US08597457B2
A laminated piezoelectric element includes plural internal electrodes which are laminated and a dead area at outer regions thereof. The laminated piezoelectric element has first and second end surfaces in an expansion direction thereof. In bonding a first bonded surface of a piezoelectric element fixing portion to the first end surface, a bonding method includes forming a first adhesive accumulation in the first bonded surface, accumulating an adhesive agent in the first adhesive accumulation, and bonding the first end surface to the first bonded surface. In bonding a vibration friction element to the second end surface, the bonding method includes forming, in a second bonded surface of the vibration friction element, a positioning guide hole for guiding the second end surface of the laminated piezoelectric element and a second adhesive accumulation, accumulating the adhesive agent in the second adhesive accumulation, and bonding the second end surface to the vibration friction portion.
US08597453B2
This invention provides a method of producing a highly electrically conductive sheet molding compound (SMC) composition and a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate made from such a composition. The plate exhibits a conductivity typically greater than 100 S/cm and more typically greater than 200 S/cm. In one preferred embodiment, the method comprises: (a) providing a continuous sheet of a substrate material (bottom sheet) and a continuous sheet of flexible graphite (top sheet) from respective rollers; (b) feeding a resin mixture (comprising a thermoset resin and a conductive filler) to a space between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in such a way that the resin mixture forms a uniform core layer sandwiched between the two sheets to obtain a laminated structure; (c) compressing the laminated structure to obtain a SMC composition having two opposite outer surfaces; and (e) impressing a fluid flow channel to either or both of the outer surfaces (e.g., via embossing or matched-die molding) and curing the thermoset resin to obtain the plate.
US08597439B2
A high-strength cold rolled steel sheet contains:0.10 to 0.28% of C,1.0 to 2.0% of Si,1.0 to 3.0% of Mn, and0.03 to 0.10% of Nb in terms of % by mass,Al is controlled to 0.5 or less, P is controlled to 0.15% or less, and S is controlled to 0.02% or less, and residual austenite accounts for 5 to 20%, bainitic ferrite accounts for 50% or more, and polygonal ferrite accounts for 30% or less (containing 0%), of the entire structure, and a mean number of residual austenite blocks is 20 or more as determined when the random area (15 μm×15 μm) is observed by EBSP (electron back scatter diffraction pattern).
US08597436B2
An aqua comb used with a hose for thoroughly and quickly cleaning, rinsing and combing the hair of both humans and animals. The aqua comb comprises four design elements: 1) a rotating hose nut with internal seal that is employed to attach the aqua comb to various hose endings, 2) an on/off valve for controlling fluid flow through the aqua comb, 3) an elongated and rigid fluid spray body with fluid discharge openings, and 4) a semi-rigid comb member positioned above the discharge openings to lift hair and allow fluid spray to reach scalp and skin thereunder. The core design element of the aqua comb is the presentation angle and comb member structure which work in concert with the fluid spray discharged from the fluid spray openings in its elongated spray body to multiply and leverage mechanical cleaning and combing action.
US08597434B2
A device and method of use for a towed portable cleaning facility is disclosed. The device employs storage tanks for both the storage and transport of cleaning fluids. The tanks serve the additional function of surrounding and enclosing the cleaning area an area that may be used for cleaning or storage. By utilizing the tanks as walls, the present invention provides a portable cleaning station. The device may further include the ability to treat and clean used fluids in order to either reuse or safely dispose of the used fluids as well as the ability to recover heat energy from an engine compartment to heat cleaning fluids.
US08597427B2
A semiconductor device is provided which is constituted by semiconductor devices including a thin film transistor with a GOLD structure, the GOLD structure thin film transistor being such that: a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode are formed in lamination from the side closer to a substrate; the gate electrode is constituted of a first-layer gate electrode and a second-layer gate electrode shorter in the size than the first-layer gate electrode; the first-layer gate electrode corresponding to the region exposed from the second-layer gate electrode is formed into a tapered shape so as to be thinner toward the end portion; a first impurity region is formed in the semiconductor layer corresponding to the region with the tapered shape; and a second impurity region having the same conductivity as the first impurity region is formed in the semiconductor layer corresponding to the outside of the first-layer gate electrode, which is characterized in that a dry etching process consisting of one step or two steps is applied to the formation of the gate electrode.
