakaway scrubber assembly and a mounting bracket securing the breakaway scrubber assembly to the mechanically driven component.
US08499403B2
A brush includes: a brush body having a base plate, at least one through hole, and a guide rail; a bristle unit including a plurality of bristles connected to the base plate; a hair-removing plate disposed movably below the base plate and formed with a plurality of bristle holes; a push member disposed above the base plate and connected slidably to the guide rail; and at least one flexible strip that extends through the through hole and that is connected to the push member and the hair-removing plate. The push member is slidable along the guide rail and toward or away from the through hole so as to move the hair-removing plate away from or toward the base plate. The hair-removing plate moves away from the lower surface of the base plate when the push member slides toward the through hole.
US08499401B2
A toothbrush is provided having an elongated handle and a brush head supported by the handle. The brush head has a base and a plurality of bristles that are arranged in sections. Each section has bristles that extend from the base to form a contact surface elevated from the base. One or more of the sections include bristles that extend to varying lengths from the base to form a contact surface that inclines or declines relative to the base. The sections of bristles further include a first outside section having a contact surface that declines inwardly, an inside section, adjacent the first outside section, having a contact surface that declines outwardly toward the first outside section, and a second outside section positioned adjacent an opposite side of the inside section from the first outside section. The second outside section has a contact surface that declines inwardly toward the inside section.
US08499396B2
Disclosed is an electric toothbrush including a toothbrush plate having a cleaning brush installed thereon; a toothbrush head having a storage within which the toothbrush plate is stored; a toothbrush body that is connected to the toothbrush head and has a storage space formed therein; a flat type vibration motor that is disposed between the toothbrush plate and the toothbrush head; and a power supply unit that includes a power supply that is disposed in the storage space of the toothbrush body and supplies the vibration motor with power, a power supply switch connected to the power supply and a wire that is electrically connected to the vibration motor and the power supply switch and supplies the vibration motor with power.
US08499393B2
A loading wharf includes a compact structure secured to the perimeter of an access opening formed in a wall of a building. The compact structure defining between the inner and outer faces of the wall, an intermediate space for placement of protective members and a folding ramp both of which move between an operational position in which protective members and ramp project from the intermediate space towards the outside, in order to interact with the body or trailer of the vehicle to be loaded or unloaded, and a non-operational position in which the protective members and ramp are positioned inside the intermediate space and are oriented vertically. The compact structure includes, corresponding to the outer and inner faces of the wall, frames for the mounting of an exterior closure door and of an interior door.
US08499383B1
An exercise mat system and a method of using the same are disclosed. The exercise mat system includes an exercise mat including an upper surface, and a plurality of visual markers positioned on the upper surface of said mat, where the relative positioning of the visual markers correlates to a user's body parts and distances between the user's body parts.
US08499378B2
A hollow pedestal bed end for a rise and fall patient's bed is made of reduced width to fold over the mattress frame and pass through a door opening. The inner faces of the paired bed ends each have a slot through which a mattress frame bracket projects. A wheeled carriage inside the bed end rides on an upright guide and the bracket projects from the guide. The rise and fall motion is supplied by a linear actuator whose small movements are multiplied by a third order lever. The frame is thus lifted by a pair of such pedestal ends.
US08505109B2
The invention relates to a measuring probe device for a probe microscope, in particular a scanning probe microscope, with a measuring probe holder and a measuring probe arranged on the measuring probe holder, which is set up for a probe microscopic investigation of a sample, wherein on the measuring probe holder, a measuring probe chamber is formed, which receives the measuring probe at least partially and is open on a side away from the measuring probe holder, and is configured to receive a liquid surrounding the measuring probe. The invention also relates to a measuring cell for receiving a liquid sample for a probe microscope, a scanning probe microscope with a measuring probe device and a scanning probe microscope with a measuring cell.
US08505107B2
A cloud server stores information, such as a location data range, IP addresses, account names, and passwords of authorized clients. When receiving an access request from a client, the cloud server determines if location data of the client falls within the location data range and an IP address, an account name, and a password of the client matches corresponding information of any authorized client. If the location data of the client falls within the location data range and an IP address, an account name, and a password of the client match information of any authorized client, the cloud server determines that the client is an authorized client and permits the client to access the cloud server.
US08505100B1
Exclusions to anti-malware scanning are managed at a user account level. On a computer on which an anti-malware product provides anti-malware scanning, at least one user account to exclude from the anti-malware scanning is specified. Specifying a user account to exclude can comprise adding the name of the user account to the exceptions policy of the anti-malware product. Specified user accounts are excluded from the anti-malware scanning. Excluding a user account from anti-malware scanning comprises excluding all applications that are run by the specified account. Non-specified user accounts and applications run by the non-specified user accounts, are allowed to be scanned. User accounts to exclude from the anti-malware scanning can comprise virtual user accounts. When a virtual user account is excluded from the anti-malware scanning, the system service associated with the virtual user account is excluded.
US08505094B1
Detection of malicious URLs in a Web page retrieved by a computer user is based in a backend security service or upon the user's computer. The HTML code download by the user is first scanned to detect any embedded links such as URLs found in frames or scripts. Features related to the layout of such a URL (position, visibility) are identified. Features related to the referring nature of the URL (page rank of parent, page rank of child) are identified. Features indicating the relevancy between the content of the parent Web page and the content of the Web page identified by the embedded URL identified. Each set of features is transformed into a binary vector and these vectors are fed into a decision engine such as a classifier algorithm. The classifier algorithm outputs a score indicating whether or not the suspect URL (and the Web page to which it links) is malicious or not. The user may be warned by a display message.
US08505089B2
An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, a login information storage unit, a login information reception unit, a login authentication unit, an authorization limitation information storage unit, an execution instruction reception unit, a control unit and an execution permission determination unit. The authorization limitation information storage unit stores functions permitted to be executed by the logged-in user and a default user, who is a non-logged-in user. The control unit executes a function in accordance with an execution instruction received by the execution instruction reception unit. The execution permission determination unit determines whether the function indicated in the received execution instruction is a default function that is permitted to be executed by the default user, causes the control unit to execute the function if the function is the default function, and displays the login screen on the display unit if the function is not the default function.
US08505084B2
Portions of a computing environment (such as a user's mesh) may restrict accessing to particular types of access by particular applications. The computer may support applications executing within a virtual environment (such as a web browser) by brokering such access through a token-based system. When an application requests a particular type of access (e.g., writing to a particular data object), the computer may contact an authorization server with the credentials of the application to request the specified access, and may receive and store an authorization token. The computer may then access the computing environment with the authorization token, and may return the results to the application within the virtual environment. Additional features may further support such applications; e.g., a programmatic interface may be provided in a familiar language, such as JavaScript, whereby applications can request access to particular data objects and identify authorized access capabilities.
US08505083B2
Exemplary techniques for enabling single sign-on to an operating system configured to conduct a remote presentation session are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a user credential can be encrypted using an encryption key generated by a remote presentation session server and sent to a client. The client can send the encrypted user credential to the remote presentation session server. The remote presentation session server can decrypt the user credential and use it to log a user into an operating system running on the remote presentation session server. In addition to the foregoing, other techniques are described in the claims, the detailed description, and the figures.
US08505077B2
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for providing authentication for service provisioning. One or more executable authentication rules are provided for determining access by a user to one or more services. At least a first executable authentication rule is selected from the one or more executable authentication rules. The first executable authentication rule is for determining access by the user to at least a first service from the one or more services, wherein selecting the first executable authentication rule is based on: a characteristic of the user, a characteristic of a request, a characteristic of an acquisition point, or any combination thereof. A rules credential is generated. The rules credential includes the first executable authentication rule.
