US08523554B2

A three-dimensional object-forming apparatus is disclosed, which includes an in-batches powder-rationing tank system, a construction tank system, a printing powder-applying system, a rapid drying heating system, a printing maintenance device, a dust-proof device, a successive liquid-supplying device, a powder auto-filtrating and recycling device, and a print quality detection device.
US08523553B2

An apparatus and methods for forming a composite part are provided. A method for forming a composite part may include placing initial composite material on a base tool, placing a tooling mandrel on the composite material, placing additional composite material over the tooling mandrel, covering at least a portion of the composite material that overlays the tooling mandrel with a composite forming tool, heating the composite material to at least partially cure the composite material, and permitting a first portion of the composite forming tool to change size during the heating of the composite material to a greater degree than a second portion of the composite forming tool. In this regard, the second portion of the composite forming tool is closer to the base tool than the first portion of the composite forming tool. A composite forming tool is provided that permits differential expansion of different portions of the tool.
US08523549B2

Scaffold systems (SMV) to make substantially vertical building works, with sensitive time and manpower savings. In an advantageous embodiment, a scaffold is formed by a couple of modular semi-scaffolds which face each other, a semi-scaffold being placed in a cis-position over the work under erection and the other semi-scaffold is set in the trans-position.
US08523547B2

An engine is described for operation on a fuel expanding about adiabatically in a power stroke of the engine. To aid the power stroke efficiency, the rotary engine contains one or more of a rotor configured to rotate in a stator, the rotor offset along both an x-axis and a y-axis relative to a center of the stator, a vane configured to span a distance between the rotor and the stator, where the inner wall of the stator further comprises at least one of: a first cut-out in the housing at the initiation of the power stroke, use of a build-up in the housing at the end of the power stroke, and/or use of a second cut-out in the housing at the completion of rotation of the rotor in the engine. The engine yields a cross-sectional area expanding during a portion of the power stroke at about the Fibonacci ratio.
US08523544B2

A three stage vacuum pump has three stages of fixed scrolls and orbiting scrolls that operate simultaneously. A motor drives the second orbiting scroll within the third fixed scroll upon three equally spaced idlers. One idler then transmits rotation and torque into the second stage. The second orbiting scroll to has involutes upon both surfaces to engage the second fixed scroll inwardly and the first fixed scroll outwardly. The first fixed scroll has fins upon its back that extend into the atmosphere to transfer heat to air cool the invention. This pump also has a fan accelerating heat transfer. The pump operates the scrolls directly from a motor or from a motor and magnetic coupling so that the atmosphere does not infiltrate the pump.
US08523542B2

The present invention describes a pumping device (1) for pumping fluids. The pumping device (1) comprises a force transmitting element (2), a tension unit (3) coupled to the force transmitting element (2) and a seal element (10). The force transmitting element (2) is adapted for transferring an upstroke and a downstroke to a pump plunger (5) for pumping fluid (12). The tension unit (3) is adapted for applying a tension force (F) to the force transmitting element (2) for keeping the force transmitting element (2) under tension during the upstroke and the downstroke. The seal element (10) is adapted for sealingly preventing pumping fluids (12) during the downstroke and for enabling pumping fluid (12) during the upstroke. A part (16) of the seal element (10) is rigidly coupled with the force transmitting element (2).
US08523533B1

A hydraulic rod pumping unit (12) has a constant horsepower regenerative assist featuring downstroke energy recovery. The pumping unit (12) has a hydraulic ram (26) connected to a ram pump (18). The drive shaft (40) of the ram pump (18) is coupled to the drive shaft (38) of an accumulator pump (20) and to a rotor of a drive motor (16). A hydraulic accumulator (24) is connected to the output of the accumulator pump (20). The ram pump (18) and the accumulator pump (20) are preferably variable displacement piston pumps which are controlled by a microprocessor based controller (44), such that during the downstroke of the hydraulic ram (26) the ram pump (18) operates as an hydraulic motor powering the accumulator pump (20) and during the up stroke of the hydraulic ram (26) the accumulator pump (20) operates as a hydraulic motor to provide assist to the ram pump (18).
US08523532B1

A basin for use in liquid handling, such as sewage handling. The basin is comprised of a bottom wall, a side wall, and an open top, and a hanging feature formed in the body of the basin. A basin assembly for liquid handling may include the basin, and a hanging member suspended from the hanging feature within the basin. One or more level switches may be attached to the hanging member. A sewage handling system may include the basin assembly, a top cover fastenable to the open top of the basin, and a pump disposed in the basin.
US08523530B2

A turbine rotor for an Air Cycle Machine includes a hub with a multiple turbine blades which extend therefrom, each of the multiple of turbine blades defined by a set of coordinates.
US08523529B2

A locking spacer assembly for insertion in a circumferential attachment slot includes a first end piece and a second end piece. The first and second end pieces each comprise an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surfaces generally facing towards each other when the end pieces are inserted into the attachment slot. An actuator is movable between the inner surfaces and a spacer block is configured to be inserted between the inner surfaces. A fastener is configured to secure the spacer block to the actuator. The actuator is configured to engage the inner surfaces such that the end pieces move toward each other and lock the assembly within the attachment slot.
US08523527B2

The present subject matter discloses a turbine component including a platform and an airfoil extending radially upward from the platform. A plurality of curved cooling passages may be defined in the platform. Each of the curved cooling passages may have at least one end disposed at an exterior surface of the platform. Additionally, each of the cooling passages may be configured to direct a cooling medium through the platform.
US08523518B2

Systems, methods, and apparatus for linking machine stators are provided. A bracket may be utilized to link adjacent stators within a machine, for example, a turbine. The bracket may include a body portion, a first plurality of extensions, and a second plurality of extensions. The body portion may include a first edge operable to align with a base of a first stator and a second edge opposite the first edge and operable to align with a base of a second stator. The first plurality of extensions may extend from the first edge and may be operable to align with at least one corresponding groove on the base of the first stator. The second plurality of extensions may extend from the second edge and may be operable to align with at least one corresponding groove on the base of the second stator. When utilized to link the first stator and the second stator, the bracket may facilitate a reduction of vibrations in the first stator and the second stator.
US08523517B2

The aerodynamically shaped, symmetrical cross-sectional profile for the struts or the fairing (7) of struts and service lines in the bypass duct and the core-flow duct of a turbofan engine is defined by a course of the local thickness (T) and a position of maximum thickness (PMT) on both sides over the central chord (C) extending from the leading edge (LE) to the trailing edge (TE) of the strut or fairing (7). In order to avoid flow separations the course of the local thickness (T) between the position of maximum thickness (PMT) and a trailing-edge position (PTE), which is at 95 percent of the chord length, has a first turning point (WP1) with a trailing-edge thickness (TET) and a subsequent second turning point (WP2).
US08523508B2

A vehicle provided with at least one front axis and at least one rear axis, one vehicle frame and at least one loading box or loading surface which can be raised or lowered in a vertical direction by way of lifting devices, in addition to a loading ramp located in the rear area of the vehicle. At least one loading box or loading surface is arranged behind at least one rear axis such that it forms an inner loading ramp (9). At least one opening surface is arranged in a lateral (16) and rear position (20) on the vehicle frame and used to release loading openings for loading or emptying.
US08523505B2

A fastening arrangement having a first fastening part which is connected to a metal sheet and has a first threaded section, and having a second fastening part which has a second threaded section which engages with the first threaded section, with the fastening parts fixing an electrical connecting part such that an electrical connection is formed between the connecting part and the metal sheet. A cover part is fixed to the first fastening part in an end position and, in a covering position, has covered at least a part of the first threaded section until the second threaded section has engaged with the first threaded section and, in the process, the cover part has been moved from the covering position to the end position.
US08523501B2

A container according the present application includes a container auto-lock system. The container auto-lock system is integrated into the outboard apertures of the lower castings of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system includes a locking mechanism which is configured to recess when the container is lowered onto a surface lacking an acceptable receiving aperture. The locking mechanism is also configured to automatically lock when placed on top of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system is configured to be compatible with international sized container by allowing the inboard apertures on each lower casting to be available for attaching the domestic container on top of an international container with a conventional locking device.
US08523499B2

The present invention aims to provide a working device for deburring or chamfering easily, for example on the both sides of a gear, and for desired deburring or chamfering effectively on a large-sized gear, and comprises a base stage, a workpiece hold and rotate device mounted thereon for holding and rotating a workpiece, a working device mounted on the base stage and movable to and from the workpiece and having a working tool for working against obverse and reverse sides of the workpiece, a pressing device for pressing the working device toward the workpiece, and a tracing device on the working means, composed of a workpiece obverse side tracing member corresponding to the obverse side of workpiece, and a workpiece reverse side tracing member corresponding to the reverse side of workpiece, for moving the working device in forward and rearward directions by becoming in contact with and tracing shape of the workpiece.
US08523494B2

An expansion shell assembly for mine roof bolts includes an expansion member threaded onto an associated mine roof bolt. A support device is annularly disposed around the associated roof bolt. An expansion shell is annularly disposed around the associated roof bolt between the expansion member and the support device. The expansion shell has a base ring for engaging the support device and fingers for engaging a peripheral edge of the tapered plug. The engagement between the base ring and the support device permits axial traverse movement of the support device relative to the expansion shell for tensioning the roof bolt.
US08523486B2

A concrete culvert assembly includes a set of spaced apart elongated footers, a plurality of precast concrete culvert sections supported by the footers. Each concrete culvert section has an open bottom, an arch-shaped top wall and spaced apart side walls to define a passage thereunder, each of the side walls extending downward and outward from the top wall. Each of the side walls has a substantially planar inner surface and a substantially planar outer surface. First and second haunch sections each join one of the side walls to the top wall. Each side wall is tapered from top to bottom such that a thickness of each side wall decreases when moving from the top of each side wall to the bottom of each side wall. A bottom portion of each side wall has an exterior vertical flat extending upward from a horizontal bottom surface thereof.
US08523483B2

A system and method for clearing an approaching floating ice mass comprising locating a hydrocarbon development platform in a marine environment, and determining a direction from which the ice mass is approaching the hydrocarbon development platform. The method also includes providing an intervention vessel having a water-agitating mechanism associated therewith for propagating artificially generated waves towards a leading edge of the approaching ice mass to fracture the ice mass along the leading edge, thereby causing small ice pieces to separate from the ice mass.
US08523482B1

An underwater oil and gas containment and retrieval system comprising a collapsible deployable oil and gas containment canopy including a dome comprised of several separately stored dome panels (1), a discharge vent tube (2) including inflatable air chambers (14) to provide some rigidity and shape, dome panel storage containers (3) for storing the dome panels (1) on the ocean floor, and a separate discharge vent tube storage container (16) for storing the discharge vent tube separately on the ocean floor. The system is especially useful for deep water wells below 500 feet deep.
US08523481B2

Methods and systems for recovering, transporting, and using methane gas and conventional Natural Gas are disclosed. More particularly, such methods generally include the steps of (a) transferring gas from a source to a first subterranean capacitor and storing the gas in the capacitor and (b) transferring gas from the first subterranean capacitor to a second subterranean capacitor, a pipeline, an end user (such as an automobile), a gas processor, or a power plant.
US08523478B2

An access delay vehicle barrier for stopping unauthorized entry into secure areas by a vehicle ramming attack includes access delay features for preventing and/or delaying an adversary from defeating or compromising the barrier. A horizontally deployed barrier member can include an exterior steel casing, an interior steel reinforcing member and access delay members disposed within the casing and between the casing and the interior reinforcing member. Access delay members can include wooden structural lumber, concrete and/or polymeric members that in combination with the exterior casing and interior reinforcing member act cooperatively to impair an adversarial attach by thermal, mechanical and/or explosive tools.
US08523475B2

An oral care dispenser and oral care system incorporating the system that includes a resilient applicator that optimizes application of the subject fluid to the desired oral surfaces. In one embodiment, the invention is a dispenser comprising a housing having an internal reservoir containing the fluid. The resilient applicator is coupled to the housing and comprises a dispensing orifice. The resilient applicator comprises a working surface that is oriented at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing and is defined by a polygonal perimeter edge, the polygonal perimeter edge comprising a plurality of apex portions and a plurality of side portions, wherein one of the plurality of side portions forms a distal most-portion of the resilient applicator.
US08523456B2

A cold joint terminal for optical fibers comprises a box-shaped casing (1), a fixing device, and a compressing device which are provided in the casing (1). The fixing device comprising a tail shaft (4), a pushing pipe (5), and a guiding block (7), is used for fixing the fiber jacket when the fibers are inserted in position. The compressing device comprising a V-shaped groove metal block (2) and a cap (3), is compressed when the end faces of two fibers contact with each other. Connecting chambers (1-6) are provided respectively at both ends of the casing (1). A floating block (1-2) is provided in the middle of the casing (1). A caulking groove (1-1) and a groove (1-5) for receiving the cap (3) are provided respectively on both sides of the floating block (1-2).
US08523451B2

A roller bearing has spacers interposed between its rollers. The roller bearing also has a high permissible rotational speed which is achieved by allowing a lubricant to flow smoothly around rolling surfaces so that the stirring resistance of the lubricant due to the spacers is reduced. The roller bearing includes a plurality of rotatable rollers interposed between an inner ring raceway surface and an outer ring raceway surface and spacers provided between adjacent rollers. Each of the spacers includes extended portions facing roller end faces of the rollers at both axial ends thereof.
US08523449B2

A rolling bearing includes: an inner ring; an outer ring; a plurality of rolling elements; a retainer; and a sealing member. First to third lubricant reservoir portions that store the lubricant are respectively formed on the radially inner side of the retainer, on the inner side of the sealing member, and in an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring at a position near a raceway. An inclined first guide surface that guides the lubricant from the second lubricant reservoir portion toward the raceway is formed in an inner surface of the sealing member. An inclined second guide surface contiguous with the first guide surface and guiding the lubricant toward the raceway is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. The first lubricant reservoir portion of the retainer is in communication with pockets of the retainer, which accommodate the rolling elements.
US08523436B2

A flexible transport container (1) includes an inner bag (10) formed by a flat casing closed at one end (12), the other end (13) of which is folded towards the first end. The inner bag is housed inside an outer bag (20) formed by a casing provided with a first access port (25) which extends through the two bags close to the closed end of the inner bag and a second access port (27) which only extends through the wall of the outer bag opposite a portion of the folded end of the inner bag.
US08523434B2

An X-ray imaging system is provided with an FPD and an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus is provided with a CPU, a coefficient table, an interpolator and a residual image remover. The CPU acquires an image taken with the FPD. A plurality of coefficients each corresponding to a parameter that changes an attenuation curve are previously stored in the coefficient table. The attenuation curve represents time-varying attenuation of a residual image of the previous image. In a case where the coefficient corresponding to a parameter of the present exposure is not contained in the coefficient table, an appropriate coefficient is calculated by interpolation based on the coefficients contained in the coefficient table. The residual image remover calculates the residual image based on the stored coefficient or the calculated coefficient and a time lapse between the previous and subsequent exposures, and removes the residual image from the present image.
US08523433B2

In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and for receiving system operational data from the imaging system, wherein the handheld X-ray interface device is configured to provide a user detectable indication of the imaging system operational status based upon the received data.
US08523428B2

A component in a processing chamber of a substrate processing apparatus, where a temperature may be accurately measured by using a temperature measuring apparatus using an interference of a low-coherence light, even when a front surface and a rear surface are not parallel due to abrasion, or the like. A focus ring used in a vacuum atmosphere and of which a temperature is measured includes an abrasive surface exposed to an abrasive atmosphere according to plasma, a nonabrasive surface not exposed to the abrasive atmosphere, a thin-walled portion including a top surface and a bottom surface that are parallel to each other, and a coating member coating the top surface of the thin-walled portion, wherein a mirror-like finishing is performed on each of the top and bottom surfaces of the thin-walled portion.
US08523426B2

The invention relates to a one-piece regulating member including a balance cooperating with a hairspring made in a layer of silicon-based material and including a balance spring coaxially mounted on a collet. According to the invention, the collet includes one extending part that projects from the balance spring and which is made in a second layer of silicon-based material and is secured to the balance.
US08523423B2

An LED mounting seat includes a main body having a supporting surface that abuts against a light emitting portion of an LED, a connecting end that is connected to a circuit board, and a side surface that interconnects the supporting surface and the connecting end. The side surface is formed with a pair of lateral grooves. Each of the lateral grooves is defined by a groove-defining surface that has an abutting surface portion facing an opening of the corresponding one of the lateral grooves. The LED has two leads extending respectively through the lateral grooves and abutting respectively against the abutting surface portions of the groove-defining surfaces.
US08523422B2

The present invention discloses a LED back light module and a LCD device, wherein the LED back light module comprises a lamp source fixing device for fixing the LED light bar, and a light guide plate which is arranged oppositely to the LED light bar; wherein said lamp source fixing device is fixedly connected with said light guide plate. The present invention can guarantee high incidence rate under various temperature conditions by keeping the light coupling distance between the LED and the light guide plate unchanged.
US08523415B2

A lamp for a vehicle has a light source (1), a first reflector (2), and at least one light pane (6, 7), which are disposed so that light emitted by the light source (1) is reflected by a reflector face (3) of the first reflector (2) and forms a first lamp face (17) of the lamp. The lamp has at least one second reflector (4), the reflector face (5) thereof being disposed separately from the reflector face (3) of the first reflector (2) and the second reflector being disposed so that light emitted by the light source (1) is reflected by the reflector face (5) of the second reflector (4) and forms a second lamp face (18) of the lamp, wherein the first and the second lamp faces (17, 18) are not coherent.
US08523409B1

Improved installation features for recessed light fixtures including downlights are provided. The recessed light fixture includes a housing and a lighting module removably attachable to the housing. The lighting module includes a flexible conduit connector that provides a pathway for electrical connections from outside the lighting module to access the inner portion of the lighting module. The conduit connector is disposed on an angled surface that improves the ease of installation and removal of the lighting module and reduces the required installation space of the recessed light fixture. The housing includes improved torsion spring receivers having angled edges for guiding the torsion spring into the proper position. The torsion spring receivers also include retaining tabs having a curved edge that better holds the torsion spring in place and also provides additional clearance for installing and removing the lighting module.
US08523406B2

An LED light assembly has a heat sink and electrical conductors for electrical communication with a supply of electricity. A ceramic base with an LED chip attaches to the heat sink. Electricity communicating pads in the ceramic base each operatively connect with the LED chip and with the electrical connectors. A plate defines an aperture and overlies the ceramic base for passage of light from the LED chip. The LED light assembly attaches to a housing of a lighting fixture that may include a light shade.
US08523402B2

A lighting fixture capable of efficiently radiating heat of a lamp device may be configured to be attached to a socket device. In some examples, by attaching the lamp device to the socket device, a cap portion of the lamp device is brought into contact with a fixture body, and pressed against and brought into close contact with the fixture body by an elastic body. Heat generated by lighting of LEDs of the lamp device is conducted from the cap portion to the fixture body and efficiently radiated.
US08523399B2

An illumination apparatus including a light source that emits illumination light, an optical member that transmits the illumination light to externally project the illumination light, and a reflector that reflects illumination light from the light source towards the optical member, the device comprising: a drive device to drive the reflector and the light source to advance and retract in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a light projection surface of the optical member; and a relative movement device to cause the light source to relatively move relative to the reflector in a process of driving to advance and retract by way of the drive device, wherein the relative movement device includes a straight guide member that causes the light source to move straight ahead in the substantially perpendicular direction relative to the reflector.
US08523397B1

An apparatus, method, and system to provide, as one example, up-light for aerial viewing from downwardly aimed wide area, high intensity, lighting fixtures. The method controls a small percentage of light from the fixture to pass up and away for up-light, with the remainder used to produce a controlled, concentrated beam to a target. Some embodiments include a substantial amount of glare and spill light control. An apparatus can include a lamp and fixture with a visor length that is shorter than most conventional spill and glare control visors. The visor allows a controlled, relatively small percentage of direct light from the fixture for a desired or needed level of aerial illumination, but efficiently directs other light to the target. Optionally, a reflective plate is positioned inside the visor to reflect a small percentage of light from the fixture upwardly for up-light. Another embodiment can shift a fraction of light in direction(s) different than the main light output of the fixture.
US08523395B2

A light emitting diode (LED) lamp includes a plurality of LED chips and a heat dissipation member configured to dissipate heat generated from the LED chips. The heat dissipation member includes a tubular unit having a constant cross-section perpendicular to an axial direction, and a plurality of fins, each of which extends outwardly from the tubular unit and extends in the axial direction, having a constant thickness in the axial direction.
US08523382B1

A fluorescent lamp fixture for mounting a ballast and at least one fluorescent lamp and a method of dissipating heat from the same is disclosed. The fixture comprises a molded housing defining a groove and a hat-shaped metal strip having an outer wall with at least two surfaces in contact with the sides of the groove and at least one flange in contact with the top of the housing. The metal strip also has a pair of inner walls positioned relative to the outer wall so as to define a chamber. At least one fastener is slidably held by the strip such that a portion of the fastener is retained within the chamber and slides along the inner walls. The fastener secures a ballast in direct contact with the flanges whereby heat from the ballast is transferred to the metal strip and dissipated from the housing during use.
US08523377B1

An illuminating assembly for allowing hands free illumination of an area includes a panel which has a first end, a second end, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a top surface and a bottom surface. A wrist coupler is attached to the first end. A finger sleeve is attached to the second end. The finger sleeve is positioned adjacent to the first lateral edge. A light emitter is attached to the wearable light mount. The light emitter is directed away from the first end of the panel. An actuator is operationally coupled to the light emitter. The light emitter is turned on or off when the actuator is actuated. The actuator is attached to the wearable light mount.
US08523370B2

An electronic apparatus includes a main body and a projection mechanism. The main body is used for providing video signals. The projection mechanism includes a built-in mini-projector that can either be stored in the electronic apparatus or extended out of the electronic apparatus for use. The mini-projector is capable of receiving video signals and projecting corresponding images when the projection mechanism is extended, and stops the projection of images when retracted.
US08523369B2

A method for compensating light reflection of a projection frame and a projection apparatus is provided. In the method, a preset frame is projected by the projection apparatus. Next, a spectrum of a light reflected by the projected preset frame is detected and compared with an original spectrum of the preset frame. A light characteristic value of the projected preset frame is then adjusted accordingly, so as to compensate a difference between the detected spectrum of the reflected light and the original spectrum.
US08523363B2

A projector includes: a light source that emits light having an asymmetric illuminance distribution; a light modulation device that modulates the light emitted from the light source; and an optical member disposed in an optical path between the light source and the light modulation device, the optical member changing the illuminance distribution of the light from the light source, wherein the optical member changes the illuminance distribution of the light passing therethrough in such a way that a highest illuminance area in the illuminance distribution of the light after passing through the optical member is shifted toward the center of the optical member as compared with the position of the highest illuminance area in the illuminance distribution of the light before incident on the optical member.
US08523358B2

A display unit 11 has a display area of a predetermined shape and displays an image on the display area. An image capturing unit 12 generates data of a captured image by capturing an image of an eye 2 of a user in which the display area is reflected. A reference detection unit 21 detects a moving reference point that moves along with the movement of user's eye-gaze and an unmoving reference point that can be assumed as approximately stationary regardless of the user's eye-gaze movement, and generates a vector drawn from the unmoving reference point to the moving reference point as a shift amount V(x,y). An eye-gaze detection unit 22 detects a movement vector ΔV(Δx,Δy) as the user's eye-gaze movement amount based on a reference shift amount Vo(xo,yo) generated in the past and the shift amount V(x,y) currently generated.
US08523357B2

A fundus optical image device includes a light source, a first optical element set and a second optical element set. The first optical element set includes a first diaphragm. The light emitted from the light source passes through the first diaphragm and reaches a fundus through the first optical element set. The second optical element set includes a second diaphragm. The light is reflected by the fundus and then passes through the second diaphragm to present an image of the fundus. At least one of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is a microarray diaphragm.
US08523348B2

An image recording apparatus including: (a) a first conveyor configured to convey a recording medium along a first conveyance path; (b) a first recording head; (c) a second conveyor configured to convey the recording medium along a second conveyance path; (d) a second recording head; (e) a third conveyor configured to convey the recording medium along a third conveyance path; and (f) a posture changer configured to change a posture of at least a downstream-side portion of the first conveyor between a first angular posture and a second angular posture, such that at least a downstream-side part of the first conveyance path is directed to the second conveyance path when the at least the downstream-side portion of the first conveyor takes the first angular posture, and such that the at least the downstream-side part of the first conveyance path is directed to the third conveyance path when the at least the downstream-side portion of the first conveyor takes the second angular posture.
US08523333B2

A stacked structure is formed such that a plurality of thin plates, which include at least one liquid flow passage thin plate provided with a liquid flow passage having a predetermined pattern formed on at least one surface, are stacked with an adhesive. A release groove for releasing the adhesive is formed on the liquid flow passage thin plate. An air release hole, which is communicated with the release groove and which penetrates in the stacking direction, is bored through a thin plate stack stacked on the liquid flow passage thin plate. An opening, which allows the air release hole to be open to the outside, is formed on the thin plate disposed at the outermost layer of the thin plate stack. The air release hole has a diameter which is larger than the width of the release groove and which is larger than the opening disposed on the outermost layer. Any excessive adhesive is accumulated in the air release hole, and it is possible to greatly decrease the amount of the adhesive outflowing to the outside of a cavity unit.
US08523323B2

A system and method for mounting a fluid droplet ejection module to a frame is disclosed, where the fluid ejection module includes a mounting component having a mounting surface. A connector is configured to detachably attach to the frame and is positioned between the frame and the mounting surface of the fluid ejection module. A portion of a mating surface of the connector is positioned adjacent the mounting surface of a corresponding fluid ejection module and is in direct contact with the mounting surface. One or more recesses are formed in at least one of either the mounting surface of the fluid ejection module or the mating surface of the connector. The one or more recesses have a substantially uniform thickness and are filled with an adhesive. The adhesive is cured after aligning the fluid ejection module to the frame.
US08523309B2

A liquid discharger is provided, which includes a gap adjustor that moves a first liquid discharge head between a first position and a second position where a gap between the first liquid discharge head and a sheet is smaller than when the first liquid discharge head is in the first position, and a controller configured to, when determining that second liquid is left enough to form an image and that a quality level stored in a storage unit is equal to or more than a predetermined level, control the gap adjustor to place the first liquid discharge head in the second position, control the first liquid discharge head to discharge the first liquid, and forbid a second liquid discharge head to discharge the second liquid.
US08523306B2

A liquid supply device includes a pressure unit configured to generate a pressure to supply liquid to a printing unit, the printing unit configured to discharge the liquid and perform printing on a printing medium; a pressure detecting unit configured to detect the pressure generated by the pressure unit; and a control unit configured to drive the pressure unit with a power corresponding to a liquid consuming speed of the printing unit if the pressure detecting unit detects a lower pressure than a predetermined pressure while the printing unit discharges the liquid.
US08523303B2

A refrigerator having a deep freeze compartment door with an aluminum profile having lateral coverings at both sides and an additional guiding means mounted on a panel fixing element. The panel fixing element is embedded with the outer part of the door such that an ornamental spacing element is fixed to the guiding element and to the lateral coverings such that an easier on site mounting is obtained and a more appealing visual effect is achieved.
US08523290B2

A cutting tool holder-base assembly (399) has a base (400). The base (400) is adapted to attach to a surface (40) of a rotatable driving member (38). The tool holder-base assembly (399) includes a cutting tool holder (500) with head region (502) containing a cutting tool bore (506), and a shank region (504) with a distal end (524). The shank region (504) has an alignment notch (528) presenting an alignment surface (530) at the distal end (524). The assembly (399) further has a base (400), which contains a tool holder bore (418) and a transverse passage (430) intersecting the tool holder bore (418). There is an elongate pin (436) in the transverse passage (430). The elongate pin (436) has an exposed portion (440) thereof passing through the tool holder bore (418) wherein the cutting tool holder (500) is able to enter completely the tool holder bore (418) of the base (400) when the alignment surface (530) is in alignment with the exposed portion (440) of the elongate pin (436).
US08523288B2

An opening for a replacement bit can be closed without a large drive force, the replacement bit can be replaced without being moved, and the workability of replacement is not impaired. A rear surface frame (29) forms a workspace (28) on the rear surface side of a spoke front surface plate (21), and openings (33) are formed on the spoke front surface plate (21) such that a replacement bit (31) can be inserted into and removed from the opening (33). A bit guide body (37) having a bit guide hole (38) is provided on the rear surface side of the opening (33). A gate plate (34) is provided which has valve ports (35) capable of communicating and closing the openings (33) and the bit guide holes (38). A gate opening/closing device (36) is provided which can turn the gate plate (34) to open or close the openings (33).
US08523286B1

An apparatus and method for coupling different body types to a truck, specifically interchanging between dump and trailer bodies, so that a single truck may be used to perform dump truck and tractor truck operations. The truck includes a pair of rearward extending frame rails and a mounting bracket to which a 5th wheel may be releaseably attached. The truck is adapted for carrying at least one of a 5th wheel and a hydraulic lift system and, thus, is capable of being coupled to a trailer body or dump body, respectively. The truck is changed over from having a dump body to a trailer body by lifting the dump body with its hydraulic cylinder; attaching a hoist to a dump body; lifting the dump body with a hoist; removing at least part of the weight of the hydraulic cylinder from the truck; detaching the hydraulic cylinder from the truck; removing at least part of the weight of the dump body from a coupling pin holding the dump body to the truck; removing the coupling pin; positioning a 5th wheel onto mounting brackets; securing the 5th wheel to the mounting brackets; and coupling a trailer body to the 5th wheel. The method may be reversed in order to change over the truck from carrying a trailer body to a dump body.
US08523284B2

A seat frame includes a projecting portion formed on a surface of a recliner to face a reinforcement plate, the projecting portion having a cross sectional shape with a recessed portion and a protruded portion in a rotational direction of the recliner, the reinforcement plate including a first through-hole for fitting the projecting portion, the upward-downward direction frame including a second through-hole larger than the first through-hole which extends within the second through-hole when the upward-downward direction frame and the reinforcement plate are overlaid, and a three-member welding portion formed by a periphery of the projecting portion, a periphery of the first through-hole, and a periphery of the second through-hole wherein the recliner, the reinforcement plate, and the upward-downward direction frame are welded with the projecting portion of the recliner fitting to the first through-hole of the reinforcement plate while the reinforcement plate and the upward-downward direction frame are overlaid.
US08523279B2

Disclosed is a vehicle seat assembly with built-in heater having a configuration to minimize formation of creases. The vehicle seat assembly of the present invention comprises a seat heater. The seat heater is structured as a unit and comprised of a substrate and a heating wire. The heating wire has a first heater section and a second heater section. In the first heater section, a part of the segments bent on the left side extend leftward across the center. In the second heater section, a part of the segments bent on the right side extend rightward across the center. These segments are overlapped when viewed in the vertical direction. This configuration minimizes formation of creases in the middle area.
US08523267B2

A collapsible roof for a vehicle includes a roof cap and an impact energy absorbing protective device connected to the roof cap. The roof cap has ribs. The ribs are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction and each rib extends along a transverse direction. The ribs extend into the protective device.
US08523266B2

A side fastening assembly for a flexible tonneau cover system of a pick-up truck is provided and has a first fastener sewn on an elongated slat by two sewing threads. The first fastener sewn on the elongated slat can ensure the attachment strength of the first fastener, so as to elongate the lifetime of the first fastener and lower the maintenance cost thereof. The side fastening assembly further has a second fastener attached to a flexible cover material of a flexible cover assembly. The first fastener and the second fastener are engaged with each other in a case that the flexible cover material is unrolled rearward on the side rail to cover the cargo bed.
US08523256B2

A self contained mobile assembly capable of use for remote area maintenance and repair of unwanted damage to a wall of a confined space tanks. The assembly comprises an undercarriage carriage including a wheel base, a housing mounted above the wheel base and defining an internal space capable of receiving and retaining repair and maintenance equipment for repairing said tank. The equipment includes a defouling kit, equipment for desealing and resealing of an interior of the confined space tank, equipment for decontamination of air in the tank; and a breathing kit for a wearer to safely access the internal space and repair the unwanted damage from the inside of the confined space.
US08523247B2

