US08551078B2
A scaffold assembly includes an instrument pod and a plurality of actuable movers. The instrument pod may include one or more instruments operably coupled thereto. The instrument pod is inserted through a tissue tract into the body cavity. Each actuatable mover includes an insertion member extending therefrom therefrom for insertion within tissue. Each mover has one or more lines removably attachable to the instrument pod that are configured to move the instrument pod between different positions relative to each mover upon the actuation of one or more of the movers to move the instrument pod within the body cavity.
US08551076B2
A minimally invasive surgical instrument includes a U-turn mechanism that transmits actuating forces around a U-turn. The U-turn mechanism is coupled between segments of the instrument and has a bend radius that is smaller than flexible arms having a similar cross section diameter. The actuating forces transmitted by the U-turn mechanism are used to move distal components of the instrument, such as an end effector and a wrist mechanism.
US08551073B2
A catheter device (K, K1, K2 and K3) has a flexible hollow tube body (1) formed by a plurality of austenitic stainless steel wires (2) cylindrically stranded to provide a hollow structure. An inner surface of the flexible hollow tube body (1) has a convex-concave structure represented by the stainless steel wires (2) to provide helical grooves (30). A leading distal end of the flexible hollow tube body (1) is formed into a knife-edge circle configuration to provide a knife-edge circle front (3), thus imparting a perforative capability to improve its quality and performance.
US08551071B2
The present invention relates to medical devices and particularly to a medication delivery device for self-injection of a medication, or for healthcare professionals to administer a medication. In one embodiment, a medication delivery device utilizes a source of gas pressure to deploy a needle, deliver a desired amount of medication through the needle, and retract the needle for disposal. Fluid flow paths from the source of gas pressure communicate the gas pressure to the needle and to the medication in order to accomplish these steps. In one embodiment, a valve is positioned to open and close the flow of the pressurized gas to the needle and the flow of the medication to the needle, so that the valve can be operated to deploy the needle and deliver the medication through the needle when the user is ready for the injection. The valve can also be operated to retract the needle when the dose is complete.
US08551057B2
A pinch clamp assembly for engaging a tube with an enteral feeding or infusion pump adapted to feed nutritionals or to infuse medical solutions to a patient, is provided comprising a base (1) comprising holding means (3) for holding a pumping section (10) of the tube in operative engagement with the base (1) and supporting means (5) for supporting a connector (6), a clamping element (7) having clamping surfaces engageable with the pumping section (10) and moveable between an open position allowing flow of fluid through the pumping section (10) and a closed position wherein the pumping section (10) is occluded by the clamping element (7), and locking means adapted to engage with each other in the closed position and adapted to interact with releasing means external to the pinch clamp assembly so as to bring the clamping element (7) from the closed to the open position, a connector (6) for connecting the tube with a port on a patient, the connector (6) being removable from the pinch clamp assembly, the clamping element (7) further comprising a retaining lever (16), wherein in the open position of the clamping element (7) the connector (6) is retained by the retaining lever (16), and wherein the clamping element (7) is adapted to engage with the releasing means (43) to release the clamping element (7) to the open position when the pinch clamp assembly is mounted to the enteral feeding or infusion pump and the connector (6) is removed.
US08551052B2
A patch-sized fluid delivery device may include a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The disposable portion may include components that come into contact with the fluid, while the reusable portion may include only components that do not come into contact with the fluid. Redundant systems, such as redundant controllers, power sources, motor actuators, and alarms, may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, certain components can be multi-functional, such a microphones and loudspeakers that may be used for both acoustic volume sensing and for other functions and a coil that may be used as both an inductive coupler for a battery recharger and an antenna for a wireless transceiver. Various types of network interfaces may be provided in order to allow for remote control and monitoring of the device.
US08551048B2
A sealing apparatus includes a housing mountable to an elongate shaft having an axial lumen, a sealing element mounted within the housing and having a dome portion with an opening for passage of an object and at least partially defining an arcuate pathway within the housing, and a sealing member defining a cavity for receiving the object in sealing relation therewith. The sealing member is partially disposed within the housing, and is supported in direct contact with the dome portion of the sealing element. The sealing member is adapted to form a substantial seal with the sealing element, and to spherically move through the arcuate pathway relative to the sealing element upon offset manipulation of an object.
US08551039B2
Devices, systems and methods are provided for drug delivery and the monitoring thereof.
US08551038B2
In a pump infusion system comprising a pump adapted to be attached to a user and to cause infusion of pharmaceutical substances into the user's body, questions regarding the effects of administration of the pharmaceutical substances are provided, answers to said questions are transmitted to an attending staff, said answers are recorded, and said pump is controlled so as to adjust the dose of the pharmaceutical substances in accordance with said answers. Further, for a safe remote programming of such a pump infusion system, a predetermined program is assigned, a protocol to be programmed is compared with a protocol coming from the pump, possible errors of non-medically certified intervening devices and means are eliminated, and the programming is executed.
US08551030B2
A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts, with each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement sensing means are provided, for monitoring the movement of the wearer and/or the movement of one component part relative to the at least one other component part with which it is moveable; the movement sensing means being able to generate output signals indicative of movement or in response to a change in movement. Movement resisting means are provided on component parts and these are operable to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of the component parts relative to other component parts. Control means in communication with the movement sensing means and the movement resisting means are programmed to interpret and/or analyze the output signals generated by the movement sensing means within predetermined parameters and/or criteria. Movement resisting means are activated, deactivated or dynamically controlled in response to signals received from the control means when it is determined that a movement or a change in movement requires partial or substantial immobilization of at least a portion of the spine of the wearer.
US08551022B2
Sensor guide wire for intravascular measurements of a physiological variable in a living body, comprising a core wire running along at least a part of the sensor guide wire and a sensor element arranged in a jacket in a sensor region of the sensor guide wire. The jacket is tubular and is provided with a jacket wall and a portion of the core wire that extends longitudinally along the sensor region forms part of the wall of the jacket, in order to provide more space in the jacket.
US08551019B1
A guide wire is heated by application of electricity to change the stiffness of at least a portion of the guide wire. That portion of the guide wire may thus be selectively softened wherever that portion needs to be bent to facilitate routing the guide wire through curves or obstacles in a desired path.
US08551011B2
A method and device for testing for the presence, absence and/or rate of flow in a shunt tubing implanted under the skin by using a measurement pad having a plurality of temperature sensors, one of which is aligned with the shunt and the other sensors being symmetrically displaced on either side of the first temperature sensor in a direction transverse to the shunt tubing. These “outer” temperature sensors act as control temperature sensors. A temperature source, e.g., a cooling agent, positioned within an insulated enclosure, is then applied at a predetermined location on the measurement pad that is insulated from the temperature sensors. The movement of this temperature “pulse” is detected by the shunt-aligned temperature sensor via the shunt tubing as the CSF carries the temperature pulse while the control sensors detect the pulse via convection through the skin. The temperature data from these sensors are provided to a CSF analyzer that determines a CSF shunt flow status or flow rate.
US08551008B2
The present invention relates to assessing and measuring vascular and endothelial function. A vasostimulant is provided to a patient to stimulate hemodynamic activity in a selected extremity and vascular function is assessed by monitoring a change in a blood flow, skin temperature and/or blood oxygen content at the selected extremity and assessing the patient's vascular function based upon the monitoring.
US08551004B2
A curved array ultrasound transducer is described which is usable in both sector and curved linear modes. The transducer includes a central portion (40) of elements and lateral portions (44) of elements on either side of the central portion. In the sector mode the central portion of elements is operated to perform phased array scanning. In the curved linear mode both the central and lateral portions of elements are operated to perform curved linear array scanning. The transducer elements of the central portion have a finer pitch than the pitch of the transducer elements of the lateral portions. In the sector mode, the elements of the central portion are operated individually, and in the curved linear mode the transducer elements of the central portion are operated in pairs. In the sector mode, the number of transducer elements of the central portion that participate in the active aperture of the transducer may be varied according to the number of transducer elements in acoustic contact with the patient.
US08550997B2
A monitor system is disclosed. The monitor system includes a sensor with a sensor port. The monitor system further includes a recorder with a recorder port within a recording housing. The recorder port interfaces with the sensor port to receive signals from the sensor port. A recorder clock is defined within the recorder housing, with a recorder processor to store signals from the sensor. The recorder includes a data port to interface with a dock receiver. The monitor system includes a dock remotely located from the sensor and the recorder. The dock receiver couples the recorder to the dock. The monitor system further includes a data processor to analyze the sensor signals from the recorder. The data processor includes memory and a clock. Further included with the data processor are program instructions to assign the time and date of the sensor signals.
US08550993B2
A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first top structure and a conical outer wall. The first top structure has a first opening. The outer wall extends below the first top structure to form an ellipse-shaped second opening in communication with the first opening. The second component includes a second top structure and conical inner wall. The second top structure has a third. The inner wall extends below the second top structure to form an ellipse-shaped fourth opening in communication with the third opening. The second top structure of the second component is disposed at least partially inside the first top structure of the first component such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.
US08550984B2
An insertion auxiliary implement of the present invention includes: a tubular part into which a flexible endoscope insertion part which is insertable into a body cavity, and one of a treatment tool and a channel into which the treatment tool is insertable, are insertable; and a sealing member which has through holes for supporting the endoscope insertion part and one of the treatment tool and the channel in the tubular part, and which airtightly and movably contacts each of a periphery of the endoscope insertion part, a periphery of the treatment tool or a periphery of the channel, and an inner surface of the tubular part, and thereby maintains airtightness between a distal end and a proximal end inside the tubular part.
US08550983B2
Various pelvic relaxing systems provide various stimuli to various portions of a pelvic structure including a clitoris, G spot, and other intravaginal portions defined inside or around a vaginal cavity. Such a system includes a body member with at least one unit (or part) capable of engaging with at least one portion of the structure, and at least one input unit for receiving user inputs and controlling an actuator member for providing various stimuli to various portions of the structure through various units (or parts) of the body member, without requiring an user to manipulate different switches or buttons during use. Various methods are presented to provide stimuli to various portions of the structure through various units of the body member without requiring the user to manipulate different switches or buttons. Various processes are presented to provide the above system and various members or units thereof.
US08550970B2
An apparatus for finishing products coming out from a folding and gluing machine of cardboard or paperboard products with a back, includes a longitudinal housing for advancing the products in rows, defined by two groups (40, 41) of circular motorized right and left belts. Each group (40, 41) being made of at least three belts. An upper belt (22, 24) and a lower belt (25, 27) are wrapped around pulleys with a horizontal axis and extending parallel to the direction of advancement of the products. A lateral belt (28, 29) is wrapped around pulleys with a vertical axis and extending parallel to the direction of advancement of the products. The belts of each group (40, 41) form among them respective “C”-shaped housing which make the lateral edges of the housing along and inside which the product advances, dragged by the belts.
US08550969B2
A charging member, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus are provided which have been so made as for any C-set images to be kept from occurring; the C-set images occurring in a charging member of an electrophotographic apparatus where the charging member and an electrophotographic photosensitive member have been left to stand in contact with each other over a long period of time. In a charging member having a conductive support and a surface layer, the surface layer is incorporated with a specific compound.
US08550966B2
An exercise apparatus for exercising muscles of a user comprising a main body, an abdominal crunch exercise member pivotally attached to the main body, the abdominal crunch member configured to engage an upper body area of a user, an abdominal contact member attached to the main body, the abdominal contact member configured to engage an abdominal area of user; and an electronic vibration unit capable of causing a portion of the apparatus to vibrate.
US08550965B2
An exercise device that allows a user to strengthen the entire anatomical core muscles with a lightweight, compact, and portable design. A device includes a housing that is substantially spherical in shape with a hollow portion therein. The housing has at least one protrusion. A ball that is substantially spherical in shape is positioned within said hollow portion such that said housing at least partially encloses the ball therein. A plurality of bearings are disposed between said housing and said ball. The bearings contact the housing and the ball, thereby allowing said housing to rotate about said ball. A plurality of handles detachably connect to the at least one protrusion.
US08550961B2
A method for controlling an input clutch of a vehicle transmission during a tip-in includes using a current gear and rate of change of transmission input speed to determine a first torque modifier, if a peak or trough occurred in input speed, using the current gear and a difference between measured input speed and expected input speed to determine a second torque modifier, and changing a torque capacity of the clutch using said modifiers.
US08550960B2
A clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter, which connects the drive input of the hydrodynamic torque converter to the drive output of the hydrodynamic torque converter, is actuated in a disengaging direction when a power at an auxiliary power take-off in a vehicle exceeds a predefined value.
US08550959B2
A vehicle drive system is provided with an engine, a manual transmission capable of changing a gear position, a clutch arranged between the engine and the transmission, and a control device that performs drive control of the engine. During an inertia running in which torque transmission between the engine and an axle is blocked, when the clutch is opened and the gear position of the transmission is changed to a forward position, if the gear position after the change is lower than an optimal gear position corresponding to a vehicle speed, the control device executes fuel cutoff for the engine.
US08550953B2
A hydraulic system for a vehicle drivetrain includes a torque transfer device having a first actuator that actuates to selectively communicate rotatable motion from an input member to an output member. A limited slip differential selectively transfers drive torque from the output member to at least one of the first and second axle shafts. A motor drives a first and a second output shaft. A first pump is rotatably driven by the first output shaft. The first pump selectively supplies the hydraulic fluid to the first actuator. A second pump is rotatably driven by the second output shaft. The second pump selectively supplies the hydraulic fluid to the second actuator.
US08550949B2
A transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The transmission provides multiple powerpaths and can be combined with electrical components to provide motor/generator functionality, which reduces the overall size and complexity of the motor and transmission compared to when they are constructed separately. In one embodiment, rotatable components of a continuously variable transmission are coupled separately to an electrical rotor and to an electrical stator so that the rotor and stator rotate simultaneously in opposite directions relative to one another. In other embodiments, an electrical rotor is configured to transfer torque to or from a disc that is in contact with a plurality of speed adjusters, while an electrical stator is configured to transfer torque to a shaft that is operationally coupled to the speed adjusters via an idler.
US08550945B2
A pulley has a hub and a rim. The hub is configured to be mountable on a driving shaft. A driving connection between the hub and rim is provided. In a first embodiment, a drive mechanism is operable to configure the rim between a circular profile and a non-circular profile. The non-circular profile produces a counteracting torque to offset load torques produced by the engine. The drive mechanism can be electrical, inertial, hydraulic or any combination thereof. In a second embodiment, the rim is fixed with a non-circular profile.
US08550941B2
Systems and methods for evaluating a golf ball design are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for evaluating a golf ball design may comprise designing a proposed golf ball having a size and dimple design; determining a specific gravity of the proposed golf ball; selecting a material for a test golf ball that will mimic the specific gravity of the proposed golf ball when the material is formed into a test golf ball having substantially the same size, shape, and dimple pattern as the proposed golf ball, but having a predetermined construction differing from the proposed golf ball; forming the selected material into the size and dimple design of the proposed golf ball to form the test golf ball; and testing the test golf ball to evaluate the golf ball design.
US08550939B2
A valuation method of the present invention quantitatively estimates hit feeling of a sport hitting tool. The evaluation method includes: a first step of using a measuring means M1 capable of measuring forces F acting between a swing subject and the sport hitting tool or specific directional components F1 thereof to obtain values of the forces F or the components F1 at times after impact; and a second step of deciding the hit feeling based on the value of the force F or the component F1 at at least one of the times. Preferably, the values of the forces F or the components F1 in a specified period Z12 between a time T1 and a time T2 after the impact are obtained in time series in the first step. Preferably, the hit feeling is evaluated based on an integrated value Sf of the forces F or the components F1 in the specified period Z12 in the second step.
US08550934B2
A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.
US08550924B2
A sliding type tripod constant velocity joint includes an outer ring of a tubular form having three raceway grooves which are formed on an inner peripheral surface and which extend in a direction of a rotation axis of the outer ring, a tripod including a boss part connected to a shaft and three tripod shaft parts which are provided upright so as to extend outward in a radial direction of the boss part from an outer peripheral surface of the boss part and which are inserted into the raceway grooves, respectively, and an intermediate member which is provided on an outer periphery of a corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts so as to be oscillated relative to the corresponding one of the tripod shaft parts and which has power transmission surfaces on both side surfaces and opposing the side surfaces of a corresponding one of the raceway grooves.
US08550917B2
A system for downloading real-time interaction data and a method thereof are provided. The system includes a real-time interaction data management server farm, a network equipment, a carousel server, and at least one terminal device. The real-time interaction data management server farm processes real-time interaction data and manages a plurality of real-time data packages thereof. The network equipment provides a unidirectional broadcast network and a bidirectional mobile network as media for transmitting the real-time data packages. The carousel server receives the real-time data packages and transmits the real-time data packages in a carousel delivery method, a single-pass delivery method or a carousel and single-pass delivery method through the unidirectional broadcast network. The terminal device receives the real-time data packages through the unidirectional broadcast network or requests and receives the real-time data packages through the bidirectional mobile network. Thereby, the real-time interaction data can be quickly downloaded in a mobile environment.
US08550916B2
A game system comprises a computer manager system adapted to manage gaming activity of one or more players, a transceiver in operative communication with the computer manager system and one or more transponders or transponder/receptor units in operative communication with the transceiver. Each transponder/receptor unit includes a transponder and a receptor. The transceiver is adapted to enable wireless communication between each transponder or transponder/receptor unit and the computer manager system within a distance that is within a range detectable by said transponder/receptor units and the computer manager system.
US08550911B2
Systems and methods for providing programs on wagering game machine peripherals are described. The programs may be shader programs for execution by one or more programmable shaders on a graphics processing unit. The programs may provide a graphical result, e.g. an output on a display, or may provide a non-graphical result of a computation to a general purpose processor on the wagering game machine.
US08550905B2
Methods and systems for providing thermal feedback are presented. In one embodiment, a controller for interfacing with an interactive program includes an outer surface having a plurality of first surface regions and one or more second surface regions. The second surface regions are arranged in an alternating and adjacent fashion with the first surface regions. A heating source is coupled to the plurality of first surface regions, and a cooling source is coupled to the second surface regions. A thermal controller is provided for determining when to activate the heating source to heat the first surface regions and when to activate the cooling source to cool the second surface regions, based on thermal trigger data generated by the interactive program.
US08550903B2
Disclosed is a method for enabling a player to use a mobile bonus feature system and a mobile device to become eligible for mobile promotions in addition to prizes or awards offered by a game on an underlying gaming machine. The method includes: enabling enrollment in the mobile bonus feature system; displaying a list of mobile promotions associated with games on underlying gaming machines; enabling selection of a mobile promotion and an associated game on an underlying gaming machine; once the player meets criteria of the mobile promotion on the underlying gaming machine, enabling the player to use a camera of the mobile device, which is controlled by the mobile bonus feature system, to take a photo of a game result that satisfies the mobile promotion; securely transmitting the photo of the game result to a web service; analyzing the photo of the game result to confirm the player has met the criteria of the mobile promotion; and once confirmed, awarding the player a bonus associated with the mobile promotion.
US08550886B2
A ventilation device is for ventilating a motor vehicle interior. The ventilation device comprises an air supply channel and an outflow region. The outflow region is provided with a first component and a second component which can be brought into at least one first state of displacement and a second state of displacement in relation to each other, in order to generate a first air flow and a different second air flow. The first component and the second component have a first lamella structure and a second lamella structure, according to the state of displacement, for producing a first air flow and a second air flow with different opening angles.
US08550880B2
A process is provided for polishing a silicon electrode utilizing a polishing turntable and a dual function electrode platen. The dual function electrode platen is secured to the polishing turntable and comprises a plurality of electrode mounts arranged to project from an electrode engaging face of the dual function electrode platen. The electrode mounts complement respective positions of mount receptacles formed in a platen engaging face of the silicon electrode to be polished. The electrode mounts and the mount receptacles are configured to permit non-destructive engagement and disengagement of the electrode engaging face of the electrode platen and the platen engaging face of the silicon electrode. The dual function electrode platen further comprises platen adapter abutments positioned radially inward of the electrode mounts. The platen adapter abutments are configured to bring a platen adapter into approximate alignment with the rotary polishing axis. The silicon electrode is polished by (i) engaging the electrode engaging face of the electrode platen and the platen engaging face of the silicon electrode via the electrode mounts and mount receptacles, (ii) utilizing the polishing turntable to impart rotary motion to the engaged silicon electrode, and (iii) contacting an exposed face of the silicon electrode with a polishing surface as the silicon electrode rotates about the rotary polishing axis. Additional embodiments are contemplated, disclosed and claimed.
US08550877B2
A method includes: charging a polishing material into a polishing apparatus that polishes a surface of a cylindrical film including a resin; alternately and repeatedly performing a surface-roughening operation of causing the polishing material to collide with the surface of the cylindrical film, thereby roughening the surface, and a cylindrical film replacing operation of replacing the cylindrical film on which roughening of the surface has been completed with another cylindrical film on which roughening of the surface has not been completed; replacing the polishing material by partially discharging the polishing material, and charging a new polishing material so that the percentage of the new polishing material with respect to the total amount of the polishing material after the new polishing material is charged becomes 30% by weight or more; and alternately and repeatedly performing the surface-roughening operation and the cylindrical film replacing operation again.
US08550876B2
A constant force finishing system used to finish a surface of a workpiece includes at least a first movement device arranged to apply a first movement to a finishing tool, the first movement having a range of distance D1. The finishing system also includes a constant force device (CFD) in mechanical communication with the finishing tool, the CFD arranged to apply a second movement in conjunction with the first movement to the finishing tool, the second movement having a range of Δ1, where D1>>Δ1.
US08550870B2
Described is a track set with a tiltable surface for use with a toy vehicle. The track set includes a handle that allows a user to tilt the surface while resting the track set on a base and tilting the surface at a pivot point. Further, the surface includes a first side and a second side. The track set is formed to allow a user to switch the position of the pivot point and base and thereby selectively use either the first side or second side.
US08550867B1
A slotted rod for a construction toy is comprised of an elongated rod having a body portion with a length that is longer than the thickness. A conventional connector is located at each end of rod for connection to a hub or to another rod for constructing a structure utilizing the construction toy system. The rod includes a plurality of elongated slots arranged around the periphery with each slot extending axially along the length thereof. Each slot is capable of allowing a piece of sheet-like material to pass therethrough. The slots may be formed directly in the body of the rod or in a sleeve that slides over and covers the body portion. In one embodiment, the slot has an opening at one end whereby the sheet-like material can be inserted into the slot by moving it axially into position.
US08550860B2
The present disclosure is directed to TPA connectors. The TPA connectors of the present disclosure can have a connector body that can include a plurality of cavities for receiving terminals. The TPA connectors can also include a retainer for locking the terminals in their seated position and for locking to the connector body to prevent unwanted removal thereof. The connector body can include posts with stop surfaces which can prevent the retainer from moving from a pre-lock position to a fully locked position by engaging contact surfaces on the locking arms of the retainer. The locking arms can be cantilevered and have outwardly directed projections to engage the posts for locking the retainer to the connector body. The locking arms can be deflected inwardly with a squeezing or pinching motion to disengage the contact surfaces from the stop surfaces of the posts and permitting the retainer to move to the fully locked position by pushing retainer towards the connector body. Once the projects pass the post, locking arms can be release to allow the projections to engage the posts to lock the retainer to the connector body.
US08550849B2
A connector is configured to be mated with and connected to a mating connector in a state where the connector is attached to an FPC having a principal surface on which a signal terminal and a ground terminal are arranged. The connector comprises a housing, a plurality of contacts held by the housing, a cover shell partially covering the housing and a lock bar supported by the housing and/or the cover shell so as to be turnable. Each of the contacts has an exposed portion connectable to the signal terminal of the connecting object. The cover shell has a grounded portion connectable to the ground terminal of the connecting object. The lock bar is configured to lock a mating state where the connector is mated with the mating connector.
US08550845B1
A connector assembly according to the present disclosure includes a connector body, a lock reinforcement, and a secondary lock. The connector body has a plurality of terminal cavities and a plurality of lock projections configured to engage a plurality of terminals to retain the terminals in the terminal cavities. The lock reinforcement is slidable relative to the connector body for engagement with a subset of the lock projections to maintain the lock projections engaged with a first subset of the terminals. The secondary lock is slidable relative to the connector body for engagement with a second subset of the terminals to retain the terminals in the terminal cavities independent from the lock projections. The secondary lock is coupled to the lock reinforcement such that moving one of the lock reinforcement and the secondary lock moves the other one of the lock reinforcement and the secondary lock.
US08550834B2
A circular plug-type connector for a multi-core electrical cable, which is provided in each case with male or female contacts, possesses an inner insulating body for holding the individual male or female contacts in its interior. This insulating body is provided with its cable-side end region in a sleeve-shaped holding ring in such a way that it can be plugged in. A top piece can be fastened rotatably on the holding ring. The top piece is formed with a thread for connection to a mating plug-type connector. A sleeve-shaped housing, which can be assembled from at least two housing parts, can be fastened with its one axial end on the cable-side end region of the holding ring. The cable can be inserted into the housing and fastened thereon with resistance to tensile stress at the other axial end of the housing. A coupling unit comprising two circular plug-type connectors, which can be fastened detachably to one another using screws, for a multi-core electrical cable that is provided in each case with male or female contacts is characterized in that one circular plug-type connector has plug-type contacts and the other plug-type connector has female contacts.
US08550833B2
A security apparatus for preventing unauthorized disengagement of a charging connector from a charge port of an electric vehicle, for example during the battery charging process. A lock member is disposed on the electric vehicle and is movable between a locked position wherein it inhibits disengagement of the charging connector from the charge port and an unlocked position wherein it allows disengagement of the connector from the port. A locking actuator located adjacent to the charge port is manually actuatable to move the lock member to the locked position. An unlock actuator disposed inside a vehicle cabin is manually actuatable to move the lock member to the unlocked position. This ensures that only a person with access to the interior of the vehicle can unlock and disengage the charging connector from the vehicle.
US08550832B2
A plug connector is provided that can be electrically coupled to wires provided in a cable. The connector includes a leadframe that supports contacts and insulation displacement terminals in electrical communication. The connector includes a wire module that includes wire channels. A cage is provided to support the leadframe and the wire module. When wires from the cable are inserted into the wire channels, the wire module can be translated so that the insulation displacement terminals engage the wires. In an embodiment, the electrical path between a contact and a corresponding insulation displacement terminal can extend through magnetics and the magnetics can help increase the signal to noise ratio.
US08550829B2
A power outlet includes a casing, a middle-layer support and at least one safety shield device. The middle-layer support includes at least one conductive plug bush and provides guiding jacks corresponding to the position of the conductive plug bush. The safety shield device has a left shield, a right shield and a spring. Each left and right shield extends a shield foot from the underside, respectively. The middle-layer support further includes sliding platforms for movement of the left shield and the right shield. The sliding platform has location holes for insertion of the shield feet. When the left shield and right shield lock, two shield feet respectively match against an opposite inner edge of two location holes on the sliding platform. When the left shield and right shield open, the guiding jack on the middle-layer support exposes.
US08550824B2
A display card assembly includes a display card with a first circuit board, a straight through connector, and an expansion card with a second circuit board. A first edge connector is arranged on a bottom edge of the first circuit board and includes first power pins connected to a control chip and first storage chips, first ground pins, and first signal pins. A second edge connector connected to the straight through connector is arranged on an end edge of the first circuit board adjoining the bottom edge and includes second power pins connected to the first power pins, second ground pins, and second signal pins connected to the control chip. A third edge connector engaged in the straight through connector is arranged on an end edge of the second circuit board and includes third power pins and third signal pins connected to the second storage chips, and third ground pins.
US08550823B2
An electrical connection assembly (70, FIGS. 4-7) connects a cable conductor (82) of stiff material such as a copper wire, to a deformable electrode (34, FIG. 5) that lies at the surface of a sheet of elastomeric material (74). The connector assembly includes deflectable elastomeric walls that form a cavity (76) that holds an electrically conductive fluid (84) such as an electrolyte that surrounds and engages the stiff conductor (82) and that engages the elastic electrode (34) as it deflects.
US08550822B2
A method of determining a mastery level for an examinee from an assessment is disclosed. The method includes receiving one or more of an overall skill level for an examinee, a weight for the overall skill level, a covariate vector for an examinee, and a weight for the covariate vector. An examinee attribute value is computed using one or more of the received values for each examinee and each attribute. The computation of the examinee attribute values can include estimating the value using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation technique. Examinee mastery levels are then assigned based on each examinee attribute level. Dichotomous or polytomous levels can be assigned based on requirements for the assessment.
US08550818B2
A system and method for providing a personalized digital face chart. A digital image of a subject's face is obtained. A facial region of the digital image is identified from a background region of the digital image. A line drawing is generated based on at least the facial region of the digital image. The line drawing is stylized to generate a personalized digital face chart. A user interface configured to accept at least one face chart modification from a user is provided. The personalized digital face chart is modified based on the at least one face chart modification.
US08550812B2
An off-gas flare system for disposing of a waste gas stream containing BTEX and VOC contaminants, and for safely handling slugs of excess liquids entrained in the waste gas stream. The flare system includes a flare stack, an enclosed steam tank disposed within the flare stack for receiving the waste gas stream and vaporizing any liquids in the waste gas stream into vapors, and an enclosed liquid tank disposed below the steam tank and in fluid communication with the steam tank for receiving the heated waste gas and liquid vapors and for temporarily containing any excess non-vaporized liquids. The flare also includes a waste gas burner disposed in the flare stack adjacent the steam tank and in fluid communication with the liquid tank, and a continuous means for igniting the waste gas burner.
US08550810B2
A method of controlling a boiler plant during a switchover period from an air-combustion mode to an oxygen-combustion mode. The method includes steps of feeding fuel into a furnace of the boiler plant at a rate determined by a fuel feeding scheme, feeding air into the furnace at a rate determined by a descending air feeding scheme, feeding substantially pure oxygen into the furnace at a rate determined by an ascending oxygen feeding scheme, and recirculating flue gas into the furnace at a rate determined by an ascending flue gas recirculating scheme. The fuel feeding scheme, the air feeding scheme and the oxygen feeding scheme are such that the fuel is combusted and the flue gas containing residual oxygen is produced. Also, the fuel feeding scheme, the air feeding scheme and the oxygen feeding scheme are such that the content of residual oxygen in the flue gas is, during at least a portion of the switchover period, greater than during any of the air-combustion mode and the oxygen-combustion mode. The method makes it possible to reduce CO2 emissions and O2 consumption quickly during the short switchover period.