US08505070B2
Various embodiments provide an ability to isolate execution of trusted content and/or script from execution of untrusted content and/or script. Separate contexts and/or execution environments can be used for the trusted content and untrusted content, respectively. A trusted context and/or execution environment associated with execution of trusted content can be configured to enable access to sensitive resources associated with a computing device. An untrusted context and/or execution environment associated with execution of untrusted content can be configured with limited and/or no access to the sensitive resources. Alternately or additionally, data generated within the untrusted context can be transferred to the trusted context in a benign manner.
US08505069B1
Disclosed are system, method and computer program product for updating software programs on a computer. The system detects an attempt by an update process to execute on the computer and retrieves information about authorized category of software programs to determine whether the detected update process is authorized. When the update process is authorized, the system (i) designates the update process as trusted process, (ii) allows the update process to download on the computer an update object, (iii) and designates the update object as a trusted object. The system then detects an attempt by an installation process to install the update object, and determines from the policy whether the detected installation process is associated to authorized category and related to the trusted update process. When the installation process authorized and related to the trusted update process, the system allows the trusted installation process to install the trusted update object.
US08505058B2
A synchronization mechanism embeds synchronization triggers into a television signal or stream at regular intervals. The triggers include an accurate representation of the time in which the triggers were embedded. A receiving device decodes the triggers and synchronizes its internal timer based on the triggers. In this regard, the receiving device obtains a reference time from the internal timer and computes an offset between the reference time and the trigger time. The computed offset is then applied to the reference time. With the receipt of each new trigger, the application compares the trigger time to a new reference time with the most recently computed offset value applied. If there is any variance between these two values, the application creates a new smoothed offset.
US08505055B2
A computing device receives from a user, a request to simultaneously record two or more programs from a content server onto the computing device and initiates a streaming video session between the computing device and a video client. The computing device provides, to the video client, recording parameters for one of the programs and then receives, via the streaming video session, a video stream from the video client. The video stream includes the one of the programs from the content server based on the recording parameters that is then recorded by the computing device.
US08505043B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for limiting a content usage authority scope of a client by using metadata in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The method performed by a metadata server adds control information to the metadata and transmits the metadata, wherein the content usage authority scope of the client is defined in the control information. The client of a user limits a content control operation according to a user input by using the control information extracted from the metadata.
US08505042B2
Methods and apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device are disclosed. In an example method, data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device is monitored. Event information associated with the digital media device is extracted from the data and the viewing information is identified based on the event information.
US08505038B2
A split proxy is configured for managing asynchronous MAPI communications between a client and a server by establishing a queuing structure for MAPI messages that make up the communications. The MAPI messages are subsequently exchanged between the client and the server using the queuing structure. Multiple remote procedure calls (RPCs) underlying the MAPI messages may be grouped together in batches for exchange between proxies of the split proxy. Also, when the client logs off from the server, a MAPI keep-alive process allows updates received at the server to be pre-populated to the split proxy for transfer to the client when it reestablishes a connection.
US08505036B2
An application programming interface schema, method and system for communicating between first and second application programming interfaces within a process control system includes processing a call from a first application programming interface for a data request, translating the data request from the first application programming interface into one or more methods of a unified application programming interface, and implementing the one or more methods of the unified application programming interface with a second application programming interface. A first unified layer receives a transmission request from a proprietary application programming interface, and translates the transmission request into one or more methods of a unified application programming interface. A second unified layer implements methods of the unified application programming interface with the wireless network application programming interface.
US08505030B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for coordinating resources using a volatile network intermediary. Embodiments provide a mechanism for an network intermediary to facilitate a state coordination pattern between an application and a communication medium when the communication medium does not support the state coordination pattern. In some embodiments, receiving applications can make use of this network intermediary by changing the receive location. However, the receiving application may not be able to distinguish the network intermediary from a native implementation of the state coordination pattern. Further, the network intermediary does not require deployment of a persistent or durable store to coordinate state between receiving applications and the original communication medium.
US08505027B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for selectively sharing data between different implementations of the same software program in a network environment. The program implementations are otherwise independent with each executing its own private memory space in a single computer or on multiple computers in the network. The present invention enables a first implementation of a program to borrow or utilize data collected, derived or otherwise utilized by a second implementation of the same program.
US08505020B2
An event calling for a migration of a workload from a source processor set of processing units to a target processor set of processing units is detected. Processes of the workload are allocated to a second processor set of processing units so that some workload processes are executed on the source processor set and some workload processes are executed on a second processor set of processor units. Then, some workload processes are allocated to the second processor set so that no workload process is executing on the source processor set and at least some of said processes are executing on the second process set. The second processor set can be the target processor set or an intermediate processor set from which the workload is migrated to the target processor set.
US08505016B2
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method includes scheduling a memory request associated with a thread executing on a processing system. The scheduling is based on a job length of the thread and a priority step function of job length. The thread is one of a plurality of threads executing on the processing system. In at least one embodiment of the method, the priority step function is a function of ┌x/2n┐ for x<=m and P(x)=m/2n for x>m, where x is the number of memory requests in a memory request queue and n and m are integers. In at least one embodiment of the method, the priority step function is a function of 2n×┌ log2(x)┐, where x is the number of memory requests in a memory request queue and n is an integer.
US08505009B2
Presented is a method of managing exclusive access to a resource. The method includes determining anticipated wait time, for a task to obtain exclusive access to a resource, and processing the task, depending on the anticipated wait time required to obtain exclusive access to the resource.
US08505008B2
First, one or more tasks each representing process contents of transmission or reception of data are set. Next, an access point is searched for, and a connection to the access point is performed if the access point is found. Then, before the one or more tasks are executed via the access point, an execution control parameter, for at least one of the one or more tasks, which indicates at least one of an execution instruction, whether or not to execute the task, and an execution priority, is obtained in accordance with an access point identifier. Then, transmission or reception of data is performed via the access point by executing at least one of the one or more tasks on the basis of the execution control parameter.
US08505007B2
A method to provide instant duplication of the machine images of an IT environment. The method is implemented by a system that includes a management server to oversee all operations, a storage controller, at least one host target machine of the IT Environment and at least one simple storage disk controlled by the storage controller. The method includes configuring each host target machine to access a logical drive as its hard drive, managing by the storage controller of the information inside each logical drive and storing the information on each of the at least one disks. The method also includes implementing the storage controller of two duplication algorithms. A third algorithm is provided for choosing between the first and the second duplication algorithms for each of the at least one disk elements in the IT environment.
US08504996B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting memory leaks produced by a program running on a computer, wherein during a program run, for each allocation of a memory region at least one information item concerning the performed allocation is entered in an allocation list and a check is made as to whether the allocation list contains a stored reference pattern of information that is typical for one or more memory leaks, and after a stored reference pattern is found the program run is paused, or a memory leak thus detected is associated with the region of the running program whose processing resulted in the most recent entry in the allocation list. The invention further relates to a computer programming product which carries out the method when the computer program is executed on a computer.
US08504994B2
A software system is disclosed that provides remote troubleshooting and tracing of the execution of computer programs. The software system includes an information-gathering module that gathers run-time information about program execution, program interaction with the operating system and the system resources, monitors user actions and captures screen output, and passes the gathered information to an information-display module, the gathered information allowing a support technician (e.g., a software developer, a help desk person, etc.) to see the user interactions with the program and corresponding reactions of the system, and/or to remotely view environment variables, file access operations, system interactions, and user interactions that occur on the user's computer and locate failed operations that cause execution problems.
US08504993B2
In some embodiments a method includes storing a micro-code patch stub in a micro-code patch memory, storing a micro-code patch corresponding to the micro-code patch stub in a system memory, in response to an event and in response to the stored micro-code patch stub, loading the stored micro-code patch from the system memory to the micro-code patch memory, and processing the micro-code patch from the micro-code patch memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08504992B2
In general, methods and apparatus for implementing a Quality of Service (QoS) model are disclosed. A Quality of Service (QoS) contract with an initiating network device may be satisfied. A request may be received from the initiating network device in a first time less than or equal to an ordinal number times an arrival interval. The ordinal number signifies a position of the request among a group of requests. The request that has been serviced may be returned to the initiator in a second time less than or equal to a constant term plus the ordinal number times a service interval.