A cylinder lock 1, including a housing 6 with an opening 7 for receiving a lock cylinder 12 with a radially protruding cam 17; a bolt 2 pivotally moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; a ring 15 including a radial opening 16 for engaging the lock cylinder cam 17; and a slider 20, coupled between the pivotally-mounted bolt 2 and the ring 15. The ring 15 also includes a toothed arc 18 for cooperating with a toothed rack 22 of the slider, and the slider including a recess 23 for engaging the lock cylinder cam 17. The ring 15 also has a raised flank 19 for cooperating with at least one stop of the slider.
US08523244B2

An air conditioner system fitting is disclosed including a first seal portion comprising a metal material adapted to provide a primary seal, and a second seal portion attached to a free edge of said first seal portion and adapted to provide a secondary seal, wherein the fitting militates against leakage during operation of the air conditioning system.
US08523238B2

There is provided a light-emitting medium by which whether a valuable paper or the like is forged or not can be judged easily and promptly. A light-emitting medium constituting a valuable paper includes a light-emitting image. The light-emitting image is composed of a pattern area formed on a substrate by using a first fluorescent ink containing a first fluorescent material, and a background area formed on the substrate by using a second fluorescent ink containing a second fluorescent material. When UV-A is irradiated, the first fluorescent ink and the second fluorescent ink emit light of colors that are viewed as different colors from each other. In addition, when UV-C is irradiated, the first fluorescent ink and the second fluorescent ink emit light of colors that are viewed as different colors from each other, the colors being different from the colors that are viewed when the UV-A is irradiated.
US08523235B2

A cash and check automatic depositing apparatus is capable of automatically depositing a bundle of cashes and checks inserted at once. The apparatus includes a bundle insertion opening for allowing a user to deposit or receive therethrough a bundle of cashes and checks, and a bundle separator for separating the banknotes inserted through the bundle insertion opening one by one. The separated banknotes are automatically transferred one by one and verified to check authenticity or abnormality thereof. Further, the banknotes are transferred onto an authentic check transfer path and an authentic cash transfer path to be separately stored in storage cassettes.
US08523232B2

The present invention discloses a tank trailer for transporting flowable material. The tank trailer includes a low-profile tank having a rear section, a front section, and a transitional section. The transitional section connects the rear section and the front section such that flowable material can flow among the sections. The rear section has a rear circumference and a rear center of gravity. The front section has a front circumference and a front center of gravity. The front circumference is smaller than the rear circumference, and the rear center of gravity is lower than the front center of gravity. The front section and the transitional section are frameless. The tank trailer also includes a trailer suspension operatively connected to the rear section.
US08523230B2

An apparatus for displacing an anchor pre-tensioner for a seat belt may include the anchor pre-tensioner which is installed on a lower portion of a center pillar of a vehicle body, and to which a wire is coupled at an angle with the wire exposed above the vehicle body; and a trim guide which is installed on the vehicle body, and which has a guide hole in the middle thereof so as to allow the wire to be fitted into and guided in the guide hole, and a stopper formed at one end of the guide hole so as to allow the wire to be caught in the stopper when the wire is tilted in a backward direction of the vehicle body.
US08523228B2

Provided is construction of a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, makes the apparatus more compact and low cost, and lowers and stabilizes the break away load. A bracket 12b on the column and a locking capsule 53 that are both made of metal plate are connected and fastened together by welding. A pair of left and right eave sections 56 are formed on both the left and right end sections of the locking capsule 53 by way of raised sections 55. The portion of the metal plate of a bracket 11 on the vehicle side on both sides of a locking hole 45 fits between the bottom surfaces of the eave sections 56 and the top surface of the bracket 12b on the column side so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision.
US08523222B2

An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle includes an inflator and a curtain airbag securable to a body structure of the motor vehicle. The airbag includes two or more deployment tubes and two or more inflatable chambers. Vents connect the deployment chambers with the inflatable chambers. Gasses from the inflator pass first into the deployment tubes to rapidly inflate them to vertically extending positions and draw the airbag over a window opening. The gasses then pass through the vents into the inflatable chambers to complete the deployment of the curtain airbag. The rapid inflation and deployment of the deployment chambers provides cushioning for an occupant's head early in a crash event, followed by the inflation of the inflatable chambers to provide additional head protection and increasing the resistance of the curtain airbag to ejection through the underlying window apertures.
US08523221B2

The invention relates to an airbag module (18) with a tear strip (13) for specific opening of a seat cover (20) under which the airbag module (18) is to be mounted, wherein a plurality of tear strips (13) is provided. Furthermore, the invention relates to a seat with one such airbag module and also to a manufacturing apparatus and to an assembly method for one such airbag module.
US08523218B2

A stroller has a seat assembly with a seat bottom and a seat back that is movable from an upright in-use orientation to a forward folded orientation closer to the seat bottom. A structure such as an arm bar extends across the seat assembly above the seat bottom and in front of the seat back. The structure is in a raised in-use position with the seat back in the in-use orientation. The structure moves from the in-use position to a lowered stowed position closer to the seat bottom when the seat back is moved to the folded forward orientation.
US08523214B2

A mobile patient chair includes a seat portion and an undercarriage coupled to and supporting the seat portion, where the undercarriage includes a frame having a set of rollers and a rocking mechanism coupling the seat portion to the frame. The chair has a rolling mode, whereby the set of rollers rotate and allow the mobile patient chair to move from a first location to a second location and a rocking mode, whereby the rocking mechanism is operable to move the seat in a substantially forward and backward translating movement relative to the frame. A lockout member renders the rolling mode and the rocking mode mutually exclusive.
US08523213B2

An adult scale three-wheeled device facilitates movement for mobility challenged persons. The device is foot propelled while seated either through walking while seated or pedaling. The device is provided with a limited footprint for navigating confined areas while the individual is seated in a substantially standing position, with the pedals being repositionable so as to allow unobstructed walking while remaining seated. A lockable braking system prevents one or more wheels from turning. The device is collapsible for storage.
US08523208B2

An independent suspension with no axle is disclosed which includes a hanger and a control arm having opposite first and second ends pivotally mounted to the hanger between the first and second ends. The suspension unit further includes a spindle arm mounted to the first end of the control arm. The suspension unit also includes a jounce spring on the control arm and a rebound spring mounted between the control arm and the hanger. The control arm and hanger are configured such that when the first end of the control arm pivots towards the frame of the vehicle the jounce spring is compressed and the rebound spring is relaxed and when the first end of the control arm moves away from the frame the jounce spring is relaxed and the rebound spring is compressed.
US08523207B2

A method for securing a suspension may include attaching a frame interface device to a vehicle frame and aligning a first connector set. Two first connectors may straddle a second connector, or a first connector may be straddled by two second connectors, when the connector set is aligned. These aligned connectors may be secured by a fastener, thereby securing the suspension to the frame. A suspension attachment system may include a hanger bracket of a suspension, a frame interface device, and a connector set. Two first connectors may straddle a second connector when the connector set is aligned. The suspension may be secured to the frame as a result of the aligned and secured connector set.
US08523201B2

The retractable stand device may include an upper device 161, a top device 171, and a lower device 181 that may hold a musical instrument such as a guitar. In addition, the retractable stand device may be in combination with a utility case 100 or it may be a kit with installation hardware. The utility case 100 may include a hinged lid 122 for access to an upper compartment 120, a base 140 for amplifiers, fixed compartments 130, movable compartments 128, handles 118, and wheels 142. Numerous combinations of stand devices and utility case options are included.
US08523199B2

A headrest-adjusting mechanism is adapted for use with a stroller. The stroller includes a headrest-supporting tube and a backrest-supporting tube. The headrest-adjusting mechanism is adapted to be connected between the headrest-supporting tube and the backrest-supporting tube in such a manner to allow for rotation of the headrest-supporting tube relative to the backrest-supporting tube from a usable position to a folded position in a predetermined direction.
US08523197B2

Disclosed herein is a folding transport cart which in a parking configuration has a minimum extension and in an operative configuration has a maximum extension in a transverse direction. A folding transport cart can comprise: two side parts which extend substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction of the transport cart, and a folding base part which comprises two flat base segments which are each connected on one base side axis for articulated movement to one side part and are connected on a common base central axis for articulated movement to one another. In order to ensure reliable folding and unfolding the transport cart can comprise a base locking mechanism for locking the folding base part in the operative configuration and a cover part which is connected for articulated movement to one of the side parts.
US08523196B1

A convertible beach cart and canopy apparatus includes a lower frame portion having front and rear support members and side members extending between opposed ends of the front and the rear support members. Wheels are coupled to opposed ends of the rear support members. The apparatus includes a rear frame portion having at least one upstanding support bar fixedly attached to the rear support member, the rear frame portion include a top support member coupled to an upper end of the at least one support bar. An upper frame portion is rotatably coupled to the top support member such that the canopy frame portion is movable between a stowed configuration generally adjacent the lower frame portion and an expanded configuration extending away from the top support member. A canopy is coupled to an end of the canopy frame portion and configured to shade an area adjacent the rear frame portion.
US08523193B1

Described is a convertible ride-on and pull wagon toy. The toy wagon includes a wagon body having a compartment therein for storage. A plurality of wheels are rotatably connected with the wagon body for supporting the wagon body on a ground surface. An elongated seat member having a wagon end and a handle end is attached with the wagon body such that the wagon end is pivotally connected with the wagon body. A handle is connected with the handle end of the elongated seat member. The elongated seat member is pivotally attached to the wagon body to rotate between a ride-on configuration, where the elongated seat member covers the compartment and operates as a seat (and can be selectively locked in place with a lock mechanism), and a pull wagon configuration, where the elongated seat member extends from the wagon and serves as a neck for the handle.
US08523186B2

A slide ring seal arrangement comprises a rotationally fixed slide ring (4) and a slide ring (11), which is provided for rotating together with a rotating component, these slide rings each being held in a loose seat and interacting, in, in essence, radially oriented sealing surfaces, which are prestressed with a main prestressing force while in contact with one another. Each slide ring, on its front face that faces away from the sealing surface, is axially supported on a supporting part (14, 17) via an annular bearing surface (16, 20) provided between the respective supporting part and the adjacent front face of the respective slide ring. A load ratio (d12−dH2)/(d12−d22) of =2.0, preferably between 0.8 and 2.0, preferably no greater than between 1.0 and 1.5, more preferably approximately 1.3 is maintained on the bearing surface (16, 20). The measurement (d1−d2) of each bearing surface (16, 20) is equal to =10 mm, preferably between 0.2 and 2.0, preferably no more than approximately 0.6 mm.
US08523184B1

The invention relates to table or floor games based on throwing a ball into the game field, and can be used in organizing leisure and entertainment for both children and adults. The game comprises a game field with a plurality of holes and at least one movable trap for the ball outside the game field. The trap for the ball may be fixed to a rod, which is slidably mounted on a bar, said bar being attached to the sidewall, which limits the game field. The trap for the ball may be fixed to a rod, which is mounted on a movable platform.
US08523181B2

A ticket CPU of a game machine counts up how many sheets of payout tickets were paid out and how many times of jackpot occurred during the performance of one game play. Then, the ticket CPU operates a data display to display the maximum number of payout tickets per one game play on that day and the maximum frequency of jackpots per one game play on that day. Thus, there is provided such game machine that a player can refer to the displayed game information as reference material for deciding the rough standard about amount of inserted medium they may bet.
US08523178B2

A discharge mechanism includes a rotating shaft that is rotatable, a plurality of roll portions provided around the rotating shaft, an opposing member provided above the roll portions so as to oppose the roll portions, the opposing member holding and conveying a material to be conveyed, in cooperation with the roll portions so that the material to be conveyed is discharged onto a discharge section, and a protrusion formed on an outer periphery of the rotating shaft, the protrusion not protruding beyond the outer diameter of the roll portions.
US08523170B2

A sheet feeder attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack of a plurality of stacked sheets, and feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeder includes an endless belt, a charging device, and a control device. The endless belt is made of a dielectric material, passes over upstream and downstream rollers, and is disposed above the sheet stack to face the sheet stack. The charging device applies an alternating voltage to an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form thereon alternating charge patterns. The control device separately controls the respective rotation states of the upstream and downstream rollers to make a sheet contact surface of the endless belt go slack in sheet attraction and make the sheet contact surface of the endless belt taut with tension into a substantially flat surface in sheet conveyance.
US08523168B2

There is provided an image recording apparatus including:a first and a second feeding roller; a recording head; a carriage; a first and a second drive motor; and a drive transmission switching mechanism transmitting a driving force of the second drive motor to the first and the second feeding roller. The drive transmission switching mechanism includes: a first to a fourth gear; a supporting shaft; a first transmitting section transmitting a rotation of the third gear to the first feeding roller and preventing transmission of rotation of the third gear to the first feeding roller, when the second gear is in a first posture; and a second transmitting section transmitting a rotation of the fourth gear to the second feeding roller and preventing transmission of rotation of the fourth gear to the second feeding roller, when the second gear is in the first posture.
US08523156B2

The present invention provides a positioning and pressing device, a pressing device and a tool for auxiliary machining of motor train underframe, the positioning and pressing device comprises a crossbeam, two supporting frames, two rotary vertical pressing structures, a lateral positioning structure, a lateral holding structure and two adjustable intermediate supporting structures; the two supporting frames are mounted in sliding manner on two sides of the upper surface of the crossbeam; the two rotary vertical pressing structures are respectively mounted on the tops of the two supporting frames; the lateral positioning structure is mounted on the side of one of the two supporting frames; the lateral holding structure is mounted on the side of the other one of the two supporting frames; and the two adjustable intermediate supporting structures are mounted on the upper surface of the crossbeam and between the two supporting frames. The present invention realizes that the tool for the auxiliary machining of the motor train underframe is modularized; the present invention solves the technical problems of the present technology that the motor train underframe machining structure is large in volume and is not convenient for transportation and movement and the adjustability thereof is not good and not capable of meeting the requirements of the auxiliary machining of the motor train underframe with different types.
US08523151B2

A fine bubble generating apparatus that efficiently generates fine bubbles on the nanometer level. A cylindrical member has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, a first end wall member closing one end of the cylindrical member, and a second end wall member closing the other end of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member and the first and second end wall members define a fluid swirling chamber. The cylindrical member has a fluid inlet hole at a position close to the second end wall member to supply a gas-liquid mixed fluid in the tangential direction of the peripheral surface of the fluid swirling chamber. The second end wall member has a fluid outlet hole extending therethrough along the center axis of the inner peripheral surface of the fluid swirling chamber. The gas-liquid mixed fluid is introduced into the fluid swirling chamber at a position close to the second end wall member.
US08523140B2

A torque limiting device with an override mechanism coupled to a valve assembly capable of limiting the torque applied to the valve assembly and selectively being overridden to permit the application of excessive torque to the valve assembly. Tattletale devices capable of indicating when an override mechanism has been activated can also be integrated with the torque limiting device.
US08523137B2

The invention relates to a slab formwork system comprising a plurality of formwork elements (98) which have on their underside girders (2) which can be coupled to heads (28) of vertical supports (90), in which slab formwork system the head of a vertical support has a lifting lock (44-51; 87) fixing a girder of a formwork element in the vertical direction. In addition, the head of a vertical support has fixing elements (52-66) which prevent a movement of the grider in its longitudinal direction.
US08523132B2

A back frame module includes a base plate, two locking plate members, a cable organizing plate, and a stowage plate. The base plate is adapted to be provided on a rear face of a display. The locking plate members, the cable organizing plate, and the stowage plate are selectively connected to the base plate. The locking plate members are adapted for mounting of a computer device therebetween. The cable organizing plate is adapted to stow a cable of the display or of the computer device. The stowage plate is adapted to stow an adapter of the display or other accessories. The locking plate members, the cable organizing plate, and the stowage plate can be selectively substituted by a support plate. The back frame module thus has various states of use to satisfy different user requirements.
US08523123B2

A foldable tool stand includes a base frame, a platform pivotally and slidingly connected to the base frame at a first side, a leg support having a top end pivotally connected to the base frame, a pair of links pivotally coupled between a second side of the platform and the base frame, a driving member pivotally connected to the links, and a follower set pivotally connected to the base frame. The driving member and follower set interact to selectively lock the foldable tool stand in either an extended supporting position, where the second side of the platform is spaced from the base frame, or a collapsed position, where the second side of the platform lies adjacent to the base frame.
US08523120B2

A component support device (7) that attaches components (61, 62) on a working structure (41) of a construction machine is formed by bending a plate along at least two bending lines, the component support device (7) including a support (711) formed at a center portion between the two bending lines for supporting the components (61, 62), and a pair of attachment legs (712, 713) formed at both sides of the support (711) to be fixed on the working structure (41), in which at least one of the pair of attachment legs (712, 713) is split into a plurality of portions at a portion to be fixed on the working structure (41), and rigidity of the attachment leg (712, 713) against a bending line direction is less than rigidity of the support (711) in the bending line direction.
US08523113B2

An aircraft leading edge ice protection system. The system includes: a thermoelectric heater mat (10) attachable to a leading edge component of an aircraft, the heater mat comprising: an electrically resistive heater element (12, 22) embedded in a thermoplastic layer (16, 26, 28), the thermoplastic layer having a first surface; and a first adhesive (20) receiving layer (18) located on a surface of the thermoplastic layer. A method of making an aircraft leading edge ice protection system, the method comprising: making a thermoelectric heater mat by embedding an electrically resistive heater element in a thermoplastic layer, the thermoplastic layer having a first surface; and locating a first adhesive receiving layer on a surface of the thermoplastic layer.
US08523110B2

A door frame component of cast titanium for a door opening in an outer skin of an aircraft or space vehicle and a structural fuselage part that includes the door frame component. The component includes a contact surface for bearing against the outer skin formed to correspond to an inner contour of the outer skin, The structural part includes the door frame component and an outer skin of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic material.
US08523107B2

A landing gear for an aircraft. The landing gear may have a wheel/truck assembly, an oleo strut/support frame for supporting the wheel/truck assembly, and a retraction assembly attached to the oleo strut/support frame, the retraction assembly for moving the landing gear between a deployed position and a retracted position. The retraction assembly may have a pivoting trunnion brace attached to the oleo strut/support frame and to a fuselage of the aircraft for positioning the wheel/truck assembly, the oleo strut/support frame and the retraction assembly at least substantially fully within the fuselage of the aircraft in the retracted position.
US08523099B2

The invention concerns a method and a coiler mandrel for coiling metal strip (110), wherein the coiler mandrel (100) comprises a mandrel body (120), a plurality of radially expandable segments (115) arranged around the mandrel body (120), and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders (116) by which the segments (115) can be moved in the radial direction. To be able to coil the metal strip with a circular coil eye even when the friction varies in the individual cylinders, the invention proposes that each cylinder (116) of the plurality of cylinders be individually controlled.
US08523095B2

A feed control arrangement for controlling the infeed of materials into a machine such as a wood chipper is provided. The feed control arrangement includes a control lever and an emergency stop bar. The control lever and emergency stop bar can be selectively activated to effectively control the infeed of material into the machine.
US08523090B2

A housing for an armature of a fuel injector, a fuel injector and a fuel injection system are disclosed. The armature housing includes a first cylindrical portion for slidably accommodating the armature pin. The first cylindrical portion has a minimum inner diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature pin. A second cylindrical portion of the armature housing accommodates the armature. The second cylindrical portion has an inner minimum diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature. The disclosed armature housing provides more reliable and more consistent movement of the armature.
US08523084B2

The present disclosure pertains generally to thermostats that are adapted to assist utilities in communicating with its customers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a thermostat having a display, a controller and a receiver that is coupled to the controller. The receiver is adapted to receive messages from a utility, and the controller is adapted to display one or more related display messages on the display.
US08523072B2

Devices, systems and methods for detecting skimming devices are provided. The present disclosure provides for a card reader assembly including a face plate having a slot for receiving a card in a direction of entry into the slot; an array of infrared proximity detectors disposed on the face plate; and a controller configured to selectively activate the array of infrared proximity detectors to determine if an object, for example, a skimming device, is placed over the slot of the face plate.
US08523070B2

A fuel management system for use by operators of temporary and/or permanent inventories of vehicles such as vehicle dealerships. Fuel vouchers are issued by authorized issuing personnel to authorized recipients if a validation procedure is passed using a database incorporating employee and vehicle inventory information. At the time of delivery, the fueling station will verify the vehicle and individual presenting the voucher. If verification occurs, the authorized quantity of fuel is dispensed. The voucher and sales receipt are returned to the dealership for future auditing and report generation. The system stores information to enable reports to be generated concerning fuel voucher issuance, actual fuel usage and to detect fraud or misuse, allowing more effective fuel expense management. In the event a report generates a fraud alert, appropriate management personnel are immediately notified by email, text messaging or other means.
US08523069B2

A system, apparatus, and method for facilitating the payment and collection of transit system fares using a mobile device. The inventive system utilizes a contactless element embedded within a mobile wireless device, such as a mobile phone, PDA, or the like. The smart element is integrated with the circuitry of the mobile device to permit the data to be accessed and manipulated (e.g., read, written, erased) using the wireless communications network as the data transport channel. The data required to enable a user to access a transit system and for the system to conduct fare calculations may be provided to the memory in the contactless element using the wireless network. Such data may include access control data (keys, passwords, identification data) or data required for fare calculations (rates, historical data on system use).
US08523065B1

We provide a system and method for temporarily coupling a beverage purchase with an RFID tag or other media, then recovering the RFID tag or other media for reuse after the beverage has been dispensed. Media may be, for example, but are not limited to cards (including plastic, cardboard, or paper cards), keychains, or key fobs.
US08523064B1

In one embodiment, a graphical user interface includes a conversion option to convert at least a subset of non-negotiable credits earned from one into entity independent funds in accordance with a conversion ratio. The entity independent funds are accepted by a commerce partner as at least partial payment for goods or services provided by the commerce partner. In absence of converting the non-negotiable credits into entity independent funds, the commerce partner does not accept the non-negotiable credits as payment for goods or services. Responsive to a received selection of the conversion option, the computer presents within the graphical user interface a quantity of available entity independent funds for use as payment for the goods or services provided by the commerce partner. The quantity of available entity independent funds results from converting the subset of non-negotiable credits into the quantity of available entity independent funds in accordance with the conversion ratio.
US08523060B2

A server computer including a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium includes code executable by the processor. The code includes code for determining a load value loaded on a portable consumer device in a first currency and code for converting at least a portion of the load value to a second currency using an exchange rate associated with the first currency and the second currency, where the exchange rate is associated with a set date. The set date may be a current or future date.
US08523056B1

A card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine operates responsive to data included on user cards. A system and method for producing the automated banking machine incorporating a plurality of hardware devices in the automated banking machine responsive to order data associated with a purchase order for the automated banking machine. The hardware devices include a card reader, a cash dispenser, at least one processor, at least one hard drive, and at least one output device. The order data includes at least one hardware part number corresponding to at least one of the devices, at least one software part number corresponding to at least one software component, and at least one customization part number corresponding to at least one customization file. The system and method include installing the software component and the customization file on the at least one hard drive of the machine, through operation of the at least one server responsive to the order data.
US08523055B1

A card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine is provided which includes a safe and at least a portion of a cash dispenser positioned within the safe. The cash dispenser includes an input device which when manually operated from within the safe causes the cash dispenser to accept data usable to authenticate communications received from a computer located outside the safe in the automated banking machine. The cash dispenser is operative responsive to authenticated communication to dispense cash.
US08523035B2

A fastener driving apparatus includes a power source, a control circuit, a motor, a first hollow guide member having a first volumetric capacity, a first piston, a linear motion converter, a second hollow guide member having a second volumetric capacity, a second piston, an anvil, a valve arrangement and at least one sensor. The guide members may have an elliptical or oval cross-section. During a compression stroke, the first piston compresses gas in the first hollow guide member. The valve arrangement opens and communicates the compressed gas to the second hollow guide member, causing the second piston to move the anvil to drive a fastener. During a return stroke of the first piston, the valve arrangement opens, communicating a vacuum created in the first hollow guide member to the second hollow guide member, thereby causing the second piston and the anvil to retract to their initial positions.
US08523026B2

An apparatus and methods for hanging a garment are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first arm with a first end portion and a second end portion and a second arm with a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the first arm includes a hook configured to be disposed over a closet rod. The second arm is rotatably coupled to the first arm between a first expanded configuration and a second collapsed configuration. The first end portion of the second arm is configured to selectively engage the closet rod and hold the hanger in the expanded configuration. The second portion of the first arm and the second portion of the second arm are collectively configured to hang a garment.
US08523009B2

A closure for a container includes a base and a peripheral wall, which may have a rim forming an upper margin of the peripheral wall and surrounding the opening of the container. The rim may have an external protrusion formed integrally with and surrounding the rim. The closure may have an overlying closure portion overlying the opening of the container when the closure is mounted on the container and a skirt formed integrally with the overlying closure portion to surround the rim when the closure is mounted to the container. The skirt includes a first portion adjacent to and surrounding an external upper end of the rim and a second portion connected to the first portion via a connection. The second portion may extend downwardly from the first portion to surround the rim below its upper end when the closure is mounted on the container.
US08523008B2

An insulation sleeve including a protrusion formed on a sidewall of the cup which is caught by a finger of a user's hand is provided, in which, in a case where the cup is filled with a hot content, the user can easily and safely grip the cup, without slippage, at movement with the cup. The insulation sleeve includes a sleeve body having a hollow portion which is formed when a force is applied both corners of the folded sleeve body so as to accommodate and support the cup therein; and a pair of protrusions formed by a -shaped, ⊥-shaped, ⊂-shaped or L-shaped cut line provided on the sleeve body, and protruding from the sleeve body in an outward direction when the hollow portion is provided, so that the protrusions are caught by a an upper portion of a finger of a hand gripping the sleeve body.
US08523007B2

Snapable narrow width rectangular dust pan that can clip about a flat side outer edge of the open end of a refuse container having curved or flat side open rim edges. The dust pan can be used for converting a refuse container into a dust pan refuse container. The receptacle can include an open upper end with a D-shaped configuration and a closed bottom end with a substantially circular bottom configuration. The receptacle can have a generally cylindrical shape and a flat side wall having a triangular tubular shape for allowing the receptacle to be laid on its side so that rakes and brooms can move debris into the D-shaped opening. At least one handle located on the apex of the D-shaped opening allows the container to be lifted to a vertical standing position, and curved interior wall surfaces allow debris to slide toward the bottom of the container.
US08523004B2

A method of manufacturing a custom sized plastic tote lighter in weight than heretofore known custom sized plastic totes is provided. The method comprises separating an injection molded tote into upper and lower portions by cutting the injection molded tote. A sleeve or middle portion of plastic material is secured to the upper and lower portions of the injection molded tote to create a custom sized plastic tote of a desired height. Alternatively, portions of different injection molded totes may be used to create a custom sized plastic tote. The sleeve may be made from different materials and may be made of multiple pieces.
US08523001B2

A thermal expansion/surge reduction water tank includes a hollow housing with a bladder sealed to an inside of the housing forming two compartments therein. A compressed air inlet in communication with a first of the compartments is provided for expanding the first compartment by focusing the bladder into an abutting relationship with the housing inside. A water inlet and a water outlet in communication with a second of the compartments is provided and disposed for causing non-laminar flow of water through the second compartment for both expanding the second compartment by forcing said bladder into the first compartment and flushing the second compartment to effect self-cleaning thereof. A plurality of protuberances disposed on a side of said bladder facing the second compartment are provided for preventing sealing of the bladder in an area of abutment with the housing inside between the water inlet and outlet thereby enabling fluid flow between the water inlet and outlet with said bladder abutting the housing inside.
US08523000B2

Multi-compartmentalized container system includes a container having a lid member and a tray member. The lid member includes a plurality of first recesses formed on a bottom surface of the lid member and opening in a first direction, a membrane disposed over the first recesses to retain contents of the first recesses, and at least one second recess formed on an opposite surface to the bottom surface of the lid member and opening in a second direction opposite the first direction. The lid member is releasably lockable to the tray member by placing the bottom surface of the lid member toward the tray member.
US08522995B2

The invention closures that opens sealed containers and close such containers thereafter and method of using the same.
US08522994B2

A hermetically sealed thermoplastic container having a dispensing nozzle occluded by a unitary but removable cap is provided with at least one fin alongside the dispensing nozzle. The fin is situated adjacent to the cap so that the rim of the cap can engage the fin to facilitate removal of the cap from the container.
US08522985B2

A method of displaying consumer electronic devices comprises supporting a plurality of rails on a frame in a generally parallel, spaced relationship and configuring each rail for slidable movement relative to the frame in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each rail. A first row of display units is supported between a first adjacent pair of the rails and a second row of display units between a second adjacent pair of the rails, with each display unit comprising at least one of a device support unit and a plate. The plurality of display units are reconfigurable by exchanging the display units between different lateral positions within at least one of the first and second rows of display units and/or by exchanging at least one display unit between the first row and the second row of display units.
US08522977B1

Disclosed is a packaging system for protecting a radio frequency readable label from being read while the label is on or embedded within a packaged product. The product packaging may include a shielding member that is rendered unusable upon removal of the product from the packaging. The radio frequency readable product label may be on or in a product, and contain information related to the product, such as product identification.
US08522975B2

A package assembly includes a plurality of syringe assemblies. Each syringe assembly has a syringe flange defining an opening. The syringe flange of each of the syringe assemblies is coupled to a plurality of adjacent syringe flanges to define a panel. Each of the syringe flanges includes a plurality of lateral edges. The plurality of lateral edges of each syringe flange is coupled to the lateral edge of adjacent syringe flanges in a breakaway configuration to facilitate separation of each of the plurality of syringe assemblies from the panel.
US08522969B2

An appliance storage and organizer device, the device includes a housing having a plurality of walls forming an enclosure with a hollow interior. At least one of the plurality of walls includes a plurality of holes each adapted for receiving and retaining an electrical hair care appliance. The device further includes a means for organizing and preventing entanglement of an electrical cord(s) of an electrical appliance(s).
US08522964B1

A jewelry storage case is provided for organizing jewelry into separate labeled compartments within a portable case. The case includes a housing having an interior and a top hingedly coupled to a bottom. A plurality of lower cups is positioned in the bottom of the housing. Each lower cup is configured for receiving and holding a pair of earrings. An elongated lower channel is positioned in the bottom of the housing. An elongated lower wall is positioned in the lower channel defining a lower inner compartment and a lower outer compartment configured for holding a bracelet and a necklace respectively.
US08522961B2

A two-material conveyor belt module and a method for making it. A conveyor belt module comprises a rigid thermoplastic link substrate topped with a high-friction layer made of a resilient material. A dense array of teeth protrudes upward from the link substrate. The resilient material is overmolded onto the link substrate at a temperature high enough to melt the ends of the teeth. The melted ends of the teeth mix with the resilient material to form a bond firmly retaining the high-friction layer atop the substrate.
US08522956B2

An arrangement for separating cylindrical bodies, such as parisons for hollow bodies, which have at least one protuberance at a first end, has a pair of parallel guide elements between which the cylindrical bodies can be erected in that the cylindrical bodies hang on the guide elements in each case by way of the protuberance. The separating arrangement here has a detecting arrangement with an ejector by means of which cylindrical bodies which, although hanging on the guide elements by way of the protuberance, do not have their second end hanging downwards or are nested one inside the other, are detected and ejected from the individual row.
US08522954B2

The device for transferring items to a transport system or to a storage unit has a feed unit for conveying a plurality of items in three parallel feeding lines. Further, is has a transfer station for receiving the items from the feed unit and for transferring the items to the transport system or to the storage device. The transfer station includes three temporary storage lines arranged in parallel. The items are provided by the feed unit in a manner that the items in each of the temporary storage lines are arranged offset from the items in the other temporary storage lines with respect to a first direction. A pusher in the transfer station pushes the items in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to a single temporary storage line.
US08522949B2