US08550805B2
A process and a device for the manufacture of a hollow body, particularly of a heat-resistant hollow body, which is molded out of a heated preform of thermoplastic plastic in a contoured blow mold through the introduction of a first medium into the preform, which medium is stored in a first medium storage unit and is under a pressure (p1) (preblowing phase), and the more or less simultaneous stretching of the hollow body through a stretching rod and the introduction of a second medium in the hollow body, which medium is stored in a second medium storage unit and the pressure of which (p2) is higher than the pressure of the first medium (p1) (final blowing phase), and which is cooled by a third medium, which is medium stored in a third medium storage unit (rinsing phase), whereby the preblowing medium is under a pressure of approximately 2-20 bar, the final blowing medium is under a pressure of approximately 15-45 bar, and the cooling medium is under a pressure of approximately 30-45 bar.
US08550804B2
A rotary press, particularly for manufacturing tablets, has a rotarily driven rotor and at least one pressure roller unit which is detachably secured to a bearing device, particularly at least one bearing plate, by means of a retaining device. Provision is made here for a plurality of similar retaining devices to be arranged on the bearing device, wherein the pressure roller unit can optionally be secured to one of the retaining devices and/or transferred between them.
US08550803B2
A method for operating a transforming device for transforming plastic preforms into plastic containers may include at least one blow mould carrier and a multi-part blow mould arranged on the blow mould carrier. A holding connection may be provided between the blow mould and the blow mould carrier. The holding connection between the blow mould carrier and the blow mould may be detached or established in an at least partially automated manner.
US08550790B2
A vacuum generator driven by compressed air and arranged to supply vacuum to a vacuum gripper element, wherein a chamber (6) is associated with the vacuum generator and arranged to be brought in flow connection (9) with the vacuum gripper element via a valve (15) which is actuated by overpressure accumulated in the chamber to open the connection (9) to the vacuum gripper element in order to discharge the overpressure to the vacuum gripper element in result of interruption of the compressed air flow (P). The vacuum generator is characterized in that the chamber (6) in addition includes a flow connection (11) with the ambient atmosphere, and in the additional flow connection (11) a one-way valve (10) which is arranged to open the connection (11) with the atmosphere in result of the air pressure in the chamber (6) falling below the atmospheric pressure.
US08550787B2
A wind turbine blade having a longitudinal direction with a root end and a tip end as well as a chord extending in a transverse direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge is described. The blade comprises a flow control surface with a suction side and a pressure side. A number of boundary layer control structures are formed in the flow control surface. The boundary layer control structures include a channel submerged in the flow control surface with a first end facing towards the leading edge and a second end facing towards the trailing edge of the blade. The channel further comprises a bottom surface extending from the first end to the second end. The channel at the first end comprises a first channel zone comprising a first sub-channel having a first cross-sectional area and a second sub-channel having a second cross-sectional area, the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel crossing each other at a point of crossing.
US08550774B2
A turbine arrangement with a rotor and a stator surrounding the rotor forming a flow path for hot and pressurized combustion gases between the rotor and the stator is provided. The rotor defines a radial direction and a circumferential direction and includes turbine blades extending in the radial direction through the flow path towards the stator. The turbine blades have shrouds located at their tips and the stator includes a wall section along which the shrouds move when the rotor is turning. A supersonic nozzle is located in the wall section and is connected to a cooling fluid provider. The supersonic nozzle provides a supersonic cooling fluid flow towards the shroud. The supersonic nozzle is angled with respect to the radial direction towards the circumferential direction in such an orientation that the supersonic cooling fluid flow has a flow component parallel to the moving direction of the shroud.
US08550773B2
A steam turbine having an exhaust-steam casing for directing an exhaust-steam mass flow, a shaft bearing for mounting a turbine shaft, and at least two bearing struts, by means of which the shaft bearing is fastened to the exhaust-steam casing, is characterized according to the invention in that each of the at least two bearing struts has a cooling cavity arranged in the respective bearing strut for directing a coolant, and the cooling cavities of the at least two bearing struts are connected in a fluidically conductive manner via a closed-off connecting cavity in the region of the shaft bearing.
US08550772B2
A first seal member includes a double-structure bellows in corrugated form, and vibration control device provided on the outside of the bellows such as to cover part of the bellows. A flat portion that is not in corrugated form is provided in part of the bellows. The vibration control device is provided in circumferential direction on an outer surface of the flat portion, and made up of a ring-shaped rib having a plurality of holes in a circumferential direction and weights inserted in the holes provided in a wall of rib. Natural frequency is adjusted by adjusting the number of weights, thereby preventing resonance between the natural frequency of the first seal member and the rotational frequency of rotor from occurring.
US08550770B2
A supersonic compressor includes a fluid inlet, fluid outlet, and a fluid conduit extending therebetween with a supersonic compressor rotor disposed therein. The supersonic compressor rotor includes a first endwall and a plurality of vanes coupled thereto. Each pair of the vanes defines a fluid flow channel. The fluid flow channel defines a flow channel inlet opening and a flow channel outlet opening and includes a throat portion. The supersonic compressor rotor also includes a second endwall and at least one axially translatable fluid control device positioned adjacent to the rotor. The axially translatable fluid control device is configured to obstruct the throat portion and includes at least one axially translatable protrusion insertable into at least a portion of the throat portion.
US08550768B2
A method for determining a preferred circumferential groove arrangement for a casing treatment of an axial flow compressor is disclosed. The method includes using the results from a three dimensional steady state computational fluid dynamic analysis to generate a flow field between a blade tip of a rotating blade and a compressor casing to determine the preferred circumferential groove arrangement. A stall margin for the axial flow compressor will be increased with the method.
US08550767B2
A regulating system for a gas turbine, in particular an aircraft engine, has devices for blade-tip injection for increasing the compressor stability, these devices being activated as needed. The regulating system has devices for active clearance control, preferably in the high-pressure compressor, with which the radial clearance in the high-pressure compressor is kept in an optimum operating range, and the regulating system has a shared engine regulator for both devices. The technical problems of the prior art are avoided through the present invention, and an improved regulating system for a gas turbine, in particular an aircraft engine, is made available for active stabilization of the compressor.
US08550764B2
A refuse collection assembly for a refuse collection vehicle mounts to a intermediate container on the refuse collection vehicle. The refuse receptacle collection assembly can grasp a refuse receptacle at curbside, at street side, or forward of the intermediate container in any location over a one hundred eighty degree arc. The collection assembly grasps the receptacle and locates it above the intermediate container and tilts it sufficiently to empty the contents of the receptacle in the intermediate container. The collection assembly then returns the receptacle upright to its previous location or to any location to the right, left or forward of the refuse collection assembly. The refuse receptacle collection assembly includes a rail extending along a wall of the intermediate container, a carriage selectively movable along the rail, and a receptacle engaging assembly supported by the carriage for grasping the refuse receptacle.
US08550763B2
A carriage with a cell carrier engages and retains a vertically driven cell so that the cell and its contents, such as a data storage cartridge, may be moved laterally from one linear library to another. A portal engagement device of the cell carrier includes a movable rack so that a pinion of the cell may move up or down the rack, and has pins that, when the device is down, engage a library vertical portal having a fixed rack. A cam state machine of the cell carrier guides a spring loaded cam follower hook of the cell in a pattern to lock the hook in position and, when hooked, attempted downward movement of the vertically driven cell moves the portal engagement device upward to disengage the pins of the portal engagement device from the vertical portal. The carriage may then transport the cell to another vertical portal.
US08550760B2
A device is provided to shape a spine of a book casing positioned horizontally spread out flat and oriented to be distributed evenly over a spine of a book block. Two fold-shaping rails are arranged extending in a direction parallel to one another. A movable, shaping tool is arranged to face the inside of the book casing spine to shape a web on the book casing spine with the aid of the two fold-shaping rails. The shaping tool includes two spaced-apart support bars that extend parallel to the fold-shaping rails and are arranged to be adjustable so that together they adjust the web width of the book casing spine in a direction transverse to the direction of extension of the fold-shaping rails.
US08550742B2
An anti-unlock screw device (100) for connector designed to maintain the connection between two connection elements (1, 2), includes a cylindrical sleeve (101) provided with a row of saw-tooth notches (105) arranged on an internal circumference of a rear portion. The device also has an internal ring (106) mounted in the rear portion of the cylindrical sleeve so that it can be positioned between the cylindrical sleeve and the first connection element, the internal ring including at least one catch (107) capable of cooperating with the saw-tooth notches of the cylindrical sleeve. A blocking device (110, 111, 112, 113) keeps the internal ring fixed relatively to the cylindrical sleeve in a first sense of rotation (V) and inversely keeps the internal ring free in rotation relatively to the cylindrical sleeve in a second sense of rotation (DV).
US08550738B2
A dispenser includes a flow-through gasket and a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product. The flow-through gasket has at least aperture to provide a product delivery passage when the dispenser is selectively rotatable along a helical guide slot to a raised position. When the dispenser is selectively rotatable along the helical guide slot to a retracted position, the dispenser is in a stored state. In some examples, the flow-through gasket may be made of a material having elastomeric properties.
US08550736B2
An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a releasable material (e.g., an oral medicament) and a tissue cleaner for cleaning the soft tissues and removing odor-causing bacteria from the mouth. In one arrangement, the releasable material is disposed on the surface of the tissue cleaner. In one arrangement, the releasable material is disposed behind the tissue cleaner. In one arrangement, the releasable material is incorporated in the composition of the tissue cleaner.
US08550730B2
In a focal plane shutter according to the present invention, a support plate is placed while a plate plane of the support plate is parallel to a shutter base plate, a second blade-driving member is fitted to a shaft erectly provided on the shutter base plate, the second blade-driving member being rotated by the biasing force of a second blade-driving spring, an electromagnet for second blade is fitted to the support plate, the electromagnet attracting and holding an iron piece member fitted to the second blade-driving member, a printed wiring board on which a wiring pattern for supplying electric current to the electromagnet is formed is placed in a hole formed in the support plate, and terminal pins of the electromagnet are soldered to the both ends of a coil.
US08550726B2
Disclosed herein is a single wavelength bi-directional optical transceiver for transmitting/receiving optical signals having the same wavelength through an optical communication system. The optical transceiver includes a transmitter including an isolator and converting an external input signal into an optical transmit signal, an optical filter reflecting some of the optical transmit signal and transmitting the other of the optical transmit signal, an optical fiber transmitting the optical transmit signal transmitted by the optical filter to a counterpart optical transceiver, a receiver receiving an optical receive signal from the counterpart optical transceiver via the optical fiber, and a body enclosing a portion of the transmitter, the optical filter, a portion of the optical fiber and a portion of the receiver. An incidence angle (θ2) formed between a central axis of the transmitter and a central axis of the optical fiber is adjusted to allow the optical transmit signal to be obliquely incident into the optical fiber in order to reduce reflection of the optical transmit signal by the optical fiber without coupling with the optical fiber when the transmitter transmits the optical transmit signal to the optical fiber.
US08550720B2
A positioning device includes a shaft tube having a receptacle receiving a support member that includes first and second ends spaced along an axis. The support member further includes a through-hole extending from the first end through the second end. A bearing is received in the receptacle and includes an end facing the first end of the support member. The end of the bearing includes an inclined pressing surface aligned with a support portion formed on the first end of the support member. The pressing surface deforms the support portion when the bearing is pushed downward during assembly. The deformed support is received in a groove between the pressing surface and an inner periphery of the receptacle to offset and absorb the downward pressing force. The bearing is, thus, reliably fixed in the desired assembly position while preventing the support member from being damaged or generating noise during operation.
US08550717B2
A composite or so-called “half and half” bag has a first side wall formed from a synthetic resin mesh material and a second side formed from a synthetic resin film material. A reinforcing strip extends horizontally along the upper end portion of the mesh side wall of the bag. The reinforcing strip overlaps the upper edge of the first side wall such that it is joined to the first side wall through a horizontal seam positioned well beneath the top edge of the reinforcing strip to form an extension that protrudes well above (e.g., ½ inch to 1½ inches or even more) the upper edge of the mesh side wall. In order to strengthen the seam at the sides of the bag, the side edges of the reinforcing strip are joined to the second film side wall along at least most of the vertical extent of the extension. This film-to-film bond is considerably stronger than a bond through an intermediate mesh layer, as occurs along the remainder of the side seams of the bag. In addition, the relatively long extension provides an improved contact point for suction cups or other equipment used on automated bag filling equipment to open a bag during a bag filling process.
US08550707B2
A device for detecting temperature variations of the substrate of an integrated circuit chip, including, in the substrate, implanted resistors connected as a Wheatstone bridge, wherein each of two first opposite resistors of the bridge is covered with an array of metal lines parallel to a first direction, the first direction being such that a variation in the substrate stress along this direction causes a variation of the unbalance value of the bridge.
US08550706B2
There is provided a temperature measuring device capable of achieving cost reduction even in the case where the same is a multichannel temperature measuring device. The temperature-measuring device comprises a thermocouple having two dissimilar metal wires, ends thereof, on one-side, being joined with each other, and the other ends thereof, being connected to one pair of contact terminals, respectively, a unit of a temperature-measurement set made up by joining together a plurality of the thermocouples, and a reference junction compensation circuit provided for every unit of the temperature-measurement set, wherein at least one of the reference junction compensation circuits of the temperature-measuring device is left out while the other reference junction compensation circuits of the temperature-measuring device are removed upon a plurality of the units of the temperature-measurement sets being disposed in series.
US08550704B2
A method of detecting an omission to fill an automobile differential housing with fluid in the course of an assembly procedure is carried out using an infrared sensor to read differential housing temperature. The camera produces an electrical signal that is processed to provide an indication as to whether or not the differential housing has been properly filled. An infrared sensing camera is the preferred thermal detector.
US08550700B2
A clock movement is provided that contains a constant force device. In accordance with one implementation, the clock movement includes a spiral spring, and a train, having a first kinematic chain arranged to connect a main energy source to a first end of the spiral spring and a second kinematic chain for connecting a time base to a second end of the spiral spring. One of the first and second kinematic chains may contain an adjustment mobile comprising first and second members connected to each other by a friction such that a rotation of one member drives the other member during routine working of the clock movement. One of these members may include an adjustment member having at least one bearing surface arranged such that it is possible to act upon the latter so as to rotate the adjustment member without rotating the other member by dint of friction, in order to adjust the load state of the spiral spring.
US08550696B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for mixing laboratory vessel contents. The apparatus has an accommodating adapter with a holder for accommodating laboratory vessels, e.g., laboratory vessels in an exchangeable block module, and a drive for putting the accommodating adapter into a mixing movement which essentially oscillates in a circular and translatory manner in a horizontal plane. The accommodating adapter has a vortex adapter which is accessible from the outside and has a shoulder structure on a circumference. The shoulder structure has at least one shoulder which points toward the center of the circumference and is intended to drive a vessel, e.g., a test tube, which is held and placed from the outside, into the mixing movement in a form-fitting manner.
US08550695B2
A blender includes a container having a plurality of substantially triangular shaped ribs projecting into a processing zone of the container. The plurality of spaced ribs each include a width and a depth that taper from a top end section adjacent a teardrop shaped opening of the container to a more narrow bottom end section adjacent a bottom wall of the container. A side wall of the container continuously tapers from the teardrop shaped opening to a substantially square shaped bottom end portion including first, second, third and fourth side wall sections connected to one another at respective rounded corners. A blade assembly is coupled to the container and includes a plurality of blades angled at different planes with respect to a horizontal plane. Each of the blades includes a beveled leading edge, resulting in a downward suction force that draws ingredients down into the blade for processing.
US08550692B1
A food mixer and attachment storage apparatus includes a food mixer with a housing defined by a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall includes a top wall, a bottom wall and peripheral wall attached to and extending between the top and bottom walls. A motor is mounted within the housing. A pair of attachment couplers is mounted in the bottom wall and mechanically coupled to the motor. A power cord is electrically coupled to the motor. Each of a pair of mixing attachments includes a male end extendable into and removably couplable to one of the attachment couplers. A compartment is positioned in the housing and extends into the perimeter wall. The compartment has a size configured to received the mixing attachments.
US08550671B2
A clamp structure includes a first board portion, a second board portion connected to a lateral side of the first board portion in an elastically deformable manner, and a third board portion connected to the other lateral side of the first board portion opposite to the second board portion in an elastically deformable manner. The third board portion and the second board portion are disposed on the same side of the first board portion for clamping two surfaces of a base, and the first board portion contacts against a light bar for fixing the light bar on the other surface of the base.
US08550668B2
A light control member includes a plate-like member including a first flat surface and a second surface facing the first surface. The second surface has at least three prism line groups, each group including a plurality of substantially parallel linear prisms. Each one of the linear prisms of one prism line group intersects the linear prisms of other prism line groups at one intersection point, and each linear prism is formed into a convex shape having a substantially curved outer edge when viewed along its longitudinal direction.
US08550667B2
An optical film capable of preventing reflection of external light, and an organic light emitting display (OLED) apparatus including the same, are disclosed. The optical film is disposed on a substrate of an organic light emitting display, and comprises a first substrate, a first electrode, a light emitting unit comprising a plurality of organic light emitting elements, and a second electrode sequentially formed on the first substrate. The second substrate concentrates light emitted from the light emitting unit so as to emit outward, and absorbs external light so as to prevent the external light from being reflected.
US08550664B1
A hands-free filter assembly suitable for use with a loupe light is described. The hands-free filter assembly includes a filter that moves between an in-use position, where it is filtering light from the loupe light, and a non-use position, where it is not filtering light from the loupe light. The filter can be moved between the in-use position and the non-position without manual manipulation.
US08550661B2
To provide a lighting apparatus in which a high-class feeling and a cubic effect are obtained or an interior design is allowed to have an appearance like a chandelier. Plane light emitters constituted by organic EL elements are mounted at planar frames in the shape of a frame, and the above-mentioned frames are connected mutually and annularly so that light emitting units of a first-third rings are arranged. Each of the above-mentioned frames which constitute the light emitting units of each ring is formed to be square, and opposed corner portions of the respective frames are connected together. The numbers of frames which constitute the light emitting units of the above-mentioned first-third rings are each set as the same number, and a plane light emitter side in each frame is arranged so as to form a dome shape.
US08550659B1
An exemplary lamp cover for covering a light source includes a connecting member, mounting members, first covering members, and a second covering member. The mounting members are integrally formed with the connecting member as a single piece. The first covering members are detachably mounted on the connecting member and alternated with the mounting members. The second covering member is capable of being mounted on the connecting member to replace one of the first covering members to change a shape of a light field of light emitted from the light source and through the lamp cover.
US08550650B1
A heat dissipating helmet provides a heat dissipating heat pipe portion. One or more high powered LEDs may be in thermal contact therewith providing a significant portion of a heat sink to remove heat from the LEDs to maintain them at a proper operating temperature during operation. The heat dissipating material may be also in contact with air flow as the helmet moves through space thereby allowing convection to assist in removing heat from the helmet.
US08550642B2
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket fixedly secured to the vehicle, a mirror casing secured to the bracket and defining a primary opening, and a primary mirror disposed within said primary opening for providing a view rearward of the motor vehicle through a primary field of view. The primary mirror defines a primary plane. A spotting mirror is spaced apart from the primary mirror and extends through a secondary plane different from the primary plane. A divider extends between the primary mirror and the spotting mirror to separate the primary and secondary mirrors visually.
US08550623B2
The present disclosure provides a method of forming a removable protective coating on a hydrophobic surface of an ophthalmic lens element. The method includes providing an ophthalmic lens element having a hydrophobic surface. A non-aqueous coating composition is applied so as to coat at least part of the hydrophobic surface. The composition includes a film forming coating polymer and a compatible non-aqueous solvent. A substantial portion of the solvent is removed from the composition to form a removable protective coating on the ophthalmic lens element that adheres to the hydrophobic surface. The disclosure also provides a removable protective coating, and an ophthalmic lens element having the coating.
US08550622B2
A progressive power lens including a distance portion for visual recognition of a far working distance, a near portion for visual recognition of a near working distance, and an intermediate portion provided between the distance portion and the near portion, the intermediate portion including a position of an amount of intermediate inset in which a visual line when the intermediate working distance is visually recognized passes an eyeball side surface of the progressive power lens, and addition at intermediate position for viewing an intermediate working distance smaller than the far working distance and larger than the near working distance being set to the position of the amount of intermediate inset.
US08550618B2
A platen unit includes a supporting member that is grounded and is made of a metal, a platen supporting member that is provided on the supporting member, includes an inner space, is formed of a conductive resin, and includes a first contact point, a platen that is provided on the platen supporting member, is formed of a conductive resin, and includes a second contact point which contacts the first contact point, and a seal member that is provided between the platen supporting member and the platen.
US08550603B2
Various particle transport systems and components for use in such systems are described. The systems utilize one or more traveling wave grids to selectively transport, distribute, separate, or mix different populations of particles. Numerous systems configured for use in two dimensional and three dimensional particle transport are described.
US08550594B2
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium by discharging liquid from a discharge head, wherein a carriage on which the discharge head is mounted is made to be able to reciprocate, and in a case where agitation of liquid is required, control is performed such that operation areas of a plurality of places set within a movable range of the carriage are changed over and the carriage then reciprocates within the operation area.
US08550585B2
Liquid ejecting apparatus having ink-jet head and pre-coating head from which ink for forming an image on recording medium and pre-coating liquid reacting with the ink are respectively ejected onto respective predetermined first and second areas of conveyor belt provided for feeding the recording medium, during maintenance operation, wherein the ejected ink and pre-coating liquid are removed from the first and second areas of the conveyor belt by respective blades of respective ink and liquid cleaning mechanisms, when the first and second areas of the conveyor belt are spaced apart from the blades of the respective liquid and ink cleaning mechanisms, whereby the ejected ink and pre-coating liquid do not mix and react with each other during the maintenance operation.
US08550583B2
Image forming apparatus, method of controlling carriage travel, and computer-readable storage medium
An image forming apparatus includes a carriage configured to travel with a recording head configured to eject liquid droplets being mounted thereon; a first encoder including a first encoder scale placed along a traveling direction of the carriage and a first encoder sensor configured to read the first encoder scale; an antiphase member configured to travel in opposite phase from the carriage; a second encoder including a second encoder scale placed along a traveling direction of the antiphase member and a second encoder sensor configured to read the second encoder scale; and a control part configured to control the travel of the carriage in accordance with the detection result of the first encoder and the detection result of the second encoder.
US08550576B2
A chassis module for fixing electronic devices includes a fixing chassis unit, a first movable chassis unit and a second movable chassis unit. The fixing chassis unit has a fixing chassis body. The first movable chassis unit is detachably disposed in the fixing chassis body and has a first movable chassis body. One lateral wall of the first movable chassis body and one lateral wall of the fixing chassis body are retainedly mated with each other. The second movable chassis unit is detachably disposed in the fixing chassis body and has a second movable chassis body. One lateral wall of the second movable chassis body and another later wall of the first movable chassis body are retainedly mated with each other, and another lateral wall of the second movable chassis body and another lateral wall of the fixing chassis body are retainedly mated with each other.
US08550572B2
A brake system of a vehicle includes a plurality of electromechanical brake actuators (EBAs) proximate the wheels of the vehicle. Each EBA includes a power device for effectuating braking of an associated wheel, and electronics to generate a drive signal for the power device. The brake system may further include at least one brake control unit (BCU) for converting a brake command signal into a control signal for each EBA. The electronics for each EBA may be configured to convert the corresponding control signal into the drive signal that is applied to the power device to cause movement of the power device and effectuate braking of the vehicle.
US08550570B2
A dump truck is provided with service brakes provided on front wheels, and a separating block that separates and outputs hydraulic oil into each of the service brakes. The separating block is offset in a vehicle width direction from an exhaust pipe that is arranged substantially in a middle of the dump truck in the vehicle width direction. Hydraulic lines that connect the separating block and each of the service brakes are arranged to pass through the middle of the dump truck in the vehicle width direction, and are installed in a row between the separating block and the middle.
US08550569B2
A shank chisel including a chisel head and a chisel shank, wherein the chisel shank bears a clamping sleeve in which the chisel shank is held captively in a direction of a longitudinal axis and is freely rotatably about the longitudinal axis. To allow the shank chisel to be both assembled and disassembled through a chisel receptacle of a chisel holder that is formed as a receiving bore, according to this invention, the chisel shank bears at its end remote from the chisel head a shank extension, the shank extension has a tool receptacle, and the tool receptacle is accessible by way of a spacing region of the shank extension in the axial direction of the chisel that is set back from the lateral surface of the chisel shank and/or from the lateral surface of the clamping sleeve.
US08550565B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide web-strapping for upholstery of furniture, methods of providing web-strapping for upholstery of furniture, web-strapped furniture, and methods of web-strapping furniture. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention would provide an exemplary strap assembly of material for furniture upholstery comprising at least one fastener fastened into each end of the strap such that a tail end of each fastener is secured from extraction from the strap. In one exemplary strap assembly embodiment, fasteners would be fastened in each corner of each end of a strap so that a tail end of each fastener would be secured from extraction from the strap. Other exemplary embodiments would provide an exemplary article of furniture and methods of making an exemplary article of furniture, comprising said strap assemblies installed to span a space between opposing chair rails.
US08550562B2
A child car seat subframe that is easily disassembled into component sections for washing within a residential-sized dishwasher. The car seat subframe can be disassembled by hand, and each individual component is capable of fitting in a residential-sized dishwasher individually and collectively. The component sections are attached by a combination of registration tabs and slots, and held tightly together by fasteners, or attached by a combination of tongue and groove joints. Hanging devices, such as hooks, may be formed on one side of each component section to facilitate hanging on racks in a dishwasher. The car seat subframe back panel and side panels are disassembled into a plurality of segments for easily fitting in a dishwasher.
US08550558B2
A chair comprises a seat, a backrest and a chair base, wherein the backrest and the chair base are connected through a first connector, that comprises a base holder rigidly connected to the chair base, a back holder secured to the backrest, a rotation holder, a first linkage bar, a second linkage bar and a third linkage bar. The chair solves the problem that a user's clothes is pulled up when the backrest of the chair is turned backward in the traditional chair.
US08550557B2
The invention relates to a synchronizing mechanism for a correlated seat-backrest movement of an office chair, said mechanism including a base support (1) that can be placed on a chair column, a seat support (3) and a backrest support (4). In order to provide a synchronizing mechanism, by means of which a high level of seating comfort can be achieved in an inexpensive manner, a mechanism is proposed where the backrest support (4) is connected to the base support (3) so as to be pivotable about a transverse axis (8) and has an entrainment means (9) that is in operative connection with the seat support (3) in such a manner that when the backrest carries out a pivoting movement (6) backward, the seat support (3) also performs a movement (13) backward.
US08550553B1
Designs and methods are provided for a side mounted energy attenuating vehicle seat. In one exemplary embodiment the seat comprises a rigid base with a first side, and a substantially vertically oriented mounting plate adjacent the first side of the base. The exemplary seat further comprises a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the base, the mechanism configured to allow for a downward stroke of the base relative to the mounting plate. A roller is attached to the first side of the base substantially below the point of attachment to the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, and configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate, and supporting the seat base in a horizontal orientation. An energy attenuating member is positioned so as to prevent the seat from stroking downward relative to the mounting plate during normal use.
US08550548B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a stowable covering that fits about a child seat to cover an infant or child placed therein. The covering may include a sheet of flexible fabric having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer periphery defining an opening through which a portion of the child seat may be received, a coupling mechanism at the outer periphery, and a pocket. The coupling mechanism may be configured to secure the sheet about the child seat by constricting about a portion of the child seat and the pocket may be coupled to the sheet to permit the sheet to be folded and stowed within the pocket.
US08550546B2
In various embodiments, a seating apparatus includes a seat member, a front leg assembly, a rear leg assembly, one or more attaching members for attaching the seating apparatus to a proximate structure and a rebound apparatus for returning the seat member from a deployed state to a retracted state. In various embodiments, the seating apparatus may further include a rebound regulation means, for regulating the rebound response of the seat, delivered by the rebound apparatus.
US08550539B1
An apparatus for converting a substantially flat vehicular surface on the rear of a vehicle so as to create at least one surface which operates to reduce aerodynamic drag, comprising: at least one support adapted to be moveably attached to the rear surface of a vehicle; at least one surface supported by the at least one support; the at least one surface movably position so as to move from deployed position extending from the rear of a vehicle to a retracted position; whereby the apparatus operates to reduce aerodynamic drag in the deployed position and does not interfere with vehicle loading in the retracted position.
US08550538B1
The pickup truck bed camping tent with air mattress is an accessory that installs inside of a pickup truck bed, and which deploys to inflate a tent and air mattress in order to provide an enclosure with sleeping surface for at least one person. The inflatable tent and air mattress are inflated via an electric pump, which when operating shall inflate both the tent and mattress from a forward portion of the pickup truck bed forwardly. The inflatable tent is comprised of a plurality of inflatable ribs that attach to a cover that encloses and forms the outer shape of the inflatable tent. The accessory, when inflated, anchors itself to holes located on a top surface of opposing sides of the truck bed, and which requires the tailgate to be in a lowered position.
US08550535B1
A door support assembly for a motor vehicle is described. Generally speaking, the assembly includes a pin with a tapered section and being attached to the vehicle door, a passage with a mating surface for the tapered section fixed to the vehicle, and a latching mechanism configured to pull the vehicle door inward when engaged. When the latch mechanism is engaged, the assembly provides zero-gap with the door frame. The pin is tapered to a degree that it does not become wedged within the passage as the result of an explosive event.
US08550534B2
A working machine has a machine room cover and a bonnet on an upper rotating body. The bonnet has a frame-like raising member and a dome-like hood member that covers an opening in the upper part of the raising member. The lower part of the raising member is attached so as to surround an opening portion formed in the upper surface of the machine room cover, and the hood member is attached to the raising member so as to be able to be rotationally opened and closed.
US08550529B2
A vehicle equipment designed to detachably hold an electronic appliance provided with a screen and manually activatable function keys. This equipment has a cavity (11) designed to hold the appliance and which for that purpose is open at the front. The cavity contains thrust elements (17, 19) in order to wedge the electronic appliance therein, and a cable guide shoe (160), urged by at least some of the thrust elements. This shoe has a passage, or a marked-out passage ready to be cut out (161) through which a lead and its connector (23, 23a) for connecting to the electronic appliance can pass.
US08550524B2
A pick-up device includes an sucking member, a blocking member, a grasping assembly, a restricting member and a covering member. The sucking member is adapted to utilize a vacuum to adhere to the surface of an electronic component and defines a through hole. The blocking member is secured to the sucking member and includes a blocking block. The finger-grasping assembly is slidably mounted to blocking member. The restricting member is movably mounted to the grasping assembly and movable relative to the sucking member. The restricting member includes two restricting portions. The covering member is secured to the restricting member by a first resilient member. The grasping assembly is operable to bias the restricting member and the covering member to move relative to the sucking member, the two restricting portions are engaged with the blocking block, and the covering member seals the through hole.