US08504987B2
An object-oriented scripting tool uses a XML file for software development and domain management. The XML file includes at least a first tag that defines a scripting class in an object-oriented scripting language. The scripting class includes at least one method, which is defined in a second tag in the XML file. A generic software development and domain management script can be encapsulated into a general scripting class, which can be extended into individual scripting class for specific software development and domain management task.
US08504981B2
The development of an application that includes a user interface (UI), which has a specific UI screen that is directly called through an external link and displays an execution result of a specific service, is realized without coding operations. Before constructing a UI using a first tool, condition starting buttons, which respectively correspond to a plurality of services that can be provided by programs generated using a second tool and which are respectively added call programs for calling corresponding service, are generated. When a specific condition starting button is placed in a UI screen under construction and the conversion for a unconditional starting is instructed, an attribution is changed so that the button becomes invisible and the specific condition starting button is changed to a unconditional starting button by changing a call program so that the call program is unconditionally executed when the UI screen is called through a link.
US08504973B1
Systems and methods for generating and using a test environment and a test system surrounding a design are described. The systems and methods may involve using a same application software for creating a design and for receiving a selection to generate the test environment and the test system. In response to receiving the selection, the systems and methods may execute a verification tool to create the test environment and test system. Moreover, a user may not fill in templates of components of the verification tool. The verification tool is integrated within the application software.
US08504967B2
In one embodiment, a configurable power switch cell methodology may include designing multiple power switch cells which may be assembled to form a set of power switches such as a power switch segment. The power switch cells may all be designed to occupy the same amount of integrated circuit area, in an embodiment. Accordingly, one cell may be readily replaced by another, even late in the design process, without disturbing the placement of surrounding circuitry. In an embodiment, the power switch cells may include the interconnect layers that connect between cells, and abutting the power switch cells may automatically connect the interconnect between cells. Accordingly, swapping one power switch cell for another may be accomplished by placing the cell. No routing work may be required.
US08504966B2
Reconfiguration methods and devices are disclosed for scan chains with the planned unit taken into consideration, the one method comprising a first phase reconfiguration and second phase reconfiguration. The first phase reconfiguration first classifies a number of scan chains, wherein scan chains with the starting point and the ending point in the same planned unit are classified as a first aggregation of scan chains; scan chains with the starting point and the ending point not in the same planned unit are classified as a second aggregation of scan chains; and scan chains with both the starting point and the ending point at the same top level are classified as a third aggregation of scan chains. In sequence the scan chains within the first aggregation are reconfigured, then the scan chains within the second aggregation are reconfigured, and finally the scan chains within the third aggregation are reconfigured.
US08504958B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing thermal analysis of an integrated circuit (“IC”) design layout that includes numerous circuit modules. The method divides the IC design layout into a set of elements, where at least one element includes several wires. The method computes a set of conductivity groups of values for the set of elements. The method identifies a temperature distribution for the IC design layout based on the set of conductivity groups of values. In some embodiments, each of these elements corresponds to a particular portion of a particular layer of the IC design layout. Each element includes several nodes. Each conductivity group of values is defined by entry values. Each entry value describes how heat flow at a particular node of the element is affected by a temperature change at another particular node of the element.
US08504957B2
A computerized method of automatically identifying nets that are statistically likely to be power or ground nets in a complex integrated circuit design. The method, which does not require a-priori information, operates by determining electrical properties of each device or device terminal that is coupled to an analyzed net, and creating a mathematical description of overall electrical properties of these various devices. The method will then compare this mathematical description with at least various preset mathematical descriptions of power nets or a ground nets. If the mathematical description fits, the invention will at least provisionally determine that said analyzed net is a power net or a ground net. The invention may also determine likely voltages for these various power nets.
US08504951B2
According to one embodiment, generating virtual data by mirroring data based on a dimension measurement result in a measurement region on an inner side of a shot region to a non-shot region on an outer side of a shot edge, and calculating dose data of the measurement region and a non-measurement region based on data in the measurement region and the virtual data are included.
US08504942B2
The performance of service tasks on behalf of individuals (such as clients) among agents in a service industry, such as a home healthcare services industry or a lodging service industry, may be difficult due to the quantity, variety, and details of such service tasks. A service task facilitator device may be devised that facilitates the performance of service tasks by such agents in a convenient manner. A service task coordinating system may also be devised for coordinating the performance of service tasks among such agents through the administration of such service task facilitator devices. The service task facilitator devices and coordinating system communicate with users (including agents) through a lexicon of icons of predominantly pictorial form chosen to describe the nature and details of the service tasks within the service industry. The use of a lexicon of pictorial icons facilitates such communication in an easily recognizable and language-independent manner.
US08504940B1
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for displaying animated objects smoothly on a mobile device. A scrollable list may be displayed on a touch sensitive display device, and a user may make a gesture on the device to cause the list to appear as an animated scrolling list. The user may then make a halting gesture to cause the list to stop. While the list is animated, a screen distance adjustment value is calculated to determine the time taken for a command to be executed by a graphics processing unit. The list may then stop at a location corresponding to the a current position of the list and taking into account the screen distance adjustment value.
US08504926B2
An image generating system for simultaneous visual representative display of multiple computer users is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes hardware, software, and a system for generating various images for one or more users of a connected computer system, and imposing them onto the systems and ultimately the visual display of each user's system. The images, which may be known as avatars, may be static images, animated 2D, and/or animated 3D images. The images are simultaneously displayed on the outputs of each user. Each user may react and interact with the images of the other users through their own image.
US08504922B2
Described herein is technology for, among other things, performing navigation in a media environment. The technology involves the presenting a user with only a portion of the previously visited pages or areas as he or she moves to previously visited pages or areas. As the user moves around the media environment, the movements are recorded for use when requests are received for previously visited areas or pages. As the user moves to previously visited areas redundant pages or areas are skipped. Thus, the user's forward and backward navigation are different and the user moves backward more easily, quickly and efficiently.
US08504919B2
A user manages a database or other application through a remote graphical user interface on a server device through a client device. A cross platform database translation module resides on the client device. The client device may also store cross platform authentication, configuration, and report generating modules for validating a user id and presenting database results in a desirable format. The modules on the client device request applications from a server device, may request validation from an authorization server, may configure embedded devices, and may query a database. The database may reside on a server, on the client device, or on another device.
US08504915B2
Embodiments provide interactive computer-implemented rich heterogeneous content authoring features. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes an interaction model that uses an input state associated with a user operation and an electronic page interface to provide an interactive authoring experience. In one embodiment, a note taking client can include an interaction model used in part to automatically control aspects of an electronic note page. Other embodiments are included and available.
US08504913B2
Generating web pages dynamically at a client is disclosed. In some embodiments, when a web application or other code determines that a page is to be displayed, a set of components required to generate the page dynamically at the client is determined. Any components not already available at the client is obtained from a server. In some embodiments each component includes a display portion and may include one or both of a set of binding declarations and a logic portion. The components are parsed at the client and used to generate the page dynamically at the client, e.g., by generating associated portions of the document object model (DOM), retrieving JavaScript™ or other functions/classes and linking them to the respective portions of the DOM to which they correspond, and using the browser to render the page so created.