A paper sheet processing apparatus capable of preventing authentication accuracy from degrading even when a state change occurs due to attachment of water or the like. The paper sheet processing apparatus includes: a light receiving unit which receives transmitted and reflected lights from the paper sheet radiated by light emitting parts; a converter which converts the transmitted and reflected lights received by the light receiving part per pixel into data including color information having brightness; a RAM which stores transmitted and reflected light images received by the light receiving unit; an authenticity judgment processing part which determines the authenticity of the paper sheet based on the images stored in the RAM; and a determining part which excludes, based on a comparison result between brightness of the transmitted and reflected images in the predetermined area.
US08522948B1

A concrete dispensing chute extension device for facilitating the pouring of concrete attaches to an end portion of a concrete truck chute and comprises a funnel-shaped lower opening having a cylindrical flexible chute extending directly downward. Concrete is poured down the chute and into the device, the device is directed straight downward into a concrete form. Utilization of the device reduces the impact of the concrete against the sides of the form and the incidents of the form capsizing.
US08522938B2

An article securement system for attaching an article to another article, such as article of luggage to another article of luggage. The article securement system includes a cord, such as an elastic cord, that is inserted through a handle. A cord locking mechanism is mounted on the cord as well. A second handle may be mounted on the cord as well with the cord locking mechanism between the two handles. In use, the cord is secured to a first attachment point on the first article, such as on a luggage handle. The cord and handle are pulled over the second article and engages over a second attachment point on the first article, such as an extendible handle. The cord is then through the handle until the tension is sufficient on the cord to secure the second article. The cord locking mechanism is then used to lock the cord from movement relative to the handle.
US08522937B2

A luggage case system comprises a case, a wheel and handle assembly, and at least one clip. The case has a top, bottom, front, back and sides. The wheel and handle assembly comprises a partial housing including a bottom, a back, and sides, an extendable handle secured to said back. The partial housing conforms in shape to that of said case, such that said bottom of said case may be placed on the bottom of the partial housing, and said back and sides of said case will engage the back and sides of said partial housing. The at least one clip is configured to engage the case and the wheel and handle assembly to releasably secure the case to the wheel and handle assembly, whereby with said handle extended said case may be pulled by said handle.
US08522935B2

A balancing valve for balancing the braking system of a vehicle equipped with two separated master cylinders for the independent braking of the wheels situated at the two sides of the vehicle, wherein at least one of two ring packings which cooperate with the intake of a transfer channel connecting both master cylinders is housed within a containment space that allows a displacement of this packing to substantially increase the volume of the space located on the packing side communicating with the transfer channel.
US08522932B2

To provide a disc brake pad for a disc brake equipped with a metal disc rotor, having a friction material that includes a fiber base material, a binder, an abrasive material, and a frictional wear modifier, which effectively minimizes a sticking problem of the friction material and the disc rotor and simultaneously provides effective fading resistance, wear resistance, and formability. The friction material includes the fiber base material, binder, abrasive material, and frictional wear modifier, and friction material has the binder of 4.5-7.0 weight % relative to the gross friction material amount, aralkyl modified phenolic resin of at least 50 weight % relative to the binder amount, inorganic particles of 1-3 weight % as the abrasive material with 6-8 of Moh's hardness and average particle diameter of 10-200 μm. Furthermore, the friction material includes alkali metal titanate and/or alkali earth metal titanate of 20-30 weight %.
US08522923B2

A fluid supply apparatus includes a main passage through which fluid flows, a parallel passage section, and a pressure loss adjusting mechanism. The parallel passage section includes a plurality of passages connected in parallel to the main passage. The parallel passage section includes a selector valve, which changes the number of passages through which fluid passes among the plurality of passages. The pressure loss adjusting mechanism suppresses change in the pressure loss at the parallel passage section associated with change in an operating state of the selector valve.
US08522914B2

A pump apparatus including a pump housing, a drive shaft, a cam ring movably disposed in the pump housing, a pump element disposed within the cam ring and rotationally driven by the drive shaft to vary a specific discharge quantity which is a discharge quantity of the working oil per one rotation of the pump element in accordance with variation in eccentric amount of the cam ring with respect to the drive shaft, and a solenoid which is drivingly controlled on the basis of a steering condition and a vehicle speed and operated to control the eccentric amount of the cam ring. The solenoid is controlled to execute a flow rate reduction control during cranking of an engine of the vehicle in which the cam ring is allowed to move in such a direction as to reduce the specific discharge quantity.
US08522909B2

An attachment structure of an electromotor, connected to rear wheels, of a vehicle, includes: a sub frame, to which the electromotor is assembled, provided at a rear portion of the vehicle, and having members extending in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear cross members extending in a width direction of the vehicle, the sub frame having a rectangular shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and width directions; a receptacle provided at a front of the sub frame; and a rear motor mount provided at a rear of the rear cross member, a position of the rear motor mount being substantially the same as that of the electromotor in the perpendicular direction, the electromotor being provided at an upper side of the rear cross member; and a connection member, to which the electromotor is fixed, being provided at a lower side of the front cross member.
US08522904B2

A battery mounting arrangement for a vehicle includes a compartment (e.g., an engine compartment), a cover disposed over the compartment (e.g., a hood disposed over an engine compartment) and a spring mounted set plate mounted to the cover for applying a hold down force on an associated battery mounted in the compartment.
US08522903B1

A long distance electric vehicle is provided with an onboard energy converter and an onboard energy recycler that will store large quantities of electric current into an onboard battery during transit thereby enabling said electric vehicle to travel 1,000 miles without exhausting the electrical charge of said onboard battery.
US08522896B2

Processes and apparatus that continuously change the physical state and characteristics of drilling fluids at planned periodic intervals to consistently and correctly compensate for differing geological formation properties, wellbore characteristics, rate of penetration, solids removal efficiency, and other essential factors involved in the drilling process, comprising: initiating a system correction of a Minimum Base Required (“MBR”); and administering a dilutant to a drilling fluid according to the MBR. The system corrections may be performed recursively, adjusting the system's base dilutant and chemical product additions according to MBR. The drilling fluid consistency produced is based upon several drilling-rig specific parameters. Drilling fluid consistency is provided onsite through the use of mathematical software, base fluid, rig software that targets the programmed parameters, and scheduled treatments that are structured for stability according to the minimum amount of base dilutant and required quantity of chemical product to produce consistent drilling fluid properties.
US08522892B2

An apparatus and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed for an impact device with interchangeable tools for applying precise momentum force to an external object. The device includes two elongated members, one of which containing a hollow portion, and a tool head disposed on one side of the first elongated member. The device can be configured to allow the first elongated member to be removably inserted into the second elongated member and to allow the second elongated member to strike the tool head in order to impart force on an external object.
US08522877B2

Systems and methods for locking a sliding sleeve valve in an open position and/or a closed position to prevent inadvertent operation of the sleeve valve during other operations. A sliding sleeve valve locking assembly includes an outer housing defining a locking bore portion with a first locking groove formed therein, a sliding sleeve collet member having a collet finger with a tab shaped and sized to reside within the first locking groove. The sliding sleeve valve locking assembly also includes a collet locking member that is moveably disposed within the sliding sleeve collet member to selectively lock the sliding sleeve collet member within the locking bore portion.
US08522875B2

The invention describes improved fracturing compositions, methods of preparing fracturing compositions and methods of use. Importantly, the subject invention overcomes problems in the use of mists as an effective fracturing composition particularly having regard to the ability of a mist to transport an effective volume of proppant into a formation. As a result, the subject technologies provide an effective economic solution to using high ratio gas fracturing compositions that can be produced in a continuous (i.e. non-batch) process without the attendant capital and operating costs of current pure gas fracturing equipment.
US08522870B2

Systems and methods for downhole formation testing based on the use of one or more elongated sealing pads capable of sealing off and collecting or injecting fluids from elongated portions along the surface of a borehole. The modified sealing pads increase the flow area by collecting fluids from an extended portion along the surface of a borehole, which is likely to straddle one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations. A tester device using the elongated sealing pads can be deployed and withdrawn using an extendible element pressing the pads to the borehole. Various designs and arrangements for use with a fluid tester, which may be part of a modular fluid tool, are disclosed in accordance with different embodiments.
US08522864B1

A stripper blow out preventer for oil field equipment, wherein the stripper blow out preventer can include a housing with a bore. The housing can have an open port and close port for accepting the hydraulic fluid, and a grease port for accepting grease. An annular recess of the housing can be in communication with the bore. A retainer ring can be engaged in the annular recess. A piston can be disposed in the annular recess. A seal element can be disposed in the annular recess between the retainer ring and the piston, and can have a thru bore. An insert can be engaged with the retainer ring. When the close port is pressurized, the piston can press against the seal element to form a seal against the oil field equipment. When the open port is pressurized, the piston can move to relax the seal element.
US08522855B2

A sunshade includes a roller, a screen wound on the roller, a torque unit, and a latch unit. The torque unit is mounted in the roller, extends outwardly of the roller, and is disposed for urging movement of the screen to a wound state. The latch unit includes a plug disposed in the roller and formed with a pin hole, a pin member, and a biasing member disposed in the roller. The pin member has a main portion (521) extending movably through the pin hole, a diameter-enlarged portion disposed in the roller and connected fixedly to the main portion, and a shoulder portion formed between the main portion and the diameter-enlarged portion and biased by the biasing member to abut resiliently against the plug.
US08522854B2

An operating device for rotating a winding roller of a window blind, includes an upright rotating shaft rotatable to cause rotation of the winding roller and having a thread segment, a sleeve shell movably surrounding the thread segment, a carrier disposed within the sleeve shell to be movable axially between pressed and non-pressed positions to hold a force transmitting member that is engaged with the thread segment, and a rotation preventing unit disposed between the sleeve shell and the carrier so as to transmit an axially manual force applied to the sleeve shell to move the carrier axially so as to rotate the rotating shaft through engagement of the force transmitting member with the thread segment in the pressed position, thereby winding up a window covering.
US08522845B2

Provided is a pneumatic tire which is capable of securing a driving stability on dry road surfaces and concurrently of improving snow performance without worsening its pattern noise. The pneumatic tire includes four main grooves each extending in its tread part in a tire circumferential direction, and the four main grooves partition the tread part into: a center land part; paired intermediate land parts located with the center land part being interposed in between; and paired shoulder land parts located with the center land part and the paired intermediate land parts being interposed in between. Each of the intermediate land parts and the shoulder land parts includes multiple V-shaped grooves each configured of: a thick groove part extending in a tire width direction; and a thin groove part extending in the tire circumferential direction. The V-shaped grooves are arranged in a way that each paired V-shaped grooves are opposed to each other in the tire circumferential direction with a connecting groove part being interposed between vertices of the respective paired V-shaped grooves. Each thick groove part communicates with the main grooves or the outside of a ground contacting area. Each thin groove part terminates within the land part.
US08522835B2

A hydrogen source comprises a first hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a first form and a second hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a second form different from the first form. The hydrogen source comprises a means for converting hydrogen from the first form to hydrogen gas and transferring the hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen reservoir to the second hydrogen reservoir. An interface is provided for transferring hydrogen from the second hydrogen reservoir to a hydrogen reservoir in a portable device. The interface comprises a fluidic coupling. The hydrogen source may be used to provide hydrogen fuel to a wide range of portable devices.
US08522830B2

A crimping device for securing a seal member onto overlapped end portions of a strap material includes at least a tool head, operating and stationary handles, two rows of crimping elements having at least a pair of shears and oppositely situated pair of jaws extended between the pair of shears. The crimping elements may be disposed in the tool head and connected with the handles so that at least one row of crimping elements crimps a seal while at least one row is idle when the handles move away from each other. In an embodiment, the handles can make an inward stroke only when a full jaw-closing outward crimping stroke is completed. At least one row of crimping elements crimps the seal with an inward movement of the handles while at least one previously actuated row of crimping elements is not involved in closing the seal.
US08522826B1

An isolation device for oil circuit contains a first clamper and the second clamper which include a first clamping portion and a second clamping and two grip portions; the first clamping portion having a first plug and a notch; the second clamper being located at a recess of the notch, and the recess having a post extending upwardly, the post having a groove formed therein for inserting a fixing member, a disc, a compression spring, and a washer, the fixing member being received in the recess of the second clamper and having a plurality of ribs, the disc having a plurality of slots; the disc having a first cutout, a second cutout, and a third cutout provided in an array arrangement, wherein the first cutout, the second cutout, and the third cutout are in different sizes, and the disc also having a second plug in different sizes.
US08522825B2

A fluid apparatus unit structure in which a uniform tightening force is easily applied over the entire periphery by tightening a plurality of fastening members to obtain an advantageous sealing performance is provided. In s fluid apparatus unit structure in which plural fluid apparatus components that are connected via flow paths are collected together and integrated onto a base member, a casing member for the fluid apparatus components is partitioned into plural members in the base member mating direction, a female threading portion assembly (19) in which plural nut portions (18a) that form female threading portions that communicate in the mating direction are integrated by a linking member (18b), is fit and installed on base side partitioned members of a casing member that is disposed at a position in close contact with a base member or a base members, and with base side member interposed therebetween, different fastening members are threaded and tightened from both sides of the nut portion (18a).
US08522824B2

An aseptic or sanitary diaphragm valve has a valve body and at least one cylinder-actuated valve mechanism. A chamber is defined between a cylinder head and a plate or disk, which has a central bore or passage. A flexible diaphragm extends across the cylinder below the plate or disk. A piston within a cylinder is connected with a valve member foot portion, with a stem passing from the foot portion, penetrating the diaphragm, and passing through the bor or passage to the piston. A compression spring urges the piston to either its raised or lowered position, and air pressure may be used to lower or to raise the piston and the associated valve foot. An aperture in the cylinder can reveal a compromise of the diaphragms.
US08522823B2

A railway car control valve comprises a brake pipe port, an auxiliary reservoir port, a main piston configured to compare air pressures at the brake pipe port and the auxiliary reservoir port, and a one-way check valve positioned intermediate the brake pipe port and the auxiliary reservoir port. The one way check valve comprises a body having a bore extending from its first end to its second end, an elongated insert configured to reduce the rate of air flow through the body, and a sleeve received on the insert's outer surface. The insert is received in the body bore. One of the insert and the sleeve is configured to move between a first position and a second position that either allows air to flow or prevents air from flowing, respectively.
US08522821B2

A servovalve torque motor includes first and second pole pieces and an armature. Each of the first and second pole pieces includes an armature face that opposes the armature. The area of the armature face of the second pole piece is smaller than the area of the armature face of the first pole piece. The unequal areas of the first and second armature faces create a bias in the servovalve torque motor while allowing the first and second pole pieces to be disposed at equal distances from the armature to define substantially equal air gaps. The inclusion of substantially equal air gaps between the pole pieces and the armature reduces the maximum flux in the armature for the same bias and torque output, compared to conventional servovalve torque motors. The reduction in maximum armature flux decreases armature saturation and improves linearity during operation.
US08522819B2

Disclosed herein are fluid distribution methods and assemblies for supplying fluid to test assemblies. One embodiment of a fluid distribution assembly comprises at least two input lines each configured to supply a fluid. A source selection component is connected to the input lines and configured to receive the fluid of the input lines and select from the fluids a target fluid. A range selection component is configured to receive the target fluid and to select a flow range of the target fluid, outputting the target fluid to a flow component comprising a first flow adjustment component having a first flow rate resolution and a second flow adjustment component having a second flow rate resolution. The range selection component is configured to selectively output the target fluid to one of the first flow adjustment component and the second flow adjustment component based on the selected flow range.
US08522815B2

With a gas shutoff device in the related art, a non-uniform gas layer can be produced by mixing of a gas of a different type from the gas currently in use during a shift in the amount of heat or installation or replacement, and an unexpected flow rate may be detected due to a disruption in the propagation of ultrasonic waves, thereby causing an erroneous determination of a flow rate abnormality or a sensor abnormality. With the gas shutoff device according to the invention, a valve-closing timer section 14 starts to time based on a valve-closing signal which is output by the flow rate abnormality or the sensor abnormality, and outputs a valve-opening signal to a valve driving section 12 if a release input is accepted from outside within a setting time period. Thus, even when the non-uniform gas layer is produced by mixing the gas of a different type from the gas currently in use during the shift in the amount of heat or installation or replacement, an unexpected flow rate is detected due to the disruption in the propagation of ultrasonic waves, thereby causing the erroneous determination of the flow rate abnormality or the sensor abnormality, and the valve is closed, the erroneous determination is resolved and the gas is available again within a given time period.
US08522809B2

Systems and methods for venting gas from a gas regulator in the event of overpressurization of the gas regulator are provided. A bonnet for a gas regulator that includes one or more apertures through which gas may vent. The bonnet may be made of a moldable synthetic plastic material, such as glass filled nylon.
US08522803B2

A material-removal system can include a spray-head assembly with a plurality of rotatable fluid bars arranged in a single shroud with overlapping sweeps. A gear-box assembly can index the rotations of the fluid bars to coordinate their rotation and prevent the fluid bars from interfering with one another. The material-removal system can be mounted on a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. The vehicle can have a fluid-storage tank and a debris tank that can be tilted for dumping operation while the fluid-storage tank remains stationary. A peristaltic pump can advantageously remove liquid waste from the debris tank while a vacuum system has the debris tank operating under vacuum. The spray-head assembly can be coupled to the vehicle with an articulating-arm assembly that can include a four-bar mechanism and a pair of rotary actuators to facilitate vertical and rotational movement of the arm assembly and the spray-head assembly.
US08522794B2

A method of imparting hair strand effects may include identifying each of a plurality of hair strands to which to apply a hair strand effect product independently and individually, the plurality of hair strands associated with an illustration of at least one type of hair strand effects and one of a plurality of hair styles, and applying the product to each of the plurality of hair strands independently and individually subsequent to identifying the plurality of hair strands. In the alternative or in combination, a hair instruction guide may be consulted, the guide having at least one strand size associated with one of the plurality of types of hair strand effects, and a strand of hair may be identified according to the at least one strand size. A system for creating a hair strand effect may include a hair strand effect product and such a hair instruction guide.
US08522793B2

A flash dryer of cut tobacco comprises a drying duct (16) for connecting a feeding section (14) of cut tobacco to a tangential separator (18). The drying duct (16) has an upstream-side duct portion (16a) extending straight from the feeding section (14) at an elevation angle ranging from 30° to 60° and a downstream-side duct portion (16b) curving upward in a convex shape. A dry gas that flows through the drying duct (16) may contain superheated steam.
US08522787B2

An inflatable balloon cuff may be adapted to seal a patient's trachea when associated with an endotracheal tube. These cuffs may include features that facilitate detection or visualization of the cuff, for example with ultrasound devices, to ensure proper placement of the cuff and the tube. Such surface features may include particular types of materials or shaped or protruding features that may be detected in the environment of the trachea.
US08522780B2

A portable ventilator uses a ROOTS-type blower as a compressor to reduce both the size and power consumption of the ventilator. Various functional aspects of the ventilator are delegated to multiple subassemblies having dedicated controllers and software that interact with a ventilator processor to provide user interface functions, exhalation control and flow control servos, and monitoring of patient status. The ventilator overcomes noise problems through the use of noise reducing pressure compensating orifices on the ROOTS-type blower housing and multiple baffling chambers. The ventilator is configured with a highly portable form factor, and may be used as a stand-alone device or as a docked device having a docking cradle with enhanced interface and monitoring capabilities.
US08522771B2

An edge guard for use adjacent an edge. The edge guard comprises a cushion member and an edge attachment. The cushion member includes a first face, a second face, and a cushion edge portion disposed between them. Both faces have inner portions extending away from the cushion edge portion towards end portions. The inner portions are positioned adjacent surfaces surrounding the edge. The edge attachment includes an upper surface, an attached end, and a distal end. The attached end is attached to one of the end portions of the cushion member. The edge attachment is stiffer than the cushion member. The upper surface of the edge attachment is separated a distance from the surface it is positioned adjacent that tapers from a larger distance at the attached end to a smaller distance at the distal end.
US08522770B2

A system includes an intake, an exhaust, and an adjustable directing member. The intake is for taking in air, the exhaust is for exhausting air, and the adjustable directing member is positioned for directing exhaust air toward the intake. Another aspect is a system that includes a source of polluted air and an air cleaning system. The air cleaning system includes an intake, an exhaust, and a directing member. The intake is for taking in polluted air and the exhaust is for exhausting air. The directing member is for directing air from the exhaust toward the intake to provide an air screen for keeping the polluted air in the vicinity of the intake.
US08522765B1

A bowstring release mechanism includes first and second jaws pivotally connected to a housing with a trigger section operably associated with the jaws for moving the jaws between open and closed positions. A cylindrically-shaped bearing is located in grooves formed in the jaws to thereby laterally restrain movement of the first and second jaws while permitting pivotal movement thereof.
US08522763B2

The present apparatus is for a compound spring loaded archery bow and especially to an improved compound spring loaded archery bow having pre-adjustments for the compression spring and positioning of the compression spring housing to accommodate different archers.
US08522761B1

A trigger assembly includes a body having a pivot and a hook is mounted to the pivot. The body has a chamber and a path communicates with the chamber. A first positioning unit is located in the path and a safety member is located in the chamber which has two slots and the first positioning unit contacts the slots. An activation member is located on the top of the safety member and has a guide groove and a positioning hole. A guide rod on the safety member is located in the guide groove. A second positioning unit is located in the body and contacts the positioning hole. A pivotal member is pivotably connected to the body and has an end contacting a push portion of the activation member. A spring is mounted to the protrusion and contacts the inside of the body. The trigger assembly includes two safety protections.
US08522757B2

An internal combustion engine having an engine block for internal combustion, a high-pressure (HP) turbocharger for delivering pressurized intake air to the engine block, a low-pressure (LP) turbocharger for delivering pressurized intake air to the HP turbocharger, a turbogenerator for recovering heat energy from the exhaust gas downstream of the LP turbocharger to generate electricity, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system comprising an EGR-pump drawing exhaust gas from an EGR inlet located downstream of the turbogenerator, wherein the EGR-pump controllably delivers exhaust gas to an EGR mixer in the pressurized intake air stream at a location between the LP turbocharger and HP turbocharger. An electronic control unit (ECU) is adapted to command the EGR-pump to deliver a desired EGR flow-rate to the engine block based on look-up tables and either open-loop and/or closed-loop control algorithms.
US08522750B2

A method and apparatus for providing automatic pressure balancing of an internal combustion engine. The engine includes cylinders, fuel injector valves provided to selectively deliver fuel directly into the cylinders, fuel-balancing valves each fluidly connected to the fuel injector valves for controlling the fuel delivered to the fuel injector valves and cylinder pressure sensors each mounted to one of the cylinders. The method comprises an automatic pressure balancing procedure including the steps of monitoring a cylinder pressure in each of the cylinders, determining a peak combustion pressure produced in each of the cylinders, calculating a mean peak pressure produced in all of the cylinders, calculating a pressure difference between the mean and the peak pressure and incrementally adjusting the fuel delivered by one of the fuel-balancing valves to the corresponding fuel injector valve mounted to the cylinder having the pressure difference larger than a predetermined pressure value.
US08522747B1

The fuel injection apparatus includes: a fuel injector having a leading end portion that has an internal space in which fuel is accumulated and an injection port for injecting fuel; and an adsorbent disposed in the internal space, the adsorbent being capable of selectively adsorbing an alcohol component in a blended fuel of gasoline and alcohol. The fuel injection apparatus controls an injection amount from the fuel injector such that an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine is a control target air-fuel ratio based on an alcohol concentration of the blended fuel to be supplied to the fuel injector. In this fuel injection apparatus, a fuel pressure is brought to a predetermined low fuel pressure when a request is issued for desorbing alcohol adsorbed on the adsorbent.
US08522736B2

OBJECT: To provide a compact phase varying device for an automobile engine, adapted to vary the relative phase angle between the crankshaft of the engine and the camshaft of the device over a wider range than that of conventional device.MEANS FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECT:The phase varying device has: a drive rotor driven by the crankshaft of the engine; a first control rotor rotatable relative to the drive rotor under the action of a torque means; and a phase angle varying mechanism operably coupled to the first control rotor in rotational motion relative to the first control rotor, the drive rotor and first control rotor rotatably supported by a camshaft of the phase varying apparatus, the phase varying device adapted to vary the phase angle of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft by varying the phase angle of the camshaft relative to the drive rotor. The phase angle varying mechanism is characterized by comprising: a first circular eccentric cam integrated with the first control rotor and having a center eccentrically offset from the rotational axis of the camshaft; a second circular eccentric cam integrated with the camshaft and having a center eccentrically offset from the rotational axis of the camshaft; a cam guide member for rotatably coupling the first circular eccentric cams with the second circular eccentric cam and for converting the eccentric rotational motion of the first circular eccentric cam into the eccentric rotational motion of the second circular eccentric cam.
US08522727B2

A pet leash handle includes a hollow housing formed with a grip opening, and having a spring loaded wind up reel rotatably mounted within the housing on which a leash is wound which may be unwound against the resistance of a wind up spring, said leash extending out of said housing via a guide opening therein. An elongated water bowl is detachably mounted along a lower side of the housing in which a water bottle is nested. A bag storage cavity is provided within the housing above the lower side of the housings and a release button operates a mechanism which locks or releases the wind up reel.
US08522725B1

A retrieving tool including a retrieving dummy and/or a kit incorporating the same is provided that facilitates training a dog or puppy to find and/or retrieve antlers that were shed by antler bearing animals. The retrieving dummy is shaped to resemble a naturally grown antler and emits an antler scent. A scent carrier may be applied to the retrieving dummy, to allow the retrieving dummy to emit such antler scent. The kit may further include a second retrieving dummy that is less similar in shape, texture, hardness or feel, to a naturally grown antler than the first, and a scent intensity of the antler scent may be varied with use of the one or more retrieving dummies so as to allow for incremental or gradual introduction of the shape, feel, and/or scent of naturally grown antlers to the dog or puppy being trained.
US08522721B2

A method and apparatus that detects a condition of a cage for housing laboratory animals includes providing an animal cage including a base part and a top and cage means for automatically detecting at least one of at least one bedding condition corresponding to a humidity level or an occurring flooding condition. At least one of the resistance or the impedance of material between said pair of electrodes is determined using one of direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). At least one of the bedding condition or the flooding condition is measured based on a rate of one or more changes of one of a resistance or an impedance of said material between said electrodes.
US08522715B2

An apparatus for controlling gas flow conductance in a plasma processing chamber being configured with an upper electrode disposed opposite a lower electrode adapted to support a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a ground ring configured to include a first set of radial slots formed therein. The apparatus also includes a confinement ring arrangement which includes at least a first set of collapsible confinement rings and a second set of collapsible confinement rings which is configured to movably couple to the first set of collapsible confinement rings. The apparatus further includes a mechanism configured at least to collapse and to expand the first set of collapsible confinement rings and the second set of collapsible confinement rings to control gas flow conductance through the first set of radial slots between (a) an unobstructed gas flow, ON state, and (b) an obstructed gas flow, OFF state.
US08522710B2

Shaped metal deposition apparatus comprises a mounting head for mounting a shaped metal deposition device, an inert gas shield for providing an inert atmosphere around shaped metal deposited in use by the shaped metal deposition device, and a rotatable coupling between the mounting head and the inert gas shield to permit relative rotation therebetween.
US08522695B2

An electrically adjustable piece of furniture, such as a table or armchair comprising at least one actuator and/or lifting column driven by an electric motor for adjustment of the piece of furniture. The adjustment is executed via a control with touch keys. It is characteristic that touch keys are located on the back of an element in the piece of furniture, and that indications for the touch keys are provided on a visible and accessible surface above the touch keys. The touch keys can, however, also be inlayed in an element of the piece of furniture providing possibility for operation from several sides of the element. This provides many variation possibilities for designing the control. Very simply, the indications can merely be painted directly onto the surface, while they, more sophisticatedly, can be inlayed symbols in wood, metal etc., alternatively be a plate mounted on or inlayed in the element.
US08522692B2

The present invention relates to the technical field of railroad passenger car, and more particularly relates to a sleeper compartment of a railroad passenger car. The sleeper compartment may be an open type or a private booth type, comprising: sidewalls, partition walls, and two columns of longitudinally arranged sleepers that are parallel with each other; each column of the longitudinally arranged sleepers is formed by no less than two sleepers that are joined together, the sleepers comprise an upper-sleeper layer and a lower-sleeper layer; one partition wall is provided between adjacent sleepers; the length direction of the longitudinally arranged sleepers is consistent with the length direction of the railroad passenger car; the longitudinally arranged sleepers at two sides are fixed to the sidewalls respectively, and a corridor is provided between two adjacent columns of longitudinally arranged sleepers. The weight of the sleeper compartment of a railroad passenger car in this structure is evenly distributed, and passengers have better comfort when traveling.
US08522691B1

A supplemental cooling system for a mobile machine having a combustion engine fueled by a liquefied fuel gas is provided wherein the supplemental cooling system is activated when, or in anticipation of, the combustion engine encountering abnormal and/or temporary ambient conditions requiring supplemental cooling and wherein the supplemental cooling is provided by heat transfer from said liquefied fuel gas to a coolant fluid.
US08522690B2

A method of identifying an anomalous orientation definition condition of a remote locomotive (12) of a train includes monitoring an operating condition of the remote locomotive of the train, the remote locomotive configured to operate according to a defined orientation with respect to a lead locomotive of the train. The method also includes identifying an operating condition of the remote locomotive indicative of the remote locomotive operating contrary to an operating condition of the lead locomotive.
US08522687B2

A kinetic energy penetrator includes an elongated main body, a conical tip joined to the main body at the front end thereof, and fins located at the tail end of the main body. The tip is made of a hardmetal material which comprises hard particles including a first material and a binder matrix including a second, different material. A volume of the second material is from 3% to 40% of total volume of the hardmetal material. The hard particles include carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, or borides, or combinations thereof. The binder matrix includes Re, a Ni-base superalloy, Ni, Co, W, Ta, or Mo, or combinations thereof. The main body is made of a high density metal or alloy (Density>16.0 g/cc), such as pure W, W—Re alloy, W—Mo alloy, W—Mo—Re alloy, W—Ni alloy, W—Co alloy, W—Ni—Fe alloy, W—Ni—Co—Fe alloy, depleted U.
US08522678B2

A strapping machine having a movable working assembly includes comprises a machine body, a chute, and a movable working assembly. This machine body contains a storing space. The chute has an upper chute portion and a lower chute portion. The movable working assembly which is in the storing space includes a horizontal movable portion, a vertical movable portion, a working device, and an operation linkage mechanism. When the vertical movable portion moves to the move-down position, the lower chute portion is separated from the upper chute portion. Then, the movable working assembly can be moved out for easy maintenance. So, it is quick and easy to repair any internal device or part inside the strapping machine. The repairer does not need to stoop or squat down for repairing it. In addition, it saves strength and time to move out the working device or related part.
US08522670B2

A hydraulic circuit for instant beverage machines includes a tank, a water extraction pipe contained in the tank, a flow-meter connected to the extraction pipe, a pump, a first vibration-damping valve, a boiler, a second relief and safety valve, a water/steam faucet, a third beverage flow valve, and a recovery tank.
US08522667B2

A method and apparatus for maintaining a seal between a cylinder and a fluid manifold for a reciprocating force delivery device is disclosed. A cylinder retention assembly comprises a rotatable member with a variable topography surface. The rotatable member is disposed against a stop extending outwardly from the cylinder, and is fastened to the fluid manifold by a locking ring. When rotated, the rotatable member produces an axial force on the locking ring and the cylinder, urging the cylinder against the fluid manifold. The cylinder retention assembly may be used in reciprocating pumps and compressors.
US08522656B2

One aspect of the invention can include a cutting machine having a table supporting a workpiece, a cutting machine body able to move vertically and laterally, the cutting machine body is supported on the table by a body supporting member. The body supporting member includes a fixed-side support member, a tilting-side support member connected to the fixed-side support member by a lateral tilt shaft, a fixing screw capable of fixing the tilting-side support member to the fixed-side supporting member, a fixing lever capable of rotating the fixing screw, the fixing lever has two grips capable being held for operating the fixing lever, and the two grips are arranged to extend upward in a V-shape from a head of the fixing screw.
US08522654B2