US08597422B2
The present invention relates to a light, biodegradable, organic pigment and filler, and a method of manufacturing it. According to the present invention, a solution comprising a starch derivative is first prepared by dissolving the starch derivative into a suitable solvent, and, after that, the solution is brought into contact with a non-solvent to precipitate the starch derivative from the solvent, and, as a result, a dispersion is obtained, one which comprises a precipitate consisting of starch derivative and a liquid phase formed of the solvent and the non-solvent, after which the solvent is removed from the liquid phase and the precipitate is separated from the non-solvent and recovered. The present invention can be used to manufacture both a product comprising 100-300 nm spherical particles, which is suitable for use as a pigment, and a coral-like, porous product which is particularly suitable as a filler.
US08597421B2
Provided are a cellulose resin composition and cellulose resin film which are free from the problem of bleeding even when containing a plasticizer in a relatively large amount.The present invention relates to a cellulose resin composition obtained by adding (A) polyester plasticizer to a cellulose resin, wherein the aforementioned (A) polyester plasticizer is obtained by allowing a polybasic acid and a polyalcohol to react and 80 mol % or more of said polybasic acid is a succinic acid and an adipic acid. The present invention also relates to a cellulose resin film obtained from the cellulose-based resin composition.
US08597419B2
Disclosed are compositions and processes for the preservation of porous materials, particularly porous fibrous materials, such as wood, wood composites, other processed wood materials, paper, board, card, textiles, rope, cordage and leather. Also for horticultural and agricultural application to plants or growing media prevent the growth and spread of fungal and other disease. The compositions contain salts of one or more preservative metals and carboxylic acids having one or a plurality of hydroxyl groups rendered soluble by means of complex formation with boric acid or a water soluble salt thereof. Application of the compositions of this invention to the porous organic material may be by any means used with conventional preservative solutions, for example soaking, spraying, brushing and vacuum or pressure application or other contact of the solution with the material to be treated.
US08597415B2
Disclosed herein are an electric precipitator, which efficiently charges dust particles without lowering dust collecting efficiency, although a velocity of an air current is not uniform, and an air cleaner having the same. The electric precipitator includes a charger unit including at least two charge cells to charge dust particles contained in air, and a collector unit to collect the dust particles charged by the charger unit. The at least two charge cells include a first cell, through which the dust particles pass at a first velocity, and a second cell, through which the dust particles pass at a second velocity different from the first velocity.
US08597414B2
A separation device with a gas inlet port that accepts an inlet gas. The inlet gas is composed of a mixture of at least two separable particle components with each component having a different mass. A rotating separation rotor accepts the inlet gas and uses a separator to substantially separate the gas according to mass into two fractions, a heavier and a lighter fraction. One of the fractions is passed to a second separator that further separates that fraction into another two fractions consisting of heavier and lighter fractions. The desired fractions are collected and exhausted from the separation device for use.
US08597403B2
An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.
US08597401B2
An exhausting method includes determining an exhaust flow rate of a process gas to be a predetermined value that is less than or equal to a gas flow rate corresponding to a maximum process capability of a purification system when the process gas is diluted to a lower explosive limit; calculating a pressure drop amount per unit time to maintain the determined exhaust flow rate of the process gas, based on a relation between the exhaust flow rate and the pressure drop amount per unit time; and evacuating an inside of the chamber to maintain the determined exhaust flow rate, while controlling the pressure through an automatic pressure control valve by setting a target pressure value to be updated as a control value of the automatic pressure control valve at every predetermined time interval so as to achieve a calculated pressure drop amount per unit time.
US08597395B2
A method of regulating plant genes is provided. The method provides improved drought stress or salinity stress for plants. The method comprises treating a part of a plant or the locus thereof with a composition of matter, the composition of matter comprising an agriculturally acceptable mixture of compounds of natural organic material of defined composition.
US08597389B2
Disclosed are various embodiments of a filtration lighting system. In one embodiment, the filtration lighting system includes at least one light source, a circulation fan, at least one air filter, and a housing. The housing includes at least one air inlet and is configured to house the light source, the circulation fan, and the at least one air filter.