US08504908B2
Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of presenting data which has been automatically extracted from a digital representation of a document to a curator for review, the extracted data comprising annotation entity data concerning one or more instances of entities which have been identified in the digital representation of a document, the annotation entity data comprising data specifying the location of the identified instances of entities within the digital representation of a document, the method comprising the steps of (i) displaying in a first region of a display screen a user selectable portion of the digital representation of a document with said instances of entities which are specified by the annotation entity data as being located within the displayed portion of the digital representation of a document highlighted at the location specified by the annotation entity data; (ii) displaying in a second region of the display screen a list of a plurality of instances of entities which have been identified in the digital representation of a document, at least one of the listed instances of an entity having a user selectable user interface element associated therewith; and (iii) responsive to a user selecting the user selectable user interface element associated with an instance of an entity, adjusting the portion of the digital representation of a document which is displayed in the first region to include the location within the digital representation of a document where the instance of an entity associated with the selected user interface element is located.
US08504907B2
A method and system for generating page and document logs for electronic documents. The system includes a plurality of portable electronic devices and a workflow server. The portable electronic devices display a document that receives stroke input and images. A stroke capture device and module generates a log of segments and updates the log in response to a user erasing stroke data. An image capture module captures an image and inserts the image into a document. A logging module generates page metadata for each page within the document and document metadata that includes changes made to the page data. The logging module copies the page metadata and document metadata in response to a request. The copying includes a copy of all the metadata, metadata for selected pages and metadata for redacted content.
US08504906B1
A server receives a request from a first computing device to send a communication to a second computing device. The request includes data identifying text selected from an e-book. The server identifies media content, such as an audio book or a movie, that corresponds to the e-book. The server extracts a portion of the media content that corresponds to the text selected from the e-book. The server generates a communication that includes media data that enables access to the portion of the media content and sends the communication to the second computing device.
US08504905B1
A user interface for selecting an audience segment from a pool of tracked entities based on an aggregate similarity of the audience segment to an archetypical audience. A graphical representation illustrating a relationship between a composite index for the audience segment and an audience segment size are displayed to the user. User input indicating the archetypical audience and the audience segment is received by a system and the audience segment is assembled. The composite index and the audience segment size associated with the audience segment, are determined and displayed.
US08504903B2
Various embodiments of a memory system are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the memory system may include a semiconductor memory apparatus configured to generate error check signals in a column direction and a row direction of data groups to be transmitted through a plurality of data input/output terminals in a read operation and output the error check signals together with the data groups, and a memory controller configured to control data read/write operations of the semiconductor memory apparatus, generate error check signals by performing error check in a column direction and a row direction of data groups to be transmitted in a write operation, and provide the error check signals to the semiconductor memory apparatus together with the data groups.
US08504902B2
Methods and apparatus enabling a wireless network to implement efficient and robust paging channel operation. In one aspect, the invention permits recovery of a paging channel after a virtual connection failure. A virtually connected UMTS cellular phone that misses a paging notification will no longer be synchronized with its serving radio network, and the resultant loss of synchronization causes a service “blackout” until the devices are resynchronized. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a virtually connected cellular device continuously monitors for fallback messaging, greatly expediting detection and correction of a virtual connection failure. In another embodiment, a virtually connected base station which is unable to page a cellular device in a virtually connected mode continues paging in both virtual connection and fallback modes, thereby provoking an immediate response from the cellular device.
US08504884B2
A technique for detecting an imminent read failure in a memory array includes determining whether a memory array, which does not exhibit an uncorrectable error correcting code (ECC) read during an initial array integrity check at a normal read verify voltage level, exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during a subsequent array integrity check at a margin read verify voltage level. The technique also includes providing an indication of an imminent read failure for the memory array when the memory array exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during the subsequent array integrity check. In this case, the margin read verify voltage level is different from the normal read verify voltage level.
US08504881B2
A switch device includes a memory unit for storing therein an error response for each error event to be sent in response at the time of a failure with respect to a control signal that controls a storage device connected to the switch device, an error response output unit for receiving input of the control signal and sequentially outputting each error response stored in the memory unit, an operation information computing unit for detecting an operation of a calculating device, which is connected to the switch device, corresponding to each error response output by the error response output unit and for obtaining, as operation information, a condition defining the operation of the calculating device upon receiving each error response, and an operation setting unit for setting operation condition at the time of a failure based on the operation information.
US08504880B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided methods and systems for facilitating efficient error handling in a network environment. A method of embodiments includes receiving a validation request having configuration parameters of error dialogs relating to errors, and validating the configuration parameters and the errors. The validating includes mapping each error with a corresponding dialog. The method further includes transmitting a validating report having results of validation of the configuration parameters and the errors. The validation report is used to assign an order to each error and its corresponding dialog.
US08504879B2
A system for detecting network intrusions and other conditions in a network is described. The system includes a plurality of collector devices that are disposed to collect data and statistical information on packets that are sent between nodes on a network. An aggregator device is disposed to receive data and statistical information from the plurality of collector devices. The aggregator device produces a connection table that maps each node on the network to a record that stores information about traffic to or from the node. The aggregator runs processes that determine network events from aggregating of anomalies into network events.
US08504874B2
In a distributed system a plurality of devices (including computing units, storage and communication units) are monitored by an automated repair service that uses sensors and performs one or more repair actions on computing devices that are found to fail according to repair policies. The repair actions include automated repair actions and non-automated repair actions. The health of the computing devices is recorded in the form of states along with the repair actions that were performed on the computing devices and the times at which the repair actions were performed, and events generated by both sensors and the devices themselves. After some period of the time, the history of states of each device, the events, and the repair actions performed on the computing devices are analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the repair actions. A statistical analysis is performed based on the cost of each repair action and the determined effectiveness of each repair action, and one or more of the policies may be adjusted, as well as determining from the signals and events from the sensors whether the sensors themselves require adjustment.
US08504870B2
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restoring data. In some embodiments, this includes determining an object to be recovered, determining a representation of the object, and requesting the representation of the object from a data resource system. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a hash value of the object. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a segment of the object.
US08504868B2
A computer system includes a processor, a submodule connected to the processor, an external access monitor configured to monitor a data transfer between the processor and the submodule, and a synchronization/desynchronization controller configured to synchronize or desynchronize the clock of the processor with respect to the clock of the submodule, depending on the result of the monitoring. Specifically, the processor clock is synchronized to the submodule clock when the frequency of access to the submodule by the processor is high, and the processor clock is desynchronized with respect to the submodule clock when the access frequency is low.
US08504866B2
Embodiments of systems and methods are described for reducing the effects of hysteresis in the operation of data processing circuitry. In this embodiment of the invention, adaptive control circuitry is used to reduce the effects of hysteresis. The embodiment disclosed herein provides significant reduction in the effects of hysteresis and, therefore, a significant reduction in the amount of guard band needed to compensate for hysteresis effects in SOI processes and thereby improving the performance/power characteristics of the circuit.
US08504865B2
A clock signal may be aligned with a data signal by delaying the signals relative to each other until an edge of one signal aligns with an edge of the other signal, and then causing an inversion of the clock signal. A further variation may limit the relative delay period to one-half clock cycle and may use a double inversion of the clock signal.
US08504862B2
A method and device for preventing a defect in a CDR circuit from hindering synchronization between connection nodes and for preventing connection failures. The CDR circuit generates a synchronization clock from received data. A connection failure processor performs a connection failure process if synchronization based on the synchronization clock between connection nodes is not established when a first predetermined time from when the reception of the received data is started elapses. A correction processor corrects operation of the CDR circuit if synchronization based on the synchronization clock between connection nodes is not established when a second predetermined time, which is shorter than the first predetermined time, from when the reception of the received data is started elapses.
US08504857B1
A storage system includes a storage array and a host system in communication with the storage array. The storage array has a first module and a second module with electronics configured to provide redundant functionality to the first module. The host system has a processor programmed to associate a power profile with the second module and to cause the storage array at appropriate moments determined by the power profile to power down and restore power to the electronics of the second module while the first module continues to receive power for normal operation. The storage array may be preprogrammed to independently power down and restore power to the electronics of the second module at the appropriate moments. When powered down, the second module temporarily ceases to provide redundant functionality to the first module, thereby reducing availability of the storage array in order to reduce power consumed by the storage array.