The cutting-edge position detecting method includes the steps of: under a condition in which the cutting edge of the tool is positioned in an image that is taken by a camera, performing first sampling scanning operations for the image in a predetermined scanning direction at predetermined first intervals, and recognizing points on an upper edge line of the cutting edge of the tool and points on a lower edge line thereof, based on brightness changing points upon the first scanning operations; connecting the recognized points on the respective two edge lines, so as to obtain two first-level approximate linear lines by a least-squares method; performing second sampling scanning operations for the respective two first-level approximate linear lines in directions perpendicular thereto at predetermined second intervals, and newly recognizing points on the upper edge line of the cutting edge of the tool and points on the lower edge line thereof, based on brightness changing points upon the second scanning operations; connecting the newly recognized points on the respective two edge lines, so as to obtain two second-level approximate linear lines by a least-squares method; and obtaining a coordinate of an intersection of the second-level approximate linear lines, as the position of the cutting edge of the tool, with respect to the measurement reference point.
US08522652B2

A ratchet wrench includes ratchet wheel rotatably received in a compartment of a body. A pawl is movably received in the compartment and includes a first side having a toothed section engaged with teeth of the ratchet wheel and a second side having a pressing face. A switch is pivotably mounted to the body and operatively connected to a first end of a spring. A second end of the spring presses against the pressing face of the pawl. The spring is a helical compression spring including an intermediate section between the first and second ends. Each of the first and second ends and the intermediate section includes a plurality of adjoining turns. The adjoining turns of the intermediate section are spaced from each other and form a compressible portion. The adjoining turns of the second end of the spring abut against each other and have no gaps therebetween.
US08522626B2

A clamping force sensor assembly for a transformer includes at least one sensor disposed within a casing. The design and configuration of the sensor assembly is such that it accurately measures clamping force values placed on the windings, without adversely impacting the operation of the transformer and with the ability to continue operating under electrical and thermal changes within the transformer. The sensor assembly can include loading members that distribute the pressure evenly over the casing that contains the sensor. The output of the sensor can indicate to an operator the extent of pressure changes experienced by the transformer windings. The output can be coupled with a process by which the damage to or the possibility of failure of the transformer is readily evaluated.
US08522624B2

A system is provided with a pressure balancing system configured to protect a flow meter. The pressure balancing system includes a housing configured to surround a fluid conduit to define a fluid chamber around the fluid conduit. The fluid chamber is configured to house the flow meter. The pressure balancing system is configured to at least substantially balance fluid pressure internal and external to the fluid conduit via the fluid chamber.
US08522622B2

A fixture for testing a tubular member simultaneously in bending and torsion is disclosed. The fixture includes first and second attachment elements that are configured to couple to the tubular member, and a load shoe that is configured to fit within the tubular member. The load shoe includes a body having a contact surface configured to contact a portion of an internal surface of the tubular member and at least one load reaction strut coupled to the body. The load reaction strut is configured to pass through a hole in the tubular member and accept a first force applied in a first direction that is perpendicular to an axis of symmetry of the tubular member.
US08522621B2

A measurement bearing includes a rotational axis and at least one first bearing ring. The first bearing ring defines a main supporting direction and a circumferential direction extending transversally with respect to the main supporting direction. The first bearing ring also has at least one first recess in which a sensor device is arranged. The sensor device is adapted to sense a sensing variable which represents the bearing forces which are applied to the first bearing ring. The first bearing ring further has at least one second recess, in which a further sensor device is arranged. The first recess and the second recess are arranged a distance apart in the circumferential direction and transversally to the circumferential direction.
US08522613B2

There is provided an acceleration sensor including: a weight portion; plural fixed portions formed above a bottom plate around a periphery of the weight portion; a beam portion coupling the fixed portions and the weight portion, and holding the weight portion at a position separated from the bottom plate; a detection portion provided at the beam portion and detecting deformation of the beam portion; a frame portion provided so as to project out from the bottom plate and surround the fixed portions at a position separated from the fixed portions; and a lid portion of plate shape that seals an opening of the frame portion.
US08522612B1

An on-chip navigation system, optionally combined with GPS (Global Positioning System) and/or an imaging array, which incorporates MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) components is possible by the use of careful material selection and novel bonding techniques used during fabrication. The use of MEMS components permits many of the components of a typical inertial navigation system to reside on a single chip. Because the components are in close proximity, the components can then be used to monitor the environmental changes of the chip, such as temperature and vibration, and correct for the resulting offsets of other components. This allows improved system performance even if the individual sensor components are not ideal.
US08522610B2

A tire pressure gauge includes a holder, an air intake seat, and a detection device coupled with the air intake seat. The holder and air intake seat have respectively a first positioning ring and a second positioning ring. A fastening and unfastening tool of the tire pressure gauge includes an outer barrel and an inner barrel held in the outer barrel. The outer barrel has a first anchor portion to latch the first positioning ring. The inner barrel has a second anchor portion to latch the second positioning ring. The outer barrel and inner barrel respectively drive the holder and air intake seat to be fastened to an air nozzle of a vehicle tire, and the holder and air intake seat are butted tightly to allow the tire pressure gauge to be securely installed on the air nozzle of any type of vehicles through the fastening and unfastening tool.
US08522605B2

The same phenomenon as the phenomenon that a component of feed water is adsorbed to the surface of the membrane is used to assess water quality. Specifically, a sensor whose surface has a thin layer made of the same material as the material of the surface of the membrane and which includes a measurement unit such as a quartz crystal sensor that measures an adsorption rate on the thin layer is used to assess an effect of the water quality of the feed water on the membrane on the basis of a change in the adsorption rate on the sensor surface.
US08522604B2

An apparatus and a method for detection of wear particles in a lubricant are disclosed. The apparatus includes a microfluidic device including a microchannel sized for a lubricant containing wear particles to pass therethrough and first and second electrodes extending into the microchannel. A detection system is coupled with the electrodes for detection of wear particles passing through the microchannel, based on a change in capacitance of the electrodes.
US08522595B2

A guided keeper assembly for metal forming dies includes a base having a mounting face and a fastener aperture to mount the base to an associated die shoe, as well as a central guide aperture. A guide pin having a central portion is closely received in the central guide aperture for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between the die pad and the die shoe. The guide pin has an enlarged head at one end which abuts the the-base to positively limit travel between the die shoe and the die pad, and a shoulder at an opposite end with an alignment mechanism that precisely locates the guide pin on the die pad. A fastener extends through the fastener aperture in the base to securely connect the same with the die shoe. Another fastener securely connects the second end of the guide pin with the die pad.
US08522588B2

A clamp for a disk rotation driving device has a centering hole which is fitted to an outer circumference of a centering projection of a hub of the disk rotation driving device. A clamping screw is screwed into an axial center of the hub whereby a fastening head of the clamping screw fastens the clamp to the hub and a contact portion of the clamp comes in contact with an information recordable magnetic disk attached to the hub and presses onto the disk in a rotation axis direction. The clamp includes a centering cylinder bent in an axial direction. The centering cylinder has a circumferential inner surface which defines the centering hole. The rounded section is provided along an edge of the centering hole and has a radius smaller than the thickness of the centering cylinder. The fastening surface is continuous to the rounded section.
US08522586B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a sheet metal component. A hot or cold strip is electrolytically coated or coated in a smelting bath and the thus coated hot or cold strip is subjected to a flexible rolling process. During said process, sheet metal having various thicknesses of the flexibly rolled steel strips are produced due to various rolling pressures. Said invention is characterized in that in accordance with the thickness of the sheet metal after being rolled in a flexible manner or in accordance with the rolling pressure during flexible rolling, either the coating whilst being coated has various thicknesses, and in accordance with the rolling pressure with increasing rolling pressure that is expected, the thickness of the coating is thicker and/or the coating prior to or after the flexible rolling is subjected to a mechanical or chemical surface treatment for adjusting the desired emissivity or heat absorption capacity.
US08522576B2

A glass sheet bending station includes a framework, lower and upper deformable molds for receiving therebetween a glass sheet to be bent, and lower and upper linkages that respectively support the lower and upper molds on the framework. Each linkage includes connector links that are fixedly connected to the associated mold and that have pivotal connections to each other, wherein the pivotal connections define pivot axes that are parallel to a shape defined by the connector links between the lower and upper linkages throughout the bending. Each linkage also has control links connected to the connector links thereof such that the control links are pivotable about axes that extend perpendicular to the shape defined between the lower and upper. Furthermore, at least one of the control links of each linkage is configured to permit glass sheet bending by linkage movement on one side thereof independently of the other side thereof.
US08522568B2

An air conditioner (1) includes a refrigerant circuit (10) configured to perform a supercritical refrigeration cycle and including: an outdoor circuit (21) including a compressor (22), an outdoor heat exchanger (23), and an outdoor expansion valve (24); and two indoor circuits (31a, 31b) including indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b) and indoor expansion valves (34a, 34b). The air conditioner (1) further includes a controller (50) configured to control outlet refrigerant temperatures of the indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b). The controller (50) includes a valve control part (50a) configured to adjust the opening degrees of the indoor expansion valves (34a, 34b) such that a deviation of the outlet refrigerant temperature of each of the indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b) from an average value of the outlet refrigerant temperatures of all the indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b) approaches a deviation of a target value which is a deviation, from the average value, of a target refrigerant temperature of the outlet refrigerant temperature of each of the indoor heat exchangers (33a, 33b).
US08522562B2

An apparatus for magnetically processing a specimen that couples high field strength magnetic fields with the magnetocaloric effect includes a high field strength magnet capable of generating a magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla and a magnetocaloric insert disposed within a bore of the high field strength magnet. A method for magnetically processing a specimen includes positioning a specimen adjacent to a magnetocaloric insert within a bore of a magnet and applying a high field strength magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla to the specimen and to the magnetocaloric insert. The temperature of the specimen changes during the application of the high field strength magnetic field due to the magnetocaloric effect.
US08522560B2

An apparatus includes an inlet conduit assembly surrounding a gas flow path and a combustor arranged downstream of the inlet conduit assembly. The inlet conduit assembly includes a thermoelectric (TE) device configured to convert heat into electrical energy, a gas flow conduit arranged between the gas flow path and the TE device, and a resilient member configured to bias the TE device into contact with the gas flow conduit.
US08522553B2

A system for conditioning a working fluid in a combustor includes a primary combustion chamber, a liner circumferentially surrounding the primary combustion chamber, and a primary nozzle in fluid communication with the primary combustion chamber. A secondary combustion chamber located outside of the primary combustion chamber includes a shroud that defines a fluid passage, a secondary nozzle, and means for igniting fuel in the secondary combustion chamber. A method for conditioning a working fluid in a combustor includes flowing the working fluid through a primary combustion chamber and flowing at least a portion of the working fluid through a secondary combustion chamber located outside of the primary combustion chamber. The method further includes flowing a fuel through the secondary combustion chamber, combusting the fuel, and flowing the combustion gases from the secondary combustion chamber into the primary combustion chamber.
US08522547B2

In an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with a turbine comprising a turbine housing with at least a first and a second spiral channel, each being coupled to an exhaust gas line of an exhaust gas tract of the internal combustion engine for conducting exhaust gas to a turbine wheel arranged within the turbine housing and driving a compressor wheel of a compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger, an area ratio Qg of the turbine corresponds to the formula Qg=(Aλ+AAGR)/AR>0.40, wherein Aλ refers to a narrowest flow cross-section of the first spiral channel, AAGR to a narrowest flow cross-section of the second spiral channel (52b) and AR to a wheel exit flow cross-section of the turbine exhaust channel. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and such an exhaust gas turbocharger.
US08522537B2

The present invention provides an exhaust heat recovery device configured to perform heat exchange between three media such as, exhaust gas, coolant, and oil. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the exhaust heat recovery device is configured such that the heat of exhaust gas discharged from an engine is transmitted to the coolant and the oil at the same time and direct heat exchange between the coolant and the oil is made, thereby simultaneously increasing the temperature of the coolant and the oil during the initial start-up of the engine (fast warm-up). As a result, it is possible to reduce friction loss of powertrain, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust heat recovery device which is configured to perform the integral heat exchange between the exhaust gas, the coolant, and the oil.
US08522536B2

An exhaust gas emissions aftertreatment system for spark-ignition engines, which simultaneously reduces the particulate matter, HC, CO, and NOx content of the exhaust. Various embodiments of the system have both a closely-coupled TWC device, and an under-floor treatment device. The under-floor device has either TWC or NOx reduction functionality, depending on whether the engine is run under stiochiometric or lean burn operating conditions.
US08522535B2

A breather device A1 for pressure relief includes a breather pipe 121 serving as a fixing part, and an inner pipe 122 serving as a communication part and is provided by the breather pipe 121 with fixation strength enough for securing the breather device A1 to a liquid tank 101. The inner pipe 122 has a vent hole P formed therein for provide fluid-communication between the inside of the liquid tank 101 and the outside thereof in a manner such that an inner surface forming the vent hole P is made of a resin.
US08522531B2

A determination oxygen storage amount used to determine whether a catalyst is degraded is a value obtained by applying a correction amount for removing error caused by response delay time of an output signal of an oxygen sensor to an oxygen storage amount calculated every short time. The correction amount is a value that is calculated using slopes stored in memory, i.e., the slopes for the number of storage cycles (>the short time) corresponding to the response delay time, or the like, and becomes more accurate as a value corresponding to the error as the storage cycle becomes relatively shorter with respect to the response delay time and the number of the slopes stored in the memory increases. The necessary storage capacity of the memory is inhibited from increasing excessively even if the number of the slopes stored in the memory is large.
US08522526B2

With an engine for aircraft with high electric power demand, the power of the low-pressure shaft (7) operating in a lower speed range is transmitted to the high-pressure shaft (6) by an electromagnetic clutch (10). In the clutch element (14) on the side of the low-pressure shaft a frequency-controllable rotary field is generated, which drives a magnet (13) connected to the high-pressure shaft.
US08522525B2

A device and method for drawing off and recirculating cooling streams, specifically for drawing off and recirculating a cooling stream of fuel for cooling at least one aircraft engine accessory, is disclosed. The device having a tubular jacket part defining a flow cross-section through which a primary stream, specifically a fuel stream, flows by way of an extraction pipe which is positioned approximately in the center of the flow cross-section, or jacket part, in order to draw off a cooling stream from the primary stream, by way of a hollow strut extending in the radial direction to divert this cooling stream from the device with the aid of the extraction pipe and to supply it to at least one accessory to be cooled, and by way of a return opening to recirculate the cooling stream directed through the accessory for cooling purposes to the primary stream.
US08522523B2

An air compressor is driven by a steam engine that generates power using steam. The steam is supplied to the steam engine through a steam supply path, and the steam is exhausted through a steam exhaust path. The steam from the steam engine is supplied to a steam using device through a steam header. The usage load of the steam is monitored by a pressure sensor arranged in the steam header. The compressed air from the air compressor is supplied to a compressed air using device through a compressed air path. The usage load of the compressed air is monitored by a pressure sensor arranged on the compressed air path. The steam supply to the steam engine is controlled based on the usage load of the steam and the usage load of the compressed air.
US08522515B2

An apparatus for customizing a cigarette package is provided, wherein the cigarette package is configured to receive a plurality of as-formed cigarettes therein. Such an apparatus comprises a feeder unit configured to feed one of a plurality of cigarette packages to a register position. An imprinting unit is configured to interact with the cigarette package in the register position so as to imprint at least one of an alphanumeric character and a graphical character thereon. An associated method is also provided.
US08522511B2

Methods and apparatus for providing a mast system including a telescoping mast having first and second mast sections, the mast having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the first mast section including an inner surface having ribs disposed thereon, and, the second mast section including a coupling mechanism to engage the ribs on the first mast section for enabling axial movement of the second mast section with respect to the first mast section.
US08522502B2

Tower structures of wind power installations having a height of more than 80 meters have a mast structure with corner posts composed of sub-profiles. The corner posts are each formed a sub-profile A and a sub-profile I which are not integrally connected to one another. The sub-profiles together form a closed overall profile. Separating joints of the closed overall profile are arranged aligned with corresponding separating joints of an adjacent corner post which is connected to struts.
US08522489B2

A panel and panel systems are described herein and can include a rigid panel that includes a plurality of apertures and an undulating pattern. The panel acts to block sunlight and may otherwise protect the area behind the panel. In an example, the panel is fixed in a spaced apart relation to a building. The panel or panels block a portion of the direct sunlight to assist in the environmental control of the building. The panel can be strong enough to further protect the building from weather damage or other damage.
US08522487B2

In one embodiment, an electronically controlled hatch system for safe ingress, egress, hazard detection, and methods thereof are provided to reduce or eliminate hazards to personnel, including protection of people above and below a scuttle hatch, access port, skylight or elevated deck. Said hatch system reduces the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access port. In certain embodiments, severe weather, hazard, security, and other safety information are detected and transmitted to a central control unit for processing and regulating the opening and closing of a hatch covering the access port and/or raising and lowering a safety railing system based on said information and/or user input. Said hatch system may include an actuator and guides for automatically locking/unlocking and opening/closing a hatch, an actuator and guides for automatically raising/lowering a railing system, hazard, security, lighting, and other safety monitoring detectors/apparatuses, and a centralized controller.
US08522479B2

A double door assembly having an active door and a passive door includes an astragal that is formed of a composite of aluminum and wood. The astragal is formed of an aluminum rail with a U-shaped cross section that receives a wooden insert. The astragal is mounted to a passive door such that the U-shaped cross section opens to the active door and the wooden insert presents a mounting surface for hardware.
US08522476B2

A bag constructed of a weed suppression material for packaging a ground cover material. When the bag is in a closed configuration, the bag serves as a container for shipping, handling, and storage of the ground cover material. When the bag is opened and unfolded, and the ground cover material within the bag is spread over the opened and unfolded bag, the bag serves as a layer of weed suppression material on top of underlying soil and beneath the ground cover.
US08522475B2

A horticultural cut flower container assembly having a triangular shaped piece of flexible foam material with the ends of the triangular shaped foam material being adapted to be folded over the stem ends of a bunch of cut flowers. An elastic band is placed over the folded foam material to hold foam material in a folded configuration and an outer plastic bag is placed over the folded foam material and stem ends.
US08522473B2

A yarn object which, even though made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, can be satisfactorily prevented from color fading caused by contact with other objects or the like, can be produced easily at low cast, and can maintain high strength. The yarn object is colored with a colorant. The yarn object includes a core yarn 2 colored with a predetermined colorant and an outer-layer yarn 3 disposed on the periphery of the core yarn. The outer-layer yarn 3 is disposed in such a manner that the core yarn 2 is prevented from contacting with other objects. The outer-layer yarn 3 includes a transparent filament and a space 4 is formed between the outer-layer yarns 3. The color applied to the core yarn 2 is externally visible through the transparent outer-layer yarn 3 and the space therebetween 4.
US08522467B1

An integral hand guard and accessory rail has an elongated shell with a shell wall adapted to be spaced-apart from and circumscribing a barrel of a firearm. The shell has a portion adapted to be griped by a user and defining a hand guard. The shell wall has another portion protruding radially away from the barrel defining an elongated rail, the rail having a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axis with a narrower neck a wider head coupled to the shell by the neck.
US08522459B2

The present invention relates to a sediment/water separator used to dredge sediment from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, lagoons, tanks, dykes, reservoirs and seashore. The invention, also named submergible densification cell, dredges sediment of various types at various depths. The sediment can vary as far as their consistency, contamination, stratigraphy, density, origin, concentration, granulometry and other aspects of its formation are concerned. The invention also relates to a sediment densification method which utilizes the submergible densification cell, resulting in an increase of 1.5 to 3 times (by weight) in the concentration of the dredged sediment, reducing the removed volume, the area necessary for deposition, and, as a result, accelerating the open-air drying process of the dredged sediment.
US08522451B2

A method of spraying a treating chemistry into a dispensing dryer in a manner to avoid the pooling and dripping of the treating chemistry.
US08522441B2

A utility tool comprising a body having a first end and a second end positioned on opposite ends of the body; a removable device; as well as a first tool and a second tool configured to be selectively coupled to each other or one of either the first end and second end of the body.
US08522433B2

A low cost and simple seal installation method provides for easy installation of bonded pistons and lip seals in an automatic transmission or other industrial machine. The installation method utilizes a flexible circular disc that can be inserted in a gap between the bore and the shaft and is pressed against the seal lip to flip the seal lip to its desired orientation while the disc is rolled around the circumference of the gap to orientate the entire seal in its proper position.
US08522431B2

During mounting to an inlay substrate, at least one end portion (including end) of an antenna wire is positioned directly over a terminal of the chip module for subsequent connecting thereto. A sonotrode is disclosed with a cutter above the capillary for nicking the wire. The antenna may comprise two separate stubs, each having an end portion (including end) positioned over a terminal of the chip module. Additional techniques for mounting the antenna wire are disclosed.
US08522425B2

A method for assembling an electronic device comprises inserting a thermal element into an electrical connector contained within a special volume defined by a constricted enclosure that comprises a housing of the electronic device. The spatial volume contains a printed circuit board and the electrical connector includes internal electrical contacts that are positioned proximate to solder connection pads on the printed circuit board when the electrical connector and the printed circuit board are contained within the constricted enclosure. Insertion of the thermal element heats the internal electrical contacts so that solder on the solder connection pads reflows to form solder connections respectively between the internal electrical contacts and the solder connection pads. Thereafter, the thermal element is removed from the electrical contact.
US08522414B1

A portable hand operated hose fitting swaging device preferably includes a swaging frame, a pair of swaging die halves, a hydraulic cylinder and a hand hydraulic pump. The swaging frame includes a cylinder support, a pair of support straps and a die base. The two swaging die halves are retained in the die base. The swaging die halves include a substantially conical bore to receive a hose end of a hose fitting. The hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder rod. A fitting ram is attached to an end of the cylinder rod. The hand hydraulic pump includes a pump, an accumulator and a pump relief valve. The pump includes an actuator rod, which is pulled to generate pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pump forces hydraulic fluid through an output opening. The output opening is connected to the hydraulic cylinder through at least one hydraulic line.
US08522408B2

A clamp includes a base section, from which a pair of sidewalls and prongs extend, where the prongs are designed to grip gussets within the curb inlet and maintain proper alignment with designated portions of the restrictor plate despite manufacturing variations in gussets positioning within the curb inlet. The clamp is capable of securely positioning a floatable restrictor plate within or flush with an opening of the curb inlet so as to prevent floatables from entering storm sewer systems through the curb inlet.
US08522405B2

A belt buckle is provided with a waist belt outlet slot (1) for connecting with a waist belt beginning (6) and at least one inlet retainer (5) engaging in openings of the belt at the opposite waist belt inlet slot (2).As a result of the design of the central section of the belt buckle as an essentially flat element (3), which permits deflection toward the waist belt, which reaches in the section of the, or of each inlet retainer (5) at least their height, can, in spite of a simple design, prevent an opening that is against the will of the carrier.
US08522404B2

A button assembly including a button head operable to rotate in three-dimensional space. The button assembly having a mounting portion and an elongated shaft attached to a base is provided. The button assembly includes a bearing member disposed on one end of the shaft. The bearing member is configured to fittingly engage the mounting portion of the button head so as to pivotably attach the button head to the shaft. The base may be inserted into an article of clothing in alignment with a corresponding buttonhole. Accordingly the user is able to rotate and pivot the button head about the bearing member of the shaft so as to facilitate the insertion of the button head into the buttonhole.
US08522398B2

The carriage, which serves for holding a slidable separation element, comprises a carriage body and at least one running wheel, which is a rolling along a rail when the separation elements is displaced. According to the invention the carriage body comprises a housing with an interior space, in which a holding unit is provided, which is protruding through an opening out of the housing and which is seated slidable in a direction at least approximately vertically to the running direction of the carriage, and which the holding unit comprises a holding element that interacts within the housing with an adjusting element, that is displaceable in relation to the holding element by means of an adjusting screw, which is held by the carriage body, so that the holding unit is held at a selected position, whereas either the part of the holding unit that is protruding out of the housing is provided with the at least one running wheel and the carriage body is connected to the separation element; or the part of the holding unit that is protruding out of the housing is connected to the separation element and the carriage body is provided with the at least one running wheel.
US08522393B2

A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the special feature that the connecting device comprises at least two parts provided with protrusion/hole features for detachably connecting the parts together, wherein the first part is retained onto the wiper blade and wherein the second part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said first part, wherein each leg of said U-shaped cross-section is allowed to bend outwardly upon insertion of the oscillating arm into said second part for connecting said first and second parts together through a snapping operation.
US08522389B2

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a needle-shaped bristle having a short taper length. The method includes preparing a bundle of toothbrush bristles by mixing a polyester resin (a polyester resin other than a PTT resin) and a PTT resin in a ratio of 90˜40 to 10˜60 and spinning the mixture thereof; cutting the bundle of toothbrush bristles; and tapering the cut bundle of toothbrush bristles by immersing it into a chemical. According to the present invention, since needle-shaped bristles having a taper length of 6 mm or less can be efficiently obtained, the needle-shaped bristles can be implanted even in an anchorless toothbrush.
US08522384B2

A powered toothbrush assembly (100) includes an outer housing (102, 104), a brush head (106) and a fluid nozzle (138) adjacent the brush head (106), an inner housing (122) disposed within the outer housing (102,104) and having a motor (130) which is in operative engagement with the brush head (106) to impart motion to the brush head (106) and a pump mechanism (134) disposed within the inner housing (122). The outer housing (102,104) and the inner housing (122) define a chamber (142) therebetween for accommodating a fluid. The pump mechanism (134) includes a pump housing (156) having a pump inlet (168) dimensioned to permit entry of the fluid from the chamber (142) and a pump outlet (172) for permitting exit of the fluid from the pump housing (156), a pump (170) for imparting energy to the fluid entering the pump inlet (168) and directing the fluid to the pump outlet (172) and a conduit (180) in fluid communication with the pump outlet (172) and the fluid nozzle (138) for directing the fluid to the fluid nozzle (138) for release under pressure therefrom.
US08522380B2

Disclosed herein is a control method of a washing machine that performs washing using bubbles. The control method may generate a large number of bubbles using a small amount of water to reduce water consumption and transmit detergent water to laundry placed in the washing machine effectively and rapidly using high-concentration detergent on the surfaces of the bubbles, thereby reducing time and energy consumption and improving washing efficiency. The bubbles may act as a cushion to reduce friction between laundry articles, thereby preventing expensive laundry (such as wool or silk) from being damaged due to the friction between the laundry articles and between the laundry and water and preventing damage to and deformation of general laundry when washing the laundry.
US08522374B2

Infant-care furniture includes a playyard and a playyard accessory unit coupled to the playyard. The playyard accessory unit includes an accessory frame and a case coupled to the accessory frame, and further includes a changer shell coupled to an upper pedestal section that is coupled to the playyard. The accessory unit further includes a storage shell and a hamper shell coupled to the changer shell.
US08522363B2

Latex articles with geometrically defined surface structure providing enhanced grip characteristics in dry, wet or oily environment; and a method of making same comprising applying a polymeric coagulant coating to a smooth former surface, wherein the coating becomes tacky during drying, applying discrete coagulant particles of selected size, shape and distribution to the tacky coating to attach and protrude from the former surface with the polymeric coagulant coating, dipping the former into an aqueous latex emulsion, wherein the polymeric coagulant coating and the discrete coagulating particles destabilize the latex, thereby developing a latex layer, vulcanizing and stripping the latex article inside out, and dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or suitable solvents to reveal the geometrically designed texture with pre-selected size, shape and distribution of impressions providing improved dry, wet and oily surface grip by removal of a fluid boundary layer.
US08528111B2

A method for positioning a tip of an atomic force microscope relative to a intracellular target site in a cell is provided. In general terms, the method comprises: a) positioning a fluorescent tip of an atomic force microscope over a cell comprising a fluorescent intracellular target site so that said tip is above target site; b) moving the tip toward said target site while obtaining images of the distal end of said tip and/or the target site using a fluorescence microscope; and c) arresting the movement of the tip when the target site and the distal end of the tip are both in focus in the fluorescence microscope. A microscope system for performing the method is also provided.
US08528110B2

A probe detection system (74) for use with a scanning probe microscope comprises both a height detection system (88) and deflection detection system (28). As a sample surface is scanned, light reflected from a microscope probe (16) is separated into two components. A first component (84) is analysed by the deflection detection system (28) and is used in a feedback system that maintains the average probe deflection substantially constant during the scan. The second component (86) is analysed by the height detection system (88) from which an indication of the height of the probe above a fixed reference point, and thereby an image of the sample surface, is obtained. Such a dual detection system is particularly suited for use in fast scanning applications in which the feedback system is unable to respond at the rate required to adjust probe height between pixel positions.
US08528106B2

The invention relates to a method for matching a number N of reception equipment with a number M of external security modules, each reception equipment being provided with a unique identifier, and each external security module having a unique identifier and containing information about access rights of a user to digital data distributed by an operator. The method comprises the following steps: memorizing a list of identifiers of reception equipment in each external security module, memorizing a list of identifiers of external security modules in each reception equipment, and when an external security module is connected to data reception equipment, a check plan is carried out to determine whether or not the identifier for the security module is present in the list of memorized identifiers in the connected reception equipment, and the same check plan is carried out for the identifier in the list of identifiers memorized in the security module.
US08528104B2

A security device of this invention includes a nonvolatile storage unit 22 for storing a validity check unit including a counter updated every time signature function means 30 is called up, a volatile storage unit 24 for reading and storing a counter array out of an external nonvolatile storage unit storing the counter array, in which the counter array is obtained by coupling a hash value generated for each signature key with a signature number counter for counting the number of signatures performed by use of the signature key, and a hash function unit 28 for reading the counter array out of the volatile storage unit 24, generating the hash value, and transferring the hash value to the validity check unit for a validity check.
US08528094B1

A system, method and apparatus for associating data is presented. An association system generally includes a vulnerability information system, user identification system and association tool. The vulnerability information system performs a scan of client devices to identify vulnerable devices. The vulnerability information is transmitted to the association tool where it is cross referenced with user identification information received from the user identification system. The association tool identifies the user associated with the vulnerable devices and this information may be stored to generate historical trend information. In addition, the information may be displayed graphically or may be used to generate reports and identify metrics that can be monitored in order to improve reliability, efficiency and the like.
US08528075B2

The execution of anti-virus programs can be accelerated in a virtual desktop environment. In one embodiment, a server hosts a plurality of virtual machines. Before performing a virus scan on a file, the server computes a signature value of the file, compares the signature value with the stored signature values in a central database, and performs virus scan on the file according to the result of the comparison. If the signature value exists in the central database, the virus scan on the file can be skipped.
US08528067B2

Systems and method for producing, validating, and registering authentic verification tokens are disclosed. Such systems and methods include generating verification token specific key pairs. The key pairs can be signed by a verification token manufacturer master key or public key certificate for an additional level of authenticity. Related methods and systems for authenticating and registering authorized verification token manufacturers are also disclosed. Once a verification token manufacturer is authenticated, it can be assigned a manufacturer-specific key pair or certificate and in some cases, a predetermined set of serial numbers to assign to the verification tokens it produces. Each serial number can be used to generate a verification token specific key pair specific to the associated verification token. One component of the verification token key pair can be stored to the verification token. Optionally, the component of the verification token key pair stored to the verification token can be signed by the manufacturer specific master key or certificate and stored a verification token public certificate.
US08528064B2

Systems and methods for securely managing Internet user passwords are presented herein. A formation component can enable a user to create a master account on a web server, the master account comprising a master username and password. An access component can enable the user to access a plurality of password protected websites from a web browser or non-browser software application resident on the user's computing device when the user logs into the master account by entering the valid master username and password. A selection component can log the user into a website of the plurality of password protected websites when the user selects a hyperlink associated with the website, selects a linked image associated with the website, or selects the website from a pulldown list contained in a toolbar of a web browser. A display component can open a web browser or tab associated with the website.
US08528060B2