US08597383B2
A catalytic membrane reactor assembly for producing a hydrogen stream from a feed stream having liquid hydrocarbons, steam, and an oxygen source through the use of an autothermal reforming reaction, a water-gas-shift reaction, and a hydrogen permeable membrane.
US08597380B2
Methods and systems for blending multiple batches of mixed hydrocarbons into fuel streams downstream of the refinery are provided that do not compromise the octane value of the fuel and do not cause the volatility of the fuel to exceed volatilities imposed by government regulation.
US08597378B2
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in a stack, each of the battery cells including a pair of spaced apart tabs extending therefrom, a rigid support plate coupled to at least one of the tabs, and a busbar coupled to at least one of the tabs of each of a pair of adjacent battery cells.
US08597376B2
Provided are a porous valve metal thin film having a great surface area, a method for the production thereof, and a thin film capacitor having a great capacity density utilizing the thin film as an anode. The porous valve metal thin film is produced by preparing a thin film in which a valve metal and a hetero-phase component have a particle diameter within a range of from 1 nm to 1 μm and the valve metal and the hetero-phase component are uniformly distributed, subjecting the thin film to a heat treatment so as to adjust the particle diameter and to appropriately sinter the film, and removing the hetero-phase portion.
US08597371B2
The invention provides an agent for lightening keratinic fibers, the agent containing in a cosmetic carrier (i) at least one acyl pyridinium derivative of formula (I), (ii) at least one cationic polysaccharide, and (iii) at least hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent.
US08597370B2
Artificial hand suitable for robotic applications or as a prosthesis, comprising a frame with a thumb and at least two fingers, and having a motor drive for adjusting the thumb and the fingers with respect to the frame, wherein the motor drive has a housing and an axle which is rotatably positioned within the housing, and wherein the housing is mounted in a first bearing supported by the frame to enable that the housing may rotate with regard to the frame, and that the thumb and fingers are drivingly connected with the housing and the axle respectively.
US08597369B2
The present invention relates to a system for use in rehabilitation and/or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any surface without overbalancing. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography.
US08597368B2
A tubular liner has an open proximal end and a closed-end distal area, and a fabric layer continuously defining an exterior surface of the liner without interruption. A polymeric layer having first and second surfaces is bonded to an interior surface of the fabric layer. A seam is formed by opposed sides of the fabric layer joined together and forming an excess portion directed toward the cavity of the liner. The excess portion is embedded in the polymeric layer.
US08597362B2
Pathologies of joints arising from improper force distributions are addressed by displacement of targeted connective and muscle tissues surrounding the joint in order to realign force vectors and alter moment arms loading the joint.
US08597355B2
A medical device includes a base ring configured to be implanted within a body of a patient. The base ring provides a contact surface to a vertebrae. Multiple layers of multiple leveling plates are configured to equalize forces applied to the contact surface of the base ring, where at least one of the layers of the leveling plates engages an inner surface of the base ring. A layer of multiple pads is included with a top surface of the pads configured to maintain a parallel plane and a bottom surface of each of the multiple pads is configured to engage a top surface of one of the layers of the leveling plates. A cover is configured to enclose the multiple layers of the leveling plates, the layer of the multiple pads and the base ring. The cover provides a contact surface to a vertebrae.
US08597350B2
Methods and apparatus for controlling the operation of, and providing power for and to, implantable ventricular assist devices which includes a pump employing a brushless DC motor-driven blood pump, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a control system for driving an implantable blood pump is provided. The digital processor is responsive to data associated with the operation of the pump received at the data transfer pump, and from program data stored in the memory, (i) to determine therefrom, the identity of the pump, (ii) to determine therefrom, electrical characteristics and features of the identified pump, and (iii) to adaptively generate and apply to the data port, control signals for driving the identified pump.