US08504842B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for receiving, by a computing system that is locked, input from a user that provides an unlocking pattern. During entry of the unlocking pattern, a display of the computing system does not provide a visual indication of an action that will be performed upon the user completing the unlocking pattern. The computing system compares the provided unlocking pattern to a plurality of stored unlocking patterns to determine whether the provided unlocking pattern matches any of the stored unlocking patterns. The stored unlocking patterns are associated with respective actions that are performed upon completion of the respective unlocking patterns. The unlocking patterns are associated with a same level of unlocked security access to the computing system. The computing system responds by unlocking the computing system and performing the action that is associated with the matching unlocking pattern.
US08504837B2
Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
US08504834B2
A method and system for activation of local content with legacy streaming systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage device stores encrypted content. The encrypted content can be preloaded or downloaded into the storage device. To consume the content, a host device using the storage device receives a stream of data from a network. The host device then derives a key from the received stream of data and decrypts the encrypted content using the key derived from the received stream of data. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US08504825B2
A packetized transport stream for protecting viewing content from unauthorized access and methods for manufacturing and using same. The transport stream includes a plurality of content frames, each having a frame header and a frame payload. Each frame header includes information for handling the content frame; whereas, the frame payload includes selected viewing content for which protection from unauthorized access is desirable. By encrypting only the frame payload, the header remains unencrypted and can be applied to prepare the encrypted frame payload for presentation. The viewing content thereby can be stored in an encrypted format and can be decrypted on-the-fly as the viewing content is needed for presentation. The combination of the unencrypted frame header and the encrypted frame payload advantageously enables the viewing content to be protected against unauthorized use, copying, and dissemination without impairing the presentation of the viewing content.
US08504816B2
Various embodiments include an integrated circuit (IC) device having a conductive contact, and a circuit to determine a resistance value of a circuit path between the conductive contact and a circuit node during an initialization mode of the device. The IC device includes a controller to select at least one value of at least one operating parameter of the device based at least in part on the resistance value.
US08504813B2
For operating system mobility across heterogeneous computing platforms, a method may include periodically identifying whether an operating system is active until a determination that the operating system is inactive. Upon the determination that the operating system is inactive, one of a plurality of boot profiles that are each stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of computing platforms may be selected. The at least one boot profile may be associated with a target computing platform. The selected boot profile may be used in a booting process for booting the operating system on the target computing platform.
US08504812B2
A mobile terminal and its device accessing control method are disclosed. When power is applied to the terminal, the terminal executes BIOS information. When certain identification information (ID) is received, whether or not the received identification information is registered one. If the inputted identification information is a registered one, a device and/or application is initialized or the use of the device and/or application is prevented and an operating system is booted according to corresponding device setting information.
US08504808B2
A cache memory apparatus includes an L1 cache memory, an L2 cache memory coupled to the L1 cache memory, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) within the L2 cache memory, the combined ALU and L2 cache memory being configured to perform therewithin at least one of: an arithmetic operation, a logical bit mask operation; the cache memory apparatus being further configured to interact with at least one processor such that atomic memory operations bypass the L1 cache memory and go directly to the L2 cache memory.
US08504807B2
A method of one aspect may include receiving a rotate instruction. The rotate instruction may indicate a source operand and a rotate amount. A result may be stored in a destination operand indicated by the rotate instruction. The result may have the source operand rotated by the rotate amount. Execution of the rotate instruction may complete without reading a carry flag.
US08504806B2
The described embodiments include a processor that executes a ValueCheck instruction. In the described embodiments, the processor receives an input vector and a predicate vector, each including N elements. The processor then executes a ValueCheck instruction, which causes the processor to generate a result vector. When generating the result vector, for each element in a set of elements in the input vector for which a corresponding element of the predicate vector is active, the processor determines if at least one of the elements in the set of elements precedes the element in the input vector and contains a different value than the element in the input vector. If so, the processor writes an identifier for a closest preceding active element that contains the different value into a corresponding element of a result vector. Otherwise, the processor writes a zero in the corresponding element of the result vector.
US08504805B2
Various techniques for mitigating dependencies between groups of instructions are disclosed. In one embodiment, such dependencies include “evil twin” conditions, in which a first floating-point instruction has as a destination a first portion of a logical floating-point register (e.g., a single-precision write), and in which a second, subsequent floating-point instruction has as a source the first portion and a second portion of the same logical floating-point register (e.g., a double-precision read). The disclosed techniques may be applicable in a multithreaded processor implementing register renaming. In one embodiment, a processor may enter an operating mode in which detection of evil twin “producers” (e.g., single-precision writes) causes the instruction sequence to be modified to break potential dependencies. Modification of the instruction sequence may continue until one or more exit criteria are reached (e.g., committing a predetermined number of single-precision writes). This operating mode may be employed on a per-thread basis.
US08504797B2
In one embodiment, a method of operating block-based thin provisioning disk volumes in a system including a first storage system which is connected via a network to a second storage system comprises, in response to a volume creation request to create a thin provisioning disk volume in the first storage system, recording in the first storage system attribute information of the block-based thin provisioning disk volume; specifying a directory path for the block-based thin provisioning disk volume in a file system in the second storage system; and creating a directory for the block-based thin provisioning disk volume under the specified directory path.
US08504795B2
Provided are a method, system, and program for utilizing a virtualized data structure table such as an address translation and protection table (TPT), for example, in an I/O device. The virtualized data structure table has virtually contiguous data structures but not necessarily physically contiguous data structures in system memory. The data structure table may be accessed in a virtually contiguous manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the table is subdivided at a first hierarchal level into a plurality of virtually contiguous units or segments. Each unit or segment is in turn subdivided at a second hierarchal level into a plurality of virtually contiguous subunits, subsegments, pages or blocks. Each page or block is in turn subdivided at a third hierarchal level into a plurality of physically contiguous table entries. The data structure table may be accessed in a virtually contiguous manner utilizing a set of hierarchal data structure tables corresponding to the hierarchal levels of the data structure table.
US08504793B2
An adaptive memory system is provided for improving the performance of an external computing device. The adaptive memory system includes a single controller, a first memory type (e.g., Static Random Access Memory or SRAM), a second memory type (e.g., Dynamic Random Access Memory or DRAM), a third memory type (e.g., Flash), an internal bus system, and an external bus interface. The single controller is configured to: (i) communicate with all three memory types using the internal bus system; (ii) communicate with the external computing device using the external bus interface; and (iii) allocate cache-data storage assignment to a storage space within the first memory type, and after the storage space within the first memory type is determined to be full, allocate cache-data storage assignment to a storage space within the second memory type.
US08504791B2
Intercepting a requested memory operation corresponding to a conventional memory is disclosed. The requested memory operation is translated to be applied to a structured memory.
US08504784B2
An embodiment of a non-volatile memory storage system comprises a memory controller, and a flash memory module. The memory controller manages the storage operations of the flash memory module. The memory controller is configured to assign a priority level to one or more types of house keeping operations that may be higher than a priority level of one or more types of commands received by a host coupled to the storage system, and to service all operations required of the flash memory module according to priority.
US08504780B2
A computer includes first and second processors, first and second I/O devices, a shared memory, and an interrupt controller. The first processor issues a control command for causing the first I/O device to read target data from the first apparatus and store the target data in the shared memory. The first I/O device reads the target data from the first apparatus and, transfers the target data to the shared memory, and generates an I/O complete interrupt. The interrupt controller delivers the generated I/O complete interrupt to the second processor. When the second processor receives the I/O complete interrupt, the second processor issues a control command for causing the second I/O device to read the target data from the shared memory and send the target data to the second apparatus. The second I/O device reads the target data from the shared memory and sends the target data to the second apparatus.