Efficient secure password protocols are constructed that remain secure against offline dictionary attacks even when a large, but bounded, part of the storage of a server responsible for password verification is retrieved by an adversary through a remote or local connection. A registration algorithm and a verification algorithm accomplish the goal of defeating a dictionary attack. A password protocol where a server, on input of a login and a password, carefully selects several locations from the password files, properly combines their content according to some special function, and stores the result of this function as a tag that can be associated with this password and used in a verification phase to verify access by users. Two main instantiations of our method are given; in one, a combination of mathematical tools, called dispersers and pairwise-independent hash functions is used to achieve security against adaptive intrusions (dispersers make sure that the password of each user depends on randomly chosen locations in a large password file, and pairwise-independent hash functions help in making this dependency sufficiently random); in a second one, a combination of mathematical tools, called k-wise independent hash functions and locally-computable and strong extractors (k-wise independent hash functions make sure that the locations chosen in the large password file from each password are sufficiently random, and locally-computable and strong extractors are used to combine the contents of these locations to generate a single long random value, which makes verification harder for the adversary to foil).
US08528058B2

Architecture for natively authenticating a client application to a web server via HTTP authentication. The Web Services Architecture, and more specifically, Web Services Security, is leveraged to enable legacy applications to access web services transparently to the existing legacy applications. A security support provider (SSP) is created that employs WS-* protocol to at least emulate ws-trust and ws-mex thereby enabling policy exchange via an HTTP protocol stack. Policy can be exchanged via a WWW-Authenticate header enabling legacy applications to use the WS-* family of protocols without modifying the client application. The WS-* protocols are abstracted into a generic programming interface for native client application use.
US08528054B2

A method of obtaining access to an Internet service using a multi-step challenge response test is presented. The method calculates a threshold probability for access to the Internet service and generates a number of challenge-response tests. Each of the challenge-response tests is rendered on a display of a client device. An input corresponding to the response to one of the challenge-response tests is received and an authentication probability is calculated after each response. The authentication probability is evaluated after each response and if the authentication probability is higher than the threshold probability access to the Internet service is provided.
US08528053B2

Described herein are technologies pertaining to disambiguating identities/accounts over a plurality of online services. Public data streams pertaining to accounts of different online services are analyzed, and a determination is made that the accounts are owned by a same user. A searchable profile is generated for the user that comprises data that indicates that the user represented by the profile owns the accounts. The profile is claimable by the user such that the user is enabled to customize contents of the profile.
US08528047B2

A computer-based system provides secure, configurable access to computer network resources. A human-readable language is provided for defining access policy rules. Rules in this language are converted in an automated fashion into filters applied within the various subsystems and components in a multi-layer security system. Network users are authenticated by an access control security system that obtains basic information about that user. Based on the user ID, a set of abstract policies can be retrieved. The retrieved policies are associated with the user and the groups associated with that user. Based on the retrieved rules, a set of rules for multiple layers of the network are generated and applied to those subsystems. Two or more of the subsystems may be placed in series with different types of processing occurring in each of the subsystems, reducing the workload of subsequent subsystems.
US08528042B2

The invention relates to providing policy from an integrated policy server to a mobile device, comprising identifying a policy in an integrated policy server applicable to the mobile device and supplying policy elements to policy transports for transmission to the mobile device. The invention also relates to providing policy from an integrated policy server to a mobile device, including identifying a policy in the integrated policy server applicable to the mobile device, determining whether the mobile device is in compliance with the policy, and supplying policy elements to policy transports for transmission to the mobile device when the mobile device is not in compliance with the policy. The invention further relates to controlling access to a data server by a mobile device, including identifying a policy in an integrated policy server applicable to the mobile device, and determining whether the mobile device is in compliance with the policy.
US08528028B2

A method of delivering personal video content via a video head-end office is provided that includes receiving a personal video content upload request at a notification server from a first set-top box device. The personal video content upload request relates to personal video content to be uploaded from the first set-top box device. The method also includes receiving a personal video content sharing request at the notification server from the first set-top box device. The personal video content sharing request identifies a second set-top box device designated to receive the uploaded personal video content. In addition, the method includes sending notification information from the notification server to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates a first option to store the uploaded personal video content at a data storage device and a second option to stream the uploaded personal video content to the second set-top box device upon selection of the second option.
US08528027B2

Several data streams contain video, audio and/or other data. Some of the data streams are pre-recorded in a multiplex on a storage medium while other data streams are located out of the data stream multiplex on the storage medium. The data streams are synchronized using a navigation file (List_of_PlayItems), which comprises descriptors (Play-Items, SubPlayItems) pointing to parts of said data streams, wherein said descriptors define the arrangement in time for said data streams by means of data sub stream paths.
US08528026B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to receive a media program signal from a set-top box (STB), monitor ambient sound, and suppress a portion of the ambient sound according to the media program signal. The media program signal can correspond to a media program presentable at least audibly by the STB. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08528023B2

Extended television (TV) reminders enable a user to add a reminder about a TV program or other content in a communication network, a reminder that can be connected to either an event from the EPG or just a time and date. If the user is logged in on an Internet protocol (IP) TV system, the reminder can be displayed on the user's TV display, and if the user is not logged in, a message can be sent to a user device, e.g., a Short Message Service (SMS), text, or other message. Choices presented to the user when a reminder occurs can include accept, snooze (for a configurable amount of time), and delete, among others. If the reminder is connected to a linear TV program, an option to record the program can also be presented (if allowed by the user's subscription and equipment). Reminders are preferably stored in the network, e.g., as a part of a user's service profile. Storing reminders in the network rather than a local device enables the reminders to be provided to the user anywhere, to any network-connected device.
US08528019B1

A method of selecting, storing and delivering desired audio/data/visual information includes the steps of determining viewing preferences of a viewer and receiving a first group of audio/data/visual signals, for example, broadcast and cable television signals or internet-based signals. Based on the first group of audio/data/visual signals, a second group of audio/data/visual signals, which is a subset of the first group of audio/data/visual signals, is identified. The second group of audio/data/visual signals is selected based on the association of EPG data for each signal with the viewing preferences of the viewer. Content data is then extracted from the second group of audio/data/visual signals and compared with the viewing preferences. The content data may include, for example, closed-captioned text, EPG data, audio information, visual information and transcript information. Based on the comparison of the content data extracted from the second group of audio/data/visual signals with the viewing preferences, audio/data/visual information contained in the second group of audio/data/visual signals which is of interest to the viewer is identified and stored for review at the viewers convenience.
US08528018B2

A method is provided in one example and includes evaluating a video file in a network environment; determining an identity of at least one speaker associated with the video file in order to generate an identity attribute; performing speech to text operations associated with the video file in order to generate at least one text attribute; generating a visual worthiness rating based, at least, on the identity attribute and the text attribute associated with the video file, where the visual worthiness rating is reflective of a visual significance of image content in the video file; and rendering the visual worthiness rating to the end user prior to the video file being played.
US08528013B2

A content delivery system headend is provided. The headend includes a Switched Digital Video (SDV) manager for coordinating SDV sessions requested by subscribers over an access network. The headend also includes an input unit such as a server for receiving content to be broadcast during the SDV sessions. Additionally, the headend includes a subscriber control unit for comparing channel change requests received by the SDV manager from subscribers to subscriber-established rules. Tuning information for accessing programming specified in the channel change requests is only supplied if the channel change requests do not conform to any of the subscriber-established rules for blocking the programming.
US08528012B2

A method and system for controlling operation of one or more electronic devices of an audio-video system with a separate remote controller via a feedback mode of operation are provided. A command code signal is received with a receiver of a signal processing electronic device which interprets the command code signal to determine a particular action being requested. Thereafter, a request for feedback is generated in at least one of a visual form or an audible form for purposes of confirming the particular action being requested before the action is actually executed. If appropriate feedback via a further communication is received with the receiver of the signal processing electronic device within a predetermined time period following the request for feedback, the action is performed and executed by the signal processing electronic device. Otherwise, no action is executed by the signal processing electronic device.
US08528007B1

A host includes an operating system segmented into a user space and a kernel space with a driver. The user space stores a firmware file and the kernel space includes memory. The driver is stored in the kernel space and performs download cycles to download the firmware file to the memory. The device driver, during a first download cycle, transfers a first block of data to the memory. During each download cycle performed subsequent to the first download cycle, the driver is configured to: identify first and second segments of the memory, where data including the first block of data was stored in the first segment during a previous download cycle; copy the data including the first block of data from the first segment to the second segment; and transfer a block of data of the firmware file, not previously stored in the memory, to the second segment.
US08528000B2

The execution environment provides for scalability where components will execute in parallel and exploit various patterns of parallelism. Dataflow applications are represented by reusable dataflow graphs called map components, while the executable version is called a prepared map. Using runtime properties the prepared map is executed in parallel with a thread allocated to each map process. The execution environment not only monitors threads, detects and corrects deadlocks, logs and controls program exceptions, but also data input and output ports of the map components are processed in parallel to take advantage of data partitioning schemes. Port implementation supports multi-state null value tokens to more accurately report exceptions. Data tokens are batched to minimize synchronization and transportation overhead and thread contention.
US08527994B2

A mechanism is provided for guarded, multi-metric resource control. Monitoring is performed for an intended action to address a negative condition from a resource manager in a plurality of resource managers in the data processing system. Responsive to receiving the intended action, a determination is made as to whether the intended action will cause an additional negative condition within the data processing system. Responsive to determining that the intended action will cause the additional negative condition within the data processing system, at least one alternative action is identified to be implemented in the data processing system that addresses the negative condition while not causing any additional negative condition. The at least one alternative action is then implemented in the data processing system.
US08527985B2

A framework (referred to herein as Application Integration Architecture, or AIA) that formalizes and orchestrates activities in an SOA development lifecycle. In one set of embodiments, AIA can capture development-related information in a shared data store and cause the information to flow in an automated or semi-automated manner from one lifecycle phase to the next as the lifecycle progresses. This information flow can, in turn, facilitate automations at each lifecycle phase for the responsible stakeholders (e.g., solution architects, developers, installation developers, etc.), thereby enforcing SOA best practices, enhancing development productivity, and ensuring the quality of the final SOA deliverables.
US08527976B2

A system and method for program verification includes generating a product transaction graph for a concurrent program, which captures warnings for potential errors. The warnings are filtered to remove bogus warnings, by using constraints from synchronization primitives and invariants that are derived by performing one or more dataflow analysis methods for concurrent programs. The dataflow analysis methods are applied in order of overhead expense. Concrete execution traces are generated for remaining warnings using model checking.
US08527965B2

A method for analyzing a set of potential bug statements in source code. The method including obtaining a set of static program analyses; recursively reducing the set of potential bug statements in the source code by: selecting a static program analysis for each recursion from the set of static program analyses in order from least time consuming to most time consuming; evaluating the set of potential bug statements using the static program analysis of the set of static program analyses to determine a subgroup of bug free statements of the set of potential bug statements in each recursion; and removing the subgroup of the bug free statements from the set of potential bug statements to reduce the set of potential bug statements in each recursion; thereby filtering at least one subgroup of bug free statements out of the set of potential bug statements in the source code.
US08527963B2

A probe management system identifies a probe module for an application, which includes a semaphore table that has entries for a plurality of probe points in the application. An entry includes a semaphore variable value for a probe point. The probe management system identifies one or more probe points that are to be activated from an introspection user script. The user script is for examining the execution of the application at one or more of the probe points in the application. The probe management system adjusts the semaphore variable values for the identified probe points in the semaphore table in the probe module to represent to the application that a probe point is to be activated and causes the application to activate the identified probe points based on the adjusted semaphore variable values in the semaphore table.
US08527956B2

A performance projection system includes a test IHS and multiple currently existing IHSs. The performance projection system includes user application software and surrogate programs that execute on currently existing IHSs. The performance projection system measures user application software and surrogate program performance during execution on currently existing IHSs. The performance projection systems measures runtime program performance during execution of surrogate programs on a future semiconductor die IC design model or virtualized future system. Designers normalize and compare surrogate program runtime performance data with user application software performance data. Designers un-normalize the normalized runtime performance data to generate a projection of runtime performance on the future system.
US08527949B1

An interface, system and method enabling dynamic reconfiguration of an electronic device in a convenient and efficient manner. The interface enables basic operations, such as adding or deleting a device configuration and switching between different device configuration views/workspaces. In some embodiments, the system and method apply global device parameter values to each device configuration and/or allow only valid or legal states for device configurations beyond the first configuration. In another embodiment, the electronic device includes a microprocessor, a plurality of internal peripherals, an interconnecting component, an external coupling port, and a memory for storing instructions. The plurality of internal peripherals, the interconnecting component and the external coupling port are programmably configurable to perform a variety of functions. The memory stores a plurality of configuration images that define the configuration and configuration of the plurality of internal peripherals, the interconnecting component and the external coupling port. The instructions stored by the memory facilitate dynamic reconfiguration of the electronic device. Based upon the existence of a predetermined condition, the electronic device is automatically reconfigured by activating different configuration images.
US08527943B1

The present invention discloses a system, method and program code product for efficient component-based application development. Presentation code of a container component is generated by a container-component code generator (container CCG), which uses the class objects of component code generators (CCGs) as subcomponents. The CCGs, as standalone modules or classes, when properly instantiated and initialized could generate the application code of the subcomponents by their code-generating method (CGM) during execution. The container CCG assembles and integrates the subcomponents' application code in run time and fills in the code necessary to establish communication between any two of subcomponents in the resultant application code. One of the methods for establishing inter-component communication and for managing communication dependencies is a service registration object in the application code.
US08527939B2

This disclosure relates to methods, systems, and software for GUI modeling of at least one contextual help object, potentially representing a knowledgebase, in a modeling environment. For example, software for utilizing contextual help may be operable to identify a business object for an application and associate a contextual help object in a knowledgebase repository to the identified business object. The software may be further operable to automatically configure the front-end of the application using the modeling environment and based on the business object and the contextual help object and, upon activation of the business object, to display just-in-time help to a user of the application via the front-end.
US08527933B2

An integrated circuit device layout is created based on charge carrier mobility characteristics of the device's non-functional cells. The charge carrier mobility of the non-functional cells can alter behavioral characteristics such as the hold time, setup time, or leakage current of nearby functional logic cells. Accordingly, a layout tool creates the layout for the integrated circuit device by selecting and placing non-functional cells having different mobility so as to selectively alter the characteristics of nearby logic cells.
US08527924B2

A method and apparatus are provided for use in synthesis of RTL integrated circuit design to determine the functional equivalence of designs. For example, the receiver receives a plurality of designs for synthesis in RTL and a data flow graph is derived for each design. Internal bit widths in the data flow graph representations are restricted (52) to provide a first modified version of each of the designs. These first modified versions are compared each with the design from which it was derived in a comparison unit (54). The input bit widths of the data flow graph representation are then restricted to be no wider than the output bit widths (56) to derive second modified versions of the designs (58). These second modified versions are compared with each other (60) to determine which are equivalent. Equivalent designs can be passed to an RTL synthesis unit 62, or otherwise further evaluated.
US08527920B1

A method for automated synthesis of a parallel prefix device includes determining structural constraints for a given parallel prefix device; generating a plurality of candidate prefix graphs for the parallel prefix device by performing a search of possible prefix graphs meeting the constraints; performing physical synthesis of each of the plurality of candidate prefix graphs to generate performance information for each candidate prefix graph; and determining one or more of the plurality of candidate prefix graphs that meet performance criteria for incorporation into the parallel prefix device.
US08527919B2

There is provided with a device that includes a first inputter inputting design description which includes functions; a second inputter inputting type specifying description corresponding to the functions, each of which specifies a type for a return value of each corresponding function, and the description of at least one function of the functions specifies a type for a return value of a first function which is an other function of functions; a determiner determining a type of the return value of the first function to a comprehensive type to comprehend the types specified by the type specifying description corresponding to the first function and the at least one function and a type of the return value of a second function which is a function than the first function to the type specified thereto.
US08527913B2

A method for resizing a pattern to be written by using lithography technique includes calculating a first dimension correction amount of a pattern for correcting a dimension error caused by a loading effect, for each small region made by virtually dividing a writing region of a target workpiece into meshes of a predetermined size, based on an area density of the each small region, calculating a second dimension correction amount in accordance with a line width dimension of the pattern to be written in the each small region, correcting the first dimension correction amount by using the second dimension correction amount, and resizing the line width dimension of the pattern by using a corrected first dimension correction amount, and outputting a result of the resizing.
US08527907B2

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the contents of a window may be reflowed to accommodate one or more of a change in the size or aspect ratio of the window, a change in size of one or more objects or subwindows within the window, and/or the addition or deletion of the contents of the window. The contents of the window may be reflowed proportionally with the event causing the relayout of the window contents such that the contents of the window may be fully displayed within the window area after the event, and/or the relationship of the window contents may be at least partially maintained.
US08527903B2

A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.
US08527901B2

In the data structure for managing reproduction of graphic information, graphic information and an indicator associated with the graphic information is stored on the recording medium. The indicator indicates whether the graphic information is for display in response to user request.
US08527899B2

According to one embodiment, an display processing apparatus includes, an operation receiver, a relation calculator, a display information generator, and a display controller. The operation receiver receives operation to select a key content of a first type. The relation calculator calculates relation between the key content and each of second contents of a plurality of types including the first type. The display information generator generates first display information of the key content and second display information of the second contents. The display controller displays list information including the first display information and relation item information indicating a plurality of items involved in calculating the relation and display areas each corresponding to one of the items. In the list information, pieces of the second display information are arranged such that second display information of second content with higher relation to the key content is closer to the first display information.
US08527895B2

A method for representing a virtual keyboard on the display of a mobile terminal, as for example a cell phone, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a camera for capturing image data, a display for representing the image data and a keyboard for selecting menu functions or for inputting, for example, a text message. The keyboard is designed as a virtual keyboard on the display of the mobile terminal and a cursor represented on the virtual keyboard is designed to be moveable, wherein the cursor moves according to the movements of the mobile terminal in the spatial axes to the corresponding keyboard field of the virtual keyboard.
US08527892B2

A multi-screen user device and methods for performing a drag and drop operation using finger gestures are disclosed. A first finger gesture is used to select a display area from which data is to be copied. Subsequently, a drag finger gesture is used to identify where the data that is to be pasted. The drag may extend across a non-display boundary between a first and second display screen of the multi-screen device.
US08527891B2

An apparatus, method, and computer program product are disclosed for enabling user interactions between user interface components. An initial event module detects an initial user input event to a graphical user interface. The initial user input event is associated with a user interaction between a source user interface component and a target user interface component that occupy separate event domains. A transparent component module places a transparent user interface component over the target user interface component in response to the initial user input event. The transparent user interface component occupies the same event domain as the source user interface component. An interaction event module detects an interaction user input event to the transparent user interface component that continues the user interaction. An interaction communication module communicates information of the user interaction to the target user interface component using a communications channel supported by the target user interface component.
US08527873B2

A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and cursor positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.
US08527863B2

An instruction is received to display a section of a referencing document on a screen. The section has at least one referencing link referencing a different section. The section of the referencing document is displayed on the screen. A selection of a referencing link is received. The different section referenced by the referencing link is displayed on the screen, at least partially at a same time of the displaying of the section of the referencing document. A visual indicator that associates the referencing link with the different section is displayed. Also in response to receiving the selection and in response to determining that the section of the referencing document includes multiple reference links of the at least one reference link to different section, other visual indicators that associate the multiple referencing links with the different section are displayed.
US08527862B2

Methods, devices, and computer-readable storage media that make an asynchronous JavaScript and extensible mark-up language (AJAX) application content state bookmarkable and crawlable include receiving a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request is received. The HTTP request includes an HTTP request uniform resource locator (URL) representing a current application state. When the HTTP request URL contains a first reference substring, a second substring is extracted from the HTTP request URL based upon the first reference substring. A modified URL is generated based at least in part on the extracted second substring. The modified URL represents the current application content state.
US08527855B2

A wireless bit-interleaved coded OFDM (BI-COFDM) multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) system that improves the diversity seen by a convolutional decoder. The bit stream is interleaved first, then bits are mapped into symbols and then symbols are parsed into Nt separate streams, where t is the number of transmitters. A deinterleaver then performs the inverse permutation before sending the symbols to a Viturbi decoder. In another embodiment, a transmitting side bit-interleaver transforms an encoded and punctured bit stream using a first permutation, groups the transformed bit stream according to a desired constellation on one of Nt antennae, splits the transformed bit stream into separate streams accordingly and bit-interleaves/symbol-maps using a plurality of bit-interleavers/symbol-mappers to permute each stream using a second permutation. A receiving side performs the inverse operations of the transmitting side.
US08527850B1

Systems and methods are provided for implementing error identification and evaluation for a Reed-Solomon (RS) error-correction code (ECC) system. The BMA algorithm and/or list decoding may produce one or more error locator polynomials that are related to a decision-codeword. An accelerated Chien search can be used to more quickly evaluate the one or more error locator polynomial. If the accelerated Chien search identifies a valid error locator polynomial, a normal Chien search can be used to identify error locations, and Forney's algorithm or an equivalent technique can be used to evaluate the error values. A RS ECC decoder can include a computation circuit that evaluates an error locator polynomial or an error evaluator polynomial. The computation circuit can include computation components that receive the coefficients of the polynomials.
US08527844B2

A phase synchronization apparatus and corresponding method are disclosed. In one example the phase synchronization apparatus may include a sampling section, a phase-error detection section, a first computation section, a second computation section, and an interpolation section. The apparatus and method may also carry out phase synchronization that corrects the phases of received signals sampled at sampling periods asynchronous with symbol periods, by carrying out concurrent processing to generate a plurality of received symbols so that the phases can be synchronized at a higher speed.
US08527832B2

The invention relates to a coding method with incremental redundancy in which it is determined (620) whether to carry out the coding of a sequence of information symbols using a first code (C), of the LDPC type, defined by a first check matrix, H, or rather using a second code ({tilde over (C)}), of lesser efficiency than that of the first code, the second code being defined by a second check matrix, {tilde over (H)}, obtained by fractionation (630) of the rows of the first check matrix. The invention finds application to, among others, a link adaptation method, a turbo-coding method, a distributed coding method within a cooperative network, a packet transmission method using an IR-HARQ protocol.
US08527827B2

An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmission method includes generating a data symbol. A control information signal is generated. The control information signal relates to a modulation scheme and an error correction scheme of a data symbol in a frame. An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal is formed. The orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal includes the data symbol and the control information signal. The orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal is formed by arranging the control information signal in a first symbol group that is formed with subcarriers in a time period, and in a second symbol group that is formed with subcarriers, located in the time period, and that has a frequency band distant from the first symbol group.
US08527824B2

A system for testing multi-clock domains in an integrated circuit (IC) includes a plurality of clock sources coupled to a plurality of clock controllers. Each of the clock sources generates a fast clock associated with one of the multi-clock domains. Each of the clock controllers is configured to provide capture pulses to test one clock domain. The capture pulses provided to a clock domain are at a frequency of a fast clock associated with the clock domain. The clock controllers operate sequentially to provide the capture pulses to test the clock domains.
US08527814B1

A method for repairing an error in a software application, including receiving an error including an error description detailing the error, identifying, using a plurality of commands, a network address of a client computer executing the software application and a file system location on the client computer, transmitting, using the plurality of commands, an error tool file to the client computer at the network address, storing, using the plurality of commands, the error tool file on the client computer at the file system location, installing, using the plurality of commands, an error tool on the client computer using the error tool file, executing, using the plurality of commands, the error tool on the client computer, repairing the error in the software application after executing the error tool, and receiving feedback in the form of an execution log from the error tool.
US08527802B1

A memory device can include a data path that includes a first-in-first-out circuit (FIFO) to transfer data according to a latency between at least one memory cell array and signal connections of the memory device, the latency corresponding to a number of cycles of a periodic clock; and a self-timed section configured to transfer data independent of the clock. In addition or alternatively, a memory device can include at least one memory cell array; and a FIFO configured to transfer data between at least one memory cell array and other portions of the memory device according to a periodic clock signal, FIFO introducing a latency into the data according to a control signal generated in response to an access command. Methods corresponding to the above devices and operations are also disclosed.
US08527801B2

A performance control technique for a processing system that includes one or more adaptively-clocked processor cores provides improved performance/power characteristics. An outer feedback loop adjusts the power supply voltage(s) provided to the power supply voltage domain(s) powering the core(s), which may be on a per-core basis or include multiple cores per voltage domain. The outer feedback loop operates to ensure that each core is meeting specified performance, while the cores also include an inner feedback loop that adjusts their processor clock or other performance control mechanism to maximize performance under present operating conditions and within a margin of safety. The performance of each core is measured and compared to a target performance. If the target performance is not met for each core in a voltage domain, the voltage is raised for the voltage domain until all cores meet the target performance.
US08527794B2

An integrated circuit comprising a plurality of functional blocks, each functional block being operative to cause one or more power consuming events, each power consuming event being associated with a respective weight. The integrated circuit also comprises at least one accumulation block for monitoring the functional blocks over a time window and generating a weighted count of the number of occurrences of each power consuming event within the time window; and a power calculation module for calculating a runtime power consumption estimate over the time window using the weighted count. The weighted count may comprise a sum of products of each one of the power consuming events by its respective weight. Calculating the runtime power consumption estimate may comprise averaging the weighted count over the time window to generate a dynamic power estimate, calculating a leakage power estimate over the time window, and summing the dynamic power estimate with the leakage power estimate. The integrated circuit may further comprise a power management module for adapting power consumption of the integrated circuit based on a comparison of the runtime power consumption estimate with one or more predetermined thresholds.
US08527791B2

Disclosed are a battery power control device, a portable device and a method of controlling the portable device. The disclosed portable device includes a workload calculator which calculates a workload necessary to provide the specific service to the user according to at least one of time request information related to a desired time during which the specific service is provided to the user and QoS (Quality of Service) request information related to a quality of the specific service, the necessary workload being smaller than a default workload that is preset for providing the specific service; a task performer which performs a task for providing the specific service according to the necessary workload during a time that is reduced to be shorter than a task performance time according to the default workload and stop the task performance during the reduced time; and a battery unit which supplies a power for performing the task to the task performer.
US08527785B2

A method which includes initiating a power management policy based on a processing element for a computing platform entering a given power state. The power management policy includes a determination as to whether an input/output (I/O) controller and a memory controller for the computing platform are substantially quiescent. The computing platform may then be transitioned to a low power system state from a run power system state based on a determination that both the I/O controller and the memory controller are substantially quiescent and an indication that the computing platform is capable of entering the low power system state. According to this method, the low power system state includes entering one or more devices responsive to the computing platform in a power level adequate to retain a configuration state that enables the one or more devices to transition back to the run power system state in a manner that is substantially transparent to an operating system for the computing platform. Other implementations and examples are also described in this disclosure.
US08527779B1

Example embodiments of the present invention may include an example method of performing steganography. The example method may include processing a data message into multiple message blocks each representing a portion of the data message, and assigning the multiple message blocks to a corresponding set of multiple data files. The method may also include storing the multiple data files in at least one memory location.
US08527773B1

Systems and methods for authenticating the identity of a user prior to giving access to confidential data at a user interface via a network are described. In an exemplary implementation in an Internet environment, a server hosts an application providing selective access by the user to confidential data related to the user. The user provides initial data to the application as part of a request to access the confidential data. At least one database having the confidential data stored therein is accessed by the server to retrieve confidential data relating to the user located in the database based on the initial data received from the client interface. An authentication function causes the server to transmit to the client interface and present to the user an incomplete portion of the confidential data relating to the user, which is not identical to the initial data, along with at least one other portion of data having a substantially identical format to the incomplete portion of the confidential data. The authentication function requests the user to provide additional data to complete the incomplete portion of the confidential data. The user is granted access to the confidential data subsequent to determination by the application that the user correctly completed the incomplete portion of the confidential data.
US08527770B2

A method is provided for provisioning a device certificate on a device. The device is configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of backend servers via a communication network. The communication network includes a mobile data server. An activation request is initiated to the mobile data server for activating the device on the communication network. During activation, a device certificate request is provided to the mobile data server for the device. The device certificate request includes at least a user identifier, a device identifier and a device public key. The device certificate request is forwarded from the mobile data server to a predefined certification authority. A device certificate from the predefined certification authority is received at the device in response to the device certificate request.
US08527768B2

A mobile station, an access point, a gateway apparatus, a base station, and a handshake method thereof for use in a wireless network framework are provided. The wireless network framework comprises a first wireless network comprising the access point, and a second wireless network comprising the gateway apparatus and base station. There is an IP security tunnel between the access point and the gateway apparatus. When the mobile station handovers from the first wireless network to the second wireless network, it transmits a master session key to the gateway apparatus via the access point and the IP security tunnel. Additionally, when the mobile station handovers from the second wireless network to the first wireless network, it transmits a master session key to the access point. As a result, the authentication time, which is needed in handover procedure between the first wireless network and the second wireless network, is reduced effectively.
US08527763B2

An information handling system includes a memory and a processor to execute instructions stored in the memory, which causes the processor to at least: send identification information to a second information handling system in response to an identification request broadcast from the second information handling system via a short-range communication; receive first authentication information for a local application and a remote service from the second information handling system; receive a copy of the local application; authenticate a user for the copy of the local application and for the remote service prior to the user logging on to the information handling system; receive second authentication information from the user to access the information handling system; authenticate the user to the information handling system; and automatically initiate a secure session between the copy of the local application and the remote service when the user is authenticated to the information handling system.
US08527762B2

A method for realizing an authentication center (AC) and an authentication system are disclosed. The method comprises: a UE sends an authentication request to an AC and applies for temporary authentication information, the AC assigns a first authentication random code to the UE, then the UE calculates a first response code and sends it to the AC, the AC assigns the temporary authentication information to the UE after authentication and authorization; the UE sends a login request to the application system (AS) which assigns a second authentication random code to the UE, and the UE uses it and the temporary authentication information to calculate a second response code, and sends this code to the AS; the AS sends the second response code to the AC for authentication and authorization; the AC returns the authentication result to the AS which in turn returns the authentication result to the UE.
US08527741B2

A task matching circuit for synchronizing software on a plurality of processors is disclosed. The task matching circuit includes first and second inputs, an analysis sub-circuit, and an output. The first input is from a first processor configured to receive a first software routine identifier. The second input is from a second processor configured to receive a second software routine identifier. The analysis sub-circuit determines if the first software routine identifier corresponds with the second software routine identifier. The output is coupled to at least one of the first or second processors and indicates when the first and second software routine identifiers do not correspond. One of the first and second processors is delayed until the first and second software routine identifiers correspond.
US08527739B2

Distributing a computing operation among processes and for gathering results of the computing operation from the plurality of processes. An exemplary method includes the operations of pairing a plurality of processes such that each process has a maximum of one interaction partner, selecting half of the data located at a process, dividing the selected half of the data into a plurality of data segments, transmitting a first data segment resulting from the dividing operation from the process to the interaction partner of the process, receiving a second data segment at the process from the interaction partner, concurrently with the transferring and receiving operations, performing a computing operation on a third data segment previously received from a previous interaction partner and a fourth data segment from the data segments, and iterating over the transmitting, receiving and computing operations until all the data segments have been exchanged.
US08527732B2

A storage system in an embodiment of this invention comprises a virtual volume to which real storage areas are allocated depending on data amount to be stored therein and which stores a plurality of mainframe data managed in units of tracks, each of the plurality of mainframe data including control information and one or more records storing user data, and a controller The virtual volume is managed by a first real storage area storing the records in the plurality of mainframe data and a second real storage area storing the control information in the plurality of mainframe data. The controller determines not to allocate the first real storage area to the virtual volume in a case that user data in the records in the plurality of mainframe data are initial values. The control information in the plurality of mainframe data is stored in the second real storage area allocated to the virtual volume.
US08527718B2

A method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster may include receiving a first command at a first storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster. The method may also include transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system when at least a portion of the data associated in the first command is stored by a second storage system. The method may further include obtaining a segment start value and a corresponding port identifier based on the referral response, and directing a second command to at least a second storage system included in the plurality of storage systems of the block cluster.
US08527716B2

Since only one golden image (GI) of a snapshot can exist and is shared among a plurality of storage apparatuses, there was a problem that migration or copy thereof deteriorates the capacity efficiency and increases the cost for managing consistency. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by either (1) a direct sharing method of generating a parent-child relationship of snapshots among different storage apparatuses at the time of creating differential LUs from the GI or (2) a virtual sharing method of creating virtual LUs of the GI in the respective storage apparatuses and creating differential LUs of the snapshots from the created virtual LUs, using a storage virtualization function among a plurality of storage apparatuses.
US08527712B2