US08597346B2
A method of temporarily reducing the diameter of a stent graft (10) and a stent graft with its diameter reduced. The stent graft has a tubular body and self expanding stents. The method comprising extending a release wire (18, 20) part helically along the graft material tube from substantially one side of the graft material tube at one end (14) of the graft material tube to substantially the opposite side of the graft material tube at the other end (12) of the graft material tube along the stent graft and stitching the release wire into the graft material tube, at each of a number of positions along the release wire looping flexible threads (22, 24) around the release wire and extending the flexible threads laterally around the circumference of the stent graft in each direction to a position away from the release wire, engaging the first flexible threads into the graft material or around struts of the stent, and drawing the ends of the thread together and tying ends of the thread to thereby temporarily reduce the overall diameter of the stent graft.
US08597339B2
An apparatus, a system, and a method for thermally comforting a patient include pneumatic, convective device providing thermal treatment for persons or animals, which is adapted for use in combination with a clinical garment such as a hospital gown, robe, bib, and other equivalents. The pneumatic convective device provides convective warming focused or directed primarily on the thorax or body core. The pneumatic convective device includes at least one inlet for being accessed through a clinical garment, a region in distribution with the inlet for distributing a stream of pressurized, thermally treated air, and a permeable member for emitting pressurized, thermally treated air from the distribution region.
US08597337B2
A device and method are disclosed for the fusion of joints (particularly finger joints or toe joints) in a bent (or angled) position. In certain embodiments, a device for the fusion of joints preferably allows for one or more of various angled positions, and the particular angle may differ for different joints. The device is preferably a bendable implant device for fusing together bones or a joint.
US08597335B2
Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.
US08597324B2
A device for closing an aperture in a vessel wall comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and positionable inside the vessel against the internal opening of the aperture. The elongated member has a dimension to prevent egress of fluid through the aperture. A material forms two curved legs having ends positionable external of the vessel. The legs curve in different directions and a retention portion is formed in the material to retain the legs during placement of the elongated member inside the vessel.
US08597318B2
A surgical tool includes a rocker assembly configured to cause rotation of a surgical blade to form an incision. The rocker assembly includes a gear. The surgical tool also includes a ratchet configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction. The surgical tool further includes a linkage arm connecting the rocker assembly and the ratchet so that rotation of the ratchet causes rotation of the rocker assembly. In addition, the surgical tool includes a spring configured to be extended by the ratchet when the ratchet is rotated in the first direction. The spring is also configured to retract and cause the ratchet to rotate in the second direction.
US08597317B2
The invention provides a single surgical procedure by using autologous platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and cartilage fragments to solve problems of contamination during incubation of chondrocytes and transplant rejection in vivo, which has the benefit of a more efficient and shorter recovery time. The invention also provides a device for easily and rapidly cutting cartilage to cartilage fragments so as to reduce contamination of the implant and infection.
US08597315B2
An atherectomy catheter is provided for excising and imaging material in a body lumen. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a catheter body, a cutting blade, and an imaging device. The cutting blade is mounted on the catheter body and configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to an aperture or cutting window. When the cutting blade is in the second position, the blade substantially closes the aperture on the catheter body. The imaging device which is mounted on or otherwise coupled to the cutting blade is configured to be in an imaging position when the cutting blade substantially closes the aperture or cutter window. This allows the imaging device to survey material within the cutting zone of the atherectomy catheter. By allowing the imaging device to view materials within this cutting zone, material may be imaged and then removed from the body lumen without having to reposition the catheter between each step.
US08597303B2
A retrieval device is provided for retrieving stones, calculi, and other objects from a body. The device allows for a retrieval basket to be articulated and extended simultaneously. The device also allows for the basket to be articulated and retracted simultaneously. The device comprises a body, an articulator movably connected to the body, a first and a second wire having distal ends, and a tool disposed at the distal end of the first and second wire.
US08597300B2
A bone fracture fixation system comprises a bone plate configured to bear against a proximal surface of the bone and a plurality of elongated tension elements, each sized to pass through an opening in the bone plate and through the bone from the proximal surface to a distal surface thereof. Each tension element is anchored to the bone and maintained in tension by a distal anchor attached to said tension element and configured to engage the distal surface of the bone and a proximal anchor engageable between the bone plate and the tension element. In one method for fixation of a bone fracture, the bone plate is positioned on a proximal surface of the bone while the tension element is introduced into the bone and through an opening in the bone plate from an opposite distal surface of the bone.