US08550518B1
A hunting gear retriever which comprises a weighted body of substantially rigid material. A hook assembly is supported by an protrudes outwardly from a forward end of the weighted body in axial alignment therewith. A loop extends outwardly from a rearward end of the weighted body for securing the weighted body to a lanyard. When the weighted body is dropped down by a hunter in a tree onto a surface, the weighted body will topple over onto one side allowing the hook assembly to be manually dragged by the lanyard along the surface and engage with an item laying on the surface, so that the item can be pulled upwardly by the hunter into the tree.
US08550511B2
A portable apparatus for extracting and properly disposing of refuse such as, for example, excrement. The apparatus includes a storage chamber for storing extracted refuse wherein the storage chamber is distinct from the extraction mechanism for extracting the refuse. The apparatus further includes a pumping mechanism for pumping fluid from a fluid source through a fluid conduit and into the storage chamber.
US08550508B2
A striker may engage a latch mechanism of a vehicle—the latch mechanism of the vehicle being capable of being latched and unlatched—to help prevent chucking of the vehicle and to assist in opening a door of the vehicle. The striker may comprise a base, a post attached to the base, a plate positionable relative to the post to a first position adjacent the post and a second position spaced from the post. The striker may further comprise a biasing member engaged with the plate, wherein the biasing member positions the plate to the first position when the latch mechanism is unlatched.
US08550505B2
A motor-vehicle armrest has a base fixed on the vehicle and defining an axis and an armrest part pivotal on the base about the axis and having a first concave surface turned radially inward toward a second convex surface of the base. A wedge-shaped sprag is slidable between the surfaces generally angularly of the axis between a locking position in which the armrest part is arrested relative to the base and a release position in which pivoting of the armrest part with respect to the base is possible. The sprag has a first contact face cooperating with the first surface of the armrest part and a second nonparallel contact face cooperating with the second surface of the base. The sprag is biased into the locking position and can be moved into the release position.
US08550502B2
Couplings and gaskets are disclosed. Couplings may include an upper housing, a lower housing, at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing, and a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings, the gasket including two primary seals and a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals.
US08550499B2
A slider bar for use with two-door style motor vehicles for anchoring the lap belt for front seat occupants. The slider bar allows the lower anchorage point of the lap belt to freely move in the fore and aft direction to enhance rear seat compartment passenger ingress and egress. The slider bar further incorporates a pyrotechnic lap pretensioner (PLP) function for exerting pretensioning motion of the lap belt in response to a vehicle impact. The slider bar incorporates an internal piston which acts on the belt webbing position on the outside of the slider bar tube. Various embodiments are described incorporating alternate means of mounting the lap belt lower end to the slider bar, as well as various configurations for transferring the motion of the internal piston to the lap belt lower anchorage.
US08550493B2
An airbag (18) made of metal is disposed between an edge portion (12a) of a windshield (12) of a vehicle and an outer panel (16), projecting toward an outside of a vehicle body beyond the edge portion (12a), of a front pillar (15). Thus, it is possible to install the airbag device without making large design changes to the existing structure of the vehicle body, and to prevent the external appearance from being deteriorated by the installation of the airbag device. Further, once the airbag (18) made of metal is deployed, the airbag does not shrink. Thus, it is possible not only to reduce the weight and costs by employing an inflator (19) with a smaller volume, but also to cause the airbag to exert a stable shock absorbing capability irrespective of the difference in the timing of the collision of a pedestrian. Further, a part of the airbag (18) is a garnish part (18a) forming an outer surface of the vehicle body in cooperation with the outer panel (16). Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and costs by making the garnish part (18a) exert the garnish function.
US08550492B2
Provided is a side airbag module, including (i) a gas generating means generating a hot and high-pressure gas and exhausting the gas through an outlet when a car collision occur, (ii) a side airbag cushion that is configured to be filled with the exhausted gas and is inflated from back to front at a side of a passenger, and (iii) a baffle which includes a first vent hole and is formed inside the side airbag cushion to divide the inner space of the side airbag cushion into an inner chamber and an outer chamber, wherein a second vent hole is formed in a portion of the side airbag cushion, the portion corresponding to the outer chamber, and the inner chamber is inflated first and the outer chamber is inflated later as the side airbag cushion is inflated from back to front at a side of the passenger.
US08550489B2
A baby stroller for transporting an infant at speeds faster than normal walking is disclosed. This baby stroller can be folded to make it easier to stow and transport. The folding mechanism, a unique feature of the design is directed toward compactness, ease of use, reliability, and reduction in manufacturing costs.
US08550478B2
A buggy includes a frame, at least one wheel coupled to the frame and formed with a recess, and a braking mechanism provided to the wheel and including a braking rod that has a first end. The braking mechanism is movable between a free position, where the first end of the braking rod is free from the wheel and the wheel is rotatable, and a braking position, where the first end of the braking rod is received in the recess in the wheel such that the rotation of the wheel is limited.
US08550472B2
A replaceable blade system for ice skates is provided with a rotary retention latch located within an enclosed chamber of the holder of the skate. The rotary retention latch is configured with a release lever that is adapted to be accessed through an aesthetic aperture in the holder.
US08550462B2
It is an object to identify which of a plurality of rotationally moving drawing pockets a drawing object has entered into, without using a detecting means unit that moves together with the drawing pockets, from a result of detection by a fixedly arranged detecting means unit. The present mechanical drawing machine includes a drawing pocket forming member which can hold a drawing object having entered into each drawing pocket inside of the drawing pocket while rotationally moving so as to pass through a site adjacent to a stationary base, an object detecting unit which is provided on the stationary base, and detects that a drawing object which is held inside of the drawing pocket has passed through an object detecting site on an orbit of the drawing pockets, a mark forming and moving member which forms a plurality of mutually different marks corresponding to the drawing pockets, respectively, and rotationally moves the marks in synchronization with rotational movement of the drawing pocket forming member, a mark content reading unit which is provided on the stationary base, and reads a mark content when each mark passes through a mark detecting site on an orbit of the marks, and a pocket identifying unit which, based on a timing at which the object detecting unit detected passage of a drawing object or a mark content read by the mark content reading unit, identifies a drawing pocket into which the drawing object has entered.
US08550460B2
Printed products (10) are conveyed to a transfer portion (22) by means of the grippers (14) of the gripper conveyor (12). The vacuum belt conveyor (26) suctions with its active strand (28) the respective end region (32) of the printed products (10), after which, close to the end of the (34) of the transfer portion (22), the grippers (14) respectively release the printed products (10). The motional path (38) of the gripper jaws (16) runs in the transfer portion (22) in the shape of an arc. The active strand (28) of the vacuum belt conveyor (26) runs in the transfer portion (22) at an approximately constant distance to the motional path (38). In the case of large processing capacities and correspondingly high velocities, a reliably secure, positionally stable transfer of the printed products (10) from the gripper conveyor (12) to the vacuum belt conveyor (26) is thereby ensured.
US08550451B2
An image-forming apparatus 1 has a paper cassette 3b therein. The paper cassette is installed into the apparatus along a guide channel 46 attached to a housing frame 45 of the apparatus. A housing 44 of the apparatus has a left side surface forming front and rear opening structures 9 at a lower portion. A hold 48 is provided on an inner-upper portion of the opening structure. The paper cassette has a left-side exterior portion 50 forming a recess 51 at a position facing the opening structure. A space 52 is prepared next to the recess without impairing the original function of the paper cassette. When moving the apparatus, a worker inserts his hand into the opening structures, touching the holds with his palms and flexes his fingers in the spaces, thereby firmly gripping the holds with his hand and lifting the printing apparatus in his arms.
US08550450B2
A paper stopper mechanism for paper-feeding apparatus, which has simplified structure and commonly uses one motor to stop papers. The paper stopper mechanism includes a rotary shaft driven by a drive shaft via a gear assembly, a stopper plate disposed on the rotary shaft, which is movable between a first position and a second position along with the rotation of the rotary shaft, and a resilient member positioned between the rotary shaft and a transmission gear of the gear assembly. There is frictional force between the rotary shaft and the transmission gear, whereby the transmission gear can drive the rotary shaft to rotate. When the stopper plate and the rotary shaft stop at the second position, the transmission gear can still transmit power to a pickup roller to feed a paper into the paper-feeding apparatus without any error.
US08550445B2
An automatic document feeder (10) includes an automatic document feeder main body (11) arranged openable and closeable relative to the document reading surface (2b) and feeding the document to the document reading surface (2b) when closed to be set to a reading posture, a document guiding member (20) so supported by the automatic document feeder main body (11) as to be movable relative to the automatic document feeder main body (11), and a detecting unit for detecting a relative position of the document guiding member (20) with respect to the automatic document feeder main body (11) when the automatic document feeder main body (11) is set in the reading posture.
US08550444B2
A method and system for centering and aligning manufactured parts of various sizes at an optical measurement station are provided. The system includes apparatus having a central axis substantially parallel to the measurement axis and including a plurality of members having open and closed positions. The members have holding faces which are substantially equidistant from the central axis during movement between the open and closed positions. At least one of the members applies a force on an exterior side surface of a part disposed between the holding faces during movement between the positions to reposition the part at the station. The repositioned part is centered and aligned with respect to the measurement axis at the station. The holding faces releasably hold the repositioned part in a holding position between the open and closed positions at the station. The system further includes a movable stage subsystem coupled to the apparatus for translating the apparatus relative to the repositioned part along the central axis in the open position of the members to allow the exterior side surface of the repositioned part to be measured.
US08550440B2
A mechanism to act as a buffer, the mechanism includes a base seat defining a chamber and a bottom hole communicating with the chamber; a connecting shaft received in the chamber and extending through the bottom hole, the connecting shaft including a blocking portion for preventing detachment from the base seat, the connecting shaft axially defining a receiving hole and a plurality of mounting holes communicating with the receiving hole; a guiding rod fixed to the base seat, one end of the guiding rod extending out of the base seat and an inserting portion at the other end, the inserting portion including an abutting surface tapered toward the distal end; a buffer sleeved on the connecting shaft; a plurality of rolling bodies in the mounting holes and providing resistance between the abutting surface and the buffer; and a resilient member between the guiding rod and the blocking portion.
US08550439B2
A mixing bag for use in bioprocessing in which a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device is disclosed. The bag may include an integral sparger and sensor receiver. Related methods are also disclosed.
US08550436B2
A spindle for a winch which comprises a first member for winding a length of a restrain and a second member for rotationally driving the first member. The second member engages with the first member by way of an arrangement which only permits relative rotational movement between the first and second members in one direction. A portion of the second member is received into a bore in the first member to support the second member with respect to the first member.
US08550435B2
A device for use with apparatus for installing a cable into a tube, the apparatus including means to mechanically drive the cable into the tube, the device being suitable for directing an air flow into the tube and comprising a bore into which the air flow is directed, the bore having a length and a longitudinal axis, shielding means to reduce air flow from the bore along the longitudinal axis of the bore, wherein the shielding means extends the length of the bore, and wherein the bore is formed from the shielding means.
US08550434B1
A device acting as a cylindrical jack stand is described. The device includes at least one encirclement band. The encirclement band or bands are removably attached to the cylindrical jack by attaching a handle through the bands to the jack. The bands include apertures for one or more accessories. The apertures are aligned with an extended region of the base such that any accessories inserted in the apertures are supported by the extended region of the base.
US08550425B1
An impulse tolerant valve assembly comprises a valve body having a longitudinal axis and a central internal cavity, the cavity enclosing a nonlinear spring-mass damper optionally immersed in a dilatant liquid. The central internal cavity is enclosed by a proximal valve body portion and a distal elastic valve body base plate, the base plate having a peripheral valve seat interface. Impulse tolerance results in part from hysteresis heat loss due to compliance of the elastic valve body base plate, as well as from heat loss associated with operation of the nonlinear spring-mass damper. The combined heat loss is reflected in reduction of closing energy impulse amplitude and damping of induced valve body vibrations. Compliance of the elastic valve body base plate increases closing energy impulse duration and narrows the corresponding induced vibration spectrum. The valve body has at least one guide and at least one peripheral seal-retention groove.
US08550423B2
An exemplary decoration hanger of the present disclosure comprises a mounting portion having an adhering surface, and a clamp portion attached to the mounting portion, the clamp portion comprising a mouth configured to receive a part of a decoration and a tongue resiliently biased towards the mouth to retain a part of a decoration in use.
US08550405B2
A solar powered spacecraft power system including a solar photovoltaic array, an electric propulsion system connected directly to the solar photovoltaic array in parallel with the spacecraft power system; the electric propulsion system including a Hall effect thruster, a thruster power supply for driving the thruster; a sensor for sensing the power output of the solar array and a controller responsive to the power output of the solar array and configured to periodically adjust an operating parameter of the thruster to operate the thruster at the maximum available output power of the solar array including comparing a previous solar array output power level with a later solar array output power level, and incrementing the operating parameter with a positive value if the later is greater and with a negative value if the later is lesser; a solar powered spacecraft power system including a solar photovoltaic array, an electric propulsion system connected directly to the solar photovoltaic array, and a power management and distribution system connected to the solar photovoltaic array for distributing power to one or more bus loads and payloads.
US08550397B2
A covering of a fuselage for aircraft having propeller engines, including an opening which is surrounded by a structural frame formed by ribs and stringers of the aircraft around the area of maximum acoustic impact of the propeller engines. The opening further includes a non-structural panel joined to the structural frame by a non-rigid joint which considerably attenuates the vibrations through such joint, thus reducing the indirect acoustic noise and the indirect structural noise generated by the propeller engines inside the passenger cabin of the aircraft.
US08550395B2
A dispensing apparatus includes a first running spool of elongated material and second and third stand-by spools of elongated material. The first spool has a trailing end portion and a first obstacle element secured to its trailing end portion. The second spool has a leading end portion and a first catching mechanism secured to the leading end portion, as well as a trailing end portion with a second obstacle element secured to its trailing end portion. The third spool has a leading end portion and a second catching mechanism secured to its leading end portion. A support member is configured to at least partially support the leading end portions of both the second and third spools.
US08550391B2
A cutting tooth having a blade-like cutting section and a mounting section extending down from the bottom of the cutting section. The mounting section is narrower and shorter than the cutting section, and generally centered with respect to the cutting section. The mounting section has laterally extending flanges spaced from the cutting section. At least a quarter of the cutting section extends past the front of the mounting section and terminating in a cutting edge.The cutting tooth is adapted to be mounted in a mounting block to form a cutting assembly. The mounting block has a slot extending into the block from the front face, the slot open in the top surface of the block. The mounting section of the tooth slides into the slot in the block to locate the cutting section on the top of the block with the cutting section projecting forwardly of the block. The flanges on the tooth hold the tooth in place in the block against centrifugal forces. The cutting assembly is adapted to be mounted between two collars on a brush cutting drum with the cutting tooth above the periphery of the collars.
US08550387B2
A shredder including a housing having a throat for receiving articles to be shredded, a shredder mechanism, a blocking member, and an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. A thickness detector comprises a contact member extending into the throat. The shredder includes an actuator for moving the blocking member between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator and the thickness detector are coupled to enable the actuator to move the blocking member from the retracted position to the extended position responsive to the movement of the contact member by insertion into the throat of the at least one article above a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The blocking member is configured such that in the extended position the blocking member prevents further insertion of the at least one article into the throat, and in the retracted position the blocking member permits further insertion thereof into the throat.
US08550382B2
A device for modifying the spray pattern of an inverted spray nozzle to allow a user to mark an object with precise and clear writing of letters or symbols. The device is an insert that removably fits into or over an existing invert spray nozzle.
US08550379B2
An apparatus and method for use in conducting an eruption reaction are disclosed. The apparatus includes a catalytic solids container with a mouth and fluid egress opening and a trigger device or mechanism that allows for the controlled release of a catalytic solid into an eruptible fluid. The catalytic solids container may be adapted to be coupled to a container for an eruptible fluid.
US08550375B2
A cylindrical, protective housing and accompanying insertion tool for shielding an in-ground sprinkler head. The cylindrical housing is inserted into the ground surrounding an in-ground sprinkler head, protecting the sprinkler head and subterranean feed lines from damage resulting from yard work or other traffic. The cylindrical housing prevents inadvertently sprinkler head collisions with lawn mowers, wheelbarrows, golf carts, or similarly wheeled vehicles. The insertion tool is a male-fitting press tool that provides vertical loads on the cylindrical housing upper extent to force it into soil surrounding a sprinkler head.
US08550372B2
A cooling system and method that significantly improves spray evaporative cooling by using arrays of slot or plane sprays to create coverage of the entire heated surface to be cooled without allowing interaction between plumes that are spraying from the nozzles. The sprays are directed at an angle to the surface to take advantage of the high droplet momentum possessed by the spray to direct a flow of coolant fluid across the surface toward desired draining points, thereby enabling drainage regardless of the orientation of the unit.
US08550371B2
A thermostat assembly including a flow blocking sleeve and a seat between which is defined a flow passage through which a fluid can flow and wherein the sleeve has an end opposing a bearing surface of the seat which extends perpendicular to an axis of the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve and the seat are movable relative to one another by movement of a piston of a thermostatic member to thereby control flow through the flow passage which is radial to the axis and wherein a gasket is crimped within a housing formed between a lateral wall adjacent the end of the sleeve and a ring so as to be secured to be normally engaged with the bearing surface to prevent flow through the flow passage unless the passage is opened by separation of the gasket from the bearing surface by movement of the piston in response to the thermostatic member being activated.
US08550365B1
Disclosed herein is an information encoding, marking, tracking, and transmission system for information related to nutritional substances, including nutritional content. Upon the creation of a nutritional substance, whether grown, raised, caught, collected or synthesized, information regarding the nutritional substance is accumulated, encoded and referenced to the particular nutritional substance. This information can be marked directly on the nutritional substance, but can instead be stored elsewhere, and referenced to the nutritional substance by means of a marking, unique identifier, a unique inherent property, unique genetic attribute, or an induced genetic attribute. A consumer of the nutritional substance can use this reference to retrieve the information regarding the creation of the particular nutritional substance.
US08550364B2
A card key includes a circuit board and a plate-shaped key body. The circuit board is mounted with electronic parts that configure an electronic circuit for performing radio communication with an on-vehicle device. The key body is mounted with the circuit board which is covered with a resin material. The key body has a principal front surface on the side of which the electronic parts are mounted, and has a main body recess sunk to a predetermined depth level from the principal front surface and a key component accommodating recess further sunk to a level deeper than the main body recess and opened in a bottom surface of the main body recess. The key body forms an outline of the card key together with a sheet body fitted to the main body recess. The key component accommodating portion is formed between the sheet body and the key component accommodating recess.
US08550363B2
An integrated circuit (IC) card may include non-volatile memory portions, where external data files are storable, and including volatile memory portions and a microprocessor. The IC card further may include a serial interface that stores the external data file as received into the volatile memory portions, and at least an internal register that is programmable through the serial interface. The internal register manages according to the programming a serial storing into the non-volatile portions of the external data file already stored into the volatile memory portions. The serial interface and the internal register may manage the respective programming in a parallel manner.
US08550345B2
This invention provides an RFID real-time information system accommodated to a semiconductor supply chain for exchanging real-time information. The RFID real-time information system is characterized by comprising an RFID middleware module for generating a stock and logistic information corresponding to a plurality of carriers and wafers from a tag information; a manufacturing information module for storing an object information corresponding to the plurality of wafers; a real-time information module for integrating the RFID middleware module with the manufacturing information module to generate real-time information corresponding to the plurality of wafers and carriers; and a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce module comprising a plurality of B2B servers respectively disposed in vendors in the semiconductor supply chain for connecting and exchanging the real-time information through a standard protocol of e-commerce.
US08550341B2
A method wherein at least one service of an application stored in a microcontroller card is communicated to a terminal. The terminal transmits a command identifying the selected application to the card immediately after selecting the application. In order to reduce in the card the time for accessing the application service data by the terminal, a reply generator in the card selects the active services related to the application in the card in response to the command, and dynamically establishes a list of data identifying these services, to transmit a reply message including the identification data from the card to the terminal. A reply analyzer in the terminal analyzes the identification data of the reply message to communicate the at least one service of the application identified by the identification data.
US08550340B2
The present invention relates to an elongated security element (40) for security papers, value documents and the like, having a longitudinal direction and, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and having, arranged on a support, a magnetic layer (44) that includes machine-readable magnetic regions. According to the present invention, the magnetic layer comprises a plurality of frame-shaped magnet elements (44) that include the machine-readable magnetic regions and that are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the elongated security element (40).
US08550317B2
In one preferred embodiment, the present invention is a gripper for gripping a portable electronic device case. The case has a defined opening, and an inside and outside. The gripper comprises a retainer to partially pass through the case opening, and the retainer defines two opposing slots. There is a retractable strap having two flanged ends. Each strap flanged end is passed through the retainer slots to communicate with the case inside. The strap flange is shaped to prevent the strap from completely passing through said retainer slots to the case outside when the strap is pulled. The gripper facilitates carrying a portable electronic device using a single finger, or an open hand, depending on the size of the device.
US08550312B2
An extrusion device for extruding material from cartridges, having at least one plunger rod which can be moved, at least one bendable traction element which is coupled to the plunger rod(s) at attachment points, and having an advancement device which is coupled to the traction element between the attachment points and which actuates the movement of the plunger rod, wherein the advancement device has at least one driven rotating body, the traction element being wound around the same between its attachment points, and being driven by the same.
US08550306B2
A dispenser cap comprising an axially moveable collar that surrounds an inner unit, the inner unit comprising a mounting ring at its bottom that is suitable for placement on a container, a cylindrical wall having a section that defines a radial outlet hole, said radial outlet hole being located towards the upper end of the inner unit, and a release trigger at the upper end of the inner unit, said collar being moveable between a raised position in which it covers the radial outlet hole and a lowered position in which it does not cover the radial outlet hole, the axially moveable collar comprising an internal structure that blocks the depression of the release trigger when the collar is in its raised position.
US08550304B2
A Fluid Dispenser including a inline fluid dispenser removably attached to a handle which is well suited for usage such as spraying insecticide or anti-fungal solutions, spraying fire retardant solutions, spraying decontaminants, and other situations where mixing of the Inline Fluid Dispenser contents with a fluid source is necessary.
US08550301B2
This disclosure relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a flexible bag. The apparatus has a support for supporting the flexible bag in use and a mounting adapted for receiving a proximal portion of the flexible bag, for progressive movement relative to the support towards an outlet located at a distal portion of the flexible bag. As the flexible bag is progressively wound up, liquid is squeezed from the proximal portion to the distal portion to dispense liquid from the outlet in a controlled manner in use. This allows desired and precise dosage portions of liquid to be squeezed from the bag and direct dosing from the flexible bag amongst other advantages.
US08550299B2
The present invention is methods and devices for encouraging, educating, entertaining, and or motivating children to brush their teeth. In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more characters are used, each with its own look and personality. The characters are used in a variety of forms and media as the shape of functional devices, advertising, education and entertainment. The characters may also be animated. The characters and their images, associated slogans and brand name may be used on a line of merchandise. The invention in a preferred embodiment includes a toothpaste dispenser or a toy in the shape of one of the characters. The toothpaste dispenser or toy, in a preferred embodiment, is able to talk to, play a song or otherwise communicate with the child to give entertaining, educational or motivating messages to the child regarding brushing their teeth. The invention in another embodiment includes one or more of the characters in the form of finger and or hand puppets. In a preferred embodiment of the hand puppet, the hand puppet has a body in the shape of a smile and toothbrush legs. In another embodiment of the invention, the character is presented in several media including, but not limited to, television, movies, websites, video games, board games, books, magazines, coloring books, stuffed animals, toys, puppets or figurines.
US08550294B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for dispensing credit cards, phone cards, in-store gift cards, and the like from customer-operated kiosks and other machines. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus can include a plurality of card hopper assemblies arranged in an array of two or more vertical columns, each column including two or more card hopper assemblies. Each card hopper assembly can include a card hopper configured to hold a vertical stack of horizontally oriented cards. Each card hopper assembly can further include a card ejector assembly configured to eject the bottom-most card from each card stack. The card dispenser can further include a movable card carriage that can be selectively positioned to receive a card from any of the card hoppers and read information from the card before dispensing the card to a customer.
US08550288B2
A beverage container with an electronic display device and methods for its use are described. The beverage container includes an electronic display device disposed in a sidewall of the container and a control module disposed in a hollow base portion. A liquid sensor senses the presence of a liquid in the container and a motion sensor is provided to sense movements of the container caused by, for example, transporting, holding, or drinking from the container. When the control module receives appropriate signals from the liquid and motion sensors an image or video is displayed on the display device. The container is thus useable to display pictures, videos, slide shows, advertisements, or the like in personal or commercial applications. A communications port is also provided to enable coupling of the container with a computing device for management of images and videos displayed on the container.
US08550287B2
A tank connection includes a tank formed with a plastic wall having multiple thicknesses, a first thickness being substantially impervious to hydrocarbon permeation, the wall having an opening surrounded by an edge of the wall, a component secured by a weld to an outer surface of the wall, and seal substantially impervious to hydrocarbon permeation, contacting a surface of the component, and biased into elastic contact with said edge.
US08550281B2
A safety dish forms a secure food container and has a dish for holding food, a cover for enclosing the dish and food, and a lock mechanism for securing the cover to the dish to prevent unauthorized access to the food and/or tampering with the food. A key or correct input of a combination is required to access the food contents of the container. The safety dish and locking mechanism is preferably formed from dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe materials.
US08550280B2
A cover assembly is capable of attaching to a container and has a dispensing orifice and a substantially perpendicular button opening on a side with a button. A single piece valve beam formed of a deflectable material has the actuator button located on one end and a fulcrum located on another end opposite the actuator button. An inner region of the cover has a retention surface opposite the button accommodating the fulcrum. The single piece valve beam is held inside the inner region of the cover between the button opening and the retention surface by deflection of the beam and rotation about the fulcrum such that the sealing surface moves away from the dispensing orifice when the actuator button is pressed. The deflectable material of the single piece valve beam acts as a spring that exerts force on the sealing surface and exerts force on the actuator against the button opening. The single piece valve beam can be configured to move away from the dispensing orifice when the button is pressed. An integral arm can be alternately cantilevered off of the single piece valve beam so the arm rotates in a same direction as the single piece valve beam rotates at the fulcrum. The arm can be alternatively cantilevered from a stem location so the arm rotates in a direction opposite a direction to which the single piece valve beam rotates at the fulcrum.
US08550278B2
The invention relates to a folding box (1), comprising a base and first and second side walls (2, 3) pivotably connected to the base which, together with the base, form a box open at the top in a folded open state, as well as at least one retaining element (4) disposed on a first side wall (2) and at least one pin (5) mounted so as to be rotatable on a second side wall (3), and the at least one pin (5) has a cross-section that is not circular on at least one pin end (5a, 5b) and the at least one pin end (5a, 5b) locks the first to the second side wall (2, 3) by means of the retaining element (4) in a first rotational position and unlocks said side walls (2, 3) in a second rotational position.
US08550276B2
A cylindrical structure includes a vertical wall (3) and a bottom wall (2), the bottom wall having a plurality of sectors (4) which are rotated images of each other, each sector including a plurality of adjacent rectangular elements (8), characterized by the fact that the bottom wall has the shape of a regular polygon whereof each side (6) corresponds to one of the sectors, the edges of the rectangular elements of one sector being respectively perpendicular and parallel to the side of the polygon corresponding to the sector.
US08550275B2
A housing assembly includes a receptacle having a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls. The rear wall has a larger height than the front wall and the side walls decrease in height from the rear wall toward the front wall. The receptacle is configured to receive at least one connection element for connecting at least one electrical cable and has at least one opening for the at least one electrical cable. A lid is configured to close the receptacle. The lid is pivotably disposable on the receptacle with a pivot axis adjoining the rear wall of the receptacle.
US08550269B2
A drink bottle with a removable lid includes an inner lid attached to the mouth of the bottle and an outer lid or cover pivotably mounted on said inner lid. A drink spout extends from the inner lid. The outer lid or cover may be locked into a closed position covering the drink spout. A push button release is activated to unlock the outer lid and permit the outer lid to pivot to a position exposing the drink spout for access by a user. The outer lid may be snapped of the inner lid by moving the outer lid beyond an open position. A bail handle on the outer lid is retained in a stowed position in a recess in the outer lid or is moved to a deployed position. The bail handle disconnects from the outer lid when moved beyond the deployed position. The push button for releasing the closed outer lid is enclosed within a tunnel in the inner lid.
US08550264B2
Containers are mounted in rows on a display rack having shelves inclined upwardly so that articles on the shelf tend to slide forwardly. The containers arranged in rows located side by side across the width of the shelf are formed of board or as transparent plastic jars. Each container has a base on the shelf, upstanding front and rear walls and upstanding side walls with the front and rear walls inclined at a wall angle to a plane at right angles to the base the base so that with the base sitting on the inclined shelf the front and rear walls stand substantially upright. The front wall is higher than the rear wall to provide an exposed strip of each container of the row so that all strips can be seen in front elevation. The strip can be marked with a bar code.
US08550262B2
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along at least a portion of a surface on which product is placed. The pusher mechanism of the invention also includes a pusher surface for pushing the product. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher surface and extend across a portion of the shelf. In use, the product may be placed on the coiled spring. The invention may be used with the merchandising of product on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces, as well as with gravity-fed systems, or systems that use gravity as a mechanism to urge product toward the front of the shelf.
US08550254B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a head body that has a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid supplied via a liquid supply path. A first supply member for the liquid supply path has an introduction port for introducing the liquid. A second supply member is positioned on a downstream side of the first supply member. A filter between the first and second supply members crosses the liquid supply path. An integrated molding portion fixes the first and second supply members by resin in a state where the filter is pinched between the first and second supply members. The first and second supply members have pinching portions for pinching the filter therebetween. A wall surface is positioned on one of the first and second supply members and between the filter and the resin to surround an outer periphery of the filter.
US08550249B2
A medicament dispenser can include a first side surface, a second side surface spaced from and substantially opposed to the first side surface, and a medicament packaging structure located between the first side surface and second side surface. A pivot structure can extend between the first side surface and the second side surface, and the medicament packaging structure can be rotatable about the pivot structure. Thus, the medicament packaging structure can be rotated from an enclosed state in which the medicament packaging structure is substantially enclosed by the first side surface and/or second side surface, to an exposed state in which the medicament packaging structure is substantially exposed from at least one of the first side surface and/or second side surface to provide user access to the medicament(s) stored in the medicament packaging structure. A lock structure can be located adjacent the first side surface and second side surface in order to selectively prevent movement and/or rotation of the medicament packaging structure. A method of using and making the medicament dispenser are also disclosed.