A method including: receiving multiple local requests to access the cache line; inserting, into an address chain, multiple entries corresponding to the multiple local requests; identifying a first entry at a head of the address chain; initiating, in response to identifying the first entry and in response to the first entry corresponding to a request to own the cache line, a traversal of the address chain; setting, during the traversal of the address chain, a state element identified in a second entry; receiving a foreign request to access the cache line; inserting, in response to setting the state element, a third entry corresponding to the foreign request into the address chain after the second entry; and relinquishing, in response to inserting the third entry after the second entry in the address chain, the cache line to a foreign thread after executing the multiple local requests.
US08527705B2

A method begins by a processing module obtaining an encoded data slice and an associated slice name. The method continues with the processing module determining a dispersed storage (DS) unit for storing the encoded data slice based on at least one of the encoded data slice and the associated slice name and estimating a performance level of the DS unit to produce an estimated DS unit performance level. The method continues with the processing module sending the encoded data slice to the DS unit for storage therein and when the estimated DS unit performance level compares unfavorably with a performance threshold, facilitating storage of the encoded data slice in temporary memory to produce a temporarily stored encoded data slice, wherein the temporarily stored encoded data slice is retrieved in response to a retrieval request when confirmation of the DS unit storing the encoded data slice has not been received.
US08527703B1

A method and computer program product for dividing a cache memory system into a plurality of cache memory portions. Data to be written to a specific address within an electromechanical storage system is received. The data is assigned to one of the plurality of cache memory portions, thus defining an assigned cache memory portion. Association information for the data is generated, wherein the association information defines the specific address within the electromechanical storage system. The data and the association information is written to the assigned cache memory portion.A method and computer program product for receiving a data read request concerning requested data stored at a specific address within an electromechanical storage system. A potential cache memory portion within a cache memory system may be identified, wherein the potential cache memory portion is chosen from a plurality of cache memory portions included within the cache memory system. The potential cache memory portion may be read to obtain portion content, wherein the portion content includes portion data stored within the potential cache memory portion and association information concerning the portion data. The association information may be processed to determine if the portion data is equivalent to the data stored at the specific address within the electromechanical storage system.
US08527699B2

Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed provide a distributed RAID system comprising a set of data banks. More particularly, in certain embodiments of a distributed RAID system each data bank has a set of associated storage media and executes a similar distributed RAID application. Each data bank may have a high speed memory where a write cache is stored. In certain embodiments, a virtualization layer may be executed on a data bank and the distributed RAID application may execute on the virtualization layer. The distributed RAID application may control access to the high speed memory on which the write cache is stored.
US08527698B2

A RAID system is provided in which the RAID controller of the system causes a predetermined number, N, of IO commands to be queued in a memory element, where N is a positive integer. After the N IO commands have been queued, the RAID controller writes N locks associated with the N IO commands in parallel to a service memory device. The RAID controller then writes N stripes of data and parity bits associated with the N IO commands to the PDs of the system to perform striping and parity distribution. If a catastrophic event, such as a power failure, occurs, the RAID controller reads the locks from the service memory device and causes parity to be reconstructed for the stripes associated with the locks. These features improve write performance while preventing the occurrence of data corruption caused by write holes.
US08527696B1

A method and computer program product for receiving a data read request on a first array in a multi-array storage network. If the requested data is resident on the first array, the requested data is obtained from a storage device included within the first array. If not, the requested data is obtained from a storage device included within an at least a second array via an out-of-band cache control process. A method and computer program product for receiving a data write request on a first array for data to be stored on a multi-array storage. The data write request is processed to determine if the data is to be stored on the first array or on at least a second array. If the data is to be stored on the at least a second array, the data is stored via an out-of-band cache control process.
US08527694B2

A method and an apparatus for updating table entries of a TCAM are disclosed. The method comprises: creating a virtual TCAM list, of which respective first TCAM table entries are one-to-one corresponding to respective second TCAM table entries stored in a hardware TCAM; determining, in idle resources of the hardware TCAM, a storage position of a second TCAM table entry to be updated corresponding to a first TCAM table entry to be updated, according to a pre-specified precedence relationship between the storage positions of the first TCAM table entry to be updated and other first TCAM table entry in the virtual TCAM list; and performing an updating operation on the second TCAM table entry to be updated based on the determined storage position. According to the present invention, the storage position of the second TCAM table entry to be updated is selected from the idle resources of the hardware TCAM so far as possible, and thus the problem of a low efficiency in updating table entries because of the rewriting of a lot of other second TCAM table entries caused by updating the second TCAM table entries in the hardware TCAM is overcome.
US08527688B2

A docking station is provided for a computing device. The docking station may be used by, for example, a mobile computing device, such as a cellular or wireless telephony/messaging device. The docking station includes a housing comprising a receiving surface top receive and retain the mobile computing device. An inductive signal transfer interface is included with the housing to inductively signal at least one of power or data to the mobile computing device. The docking station further provides an output component and processing resources. The processing resources are configured to detect placement of the mobile computing device on the receiving surface. The data is received from the mobile computing device, and an output is signaled to the output component based on the received data.
US08527687B2

A main board and a method for dynamically configuring PCIE ports thereof. The main board comprises a PCIE slot, a detecting circuit, an ROM, a chipset and a modifying circuit. The chipset comprises a Management Engine controller and several PCIE ports. The chipset has a Management Engine function or a similar function. The detecting circuit detects the PCIE slot to generate a current state parameter. The ROM stores a default configuration data. The modifying circuit coupled between the chipset and the ROM determines whether the default configuration data needs to be modified according to the current state parameter. When the default configuration data needs to be modified, the modifying circuit modifies the default configuration data according to the current state parameter, so that the Management Engine controller initially configures the PCIE ports according to the modified default configuration data. Thus, the dynamical configuration of the chipset PCIE ports is realized.
US08527685B2

The present invention is directed to a method for implementing firmware in an expander system in such a way that a single hardware component (ex.—a chip) of the expander system may be presented as multiple virtual expanders to both upstream connected devices (ex.—HBAs) as well as downstream connected devices (ex.—disk drives).
US08527678B2

The present invention provides an intelligent, modular multimedia computer management system for coupling a series of remote computers to one or more user workstations to allow each user workstation to selectively access and control one or more remote computers. The computer management system incorporates a centralized switching system that receives keyboard, cursor control device, audio, and auxiliary peripheral device signals from the user workstation and transmits and applies the signals to the remote computer in the same manner as if the keyboard, cursor control device, audio input source, or auxiliary peripheral device of the user workstation were directly coupled to the remote computer. Also, the user workstation receives audio signals and auxiliary peripheral device signals from the remote computer. In addition, the multimedia computer management system transmits video signals from the remote computer over an extended range for display on the video monitor of the user workstation.
US08527665B2

Redirecting a function included in an operating system is disclosed. The redirecting is achieved by identifying an original function call in a kernel and replacing the function call with a replacement function call so that the replacement function is called in place of the original function. In this way the original function call is bypassed and the original call is redirected to the replacement function. This may be done to augment or replace the original function. In one embodiment, when a packet is received, a replacement receiving function is called in place of the network receiving function that was provided with the kernel. In this way, different, less or additional processing of received packets may be performed.
US08527662B2

A managed network provides unique network addresses that are assigned to nodes such that no two nodes will have the same address in the managed network and such that each node will always have the same network address regardless of changing its location or changing the network to which it is joined. The nodes, communicating together, comprise a mesh network. Remote management and control of the nodes is possible from the host server, which is located outside of the mesh network, even if a node is located behind a firewall or network address translator (NAT), because server management messages are encapsulated within headers so that a persistent connection between the node and the external host server is maintained once the node sends a message to the host.
US08527653B2

A general packet radio service (GPRS) gateway support node (GGSN) front end processor (GFEP) system includes an input/output (I/O) interface configured to receive data directly from at least one supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) device. The received data is associated with at least one of monitoring and controlling an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) device. The GFEP system also includes a GFEP processor operatively coupled to the I/O interface, the GFEP processor is configured to perform a protocol conversion to facilitate transfer of the received data from the SCADA device to a GGSN of a wireless communications network, and provide the received data to the GGSN for delivery via the wireless communications network to the AMI device.
US08527634B2

A method and an apparatus for creating an Internet Protocol Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session are disclosed herein. The method includes: creating, by a First Policy and Charging Enforcement Function entity, PCEFa entity, a session with a Policy and Charging Rules Function entity, PCRF entity; performing, by the PCEFa entity, mobility registration with a second Policy and Charging Enforcement Function entity, PCEFb entity; creating, by the PCEFb entity, a session with the PCRF entity; and sending, by the PCRF entity, a session information to the PCEFa entity and the PCEFb entity. mobility The apparatus includes: a PCEFa entity, a PCEFb entity, and a PCRF entity. The method and the apparatus for creating an IP-CAN session under the present disclosure accomplish the purpose of creating an IP-CAN session in the new PCC architecture.
US08527632B2

The secure transfer of data files between secure environments (202, 211) is disclosed. At a source environment (202) a user issues a request via a first local terminal (205J) to transmit one or more selected data files (101) to a specified recipient (211) by identifying the data files and the recipient's email address. The transmission of the data file is approved, possibly by a supervisor (208) and a copy of the selected data file is made to an encrypted storage device. An email is issued to the recipient (211) identifying the location of the selected file and a first password. The selected data file is transferred to the recipient in response to the recipient identifying the location and providing the first password. Preferably, a second one-time password is provided via an alternative mode of communication.
US08527631B1

A Web site reputation service automatically redirects a browsing request for analysis by a rating server. On the browsing request, a proxy autoconfiguration (PAC) file is downloaded from a PAC server to a Web browser of a user computer. The function of the PAC file is executed, sending a request to a rating server along with a host name of a target Web site. The function does not immediately return a proxy server, but first requests a rating of the Web site. A rating result associated with the Web site is produced by the rating server. The rating server returns the rating result and the function returns an address of a proxy server to the Web browser based upon the rating result. A user can enable the Web Proxy Autodiscovery Protocol to use the service. Access control may be implemented by applying an HTTP authentication mechanism on the Web server that hosts the PAC file.
US08527623B2

An embodiment of the present invention automatically detects when a user is in a state of vacillation based on user on-line behavior, records relevant parameters regarding the vacillation event, and then responds accordingly. This response may include providing relevant and/or targeted information that can be used by the user to help remove the indecision. The response may also or alternatively include providing third-party businesses, such as retailers, marketers, and advertisers, with information about vacillation events and associated behaviors for a single user or groups of users so that such businesses can identify potential markets/customers or directly engage similar users to facilitate the decision-making process.
US08527622B2

In some implementations, a first message handler may be configured to receive first network-related data associated with a first network of nodes, the first network of nodes using a first communications protocol. A second message handler may be configured to receive second network-related data associated with a second network of nodes, the second network of nodes using a second communications protocol. A message transport system may be configured to receive the first network-related data and the second network-related data and further configured to route the first network-related data and the second network-related data in a common protocol, and a fault manager may be configured to receive the network-related data in the common protocol and configured to determine a fault associated with an operation of one or more of the first network of nodes and the second network of nodes, based on the network-related data in the common protocol.
US08527614B2

Software configuration and status information of one or more business office appliances operating behind a firewall are controlled remotely by a software patch management application. The software patch management application is connected to a network and transmits instructions and software patches via electronic mail to a network connection on the other side of the firewall. A device management application receives the instructions and/or software patches and communicates the instructions and/or software patches to one or more business office appliances for execution and/or installation without requiring re-boot of the business office appliances.
US08527612B2

Methods, devices and computer program products are provided for configuring network-enabled devices. One or more additional network-enabled devices containing configuration parameters relevant to a first network-enabled device are discovered. The relevant configuration parameters are obtained from the one or more additional network-enabled device by the first network-enabled device and the first network-enabled device is configured using the obtained configuration parameters.
US08527611B2

A method of tailoring data streams transmitted to networked user devices is disclosed in which environment information associated with each device is stored at an agent located on those devices. This environment information may include information related to the hardware, interface and application capabilities of the particular device. In another embodiment, this environment information is transmitted and stored at an agent at a local network gateway. And in another embodiment, the environment information is then stored at a mirror agent located in a backbone network of a service provider. By referring to this environment information, a service provider can tailor the transmission of data streams, such as multimedia streams, to a device based on the capabilities of the device and the associated network.
US08527591B2

The present invention describes a method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable web browsing experience on a guest device, utilizing the transfer of URL and form data information. The present invention further describes a method for joining a synchronized browsing session administered by a synchronization server, comprising activating a hyperlink associated with the synchronized browsing session, sending a request to join the synchronized browsing session to the synchronization server in response to the activation of the hyperlink, and joining the synchronized browsing session. The present invention further describes a method for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising receiving information related to a shared web browsing interaction performed by a host device from a synchronization server, and performing the shared web browsing interaction based on the information received from the synchronization server.
US08527585B2

The present invention relates to the field of Web browser technology, particularly to a prereading method and system for a Web browser, the method comprising: submitting, by a Web browser client, a first Web page visiting request to a target server and uploading an individual browsing record characteristic of the first Web page; forming, by a transfer server, a prereading policy according to the received individual browsing record characteristic of the first Web page and the stored at least one swarm browsing record characteristic of the first Web page; acquiring, by the transfer server, a Web page from the target server according to the prereading policy and sending the Web page to the browser client for buffering. The present invention makes it possible to preread Web pages according to individual users' visiting habits and preferences in combination with mass users' visiting history, and find out Web pages that a user is most likely to click through computational analysis of weights and preference coefficients on different page elements of Web pages, thereby realizing more precisely prereading, significantly increasing success rate of preread. Further, pages are downloaded in idle period, which advantageously saves time for users by substantially avoiding waiting.
US08527581B2

A method of synchronizing a first device capable of displaying video content and including the video content, and a second device capable of displaying E-book content associated with the video content and including the E-book content. The first device is connected to the second device according to a specific protocol. In response to a specific event for the video content or the E-book content occurring in one of the first and second devices, the device in which the specific event occurs generates event information about the specific event and transmits it to the other of the first and second devices, and performs the specific event according to the event information. Upon receiving the event information, the other of the first and second devices performs the specific event according to the received event information in synchronization with the device in which the specific event occurred, using synchronization information between the video content and the E-book content.
US08527575B2

A method, performed by a server device, may include receiving a request from a user device to place a user, associated with the user device, in a particular queue; determining whether the user meets one or more qualifications associated with the queue; placing the user in the particular queue, when the user meets the one or more qualifications; monitoring whether the user continues to meet the one or more qualifications, while the user is in the queue; and removing the user from the particular queue, when the user fails to meet the one or more qualifications.
US08527568B2

Determining a summary feature set is disclosed. A plurality of subsegments of a first segment are selected. For each subsegment, a plurality of values by applying a set of functions to each subsegment are computed. From all the values computed for all the subsegments, a first subset of values is selected.
US08527562B2

Three or more file storage apparatuses and a management computer coupled thereto construct a file storage system. The management computer stores therein migration path management information, which indicates a configuration of a migration path capable of including three or more file storage units arranged in a cascade form, and path history information, which indicates a change history of the configuration of the migration path. Each time when the configuration of the migration path is changed, the management computer updates the migration path management information to information that indicates the changed configuration of the migration path, and adds the information that indicates the changed configuration of the migration path, to the path history information.
US08527553B2

Ghost data used for reproducing a game process executed by user operations are transmitted from game apparatuses to a data management apparatus. The data management apparatus stores the received ghost data, according to a definition of a database in which score sections are defined based on a value represented by score data, and a maximum registration allowable number of users for which the ghost data are registered is defined for each of the score sections, or is defined so as to be the same among the score sections. The data management apparatus transmits, when a ghost data distribution request is received, the ghost data for at least one user for which the ghost data is registered so as to be associated with one of the score sections, the scores section being associated with the score data included in the ghost data distribution request, to the one of the game apparatuses.
US08527550B1

A Bridge Inspection Diagnostic System (“BIDS”) for improving the efficiency and efficacy of the operations of a bridge inspection and management department. BIDS is able to store, automatically index and cross references, and provide access to over the Internet all bridge related data, such as inspection related data, repair related data, and historical background related data that is necessary for the operations of a bridge inspection and maintenance department. This information, which can be uploaded from different locations, including on site at a bridge, and at different times, is automatically sorted by the BIDS engine such that all of such information relating to any bridge is easily accessible when other information for that bridge is accessed.
US08527549B2

A method for managing a virtual distributed file system includes maintaining by a master device located in a cloud computing environment, a metadata data structure that stores metadata about locations of most updated versions of multiple file portions and security levels of the file portions, at least one file portion being stored at a user device coupled to the cloud computing environment, and maintaining by the master device, transaction of file portions to user entities, at least one user entity being hosted by the user device, based on at least metadata stored in the metadata data structure about the file portions.
US08527531B2

A stream data generating method for a computer system for generating stream data having time information applied thereto in a time series order and processing the generated stream data on the basis of a registered query. The computer system includes a storage for storing therein query information indicative of a plurality of sorts of constituent elements forming stream data corresponding to the query on the basis of the query and a stream definition indicative of the plurality of constituent elements, a data generator for generating and transmitting stream data; and a stream data processor for processing the stream data transmitted from the data generator. The data generator a less quantity of stream data to be transmitted to the stream data processor on the basis of the query information.
US08527529B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting search results with indication of relative position of search terms. According to one aspect of the invention, search results are displayed for a search query comprising a plurality of search terms. A search query is received, for example, from a user and at least one document satisfying the search query is obtained. The disclosed method determines a relative position of at least two of the search terms in the document and at least a portion of the document is presented with an indication of the relative position of the at least two search terms in the document. The relative position is indicated using a predefined character to indicate one or more intervening elements between the at least two search terms. A relevance ranking can optionally be presented that is based on the relative position of the at least two search terms.
US08527523B1

An electronic document analysis method receiving N electronic documents pertaining to a case encompassing a set of issues including at least one issue and establishing relevance of at least the N documents to at least one individual issue in the set of issues, the method comprising, for at least one individual issue from among the set of issues, receiving an output of a categorization process applied to each document in training and control subsets of the at least N documents, the output including, for each document in the subsets, one of a relevant-to-the-individual issue indication and a non-relevant-to-the-individual issue indication; building a text classifier simulating the categorization process using the output for all documents in the training subset of documents; and running the text classifier on the at least N documents thereby to obtain a ranking of the extent of relevance of each of the at least N documents to the individual issue. The method may also comprise evaluating the text classifier's quality using the output for all documents in the control subset.
US08527519B2

A hybrid database can receive a hybrid query for an object having a real world analog. A feature of a set of feature records can be determined that corresponds to the object. Feature-level attribute values of the feature can be extracted from the feature records. A set of uniquely indexed voxels can be determined. Each voxel can be a volumetric unit of the volumetric storage space that represents the volume of real-world geography. Voxel-level semantic values can be extracted from the set of uniquely indexed voxels from voxel records. Extracted voxel-level semantic values and extracted feature-level attribute values can be combined to generate a hybrid result. The hybrid result can be conveyed to a requestor from which the hybrid query was received.
US08527517B1

A knowledge base system is provided which includes a relations table which includes slots for a predicate identifier and first and second arguments of a respective relation. Each predicate identifier encodes a key for a respective entry in a predicate table. The predicate identifier also encodes argument types for the two arguments in the respective row of the relations table. Some of the argument types are associated with respective linked tables. This allows one of the arguments in a row of the relations table to serve as a key to an entry in the respective linked table on the condition that the predicate identifier for that row encodes the associated argument type.
US08527514B2

An apparatus for connecting getting-in and off records of a vehicle includes: a driving information memory unit for storing getting-in and off records having a pair of getting-in and getting-off records, each of which represents a getting-in or off time and place; a grouping unit for grouping the getting-in or off records representing a same getting-in or off time zone and place, so that segmentalized getting-in or off groups are generated; a connecting unit for searching a segmentalized getting-in group connected to one segmentalized getting-off group, and for storing connection information between a searched segmentalized getting-in group and the one segmentalized getting-off group; and an estimating unit for specifying a getting-off time and a getting-off point when the getting-off action of the driver is detected, and estimating a getting-in time for a next driving according to the connection information.
US08527509B2

A search method is provided, which includes: receiving a search request; extracting a user interest model from user personalized data according to the search request; obtaining a meta index of each member engine; selecting a member engine according to the meta index of each member engine, the search request, and the user interest model; and sending the search request to the selected member engine, so as to enable the selected member engine to complete searching. Correspondingly, a search system and related device, such as a search server and a scheduling server, are also provided, thereby improving the system efficiency and search precision.
US08527508B2

An input assistance device includes: an operation unit configured to accept information selected by a user from a plurality of input candidates; a storage unit configured to store a priority for displaying the plurality of input candidates according to a display order, the priority determined based on an input history of information accepted by the operation unit in association with each of the plurality of input candidates; and a control unit configured to refer to the storage unit, to change the display order of the input candidates determined based on the priority into other display order by replacing a first input candidate among the plurality of input candidates in a first range from a top percentile priority with a second input candidate in a second range that is outside of the first range, and to output the plurality of input candidates according to the other display order.
US08527504B1

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for filtering data network content using categorized filtering parameters. Filtering parameters (e.g., regular expressions) are categorized and stored in a database accessible by a plurality of users. A user may receive one or more categories of filtering parameters from the database, and then use the categorized filtering parameters to filter content received from a data network. A user may also contribute developed categorized filtering parameters to the database. In one advantageous embodiment, the filtering parameters are designed to filter out advertising content. In such an embodiment, the received content comprises advertising and is filtered using the categorized filtering parameters. A webpage is then rendered using the filtered content such that at least a portion of the advertising is not displayed in the webpage. The categorized filtering parameters stored in the database may be further divided into sub-categories such that the filtering parameters are stored in a hierarchical manner such that a category includes one or more sub-categories.
US08527497B2

An indexing system for graph data. In particular implementations, the indexing system provides for denormalization and replica index functionality to improve query performance.
US08527492B1

A method and system is provided for associating external content with a digital image. Aspects of the method and system include extracting metadata from the digital image; using the extracted metadata to query an online content server to retrieve content related to the digital image through at least one attribute of the extracted metadata; in response to receiving the content returned by the content server, associating the content with the digital image; and using the content when an operation is performed on the digital image.
US08527486B2

A social mobile network enables discovery of application programs running on the mobile devices. A search for partial or full matches to a group of alphanumeric characters is performed on the data stored on the first mobile communication device on which the search is initiated. The search is also performed on data made available to the user of the first mobile communication device by other users, where each user is associated with a different one of a multitude of mobile communication devices. The sharing of the data and the search for shared data is made via a server with which the mobile communication devices are in communication. The discovery of applications whose names or descriptions are partially or fully matched to the alphanumeric characters is made despite the fact that user was not looking for or aware of the existence of such application programs.
US08527477B2

A display system includes a display apparatus including a file identifier storing section, a viewing and editing information storing section storing thereon viewing and editing information permitted to file data, a first display section, and a first communicating section transmitting the file identifier and viewing and editing information, and an information processing apparatus including a second communicating section receiving the file identifier and viewing and editing information, a file data obtaining section, a viewing and editing instruction obtaining section obtaining editing instructions, a viewing and changing permitting section that refers to the viewing and editing information, and, when editing is permitted, gives permission to change contents of the file data based on the editing instructions, and a viewing and changing prohibiting section that refers to the viewing and editing information, and, when editing is not permitted, prohibits changing the contents of the file data.
US08527476B2

At least one computing device can store and combine data for a geographic region in a voxel database from a plurality of different source products. The voxel database can be a volumetric storage space of different volumetric storage units referred to as voxels. The voxel database can receive requests from different applications. For each of the requests, one of a set of filters can be determined. For each of the requests, the determined one of the filters can be applied to conditionally exclude data of the voxel database. For each of the requests, voxel database data resulting from applying the determined filter can be provided to one of the applications from which the corresponding one of the requests was issued.
US08527471B2

A computer system can include a program database module configured to define, at a shadow system, a shadow program database having a structure defining an upgrade to a structure of an original program database on an original system, and having data defining an upgrade to data of the original program database on the original system. The computer system can include a customization upgrade module configured to select the data of the shadow program database based on a data customization implemented in the original program database of the original system, and configured to define an upgraded program state of the shadow program database based on a combination of the structure of the shadow program database and the data of the shadow program database.
US08527469B2

Hashes of metadata of digital photographs on, e.g., a removable camera memory are compared against values in a hash table representing previously stored photographs on an archive computer to ensure that only previously unstored photos are copied onto the archive computer.
US08527468B1

Disclosed are embodiments of a system and method for establishing and managing document retention policy in a distributed computing environment. One embodiment comprises the steps of loading documents into a database as individual components or items; establishing a custodian for each document instance; categorizing its content into a plurality of categories; assigning retention periods to the content by category; and continuously monitoring retention policies according to the assigned retention periods. Any database capable of storing de-duplicated data can be adapted to implement embodiments of the invention. One embodiment utilizes codified algorithms to cross-match one or more retention policies with each document instance in the system based on the role of the custodian held at the time the instance was created and retained and/or the content or category of the content to which the document refers. If multiple policies apply, the retention period is set to the furthest in the future.
US08527467B2

A method, including assigning, to each tier in a storage system comprising multiple tiers, a respective range of priority scores, and calculating a compression ratio for a file stored on one of the multiple tiers. Using the compression ratio, a priority score is calculated for the file, and the file is migrated to the tier whose assigned range of priority scores includes the calculated priority score.
US08527464B2

Methods and computer readable media for restoring a database. In a method, a backup of a subset of a database is created, where the subset includes a filegroup and database metadata describing the filegroup. The database is then restored using the database subset. In a computer-readable medium, a first data field contains data representing a database subset having at least one of a plurality of filegroups. A second data field contains data representing database metadata that describes the filegroup. In another method, archived database metadata and an archived filegroup that is one of a plurality of filegroups is accessed, and the filegroup is brought online using the database metadata.
US08527458B2

Techniques for logging data pertaining to the operation of a data stream processing server. In one set of embodiments, logging configuration information can be received specifying a functional area of a data stream processing server to be logged. Based on the logging configuration information, logging can be dynamically enabled for objects associated with the functional area that are instantiated by the data stream processing server, and logging can be dynamically disabled for objects associated with the functional area that are discarded (or no longer used) by the data stream processing server. In another set of embodiments, a tool can be provided for visualizing the data logged by the data stream processing server.
US08527456B2

A method to enable communication between software processes includes initiating a plurality of processes, the processes including both attachment processes and target processes. A single semaphore is created and initialized for use by the plurality of processes such that each of the target processes wait on the semaphore. An attachment process writes a message file, identifying a specific target process, to a location accessible by the target processes. The attachment process then increments the semaphore by the number of target processes, thereby unblocking the target processes and allowing them to check the message file. When the specific target process determines that the message file is intended for that target, a connection is established between the attachment process and the specific target process. The attachment process then decrements the semaphore to zero to block the target processes. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed herein.
US08527452B2

A system and computer program product for specifying complex event processing (CEP) system rules. A rule construction interface is provided for constructing rules for a rule set of the complex event processing system, where the rules include definitions of one or more detected events and corresponding actions. In response to an identification of a new event or action during the rule construction process via the rule construction interface, a corresponding event or action logical construct is generated for representing the event or action in the complex event processing system. An intermediate logical construct is generated to provide a data connection for the event or action logical construct. The event or action logical construct is linked to a corresponding action or event logical construct via the intermediate logical construct so as to enable data flow between the objects.
US08527445B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for identifying a target object. An object detection module detects objects by matching data from one or more sensors to known data of a target object and determining one or more correlation metrics for each object. An object tracking module tracks geographic locations for detected objects over time using subsequent data from the one or more sensors. A contextual data module determines one or more contextual indicators for detected objects based on the data from the one or more sensors. An artificial intelligence module estimates probabilities that detected objects comprise the target object based on the correlation metrics, the geographic locations, the contextual indicators, and one or more target contextual indicators associated with the target object. The artificial intelligence module estimates the probabilities using an artificial intelligence model, such as a Bayesian network.
US08527432B1

Semi-supervised learning plays an important role in machine learning and data mining. The semi-supervised learning problem is approached by developing semiparametric regularization, which attempts to discover the marginal distribution of the data to learn the parametric function through exploiting the geometric distribution of the data. This learned parametric function can then be incorporated into the supervised learning on the available labeled data as the prior knowledge. A semi-supervised learning approach is provided which incorporates the unlabeled data into the supervised learning by a parametric function learned from the whole data including the labeled and unlabeled data. The parametric function reflects the geometric structure of the marginal distribution of the data. Furthermore, the proposed approach which naturally extends to the out-of-sample data is an inductive learning method in nature.
US08527427B2

A method and apparatus for conducting a transaction involving transmission of a dynamic authentication code in place of a static PIN block using currently existing messaging standards or PIN acceptance devices. Minimal changes to existing processes an equipment are made while greatly improving security and fraud minimization.
US08527423B2

A method for transmitting information streams from a transmitting site of a provider to a receiving site of a user, the method including: providing a plurality of information streams stored at the transmitting site; providing a variety of different communication channels for transmitting an information stream; generating and allocating authorizations to the information streams at the transmitting site; generating an overview of the information streams available; transmitting the overview to the receiving site; acquiring, by the user, an authorization from a source other than the transmitting site in preparation for selecting an information stream; selecting an information stream and requesting transmission of it from the transmitting site by submitting the acquired authorization allocated to the selected information stream from the receiving site to the transmitting site; and selecting a communication channel and transmitting the selected information stream over it from the transmitting site to the receiving site.
US08527421B2

The present invention includes a virtual customer database system for delivering personalized services to a consumer operating a communication device. The virtual customer database system includes an administrator and a distributed database. The distributed database may be selectively loaded by the administrator with customer related information extracted from participating businesses. The distributed database includes secure databases associated with each participating business and a public participant database. The administrator may process push and pull service requests by selectively querying the distributed database. Sensitive customer specific information may remain with each corresponding participating business while responses to the requests may include personalized customer specific information provided via a common interface standard.
US08527419B1

A method and apparatus for monitoring through completion the automated processes performed by a bank in validating Image Cash Letters for purposes of check clearing under the provisions of the Check21 Act.
US08527416B2

Controlled Payment Numbers (CPNs) which issue as a unique payment number for each transaction uniquely identify the transaction for matching the purchase and payment information. The issuance of the CPN is controlled by business rules which are designed to and effectively restrict the use of the CPN, such that if a user exceeds his authorization, a CPN is not issued. The business rules are set up according to a hierarchy of users. Further, a declining balance CPN is also provided.
US08527407B1

A process and a device for conducting electronic transactions provides a more effective and efficient way to make a payment over the Internet. This process and device could be used to pay, for example, a Police Administration Ticket or Police Administration Citation via the Internet.
US08527406B2

A system for electronic commerce including electronic banking tools, products and services. The system includes customizable banking products and cards, and methods and systems for conducting financial transactions and maintaining records over the Internet.
US08527402B2

An exemplary embodiment includes a data processing system and method for managing the origination of a mortgage loan by a loan originator in coordination with a loan broker for a loan customer. The loan originator is not the loan broker. The loan originator provides services necessary for the origination of the mortgage loan and not duplicative of services provided by the loan broker.
US08527393B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to determining a listing date, an expiration date and the cash settlement price of a futures contract, i.e. a Treasury Futures, for the delivery of the most recently issued, referred to as an on-the-run, US treasury Note of a particular maturity by reference to the U.S. Treasury Auction cycle and the difference between a resultant industry surveyed swap rate and a resultant industry surveyed swap spread of the respective tenors (time remaining until maturity) of the on-the-run treasury futures.
US08527388B1