US08504776B2
Device and method for controlling caches, comprising a decoder configured to decode additional information of datasets retrievable from a memory, wherein the decoded additional information is configured to control whether particular ones of the datasets are to be stored in a cache.
US08504773B1
A system and method for buffering intermediate data in a processing pipeline architecture stores the intermediate data in a shared cache that is coupled between one or more pipeline processing units and an external memory. The shared cache provides storage that is used by multiple pipeline processing units. The storage capacity of the shared cache is dynamically allocated to the different pipeline processing units as needed, to avoid stalling the upstream units, thereby improving overall system throughput.
US08504769B2
A method for identifying hard disks connected to one or more ports of a computing device. The computing device comprises a controller. A first serial-number of each of the hard disks read by the controller is received. A second serial-number corresponding to each drive letter of the hard disk assigned by an operating system of the computing device is read. The first serial-number and the second serial-number is compared to determine associations between the drive letters and the hard disks. The associations are displayed on a display device connected to the computing device.
US08504762B2
A storage device realizing an improvement in rewrite endurance of a nonvolatile memory and an improvement in data transfer rate of write and read operations is provided including a nonvolatile memory; a volatile memory for storing file management information of the nonvolatile memory; a controller for controlling the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory; and a power supply maintaining unit for supplying power to the nonvolatile memory, the volatile memory, or the controller upon power shutdown. The controller reads the file management information in the nonvolatile memory upon power-on and writes the same in the volatile memory, and read and write operations are performed based on the file management information in the volatile memory, and the file management information in the volatile memory is written in the nonvolatile memory upon power shutdown.
US08504757B1
A method to translate virtual storage device addresses to physical storage device addresses without the cooperation of the proprietary virtualization hypervisor is disclosed herein. The method of the present invention allows additional functionality to be added to the I/O processing of a closed/proprietary virtualization hypervisor by third party software or physical storage devices on the basis of individual virtual storage devices.
US08504756B2
A system, circuit and method for improving system-on-chip (SoC) bandwidth performance for high latency peripheral read accesses using a bridge circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, the SoC includes the bridge circuit, one or more bus masters, at least one high bandwidth bus slave and at least one low bandwidth bus slave that are communicatively coupled via a high bandwidth bus and a low bandwidth bus. Further, the bus masters access the at least one low bandwidth bus slave by issuing an early read transaction request in advance to a scheduled read transaction request. Furthermore, the bridge circuit receives the early read transaction request and fetches data associated with the early read transaction request. In addition, the bridge circuit receives the scheduled read transaction request. The fetched data is then sent to the bus masters upon receiving the scheduled read transaction request.
US08504754B2
A source identification facility is provided that enables identification of the one or more types of adapters requesting an interrupt in order to facilitate processing of the interrupt. The adapter types are accessible to the operating system and are used to tailor processing by the operating system of the interrupt.
US08504753B2
Suspendable interrupts are described that allow a processor to remain in an idle state for a longer period of time. Each suspendable interrupt defines a maximum delay value that specifies the maximum delay software associated with the interrupt can wait between a receipt of an interrupt signal associated with the suspendable interrupt and raising the interrupt for servicing by the software. The delay value allows suspendable interrupts to be masked when a processor is placed in the idle state if they can be dealt with at a next scheduled wake time of the processor, allowing the processor to potentially remain in the idle state for a longer period of time.
US08504750B1
Method and system for an adapter is provided. The adapter includes a plurality of function hierarchies, with each function hierarchy including a plural functions and each function being associated with an event. The adapter also includes a plurality of processors for processing one or more events generated by the plurality of functions. The adapter further includes a first set of arbitration modules, where each arbitration module is associated with a function hierarchy and receives interrupt signals from the functions within the associated function hierarchy and selects one of the interrupt signals. The adapter also includes a second set of arbitration modules, where each arbitration module receives processor specific interrupt signals and selects one of the interrupt signals for processing an event associated with the selected interrupt signal.
US08504748B2
In a communication network system in which a master and a plurality of communication slaves are coupled through a high-potential side bus and a low-potential side bus in a daisy-chain manner, each of the communication slaves includes a control circuit, a resistance element, and a potential difference detecting portion. The control circuit controls communication with the master. The resistance element is inserted into the high-potential side bus at a portion located downstream of a point where the control circuit is coupled with the high-potential side bus. The potential difference detecting portion detects a potential difference between an upstream terminal of the resistance element and the low-potential side bus. The control circuit sets an ID value for communicating with the master in accordance with the potential difference detected by the potential difference detecting portion.
US08504746B2
An interface device (10) provides fast data communication between a host device with input/output interfaces and a data transmit/receive device, wherein the interface device (10) comprises a processor means (13), a memory means (14), a first connecting device (12) for interfacing the host device with the interface device, and a second connecting device (15) for interfacing the interface device (10) with the data transmit/receive device. The interface device (10) is configured by the processor means (13) and the memory means (14) in such a way that, when receiving an inquiry from the host device via the first connecting device (12) as to the type of a device attached to the host device, regardless of the type of the data transmit/receive device, the interface device sends a signal to the host device via the first connecting device (12) which signals to the host device that it is communicating with an input/output device.
US08504744B2
A buffer management mechanism in a multi-core processor for use on a modem in a telecommunications network is described herein. The buffer management mechanism includes a buffer module that provides buffer management services for one or more Layer 2 applications, wherein the buffer module at least provides a user space application interface to application software running in user space. The buffer management mechanism also includes a buffer manager that manages a plurality of separate pools of tokens, wherein the tokens comprise pointers to memory areas in external memory. In addition, the buffer management mechanism includes a custom driver that manages Data Path Acceleration Architecture (DPAA) resources including buffer pools and frame queues to be used for user plane data distributing.
US08504743B2
An information processing system includes a master module for outputting a transfer state signal in correspondence to a data read instruction when the data read instruction is successively output plural times, the transfer state signal indicating that at least one data read instruction succeeds some one of the data read instructions; and a memory controller for, when receiving the some one of the data read instructions and the corresponding transfer state signal from the master module, supplying data corresponding to the some one of the data read instructions to the master module, while reading data corresponding to the at least one data read instruction, which succeeds the some one of the data read instructions, from a memory and holding the read data in accordance with the received transfer state signal.
US08504740B2
An add-on module provides extrinsic management functionality to legacy and other devices. Contemplated modules include: (a) a state agent that provides at least one of the MILARRS function, and (b) a product agent that communicates with the device using at least one serial interface. Implementations are contemplated for both legacy devices that natively provide less than complete MILARRS functionality, and newly developed devices for which the developer desires a ready-made implementation of MILARRS functionality.
US08504734B2
Hybrid tree/mesh overlays for data delivery involve using a tree overlay network and a mesh overlay network to delivery a data stream via a push mechanism and a pull mechanism, respectively. In an example embodiment, a network node enters a mesh overlay network and attaches to a tree overlay network. In operation, the network node receives data blocks of a data stream over the tree overlay network via a push mechanism. The network node ascertains if a data block is not received over the tree overlay network. If a data block is missing, the network node retrieves the missing data block over the mesh overlay network via a pull mechanism. In another example embodiment, the tree overlay network includes a subset of nodes forming a tree-based backbone. Network nodes that are identified as being stable may join the backbone and provide the data stream to other nodes.