US08550233B2
A system (1) for supplying components, particularly for transporting small components includes a vibrating device (2) provided with a plate (3) forming a surface for enabling the components to be grasped by a robot and a vibrating element (12) arranged to be capable of vibrating the plate (3) in one of the three directions in space and to be capable of vibrating the plate (3) in directions corresponding to any combination whatsoever of the three directions x, y and z. For this purpose, the vibrating element includes vibrating actuators (12) respectively including a vibrating element arranged to move with at least five degrees of freedom.
US08550226B2
A transmission synchronizer assembly is provided that alleviates noise associated with functional clearances and backlashes. A synchronizer ring is provided that has a periphery with at least one tab extending at least partially radially at the periphery. An annular hub has at least one recess configured to receive the at least one tab to axially align the synchronizer ring with the hub. The recess and the tab define a clearance when the tab is received in the recess. A damping material is provided in the clearance such that the damping material contacts the annular hub when the synchronizer is moved about the axis of rotation relative to the annular hub. Such movement may occur during engagement of an annular sleeve with a gear whose speed is synchronized with the sleeve by the synchronizer ring.
US08550224B2
The present invention relates to an energy absorption system. The energy absorption system comprises a movable carriage, a fixed bearing and a deformable material strip. The deformable material strip is at least areally connected to the fixed bearing. Between the movable carriage and the fixed bearing a gap is formed. The energy absorption system further comprises means, which are suited to vary the size of the gap between the movable carriage and the fixed bearing.
US08550223B2
Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an adjustable fluid meter controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.
US08550220B2
A bicycle brake pad includes a cooling plate and a friction plate. The cooling plate has a first surface and a second surface. The cooling plate includes a pad supporting section and a heat dissipation section. The friction pad is mechanically and fixedly connected to the pad supporting section of the cooling plate.
US08550218B2
A brake actuator has a motor that provides input rotation in first and second directions. A reducer couples to the motor and reduces the input rotation into an output rotation to be applied to a brake screw of a progressive cavity pump drive. A sensor measures rotational speed of the drive shaft. In manual operation, an operator can view an indication of the rotational speed and can manually operate the motor accordingly to control rotation of the shaft. In automated operation, a controller automatically controls the motor based on the rotational speed measured by the sensor. The controller can also use a torque sensor to detect the torque applied to the brake screw, a displacement sensor to detect displacement of the brake screw, and/or a current sensor to detect the current consumption of the motor.
US08550215B2
The invention provides a manual two-way swivel mechanism for a stairlift. The mechanism allows the stairlift chair to be swivelled in an uphill direction only, at the carriage is at the top of the rail; and in a downhill direction only, when the carriage is at the bottom of the rail. An interlock is provided which regulates the direction in which the chair can be swivelled.
US08550212B2
An aerial work platform assembly is provided, comprising a platform shaft retaining assembly; a mounting bracket connected to the platform shaft retaining assembly; and a platform connected to the mounting bracket; wherein the platform shaft retaining assembly, mounting bracket, and platform are constructed from the same or differing composite materials comprising a fabric-reinforced resin. Optionally, the fabric-reinforced resin includes a preform fabric having a conformable three-dimensional weave, and the resin is a dielectric resin selected from either epoxy, epoxy vinyl ester, vinyl ester, polyester, or phenolic.
US08550211B2
An aerial work assembly including components having composite materials including a fabric-reinforced resin for providing electrically non-conductive assembly, by insulating and/or isolating conductive components.
US08550207B1
Apparatus and associated methods may relate to a unitary body having a hardness of between 20 and 35 according to the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and adapted to be removably inserted into the canal 10 of an ear. In an illustrative example, the body may include a central portion between an adapter portion disposed at the proximal end of the body to couple an audio signal from an audio signal source to the central lumen. The retention portion may be disposed at a distal end of the body along a distal end axis. When inserted in the ear canal, the retention portion may be adapted to engage the canal wall between a prominence and the eardrum membrane with comfort for extended periods of time, including during physical activities, without falling out of the ear. Some embodiments by be packaged as a kit containing pairs in a range of predetermined sizes.
US08550202B2
To provide a rear portion structure of a saddle-type vehicle, which enables securement of a space for arranging vehicle-mounted components on the upper side of a drive chain at a position apart from a pivot shaft. A motorcycle includes a rear wheel swingably provided on a main member via a swing arm, a drive chain entrained about a driven sprocket provided on the rear wheel and a drive sprocket, and a seat frame. An air-exhaust pipe extends from an engine on a lower portion of the seat frame, an extending portion extends rearward of the vehicle from the seat frame, and a chain guide roller is mounted on the extending portion.
US08550194B2
The present invention relates to an electric tracklaying gear and the use thereof for a self-propelled working machine, preferably for a construction or earth-moving machine or a surface mining machine such as Surface Miner, which includes an endlessly circulating track chain which can be driven by a crawler drive that is arranged inside the path of circulation of the track chain. It is proposed to associate a cooling device with a closed fluid cooling circuit to the electric motor of the crawler drive arranged in the interior of the path of circulation of the track chain. Due to the high thermal capacity of a suitable cooling fluid such as oil or water-glycol mixture small volumetric flow rates in the fluid cooling circuit and hence small conduit cross-sections are sufficient. On the other hand, due to the closed formation of the fluid cooling circuit any dust input into the crawler drive and also any generation of dust by exhaust air can be avoided.
US08550193B1
An assembly that is configured to receive a cab assembly is described. The assembly includes an undercarriage that is configured to hold hydraulic oil. One or more utility arms are coupled to the undercarriage frame for lifting and lowering attachments coupled to the one or more utility arms. A hydraulic pump is coupled to the undercarriage frame and is configured to operate the one or more utility arms.
US08550187B2
The invention relates to a drilling apparatus for working the ground comprising a drill drive for driving a drill string in a rotating manner and a rotary feedthrough for passing a construction material from a construction material hose into the interior of the drill string, whereby the rotary feedthrough has a first line connection for the construction material hose and a second line connection, rotatable relative to the first line connection, for the drill string. In accordance with the invention provision is made for the rotary feedthrough to have a rotary device for actively rotating the second line connection relative to the first line connection. The invention also relates to a method for working the ground, which can be carried out, in particular, by means of a drilling apparatus according to the invention.
US08550184B2
Methods comprising: lowering a downhole tool into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises a coring tool and a measurement tool; performing a measurement regarding the formation using the measurement tool; determining a section of interest within the formation relative to an axis of the coring tool based on the measurement; orienting a coring bit of the coring tool relative to the section of interest; and extending the oriented coring bit into the formation.
US08550171B2
Flexible hang-off arrangement is provided for a catenary riser suspended from an offshore or inshore platform, which includes floating or fixed platforms, vessels or/and buoys. The bending loads in the top segments of the said riser are reduced by incorporating a pivot at the riser hang-off. Pressure containing welded, bolted, rolled or swaged pipe spools transfer fluids, including hydrocarbons between the riser and the platform. Along significant spool lengths the tangents to the center lines of said spools are orthogonal to and offset from the tangent to the center line of the riser at the hang-off. The said pressure containing spools include arbitrary looped, spiral and helicoidal designs that are subject to torsion.
US08550166B2
Devices, systems and related methods control a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation using a flow control device having a flow space formed therein; and a flow control element positioned in flow space. The flow control element may be configured to flex between a first radial position and a second radial position to in response to a pressure differential along the flow space.
US08550164B2
A method for increasing oil production in a carbonate reservoir by incorporating a diluted surfactant injection in conjunction with conducting a step-wise reduction of salinity of the injected salt water that is injected into the carbonate reservoir. The method provides for increased oil production as compared to conventional waterflooding techniques.
US08550156B2
A swelling element packer is made with internal rings that are either split or scrolled. After the swelling element is built on a temporary mandrel a longitudinal seam of a variety of designs is cut through the element. This allows the rapid deployment of the element on the tubular that will be a part of a string and will serve as the final mandrel. The assembly is then magnetic pulse welded or crimped so as to urge the open ends of the rings to move toward each other and become secured to each other and further opening the possibility of attaching parts on the ring itself to the underlying tubular by displacing or otherwise removing the swelling material that was between the ring and the final mandrel when the magnetic pulse process began. The rings can be embedded wholly within the element or can extend beyond the opposed ends.
US08550154B2
In a resin heat exchanger unit, a resin pipe having straight portions and curved portions and a plurality of resin fins are integrally molded and there can be realized high reliability, high heat exchange efficiency, and a simple manufacturing process.The resin heat exchanger unit includes a resin pipe (1), which has straight portions (2) and curved portions (3) provided alternatively and continuously, and a plurality of resin fins (4) connected to the pipe (1), the pipe (1) and the fins (4) being integrally injection-molded.
US08550153B2
An evaporative heat exchanger including a plurality of parallel flow passages extending through the heat exchanger and together defining a first fluid flow path, and a plurality of substantially parallel stacked plates interleaved with the parallel flow passages. Each plate can have first, second, and third sets of flow channels, a first collection manifold adjacent to an end of the plate and connecting the first and second passes, and a second collection manifold. The second collection manifold can intersect the second set of flow channels and at least some of the third set of flow channels. The plate separates the first set of flow channels from the second collection manifold.
US08550144B2
A system for producing cast components from molten metal. One form of the present invention includes a system for the precision pouring of molten metal within a casting mold. The precision pouring system is driven by a pressure differential.
US08550143B2
The invention relates to a curtain support assembly to receive a curtain rail for a curtain for separating at least two regions in a cabin of a vehicle, comprising two or more header components for covering a space formed between the curtain rail and a ceiling in the cabin. The assembly according to the invention distinguishes itself from the state of the art in that between the header elements, for the purpose of holding objects, a hollow space is formed that is accessible by way of one or several closable openings to the cabin. In a further improvement, a roller is integrated in the hollow space, by way of which roller the curtain may be rolled up or down and may easily be stowed away.
US08550141B2
A novel hollow glass device with a built-in window shutter includes an inner glass layer, an outer glass layer, a window shutter sandwiched between the inner and outer glass layers, and a frame sealing and connecting the inner and outer glass layers. The window shutter is formed by connecting a plurality of blades by a turning cord in series, and the frame is provided with a window shutter lift mechanism and a window shutter turning mechanism. The window shutter turning mechanism employs a rigid component as a transmission structure, which is not liable to deformation and extension phenomena and loosening and is firm, practical and reliable, thereby ensuring long-term normal use of the hollow glass device. The hollow glass device is overall structurally compact and conveniently and quickly operable, and therefore can easily be further spread and used in more broad fields.
US08550140B2
An improved method of installing a storm window in a prime window includes application of locking clips at predetermined locations around the frame of the prime window. The storm window is positioned over the prime window and swung into place, whereupon the storm window frame snaps and is locked into place by the clips. Bulb seals around the storm window frame compress between the storm window frame and the frame of the prime window to insure a complete and reliable seal against the elements and maximize sound abatement.
US08550130B2
An apparatus and a method for filling reusable containers employing a plurality of moveable spigots located in a planar rectangular arrangement inside two frames positioned to move back and forth on X and Y axes to position a selected spigot over the open top of a reusable container.
US08550125B2
[Problem to be solved] A first coil and a second coil are efficiently formed in the shape of a rectangular cylinder and in parallel to each other, by bending and processing a flat wire, and a linking part of each of the coils, is linked with the same material without welding or folding.[Means for solving the problem] Provided are: a first coil winding processing line having a first winding head forming a first coil part in the shape of a rectangular cylinder at one end part of a flat wire W; a second coil winding processing line disposed in parallel to the first coil winding processing line and having a second winding head on which a second coil part in the shape of a rectangular cylinder is formed at the other end part of the flat wire W and both of the coil parts are arranged to be adjacent to each other on an identical face; and a coil placement unit for conveying the flat wire W having the first coil part from the first coil winding processing line to the second coil winding processing line along each coil winding processing line.
US08550121B2
A new apparatus for repairing a damaged portion of a pipe includes a liner having a tubular sleeve of resin absorbent material that includes a plastic film laminated to an exterior surface of the sleeve. The plastic film contains resinous material in the liner, and is modified to breech the integrity of the plastic film and expose the resinous material to a junction of a main and lateral pipe. A method of lining a junction of a main and lateral pipe using the liner is also provided.
US08550116B2
A twin power valve assembly (10) for a hydraulic braking system having a single body (16) with twin power valve arrangements, each having a spool (36, 36′) with a longitudinally extending passageway (36D, 36D′) for providing a modulation of the pressure applied to the brakes, and an integral balance piston (60, 60′) contained within the body (10) that equalizes the pressure applied to the left and right hand brakes when both brakes are applied.
US08550109B2
A gas meter device is provided which is configured in a manner that even if a user takes an unauthorized action such as the removal of a gas meter device in order to use gas without authorization, since the generation of a particular flow-rate change profile different from a normal flow-rate change profile of a gas appliance is detected, the sign of the tamper of the gas can be detected, whereby the tamper of the gas can be prevented. The gas meter device includes an appliance determining unit 6 for determining a gas appliance being used and a tamper determining unit 7 which determines that the gas is used without authorization in the case where the particular flow-rate change profile different from an appliance determining value registered in a registration storage unit 5 is generated.
US08550106B2
The invention relates to a pressure-relief valve of a housing for an electrical/electronic unit, particularly for a housing of a control unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure equalization element, which comprises a membrane. It is provided that at least one hydrophobic layer (22) is located on the membrane (21). The invention further relates to a housing (1) for an electrical/electronic unit (2), particularly of a control unit (4) of a motor vehicle, comprising such a pressure-relief valve (11).
US08550104B2
A pressure control system for controlling pressure in a tank is provided. The pressure control system includes a pressure relief valve and a rupture disc subassembly. The pressure relief valve is connected to the tank. The rupture disc subassembly is located between the pressure relief valve and the tank and is connected to the tank. The pressure relief valve is connected such that removal of the pressure relief valve does not affect the connection of the rupture disc subassembly to the tank.
US08550103B2
Methods and related systems are described for controlling inflow of fluid into a production string. In aspects, the invention provides an inflow control device with a shut-off feature that is operated automatically utilizing swellable materials.
US08550101B2
A system for hydraulically managing fluid pressure between selected set points includes a pilot control system operably coupled to a main valve. The pilot control system includes at least one fluid conduit, a variable orifice assembly, and a control pilot valve apparatus. Fluid is passed through a fixed orifice and into a first chamber of the control pilot valve apparatus. Fluid is passed through the variable orifice of the variable orifice assembly and into a second chamber of the control pilot valve apparatus. The main valve is hydraulically opened or closed in response to a pressure differential between the first and second chambers of the control pilot valve apparatus so as to manage fluid pressure downstream of the main valve between the selected upper and lower set points.
US08550099B2
Improvements in protection with a sunbrella-sunscreen made of a porous, nonporous, non-permeable fabrics such as mesh silver nylon and silver polyester used to protect one from sun rays and precipitating rain. The sunbrella-sunscreen canopy is removable and changeable. The covering can be changed from fabric, material, properties and color(s). The sunscreen can be worn with any head wear, cap, hat, or the user can use a special head wear which is specifically to be worn with the Sunscreen. The sunbrella can further be secured within an umbrella type frame that can be carried like an umbrella. When not used the mechanical apparatus sunbrella is collapsible and foldable to a smaller size to be stored in a small pouch. When not used the mesh sunscreen, the nonporous, non-permeable fabric is collapsible and foldable to a smaller size to be stored in a small pouch.
US08550098B2
A carwash system is disclosed wherein a spray arm dependingly mounted to an overhead longitudinally movable carriage for dispensing fluids onto the exterior surfaces of a vehicle in a wash bay unidirectionally circumnavigates the vehicle for multiple circuits while performing one or more wash functions by coordinating longitudinal and rotational movements of the arm through the selective operation of two independent motor drives. Electrical power and/or data is carried to and from electrical devices on the arm by way of a slip ring conductor which is mounted coaxially with the arm pivot on the bottom side of the carriage. The fluid supply conduit also passes concentrically through this pivot.
US08550096B2
The present invention relates generally to a cosmetic apparatus. More particularly, the invention encompasses an accessory sleeve for a cosmetic item. The present invention is also directed to a novel lock-in cosmetic accessory sleeve. The accessory sleeve has a first opening to securely and releaseably accommodate a first cosmetic container, and a second opening to securely and releaseably accommodate a second cosmetic container. Both the accessory sleeve and the containers have releaseable engagement means to securely hold each to the other.
US08550092B2
A filter for a cigarette comprises a porous filter rod (3) a material sheet (2) wrapped around the filter rod and a cellulose acetate thread (4) formed from substantially uncrimped cellulose acetate filaments. The cellulose acetate thread is positioned within the filter rod and extends along the central axis of the filter rod.
US08550084B2
A full-face mask system for delivery of a supply of gas at positive pressure to a patient for medical treatment includes a shroud, a cushion module adapted to form a seal with the patient's nose and mouth, an elbow, and headgear. The cushion module includes a frame and a cushion. The frame includes an opening that releasably receives a distal end of the elbow with a snap-fit, wherein an inner edge of the opening and the distal end of the elbow together form a retention structure to retain the elbow to the frame. The elbow has an exterior surface rotatable relative to a bearing surface formed on an inner circumferential surface of the opening, the elbow having an annular protrusion that abuts the frame of the cushion module when the distal end of the elbow is fully inserted into the opening. The retention structure maintains engagement between the shroud and the frame.
US08550083B2
A cushion for a patient interface that delivers breathable gas to a patient includes a base wall structured to be connected to a frame, an underlying support cushion extending away from the base wall towards the patient's face in use, and a membrane provided to substantially cover at least a portion of the underlying cushion. The membrane is adapted to form a continuous seal on the patient's face. The underlying cushion has a spring-like connection with the base wall. The underlying cushion and/or base wall define a spring constant that varies along a length of the seal.
US08550081B2
A cushion for a patient interface that delivers breathable gas to a patient includes a base wall structured to be connected to a frame, an underlying support cushion extending away from the base wall towards the patient's face in use, and a membrane provided to substantially cover at least a portion of the underlying cushion. The membrane is adapted to form a continuous seal on the patient's face. The underlying cushion has a spring-like connection with the base wall. The underlying cushion and/or base wall define a spring constant that varies along a length of the seal.
US08550080B2
A respiratory mask is provided having cushion and a shell wherein the cushion has a frustum portion that extends towards the face of the user to provide a larger more stable and comfortable interface with a user which is better able to conform to the complex geometry of the user's face.
US08550077B2
Systems and methods are provided for providing ventilation to a patient. An air source is configured to provide pressurized air to a patient through a patient circuit according to a ventilation pattern. At least one sensor is configured to monitor a corresponding physiologic property of the patient. A ventilator control system is configured to calculate an alveolar ventilation value from the monitored physiologic property of the patient, determine at least an optimal frequency for the ventilation pattern from the calculated alveolar ventilation value, and update the ventilation pattern according to the determined optimal frequency.
US08550065B2
The present invention provides a permanent foundation which supports an open flame cooking assembly which includes a collapsible boom support arm which supports a cooking surface or grill which is height adjustable via a winch and heat resistant rope adjustment assembly, wherein the boom is supported by an upright stanchion of varying length which is removably and rotatably coupled to the permanent foundation support assembly.
US08550064B2
A barbecue stove with collapsible stand has a grill pan and a stand mounted on the grill pan. The stand has a main leg mounted pivotally on the grill pan and a secondary leg connected pivotally to the main leg. When the main and secondary legs cross each other, the stand is unfolded and supports the grill pan high above a plane. When the main and secondary legs overlap each other and the main leg is pivoted to lie on the grill pan, the stand is folded into a compact size. The stand of the barbecue stove is structurally simplified and therefore is easy to assemble, fold or unfold.
US08550062B2
A gas cartridge is firmly attached to a toy gun and the gas cartridge is replaced through simple operation. The gas cartridge is filled therein with compressed gas for firing a bullet. A cartridge housing portion slidably holds the circumferential surface of the gas cartridge. The lid portion of the gas cartridge housed in the cartridge housing portion is coupled to a cartridge attachment portion. A clamp arm has a roller and an extended portion and can be freely rotated around a rotation shaft. When the clamp arm is rotated, the roller presses the bottom portion of the gas cartridge in the cartridge housing portion. A raising lever has an abutment portion and is coupled to the extended portion so that the raising lever can be rotated around an installation shaft. When the raising lever is moved, the abutment portion slides on the sliding surface and rotates the clamp arm.
US08550054B2
A method of operating an engine of a vehicle includes generating a first torque request. The method includes generating a second torque request that is greater than and based on the first torque request, increasing a torque output of the engine based on the second torque request at a first rate and during a first period, and increasing the torque output of the engine based on the first torque request at a second rate and during a second period. The first period is distinct from and before the second period, and the first rate is greater than the second rate.
US08550046B2
A hydraulic cam shaft adjuster has a driven outer body comprising at least one hydraulic chamber, and an inner body disposed on the inside of the outer body (4), which can be firmly attached to the camshaft and has at least one pivoting wing extending into the hydraulic chamber in the radial direction, thus partitioning the hydraulic chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. The inner body has at least one oil inlet and oil outlet conduit extending from a jacket interior to a jacket exterior of the inner body up to one of the two working chambers. The inner body is assembled using at least one first element and one second element, wherein the two elements each have at least one geometry at front sides facing each other, forming the oil inlet and oil outlet conduit of the inner part together with the other element.
US08550044B2
An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor is operatively connected to a rotating shaft of the engine to be selectively driven thereby. A motor is operatively connected to the air compressor to selectively drive the air compressor. A method of supplying air to the air spring of the above engine is also disclosed. A method of supplying air to an air spring of an engine having both a mechanical and an electrical air compressor is also disclosed.
US08550042B2
A two-stroke, uniflow, full expansion internal combustion (IC) engine having cylinders that include a cylinder wall and a cylinder head having an exhaust port with exhaust valve, a fuel injector, and a spark means in the cylinder head, and a piston mounted in the cylinder for reciprocal stroke movements of compression and power between a top dead center (TDC) position and a bottom dead center (BDC) position. The cylinder has a swirl inlet port passing through the cylinder wall at the bottom of the cylinder that is covered and uncovered in response to the reciprocal movement of the piston. The cylinder is operated through a cycle where the exhaust port is held in an open position for a portion of the compression stroke movement of the piston, to provide a delay in the onset of the compression phase of the cylinder cycle.
US08550039B2
A method of manufacturing a pump assembly includes sand casting a pump housing with a cavity and die casting an impeller that includes pump blades and a first portion of a shroud. The pump housing may be sand cast as a one-piece component and the impeller may be die cast as another one-piece component. A pump cover is provided with a second portion of the shroud. The pump cover is inserted into the cavity so that the second portion of the shroud is adjacent to the first portion of the shroud, providing a substantially continuous surface defining flow channels through the impeller. A pump assembly manufactured according to the method is also provided.
US08550038B2
A system includes a genset having an engine, an AC generator, and a radiator thermally coupled to the engine. The system includes an electric variable speed fan having an outlet flow, where the outlet flow passes at least partially through the radiator. The system includes a controller structured to functionally execute certain operations for cooling the genset. The controller interprets a genset identification parameter and selects a cooling algorithm from a predetermined set of cooling algorithms according to the genset identification parameter. The controller further interprets genset operating conditions according to the cooling algorithm, and provides a cooling fan command in response to the genset operating conditions and the cooling algorithm. The electric variable speed fan is responsive to the cooling fan command.
US08550037B2
During operation of a spark ignition engine, an ignition system produces an output (e.g., breakdown voltage, peak secondary coil current, and spark duration) used to combust a charge (e.g., mixture of air and fuel) in an engine cylinder. Ignition output is important to consider in engines including a second fuel with high ignitability, for example in engines with a fuel reformer system. Example methods, devices and systems are included for adjusting ignition output.
US08550032B2
A described technology relates generally to a thin-film deposition mask assembly of a flat panel display for correcting form distortion caused by tension of a division mask. The thin-film deposition mask assembly includes: a frame for forming a penetrated opening; a first change compensating member and a second change compensating member disposed across the opening, fixed to a free end member formed by partially cutting the frame from the opening, and arranged as a pair; and a plurality of division masks being disposed to cross the first change compensating member and the second change compensating member on top sides of the first change compensating member and the second change compensating member.
US08550031B2
Embodiments of the invention generally include a robot assembly comprising a robot operable to position a substrate at one or more points within a plane, and a motion assembly having a motor operable to position the robot in a direction generally parallel to a first direction. The motion assembly comprises a robot support interface having the robot coupled thereto, and one or more walls that form an interior region in which the motor is enclosed. The walls define an elongated opening through which the robot support interface travels, and the motor is operable to move the robot support interface laterally in the elongated opening. The motion assembly further comprises one or more fan assemblies that are in fluid communication with the interior region. The fan assemblies are operable to create a subatmospheric pressure in the interior region thereby causing gas to flow through the elongated opening into the interior region.
US08550030B2
An overspray reclaiming system is disclosed. The system may collect and reuse overspray produced when discharging material on an object to create a coating on the outer surface of the object. The system may generally include a housing in which an object may be sprayed, a holder for holding the object, a discharging device for discharging coating material onto an object, a vessel for collecting and/or treating overspray, and conduits and flow controllers for directing overspray to be reused. The discharging device and the holder object may be disposed within the housing. At least one porous material may be disposed between the discharging device and a wall of the housing.
US08550023B1
A power anchor having a boat mount, a hydraulic cylinder, a pivoting assembly, comprising a proximal pivot, a distal pivot, and a pivot link. There is also provided an anchor shaft, having a tapered point.
US08550019B1
A method is provided for depositing slurry into a ground surface for plant nutrition. A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member acts by displacing soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil. The rotating member may be a coulter blade that has a plurality of flutes formed on a first and a second side of the blade. The flutes have a leading edge that enters the ground substantially perpendicular with respect to the ground and exits at an angle to eject soil upward and outward.
US08550007B2
Retard energy regenerated from an electrical motor during braking action is reinjected into a power system via trolley lines. The retard energy may be transmitted to a bidirectional electric substation and returned to a utility grid. The retard energy may also be transmitted to an auxiliary energy storage system, such as an ultracapacitor system or a battery system. Installing trolley lines for mining haul trucks on a downhill slope may be used to capture and re-use substantial quantities of retard energy.
US08550003B2
A pyrotechnic device comprising an outer casing having a bore therein, a central sleeve extending from the bore into an interior of the outer casing and an insert having a burst explosive charge therein sized to be capable of being slidably received within the central sleeve.
US08549995B2
A hand-held, manually operated seed shucking appliance enables a food preparer to remove the seed coverings of black-eyed peas from their kernels. A spring and piston inside a chamber are arranged to compress a load of pre-soaked black-eyed peas against a shuttle rasp threaded between side slots. As a user manipulates the shuttle rasp, the shucks are scraped off the seeds by a scraping surface and both pass through the side slots. The piston is configured to be cocked back such that the chamber can be loaded through one end with a fresh charge of black-eyed peas.
US08549994B2
The invention provides a produce decontamination apparatus comprising a chamber 10 for accepting produce to be decontaminated and/or sterilized, and means for producing a free radical saturated atmosphere within the chamber 10 so that, in use, the free radical saturated atmosphere decontaminates and/or sterilizes the produce. Preferably, the means for producing a free radical saturated atmosphere comprises one or more first atomizing sprayheads 30a, a supply 32 of ozonized liquid which is supplied to the first sprayheads 30a, and means for breaking down the ozone forming part of the ozonized liquid once discharged from the first sprayheads 30a. Preferably, the means for breaking down the ozone is in the form of one or more UV light emitting devices 48,50. Produce decontaminated using the apparatus is also provided.
US08549984B2
Apparatus to increase a force of an actuator having an override apparatus are described herein. An example fluid control system includes a first fluid control apparatus to fluidly couple a control fluid supply source to a control actuator via a first passageway. The control fluid supply source provides a control fluid to move a control actuator member of the control actuator in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction when the control actuator is in the operational state. A second fluid control apparatus is in fluid communication with the first fluid control apparatus and is configured to fluidly couple an override actuator to the control actuator via a second passageway when the control actuator is in a non-operational state. The override actuator is operatively coupled to the control actuator.
US08549983B2
Provided is a hydraulic drive including a double-acting work cylinder with a piston having a first working surface effective in a retracting direction and a second working surface effective in an extending direction, wherein the first working surface delimits a first pressure chamber and the second working surface delimits a second pressure chamber, at least two different pressures being applicable to at least one of the first working surface and the second working surface for retracting or extending the piston into and out of the work cylinder, an actuator unit which optionally enables a throttled return flow of a hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber delimited by the first working surface, and control means for triggering the actuator unit in such a way prior to a sudden acceleration of the piston due to a sudden force release.
US08549982B2
A fire selector control device for a firearm with a lower receiver that is operable from either side of the firearm. The device includes a selector body designed to fit within the lower receiver and extend between one side of the lower receiver and an opposite side of the lower receiver. The selector body is designed to engage a firing mechanism within the firearm and switch the firing mechanism to any one of a plurality of firing modes. First and second levers are attached to opposite ends of the body to move the body to any one of the plurality of firing options. The first lever is accessible from the exterior of the right side of the lower receiver and the second lever is accessible from the exterior of the left side of the lower receiver.
US08549978B2
A firearm includes a breech or firing chamber 101 where the cartridge is made to explode, and a mouth portion 102 adapted to cause the cartridge to pass from the magazine to the breech. The magazine is engaged to the breech and includes a plurality of chambers 21 sequentially mobile with respect to breech 101 so as to present one after another in the loading position in which a charging mechanism 7 inserts the cartridge into breech 101. Each single chamber 21 can slide independently on at least one track 22 placed on the magazine longitudinally with respect to the axis X of breech 101.
US08549967B1
A scoring or cutting assembly forms a part of a cutting die used to score and cut corrugated board. The scoring or cutting assembly includes a cutting or scoring rule secured to a die board. First and second elastomers are secured on the die board such that the scoring or cutting rule extends between the elastomers and there is defined a space between the scoring or cutting rule in each of the elastomers. There is also provided a pair of retainers, each retainer being secured to the die board adjacent an outboard side of the elastomers. During a cutting or scoring operation, the elastomers engage the corrugated board on opposite sides of the scoring or cutting rule and apply and inward force to the corrugated board towards the scoring or cutting rule. This causes the corrugated board to resist cracking on opposite sides of the scoring or cutting rule.