US08597292B2
The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to exert a force on a surface of the housing to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.
US08597281B2
The invention relates to a method for producing cuts in a transparent material, in particular in the cornea, by creating optical openings in said material by means of laser radiation that is focused in said material, whereby the focal point is displaced in order to produce the cut from a surface grid-type array of optical openings arranged in sequence. The focal point is displaced along a trajectory and optical openings along said trajectory that are adjacent are not produced immediately after one another. In addition, the surface grid-type array of optical openings is constructed from at least two sub-grids, the optical openings of which are processed sequentially grid by grid.
US08597275B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for inserting flexible, multi-lumen catheters into blood vessels, and in particular, for inserting flexible, split-tip catheters into blood vessels. The invention accomplishes these objects by temporarily stiffening each catheter lumen and tip independently through use of intra-catheter stiffener elements disposed within the catheter lumens. This provides means for advancing the catheter/stiffeners assembly through a subcutaneous tunnel, and over a plurality of guidewires until a distal tip of the catheter is at a desired position within the vessel. The intra-catheter stiffener elements are sufficiently stiffening to allow advancing the catheter over guidewires, but sufficiently flexible to allow bending and looping of the catheter for proper placement within the vessel.
US08597266B2
A waste management system includes a waste transport device and a waste collection device. The waste transport device includes a collection member with a distal end opening having a first cross-sectional area and a proximal end opening having a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area, and a retention cuff disposed about an outer surface of the collection member. The waste collection device includes a substantially opaque collection bag with a transparent section.
US08597263B2
A lotion application compartment (10) includes an apparatus for topical application of a fluid to a human or animal body. The apparatus includes a spray nozzle (20) and a support (80) for the body. The apparatus further comprises of one or more of the following: a structure for moving the support, so as to change the distance between the body and the spray nozzle (20); a structure for varying the spray pattern, spray pressure, spray frequency and/or spray duty cycle of the nozzle (20); a structure for varying the rotational speed of the support (80); and a structure for raising the body's skin temperature directly by radiation. A lotion application compartment (10) consisting of apparatus for topical application of a fluid to a human or animal body, the apparatus comprising a spray nozzle (20) and a support (80) for the body. The apparatus further includes of one or more of the following: a structure for moving the support, so as to change the distance between the body and the spray nozzle (20); a structure for varying the spray pattern, spray pressure, spray frequency and/or spray duty cycle of the nozzle (20); a structure for varying the rotational speed of the support (80); and a structure for raising the body's skin temperature directly by radiation.
US08597260B2
A regional anesthesia catheter used with a guide such as for example a needle cannula has a distal portion integrally connected to a main portion of the catheter by a junction portion that has a cross-sectional profile different from the distal and main portions, so as to predispose the distal portion of the catheter to move in a given direction when the distal portion is not guided by or constrained by the needle cannula. The cross-sectional profile of the junction portion may be configured in a particular shape, or be constructed to have a flexibility that predisposes the distal portion to bend, curve or move toward a given direction. Once the predisposed direction to which the distal end of the catheter points is known, a physician can readily orient the catheter relative to the needle cannula so that once the distal end of the catheter exits the distal tip of the needle cannula, with the cannula already placed in a position proximate to the desired location to which the distal end of the catheter is to be placed, the physician can readily place the distal end of the catheter at the desired location within the patient. Instead of only one junction portion, a number of portions of a catheter may be configured to bend at a predefined direction. Further, a catheter may be configured to have a cross sectional profile or a predefined flexibility along its entire length that causes the catheter to bend, curve or move in a predefined direction.
US08597252B2
A needle hub and catheter assembly are disclosed herein. The needle hub includes an introducer needle having a lumen extending therethrough. A needle hub is coupled to a proximal end of the introducer needle. A flash chamber is removably coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle. An interior of the flash chamber is in fluid communication with the lumen of the introducer needle when the flash chamber is coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle. As such, the flash chamber can collect a sample of blood that can be accessed when the flash chamber is removed. In some instances, the blood can also be dispensed from the flash chamber into a test strip or other testing device.