US08504729B2
An open Information Services network architecture is disclosed which enables multiple business entities to assume specialized roles of access provider, service provider, and service retailer. The disclosed technology provides instant plug-and-play service, decouples access and service networks and provides seamless (single step) access enabling customers to maintain a service account regardless of location. The benefits of the disclosed technology, among others, include: Multi-level and multi-service registration; Broker Services providing customers with a choice of provider; Security Services relating to distribution; Revenue Assurance services, Gentle Reminder/Gentle Touch; Revenue Assurance services pertaining to usage integrity verification upon registration; mobile services derived from G-ISN; and claim benefits pertaining to LNP services derived from G-ISN.
US08504726B2
A computer-based method and system of distributing biological sample data acquires a digital image of a subject biological sample. The acquired digital image and image capture data are processed according to at least one user. This results in processed image data and capture metadata. The processed image data represents biological sample data of the subject biological sample. A package processing combines the processed image data and capture metadata into a working Package. The method and system enables simultaneous electronic access to the working Package by multiple users, across multiple sectors, in addition to the one user.
US08504722B2
A method implemented in a network element to make a first device assigned an IPv4 private address accessible to a second device using Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), the method comprising receiving an IPv6 formatted data packet, having a virtual IPv6 address as a destination address and having been sent from the second device; determining whether the virtual IPv6 address includes a representation prefix (RP); sending an address map query (AMQ) to a customer premise equipment (CPE), where the CPE stores a mapping between the virtual IPv6 address and a private IPv4 address of the first device; receiving an address map response (AMR) from the CPE with the private IPv4 address corresponding to the virtual IPv6 address; translating the IPv6 formatted data packet into an IPv4 formatted data packet; and sending the translated data packet to the CPE through an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel.
US08504708B2
A common IP layer client device interface within an IP multimedia gateway (IMG) is configured to connect client devices to broadband IP networks such as the Internet based on determined device capabilities. Broadband IP network interfaces within the IMG are configured to enable communication between the IMG and broadband IP networks based on the determined device capabilities. Content provided by various service managers are communicated with the client devices utilizing the common IP layer client device interface and the configured network interfaces. Network capabilities may be determined during the device and network discovery. Protocol translation, media transcoding and/or dynamic device configuration may be performed based on the determined device capabilities, and based on the determined network capabilities. The IMG may adjust system timing and manage power consumptions for service deployment over corresponding client devices. Information may be routed or distributed by the IMRG among the client devices when needed.
US08504696B2
A system for connecting a first network device and a second network device includes one or more servers. The servers are configured to: (a) receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and (c) initiate a virtual private network communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, wherein the secure communications service uses the virtual private network communication link.
US08504688B2
A system for aggregate monitoring of private computer networks includes a plurality of monitoring servers for monitoring a plurality of private networks. Each private network has at least one monitoring server configured for monitoring the private network by collecting statuses of devices associated with the private network. A central server is coupled to each of the monitoring servers via a wide area network (WAN) and stores information pertaining to a plurality of users. The information associates each of the users with a group of one or more of the private networks. The central server may receive a request from a remote device via the WAN, determine the group of private networks associated with the requesting user, automatically generate a set of statistics according to only the statuses collected for each private network in the group associated with the requesting user, and send the set of statistics to the remote device.
US08504684B1
A method for managing data storage system management applications includes executing, by a client device, a first data storage system management application, receiving, by the client device, an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, and detecting, by the client device, an installation of a second data storage system management application as part of the client device, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application. If the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device, executing the second data storage system management application, otherwise retrieving the second data storage system management application from a server device and executing the second data storage system management application.
US08504678B2
Applications requiring multiple network devices may use geophysical information about the nodes to route traffic. Each device attached to a network may have both a network address and a geophysical location. When an application requires the use of multiple devices, for example restricting content or services in a certain area or for prioritizing content or services in an area, the devices are identified and used based on their geophysical location rather than network addresses.
US08504672B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to discovery of electronic devices in a combined network. An embodiment of a method includes determining an identifier for a first device in a combined network according to a first network protocol, the combined network including a first network using the first network protocol and a second network using a second network protocol, where the identifier is determined based on a unique designation for the first device, and determining addressing information for the first device according to the second network protocol, where determining the addressing information includes establishing a physical address and a logical address for the first device. The method further includes broadcasting one or more messages containing identification information and capabilities of the first device to devices in the first network and to devices in the second network. The first device records and processes information from messages received by the first device, the messages being one or more messages under the first network protocol and one or more message under the second network protocol.
US08504665B1
The invention facilitates remote management of a computer via a network. Remote management of a device connected to a managed computer can be effected by using the managed computer as a proxy for conducting a management action regarding the connected device on behalf of a remote computer management server.
US08504659B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuration of adaptive integrated circuitry, to provide one or more operating modes or other functionality in a communication device, such as a cellular telephone, a GSM telephone, another type of mobile telephone or mobile station, or any other type of media communication device, including video, voice or radio, or other forms of multimedia. The adaptive integrated circuitry is configured and reconfigured for multiple tasks, such as channel acquisition, voice transmission, or multimedia and other data processing. In the preferred embodiment, the configuration and reconfiguration occurs to adaptively optimize the performance of the particular activity over time, such as to increase the speed of channel acquisition, increase throughput rates, increase perceived voice and media quality, and decrease the rate of dropped communication sessions.
US08504655B1
Systems and methods of delegating a proxy node for content delivery to a wireless device are provided. A wireless device authenticates with a proxy node, and the proxy node provides to the wireless device a list of content stored on a first content node. If the wireless device requests a second content stored on a second content node, the second content node sends an attachment request to the proxy node, the proxy node associates the second content node with the proxy node, and the proxy node delivers the second content to the wireless device.
US08504654B1
Examples of methods, systems, apparatus, and machine-readable storage media are provided to facilitate access and control of a remote desktop of a remote machine by a web browser at a client device through a transcoding server without installing proprietary plug-ins or protocols on the client device. A transcoding server may translate user input requests from a web browser into input calls compatible with a remote desktop display protocol. The transcoding server may receive remote desktop drawing commands from the remote machine and translate the remote desktop drawing commands into web browser drawing updates compatible with the web browser. A transcoding server may communicate with a web browser via HTTP and communicate with a remote machine via a remote desktop display protocol. A web browser may be an HTML5 browser. A transcoding server may send drawing coordinates to the web browser via an HTTP header and may use long polling.
US08504653B1
An online data storage arrangement (or a collection of “digital lockers”) allows online users to share data with other online users. Digital lockers may include a number user created content objects and view objects. A content object comprises a link to one or more data objects that a user may wish to share with others. Such a content object may specify a plurality of permissions that manage what a user can or cannot do with the content object. A content object's permissions may dictate use of the content object when it is shared with other users. A view object is a medium that may be used to share content objects. A user may create a view object that references or includes one or more content objects. Users having authorized access to the view object may use the referenced/included content objects.
US08504648B2
A storage system includes a virtual volume configured on a storage controller and mapping to a physical storage capacity maintained at a remote location by a storage service provider (SSP). The storage controller receives an I/O command in a block-based protocol specifying a logical block address (LBA). The storage controller correlates the LBA with a file name of a file stored by the SSP, translates the I/O command to an IP-supported protocol, and forwards the translated I/O command with the file name to the SSP for processing. In the case of a write command, the SSP stores the write data using the specified file name. In the case of a read command, the SSP enables download of data from the specified file name. In an alternative embodiment, a NAS head may replace the storage controller for correlating the LBA with a file name and translating the I/O command.
US08504636B2
According to particular embodiments, a communications monitoring system includes agent servers that deploy automated agents into various group communications services and a central server that receives the event data collected by the automated agents using the unified communications protocol. The central server also transmits the event data and any alerts that were determined from the event data to operator interfaces according to operator profiles.
US08504626B2
A system and method for content tagging and distribution through email are provided. A user-to-tag record including content tags, each associated with one or more users, is maintained. An incoming email message with a tag address is received. The tag address is processed to identify a content tag, which is applied to the user-to-tag record. Users associated with the identified content tag are determined. The incoming email message is provided to the associated users.