US08549964B2
A multi-axis turning center for turning operations includes a machine body, a tool rest means for holding a tool, a first headstock for holding a workpiece, and a second headstock disposed in confronting relation to the first headstock, for holding a workpiece. The second headstock has a front chuck and a rear chuck for gripping respective workpieces. The second headstock performs a workpiece changing function by swiveling about a central axis. The multi-axis turning center is capable of automatically changing the workpieces by itself while it is carrying out a machining process, without the need for a workpiece changer. The multi-axis turning center does not need to stop its machining process for changing workpieces, resulting in an increase in the utilization ratio thereof.
US08549959B2
A hybrid drive system includes an input shaft of an automatic transmission, a clutch, an intermediate shaft, and a first gear disposed on a first shaft coaxial with an engine output shaft. An electric motor and a second gear provided on an output shaft of the electric motor are disposed on a second shaft. A rotation of the engine output shaft is transmitted to the input shaft through the clutch and the intermediate shaft, and a rotation of the electric motor is transmitted to the input shaft through the second gear and the first gear. The intermediate shaft is supported by a first support wall through a bearing. The clutch is disposed between the intermediate shaft and the engine output shaft, and a front side of the input shaft is rotatably supported by a second support wall, and connected to a rear side of the intermediate shaft through a spline.
US08549958B2
This automatic bicycle pedal comprises a pedal body (2) equipped at a first end (5) with first attachment means (7) and at a second end (6) with second attachment means (10), an elastically deformable lever (8) bearing the second attachment means and capable of being deformed between a first position of holding a cleat fixed to the underside of a shoe between the first and second attachment means, and a deformed second position allowing the cleat to be attached and detached in respect of attachment and detachment movements. The deformable lever comprises at least one first deformable zone (12) that can be deformed during attachment and detachment movements and at least one second deformable zone (13) that can be deformed during one of the said attachment and detachment movements, the said first and second zones having different stiffnesses.
US08549955B2
A bicycle control device is basically provided with a base member, a shift control unit, a non-shift operating lever, a first shift operating lever and a second shift operating lever. The shift control unit is mounted to the base member. The non-shift operating lever is movably coupled relative to the base member. The first and second shift operating levers are operatively coupled to the shift control unit. The second shift operating lever is a separate member from the first shift operating lever. The first and second shift operating levers are configured and arranged relative to each other such that the second shift operating lever is moved by the first shift operating lever when the first shift operating lever is operated.
US08549946B2
An elastic couple barring apparatus (i.e., an elastic couple rotor turning gear) is a special tool to drive a rotor by elastic couple for adjusting a shafting center of a vertical hydroelectric generating set and other rotating devices. The elastic couple rotor turning gear is characterized in that an elastic support is mounted on a frame of the driven device, a casing being connected to the elastic support, a casing cover being firmly fixed on the casing, a speed reducer and an electric motor being installed on the cover, an output shaft of the speed reducer extending into the casing under the casing cover, the output shaft having a pinion gear mounted thereon and meshed with a gear body of a bull gear positioned in the casing, the bull gear being connected to a shaft coupling through parallel keys via a key seat or an upright post, and the shaft coupling being fixed on a rotor of the driven device. The advantages of the invention is that the structure is more reasonable, the concentricity may be adjusted more conveniently, the elastic connection makes operation easy and vibration small, deformation caused by suspending arms is eliminated, and operation's accuracy and precision are improved because the gears may be meshed and operated smoothly.
US08549943B2
A transmission includes a main shaft, a first input shaft, a second input shaft, and a first clutch to drivingly couple the main shaft and the first input shaft. A second clutch drivingly couples the main shaft and the second input shaft. A torque converter is selectively driven by one of the first input shaft and a first speed gear set. The first speed gear set is driven by the other of the first input shaft and the torque converter. A second speed gear set is driven by the second input shaft.
US08549937B2
A whole determination area of a targeted wafer is concentrically divided in a radial direction, COP density is obtained in each divided determination segment, a maximum value of the COP density is set as COP densityRADIUSMAX, a minimum value of the COP density is set as COP densityRADIUSMIN, a value computed by “(COP densityRADIUSMAX-COP densityRADIUSMIN)/COP densityRADIUSMAX” is compared to a predetermined set value, and a non-crystal-induced COP and a crystal-induced COP are distinguished from each other based on a clear criterion, thereby determining the COP generation factor. Therefore, a rejected wafer in which a determination of the crystal-induced COP is made despite being the non-crystal-induced COP can be relieved, so that a wafer production yield can be enhanced.
US08549933B2
A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity.
US08549931B2
There is provided a variable reluctance sensor for sensing the speed or torque of a shaft in a gear box or gas turbine engine, comprising a magnetic pole piece a conductive wire wrapped around the pole piece a housing surrounding the pole piece, the housing having a front face and at least one side wall, wherein, in use, the front face is positioned proximate to an object to be sensed wherein the pole piece is rigidly fixed to the side wall of the housing. This arrangement reduces microphony in the sensor.
US08549925B2
A variable capacitor, a microfabricated implantable pressure sensor including a variable capacitor and an inductor, and related pressure measurement and implantation methods. The inductor may have a fixed or variable inductance. A variable capacitor and pressure sensors include a flexible member that is disposed on a substrate and defines a chamber. Capacitor elements extend indirectly from the flexible member. Sufficient fluidic pressure applied to an exterior surface of the flexible member causes the flexible member to move or deform, thus causing the capacitance and/or inductance to change. Resulting changes in resonant frequency or impedance can be detected to determine pressure, e.g., intraocular pressure.
US08549914B2
Provided is a sensor structure capable of improving the reliability of connecting parts of electronic components and achieving excellent productivity and reduction in size and weight, for example, when electronic components are externally mounted on input/output terminals of a sensor. A relationship between a linear expansion coefficient for a housing serving as a base of a structure and a linear expansion coefficient of a resin material for a sensor casing of a sensor to be mounted is set to satisfy “sensor casing
US08549912B2
A disk drive transporter, for transporting a disk drive and for mounting a disk drive within a test slot, includes a frame configured to receive and support a disk drive. The frame includes sidewalls configured to receive a disk drive therebetween and sized to be inserted into a test slot along with a disk drive. The frame also includes a clamping mechanism operatively associated with at least one of the sidewalls. The clamping mechanism includes a first engagement element and a first actuator operable to initiate movements of the first engagement element. The first actuator is operable to move the first engagement element into engagement with a test slot after a disk drive being supported by the frame is arranged in a test position in a test slot.
US08549911B2
A liquid level sensor employs a set of axially displaced magnetic sensing switches and a magnet on a float that may rise and fall on liquid level to activate and deactivate the switches. The switches and magnet are configured so that movement of the magnetic float activates a new switch before deactivation of an adjacent previously activated switch. An electronic circuit provides a signal based on the uppermost activated switch to provide a signal that is monotonic with liquid level. The design may be readily implemented using reed switches and a resistive ladder.
US08549892B2
A method of measuring drop impact at an electronic device includes detecting a fall based on signals from drop detection sensor of the electronic device, receiving an output from a piezoelectric sensor in response to detecting the fall, and storing drop data based on the output from the piezoelectric sensor in a memory at the electronic device.
US08549886B2
A gas supplying unit supplies a nitrogen gas into a furnace body of a graphite heating furnace in which at least a part of the furnace body is formed with a graphite. An exhausting unit exhausts a gas inside the furnace body to outside the furnace body. A dew-point temperature of the nitrogen gas supplied into the furnace body is equal to or lower than −80° C. A pressure inside the furnace body is equal to or higher than 140 Pa with respect to an atmospheric pressure outside the furnace body.
US08549885B2
An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.
US08549884B2
A bottom plate lift mechanism for a glassware forming machine includes a bottom plate assembly having at least one bottom plate on a base with a passage for feeding cooling air to the bottom plate. The bottom plate assembly is mounted on a housing that has a cooling air chamber for directing cooling wind to the bottom plate assembly. A lift mechanism is operatively coupled to the housing for selectively raising and lowering the housing and the bottom plate assembly mounted on the housing. The housing has an opening to the cooling air chamber for receiving a cooling air control cartridge to control passage of cooling wind through the chamber to the bottom plate assembly. A plurality of control cartridges are interchangeably insertable through the opening into the chamber for selectively controlling passage of cooling air to the bottom plate assembly in different cooling modes of operation associated with the cartridges.
US08549873B2
A heat exchanger includes a shell communicating with a first fluid inlet pipe and a first fluid outlet pipe, end caps coupled to ends of the shell to communicate with a second fluid inlet pipe and a second fluid outlet pipe, a plurality of tubes disposed in the shell to constitute a channel through which a second fluid flows, an end baffle located at ends of the tubes to prevent mixing of a first fluid and the second fluid, and a first plate to fill gaps between the tubes and the end baffle.
US08549867B2
A heat pump system includes a controller and a closed system that includes a condensing heat exchanger coil, an evaporating heat exchanger coil, a refrigerant and a compressor. The compressor is configured to compress the refrigerant, thereby causing the refrigerant to have a greater pressure in the condensing heat exchanger coil than in the evaporating heat exchanger coil. The controller is configured to perform a passive defrost of the evaporating heat exchanger coil. The passive defrost includes disabling the compressor and providing a bypass path between the condensing and evaporating heat exchanger coils that bypasses the compressor. The bypass path allows the refrigerant to flow from the condensing heat exchanger coil to the evaporating heat exchanger coil while the compressor is disabled.
US08549852B2
A hydraulic oil tank has a housing, a connecting member and a filtering device. The housing includes a main body, a storage compartment and a first through hole. The storage compartment is formed within the main body for containing a the hydraulic oil, and the first through hole is formed through the main body. The connecting member is disposed on the main body and covering the first through hole, the connecting member including a contact face having a planar shape. The filtering device is disposed within the storage compartment. The filtering device is connected to a part of the contact face exposed within the first through hole. The filtering device includes an overlapped portion overlapping with an inner edge of the first through hole in a plan view of the first through hole seen from inside of the storage compartment.
US08549851B2
An exhaust manifold includes a housing formed of a thin-walled sheet metal part which is shaped in the form of a shell construction and has an upper housing shell and a lower housing shell to define an interior space. Received in the housing in an area proximate to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine is a baffle plate which separates the interior space of the housing from a motor flange to secure the exhaust manifold to the cylinder head.
US08549847B2
A support member (40) is provided on a cylindrical member (23) of an upstream cylinder (22). A connector portion (34C) of a first temperature detector (34) for detecting the temperature of exhaust gas flowing into an oxidation catalyst (25), a connector portion (35C) of a second temperature detector (35) for detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into a particulate matter removing filter (31), and a sensor portion (39A) of a pressure detector (39) for detecting the front and rear pressures of the particulate matter removing filter (31) are arranged to be mounted on this support member (40). Accordingly, the support member (40) is capable of supporting the connector portions (34C, 35C) of the temperature detectors (34, 35) and the sensor portion (39A) of the pressure detector (39) in one location in a concentrated manner, so that harnesses on a controller side can be easily connected thereto.
US08549845B2
An exhaust purification device for an internal combustion engine is provided that can promote the reduction of NOx in a NOx purification catalyst from immediately after startup of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust purification device includes: a fuel reformer that is provided separately from exhaust plumbing 4, reforms fuel and produces a reducing gas that contains carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrocarbons, and supplies the reducing gas upstream of the NOx purification catalyst into the exhaust path; an exhaust gas temperature sensor 34 that detects a temperature TEX of the exhaust flowing in the exhaust plumbing 4; and a reformer control part 41 that starts supply of the reducing gas to the exhaust plumbing 4 by starting control of the fuel reformer 50 in a case where the temperature TEX thus detected by this exhaust gas temperature sensor 34 is no higher than a predetermined first determination temperature T1, and stops the supply of reducing gas to the exhaust plumbing 4 by stopping control of the fuel reformer 50 in a case where the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature sensor 34 is at least a second determination temperature T2, which is higher than the first determination temperature.
US08549840B2
The invention provides a fluid injector assembly for the injection of a fluid including an injector body having distal and proximal ends, a fluid inlet disposed towards the proximal end, a fluid outlet disposed towards the distal end, and a fluid pathway extending therebetween the inlet and the outlet. An injector needle is rotatably disposed at least partially in the injector body and is moveable between an open and closed position. The proximal end of the injector needle has a tip that is configured to sealably close the fluid outlet. The fluid injector assembly includes a first threaded region that cooperates with a corresponding threaded region on the needle, and first and second cooperating coupling members that are arranged axially of the injector needle. The first coupling member is attached to a motor, and the second coupling member is attached to a distal end of the injector needle. The motor is configured to rotate the injector needle within the injector body which causes the threaded region of the needle to be driven in the first threaded region of the fluid injector assembly to thereby move the injector needle along a longitudinal axis of the fluid injector assembly between the open and closed positions.
US08549834B2
A nacelle assembly for a bypass gas turbine engine includes a variable area fan nozzle having a first fan nacelle section and a second fan nacelle section. The variable area fan nozzle is in communication with a fan bypass flow path, the first fan nacelle section defines an intermittent trailing edge which defines a multiple of ports and the second fan nacelle section defines a multiple of doors, each of the multiple of doors match each of the multiple of ports such that a fan nacelle trailing edge is continuous when the second fan nacelle section is selectively translated to a closed position relative to the first fan nacelle section.
US08549830B1
A method and apparatus for imparting false twist to a short staple yarn delivered from a nip of a pair of front drafting rollers before ring spinning. Downstream of the nip, the twisted yarn is drawn sequentially across first and second runs of travelling endless belts, such that the yarn wraps about a first convex surface of the first run, then passes between the first and second runs, before wrapping about a second convex surface of the second run. Friction between each of the first and second convex surfaces and the yarn imparts the false twist in a common direction. Maintaining a differential between first and second linear speeds of the first and second runs, respectively, has been found to reduce yarn defects, particularly the nep count.
US08549828B2
A harvesting system is provided that includes a primary harvester for harvesting grain and biomass, a biomass harvester for further processing the biomass, and a tugger and accumulator coupled between the primary harvester and the biomass harvester. The tugger and accumulator includes an onboard power plant and an onboard propulsion system.
US08549825B2
A case packer is adapted to convey a plurality of packages and to pack the plurality of conveyed packages in a box. The case packer includes a first conveying unit, a detector, a second conveying unit and a control unit. The first conveying unit is configured and arranged to convey the packages. The detector is configured and arranged to detect a thickness of at least one of the packages. The second conveying unit includes an accumulating portion where the packages are accumulated with the packages being partially overlaid on one another. The second conveying unit is configured and arranged to convey the packages overlaid in the accumulating portion. The control unit is configured to adjust operation of the second conveying unit based on a detected value from the detector.
US08549824B2
A capsule-treatment machine is arranged for separating a packaging of a capsule, in particular made of metal such as aluminum or plastic, from a capsule food or beverage ingredient contained therein. The machine includes a mechanism for opening the capsule packaging that is fed to the machine and for removing the capsule ingredient from the opened capsule packaging; a parting mechanism for parting the opened capsule packaging from the capsule ingredient; a collector for collecting the opened capsule packaging; and means a collector for collecting the capsule ingredient.
US08549821B2
Method and system for loading digital content into a digital storage device and subsequent packaging
There is provided a method for loading varied pre-determined digital content into a plurality of digital storage devices, and subsequently providing each digital storage device with varied pre-determined accessories. It is preferable that the digital content loaded into the digital storage device is not identifiable at the digital content loading post, and the consolidated digital storage device and the pre-determined accessories are shipped to particulars of the shipping label. A corresponding system is also provided.
US08549820B2
A packaging device is provided for highly-compacted compressed bales (2), which are provided with a fixation (3). The packaging device (1) has a sheathing device (16) for applying a shrink wrapping, which has at least one prepared and diverted stretching hood (4), to the compressed bales (2). A bale compression facility is also provided having at least one bale press (6) for generating highly compacted compressed bales (2), which are provided with a fixation (3), and having at least one packaging device (1) according to the invention. A process is provided for packaging highly-compacted compressed bales (2), which are provided with a fixation (3), wherein said compressed bale (2) is provided with a shrink wrapping, wherein at least one prepared and diverted stretching hood (4) is applied to said compressed bale (2) using a sheathing device (16).
US08549816B2
A panel installation support apparatus versatile and convenient for temporary attachment of the panel to a frame member includes an adjustable support surface for accommodating various panel thicknesses, a sloped surface to support the leading edge of the panel when positioning in place, and an alignment support shelf to properly align an edge of the panel with the joist or stud while supporting the edge of the panel. An accessory block may be used when standing a panel against a wall or when hanging drywall on sloped ceilings.
US08549811B2
In one aspect the invention provides an interlocking masonry block including a rear face, a front face, at least one aperture extending vertically through said block for receiving a flowable concrete mixture used in core filling, and at least one generally vertical side being registerable with an opposing side of an abutting block to inhibit movement of said flowable concrete out through a vertical interface between said blocks.
US08549809B2
A vibration isolating mounting clip which is used to mount a furring channel to a mounting surface, which is then further loaded with a finishing substrate via the furring channel consists of a resilient bent metal strip. The resilient bent metal strip has a first end and an opposing second end, and a transition portion shaped to fit the furring channel. Through different aspects of the invention either the first end, or the first and second end is mounted to the mounting surface. The resilient bent metal strip has a stiffness and shape such that when the furring channel is positioned in the resilient bent metal strip, and the resilient bent metal strip is mounted to the mounting surface, and a finishing substrate is loaded on the furring channel, the furring channel does not contact the mounting surface. Between the ends of the resilient bent metal strip, and the furring channel, are one to several bends, towards and away from the mounting surface to achieve the desired resiliency.
US08549808B2
A structural element for use as a brick, construction block, panel, floor or suchlike in the building trade, comprises at least one part made of conglomerate material, such as concrete and suchlike, to which an insert made of insulating or filling material is constrained, to define peripherally at least a connection face for connection to another structural element, the connection face has visible a first surface of the insert and at least a connected second surface of the part made of conglomerate material. On the connection face one or more other structural elements are able to be combined, along a support plane (R, R1, R2) provided in correspondence with the connection face, so as to be laid and stably connected by means of a layer of binder material. The second surface has a seating made longitudinally and lowered with respect to the support plane (R, R1, R2), on which seating the layer of binder material is located. The seating has a determinate depth (D), with respect to the support plane (R, R1, R2). The depth (D) is correlated to the predefined thickness of the binder material to be laid.
US08549804B2
An electrical service assembly is secured to a framework of a panel of an office partition system and includes at least one bracket to which at least one electrical outlet module is mounted, the module having at least a pair of electrical outlets such that electrical outlets may be positioned in a back-to-back configuration. In this manner, the electrical service assembly provides service to opposite sides of a panel that face opposite work spaces. Also, the electrical outlet modules may be associated with separate circuits to prevent overload of the electrical service assembly.
US08549800B2
The invention relates to a bearing frame for a panel, of the type comprising a peripheral structure (1, 1′) for receiving a panel (20), including at least three mounts (2, 3, 4, 5, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′) defining a frame in which the lower face defines a reference plane (P, P′), in which at least one mount (2, 5; 5) includes a wing (90,100; 90′) extending on the entire length thereof towards the outside of the frame in parallel with the upper face of the frame, the frame comprising at least one precut metal strip (30) stamped, folded and assembled by welding, in particular laser welding, characterised in that the peripheral structure (1, 1′) is hollow and in that it further comprises inner and outer connection means (14, 16, 17) and an electric linking means (18) between the inner and outer connection means, provided inside the hollow peripheral structure.
US08549797B1
The tornado shelter is constructed of a shell and supports forming an enclosure that is secured to a concrete slab. The tornado shelter is designed for indoor or outdoor use as a safety shelter during severe weather events including dangerous wind speeds. The shell of the tornado shelter is constructed of an inner shell layer and an outer shell layer that sandwich the supports therein. The shell includes a layer of extensive padding along an inner surface to protect occupants from injuries associated with impacting the inner layer. The shape of the shell includes a low-profile curvature that is aerodynamic in order to resist reaction to high wind speeds. A GPS locator alarm located inside of the enclosure is actuated in an emergency and provides location based date to emergency response personnel in order to locate the tornado shelter and occupants associated there with.
US08549793B1
The present invention provides a flashing system for roof mounting equipment which reliably prevents water from reaching the substructure of the roof. The flashing system comprises a flashing plate having upper and lower surfaces, and at least one hole extending therethrough for receiving a fastener. A first seal is arranged at the lower surface of the flashing plate, and a second seal is arranged at the lower surface of the flashing plate surrounding the first seal, wherein the thickness of the first seal is greater than the thickness of the second seal. The thickness relation is provided when the flashing system is installed and both seals are compressed. A third seal, which receives the fastener therethrough, can be provided at the upper surface of the flashing plate.
US08549773B2
A running shoe stores the shock during landing as energy and releases the stored energy when kicking off the toe portion, thereby making running and walking more efficient. The running shoe includes a shoe main body 10 into which the foot is inserted and a plate spring 5 that is large enough to cover an entire length of the shoe main body 10, is attached to a lower portion of the shoe main body 10, and is closed at a heel end portion thereof. The plate spring 5 is attached to a lower surface of the shoe main body 10 at only a toe end-side of the shoe main body 10.
US08549771B2
A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.
US08549766B2
In a rack extension jig device 9, a protracted direction E of tooth projections 12-14 and an elevational direction H of racks 7, 8 are placed in a coplanar position G. This makes it possible to positively engage the tooth projections 12-14 with the respective rack teeth 7, 8 and half tooth surfaces 7c, 8c so as to set a predetermined pitch interval T at a contact portion between the neighboring racks 7, 8 by only pushing the tooth projections 12, 13, 14 against roots 7d, 8d of the respective rack teeth 7, 8 in perpendicular to the roots 7d, 8d, thereby making a rack-adding work easy, quick and user-friendly.
US08549756B2
A vibrator motor in a hair clipper has a stationary piece and a moving piece. The stationary piece has a primary leg and at least one secondary leg. The primary leg fits through an opening in a coil. A flange is then press fit onto the leg so that the coil is captured on the primary leg. The flange provides a magnetic pole face that is larger than the opening in the coil, which increases the efficiency of the motor. The flange is press fit in a single operation by pressing a primary prong into a primary socket, and pressing two secondary prongs into secondary sockets. The secondary prongs are guided inwardly as they enter the secondary sockets, which closes the primary socket around the primary prong. A drive arm is secured to an arm of the moving piece. The arm is angled in relation to the drive arm to put even pressure on the moving blade in the hair clipper.
US08549748B2
A method and apparatus in a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell. The tube support plates are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the shroud. The tube support plates are aligned during fabrication, with minimal clearances between components. Using a tube support displacement system, a controlled misalignment is then imposed on one or more tube support plates, as the steam generator heats up. Displacement to produce misalignment is produced only when the steam generator is heated. The tube support plate displacement system has only two parts, a spring bar and a push rod, that are internal to the steam generator shell and threadably engaged, thereby minimizing the potential of loose parts. The tube support plate displacement system can be used to provide controlled misalignments on one or more tube support plates, in the same or varying amounts and directions, and with one or more apparatus being provided for any individual tube support plate.
US08549747B2
A method for producing a tubular catalytic converter, which includes a monolith wrapped in a mat and is disposed in a housing, includes forming a stepped longitudinal fold on a longitudinal side of a housing blank, wherein the longitudinal side on both sides of the fold to be formed is clamped by electrodes of opposite polarity across the fold. Electrode pairs on one side of the fold to be formed are then offset with respect to electrodes on the other side of the fold and the electrodes of opposite polarity move closer together, while a current is flowing between the electrodes of opposite polarity, heating the material in the fold. Opposing longitudinal sides of the tubular housing are then materially joined along the stepped longitudinal fold with the overlap to produce the housing for the tubular catalytic converter.
US08549743B2
In a method for hot embossing at least one conductor track onto a substrate, a film having at least one electrically conductive layer is pressed against the substrate in a die direction using an embossing die having a structured die surface. The film remains on the substrate after ending the embossing process in at least two structure planes, which are spaced apart in the die direction.
US08549742B2
A high-voltage power supply device includes a circuit board having a piezoelectric transformer; a frequency-controlled oscillator for generating a frequency signal that drives the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal; a switching element connected to a primary side of the piezoelectric transformer for performing a switching operation in accordance with the frequency signal; a capacitor and inductor forming a parallel resonance circuit for performing a resonating operation owing to switching by the switching element; and a capacitance element connected across ground and the power-supply side of the inductor. The capacitance element and the inductor are arranged on the circuit board in such a manner that when the circuit board undergoes solder-mounting, the capacitance element and the inductor are immersed in a solder bath before the piezoelectric transformer.
US08549737B2
The present invention relates to a compliant leaded interposer for resiliently attaching and electrically connecting a ball grid array package to a circuit board. The interposer may include a substrate, a plurality of pads, and a plurality of pins. The plurality of pads may be positioned substantially on the top surface of the substrate and arranged in a predetermined pattern substantially corresponding to the solder ball pattern on the ball grid array package. The plurality of pins may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the substrate and may extend through the substrate and the plurality of pads. The interposer may be configured to attach the ball grid array package to the circuit board such that each of the solder balls on the ball grid array package contacts at least a portion the plurality of pins and at least a portion of the plurality of pads and such that the each of the plurality of pins also connects to a contact on the circuit board.
US08549734B2
A method for manufacturing a sealed contact point is performed by injecting an arc extinguishing gas into an air-tight space of an electromagnetic switching device and sealing it. The method for manufacturing a sealed contactor, including: forming a driving body and coupling a housing and a plate; air-tightly fixing a detachable chamber and forming the interior of the chamber under an insulating gas atmosphere; tightly attaching the cylinder to the plate by a tight-attachment inducing member within the chamber under the insulating gas atmosphere to form a sealing structure; exhausting the chamber; disassembling the chamber from the plate; and sealing the tightly attached plate and the cylinder.
US08549733B2
A transducer and method of forming a transducer is disclosed. The method comprises locating a feed wire for forming a drive pin on a reed surface, welding a first end of the feed wire to the reed, cutting the feed wire to form a drive pin, and securing the drive pin to a paddle. The first end of the feed wire can be welded to the reed by a laser welding operation. The laser melts the reed to form a molten reed material, and the feed wire is pushed through the molten reed material to form a weld between the feed wire and the reed, once the molten reed material solidifies. The wire coil is then cut with a second laser to form the drive pin. The drive pin is then adhered to a paddle with an adhesive.
US08549728B2
To provide a vibration actuator, a lens barrel, a camera, a manufacturing method for a vibration body and a manufacturing method for a vibration actuator, which have a high driving efficiency and can lead to easy manufacture. A vibration actuator of the present invention is provided with an elastic body and an electromechanical transducer element sintered onto the elastic body in the state that the element is divided into a plurality of areas by a groove-shaped border portion.
US08549725B2
Post-cable connectors and cooperative C-section posts are utilized to releasably connect a cable in a cable barrier system to arrest errant motor vehicles that leave a roadway. A post-cable connector has an elongated section having a loop and a top section extending from the elongated section and terminating at a hook end for connecting the cable to the cooperative C-section post for example by hanging the top section of the post-cable connector from a back wall of the C-section post such that the elongated section is positioned in a cavity defined by the C-section post so that the loop is disposed through a slot in a face wall opposite from the back wall and positioned exterior of the cavity.
US08549722B2
A stent for implantation within a body vessel is provided with a plurality of varying parallelogrammic cells. The stent is radially expandable from a compressed condition, suitable for inserting the device in an introducer, to a deployed or expanded condition within a body vessel. The stent includes a plurality of parallelogrammic body cells and a plurality of parallelogrammic flare cells. The flare cells have a substantially greater elongation ratio than the body cells. Also provided is a method for manufacturing stents having a plurality of varying parallelogrammic cells.
US08549721B2
In a method for forming a package, a package with the shape of a container is formed of a cardboard blank, the package having a bottom and side walls extending upwards from the bottom. At the end stage of compression molding, a rim of molding material extending sideways is molded to the upper part of the side walls when the mold is kept closed in such a way that a mold cavity corresponding to the rim is formed by moving a counter surface inside the mold backwards from a surface opposite to it, after which the molding material is introduced into the mold cavity.
US08549720B2
A tool revolver unit for a machine tool for machining workpieces has a housing (1) and a tool drive rotatable relative to the housing about an axis (3), has a rotary drive (13, 15) for a rotational motion of the tool disk, and has another rotary drive (19, 23). The other rotary drive (19, 23) is a servomotor for controlling a locking device (5, 31, 37) enabling a releasable rotary lock between the housing (3) and the tool disk.
US08549715B2
A piezoelectric microspeaker fabricated by a method including: forming a lower drive unit by forming a first drive electrode by depositing and etching a first thin conductive layer on a substrate, forming a first piezoelectric plate by depositing and etching a first piezoelectric layer on the first drive electrode, and forming a first common electrode by depositing and etching a second conductive layer on the first piezoelectric plate; after forming the lower drive unit, forming a diaphragm by depositing a non-conductive layer on the first common electrode; and forming an upper drive unit by forming a second common electrode by depositing and etching a third conductive layer on the diaphragm, forming a second piezoelectric plate by depositing and etching a second piezoelectric layer on the second common electrode, and forming a second drive electrode by depositing and etching a fourth conductive layer on the second piezoelectric plate.
US08549711B2
A hinge assembly for a door assembly includes a hinge having a first plate attached to a door and a second plate attached to a door jamb and pivotally connected to the first plate. The hinge assembly further includes a check strap having a first end portion configured to be attached to the first plate, a second end portion configured to be attached to the second plate, and a strip secured to the first end portion and to the second end portion. The strip has a length that is selected to limit opening movement of the door to a predetermined angle of opening. The hinge assembly further includes fasteners to secure the first end portion of the check strap and the first plate to the door and the second end portion of the check strap and the second plate to the door jamb.
US08549710B2
A friction hinge assembly includes a spring that assists the opening of a first member relative to a second member by storing energy in the spring during the closing operation. The spring is of a unique multilayered torsion bar design.
US08549705B1
A hollow wheel set, comprising mainly a wheel rack, a hollow rotation wheel, a restricting sleeve, and a restricting and fastening ring. The wheel rack includes a fixing arm, on said fixing arm is provided with a wheel fork. The hollow rotation wheel is sleeved onto the wheel fork. One end of the restricting sleeve is a sleeve connection portion, while the other end is a ring-shape blocking portion. The sleeve connection portion is sleeved and fixed on the outer perimeter of the wheel fork, and is located between the wheel fork and the hollow rotation wheel. The ring-shape blocking portion is on a side of the hollow rotation wheel. The restricting and fastening ring is fastened around outer perimeter of the wheel fork, and is locate on the other side of the hollow rotation wheel, to reduce size and weight of the hollow wheel set.