US08597251B2
A surgical access device or trocar defines an access channel for instruments extending from a proximal end to the distal end thereof. The trocar comprises a cannula and a seal assembly disposed at the proximal end of the cannula. The seal assembly comprises a first or zero seal, a second or instrument seal, and a trocar shield disposed proximally of the first seal and the second seal. The first seal seals the access channel in the absence of an instrument extending therethrough. The second seal seals the access channel in the presence of an instrument extending therethrough. The trocar shield protects the first seal and second seal from damage as an instrument is advanced through the access channel. The trocar shield comprises an open proximal end and a tapered distal end comprising a plurality of longitudinal pleats, converging in an opening.
US08597249B2
Catheter assemblies are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to catheter assemblies having a tip protector, a valve, a valve opener, and optionally a needle wiper. The valve opener is disposed inside a catheter hub and is configured to be pushed by an IV set luer connector to open a valve following successful catheterization to pass fluids or other solutions through the catheter. A tip protector is incorporated to block the needle tip and prevent the same from accidental needle stick. A wiper is optionally included to wipe blood deposits on the needle when the same is retracted from the catheter.
US08597238B2
An enhanced cross stream mechanical thrombectomy catheter having a distal end with outflow and inflow orifices at one side for producing concentrated cross stream jet flow for selective and concentrated thrombus ablation during thrombectomy procedures. A multidirectional fluid jet emanator positioned within the distal catheter lumen comprises high velocity fluid jets which produce jet flow that is directed toward distal and proximal ends of the catheter. Jet flow directed toward the proximal end provides a region of low pressure near an inflow orifice which acts to pull thrombotic particulate from the vasculature. The invention provides for suitable distancing of high powered ablation or suction forces from the near walls of the vasculature. Cross stream flow emanating from one side of the catheter distal end urges the opposing non-orificed side of the catheter distal end toward and against the vascular wall to inhibit contact of the inflow orifice with the vascular wall.
US08597235B2
A feeding apparatus includes a food container having an open end and a closed end. A plurality of apertures is formed on the container. A first coupling member has an opening in communication with the container open end. A second coupling member cooperates with the first coupling member and movable between an open configuration allowing food to pass through the opening and into the container, and a sealed configuration where the second coupling member covers and seals the open end of the container. The container is made of a soft resilient material, and the apertures and the container are sized and shaped such that normally the container stays in its original shape and the food stays inside the container. The container collapses by external force during feeding, and returns to its original shape upon release of the force.
US08597229B2
Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) cycler systems and methods are disclosed. The APD cycler can include a heater tray with load cells configured to measure the weight of fluid contained within a heater bag and/or a drain bag. The load cells can be toggleable between enabled and disabled configurations. The APD cycler can include a pressure-based volume measurement system, which can be used to confirm measurements made by the load cells. In some embodiments, the APD cycler can have algorithms for tracking an estimated patient volume to prevent overfilling the patient.
US08597224B2
An intragastric anchor implant device is provided with a substantially rigid member having proximal and distal ends and atraumatic tips or features disposed near the proximal and distal ends. The atraumatic features prevent damage to the tissues of the stomach and the gastrointestinal track and may help to anchor the device in the stomach, while the substantially rigid member resists bending so as to engage a tissue of the stomach or the gastrointestinal tract to prevent passage through the stomach. The anchor implant device is coupled with a therapeutic device, typically a sleeve, such as an intestinal bypass sleeve. Ideally, the device includes a sliding seal to direct a flow of food particles from the stomach through the sleeve, so as to be useful in treating a disorder, including obesity and diabetes. Methods of deploying the anchor implant devices are also disclosed.
US08597220B2
A pincer nail correction tool for remedying a pincer nail of a toe as the nail grows by bonding a necessary part separated from the body to the pincer nail. The tool includes a flat operating portion gripped before the necessary part is bonded and rotated in the direction in which the pincer nail is remedied, a thin-sheet abutting portion extending from the flat surface on one side of the operating portion and projecting straight toward the distal end, a thin-sheet engaging portion narrower than the abutting portion in the surface direction and extending from the surface on the other side of the operating portion substantially parallel with the abutting portion, and a bottom extending from one end face of the operating portion toward the distal end and connecting the abutting portion with the engaging portion to form a J-shaped cross-section. The projection length of the abutting portion is longer than that of the engaging portion.