Article, method, and machine transforming input data into output data. A computer: accesses data relating to a bond indenture, receives market data corresponding to terms of the indenture, a specified event, and terms of an agreement hedging a risk; and transforms some of the data into output data in determining a payment amount to the entity, a value of assets of the entity, the assets including the investment and the agreement hedging the risk, a scheduled investor payment amount by the entity, whether there has been an occurrence of the specified event, and, if an occurrence is determined, an adjustment of the scheduled investor payment amount; and outputs the output data including at least one of the payment amount to the entity, the value of the assets of the entity, the scheduled investor payment amount, and, if the occurrence is determined, the adjustment in the scheduled investor payment amount.
US08527384B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for a currency equivalency application for a business activity monitoring (BAM) applications. The currency equivalency application monitors business activities across international processes and systems that deal with multiple types of currencies. The user enters into the currency equivalency application user defined preferences, such as, but not limited to, the BAM application to which to apply the preferences, the type of currencies, value amounts, dates for the actual currency exchange rate, dates for future currency exchange rates, confidence scores, etc. The currency equivalency application identifies the proper exchange rates and in some cases estimates future exchanges rates, and converts the output for currency values in BAM applications into the user defined currency values, which allows the users across the world to quantify and view the currency value outputs in a form that the user understands.
US08527381B2

System and method for authorizing third-party transactions for an account at a financial institution on behalf of the account holder. A financial institution can collect process, transmit and confirm authorizations to third parties for electronic payments and direct deposits on behalf of its account-holder customer. In at least some embodiments, a method of processing account-holder requests to authorize third-party transactions for an account includes the establishment of a pre-existing list of prospective third-party participants such as employers and billers. The financial institution receives account-holder requests to authorize third-party transactions. Specific requests from among the account-holder requests are matched to third-party participants and forwarded and can be confirmed. The system of the invention can include various engines and data repositories that work together to provide the means for implementing embodiments of the invention.
US08527379B2

Insurance billing includes receiving a plurality of exceptions arising out of one or more billing events and associated with one or more billed parties; categorizing the plurality of exceptions into a plurality of exception groups based at least in part on one or more types of exceptions; determining, for an exception group corresponding to a particular type of exception, a plurality of exception metrics for each of one or more corresponding billed parties; presenting, to the user, a selectable plurality of exception groups; and in response to a user selection of a particular exception group, presenting to the user one or more billed party identifiers of the one or more corresponding billed parties in the particular exception group and the plurality of exception metrics determined for each of the one or more corresponding billed parties.
US08527376B1

Information provided with a direct deposit, a deposited check, or other negotiable instrument may be used to determine state, city, county, and/or other local income tax liability. Based on information associated with the deposit, the financial institution may determine where a user performed the work that triggered the income payment, where the income payment took place, what type of work is associated with the income payment, etc. This information may be used by the financial institution to provide income itemization and income tax liability information to the user via a user computing device.
US08527371B2

A system for supply chain management is provided. The system includes two or more manufacturer systems receiving order data, such as data identifying goods that have been ordered for each of two or more warehouses, and generating first and second shipment data, such as data identifying the actual amount of goods that were shipped. A warehouse system receives the order data, such as to allow a warehouse operator to make plans for accommodating the order, and the shipment data, such as to notify the warehouse operator of actual amounts of goods that have been shipped. An order controller system generates the order data and receives the shipment data, such as data identifying goods that are being shipped to the order controller system.
US08527369B1

A metadata-driven merchant feed processing system is described herein. A merchant providing an online marketplace for the sale of items by a variety of sellers implements a feed processing mechanism driven by feed metadata. The feed metadata consists of declarative metadata statements that model the semantics for transforming seller-facing feed data describing the seller's items to customer-facing listings data to be loaded to an item catalog. The feed metadata captures differences between different versions of the item catalog by maintaining the semantics of the product categories and attributes of the item catalog as of a certain version. Similarly, semantics in the feed metadata modeling new product categories and/or attributes are utilized to support supplemental feeds from sellers to support new features and improvements in the item catalog. The metadata driven feed processing system also provides support for multiple types of seller-facing data entities and feed formats through metadata mapping.
US08527358B2

Provided is a method of supporting a purchase of a game item that may support a portion of a price of the game item so that a user may easily obtain the game item. The game item purchase supporting method may include questioning a user about whether to transmit a purchase support request for the game item, generating purchase support information associated with the user to provide the user with the game item when the purchase support request of the game item is received from the user, and storing the purchase support information to match identification information of the user.
US08527357B1

An on-line venue in which buyers can anonymously communicate precisely what product or service they want to purchase by posting an interactive request that a number of sellers/service providers can then directly respond to according to one embodiment of the invention. Such embodiments may promote the buyers interests in directly matching their needs with qualified vendors. In contrast to what others provide, where the buyer has to search within each seller/service providers and then send their request. Embodiments of the present invention broadcast a buyer's needs to relevant/selected sellers/service providers. Such embodiments may take the burden from a buyer in finding the right products and services by self-qualifying the lead to proactive prospective sellers/service providers.
US08527356B2

The invention is systems and methods for transferring items with restricted transferability. Initially, the systems and methods wait for a first consumer to make a request to transfer an item after having purchased the item from a provider. The systems and methods then send a request to transfer the item to the provider. This request may indicate inducements to the provider to authorize the transfer. If the transfer is authorized, the systems and methods then present information regarding the item to other consumers. This information may be presented as part of a bidding interface or as part of an advertising interface. Once the second consumer submits a winning bid for the item when the information is presented in a bidding interface, or an acceptable offer when the information is presented in an advertising interface, the transfer of the item can then be completed with or without the assistance of an intermediary. When the transfer is completed without the assistance of an intermediary, the first and second consumer may directly transfer the item and payment to each other. When the transfer is completed with the assistance of an intermediary, the first consumer may send the item to the intermediary and the second consumer may send payment to the intermediary. Once both the item and the payment have been received at the intermediary, the intermediary may send the item to the second consumer and all or part of the payment to the first consumer.
US08527355B2

The present invention is a method and system for requesting from at least one member of the public, information that teaches or describes a technology, or a technology covered by one or more claims of a patent, in exchange for a reward where the information received can be combined with an investment strategy and/or auctioned.
US08527349B2

Methods, systems and computer program products for targeted and customized marketing to customers and, specifically in some embodiments, customers having a previous relationship with the entity implementing the marketing tool. The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed provide for efficient identification of previous customers based on their current product, service or property and/or their previous, and in some instances, ongoing financial obligation related to the current product, service or property. A replacement product, service or property is identified and a financial transaction proposal, such as a sales or lease proposal, is generated for one or more of the identified previous customers based on customers meeting criteria associated with variable parameters of the proposed transaction.
US08527348B2

In some examples, aspects of the present disclosure may include techniques to identify a physical location of an item with potentially enhanced precision. In one example, a method includes, receiving an item descriptor that describes one or more physical items. The method also includes receiving a data payload from a peripheral device using short-range wireless communication that includes information usable to locate at least one of the one or more physical items. The further includes selecting physical location data based on the item descriptor and the data payload, wherein the physical location data includes a representation of a physical location of the at least one of the one or more physical items; and outputting the physical location data that is usable to locate the at least one of the one or more physical items.
US08527344B2

Users of a social networking system are provided with advertisements when accessing content associated with the social networking system. The content of such advertisement may be generated by other users of the social networking system. An advertiser may provide an advertising template containing an advertised message and fields wherein a user can input an endorsement. The social networking system generates a user interface responsive to the template and provides the user interface to an endorsing user to receive the user's endorsement for the advertised product or event. The social networking system generates an advertisement responsive to the advertisement content provided by the advertiser and the endorsement content provided by the endorsing user. The social networking user can provide the generated advertisements to viewing users who meet the advertisement's targeting criteria and display criteria provided by the endorsing user.
US08527341B2

A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining an intent of a user interacting with an e-commerce website, and determining a hurdle rate that is based at least on the user intent and which identifies a threshold amount to be bid by an advertiser in order to display an advertisement to the user. The method further includes selecting, from a plurality of advertisements, an optimal advertisement having an advertiser bid that exceeds the hurdle rate, and displaying the optimal advertisement to the user in an interface of a client computer system.
US08527339B2

A “Quality-Based Ad Pricer” prices ads as a function of how users respond to a particular page and/or domain to which they are sent by an online advertisement. User experience is improved by ensuring that advertisements that are more relevant to a user are priced less than an ads which are less relevant to the user. In particular, a quality factor for each ad is determined as a property of the advertiser's site based on measured user behaviors with respect to that site. This quality factor is then used in ranking, selecting, and pricing ads in an automated online auction. Further, while ad aggregators are not excluded from the ad market by the pricing rules of the Quality-Based Ad Pricer, these rules ensure that there is a “level playing field” such that ads of merchants are not excluded by the ads of ad aggregators.
US08527330B2

A system and method for calculating savings using a savings calculator for calculating savings realized over a period of time for several travel-related categories of expenses using respective pre-defined formulas and for producing a savings summary report and worksheets.
US08527327B1

The present invention is a method and apparatus to determine which aspects of a project are under control and whether the trend is toward increasing or decreasing control. The degree of control is measured within and across projects for different drivers of project performance. This gives the project organization a holistic view of whether specific project enablers are driving projects out of control or contributing to bringing projects under control. This also enables organizations to use project control trends to implement corrective actions proactively. Effective project control also increases the probability that each project activity and the overall project will be completed as planned. In addition, effective project control leads to more predictable project timelines and a greater willingness for suppliers to provide fixed priced project services.
US08527324B2

A sales automation system and method, namely a system and method for scoring sales representative performance and forecasting future sales representative performance. These scoring and forecasting techniques can apply to a sales representative monitoring his own performance, comparing himself to others within the organization (or even between organizations using methods described in application), contemplating which job duties are falling behind and which are ahead of schedule, and numerous other related activities. Similarly, with the sales representative providing a full set of performance data, the system is in a position to aid a sales manager identify which sales representatives are behind others and why, as well as help with resource planning should requirements, such as quotas or staffing, change.
US08527323B2

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for selecting a synchronous or asynchronous process to determine a forecast. These mechanisms and methods for such synchronous/asynchronous process selection can enable embodiments to determine forecasts for multiple users (e.g. with hierarchical relationships, etc.) over an arbitrary time interval. The ability of embodiments to provide forecasts that involve such a large amount of data in an effective way can enable forecasting that was otherwise infeasible due to resource limitations.
US08527321B2

The system includes a comparison unit that identifies products in an initial assortment of products, a desired assortment of products and the performance metric for each product. The comparison unit compares the initial assortment of products and the desired assortment of products to determine kept products, added product and deleted products. The system includes an interaction unit simulating the interaction of the kept products, the added products and the deleted products based on the performance metric. The system generates simulation results identifying the interactions between the kept products, the added products and the deleted products.
US08527320B2

Methods and systems for initiating participation of a user of a portable device (PUA) in a research operation using a respective one of a plurality of PUA's providing communication services pursuant to a single agreement with a communication service provider. Data identifying the PUA user is associated with data identifying a group of persons receiving communication services pursuant to the single agreement; and demographic data of the PUA user is associated with the data identifying the PUA user.
US08527316B2

The present invention relates to a system and method for reducing risk to a firm and firm program and, more particularly, to reducing risk and improving yield or performance by considering firm strategic intent, phase, and integrated visuals. The current invention identifies, quantifies, and integrates strategic intent into the risk mitigation procedure by modifying the consequence chart, by dividing the program into phases, and by depicting risk related metrics, including strategic intent, that are associated with the risk element, the program, and/or the firm in a three dimensional graph.
US08527313B2

Methods and apparatuses enable triggering a work action from instantiation of a document. A system identifies instantiation of a document that has an associated business scenario. Based on the business scenario, a work action or activity as part of an stand-alone workflow is generated to accomplish the work of the business scenario. In one embodiment, a workflow is generated that includes multiple actions, including actions that may be performed by users other than a user that instantiated the document. In one embodiment, the workflow generated is a distributed workflow generated from reusable workflow building block components.
US08527306B1

A method, system, and computer-readable medium that facilitate the reception of usage data about the utilization of an intelligent home system and insurance claims data and recommend intelligent home system products based on the claims data. The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitate the analysis of the claims data to determine whether to recommend intelligent home system products and which, if any, intelligent home system products to recommend. Recommendations may be generated by comparing a user's usage data to the claims data. Recommendations may be generated by comparing the usage data to products related to the claims submitted by one or more similar claimants in the claims data. Recommendations may be presented to a user if the intelligent home system.
US08527304B2

An insurance program that provides improved health care and longevity by emphasizing health improvement and maintenance. After a predetermined waiting period from the time insurance is purchased, during which the health status of the insured is maintained or improved, the insured may link the insurance policy with one or more other types of insurance policies, such as; health life, disability, nursing home, etc. Throughout the life of the policy, portions of the premiums may be credited to the insured, provided that the health of the insured is maintained or improved, which may be utilized to pay or help pay for the linked insurance coverage and may also be utilized for retirement benefits.
US08527300B2

Systems and methods for allowing a user (e.g., a benefits administrator) to maintain and modify a contract or a group for a prescription drug plan may be provided. In response to receiving a request to modify a contract or a group, a prescription benefits management application may retrieve data relating to the contract or group and allow the user to input information relating to the contract or group, input broker information, input billing information, select a pharmacy network, select pricing options for the prescription plan, create a customized prescription plan, input brand/generic difference overrides, etc. In some embodiments, the modifications and/or additions made to a contract or group may be transmitted to a pharmacist, thereby allowing the pharmacist to fill one or more prescriptions in real-time or upon updating the system (e.g., within 48 to 72 hours).
US08527297B2

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for facilitating co-morbid care management. A method may include determining a plurality of medical conditions affecting a member enrolled in a care management plan. The method may further include activating, based at least in part upon the determined medical conditions, a plurality of member assessment modules. Each activated member assessment module may be associated with a respective determined medical condition and may comprise a set of assessment questions targeted to the medical condition with which the member assessment module is associated. The method may additionally include generating a blended co-morbid assessment question set based at least in part on the assessment question sets of the activated member assessment modules by blending the assessment question sets of the activated member assessment modules into a blended co-morbid assessment question set. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US08527288B2

The invention provides systems and methods for processing sales leads. Illustratively, the invention provides a method of assigning sales leads in a network environment, the sales leads relating to persons interested in effecting a purchase, the method comprising: obtaining a lead, the lead including lead information relating to a person interested in effecting a purchase; loading the lead into a lead processing portion; determining if the lead is auto-assignable; assigning the lead to a sales agent; and outputting the lead information over the network environment to a lead distribution portion, so as to be accessible to the sales agent.
US08527286B2

Disclosed herein is a system for handling scheduled lending and self-returning of articles to which RFID tags are attached. The system includes a body. The body includes, on a front surface thereof, a display for displaying a method of using the system, handling processes, and processing results, a speaker, a receipt issuing unit, a manipulational information input unit, an external antenna for transmitting/receiving information to/from the RFID tags, and a plurality of article depositories having respective internal antennas for transmitting/receiving information to/from the RFID tags. The body includes, on the inside thereof, a reader for reading the information recorded in the RFID tags through the external antenna and the internal antennas, and a controller for comparing information, transmitted/received to/from the reader, with stored article management information, checking validity of deposit, lending, and returning of the articles, and operating locking units of the article depositories, the display, the speaker, and the receipt issuing unit.
US08527285B2

A method for printing secure source images of the type that contain specific critical elements and non-secure images on a single printer includes determining the origin of an image (secure source or non-secure source). If the image to be printed is from the non-secure source, a determination is made if the image contains the specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images. Printing of the image from the non-secure source is disabled if the image contains specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images. Printing of the image from a non-secure source is enabled if the image does not contain specific critical elements of the type contained in the secure image. The determination if the non-secure source image contains the specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images can be made after printing has commenced of the non-secure image.
US08527281B2

Methods and systems for sculpting synthesized speech using a graphic user interface are disclosed. An operator enters a stream of text that is used to produce a stream of target phonetic-units. The stream of target phonetic-units is then submitted to a unit-selection process to produce a stream of selected phonetic-units, each selected phonetic-unit derived from a database of sample phonetic-units. After the stream of sample phonetic-units is selected, an operator can remove various selected phonetic-units from the stream of selected phonetic-units, prune the sample phonetic-database and edit various cost functions using the graphic user interface. The edited speech information can then be submitted to the unit-selection process to produce a second stream of selected phonetic-units.
US08527274B2

The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and track advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts. In particular, in response to an input device receiving an utterance, a conversational language processor may select and deliver one or more advertisements targeted to a user that spoke the utterance based on cognitive models associated with the user, various users having similar characteristics to the user, an environment in which the user spoke the utterance, or other criteria. Further, subsequent interaction with the targeted advertisements may be tracked to build and refine the cognitive models and thereby enhance the information used to deliver targeted advertisements in response to subsequent utterances.
US08527271B2

A method for the voice recognition of a spoken expression to be recognized, comprising a plurality of expression parts that are to be recognized. Partial voice recognition takes place on a first selected expression part, and depending on a selection of hits for the first expression part detected by the partial voice recognition, voice recognition on the first and further expression parts is executed.
US08527264B2

A method for determining mantissa bit allocation of frequency domain audio data to be encoded, including by performing adaptive low frequency compensation on each frequency band of a set of low frequency bands of the data. The low frequency compensation includes steps of: performing tonality detection on the audio data to generate compensation control data indicative of whether each frequency band in the set has prominent tonal content; and performing low frequency compensation on each frequency band in the set having prominent tonal content, including by correcting a preliminary masking value for each frequency band having prominent tonal content, but not performing low frequency compensation on the audio data in any other frequency band in the set; wherein the frequency domain audio data comprises an exponent value for said each low frequency band of the set, and the tonality detection includes determining, for said each low frequency band of the set, a measure of difference between exponents and corresponding tented exponents of the audio data. Other aspects are audio encoding methods including such tonality detection and low frequency compensation steps, and a system configured to perform any embodiment of the inventive method.
US08527263B2

A computer-implemented method of automatically generating an electronic reminder is provided. The method includes identifying, using term-recognition circuitry, at least one key term within an electronic message received with an electronic communications device. The method further includes generating at least one reminder based upon the at least one key term. One or more reminders are, according to the method, electronically conveyed to a user at a time later than when the message was received.
US08527255B2

A method of efficient simulating imaging performance of a lithographic process utilized to image a target design having a plurality of features. The method includes the steps of determining a function for generating a simulated image, where the function accounts for process variations associated with the lithographic process; and generating the simulated image utilizing the function, where the simulated image represents the imaging result of the target design for the lithographic process.
US08527249B2

This invention presents various embodiments, including a system and a method, in which pressure-while-drilling data is gathered at a drilling rig and compared to modeled ECD pressure data related to the bore hole. The actual and modeled data are statistically analyzed to generate standard deviation data, which is used to infer information about how rapid a rate of penetration may safely be employed to optimize drilling results.
US08527246B1

A method provides modeling of surface roughness effect of an electrical conductor. The method includes identifying first protrusions of a first level using an original flat surface of the conductor as a first base surface and determining a first correction factor of the first level using parameters of the first protrusions. The method further includes identifying second protrusions of a second level using the first protrusions and the first base surface as a second base surface, and determining a second correction factor of the second level using parameters of the second protrusions and regarding the second base surface as being a smooth surface, the smooth surface being a surface of the conductor without surface roughness effect. A final correction factor of the conductor is determined by combining the first correction factor and the second correction factor.
US08527244B2

A method of generating model data representing a body section of a biological organism, like e.g., a head or part thereof, a joint, or soft tissue, includes the steps of providing object data representing a first portion of the body section, providing standard data representing a complete standard body section, and subjecting the standard data to a registration process, wherein the model data to be generated are created by adapting the standard data to the object data, said model data representing the first portion of the body section and a second portion of the body section.
US08527230B2

An oxygen sensor control apparatus (10) obtains a correction coefficient for calibrating the relation between oxygen concentration and an output value of an oxygen sensor (20), when a fuel cut operation of an internal combustion engine (100) is performed. The apparatus includes average output value calculation means; inter-fuel-cut average output value calculation means; and correction coefficient calculation means.
US08527220B2

A vortex extraction apparatus includes: a first numerical data calculation section calculating, for each vertex of each of voxels into which the inside of a fluid space is split, first numerical data indicating whether the vertex is located inside or outside a vortex region in a fluid; and a text data creation section determining the size of the vortex region around a center line of the vortex based on the first numerical data, and creating text data indicating the center line and the size. The apparatus further includes a polygon count reduction processing section counting the number of polygons defining a surface of the vortex region and each including an isosurface of the first numerical data, and integrating the voxels with new voxels into which the fluid space is roughly split until the number of polygons is not more than a set value, to decimate the first numerical data.
US08527219B2

A system, method, and computer readable medium for calculating well flow rates produced with electrical submersible pumps using measured voltage, current, frequency and pressure data. An efficiency to flow rate ratio is calculated from the voltage, current, and pressure data. The efficiency to flow rate ratio is used to obtain a non-dimensional flow rate. The flow rate through the electrical submersible pump is calculated from the non-dimensional flow rate.
US08527210B2

Methods of conducting industrial manufacture, research or development. The method comprise computer-implemented steps of modeling at least one physical property of a mixture of at least two chemical species by determining at least one conceptual segment for each of the chemical species. The steps of determining at least one conceptual segment for each of the chemical species include defining an identity and an equivalent number of each conceptual segment.
US08527205B2

A method comprising: estimating a change in a characteristic of a subterranean formation into which a fluid has been injected via a well extending into the subterranean formation; building a multi-dimensional model balancing mass of the injected fluid, wherein the model is based on the estimated characteristic change; utilizing the model to determine the sensitivity of a borehole gravity tool in the well; measuring gravity with the borehole gravity tool at a plurality of stations along the well; and utilizing the model and the gravity measurements to locate the injected fluid in the subterranean formation.
US08527204B2

Systems and methods which provide accurate formation information regardless of formation and borehole geometry, including those associated with high angle and horizontal wells, are shown. In providing processing of logging or image data, such as may be provided by a density tool or other tool, according to embodiments, formation attributes or features (e.g., density and dip angle) are estimated using raw data provided by a the tool. The foregoing estimations may thereafter be iteratively refined using effective volume of interest (EVOI) information. According to embodiments, depth boundaries of formation information provided by the tool are shifted as a function of azimuth for correct spatial positioning of formation features using EVOI information. Processing of formation attribute or feature data provided by embodiments may be used with respect to various tool configurations, including configurations with and without borehole standoff.
US08527197B2

A device for controlling self-propelled mobile apparatus(es) (300), includes:—a stationary base station (200), provided with a receiver for a satellite location system, referred to as a stationary GNSS receiver, and a radiofrequency transmitter/receiver to enable communication with at least one mobile apparatus, and including: a positioning module, a command module, and a control module for controlling the movement of each mobile apparatus on the ground;—at least one mobile apparatus (200), including a moving element, a mobile GNSS receiver, and a radiofrequency transmitter/receiver for transmitting, to the base station (200), information received by the mobile GNSS receiver and receiving a movement command.
US08527191B2

An apparatus and method for an unmanned vehicle for displacing manure includes navigating an unmanned vehicle, further including detecting an animal, determining whether a current course of the unmanned vehicle will lead to a collision with the animal. If this is the case, the method continues by: determining at least a first priority parameter from a set of priority parameters, wherein the first priority parameter is a standing condition of the detected animal, deciding, on the basis of the set of priority parameters, whether the course of the unmanned vehicle will be adjusted to avoid the animal, wherein the course will be maintained if the set of priority parameters meets a predetermined collision criterion, and the course will be adjusted to avoid the animal if the set of priority parameters does not meet the predetermined collision criterion, wherein the set of priority parameters only meets the collision criterion if at least the standing condition is that the animal is standing.
US08527188B2

An ignition timing controller for an engine includes basic knock-limit ignition timing calculation means that calculates a basic knock-limit ignition timing on the basis of an operating state of the engine; learning-region variation calculation means that learns the knock-limit ignition timing of the engine in two operating regions and thereby calculates a learning-region variation due to octane number and a learning-region variation due to humidity in one of the operating regions; estimated variation calculation means that estimates a variation due to octane number and a variation due to humidity in a present operating state on the basis of the learning-region variation due to octane number and the learning-region variation due to humidity; and knock-limit ignition timing calculation means that calculates the knock-limit ignition timing in the present operating state on the basis of the basic knock-limit ignition timing, the variation due to octane number, and the variation due to humidity.
US08527185B2

A vehicle includes an engine and an exhaust system which ignites fuel from fuel injectors to purify exhaust gas. An air compressor delivers compressed intake air to the engine, and a turbine energizes the compressor. A controller calculates an engine thermal efficiency value using temperature and mass flow rate values from various sensors. The controller maintains a temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the turbine using the thermal efficiency value. A control system includes the sensors and a host machine operable for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas above the threshold using the thermal efficiency value. A method for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas includes measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures of an air intake system, measuring the mass flow rate of compressed intake air, and using the host machine to maintain the temperature of the gas using the thermal efficiency value.
US08527181B2

A a method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, in which an individual accumulator pressure (pE) of a common rail system is detected in a measurement interval and stored; in which an evaluation window is determined for the stored individual accumulation pressure (pE), within which window an injection was brought about; in which, in a first step, both a representative injection start and a trial injection end are determined in this evaluation window as a function of the detected pressure values, and, in a second step, both a trial injection start and a representative injection end are determined in this evaluation window as a function of the detected pressure values; in which the representative injection start is checked for plausibility against the trial injection start; and in which the representative injection end is checked for plausibility against the trial injection end.
US08527179B2

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining specific emissions as an exhaust gas characteristic of an internal combustion engine. Said method is characterized in that the exhaust gas mass flow (3) is determined as the first operating parameter and the engine power output (2) as the second operating parameter, the nitrous oxide mass flow (3) and the engine power output (2) are derived from a respective measured value that deviates from the operating parameter and the exhaust gas characteristic is calculated as a quotient from the corrected exhaust gas mass flow (3) and the engine power output (2).
US08527163B2

A transmission control device (6) for an automatic or automated transmission (2). A shifting strategy of the transmission control device (6) controls and/or regulates the operation of the transmission (2) based on driving condition data such as vehicle mass, driving resistance, vehicle inclination, vehicle velocity, vehicle acceleration, engine rotational speed and/or engine torque, and based on data about the driver's wishes. The transmission control device (6) continuously calculates the driving condition data of the vehicle mass, driving resistance and/or vehicle inclination based on topographic data of a current position of the motor vehicle, and/or the shifting strategy determines a gear change from an actual gear into a target gear based on topographic data of a defined distance ahead of a motor vehicle. The defined distance ahead of the motor vehicle depends on the currently velocity of the vehicle.
US08527160B2

An apparatus and method for automatically controlling a drivetrain coupled to at least one drive wheel of a vehicle can include providing a first assembly including a low range drive ratio and a high range drive ratio. An electronic control unit can be configured to receive information from at least one sensor located on the vehicle and to provide an output signal based on the information. An actuator mechanism can be provided and configured to cause the first assembly to operate at a selected one of the low range drive ratio and the high range drive ratio based on instructions from the control unit. Separate algorithms can be provided to determine when to actuate from the high range drive ratio to the low range drive ratio and vice versa.
US08527156B2

A tractor comprises a tractor frame, driven ground engaging means, and an electronic tractor controller. A baler comprises a baler frame coupled or connected to the tractor frame, a crop receiving means, a baling chamber, a bale size sensor associated with the baling chamber, and an electronic baler controller. The baler controller is operable to submit a halt signal to the tractor controller when a bale size signal provided by the bale size sensor indicates that a bale has reached a size equal to or exceeding a first predetermined size. A control method includes the baler controller generating a tractor halt signal in response to certain conditions of the baler system and the tractor controller preventing tractor motion in response to the halt signal. The method also includes, when the baler controller is generating the halt signal, enabling motion of the tractor if the operator issues a command for the tractor to move by manipulating the command device, and within a certain time period of said command being issued, the baler controller generates a tractor motion enabling signal in response a status of the baler system. The method further includes, when the baler controller is generating the halt signal, enabling motion of the tractor if the operator moves the tractor command device in a special manner.
US08527153B2

An automated guided vehicle is equipped with a stabilization system for precisely locating, leveling, or otherwise positioning the AGV and its payload with respect to a work piece. The stabilization system includes one or more extension members that extend away from the AGV to engage the ground or a locating assembly installed in the ground. Each extension member may be part of a locating assembly or a leveling assembly. The locating assembly extension member may extend at least partially into an opening of another locating assembly to align the two locating assemblies. The locating assembly may also be configured to provide a leveling function.
US08527148B2

A control system for controlling a motor arrangement for differentially driving left and right wheels of a motorized vehicle, the control system comprising: a comparator for receiving yaw rate sensor signals from a yaw rate sensor attached to the vehicle, the yaw rate sensor signals being indicative of actual yaw rates of the vehicle and for receiving yaw rate reference signals generated by a user input device, the yaw rate reference signals being indicative of user demanded yaw rates for the vehicle, the comparator arranged to output yaw rate error signals based on the difference between the yaw rate sensor signals and the yaw rate reference signals; a control loop for processing the yaw rate error signals to generate yaw rate correction signals for controlling the motor arrangement to reduce the yaw rate error signals, wherein the control loop comprises a variable limiter for limiting the yaw rate correction signals to values within a variable limit, the variable limit varying in dependence upon the yaw rate error signals.
US08527146B1

A system and method for controlling one or more settings of a vehicle using a device comprising an electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit is configured to obtain a position of a passenger within the vehicle, identify said passenger, obtain information comprising one or more setting preferences for said passenger use the position and at least one of the information to determine whether one or more settings need to be changed, and change the one or more settings based on the position and identity of the passenger. The electronic circuit is also configured to identifying a driver, compare the identity of the driver with a predetermined list of drivers of the vehicle, and change a plurality of operational parameters based on the identity of the driver.
US08527145B2

An ISG (Idle Stop and Go) display device of an ISG vehicle may include a driving information detecting unit that detects driving information of the vehicle, a memory unit that stores notification about ISG of the vehicle, a control unit that executes the ISG and detects situations of an operation and an abnormality of the ISG by using the driving information of the vehicle which may be input from the driving information detecting unit, and receives the notifications about the ISG which correspond to the situations from the memory unit, and a display unit that may be controlled by the control unit to display the notifications about the ISG in accordance with the situations.
US08527138B2

An apparatus includes a first memory device, a second memory device and a controller. The first memory device stores vehicular data in accident. The second memory device has control data area for storing control data in nonvolatile manner. The controller records the vehicular data stored in the first memory device into the control data area of the second memory device by overwriting the control data in response to vehicular accident. It is possible to increase a recordable amount of vehicular data in vehicular accident without increasing recording capacity exclusively preserved to vehicular data.
US08527136B2

When anomalous vehicle actions occur in a vehicle multiple times, it is determined whether each action data is included in a series of action data sets that are closely related mutually or an irrelevant independent action data set. When it is included in the series of action data sets, the ECUs record the series of action data sets in respective own memories according to a predetermined recording order. In contrast, when it is included in the independent action data set, an earliest ECU that is earliest in the recording order records the action data by overwriting its own memory. In this case, the earliest ECU transmits an instruction to other ECUs to delete all past action data that are recorded in own memories of the other ECUs.
US08527135B2

A telematics method and system includes, and uses, a telematics device with a controller in communication with a diagnostic system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; a position-locating system configured to determine location information of the host vehicle; a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive information through a wireless network to and from at least one Internet-accessible website; and, a communication interface including at least a short range wireless interface link. The telematics device may be embodied in an access device, which may include the position-locating system. The access device may be a smartphone, or similar device, that retrieves/transmits diagnostic data/information, and other data/information to/from the vehicle via the short range wireless link. The access device performs various telematics device functions; it uses a long range wireless interface to communicate diagnostic and related information to a central host computer, and to receive related information from same.
US08527128B2

A vehicle control apparatus is provided with a power generator driven by a torque transmitted between an internal combustion engine and a drive wheel. The vehicle control apparatus executes a torque control that smoothly changes a torque at the drive wheel by changing a torque of the power generator during deceleration of the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus determines whether a factor restricting the torque of the power generator is in effect during the deceleration of the vehicle, and controls a manner of the torque control to be different between when the restricting factor is in effect and when the restricting factor is not in effect.
US08527116B2

A process and device for optimising the performance of an aircraft in the presence of a lateral dissymmetry is disclosed. The device (1) includes means (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9) for controlling, during a lateral dissymmetry, at least one rudder such as to generate an optimum sideslip for reducing the drag of the aircraft.
US08527109B2