US08549704B2
A hand-held vacuum cleaner with a container for the storage of dirt and debris therein. To provide improved efficiency and performance, the hand-held vacuum may employ a primary HEPA filter, a device for swirling a dirt and debris laden air flow and/or a mechanized filter cleaning device. Swirling may be employed to direct entrained dirt and debris in a desired direction relative to the container to slow the rate with which dirt and debris accumulates on the primary filter and/or to centrifugally remove dirt and debris from the air flow. Mechanized cleaning is employed to shake, scrape or otherwise remove accumulated dirt and debris from the primary filter.
US08549696B2
A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, and an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, and 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 interposition of a joint part. The windscreen wiper device is provided with first and second retaining means for retaining the connecting device onto said oscillating arm. The first retaining means comprises at least one resilient tongue provided on the joint part engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the oscillating arm. The second retaining means comprises a least one first stop surface provided on the oscillating arm and at least one second stop surface provided on at least one of the joint part and connecting device.
US08549690B2
A floor cleaning tool is disclosed that provides for an improved method of gathering and picking up debris from the floor. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool has a handle, a wiping body wiping body comprised of a solid and continuous material connected at one end to the handle and a capture sheet covering the wiping body. The wiping body includes a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side. The capture sheet covers the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side. In one embodiment, the capture sheet includes a tacky surface outwardly facing from the wiping body.
US08549681B2
A device is disclosed for facilitating rotation of a mattress in a horizontal plane carried by a box spring. Slick surfaces between the mattress and the box spring are selectively placed in contact in order to reduce the normal friction therebetween. The slick surfaces may be provided by two separate covers; one cover for the mattress and one cover for the box spring. A first cover is provided with a slick and non-slick surface. A second cover includes a slick surface on one side and forms part of a levitation device. The other side of the second cover may be formed with a slick or a non-slick surface. A levitation device creates an air cushion between the mattress and the box spring under the influence of an air supply which lifts the mattress and allows the mattress to be rotated in a horizontal plane virtually effortlessly.
US08549679B2
A personal lifting device includes a housing that carries first, second, third and fourth lifting mechanisms. First, second, third and fourth lift lines are connected to the respective lifting mechanisms. Further, the device includes a controller for selectively operating the first, second, third and fourth lifting mechanisms whereby the first, second, third and fourth lifting lines are independently extended and retracted as desired to lower and lift a person.
US08549674B2
The present invention provides a shoulder pad for use in a contact sport, such as football, hockey or lacrosse. The shoulder pad includes a pair of arch members, each having an upper portion, a front portion depending from the upper portion, and a rear portion depending from the upper portion. The shoulder pad further includes at least one side pad assembly having an epaulet and a shoulder cap, wherein the shoulder cap overlies the wearer's shoulder region and the epaulet overlies both the arch member and the shoulder cap. The side pad assembly is operably secured to the body arch member by a fastening assembly that includes a flexible single band. The single band secures both the epaulet and the shoulder cap to the upper portion of the arch member.
US08549673B2
Laminates made from films and powders of N-halochitosan are provided. The films and laminates can be used to make a variety of finished articles that can be used to provide protection from hazardous chemical and biological agents.
US08549672B2
A protective face mask system according to the present invention comprises a flexible mask body including an opening for receiving a lens, nose portion, a central portion positioned to the rear of and extending at least partially above the nose portion, a central receiving slot located between the nose portion and the central portion, right and left temple portions, each temple portion having a shaped receiving opening therethrough, left and right cheek portions, and at least one groove located adjacent one of the left and right cheek portions. A lens is provided sized to be received upon and cover the lens opening. The lens includes right and left temple portions including openings therein positioned to correspond to and align with the openings of the mask body when the lens is positioned for attachment to the mask body. The lens including at least a portion that snappingly engages the groove when a portion of the lens is inserted into the slot.
US08549665B2
A medical examination dress for women that is suitable for the patient to wear in public for a physician appointment, hospital stay, recovery, etc. The medical exam dress sufficiently covers the body eliminating exposure while maintaining a woman's modesty and dignity and is designed with button mechanics for quick access to specific areas of the body or convertible to a bifurcated garment. The exam dress has buttons at the shoulders straps allowing access to both front and back upper torso areas and down both. The exam dress also buttons down both right and left sides allowing the garment to be folded up and reattached to upper side buttons for access to either front and/or back lower torso areas. There are no metal parts, thereby, allowing use in x-ray and imaging devices.
US08549662B2
A protective head gear for a user having an outer panel, an inner panel, a retention pleat on the inner panel, a respirator, and an indexed fastener. The outer panel is disposed relative to the inner panel to provide efficacious spatial separation therebetween. The fastener is formed to adjustably and releasably secure at least a portion of the inner panel to the user. An indexing element is attached to the fastener, and is formed of material substantially tactilely different from the fastener, the outer panel, or the inner panel, to permit the user to unambiguously locate the point of fastening. The outer panel, inner panel, and respirator, can be composed of fabrics having one or more layer, and one layer can have a repellent characteristic different from another (e.g., hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic).
US08555405B2
A method is provided for the authorization management of digital contents between at least one owner of authorizations with a first electronic work environment and at least one user of the contents with a second electronic work environment. The owner of the authorizations provides the digital contents to the user of the contents by means of the first electronic work environment at a defined scope of authorizations and the user of the contents is entitled to use the provided digital contents on the second electronic work environment only at the defined scope of authorization. The digital contents are encoded with encryption, the encoded contents are exchanged between the first electronic work environment and the second electronic work environment and the encoded contents are subsequently decoded by means of decryption pertaining to the digital contents.
US08555403B1
Privileged access to managed content is disclosed. In some embodiments, a privileged portion of application code manages user access to managed content at a level of access greater than the user would otherwise be afforded. The privileged code moves a content management session up or down in levels of access as required to allow a user to perform through the application one or more specific actions it is desired to permit the user to do in a particular context (e.g., at a particular time in the lifecycle of an item of content and/or a particular point in a business process or work flow), including to permit the user to perform an action it is not desired to let the user perform in other contexts, such as write a particular value to a content item it is not desired to allow the user to write to otherwise.
US08555393B2
A method includes selecting an attack signature from an attack signature database; generating a fingerprint that includes parameters indicative of the attack signature; generating configuration data for one or more test devices based on the fingerprint, wherein the configuration data is capable of configuring the one or more test devices to provide a security response to the attack signature; providing the configuration data to the one or more test devices; transmitting the attack signature to the one or more test devices; examining a security response to the attack signature from the one or more test devices; and outputting a result of the examining.
US08555392B2
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for detecting unknown packers and cryptors. An example method comprises emulating execution of a software object modified by an unknown packer or cryptor; collecting information about memory operations performed during the emulation; combining information about a plurality of related memory operations into at least one sequential set of memory operations; identifying from the at least one sequential set of related memory operations one or more high-level operations associated with unpacking or decryption of the emulated object; and generating based on the one or more high-level operations a record of the unknown packer or cryptor to be used for detecting the unknown packer or cryptor.
US08555387B2
Provided are an apparatus and method using spatial and temporal quarantine expansion to prevent important information from being leaked due to attacks such as viruses, hacking, and the like. The apparatus includes a state change unit for changing a state of at least one of a memory, a register, and a port in the computer system; a state calculation unit for calculating information on the changed state of the computer system; a security-threat-element elimination unit for eliminating security threat elements from the computer system; a communication unit for transmitting the state information calculated by the state calculation unit to the quarantine station, or receiving control information for controlling the computer system based on the state information, from the quarantine station; and a security execution unit for receiving security information from the quarantine station to execute a specific program when the computer system is faultless, wherein the state information and the control information are transmitted or received until the computer system is faultless repeatedly.
US08555385B1
Techniques for behavior based malware analysis are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for behavior based analysis comprising receiving trace data, analyzing, using at least one computer processor, observable events to identify low level actions, analyzing a plurality of low level actions to identify at least one high level behavior, and providing an output of the at least one high level behavior.
US08555383B1
Network computing systems may implement data loss prevention (DLP) techniques to reduce or prevent unauthorized use or transmission of confidential information or to implement information controls mandated by statute, regulation, or industry standard. Implementations of network data transmission analysis systems and methods are disclosed that can use contextual information in a DLP policy to monitor data transmitted via the network. The contextual information may include information based on a network user's organizational structure or services or network infrastructure. Some implementations may detect bank card information in network data transmissions. Some of the systems and methods may be implemented on a virtual network overlaid on one or more intermediate physical networks that are used as a substrate network.
US08555366B2
The invention is a method of managing communication between an electronic token and a remote web server. The token and the server are connected to a same host machine. The token comprises first and second token servers and a memory comprising HTML data. The host machine has an Internet web browser. Said method comprises the steps of: sending a first request from the Internet web browser to the first token server, returning a first answer to the Internet browser, said first answer comprising HTML data including a connection information associated to a script, on the Internet web browser, executing the script associated to the connection information. Script execution establishes a connection to the remote server allowing a two-way communication between the second token server and the remote server through the Internet browser acting as a gateway.
US08555365B2
Enabling web filtering by authenticated group membership, role, or user identity is provided by embedding a uniform resource identifier into an electronic document requested by a client. A client browser will provide directory credentials to a trusted web filter apparatus enabling a policy controlled access to resources external to the trusted network. An apparatus comprises circuits for transmitting a uniform resource identifier to a client, receiving a request comprising authentication credentials, querying a policy database and determining a customized policy for access to an externally sourced electronic document or application. A computer-implemented technique to simplify web filter administrator tasks by removing a need to set each browsers settings or install additional software on each user terminal.
US08555354B2
A watchlisting module is configured to securely and efficiently create, modify, manage, and store a watchlist. The watchlisting module is configured to generate a watchlist consisting of watchlist entries. Each watchlist entry encapsulates information about an entity to be associated with the watchlist. The watchlist entry includes information about the entity including a unique identifier for the watchlist, a unique identifier of the watchlist entry, a unique identifier for the entity, and access control information for membership process related to the watchlist. The watchlist entry also includes a State Lock. Watchlisting module is configured to utilize the State Lock to secure and verify a watchlist entry.
US08555352B2
A network controls provision of access functionality by an access node to provide a network service to a subscriber device. For example, the network device may control the queuing and forwarding of packets by the access node to facilitate packet transmission according to, for example, a Quality of Service class. The network device may send control messages to the access node to dynamically configure a control object stored by the access node, such as a Quality of Service profile. The network device may be a router, and the access node may be a base station that wireless communicates with a subscriber device, e.g., a cellular phone. The access node may then delivery the packets in accordance with the dynamically configured control object.
US08555351B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for validating user credentials submitted to a data source by an untrusted intermediary. An untrusted intermediary attempts to access a data source on behalf of a user. The untrusted intermediary challenges the user to provide credentials of the type and format required to access the data provided by the data source. The user's trust client connects to an authentication service and identification credentials of the required type and format are generated. The identification credentials are conveyed to the user's trust client, which then provides them to the user's client, which in turn conveys them to the untrusted intermediary. The untrusted intermediary then presents the identification credentials to an authentication plug-in of the data source. The authentication plug-in validates the authenticity of the provided credentials with their associated authentication service. Once the credentials are successfully validated, the requested data is provided to the user's client by the untrusted intermediary.
US08555349B2
Techniques for small footprint operator-specific network services include determining to obtain and/or process operator data that indicates an operator of a service associated with user equipment. The techniques also include determining to obtain and/or process user data that identifies a user of the user equipment for a gateway provider different from the operator and different from the user. The techniques further include determining to send, to the gateway provider through the communications network, a first message that indicates the operator data and the user data for obtaining a service with an operator-specific interface. In some embodiments, the first message is sent after a random delay to decentralize traffic at the gateway. In some embodiments, the first message is sent when a predetermined fraction of battery life at the user equipment is sufficient to send the first message.
US08555348B2
A method that includes initiating a network access request from an access requester on a platform that couples to a network, the network access request made to a policy decision point for the network. The method also includes establishing a secure communication channel over a communication link between the policy decision point and a policy enforcement point on the platform. Another secure communication channel is established over another communication link. The other communication link is between at least the policy enforcement point and a manageability engine resident on the platform. The manageability engine forwards posture information associated with the access requester via the other secure communication channel. The posture information is then forwarded to the policy decision point via the secure communication channel between the policy enforcement point and the policy decision point. The policy decision point indicates what access the access requester can obtain to the network based on a comparison of the posture information to one or more network administrative policies.
US08555347B2
A method performed by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server comprising receiving a DHCP DISCOVER message from a DHCP client; generating a challenge in response to the DHCP DISCOVER message; sending the challenge to an authentication device; receiving a first challenge response from the authentication device; generating a DHCP OFFER message; sending the challenge to the DHCP client in the DHCP OFFER message; receiving a DHCP REQUEST message that includes a second challenge response from the DHCP client; comparing the first challenge response with the second challenge response; and authenticating the DHCP client when the first challenge response and the second challenge response match.
US08555344B1
Described herein are systems and methods for fallback operation within WLANs that rely on remote authentication procedures. When a primary network node authentication process fails, fallback access control parameters associated with a secondary network node authentication process are exchanged between a network node and an authentication server, wherein the secondary network node authentication process allows the network node to access other resources of a computer network.
US08555341B2
A wall plate assembly has a first port adapted to be coupled to a device and a second port adapted to be coupled to a communications network. The wall plate assembly is operable to obtain authentication information from a user and to determine from the obtained authentication information whether the user should be granted or denied access to the network. The assembly is operable when the determination indicates the user should be granted access to provide endpoint location identification information associated with the wall plate assembly and the authentication information to the second port, and is operable responsive to a acknowledgement signal received via the second port to grant access to the network via the first port. The assembly is operable when either no acknowledgment signal is received or the determination indicates the user should be denied access to isolate the first port from the network.
US08555340B2
A method is disclosed for determining the authentication capabilities of a supplicant before initiating an authentication conversation with a client, for example, using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). In one aspect, the method provides for sending, to a supplicant that is requesting access to a computer network subject to authentication of a user of the supplicant, a list of first authentication methods that are supported by an authentication server; receiving, from the supplicant, a counter-list of second authentication methods that are supported by the supplicant; determining how many second authentication methods in the counter-list match the first authentication methods; and performing an authentication policy action based on how many of the second authentication methods match the first authentication methods. Policy actions can include blocking access, re-directing to sources of acceptable authentication methods, granting one of several levels of network access, etc.
US08555336B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for a pre-deactivation grace period. In operation, a deactivation request is detected for a deactivation event. Further, the commencement of the deactivation event is delayed for a predetermined time period, in response to the deactivation request. Additionally, the deactivation event is commenced, after the predetermined time period.
US08555320B2
Systems and methods of recording media content are provided. A particular method includes accessing user configuration settings. The user configuration settings include at least one premier recording option. Selection of the premier recording option indicates that initial episodes of series programs are to be recorded. The method also includes searching electronic program guide (EPG) information for the initial episodes of series programs in response to determining that the premier recording option is selected in the user configuration settings. The method further includes storing a data record scheduling recording of a particular initial episode of a particular series program identified by searching the EPG information.
US08555318B2
A profile includes an indication of one or more topics of interest. A mixing server is configured to create a custom media channel based on the profile. A playback application is configured to provide the custom media channel upon a request from a user, wherein the custom media channel includes more than one item of multimedia content.
US08555306B2
A game for increasing viewership of television commercials is provided. The game provides a game card having a plurality of spaces arranged in multiple rows and columns. A player receives a game card associated with a particular participating program. The plurality of spaces on the game card are individually assigned icons representing commercials that may air during the program or special icons having special game-related attributes. During viewing of the program, a player is discouraged from switching channels or fast-forwarding during commercial breaks by requiring the player to match airing commercials with representative icons on the game card. If all spaces of a rank (i.e., row, column, or diagonal) on the game card contain icons representing aired commercials, the player wins. A game card verification process is provided as well to ensure that the player has in fact viewed the commercials while watching the program.
US08555302B2
A disc cartridge includes a case body in which a plurality of disc-shaped recording media can be stored being arranged in the axial direction of a central shaft and which includes a first shell having a base face portion parallel to a recording face of the recording medium and a second shell having a basal plane portion parallel to the recording face, which move toward or away from each other in the axial direction, thereby being combined with or separated from each other, wherein the second shell has a pair of side face portions protruding in the same direction from both end portions of the basal plane portion and situated facing each other, a thin-walled portion is formed at a central portion between the side face portions in the basal plane portion, and a bridge member which is attached to span the side face portions is provided.
US08555299B2
A tray driving device of an optical disc drive in provided to comprising: a driving motor; a belt wheel, disposed on a driving shaft of the driving motor; a belt idler, connected to the belt wheel through a belt, wherein the belt idler has a belt groove for containing the belt, and a guiding inclined plane is protruded on the top of the belt idler; and a gear assembly, connected under the belt idler and connected to a tray.
US08555298B2
An object of this invention is to enable free customization of a component class executed by an application program. To achieve this object, an information processing apparatus executably stores an application program main body and a class library having a plurality of classes. The apparatus includes a unit which acquires the name of an interface described in the application program main body and the name of a customization point, a unit which acquires the name of an interface stored in the class library and the name of a class belonging to the interface, a unit which generates an instance for each customization point by executing a selected one of the classes belonging to the interface corresponding to the customization point, a unit which embeds the instance at the corresponding customization point, and a unit which executes the application program main body with the instance being embedded.
US08555290B2
A task count controller, a task count control method, and a computer program capable of dynamically controlling the number of tasks that can be processed in parallel simultaneously without increasing computational load are provided. When a plurality of tasks are to be executed simultaneously in parallel processing, the number of tasks that can be executed simultaneously is controlled. The tasks to be executed simultaneously are added in units of a predetermined number of tasks and the throughput in one unit of work is measured for each task every time the tasks are added. The total sum of the measured throughputs is calculated, and it is determined whether the calculated total sum of throughputs is more than the total sum of throughputs immediately before the predetermined number of tasks are added.
US08555286B2
A software configurable computing environment can include at least one application disposed within the software configurable computing environment. The environment can also include a resource management engine configured to define at least one computing resource for the software configurable computing environment. A resource allocation engine can allocate the computing resources defined by the resource management engine for use in the software configurable computing environment. A resource utilization engine can perform at least one programmatic action for the application using available ones of the resources allocated by the resource allocation engine.
US08555281B1
Methods, systems, and implementations are disclosed to schedule a plurality of tasks on one or more processors. The tasks may be part of a larger job based on a user initiated query for information retrieval. One example method of operation may include estimating, based upon historical actual execution times of tasks of a respective corresponding type, an expected execution time for each task of the plurality of tasks. The method may further include scheduling the plurality of tasks for execution on the one or more processors based upon the estimated expected execution time of each task. The scheduling procedure utilized ultimately produces an optimized task execution schedule, and in turn, minimizes the expected job completion time.
US08555265B2
A data parallel pipeline may specify multiple parallel data objects that contain multiple elements and multiple parallel operations that operate on the parallel data objects. Based on the data parallel pipeline, a dataflow graph of deferred parallel data objects and deferred parallel operations corresponding to the data parallel pipeline may be generated and one or more graph transformations may be applied to the dataflow graph to generate a revised dataflow graph that includes one or more of the deferred parallel data objects and deferred, combined parallel data operations. The deferred, combined parallel operations may be executed to produce materialized parallel data objects corresponding to the deferred parallel data objects.
US08555250B2
Analyzing dynamic source code. A method includes accessing a specific metadata format data structure. The data structure was created by obtaining one or more first data structures defining constructs in a body of dynamic language source code. From the one or more first data structures, identifier information is extracted for one or more of the defined constructs. Knowledge about the constructs is augmented. The metadata format data structure is parsed to compute metrics about the metadata format data structure. The metrics about the metadata format data structure are provided to a user.
US08555245B2
A modification method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of a computing system a list of features and plug-ins associated with an application. The features include features version metadata and the plug-ins include plug-ins version metadata. The computer processor compares features source code associated with the features with previous versions of associated source code. The computer processor generates modified features version metadata associated with the features version metadata. The modified features version metadata includes updated version labels differing from previous version labels of the previous versions of associated source code. The features are assembled into an application.
US08555244B2
The invention comprises a system and method for monitoring the performance of an application. The invention includes a monitoring system graphical user interface (GUI) having an interactive window with on-screen graphics representative of the application architecture and component performance. The GUI comprises straightforward and intuitive icons, panels, and dataflows, representing the existence, capacity, or number of processes, memory structures, and the like of the application being monitored. In addition, the monitoring system includes an alert firing mechanism and process for alerting an administrator to potential or actual performance problems in the application.
US08555239B1
An interactive computer architecture is provided that can be employed as a bridge between a mainframe-based computing environment and a distributed server-based computing environment. A request/reply contract can be expressed within the mainframe-based environment and employed as the basis for generating a web service in the distributed computing environment.
US08555235B2
A computer-implemented method of determining an attribute of a circuit includes using a computationally expensive technique to simulate the attribute (such as timing delay or slew) of a portion of the circuit, at predetermined values of various parameters (e.g. nominal values of channel length or metal width), to obtain at least a first value of the attribute. The method also uses a computationally inexpensive technique to estimate the same attribute, thereby to obtain at least a second value which is less accurate than the first value. Then the computationally inexpensive technique is repeatedly used on other values of the parameter(s), to obtain a number of additional second values of the attribute. Applying to the additional second values, a function obtained by calibrating the at least one second value to the at least one first value, can yield calibrated estimates very quickly, which represent the attribute's variation relatively accurately.
US08555233B2
A design optimization method for a target circuit design specified by a machine-readable file, comprises providing a computer-implemented model as a function of a set of characteristics of circuit designs of circuit optimization achievable due to a circuit modification procedure, such as timing constrained gate length modification for leakage power reduction. Using values of said set of characteristics for the target circuit design, the computer-implemented model is applied to the target circuit design to produce an indication of susceptibility of the target circuit design to optimization. The model can be produced using Monte Carlo simulations of a set of virtual designs, and fitting a function of said characteristics to the results.
US08555230B2
According to an embodiment an improved Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) isolation method and system for assigning signal pins in an ASIC package having a plurality of signal pins is disclosed. The method and system comprise identifying an isolation requirement of the ASIC and determining an optimized pattern for substantially diagonal pairing of signal pins in relation to the isolation requirement. The method includes pairing signal pairs substantially diagonally in accordance with the pattern.
US08555229B2
Solutions for optimizing an integrated circuit layout for implementation in an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is disclosed including: obtaining a plurality of hierarchical constraints in mathematical form, the plurality of hierarchical constraints defining a first integrated circuit layout; partitioning the plurality of hierarchical constraints into groups according to one or more partitioning rules; determining whether a boundary condition exists between two of the groups, and distributing a slack or a gap between the two of the groups in the case that the boundary condition exists; creating a plurality of integer linear programming problems associated with each of the groups; determining a solution for each of the plurality of integer linear programming problems; and integrating each solution together to form a second integrated circuit layout.
US08555220B2
The timing verification method for deterministic and stochastic networks and circuits is a computerized method that includes a non-enumerative path length analysis algorithm for deterministic and stochastic directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) with applications to timing verification of circuits, the algorithm computing statistical measures of path lengths without storing and/or manipulating the paths in such networks. The timing verification method is able to compute deterministic or probabilistic costs assigned to edges, vertices, or both.
US08555211B2
A method of making a mask includes receiving an IC design layout from a designer, applying an logic operation (LOP) correction, performing an OPC correction, fracturing the modified data into a plurality of main features in an electron beam format, and sending the electron beam format data to a mask writer for a mask fabrication. An XOR operation is implemented into the method to check and verify if a pattern is lost during OPC modification and/or data fracture. A BACKBONE XOR operation is also implemented into the method for a plurality of main features with a critical dimension (CD) size smaller than the max OPC correction to check and verify if a small pattern feature is lost during OPC modification and/or data fracture for 45 nm and beyond semiconductor technologies.
US08555209B2
A method for forming a circuit layout comprises performing process proximity effect modeling based on process proximity effects caused by a sub-layer, wherein the sub-layer comprises an active layer positioned under a gate poly, and wherein performing the process proximity effect modeling includes calculating a pattern density of the sub-layer, incorporating results of the process proximity effect modeling into a modeling algorithm, and performing proximity correction using the results to manipulate a layout of a mask to be used when forming the circuit layout by photolithography.
US08555203B1
A graphical user interface (GUI) includes an icon stack comprising a plurality of icons in an area within the GUI, whereby the icons overlap. The GUI further includes at least one interstitial navigation box that is capable of displaying information about at least one item associated with one of the icons.
US08555202B2
A manufacturer or other retailer provides a consumer with a graphical user interface for customizing an article. The graphical user interface includes an analog-style selection control that allows a user to select at least one characteristic of a feature of the article. With this type of selection control, a consumer need not select a particular control value or designate a combination of control values to choose a characteristic for a feature of an article to be custom-manufactured. Instead, the consumer need only select a position or value relative to a range of positions or values provided by the analog-style selection control.
US08555194B2
A method for creating and accessing a graphical user interface in the overscan area outside the area of the display normally utilized by the common operating systems. This normal display area is generally known as the “desktop”. The desktop serves as a graphical user interface to the operating system. The desktop displays images representing files, documents and applications available to the user. The desktop is restricted in the common environments to a predetermined set of resolutions (e.g., 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768) as defined by VGA and SVGA standards. Displayable borders outside this area are the overscan area.
US08555190B2
A method includes receiving a request to access a field device and identifying a first device configuration associated with the field device. The first device configuration identifies (i) a subset of device parameters associated with the field device, (ii) a subset of device methods associated with the field device, and/or (iii) an interface arrangement of device parameters or methods associated with the field device. The method also includes retrieving a value for each device parameter identified by the first device configuration and generating a graphical user interface using the first device configuration and the retrieved values. The method could also include determining whether a user has requested use of the first device configuration. If not, the method can include identifying a second device configuration associated with the field device, retrieving the value for each device parameter identified by the second device configuration, and generating a second graphical user interface.
US08555189B2
The present invention makes it possible to set a monitoring method for each of a plurality of monitoring-targeted objects. A node, such as a server, and a component, which is included in the node, are monitoring-targeted objects. An information acquiring part 140 acquires information from the monitoring-targeted objects. A control part 130 monitors the status of each of the monitoring-targeted objects based on the monitoring method set by a user for each of the monitoring-targeted objects, and outputs an alert in a case where a failure has been detected. A monitoring status is linked between monitoring-targeted objects that are associated to one another.
US08555186B2
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to generating a reproduction of an electronic document, such as a thumbnail, that includes an input field.
US08555183B2
A software-based system for changing structural feature designations within a production environment includes a menu page component adapted to support a menu page; an information document component interfacing with the menu page component and adapted to support at least one information document having structural feature designations of structural features; and an edit component interfacing with the information document component and adapted to view and edit the structural feature designations to expedite flow of materials in the production environment.
US08555178B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for handling a plurality of communications between parties. In an aspect, the presentation of both real-time and “store and forward” interactions are presented in a way to make it easier for a user of the system to read and understand what is being communicated, by whom, and to whom.
US08555174B2
An image submission system comprises a server, a client, and a scanner. A scanner interface software module is loaded on the client for operating the scanner. An image submission software module loaded on the server remotely receives instructions through an Internet browser at the client, and presents a single click interface feature operable to receive a single click input by the user at the client, via the Internet browser. A control software module loaded on the client is in communication with the image submission software module, and is operative to direct the scanner interface software module to scan an image on the scanner and upload the scanned image to the remote server in response to a single click input by the user via the single click interface feature. A user may thus have an image both scanned an uploaded to a server, in response the same single click.
US08555167B2
A method for providing content related to a multimedia program on a display device where currently viewed multimedia programs are monitored so that content related to the currently viewed multimedia program may be retrieved from a content source and displayed on a flexible user interface on the display device upon request by the user, in which the user is able to adjust a size and position of the flexible user interface on the display device.
US08555165B2
Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a control framework for organizing, selecting and launching media items including graphical user interfaces coupled with an optional 3D control device for collection of the basic control primitives of point, click, scroll, hover and zoom which permit for easy and rapid selection of media items, e.g., movies, songs etc., from large or small collections. The remote control maps natural hand movements and gestures into relevant commands while the graphical display uses images, zooming for increased/decreased levels of detail and continuity of GUI objects to provide easy organization, selection and navigation among the media items by a user.
US08555154B2
A method for producing a photo album includes providing a plurality of images comprising a first image, associating text information with the first image, and providing a library of page layouts each comprising one or more image receiving areas. A page layout includes an image caption area associated with one of the image receiving areas in the page layout. After the step of associating, the method includes automatically selecting a first page layout from the library of page layouts, wherein the first page layout comprises an image receiving area and an image caption area in association with the image receiving area, automatically placing the first image in the image receiving area in the first page layout, and automatically placing the text information into the image caption area in association with the image receiving area in the first page layout to produce a page in the photo album.
US08555150B1
Techniques disclosed herein adapt a content authoring environment based on the specifications of destination electronic device for which that content is prepared. Such modification tailors features in the authoring environment to the destination device. The content authoring environment receives an identification of a destination device, such as a mobile phone, for which content is to be presented. The content authoring environment then modifies operation of itself to confirm to characteristics of the identified destination device. For example, such a modification can enable/disable authoring tools, provide device compatibility feedback in response to user content authoring, make changes to created content for device compatibility, and so forth.
US08555145B2
To feedback MIMO channel conditions, a codeword from a codebook is selected. To reduce signalling, the codewords are organized into codeword subsets. The receiver signals an index of a codeword into a current codeword subset previously made known to the transmitter. The current codeword subset is adaptively selected based on a threshold criterion. For example, if the best codeword from the current codeword subset is not sufficiently similar to the best codeword in the full codebook, a switch in the codeword subset is made.
US08555140B2
A method and system for decoding low density parity check (“LDPC”) codes. An LDPC decoder includes a control unit that controls decoder processing, the control unit causing the decoder to process the blocks of a low density parity check (“LDPC”) matrix out of order. A decoder embodiment may process the layers of the LDPC matrix out of order and/or perform partial state processing on out of order blocks of the LDPC matrix and/or generate R messages out of order.
US08555133B2
Provided is a rate matching apparatus. The rate matching apparatus includes interleavers, dummy bit removers, a bit collector, a memory and a selector. The interleavers interleave code blocks, respectively. The dummy bit removers remove dummy bits of the interleaved code blocks, respectively. The bit collector collects code blocks with the dummy bits removed by bit units, and divides a collected data bit stream into systematic data and parity data. The memory stores the systematic data and the parity data in parallel. The selector outputs in parallel a plurality of data bits which are selected from the systematic data and parity data of the memory.