US08504620B2
A system, method and medium of sending messages in a distributed data processing network is described, and contemplates receiving a message that includes subject information that is generated based on one or more pre-selected portions as the message is generated. A message delivery system in a client-server environment is also described. The message delivery system includes a server configured to receive a message that includes subject information that is generated based on one or more pre-selected portions as the message is created and configured to forward the message based on the subject information.
US08504617B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled.
US08504611B2
A system and method for synchronizing feeds for multiple digital picture frames. Pictures are received. Each of the pictures is associated with one or more feeds. One or more of a number of digital picture frames are designated to receive each of the one or more feeds. User preferences are received for delivering the one or more feeds. The one or more feeds are communicated to the one or more digital picture frames designated to receive the one or more feeds.
US08504608B2
Methods, devices, and computer program products facilitate communications between two or more network entities that utilize Session Initiation Protocol. To this end, an Event State Compositor may force an Event Publication Agent to provide update information as deemed necessary by the Event State Compositor. The update of the publication information may be carried out by initiating an update triggering mechanism that is addressed to the Event State Compositor and comprises information that specifically identifies a particular publication. Such a triggering mechanism may be initiated when a predefined condition associated with the Event State Compositor's local policies is satisfied.
US08504601B2
A finite impulse response (FIR) filter having a differential output and capable of having negative coefficients, and a method of designing the filter, is disclosed. In contrast to the prior art, in which two output signals requires the use of two identical sets of impedance devices corresponding to the Fourier coefficients that create the desired response of the filter, the described method and system uses only a single set of impedance devices, and thus approximately one-half of the number of impedance devices used in the prior art. This is accomplished by appropriately selecting which resistors contribute to which output, so that a differential output may be obtained that is substantially the same as if impedance devices corresponding to all of the coefficients were used for each signal.
US08504599B1
An intelligent system for database retrieval includes a computing device, an input device, a display device, and a storage device. A user initiates a free-form or structured inquiry of the storage device and the system executes a search for the free-form or structured inquiry and additionally for related knowledge if a free-form inquiry was initiated. The related knowledge search is system initiated and based upon the sensory information of the user and the user's behaviors. The free-form or structured inquiry and related knowledge results are returned to the computing device for formatting in a manner compatible with the user, the user's behavior, and the operating environment. The free-form or structured inquiry and related knowledge results are then displayed on the display device.
US08504597B2
The consistency callback mechanisms employed by local file systems such as NTFS and distributed file systems such as DDS, NFS and CIFS are extended to provide a shared memory foundation for efficiently broadcasting real-time high definition video from a source object to large numbers of viewers via the Internet. Distributed applications such as video viewing client applications establish connections to a common distributed file system object, and then each application registers with the underlying distributed file system to receive notifications whenever the video source modifies the source object. The data required to update images maintained by viewing clients is included in notification messages. The distributed file system employs a network of proxy cache nodes. Proxy cache nodes receive notification messages (complete with image update data) and update their cached images of the source object and then retransmit the notification messages towards the viewing clients using IP multicast techniques. In this manner, the distributed file system's consistency mechanism efficiently employs network resources to enable the real-time distribution of video content streams.
US08504588B2
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for automatically linking at least two medical studies which are associated to different acquisition modalities (CT/PET) and which are subject of post-processing in the context of hybrid imaging. In a preparation phase of at least one embodiment, there is defined a classification scheme according to pre-definable rules, conditions and attributes. In an execution phase for a selected source study of a first modality there is looked for at least one target study of a second modality of the same type according to the rules. Then, the source study is automatically linked to the at least one target study.
US08504582B2
A system and methods for unit of measurement conversion and search query expansion are described. The search query expansion may include identifying an initial unit of measurement associated with a property and an initial numeric value for the initial unit of measurement within a search query, automatically forming an expanded search query by expanding the search query to include at least one related unit of measurement associated with the property, and sending the expanded search query to a search engine to search a database. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08504579B1
A computing device configured for filtering a data set is described. The computing device includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The computing device obtains a data set. The computing device also selects nodes from multiple trees to produce a node selection. The computing device further generates a composite filter based on the node selection. The computing device additionally filters the data set based on the composite filter to produce a working data set.
US08504560B2
In one embodiment a method for probabilistically quantifying a degree of relevance between two or more citationally or contextually related data objects, such as patent documents, non-patent documents, web pages, personal and corporate contacts information, product information, consumer to behavior, technical or scientific information, address information, and the like is provided. In another embodiment a method for visualizing and displaying relevance between two or more citationally or contextually related data objects is provided. In another embodiment a search input/output interface that utilizes an iterative self-organizing mapping technique to automatically generate a visual map of relevant patents and/or other related documents desired to be explored, searched or analyzed is provided. In another embodiment, a search input/output interface that displays and/or communicates search input criteria and corresponding search results in a way that facilitates intuitive understanding and visualization of the logical relationships between two or more related concepts being searched is provided.
US08504547B1
Systems, method, and apparatus including computer program products for providing image search results. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes receiving from a user a query for images including static images, moving images, and images within multimedia content, identifying at least one of a language attribute and a locale attribute of the user, generating multiple search results, each result corresponding to an image content item that satisfies the query, ordering the search results based at least on click data for image content items that satisfy the query, the click data gathered from users having at least one of the language attribute and the locale attribute, and presenting the ordered search results to the user, including presenting representations of the corresponding image content items.
US08504543B1
A system and a method are disclosed for automatically providing an API for a Web-based application. An API processing core receives a call, performs a variety of actions on the call prior to executing it, determines based on the actions whether the call is a valid API call to the currently existing application functionality, and if the call is a valid API call, executes it. The call syntax is constructed primarily out of elements applicable to any Web-based application using the system.
US08504542B2
Techniques are provided for more efficient multi-row atomic, consistent, isolated and durable (ACID)-compliant transactions with snapshot isolation semantics (or just “multi-row transactions” for short). In some embodiments, the techniques are implemented in a computing system that includes a client application, a lightweight in-memory lease-based lock service, a multi-row transaction orchestrator, and an underlying database system. The transaction orchestrator implements a read protocol and a write protocol that provides support to the client application for carrying out multi-row transactions against the underlying database system irrespective of whether the database system itself supports multi-row transactions. The transaction orchestrator explicitly maintains transaction-level locks obtained from the lease-based lock service as part of the transaction protocol. Further, the transaction orchestrator is tolerant to lock service failure and unavailability without compromising ACID-compliance and snapshot isolation guarantees to the client application.
US08504535B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for employing an erasure coding storage scheme and a redundant replication storage scheme in a data storage system. Data objects that are greater than a size threshold and accessed less frequently than an access threshold are stored in an erasure coding scheme, while data objects that are sized less than a size threshold or accessed more often than an access threshold are stored in a redundant replication storage scheme.
US08504531B2
A system and method for application aware de-duplication (de-dup) of data blocks in a virtualized storage array is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method of application aware de-dup of data blocks on virtualized storage arrays in a storage area network, a de-dup agent is enabled on each of one or more components of the storage area network. A master list of metadata associated with indexed data is then created and stored in the virtualized storage arrays. One or more sublists of metadata are then created from the masterlist and are stored. Upon receiving a write request from an application residing in the host device, it is determined whether data block being written has an entry in a sublist stored in a host device, and if so, the data block is then replaced with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays.
US08504525B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed. In one embodiment apparatus includes a media aggregation backup unit that can receive a request to perform a backup of a set of media files stored within media storage devices coupled to a home network. The media aggregation backup unit can send information to a remote server, coupled to the Internet that identifies the media storage devices coupled to the home network to the remote server. Also, the media aggregation backup unit can send information to the media storage devices to provide the media storage devices the identity and location of the remote server.