A method for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads and a method for managing the group of energy consuming loads. The method includes generating sets of load state data from the loads, making enablement state decisions for one or more loads using the sets of load state data, and implementing the enablement state decisions. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads, including a transmitter, a receiver, a processor for processing sets of load state data to make an enablement state decision for the load, and a controller for implementing the enablement state decision. A method for managing an enablement state of an energy consuming load, including assigning an assigned duty cycle to the load, determining a load enabled utilization value for the load, and adjusting the assigned duty cycle using the load enabled utilization value.
US08527106B2

A control unit of a system stabilization device uses a fluctuation detection block (60) to determine fluctuation components included in the active component and reactive component currents of a system current and fluctuation components included in the frequency signal and the amplitude signal of a system voltage. The high frequency cut-off of the fluctuation detection block (60) is set to be f1; the low frequency cut-off is set to be f2. The fluctuation detection block (60) is composed of a low-pass filter (61) with a time constant of T1, a low-pass filter (62) with a time constant of T2, a subtracter (63) which outputs the difference, between the output signals of the filter (61) and the filter (62), and a feedback circuit (64) which provides feedback on the output of the subtracter (63) to the filters (61, 62). Thus, stability is ensured without using a current detector.
US08527104B2

An object is to improve the accuracy of reactive power adjustment. Reactive-power command values corresponding to individual wind turbines are determined by correcting a predetermined reactive-power command value for an interconnection node A using reactive power correction levels set for the individual wind turbines.
US08527102B2

According to various embodiments, a biofuel production system includes a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, and a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system. The cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters based upon temperatures of fermentation products of the fermenters.
US08527101B2

A door closer comprises a piston cooperating with a rotating pinion. Upon rotation of the pinion in the door opening direction, the piston moves toward the second end of the housing forcing fluid from a second variable volume chamber through a passage to a first variable volume chamber and compressing a spring assembly for storing energy. The spring assembly urges the piston toward the first end of the housing for forcing fluid from the first variable volume chamber to the second variable volume chamber and rotating the pinion in the door closing direction. A controller controls the position of a valve in the passage based on the sensed angular position of a door and the position of the valve for determining the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve.
US08527098B2

Systems and methods of controlling a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system are provided that operate according to signals returned from return air temperature sensors as well as the supply air temperature sensors. Using predetermined temperature setpoints, return temperature information, and supply temperature information, the HVAC system is configured to maintain the temperature of a room first, by the use of its cooling valve, and second and only when the capacity of the cooling valve has peaked, by use of the fan. The presently disclosed improved HVAC system operates more efficiently by avoiding unit loading hopping and minimizing power consumption.
US08527094B2

A multi-user medical robotic system for collaboration or training in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes first and second master input devices, a first slave robotic mechanism, and at least one processor configured to generate a first slave command for the first slave robotic mechanism by switchably using one or both of a first command indicative of manipulation of the first master input device by a first user and a second command indicative of manipulation of the second master input device by a second user. To facilitate the collaboration or training, both first and second users communicate with each other through an audio system and see the minimally invasive surgery site on first and second displays respectively viewable by the first and second users.
US08527091B2

A robotic system implements a collision avoidance scheme and includes a first robotic manipulator and a first controller configured to control the first robotic manipulator for movement along a first pre-planned actual path. A second controller is configured to control movement of a second robotic manipulator for movement along a second pre-planned intended path and deviating therefrom to move in a dodging path away from the first pre-planned actual path based upon determining a potential collision with the first robotic manipulator without prior knowledge of the first pre-planned actual path.
US08527086B2

Methods, software and apparatus (FIG. 5) disclosed to maintain and update an association database (650) that enables relating updated address information to affected mailpieces (FIG. 7), and providing the benefits of that information to mailers, especially business or corporate mailers (600, 630, 632), and in the case of co-mingled mail, enabling a pre-sort house (610) to provide the updated information to their customers, or to update mailing lists maintained by or for their customers.
US08527085B2

The present invention relates to a method for operating a gear grinding machine, with the following operating phases of the gear grinding machine: machining a workpiece on the gear grinding machine by means of a grinding disk and/or grinding worm and dressing a profiling tool for profiling a grinding disk and/or grinding worm on the gear grinding machine.
US08527083B2

A sewing machine includes a moving portion that moves a sewing object having a pattern to a first position and to a second position, an image capture portion that creates an image by image capture of the sewing object, a first acquiring portion that acquires a first image created by image capture of a first area by the image capture portion, a second acquiring portion that acquires a second image created by image capture of a second area by the image capture portion, and a computing portion that computes, as position information, at least one of a thickness of the sewing object at a portion where the pattern is located and a position of the pattern on a surface of the sewing object, based on the first position, the second position, a position of the pattern in the first image, and a position of the pattern in the second image.
US08527074B2

A sensor arrangement, particularly for a passenger protection system of a motor vehicle, comprising a first group of sensors (10, 12) by means of which a first group of state parameters jointly usable by a first decision making unit connected downstream for detecting a first event can be detected, a first digital unit (20) coupled on the input side to at least one sensor (12) of the first sensor group. The arrangement processes the sensor output signals fed thereto and providing the same for forwarding to the first decision making unit as digital values. A second group of sensors (14, 16, 18), by means of which a second group of state parameters jointly useable by a second decision making unit is connected downstream for detecting a second event can be detected with a second digital unit coupled on the input side to at least one sensor (16, 18) of the second sensor group. The arrangement processes the sensor output signals fed thereto and providing the same for forwarding to the second decision making unit as digital values wherein at least one sensor (10) of the first sensor group is coupled to the second digital unit (22) and at least one sensor (14) of the second sensor group is coupled to the second digital unit (22) and at least one sensor (14) of the second sensor group is coupled to the first digital unit (20). The digital units (20, 22) are coupled on their output sides to a first and a second node (28, 30) combining the digital values.
US08527069B2

An embodiment includes a sensor coupled to a sternal closure wire. The sternal closure wire holds two sternum portions of a patient adjacent to one another and the first sensor senses a biological signal of the patient. An embodiment includes a current source coupled to a sternal closure wire. The sternal closure wire holds two sternum portions of a patient adjacent to one another, and the current source delivers an electrical current to the patient via the sternal closure wire. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08527056B2

Methods of electrically stimulating percepts in a patient with a visual prosthesis are discussed. Changes in amplitude of stimulation increase both the perceived brightness and the perceived size of the precept. Changes in frequency of stimulation change the perceived brightness without altering the perceived size of the percept. Hence, a source image may be mapped to a combination of amplitude and frequency that best induces the desired image.
US08527050B2

An implantable device and associated method discriminate between cathodal and anodal capture during electrical stimulation. A control response to a pacing pulse delivered using a candidate cathode electrode and a universal anode and responses to bipolar pacing pulses delivered using candidate bipoles including the candidate cathode are measured. Responsive to the control response meeting a threshold response, the control response is classified as normal and each of the responses for the candidate bipoles are compared to the control response. The responses for the candidate bipoles are each classified based on the comparison.
US08527048B2

Systems and methods for determining pacing timing intervals based on the temporal relationship between the timing of local and non-local cardiac signal features are described. A device includes a plurality of implantable electrodes electrically coupled to the heart and configured to sense local and non-local cardiac signals. Sense circuitry coupled to first and second electrode pairs senses a local cardiac signal via a first electrode pair and a non-local cardiac signal via a second electrode pair. Detection circuitry is used to detect a feature of the local signal associated with activation of a heart chamber and to detect a feature of the non-local signal associated with activation of the heart chamber. A control processor times delivery of one or more pacing pulses based on a temporal relationship between timing of the local signal feature and timing of the non-local signal feature.
US08527042B2

Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulation delivery system adapted to deliver a neural stimulation signal for use in delivering a neural stimulation therapy, a side effect detector, and a controller. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulation delivery system, receive a signal indicative of detected side effect, determine whether the detected side enact is attributable to delivered neural stimulation therapy, and automatically titrate the neural stimulation therapy to abate the side effect. In various embodiments, the side effect detector includes a cough detector. In various embodiments, the controller is adapted to independently adjusting at least one stimulation parameter for at least one phase in the biphasic waveform as part of a process to titrate the neural stimulation therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08527041B2

Stimulation system for indicating stimulation signals to a user, provided with at least one heart beat sensor for converting measured heart beats into a signal, a processing circuit configured to process the measured heart beat signals, a user interface configured to indicate stimulation signals to a user, wherein the processing circuit is configured to calculate intervals between the detected heart beats and register a predetermined number of successive intervals, predict a time interval between a detected heart beat and a predicted future heart beat based on the registered intervals, and instruct the user interface to indicate a stimulation signal to a user non-simultaneously with the predicted heart beat at the end of the predicted time interval so as to change the heart rate and/or heart coherence of the user.
US08527037B2

The present invention relates to an active medical device that uses non-linear filtering for reconstructing a surface electrocardiogram from an endocardial electrogram. At least one endocardial EGM electrogram signal is collected from of samples collected from at least one endocardial or epicardial derivation (71′, 72′, 73′), and at least one of a reconstructed surface electrocardiogram (ECG) signal through the processing of collected EGM samples by a transfer function (TF) of a neural network (60′). The neural network (60′) is a time-delay-type network that simultaneously processes said at least one endocardial EGM electrogram signal, formed by a first sequence of collected samples, and at least one delayed version of this EGM signal, formed by a second sequence of collected samples distinct from the first sequence collected samples. The neural network (60′) provides said reconstructed ECG signal from the EGM signal and its delayed version.
US08527035B2

An optode for a functional infrared diffuse optical neuroimaging system uses a GRIN lens and prism for coupling to an optical fiber at a right-angle to the lens. The lens is inserted into a grommet for attachment to an elastomeric cap worn by a subject. In an embodiment, the cap also has an array of electroencephalographic electrodes, with optodes arranged such that an optical path exists between a transmitter and a receiver optode beneath each electroencephalographic electrode. In an embodiment, quadfurcated optical cabling is used to permit illumination of each of multiple optodes with wavelengths provided from each of multiple lasers, and permitting each laser to illuminated multiple optodes.
US08527034B2

An input function indicative of a time-activity curve in pulmonary arterial plasma is produced from a series of PET image frames in lieu of manual blood sampling. Two manually acquired blood samples are input along with pixel values of a blood pool region of interest (ROI) in the PET image frames into a two-parameter model of the ROI's time-activity curve. In an iterative process the model converges to accurately indicate the amount of 18F-FDG tracer in the arterial blood. Pulmonary uptake of the tracer is assessed with the PET image frames and the calculated input function.
US08527032B2

An embodiment of an imaging system of an imaged subject is provided. The imaging system comprises a controller, and an imaging system and a display in communication with the controller. The imaging system can include an imaging probe having a marker representative of a unique identifier. The display can be illustrative of the imaged data acquired with the imaging probe in combination with a graphic representation of an imaging plane vector representative of a general direction of a field of view (FOV) of image acquisition of the imaging probe traveling through the imaged subject.
US08527008B2

A wireless communication apparatus 100 according to the present invention is provided with reception channel coefficient calculation units 120-1 to 120-n for calculating reception channel coefficients of respective antennas, transmission channel coefficient calculation units 130-1 to 130-n for calculating transmission channel coefficients of respective antennas by extrapolation based on variations of the reception channel coefficients, absolute value calculation units 140-1 to 140-n for calculating absolute values of the transmission channel coefficients, a threshold calculation unit 150 for calculating a threshold based on the reception channel coefficients, comparison units 160-1 to 160-n for comparing the absolute values and the threshold, and transmission channel coefficient correction units 170-11 to 170-1n, when the absolute values are greater than the threshold, for correcting the transmission channel coefficients so as to match the absolute values to the threshold.
US08527007B2

The present invention discloses a multimedia message system, which includes: a terminal; a Multimedia Message Service Center (MMSC), which serves to receive, store and send multimedia messages; and a Multimedia Message Service Gateway (MMSG) connecting with at least one MMSC and the terminal belonging to the MMSG respectively, which serves to authenticate the terminal and a user in the multimedia message and a provided service, and to send the multimedia messages from the terminal or the MMSC. And the present invention provides three methods for sending multimedia messages. The system and methods provided by the present invention can lower the load of the MMSC and enhance the security of the MMSC.
US08526997B2

A frequency control device receiving a signal transmitted from each of a plurality of mobile stations, the frequency control device includes a first detecting unit to detect a frequency deviation generated from the signal, a second detecting unit to acquire information about at least a current position or movement of each of the mobile stations as classification information, and a classifying unit to classify mobile stations estimated to be moving in a same moving direction with a same moving speed as a first mobile station based on the classification information. The frequency control device includes a first calculating unit to calculate a first frequency deviations of a signal received from the first mobile station, and a compensation unit to compensate the frequency deviation of the signal received from the first mobile station based on the first frequency deviation.
US08526995B2

In a mobile wireless telecommunication device, a bidirectional serial interface is used to transfer a digital representation of an analog value from a first chip associated with a power amplifier module to a second chip. In an exemplary embodiment, circuitry on the first chip receives this clock signal from the second chip during the address portion of a read operation and uses this clock signal to generate a conversion clock signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) on the first chip operates in response to the conversion clock signal to convert an analog value to a digital output. Circuitry on the first chip then transfers the digital output of the ADC from the first chip to the second chip via the serial interface.
US08526993B2

Embodiments herein include a method and a network node in a wireless communications network for controlling a maximum output power of the network node. The network node comprises a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. The GNSS receiver receives signals from the GNSS. The method comprises determining whether a GNSS signal transmitted from the GNSS is considered detectable. If the GNSS signal is considered detectable, the method includes determining whether the GNSS signal is received directly from the GNSS or via a GNSS repeater. The method further includes selecting a power control method for controlling the maximum output power of the network node, based on at least one of the determination of whether the GNSS signal is considered detectable, and the determination of whether the GNSS signal is received directly from the GNSS or via the GNSS repeater.
US08526985B2

An application server in a communication network receives a plurality of data streams from a plurality of mobile stations that include a client for the application server. The data streams may be video, audio or a combination thereof and include an indicator of originating location of the data stream. A subset of the plurality of data streams that originates from an area are determined. The first set may also be determined based on a tag that is included in each of the data streams of the first set, the tag indicating a sharing status for a respective data stream and/or a subject of the respective data stream. A first data stream of the first subset transmitted to a service subscriber having an interest preference corresponding to the tag of first set data streams. The transmitted first data stream may include overlay content associated with the service provider.
US08526977B2

In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of processing a call. The method includes receiving location data, storing the location data in a data record, receiving a first call, playing an announcement, prompting for a caller's name, receiving the caller's name, and retrieving the data record. The location data is received via an interconnected network. The location data is derived from a proximity sensor that is configured to provide a proximity determination with respect to a mobile device of a subscriber and the proximity sensor. The first call is received at a primary destination address associated with the subscriber. The data record is retrieved to identify a selected address that identifies a communication device of the subscriber. The communication device is located within a proximity zone proximate to the proximity sensor.
US08526973B2

The present invention is a safety system that prevents the use of certain Smartphone functions and replace the blocked functions with alternative ways to communicate while in a car. These functions include text, voice (manually dialing to make calls) and internet. Smartphone includes any mobile phone or portable communication device that allows software applications to be downloaded and run on its operating system. The system uses a local RF transmitter located and mounted in the car to send a signal that can be detected by one or all of the Smartphone's in the car. The Smartphone's, which have downloaded the application, will decode the RF signal and disable and/or activate certain functions of the Smartphone. Which functions to disable and/or activate are previously chosen by a user of the downloaded application. By use of this system, young drivers, but not limited to, will not be distracted while driving, and thus forced to pay attention to their surroundings. Therefore automobile accidents will be reduced.
US08526967B2

A method for estimating the speed and bearing of a Wi-Fi enabled device using WLAN radio signals in a WLAN based location service is provided. A method used to estimate a speed of travel of a Wi-Fi enabled device comprises the Wi-Fi enabled device receiving signals transmitted by Wi-Fi access points in range of the Wi-Fi enabled device, and using the signals to estimate the speed of and/or direction of travel of the Wi-Fi enabled device.
US08526959B2

A method and a system for implementing MDC, a base station, and a UE are provided herein. The method includes: a non-serving cell base station determines whether current services of a UE include a service whose feature meets the preset condition according to the features of the current services of the UE, and processes the service whose feature meets the preset condition as a service that needs MDC if such a service exists. Through the technical solution under the present invention, the MDC is implemented more flexibly according to the features of the current services of the UE to optimize the system performance.
US08526956B2

A method, medium, and apparatus controlling a handover between different network types, including the operations of transmitting a message requesting a transmission bandwidth change, so as to have a transmission bandwidth supported by a new network after movement of the mobile terminal, from the mobile terminal to the server after performing the handover, changing the transmission bandwidth of the server to be supported by the new network based on the transmitted message of requesting the bandwidth change, transmitting a message acknowledging the changed transmission bandwidth from the server to the router, and transceiving data through a new data transmission tunnel between the router and a new access point within the new based on the message acknowledging the changed transmission bandwidth. Accordingly, loss of data packets occurring when a handover is performed may be effectively prevented.
US08526954B2

The present invention relates to a method for assigning unique identifiers to a mobility management entity in a core network of an SAE/LTE communication system as well as a method for implementing a mobility management entity in a core network of an SAE/LTE communication system. Further, the invention relates to a mobility management entity of a core network of an SAE/LTE communication system.
US08526951B2

A base station of a mobile device's movement destination receives a diversity handover (DHO) start notification from a mobile station at the beginning of a DHO. This notifies a radio network control apparatus and an instruction is issued to the base station to add a radio link. The time for transmitting data to a mobile device is determined, the transmission timing is rounded up, and the data is transmitted from the base station to a mobile device. In this event, a search window's timing for receiving data from the mobile device is shifted with the round up of the transmission timing; and therefore the width of the search window is enlarged. The movement destination's base station also receives a DHO complete notification from a mobile device at the completion of the DHO. The movement destination's base station changes the width of the width-enlarged window back to the original width.
US08526949B2

A mobile station incapable of communicating via a first radio access technology (RAT) and capable of communicating via a second radio access technology (RAT). The mobile station comprising a component configured to receive a list of neighbor cells of the second RAT. The list containing at least one identifying characteristic associated with at least one cell of the first RAT. A component configured to determine that the at least one identifying characteristic is associated with at least one cell of the first RAT.
US08526945B2

A method, in one example, comprising the steps of receiving a tracking area identifier indicating a tracking area where a user equipment (UE) is located, and updating a current tracking area of the UE based on whether the tracking area identifier indicates that the UE is currently in a previously visited tracking area.
US08526932B2

Performance of a mobile device can be regulated base on the performance zone in which the mobile device is located. Applications can be executed via the mobile device in accordance with locally imposed rules and policies associated with the performance zone. The rules and policies can be stored on the mobile device. The rules and policies can be associated with a color codes that are associated with respective performance zones.
US08526926B2

A method for answering a communication includes the steps of receiving an incoming communication sent by a sender and intended for a communication device of a recipient and answering the communication with an injected audio, video, text, and/or graphic message. The injected message indicates to the sender, in effect, that the recipient is presently unable to respond to the communication but is or will be made aware of the communication. The method further includes the step of providing a promise fulfillment feature that alerts the recipient to the communication and any promise to follow-up with the sender made in the injected message.
US08526924B1

Many mobile devices can access websites on the Internet. A mobile device running a web server application can host websites and provide services. For a first mobile device to access services on a second mobile device, the first mobile device needs the IP address of the second mobile device. The first mobile device sends a connection request to the second mobile device. The first mobile device receives, from the second mobile device, the network address of the second mobile device, identification of services that are available on the second mobile device, and a security token. The first mobile device selects a service and sends an HTTP or HTTPS request for the service to the network address of the second mobile device, and also sends the security token. The second mobile device authenticates the request based on the token and allows the first mobile device to access the selected service.
US08526922B1

In various embodiments, advertising campaigns can be defined that incorporate technologies such as two-dimensional bar codes or embedded links in electronic material, for directing a user to communicate with a call center. For instance, in particular embodiments, the reading of a two-dimensional bar code may cause a communication to be sent to, and received at, the call center, where a calling campaign associated with an advertising campaign is identified using information associated with the communication. Likewise, in particular embodiments, the activation of an embedded link may cause a communication to be sent to publisher, who then sends a communication to the call center. Upon determining the calling campaign, an appropriate agent is selected and a communication, such as a voice call, is initiated to the user. In particular instances, if a no-answer condition is reached as a result of the communication, another communication may be scheduled for a later time.
US08526921B2

A method for voice based communication between a number of mobile terminals of a telecommunication network, the method comprising the steps of creating a group of said number of terminals and storing group information in each of the number of terminals, recording a voice message in one of the terminals of the group, dispatching the voice message to the terminals of the group from the one of the terminals, and receiving the voice message at least all other terminals of the group. The step of creating a group of terminals further comprises the steps of coupling together a number of mobile terminals, initiating a group creation command from at least one of the terminals, sending predetermined information from terminal to terminal to each terminal of the number of terminals for forming a group information, and transmitting the group information to all of the terminals thus forming a group of the terminals.
US08526916B2

A multimedia data construct called a tag (FIG. 5) may be stored and transferred. A user can use multimedia content, to create content portion of a tag (502). The multimedia file is then incorporated into the tag or it can be referenced by a pointer in the tag (530). The multimedia file is artistic expression of the user and the tag uniquely associates the user's identity with the multimedia file by prohibiting alteration of the content after the user completes its creation. The tag includes at least one dynamic indicator that may be changed based on one or more predefined rules upon transmission. The tag may include an ID, that may be based on subscriber information. Encryption techniques may be employed to protect privacy concerns so that such subscriber information is not freely available.
US08526907B2

The method and apparatus disclosed herein reduces the power consumption of a wireless transceiver by reducing the power consumption associated with the corresponding wireless receiver. Generally, a power mode selection unit enables or disables a low power mode based on a dynamic range requirement for the receiver. More particularly, when the dynamic range requirement is less than or equal to a threshold, the power mode selection unit lowers the transconductance of an RF front-end amplifier in the receiver and enables a negative resistance at an output of the RF front-end amplifier. When enabled, the negative resistance compensates for the gain lost by lowering the transconductance of the RF front-end amplifier, which enables the front-end gain associated with the low-power mode to be maintained relative front-end gain associated with the normal mode.
US08526903B2

Techniques for performing transmit (TX) leakage cancellation are described. A receiver includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a TX leakage canceller. The LNA amplifies a receiver input signal and provides an amplified signal. The TX leakage canceller includes a downconverter, a notch filter, and an upconverter. The downconverter downconverts a canceller input signal (e.g., obtained from the LNA output) with a first LO signal at a transmit frequency and provides a downconverted signal. The notch filter filters the downconverted signal to pass an undesired signal (e.g., a TX leakage signal) and attenuate a jammer and a desired signal in the canceller input signal. The upconverter upconverts the filtered signal with a second LO signal at the transmit frequency and provides a feedback signal. The feedback signal is subtracted at the input or output of the LNA to cancel the undesired signal.
US08526899B2

To provide a broadcast receiving apparatus including an AM detector, an AM noise detector, an FM detector, an FM noise detector and a noise determining unit. The AM detector performs AM detection on an IF signal in airwaves received by a receiving antenna that receives incoming airwaves to acquire an AM detection signal. The AM noise detector detects noise components in the AM detection signal. The FM detector performs FM detection on the IF signal to acquire an FM detection signal. The FM noise detector detects noise components in the FM detection signal. The noise determining unit determines a noise status of a broadcast signal based on detection results acquired by the AM noise detector and the FM noise detector.
US08526884B1

Computing devices can utilize various low power wakeup transceivers in order to control functional states of various components of those devices. Each transceiver can broadcast a beacon including appropriate information, which can be received by any other device with a transceiver that is within a propagation range of the beacon. A transceiver receiving the beacon can cause the received beacon to be analyzed by appropriate decision logic, which can determine any appropriate functionality to be activated or otherwise contacted in response to the beacon. In at least some embodiments, the beacon can cause another type of communication channel to be activated to establish communications with a device from which the beacon was received. In this way, the communications channel can be established without having to leave the channel active or manually activate that channel.
US08526882B2

A data transmission device connected to a monitor includes a wireless transmission module, a multimedia processing unit and an output interface. The wireless transmission module wirelessly receives a multimedia data transmitted by an electronic apparatus. The multimedia processing unit receives and decompresses and decodes the multimedia data, and the output interface transmits the multimedia data to the monitor for displaying the multimedia data. The display area of the monitor is larger than the display area of the display unit of the electronic apparatus. A user is allowed to watch the multimedia data generated from the electronic apparatus executing a multimedia file on the monitor with a large display area.
US08526878B2

A channel response matrix is obtained by performing a training process between a transmitter 401 and a receiver 402 to obtain optimal signal phases of the antenna array. Next, a singular-value decomposition (SVD) process is performed to decompose the channel response matrix into a correlation matrix and eigenvalues. Next, a diagonal matrix having square roots of the eigenvalues as its components is obtained. Next, all but one of diagonal components included in the diagonal matrix are replaced with zeros, and optimal setting of the amplitudes and phases of signals to be applied to the antenna array (antenna weight vector) for use in wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiver is obtained based on a channel response matrix that is reconstructed by using the component-replaced diagonal matrix. In this way, when wireless communication is implemented by performing beam forming, the time necessary to find and set a beam direction can be reduced.
US08526873B2

A moving unit causes a relative movement of a web and a mark detecting unit for detecting a ground color of the web and a mark color in a predetermined direction. A measuring unit measures a measurement value corresponding to a moving amount of the mark detecting unit with respect to the web in a time from when a detected color is switched from the ground color to the mark color till when a detected color is back to the ground color. A setting unit sets a threshold used for determining whether the color detected is the ground color or the mark color on the basis of the mark color detected by the mark detecting unit at the time when the mark detecting unit is moved in a reverse direction for a distance of half the measurement value since the color detected is back to the ground color.
US08526868B2

According to one embodiment, an image alignment adjusting apparatus includes: an endless traveling belt; a pattern sensor configured to detect an adjustment pattern including plural colors imaged on the traveling belt; and a correcting unit configured to use, in initial adjustment, for image alignment adjustment, an initial adjustment value obtained by detecting a plurality of sets of the adjustment pattern imaged over the entire circumference of the traveling belt and use, in intermediate adjustment, for the image alignment adjustment an intermediate adjustment value obtained by correcting the initial adjustment value using an intermediate detection value obtained by detecting one set of the adjustment pattern imaged on the traveling belt.
US08526865B2

An image forming device is provided which includes a developer carrying body and a developer supply device to supply a developer to the developer carrying body. The developer supply device includes a plurality of transfer electrodes, and a transfer voltage applying unit to apply traveling-wave shaped transfer voltages to the plurality of transfer electrodes. The developer includes a fine particle charged in a predetermined polarity and a fine particle charged in a polarity opposite to the predetermined polarity. The transfer voltage applying unit is configured to apply the transfer voltages having waveforms, which make a fly height of the fine particle charged in the predetermined polarity higher than a fly height of the fine particle charged in the opposite polarity, to the plurality of transfer electrodes.
US08526864B2

An image developer, including a developer container containing a developer developing a latent image on a latent image bearer; a developer bearer bearing the developer, located close to or contacting the latent image bearer; and a developer feeding and collection roller feeding the developer onto the developer bearer and scraping the developer therefrom, rotating while contacting thereto with pressure, wherein the developer feeding and collection roller includes an inner layer formed of an electroconductive foamed rubber; and an outer layer formed of an insulative foamed rubber, and wherein the following relationship is satisfied: α≧T wherein α represents a compression amount of the pressure of the developer feeding and collection roller to the developer bearer; and T represents a thickness of the outer layer, and wherein an offset voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the charged developer is applied to the developer feeding and collection roller.
US08526853B2

An image forming apparatus includes a handle member that is held by an operator when an orientation of the image forming apparatus is changed from a predetermined use orientation to a different orientation; and a blocking unit that is caused to block a path between the inside and an opening of a toner container, without being powered, in association with an operator operation performed to the handle member upon changing the orientation of the image forming apparatus from the use orientation to the different orientation.
US08526852B2

An electrostatic charging apparatus includes: an electrostatic charging member that has a discharge face causing discharge between the electrostatic charging member and a to-be-charged member having a charge retention part to hold a charge, and comes in contact with the to-be-charged member so as to charge upon the application of voltage; and an adjusting unit that adjusts an angle between the to-be-charged member and the discharge face.
US08526846B2

A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, a cleaning blade, a developer container including an opening, a developer conveyance member, a driving force transmission member having a driving force transmitted from the developer conveyance member, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and a winding member configured to wind the seal member such that the opening is opened, and the driving force transmission member is configured to take a first position at which the driving force is not transmitted to the winding member and a second position at which the driving force is transmitted to the winding member, and wherein the driving force transmission member is further configured to move from the first position to the second position after rotation of the developer conveyance member.
US08526840B2

When a manual feed tray detector detects that a manual feed tray has been set to a feeding position before any one of workflow images displayed on a workflow screen is pressed by a user, a display controller causes a sheet storage location reception screen to be displayed in an interrupting manner between respective reception screens.
US08526834B2

An image forming apparatus is provided with: an obtainer which obtains first information indicating a new toner cartridge having just been loaded thereon or a toner cartridge to be replaced with a new one and second information indicating the current condition under which a fusing process is performed for image forming; a determiner which determines the right type of a replacement toner cartridge to be loaded in place of the toner cartridge causing the first information obtained by the obtainer, based on the second information also obtained by the obtainer; an output portion which outputs an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge of the type determined by the determiner; a detector which detects a new toner cartridge having just been loaded thereon; and a fusing processor which performs a fusing process under the optimal condition based on the amount of the toner supplied from the detector's detected new toner cartridge which is a replacement toner cartridge delivered according to the delivery instruction outputted by the output portion.
US08526828B2

The optical transmitter includes a light source; a signal processor; an optical modulator that modulates output light from the light source in accordance with a transmitting signal subjected to digital signal processing in the signal processor and outputs the modulated light as a light signal to a transmission path; and a control circuit that controls a carrier-wave frequency of the light signal output from the optical modulator, the signal processor including a mapping circuit that maps the transmitting signal to electric-field information according to a modulating scheme, and a phase rotating circuit that provides a phase rotation having a constant cycle to an electric-field phase of the electric-field information to which the mapping circuit maps the transmitting signal, the control circuit controlling the cycle of the phase rotation that the phase rotating circuit provides and thereby controlling the carrier-wave frequency of the light signal output from the optical modulator.
US08526825B2

Visible light data communication with a sufficient transmission speed is performed using a general-purpose and cost-advantageous blue-light-excitation-type white LED without using a blue color filter while preventing the element from being damaged. When transmission data is inputted to a driving waveform generation unit (110) in a transmitter (100), the driving waveform generation unit (110) and a multi-gray scale driving unit (120) generate a multi-gray scale driving signal, which is supplied to the blue-light-excitation-type white LED (140) and allows the blue-light-excitation-type white LED (140) to emit light. A light signal outputted from the blue-light-excitation-type white LED (140) is collected by a lens or the like, is made incident into a PD (210) in a receiver (200), and is converted to a current signal. The current signal is converted into a voltage signal in a trans-impedance amplifier (212). Further, the light signal is subjected to equalization processing in an equalizer (214) and then is digitized by a limiting amplifier (216), thereby obtaining output data.
US08526821B2

Test transceivers are disclosed for testing optical networks. The test transceivers generate one or more errors on a network in a specific, reproducible way, thereby enabling a tester to easily and readily identify whether network devices are operating properly, or prone to failure. A corrective transceiver is also disclosed. The corrective transceiver is configured to continually detect operating parameters of one or more network devices in a network. The corrective transceiver can identify the operating parameters through out-of-band communication with the one or more network devices. The corrective transceiver is further configured with one or more instructions to adjust its own operating parameters to re-sync with another network device as necessary to continue network communications during a failure of the network device.
US08526814B2

A multiple input/output wavelength selective switch device 1 is configured of an N×M optical cross connect switch 10, wavelength selector 20 and controller 40. The N×M optical cross connect switch 10 turns WDM signals of N channels inputted to input routes Rin1 to RinN into M WDM signals. The wavelength selector 20 can perform a selection operation with respect to each of the M WDM signals according to their wavelengths and output the signals from output routes Rout1 to RoutM.
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