US08555132B2
This invention relates to a receiver circuit which comprises an equalizer (27) and an error decorrelator (25). The error decorrelator being configured for changing (501; 601, 602) the position of symbols. The invention further relates to a corresponding method. This invention finally relates to an interleaving or deinterleaving method which comprises selecting a first number of symbols (204; 302) within a stream of digital data (13; 28) thereby obtaining selected symbols. The method further comprises exchanging (601, 602) the position of at least half of said first number of symbols of said selected symbols with the position of other symbols from said selected symbols. The invention further relates to an interleaving or deinterleaving circuit.
US08555128B2
A system and method for transmitting and receiving acknowledgement information are provided. A method for communications device operations includes determining a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) response for each CC in a set of configured CCs, thereby producing a set of HARQ responses, generating an information vector from the set of HARQ responses, encoding the information vector, and transmitting the encoded information vector. A sub-vector of one or more bits selected from the information vector is assigned a fixed vector value independent of HARQ responses for CCs not in a set of CCs when the set of CCs is not empty, where the set of CCs comprises at least one CC whose HARQ response is equal to DTX.
US08555109B2
A distributed storage integrity system in a dispersed storage network includes a scanning agent and a control unit. The scanning agent identifies an encoded data slice that requires rebuilding, wherein the encoded data slice is one of a plurality of encoded data slices generated from a data segment using an error encoding dispersal function. The control unit retrieves at least a number T of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment based on the error encoding dispersal function. The control unit is operable to reconstruct the data segment from at least the number T of the encoded data slices and generate a rebuilt encoded data slice from the reconstructed data segment. The scanning agent is located in a storage unit and the control unit is located in the storage unit or in a storage integrity processing unit, a dispersed storage processing unit or a dispersed storage managing unit.
US08555107B2
A plurality of computers to execute jobs, a management computer to manage the execution of jobs and the disposition of data in the computers and a storage device storing data are interconnected via a network. The management program for the management computer divides the data into distributed data according to hint information and distributively disposes the distributed data and their replicas in memory storages allocated in memories of the computers. The computers execute the job using the distributed data allocated to their own memory. In the event of a fault in any of the computers, the management computer requests computers having the replicas of those distributed data disposed in the faulted computer to re-execute the job.
US08555103B2
A deskewing apparatus includes a power supply connector, a oscillator, a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a first logic member, a second logic member, a clock generator and a plurality of output channels. The oscillator generates an electrical signal with a predetermined frequency and sinusoidal waveform. The first switch unit and the second switch unit each generates on/off signals by controlling power on/off. The first logic member and the second logic member generate logic signals according to the corresponding on/off signals from the first switch unit and the second switch unit. The clock generator multiplies the frequency of the electrical signal based on the combination of the logic signals and converting the electrical signal from sinusoidal waveform into rectangular waveform. The output channels output the converted electrical signal.
US08555095B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for limiting power consumption of a non-volatile memory (NVM) using a power limiting scheme that distributes a number of concurrent NVM operations over time. This provides a “current consumption cap” that fixes an upper limit of current consumption for the NVM, thereby eliminating peak power events. In one embodiment, power consumption of a NVM can be limited by receiving data suitable for use as a factor in adjusting a current threshold from at least one of a plurality of system sources. The current threshold can be less than a peak current capable of being consumed by the NVM and can be adjusted based on the received data. A power limiting scheme can be used that limits the number of concurrent NVM operations performed so that a cumulative current consumption of the NVM does not exceed the adjusted current threshold.
US08555091B2
According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to determine a first operating point and a second operating point associated with a graphics processing unit, automatically determine a plurality of voltage/frequency values between the first operating point and the second operating point, and define a plurality of power states of the graphic processing unit. One or more of the power states may be associated with one of the plurality of voltage/frequency values. Each of the plurality of voltage/frequency values may include both a voltage and a frequency.
US08555090B2
Backup control means controls processing for backing up data in storage means. In a state in which the storage means is not being supplied with power from the main power supply, a backup power supply supplies power to the storage means in order that backup processing by the backup control means will be performed. A timer measures power-supply time, which is the length of time the backup power supply supplies a voltage equal to or greater than a rated voltage to the storage means in order that backup processing will be performed. Determination means determines whether the power-supply time counted by the timer is shorter than length of a reference backup time. Notification of result of backup processing is given by alert means in accordance with the result of the determination made by the determination means.
US08555081B2
A virtual-machine-based system that may protect the privacy and integrity of application data, even in the event of a total operating system compromise. An application is presented with a normal view of its resources, but the operating system is presented with an encrypted view. This allows the operating system to carry out the complex task of managing an application's resources, without allowing it to read or modify them. Different views of “physical” memory are presented, depending on a context performing the access. An additional dimension of protection beyond the hierarchical protection domains implemented by traditional operating systems and processors is provided.
US08555080B2
The present invention provides methods and systems to protect an organization's secure information from unauthorized disclosure. The present system uses protect agents installed across various egress points (e.g., email server, user's computer, etc.) to monitor information disclosed by a user. The present system also provides the use of lightweight fingerprint databases (LFD) to maintain a database of fingerprints associated with the organization's secure data. In one embodiment, the LFD is stored locally at the site of each protect agent such that the organization's secure information can be protected even when a protect agent is disconnected from the network. Methods and systems to compress fingerprints to achieve the lightweight fingerprint databases are also provided. In one embodiment, a combined approach, utilizing both the local lightweight fingerprint database and a remote fingerprint server comprising registered fingerprints is used to achieve overall protection of the organization's secure information.
US08555079B2
Systems and methods for generating replacement tokens are described herein.
US08555076B2
Authenticating the source of digital media is performed by using unique, randomly generated variably encoded frequency patterns to create mastering specific, profiles for sets end user media which can be verified by a manufacturer. A method for verifying the authenticity of an optical storage device includes the steps of: reading a randomly generated signature key value for the optical storage device; determining manufacturing information for the optical storage device; and matching read randomly generated signature key values and manufacturing information with known valid key the to determine the authenticity of the device.
US08555059B2
This document describes tools that enable a computing device to receive an update to content management software. The tools also enable the computing device to generate new public and private keys without the use of a key server.
US08555055B2
Role-based security architecture that facilitates delegated role assignments where role functionality is monotonically decreasing. In furtherance thereof decreasing monotonicity roles are arranged in a hierarchy. Moreover, delegated roles can be obtained by creating a derived role (from a parent role) and removing entries from the derived role to decrease the permissions for the derived role. Delegated role assignments are scoped (bounded), which automatically applies a given scope to the assignment created by the user receiving the delegation.
US08555053B1
Embodiments provide systems and methods for adjusting to drive specific criteria. Data blocks sent to a drive may be padded to a constant size over a period to ensure optimal drive performance. Systems for padding data blocks to a constant size over a period may include padding logic which may pad data blocks addressed to a drive to a constant size over a period. The padding logic may be contained in an appliance located upstream of the drive in a network. The appliance may be operable to intercept data blocks addressed to the drive over a period, pad the data blocks to a constant size and forward the data blocks to the drive such that the drive receives data blocks of a constant size over a period.
US08555048B2
A computer system has extensible firmware interface firmware. The EFI firmware loads incomplete virtual boot data from a resource manager and then completes the boot data. The completed boot data is used to find an operating-system image to boot. The complete virtual boot data is transferred to the resource manager.
US08555045B2
There are provided an electronic apparatus and a meter which are operable during the updating of an operating program and firmware. The electronic apparatus operable during program updating includes an operation unit performing a preset operation, a micro controller controlling an operation result of the operation unit to be stored according to a predetermined period of storing time, and controlling a program received from the outside to be stored, an update controller allowing the program stored during the predetermined period of storing time to be updated in the micro controller, and a storing unit storing the program and the operation result under control of the micro controller.
US08555042B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for resetting and bypassing microcontroller stations. A command module asserts and de-asserts a reset line in response to a command. A reset module resets a microcontroller station if the command module asserts and de-asserts the reset line within a time interval. In addition, the reset module bypasses the microcontroller station if the command module asserts and holds the reset line for a time period exceeding the time interval.
US08555041B2
Various embodiments include methods and related media for performing operations including a return operation. One such method includes testing a content of a return value register and setting status flags. Testing the content of the return value register and setting the status flags are performed in response to a single instruction.
US08555039B2
A method of executing a conditional instruction within a pipeline processor having a plurality of pipelines, the processor having a first condition code register associated with a first pipeline and a second condition code register associated with a second pipeline is disclosed. The method saves a most recent condition code value to either the first condition code register or the second condition code register. The method further sets an indicator indicating whether the second condition code register has the most recent condition code value and retrieves the most recent condition code value from either the first or second condition code register based on the indicator. The method uses the most recent condition code value to determine if the conditional instruction should be executed.
US08555032B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a microcontroller device having a microprocessor, programmable memory components, and programmable analog and digital blocks. The programmable analog and digital blocks are configurable based on programming information stored in the memory components. Programmable interconnect logic, also programmable from the memory components, is used to couple the programmable analog and digital blocks as needed. The advanced microcontroller design also includes programmable input/output blocks for coupling selected signals to external pins. The memory components also include user programs that the embedded microprocessor executes. These programs may include instructions for programming the digital and analog blocks “on-the-fly,” e.g., dynamically. In one implementation, there are a plurality of programmable digital blocks and a plurality of programmable analog blocks.
US08555013B1
A method for memory protection in a multiprocessor system, involving receiving a request at a first carrier to perform a memory operation at a memory address, wherein the first carrier receives the request from a processor, determining by the first carrier whether the processor is permitted to access memory at the memory address using a carrier identification (ID) of a second carrier, wherein the second carrier is associated with a memory controller used to access the memory, and sending the request to the second carrier, if the processor is permitted to access the memory.
US08554996B2
A storage system includes at least one storage device on which are provided data storage volumes and an extended storage volume. The data storage volumes include a first data storage volume that is implemented with a data protection mechanism, and a second data storage volume that is implemented without the data protection mechanism. Also, an extended storage volume is provided that is initially un-allocated to any of the data storage volumes. A controller dynamically allocates at least one portion of the extended storage volume to the particular data storage volume to dynamically expand storage capacity of the particular data storage volume.
US08554983B2
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for operating a solid state drive. One method embodiment includes receiving an indication of a desired number of write input/output operations (IOPs) per unit time performed by the solid state drive. The method can also include managing the number of write IOPs performed by the solid state drive at least partially based on the desired number of write IOPs per unit time, a number of spare blocks in the solid state drive, and a desired operational life for the solid state drive.
US08554982B2
A storage device able to make a redundant write operation of unselected data unnecessary and able to optimize an arrangement of pages to a state having a high efficiency for rewriting, wherein the storage device has a first memory unit, a second memory unit having a different access speed from the first memory, and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit has a function of timely moving the stored data in two ways between the first memory unit and the second memory unit having different access speeds in reading or rewriting.
US08554977B2
An integrated circuit for accessing a universal serial bus (USB) device via a USB 3.0 receptacle is provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of pins and a controlling unit. The pins include a first group for coupling to a first pair of differential pins of the USB receptacle, a second group for coupling to a second pair of differential pins of the USB receptacle, a third group for coupling to a third pair of differential pins to the USB receptacle, a ground pin, a first and second power pins. The second group is disposed between the first and third groups. The controlling unit controls the plurality of pins to receive or transmit the USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 signals.
US08554973B2
The invention relates to a storage device in which MR-IOV is applied to the internal network of a storage controller, whereby the size of the storage device can be easily expanded. The storage device is expanded on the basis of a network having processor-connected RPs, FE I/F, BE I/F, and CM I/F that are connected with a switch. In the switch, a plurality of ports other than those connected to the RPs, FE I/F, BE I/F, and CM I/F are connected with a cross-link. Each processor is allowed to control the FE I/F, BE I/F, or CM I/F either via a path that passes through the cross-link or via a path that does not pass through the cross-link within the unit device. When unit devices are connected to expand the size of a storage device, the cross-link is removed first and then the unit devices are connected with a new cross-link (see FIG. 4).
US08554970B2
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable simplified configuring of a wireless docking group for wireless devices by allowing a wireless device to communicate its capabilities and characteristics of one or more wireless devices within a wireless docking group, using a new Wireless Docking Protocol, to a wireless docking station that will use that information and the Wireless Docking Protocol to define an optimal set of connections for wireless devices in the wireless docking group.
US08554962B2
A data transfer control device that selects one of a plurality of DMA channels and transfers data to or from memory includes a request holding section configured to hold a certain number of data transfer requests of the plurality of DMA channels and a request rearranging section configured to select and rearrange the data transfer requests that are held in a basic transfer order so that the data transfer requests of each of the plurality of DMA channels are successively outputted for a number of successive transfers set in advance.
US08554961B2
Apparatus, methods and computer-code are disclosed where an impending decoupling between a peripheral device and a host is detected. In some embodiments, in response to the detected impending disconnection, a user alert signal is generated. In some embodiments, an ‘onboard detector’ that is associated with housing of the peripheral device and operative to detect the impending disconnection is provided. In some embodiments, the user alert signal is generated in accordance with inter-device data flow between the host and the peripheral device. Exemplary peripheral devices include but are not limited to transient storage devices such as a USB flash drives (UFD).
US08554958B1
A system and method are disclosed for modifying the capabilities and functions of a printer after it is manufactured. A consumable/replaceable printer cartridge includes a storage device having updated and/or additional printer function data and other data for use by the printer control circuitry to execute printer functions and other types of functions. In addition, when the printer cartridge is installed in the printer the storage device may be utilized by the printer control circuitry as expanded memory for use in executing the updated and/or additional printer functions and other types of functions.
US08554952B1
Efficient and highly-scalable network solutions are provided that each utilize deployment units based on Clos networks, but in an environment such as a data center of Internet Protocol-based network. Each of the deployment units can include multiple stages of devices, where connections between devices are only made between stages and the deployment units are highly connected. In some embodiments, the level of connectivity between two stages can be reduced, providing available connections to add edge switches and additional host connections while keeping the same number of between-tier connections. In some embodiments, where deployment units (or other network groups) can be used at different levels to connect other deployment units, the edges of the deployment units can be fused to reduce the number of devices per host connection.
US08554947B1
Network data transmission systems and methods are described. In one embodiment, a method for transmitting data between two nodes of a network can include transmitting the data using a protection bandwidth of a first transmission path between the two nodes and, based on detecting a failure condition in the first transmission path, using a different second transmission path between the two nodes to transmit the data otherwise transmitted using the protection bandwidth of the first transmission path. In one embodiment, the systems and methods can be applied to networks that use a layer-1 redundancy scheme.
US08554943B1
A method and structure for detecting whether the packets received by the switch are low latency packets or high bandwidth packets and routing detected low latency packets to a first one of a pair of switching structures and for high bandwidth packets to a second one of the pair of switching structures. The switch includes an output section for detecting whether a low latency packet is being received during transmission of a high bandwidth packet and, under such detected condition interrupting the transmission of the high bandwidth packet, transmitting the low latency packet, and then transmitting a remaining portion of the high bandwidth packet. The switch inserts delimiters at the start of transmission of the low latency packet and an end of transmission of the low latency packet. The transmission of the low latency packet commences immediately upon detection of such low latency packet.
US08554939B1
A system for displaying multiple images associated with an electronic message displays an image viewing icon in conjunction with the displayed electronic message on a client computer's monitor. In response to a single user selection of the image viewing icon, the system downloads from a document storage system a single document containing all associated images and displays the single document on the client computer's monitor.
US08554923B2
A method of processing data in an IPTV receiver and such an IPTV receiver are disclosed. The method includes receiving location information necessary to acquire a content corresponding to a content reference identifier (CRID) by using the CRID, requesting an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem Gateway (IG) to transmit a session description protocol (SDP) file of the content, wherein the content is identified by the CRID and an instance metadata identifier (IMI), receiving the requested SDP file from the IG, and controlling a session setup for processing the content by using the received location information and the received SDP file.
US08554907B1
Daily query counts for e-mail messages sent from a number of IP addresses having unknown reputations are collected and logged, and optionally plotted. The logged query count data may optionally be normalized. The normalized query count data may also be plotted. The normalized data is divided into regions (numerically or graphically). Next, the divided regions are tagged (symbolically or graphically) with unique, symbolic identifiers such as letters, numbers, symbols or colors. Patterns for each unknown IP address are formed based upon the tagged regions. Common good and bad patterns are also identified for known good and bad IP addresses. The reputation of these unknown IP addresses are then predicted using these identified good and bad patterns using a suffix tree (for example). Finally, an output identifying the determined reputations of these unknown IP addresses is generated and output.
US08554899B2
A secure domain name service for a computer network is disclosed that includes a portal connected to a computer network, such as the Internet, and a domain name database connected to the computer network through the portal. The portal authenticates a query for a secure computer network address, and the domain name database stores secure computer network addresses for the computer network. Each secure computer network address is based on a non-standard top-level domain name, such as .scom, .sorg, .snet, .snet, .sedu, .smil and .sint.
US08554897B2
Data sharing between networked smart devices is disclosed. One embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to a method for data sharing with one or more associated smart devices via a network. The method comprises displaying, on a display unit of the smart device, an image for each one of the associated smart devices within coverage of the network and an image of shared data. The method also comprises effecting a change in a first image for a first smart device of the associated smart devices when the first smart device is targeted as a target device for the data sharing. The method further comprises communicating the shared data with the first smart device via the network when, on the display unit, the image of the shared data is moved to or from a domain of the first image of the first smart device.
US08554892B2
Described herein are systems and methods for aggregating performance data or trace data for a multi-core, multi-packet-engine networked appliance. A plurality of packet engines operate on the appliance and manage network traffic between a plurality of clients and a plurality of servers. In various embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of packet engines and an aggregator communicating with the packet engines through shared memory allocations. Each packet engine can write performance data or trace data to the a shared memory allocation. The aggregator can obtain the performance data or trace data and consolidate the data to provide unified performance data or unified trace data representative of the appliance.
US08554889B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to accurately match a particular computing device within a networked computing environment with an identity of that computing device. According to one aspect, a method for identifying a client computing device in a networked computing environment is provided. The method receives a discovery data record that includes a hardware identification and a logical identification, and in response, queries a plurality of client records for a matching client record. If a matching client record is identified by the query it is compared with the received discovery data record to identify the client computing device.
US08554886B2
A wireless communication terminal and a communication system selection method are capable of selecting a communication system having high battery usage efficiency by keeping battery remaining time long and satisfying throughput required by the application depending on scenes. The wireless communication terminal 100 capable of selecting plural communication systems comprises an application information acquisition unit 170 for acquiring a type of used application;an evaluation amount calculation unit 166 for changing a communication system selection criterion in response to the type of application thus acquired and calculating an evaluation amount with respect to time adding predetermined time to communication system switching time; and a system selection unit 167 for comparing the evaluation amounts thus calculated and selecting any one of communication systems. Therefore, it is possible to select/switch to the communication system having high battery usage efficiency among plural systems in response to a real-time requirement of the application.
US08554884B2
A setting and modifying method of a user operating interface is used between a user device and a digital audio/video signal receiving and processing device through a network. The setting and modifying method includes the following steps. Firstly, the user device acquires a first user operating interface setting information from the digital audio/video signal receiving and processing device. Then, the contents of the first user operating interface setting information are modified to generate a second user operating interface setting information. Afterwards, the second user operating interface setting information is transmitted from the user device to the digital audio/video signal receiving and processing device through the network for setting the user operating interface.
US08554877B2
The present invention relates to a drive system that includes a module that operates as a server, where at least sometimes the module is at least one of directly integrated with another module that operates as a drive and fully integrated to include the drive. The server allows for communications with one or more terminals via an internet-type communications medium, while the drive is for controlling, monitoring and/or otherwise interacting with at least one motor, electromechanical machine, or other appropriate type of machine/process. In at least some embodiments, the server is capable of providing web pages, executable programs and/or other information including, for example, information in accordance with an FTP protocol onto the internet for receipt by the terminals. The terminals communicate commands and other information via the internet back to the server, which in turn can influence the drive and the controlled machine/process.
US08554874B2
For a satellite-based transmission of an HTML application accessible from an initial site, there is provided at the level of an intermediate platform hardware and software means making it possible on the basis of a semantic and syntactic analysis of the application to group together into transmission modules pages of like depth of the application and included components, if any, in these pages. The modules containing the low depth pages are transmitted with a greater frequency than the pages of greater depth.In this way a user more quickly receives all the information necessary for the displaying of a page.
US08554869B2
Disclosed herein is a technique for providing an interface that allows a user to navigate backwards through linked webpages. Initially, a request to display inlinks of linking webpages that contain a link to a particular webpage is received. In response to the request, a new page that contains a set of inlinks that correspond to a set of linking webpages that each contain a link to the particular webpage is provided. Each of the inlinks may be associated with a particular clickable item. An indication of a selection of a clickable item, associated with a particular inlink is received. In response, a second new page which contains a second set of inlinks that correspond to a second set of linking webpages that each contain a link to the webpage that corresponds to the particular inlink is provided. Some of the displayed inlinks may correspond to webpages that redirect to the particular webpage.
US08554862B2
A low-cost display bank that displays travel-related information in a public travel-related area and includes one or more slave low-cost display units, and a master low-cost display unit that includes a communication interface that receives travel-related information, a display bank control unit that sends identification information to a display bank data management unit through the communication interface, receives a display bank unit profile containing display parameters based on the identification information through the communication interface, receives travel-related information from the display bank data management unit in accordance with the received display parameters through the communication interface, sends the received travel-related information intended to be displayed on the one or more slave low-cost display units to the one or more slave low-cost display units, and displays the received travel-related information on the master low-cost display unit and the one or more slave low-cost display units based on the received display parameters.
US08554860B1
An apparatus and method for forwarding message packets over a network having at least one dedicated priority route. The priority messages are identified and only those priority messages having a length less than or equal to a threshold message length are transmitted over the priority route.
US08554856B2
A computer system includes one or more devices that are capable of multitasking (performing at least two tasks in parallel or substantially in parallel). In response to detecting that one of the devices is performing a first one of the tasks, the system prevents the devices from performing at least one of the tasks other than the first task (such as all of the tasks other than the first task). In response to detecting that one of the devices is performing a second one of the tasks, the system prevents the devices from performing at least one of the tasks other than the second task (such as all of the tasks other than the second task).
US08554855B1
An example method for delivery of push notifications includes receiving a push notification including a message and a destination, creating a send token, sending a push notification derived from the received push notification and the send token, and receiving push information concerning a processing of the sent push notification which is identified by the send token. An example system for delivering push notifications includes a server system having a processor, memory, and a network interface, where the memory stores program instructions including code segments for receiving a received push notification via the network interface. In this example, the program instructions further includes code segments for creating a send token, code segments for sending a sent push notification derived from the received push notification and the send token via the network interface, and code segments for receiving received push information concerning a processing of the sent push notification are provided.
US08554852B2
A request for information items may include content information associated with one or more electronic messages and geographical information associated with the requesting user. A set of information items is identified based on the user geographical information and the message content of the one or more electronic messages. In some embodiments, at least one of the information items is identified based on both the user geographical information and the message content. In some embodiments, if the user geographical information is different from the user's default geographical information, at least one of the information items is identified based on the user geographical information, but not the message content. A subset of the identified information items may be selected in accordance with a scoring or ranking function. The selected information items are transferred to the requesting client and displayed concurrently with (e.g., next to) the electronic messages.
US08554850B2
A multi-function device may be configured to receive a first electronic mail including a first attached file, analyze the first electronic mail, supply an image described by the first attached file to a print performing unit in a case where the multi-function device analyzes that the first electronic mail includes first command information including a first sort of a command and first designation information designating the first attached file, and send the first attached file to an other device in a case where the multi-function device analyzes that the first electronic mail includes second command information including a second sort of a command different from the first sort of the command and the first designation information.
US08554849B2
Controlling the volume of an audible alert associated with an instant messaging communications session includes rendering, on a first instant messaging user system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least a first instant messaging user and a second instant messaging user, receiving notification of an event related to the instant messaging communications session, determining a characteristic of the event, accessing an audible alert to be rendered to signal existence of the event, adjusting based upon the determined characteristic of the event a volume of the audible alert corresponding to the event, and rendering the audible alert to signal existence of the event.
US08554847B2
A user can be assigned to one of a plurality of filtering profiles to filter the user's incoming email messages. Each filtering profile in the plurality of filtering profiles filters the incoming emails according to a different set of filtering rules. The filtering profiles are applied to incoming emails, and the emails are delivered according to the rules of the currently-assigned filtering profile. The user's actions on the received email is tracked to determine a first performance score for how accurately the first filtering profile is filtering incoming emails of the user, and if the first performance score is less than a score value, the user might be assigned to a different filtering profile.
US08554846B2
The present invention enables a messaging kernel to serve as the basis for asynchronous messaging in a Web service platform. The kernel provides basic messaging features, including point-to-point and publish/subscribe messaging, persistent and non-persistent messages, a variety of acknowledgement modes, two-phase commit transactions, quotas, statistics, message sorting, and message paging. It also includes some novel features that maintain message order based on application requirements. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US08554831B2
One or more embodiments may include a method and system for operating a computer application stored on a nomadic device (ND) located within the vicinity of a vehicle. The system may include a vehicle computer system (VCS). The method may include receiving an input at the VCS to pair the VCS with the ND to establish a wireless communication link over which the VCS may receive one or more instructions from the ND. The one or more instructions may include instructions for establishing a connection with an electronic calendar application executing on the ND and instructions for prompting a user for one or more electronic calendar application events. The method may further include receiving a request from the user for the one or more electronic calendar application events and executing the one or more electronic calendar application events.
US08554826B2
A method and system for sending and receiving XML message based transactions between a client and software components of a medical imaging system comprises forming a message with a client. The message comprises a header section and a data section and is sent to a first component. The first component receives the message and executes a transaction based on the message.
US08554825B2
A system and method for modeling and evaluating resource requirements of services is disclosed. The system and method in one aspect enable describing an application session in a software model, for example, as a sequence of events in a sequence diagram, annotating the sequence diagram with information and using the sequence diagram and the information to create a mathematical model such as a Markov model that represents the application session. Once in Markov form the service can be analyzed. The system may include a user interface for allowing a user to enter annotations to the sequence diagram.
US08554822B2
Binary code decimal (BCD) arithmetic add/subtract operations on two BCD numbers independent of which BCD number is of a greater magnitude include, responsive to the BCD arithmetic add/subtract operation being a subtract operation, performing a BCD arithmetic subtraction operation on a first BCD number and a second BCD number, the first BCD number having a first magnitude and the second BCD number having a second magnitude. The first magnitude is greater than, equal to, or less than the second magnitude. The performing includes: in parallel to a carry generation, partial sums or partial differences of the first and second BCD numbers are computer such that a final result in signed magnitude form is selectable from the partial sums or differences based on carry information without any post processing steps.
US08554816B2
Embodiments described herein describe the construction of frequency domain estimates of generalized power density and the filters that can be constructed from those estimates. Using the concept of the Stokes vector representation of the spectral matrix in an M-dimensional vector space, a generalization of the process in which the spectral matrix may be represented by a set of trace-orthogonal matrices that are based upon a particular signal state can be produced. One aspect of the process is as follows: given a particular signal, represented as by a state vector in the space, a complete, orthonormal set of vectors can be produced that includes the signal of interest. Then, a generalized set of matrices is constructed, based upon the developed vectors, that are trace-orthogonal and which serve as a basis set for the expansion of the spectral matrix. The coefficients of this expansion form a generalized Stokes vector that represents the power in the spectral matrix associated with the various state vectors. Filters that serve to extract or suppress information about a particular state may then be constructed using the components of the generalized Stokes vectors. The effectiveness of an embodiment this filter is demonstrated using acoustic data from a microphone array.
US08554814B2
Systems and methods for generating a random signal, based on quantum noise in the phase of two or more input signals. The generated output random signal has random variation in its intensity based on the quantum noise in the phases of the input signals.
US08554807B2
A technique for incrementally unloading classes using a region-based garbage collector is described. One aspect of such a technique includes maintaining a remembered set for a class set. The remembered set indicates whether instances of the class set are contained in one or more regions in memory, and in which regions the instances are contained. Upon performing an incremental garbage collection process for a subset of the regions in memory, the technique examines the remembered set to determine whether the class set includes instances in regions outside of the subset. If the remembered set indicates that the class set includes instances outside of the subset of regions, the technique identifies the class set as “live.” This will preclude unloading the class set from the subset of regions.
US08554800B2
A data management system, the system including: (i) an input interface for acquiring a source document; and (ii) a processor configured to: (a) divide the source document into multiple objects in response to content of the source document; (b) analyze the multiple objects to generate multiple low level sub-trees, wherein each of the low level sub-trees includes at least one of the multiple objects; (c) generate multiple mid level sub-trees, wherein each of the mid level sub-trees includes link to at least one of the low level sub-trees; (d) generate a top level sub-tree that includes multiple section links, wherein each of the section links to one of the mid level sub-trees; (e) create metadata descriptive of at least one of the sub-trees generated, wherein the metadata includes data which is not included in the source document; and (f) generate a structured document that includes the top level sub-tree, at least some of the mid level sub-trees and at least some of the low level sub-trees, and the metadata.
US08554789B2
A database system automatically detects a cyclic construct in a XML schema, determines a database representation for the cyclic construct, and maps the XML schema and elements involved in the cyclic construct to the database representation.
US08554785B2
The present disclosure discloses a method for managing user information in an instant messaging system in order to address the problems of increasing system workload, increasing network overhead and deteriorated system performance in existing technologies due to frequent access of user information management server or servers when user information is searched. According to a disclosed method, an access server obtains and stores information of contacts of a logged-in user; the access server notifies user information of the logged-in user to other access servers; the access servers that receive the notification store the user information of the logged-in user upon determining that contact(s) is/are found locally therein; and when the access server needs to obtain the information of the contacts of the user, the access server performs a search either locally or in other access servers. Furthermore, a communication system is also provided. The disclosed method and system are believed to result in greatly reduced frequency of searching user information in the user information management servers, reduced workload of the user information management servers, improved performance of searching user information and reduced network overhead of the system.
US08554781B2
A method and apparatus for convenient and fast entry of a search string for searching a database. A subset of the alphabet (such as the vowels) is used for entry of a search string, and database matches are determined according to the appearance of the subset characters in the search fields of the database records. The use of the alphabet subset reduces the size of the entry keypad and simplifies user entry of the search string.
US08554779B1
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating respective random weights for identified audience members matching an audience specification in order to mask the behavior of individuals. The mean value of the random weights for large audience results approaches one so that a sum of the weights approximates a count of the matching records.
US08554777B2
A data storage method and system. The method includes defining, by a computing system, a meta-object, a schema based structured definition for the meta-object, and a taxonomy with configuration data. The computing system creates content associated with the taxonomy and associates topics of the content with a logical storage room representations. Reference coordinates associated with the logical storage room representations are associated with the taxonomy. The computing system generates updated configuration data that includes the reference coordinates and a uniform resource identifier associated with the content is generated. The computing system generates an account associated with the meta-object for a user. Metering charges for usage of the account and a report associated with the account and usage are generated.
US08554772B2
A records management system classifies records according to a file plan. Record are declared, and then classified. Some records have in initially indeterminate classification and classification is deferred, either by request or due to a lack of sufficient information to classify the record according to the file plan. Unclassified records are placed into a temporary container. At some time while in the temporary container a classification event occurs with a given record which allows the records management system to classify the record and place it into a container corresponding to its classification.
US08554770B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a user profile for a subject user based on historical aggregate profile data for locations at which the subject user was previously located. In one embodiment, one or more location and time period pairs are determined for the subject user. Each location and time period pair defines a previous location of the subject user and a time period during which the subject user was at the previous location. Historical aggregate profile data is obtained for the location and time period pairs. For each location and time period pair, the historical aggregate profile data is generally an aggregation of user profiles of a number of users relevant to the location and time period pair. A user profile for the subject user is then created based on the historical aggregate profile data for the one or more location and time period pairs.
US08554759B1
A system may identify a collection of documents, predict a utility score for each document in the collection of documents, and create a ranked list of the documents based on the predicted utility scores for the documents. The system may also select a number of the documents in the ranked list of documents, index the selected documents, and store the index.
US08554750B2
Data is often populated into Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs) from different sources. Because the data can come from a variety of sources, it may have inconsistencies—and may even be incomplete. A Normalization Engine (NE) may be able to automatically clean up the incoming data based on certain rules and knowledge. In one embodiment, the NE takes each Configuration Item (CI) or group of CIs that are to be normalized and applies a rule or a set of rules to see if the data may be cleaned up, and, if so, updates the CI or group of CIs accordingly. In particular, one embodiment may allow for the CI's data to be normalized by doing a look up against a Product Catalog and/or an Alias Catalog. In another embodiment, the NE architecture could be fully extensible, allowing for the creation of custom, rules-based plug-ins by users and/or third parties.
US08554748B1
A system is provided including a host processing system and a remote management module coupled to it. The host processing system is configured to receive an update package. The remote management module is configured to determine one or more modified files from the update package and update its current embedded system by replacing, with the one or more modified files, only those files associated with the current embedded system that correspond to the one or more modified files.
US08554743B2
Described are embodiments of an invention for optimizing a computing environment that performs data management operations such as encryption, deduplication and compression. The computing environment includes data components and a management system. The data components operate on data during the lifecycle of the data. The management system identifies all the data components in a data path, how the data components are interconnected, the data management operations performed at each data component, and how many data management operations of each type are performed at each data component. Further, the management system builds a data structure to represent the flow of data through the data path and analyzes the data structure in view of policy. After the analysis, the management system provides recommendations to optimize the computing environment through the reconfiguration of the data management operation configuration and reconfigures the data management operation configuration to optimize the computing environment.
US08554740B2
Systems and methods are provided that record an easily viewable log of operations. A particular system includes a response receiving unit that receives an input response from a server, the input response related to a first client request and including first content adapted to prompt data input via a client. Additionally, the system includes a response sending unit that sends the client an output response, including the first content and an identifier to identify the first content and a logging database to record the first content in association with the identifier. Further, the system includes a request receiving unit that receives a second client request including input data related to the first content and the identifier and a content combining unit that combines the input data extracted from the second client request with the first content that is retrieved from the logging database based on the identifier.
US08554739B2
Disclosed herein are a variety of systems and methods that may be utilized to facilitate the configuration of intelligent electronic devices using design templates. A design template may be configured to make available to the user only particular inputs that might need to be modified for a specific application of the intelligent electronic device. Use of templates, as disclosed herein, may simplify the task of configuring an intelligent electronic device. Data entered by the user may be utilized to generate a plurality of intelligent electronic device settings. According to various embodiments, the data entered by a user may be stored on the intelligent electronic device in an archive file. The archive file may also include other design information that a user may desire to store on the intelligent electronic device.
US08554736B2
A method of backing up a backup space includes splitting a complete backup of the backup space into a number of rolling backups, and backing up a portion of unchanged files and all changed and new files on each of the rolling backups.
US08554734B1
Technologies for providing block-level continuous data protection can operate without additional external devices. I/O operations to a storage volume may be logged to a sequential journal volume. The logging can occur in parallel to the I/O operation thereby having little, or no, impact on the performance of the storage system. Previous data need not be backed up; instead only new I/O operations may be recorded in the journal or log. Snapshot events may also be recorded to the logging journal. When a volume is to be recovered, a snapshot can be mounted and I/O operations after the snapshot creation, but prior to the recovery point, can be played back onto the snapshot. Operators may be provided with a flexible mechanism for reviewing and recovering data after a data loss. Using snapshots and I/O journals, a volume can be rolled back to a desired point nearly instantaneously.
US08554724B2
A method replicates data between instances of a distributed database. The method identifies at least two instances of the database at distinct geographic locations. The method tracks changes to the database by storing deltas. Each delta has a row identifier that identifies the piece of data modified, a sequence identifier that specifies the order in which the deltas are applied to the data, and an instance identifier that specifies where the delta was created. The method determines which deltas to send using an egress map that specifies which combinations of row identifier and sequence identifier have been acknowledged as received at other instances. The method builds a transmission matrix that identifies deltas that have not yet been acknowledged as received. The method then transmits deltas identified in the transmission matrix. After receiving acknowledgement that transmitted deltas have been incorporated into databases at other instances, the method updates the egress map.
US08554723B2
A computer-implemented matching service matches users to other users, and/or to user communities, based at least in part on a computer analysis of event data reflective of user behaviors. The event data may, for example, evidence user affinities for particular items represented in an electronic catalog, such as book titles, music titles, movie titles, and/or other types of items that tend to reflect the traits of users. Event data reflective of other types of user actions, such as item-detail-page viewing events, browse node visits, search query submissions, and/or web browsing patterns may additionally or alternatively be considered. By taking such event data into consideration, the matching service reduces the burden on users to explicitly supply personal profile information, and reduces poor results caused by exaggerations and other inaccuracies in such profile information.
US08554717B2
A method for creating a risk estimate for a tool includes creating a plurality of source patterns from tool data and maintenance data related to a plurality of tools. The method also includes creating a risk model from the plurality of source patterns, the risk model including a plurality of example stressors each having an associated risk value. The method also includes creating at least one stress pattern from tool data related to the tool and comparing the at least one stress pattern to the risk model to create a risk estimate for the tool.
US08554715B2
The apparatus computes classification scores based on parameters that have been determined from documents. Each score is compared with a first and second threshold. Definite classifications are assigned when the score is above the highest threshold or below the lowest threshold and the documents are processed accordingly. If the score is between the thresholds the document is singled out for further inspection, for example by a human arbitrator, to assign a class. The first and second threshold are adapted automatically based on specified a minimum accuracy level for the classification and a training set. The apparatus uses this specified accuracy in a search for a combination of threshold values that optimizes classifier yield, in terms of a maximized fraction of patterns in a training set that need not be turned over for further inspection without definite classification. The search is subject to the condition that the combination of thresholds results in at least the specified accuracy over the training set.
US08554704B2
Methods and systems are provided for solving an optimization problem using a model expressed in a mixed integer programming (MIP) language. The problem is constrained within a space of valid solutions by a plurality of MIP variables. A skeleton set of the variables are designated as eligible for fixed value assignments. An initial solution for the problem is obtained, which forms the basis for refinement. New versions of the problem are prepared and solved iteratively by fixing a proportion of the skeleton set to their best known values, as found in a previous problem-solving iteration.
US08554700B2
This patent application pertains to answer model comparison. One implementation can determine a first frequency at which an individual answer category appears in an individual slot on a query results page when utilizing a first model. The method can ascertain a second frequency at which the individual answer category appears in the individual slot on the query results page when utilizing a second model. The method can calibrate the second model so that the second frequency approaches the first frequency.
US08554686B2
In a personal Internet communication device, a security key is stored on the master boot record. Any bootable device attempting to write operating system files or software files must have an authorized signature key in order to be eligible to install files on the personal Internet communication device.
US08554685B2
A universal ID and biometrics systems and methods are disclosed. A method includes receiving an authentication request message originating from a user. The authentication request message includes a first identifier and a second identifier, where the second identifier includes biometric data. The method further includes determining a third identifier based on the first identifier and sending the second and third identifiers to a first server computer to determine if the second and third identifiers have a predetermined correlation. The method further includes receiving confirmation of user authentication if the identification system determines that the second and third identifiers have the predetermined correlation.
US08554669B2
A method for offering at least one credit product by at least one credit issuer to a consumer at a point-of-sale between a merchant and the consumer. The method includes the steps of: providing a credit issuer data set including a plurality of data fields to a central database; initiating a transaction between the consumer and the merchant at the point-of-sale; offering, to the consumer at the point-of-sale, the at least one credit product; and presenting, to the consumer at the point-of-sale, at least one data field in the credit issuer data set. The at least one data field presented to the consumer is populated with data directed to the credit product, the credit issuer, or any combination thereof. An apparatus and system are also disclosed.
US08554664B2
A graphical interface and method are provided for selectively displaying market information corresponding to a plurality of tradeable objects. According to one example method, a scanning feature is provided in relation to a number of tradeable object indicators. Upon detecting a predefined movement of a user input device in relation to the plurality of indicators, a graphical interface dynamically displays market information corresponding to the tradeable objects as a predefined movement of the user input device is detected in relation to the tradeable object indicators.
US08554661B2
A computer-implemented, transaction-making, municipal bond trading system having a capability to conduct a private electronic auction of bid wanteds between a central brokers' broker and multiple prospective remote bidders and to maintain a reference database of accurate individual bond lot descriptions and identifications, including CUSIP (trademark) numbers.
US08554658B2
A system, method, and corresponding computer program product facilitates trading of a standardized contract. The terms of the contract may be such that it provides a payout from one party to the other based on the price, yield, level or other measure of an asset, basket, index, financial contract, other financial instrument or some economically significant variable observed at or around two specified times, both such times being after the time that the standardized contract is first available for trading. Alternatively, the terms of the contract may be such that it provides that one party has the right but not the obligation either to purchase or to sell some asset at a price which is determined at a first specified time, such right to be exercised at some time not later than the second specified time, both such times being after the time that the standardized contract is first available for trading. These and other related contracts are described.
US08554650B1
An importable electronic template and methods of creating and utilizing the importable template. The template includes an alphanumeric field created by a template creation entity and a response field created by the template creation entity. Data is electronically entered into the response field by a responding entity. The importable electronic template is incorporated into a general purpose electronic template.
US08554649B1
In some examples, a method for performing maintenance-cost-aware billing is described. The method may include generating a version of a virtual machine image. The method may also include calculating a usage charge for usage of an instantiated virtual machine corresponding to the version of the virtual machine image. The calculation of the usage charge may be based on an age of the version of the virtual machine image.
US08554648B2
An information model for a party and property records management system includes a legal party role object for maintaining relationships between objects, such as legal party objects and revenue-object objects, within the information model. A legal party object could have several associated objects, such as an identification number object or a legal party communication object.
US08554646B2
An accounting system under standard costing as absorption costing which identifies a break-even point, performs a process in which, in a break-even chart represented as a standard-costing marginal profit chart for a company or business line departments, a “net carryover manufacturing overhead allocation cost” η of an inventory and a managed gross profit QM (=Sales Amount X−Sales Absorption Cost) are defined, a managed fixed cost F (=η+Manufacturing Overhead C+General Administrative Cost G) is treated as a fixed cost, and the point of intersection between line segment OB′ connecting the origin O (0, 0) and point B′ (X, Vs) and horizontal line segment EN′ taking the value of the managed fixed cost F is identified as a break-even point (point H2′). Here, Vs is the sum of the managed gross profit QM and a sales manufacturing overhead allocation cost ACX.
US08554640B1
User content access events pertaining to a content item, such as an eBook, audio, video file, and so on, are collected and analyzed to determine progress data, including completion information about when the content item, or a portion thereof, has been completed. Once determined, further information or recommendations that have some relation to the completed content item may be presented to the user.
US08554635B2
A method and system are disclosed for managing catalog resources within a social commerce environment. Users are referred by a plurality of affiliates to a social commerce marketplace system. Once referred, the users are presented with a customized social commerce storefront that is associated with an individual affiliate. Each of the customized social commerce storefronts comprises a micro catalog of purchasable products, which is a subset of a master catalog comprising a set of available products. Social data associated with the user and catalog data associated with the purchasable products is processed to generate product catalog data to the user, which is then provided to the user. The user reviews the social commerce content and selects individual purchasable products for purchase.
US08554632B2
A subscription-based system for providing commerce information for one or more mobile devices for one or more merchants. Some techniques employed feature a subscription-based method for presenting commercial resources to a mobile device. The method involves receiving mobile device user information relating to a geographic location to locate one or more merchants within a subscription-based shopping network, and receiving mobile device user information relating to a merchant type within the subscription-based shopping network. The method also involves receiving, from a database over a communication network, information for one or more merchants associated with the mobile device user information for the geographic location and the merchant type, and presenting the associated merchant information on the mobile device. The associated merchant information can include a merchant name and address, a merchant telephone number, a merchant advertisement, a merchant coupon, or a merchant product or service offering to subscribers of the shopping network.
US08554630B2
Methods and systems are described for processing and display content. Web page data for a first web page is received from a remote system, wherein the web page is to be displayed on a terminal associated with a user. An automatic identification is performed of a first content in the first web page data. A user-defined profile is accessed. A second content is automatically selected based at least in part on the user profile. The first content is replaced with the second content so that if the first web page is displayed on the terminal associated with the user, the second content is displayed and the first content is not displayed.
US08554622B2
Methods and apparatus are described for evaluating a binary classification system operable to classify each of a plurality of events as a first event type or a second event type. At least some of the events of the first event type are independently verifiable with reference to verification data. The binary classification system is susceptible to a first error type in which events of the first event type are classified as the second event type, and a second error type in which events of the second event type are classified as the first event type. Operation of a first configuration of the binary classification system is evaluated with reference to an objective function. The objective function is derived by expressing a number of errors of the second error type in terms of a number of errors of the first error type with reference to the verification data, and by assuming relative proportions of the first and second event types within the plurality of events.
US08554619B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for creating experiment content distribution campaigns (“experiment campaign”) and allocating content in accordance with the experiment campaign. In one aspect, a control campaign or an experiment campaign are selected as an available campaign for providing content in response to receiving a content request. The selection can be a probability constrained selection where the probability with which the experiment campaign is selected is specified as a portion of a total number of requests received during an experiment period for which the experiment campaign is available to provide content. Content is provided in response to the request, where the provided content being content corresponding to the selected campaign.
US08554618B1
A group of key terms associated with an ad campaign are identified, each key term including a keyword or a key phrase, the ad campaign being associated with one or more negative key terms. The group is automatically classified into two or more sub-groups each having one or more key terms, at least one of the sub-groups having key terms that have a higher similarity level than the key terms in the original group. Associations between the one or more negative key terms and the two or more sub-groups are determined, and the two or more sub-groups of key terms and associated zero or more negative key terms are provided to a sponsor of the ad campaign.
US08554616B2
For use with a computer network, a media and advertisement player, a method of manufacturing the player and a method of playing media and advertisements and reporting the playing of the media and advertisements to a remote system. In one embodiment, the player includes: (1) a media player that receives media from a remote system via the computer network and plays the media in response to customer requests, (2) an advertisement player that receives advertisements and a corresponding advertising schedule from the remote system via the computer network and plays the advertisements according to the advertising schedule and (3) a tracking subsystem that generates as-run logs containing records of a playing of the media and the advertisements and transmits the as-run logs to the remote system via the computer network.
US08554615B2
In accordance with the present invention, context-induced wireless network information and content transport systems and methods are provided. In another aspect of the present application, a system includes first and second mobile devices that store respective interest profiles. A further aspect of the present application provides that wireless point-to-point connections are formed when the first and second mobile devices are in close physical proximity to each other. In another aspect, the mobile devices automatically exchange advertising content between each other based on the respective interest profiles over the wireless point-to-point connections. Yet another aspect employs a content distribution device wirelessly transmitting advertising content to one of the first and second mobile devices when the one of the first and second mobile devices is in close physical proximity to the content distribution device. A method of operating such a wireless network is also provided.
US08554604B2
A method of determining the behavioral outcome resulting from a business rule includes the step of defining at least one player, business rules, and an environment that defines actions that the player can take in accordance with the business rules. The definitions are translated into a codified script. The behavioral outcome resulting from player-selected actions during execution of the codified script are determined.
US08554602B1
System and method for automatic definition and tuning of user segment combinations used for targeted advertisement and marketing. Automated analysis and feedback modules may provide, ad hoc, optimized market segments definitions that maximize the conversion ratio for advertisements. The system and method may optimize of segment data based on a learning-running process built around a data exchange within a real-time bidding (RTB) media exchange system. In identifying qualified combinations for segments on-going loops or iterations may analyze the correlation between the performance of an advertisement or “creative” and user data, based on a set of parameters. As a part of data segmentation, embodiments of the present invention find combinations of parameters that may predict lift. Segment combinations are optimized by, for example combining a segment combination with one or more other segment combinations and/or dividing a segment combination into two or more different combinations.
US08554592B1
A system and method is provided for updating customer profiles based on current information on merchant transactions performed by the customers. The customer profiles, which include data fields for customer attributes, are stored in a profile data base. The customer profiles may be updated when a batch of merchant-customer transaction reports in a given time period becomes available. The information in the batch of merchant-customer transaction reports, which may be supplemented with additional known information on the merchants and/or customers, is sorted by customer account number. The customer profiles then are updated, one customer account number at time, using the sorted information. Profiling models which relate transaction types or characteristics to customer attributes are used to assign updated values to the customer attribute data fields.
US08554583B2
In one aspect, the invention comprises a computer implemented method comprising: (a) determining an average monthly cost of long term care for a consumer; (b) determining an estimated total cost of long term care for the consumer; (c) receiving and storing in a computer readable medium data describing the consumer's preferences regarding long term care resources; (d) calculating with a processor an initial benefit amount for the consumer; (e) adjusting with a processor the initial benefit amount based on the data describing the consumer's preferences to determine a total benefit amount; and (f) recommending a long term care policy providing the total benefit amount to the consumer, wherein the processors may the same processor or different processors. Other aspects of the invention comprise related method, computer system, and software embodiments.
US08554581B2
System and methods for processing a drug prescription transaction are configured to identify and resolve any issue or problem associated with the transaction during one or more early stages of processing. System and methods of processing the transaction handle prescription and customer data entry, pharmacy inventory check, prescription refill authorization check and/or insurance adjudication review well in advance of production and quality assurance stages by identifying and resolving any issue or problem. Prescription fulfillment is prioritized and estimated prescription pick-up times are predicted based on one or more outcomes of such early stage processing. Customers can be provided with realistic and relatively accurate prescription pick up times that a pharmacy can efficiently and consistently meet as a result of fulfillment prioritization. Further, system and methods for determining a staffing schedule for a workflow process requiring different skill levels during different operation times is provided.
US08554580B2
A knowledgebase comprising a plurality of feature-sets is created using complexity science. The knowledgebase is accessible through a network to a computer, a system, and a computer program code that receives and analyzes medical data to determine the existence of a disease state. The medical data is input and correlated to features within the knowledgebase to identify feature-sets, each feature-set indicating a particular medical condition. After one or more feature-sets have been selected, associative algorithms consider the magnitudes or values of the medical data and, with the values of features in the feature-sets, assess the risk burden of the medical condition associated with the feature-set. An output is generated that may include diagnoses of one or more medical conditions, the risk burden of the medical condition(s), possible treatment options and prevention techniques.
US08554579B2
A system for preparing and managing patient-specific dose orders includes an order processing server configured to receive the patient-specific dose orders, define a queue of dose orders and distribute the dose orders to at least one dose preparation station. The dose preparation station is in bi-directional communication with the order processing server and has an interface for providing an operator with a protocol associated with each received drug order and specifying a set of steps to fill the drug order. Steps to fill the drug order are captured at the station and a display, positionable independent of the station outputs the dose order queue and metrics concerning activity at the dose preparation station. Systems for preparing patient-specific doses and a method for telepharmacy in which data captured while following the protocol are provided to a remote site for review and approval by a pharmacist.
US08554577B2
There is provided an apparatus for organizing a clinical observation in the form of clinical information entered by a user into memory. The apparatus includes a mechanism to receive the clinical information, which is associated with the clinical observation and has a plurality of clinical attributes. There is a mechanism for parsing the clinical information, and which identifies a clinical information data structure representative of the clinical information and which has one or more granule information data structures. Each of the granule information data structures has a collection of generic attributes. There is a mechanism to assign the clinical attributes to respective ones of the generic attributes of the one or more granule information data structures. The clinical information data structure associates the clinical attributes with respective ones of the generic attributes of each of the granule information data structures.
US08554576B1
A document management device provides a user interface that receives an indication from a user of one or more series associated with an electronic document, such as a scanned or electronically completed medical-related form. In other embodiments, the document management device comprises document detection intelligence that determines a type of document and/or series for an electronic document. After determining a series associated with a document, one or more attributes that have previously been associated with the determined series are associated with the electronic document. The attributes associated with the electronic document may then be used to control user's rights to the document, indicate a type of viewer associated with the document, indicate a storage location for the document, and/or indicate a type of the electronic document, for example.
US08554575B1
A system and method are provided for processing flexible spending account transactions involving a plurality of pharmacies, a service provider, one or more pharmacy benefits managers (“PBMs”), and individuals having flexible spending accounts (“FSAs”) and stored value cards for debiting their FSAs. The service provider maintains a PBM transaction database; receives from a pharmacy an authorization request at the time of purchase; queries the PBM transaction database for a matching transaction in response to the authorization request; and authorizes payment of the patient responsible balance to be automatically debited against the respective FSA at the time of purchase.
US08554573B2
When modeling anatomical structures in a patient for diagnosis or therapeutic planning, an atlas (26) of predesigned anatomical structure models can be accessed, and model of one or more such structures can be selected and overlaid on an a 3D image of corresponding structure(s) in a clinic image of a patient. A user can click and drag a cursor on the model to deform the model to align with the clinical image. Additionally, a processor (16) can generate a volumetric deformation function using splines, parametric techniques, or the like, and can deform the model to fit the image in real time, in response to user manipulation of the model.
US08554569B2
An audio encoder implements multi-channel coding decision, band truncation, multi-channel rematrixing, and header reduction techniques to improve quality and coding efficiency. In the multi-channel coding decision technique, the audio encoder dynamically selects between joint and independent coding of a multi-channel audio signal via an open-loop decision based upon (a) energy separation between the coding channels, and (b) the disparity between excitation patterns of the separate input channels. In the band truncation technique, the audio encoder performs open-loop band truncation at a cut-off frequency based on a target perceptual quality measure. In multi-channel rematrixing technique, the audio encoder suppresses certain coefficients of a difference channel by scaling according to a scale factor, which is based on current average levels of perceptual quality, current rate control buffer fullness, coding mode, and the amount of channel separation in the source. In the header reduction technique, the audio encoder selectively modifies the quantization step size of zeroed quantization bands so as to encode in fewer frame header bits.
US08554557B2
A voice activity detection process is robust to a low and high signal-to-noise ratio speech and signal loss. A process divides an aural signal into one or more bands. Signal magnitudes of frequency components and the respective noise components are estimated. A noise adaptation rate modifies estimates of noise components based on differences between the signal to the estimated noise and signal variability.
US08554537B2
A method for transliteration includes receiving input such as a word, a sentence, a phrase, and a paragraph, in a source language, creating source language sub-phonetic units for the word and converting the source language sub-phonetic units for the word to target language sub-phonetic units, retrieving ranking for each of the target language sub-phonetic units from a database and creating target language words for the word in the source language based on the target language sub-phonetic units and ranking of the each of the target language sub-phonetic units. The method further includes identifying candidate target language words based predefined criteria, and displaying candidate target language words.
US08554533B2
Methods and apparatus for advancing time in a distributed business process simulation are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, simulation time may be warped from one breakpoint to another breakpoint thereby facilitating an efficient ratio of simulation time to real time.
US08554532B1
A circuit is simulated by using system or network tearing to obtain a real solution. The circuit may be an entire integrated circuit, portion of an integrated circuit, or a circuit block. A circuit simulation technique of the invention generates a system graph, finds a tree, and partitions the tree into two or more subtrees. The technique identifies global links and local links in the graph. Each subtree may be solved individually using distributed, parallel computing. Using the results for the subtrees, the technique obtains a real solution, branch voltages and currents, for the circuit.
US08554524B2
A calculation method for physical value for calculating physical values in a numerical analysis method for numerically analyzing a physical phenomenon, comprises a physical value calculation step of calculating physical values in an analysis domain divided into a plurality of divided domains, wherein in the physical value calculation step, the physical values are calculated by using: a discretized governing equation that uses values not requiring coordinates (Vertex) of vertices of the divided domains and connectivity information (Connectivity) of the vertices and that is derived on the basis of a weighted residual method; and a calculation data model in which volumes of the divided domains and characteristic values of boundary surface indicating characteristics of boundary surfaces of adjacent ones of the divided domains are provided as the values not requiring coordinates (Vertex) of vertices of the divided domains and connectivity information (Connectivity) of the vertices.
US08554520B2
Systems and methods for facilitating CAD design of one or more structures by automatically categorizing and/or associating multiple drawings without pre-existing knowledge as to the type of drawings being categorized. In some examples, a computing system receives a set of CAD drawings from a third-party, and a host manager automatically determines which of the drawings are host, stand-alone, and external reference drawings. Moreover, the host manager can determine which of a set of external references comprises a broken reference, such as a network pathway that does not contain the desired external reference. For each broken or corrupt reference, the host manager can create a dummy (proxy) drawing that can be inserted in place of the broken reference so that the system can process (e.g., bind) the set of drawings without crashing. An interface may be further provided for displaying the categorized set of drawings to the user.
US08554515B2
A system and method for evaluating equipment in an improper cluster in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one cooling provider. In one aspect, the method includes receiving data regarding each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, the data including a layout of the improper cluster of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, storing the received data, identifying at least one gap in the layout, determining cooling performance of at least one of the plurality of equipment racks based, at least in part, on characteristics of the at least one gap, and displaying the layout of the data center, wherein the layout includes an indication of the cooling performance of the at least one of the plurality of equipment racks.
US08554503B2
A method for calibration of a thickness gauge is provided in which the thickness gauge measures the thickness of a measured object in a stipulated measurement direction with at least one displacement sensor, operating contactless or by scanning, a reference object with known thickness and shape being brought into at least one partial area of the measurement field of the at least one displacement sensor.
US08554501B2
A method and device for the non-intrusive determination of the electrical power consumed by a subscriber installation. From the sampled values of the supply current and supply voltage that are delivered to the installation, constituting a consumption signal, the sampled values are grouped in successive observation time windows; the poles and residues of the consumption signal are discriminated in each current window using the pencil method, the set of poles and residues associated with at least one singular value representing a combination of signatures of separate electrical loads; at least the active power consumed by a subset of electrical loads in operation is calculated, over at least the duration of the current observation window, the sum of the active powers consumed by each electrical load satisfying a consumed power function linking these poles and residues.
US08554488B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions related to genomic profiling, and in particular, to assigning probabilistic measure of clinical outcome for a patient having a disease or a tumor using segmented genomic profiles such as those produced by representational oligonucleotide microarray analysis (ROMA).
US08554482B2
Electrical property contrast difference maps of the subsurface formations may be produced using surface and/or near surface array of transmitters and receivers tuned to emit and receive electromagnetic (EM) signals. The electrical property may be resistivity or conductivity. The maps may be time based. A time based trend change may be used to predict the location and movement of fluids within the hydrocarbon bearing or any other subsurface zones where resistivity and/or conductivity values of the fluids within these zones change over time.
US08554465B2
A device for the supported parking of a vehicle in a parking space is disclosed. The device includes at least one sensor device allowing the detection of at least one object at a near range from the vehicle. The device is implemented for numerically determining the presence of at least one object at a far range from the vehicle, such that the numerical determining of the object in the far range takes place on the basis of the object detected in the near range.
US08554462B2
In a method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a digital image is obtained by an image capturing device of the UAV. The method detects an object in the digital image, determines a distance between the detected object and the UAV, and obtains a flight direction of the UAV if the distance is less than a preset value. The method further calculates a relative position and a relative angle between the detected object and the UAV, determines a flight limiting range of the UAV according to the relative position and the relative angle, and controls the flight direction of the UAV according to the flight limiting range.
US08554460B2
Computer-implemented systems, methods, and computer-readable media for reducing operational costs relating to fuel burn of aircraft include receiving trip data specifying an origin, an intermediate destination, and a final destination from a client device; receiving operational data from one or more computing device; performing optimization logic to determine an optimized route having a minimized fuel cost, the optimized route specifying how much fuel to purchase at each of an origin airport, an intermediate destination airport, and a final destination airport; and transmitting the optimized route to the client device.
US08554456B2
An approach is provided that gathers observational traffic data at traffic controller nodes. Each of the traffic controller nodes communicates observational traffic data to other traffic controller nodes via a network. The traffic controller nodes negotiate traffic control parameters. The negotiating process receives timing proposals from the other traffic controller nodes included in the related set. The nodes analyze the proposed timings based on the traffic controller's gathered observational traffic data. The traffic controller node prepares responses in response to the analysis. The traffic controller node sends the negotiation responses to the other traffic controller nodes. The traffic controller node also adjusts its traffic control parameters that control the node's cycle times based on the analysis.
US08554455B2
An IIS system that performs control related to intermittent stopping of engine operation by idling stop control is applied to an internal combustion engine including a VVT mechanism that makes the valve timing of an engine valve variable and has an intermediate lock mechanism that mechanically locks the valve timing at an intermediate lock position between a most retarded position and a most advanced position. The IIS system is configured to inhibit the engine operation from being intermittently stopped at the occurrence of a failure of the VVT mechanism to avoid the internal combustion engine from being prevented from being restarted after the intermittent stop depending on the occurrence of the failure of the VVT mechanism.
US08554452B2
An ISG system makes it possible improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle by achieving an ISG system at a low cost in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission and considerably improve commercial quality of a vehicle by relatively reducing the parts and cost for manufacturing the vehicle, without using a sub-oil pump and a hill-start assist control device.