US08597209B2
A foot correcting and balancing shoe assembly includes at least one sole unit having an imaginary transverse line dividing the sole unit into front- and rear-half regions. The rear-half region includes left and right rear-half sections, and a heel area spanning rear portions of the left and right rear-half sections. A foot arch correction device is mounted detachably to the sole unit. At least one balancing pad is mounted detachably within the sole unit below the foot arch correction device, and at a predetermined location in at least one of the left and right rear-half sections to maintain foot balance for a user.
US08597208B2
A method for measuring the concentration of a compound in the blood of a part of a subject is provided. An invasive or non-invasive sample of blood may used for this determination. Also provided is a device for measuring the concentration of a compound in the blood of a subject.
US08597201B2
A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08597193B2
An endovascular access and guidance system has an elongate body with a proximal end and a distal end; a non-imaging ultrasound transducer on the elongate body configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the vasculature of the patient; an endovascular electrogram lead on the elongate body in a position that, when the elongate body is in the vasculature, the endovascular electrogram lead electrical sensing segment provides an in vivo electrogram signal of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process a signal from the non-imaging ultrasound transducer and a signal from the endovascular electrogram lead; and an output device configured to display a result of information processed by the processor.
US08597191B2
A processor generates a first Doppler spectrum image representing the velocity of a moving body at each observation point by analyzing the frequency of signals received at the plurality of observation points acquired via Doppler scanning. An interpolator acquires a second Doppler spectrum image consecutively at each observation point time when the ultrasound has not been transmitted to and received from each observation point by the Doppler scanner transmitting and receiving the ultrasound toward and from the plurality of observation points at a plurality of respective times, based on interpolation of the first Doppler spectrum image at each observation point. The interpolator generates a third Doppler spectrum at each observation point by combining the first Doppler spectrum at each observation point and the second Doppler spectrum image at each observation point per observation point.
US08597190B2
Some embodiments provide a system for synchronizing and configuring monitoring devices. In some embodiments, a patient monitoring device settings module is configured to automatically provide configuration settings to a plurality of patient monitoring devices. A monitoring device data module is configured to receive measurement data from at least one of the patient monitoring devices. An electronic medical records system interface is configured to provide patient data at least partially derived from the received measurement data to an electronic medical records system. A patient records interface is configured to provide patient data to at least one of the patient monitoring devices.
US08597189B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08597185B2
Improved human health monitoring is provided in the context of sensor measurements of typical vital signs and other biological parameters, by a system and method using an empirical model of the parameters and disposed to estimate values of the parameters in response to actual measurements. Residuals resulting from the difference between the estimates and actual measurements are analyzed for robust indications of incipient health issues. Residual analysis is both more robust and more sensitive than conventional univariate range checking on vital signs.
US08597179B2
An endoscope apparatus includes an insertion portion inserted into a body, an optical member arranged exposed from an outside surface at a distal end of the insertion portion, an objective optical system that condenses light impinged from the optical member, an electronic image pickup circuit that photoelectrically converts the light condensed by the objective optical system, a heat absorbing section arranged in the vicinity of the electronic image pickup circuit for absorbing heat generated from the electronic image pickup circuit, a heat transfer section extending toward the optical member side for transferring heat of the heat absorbing section, a heat radiation section arranged in the vicinity of the optical member for radiating heat transferred by the heat transfer section to the optical member, and a heat transfer member that is formed by patterning a metal foil on an insulating, flexible film member and includes the heat absorbing section, the heat transfer section and the heat radiation section.
US08597175B2
In one embodiment, an endoscope includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. An electrical component is disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal. An elongate conductive mechanical component has a proximal end portion and a distal and portion. The distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to conduct the signal or electrical power from/to the electrical component to/from the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.
US08597166B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a fitness apparatus having the following components: a flexible bar which can be set in oscillation upon operation of the fitness apparatus by a user, a grip area arranged centrally on the flexible bar for the user to hold the fitness apparatus and end caps arranged at both ends of the flexible bar, wherein the method includes the following method steps: arranging at least one respective end weight at the ends of the flexible bar, inserting the flexible bar with the end weights arranged thereon into a first molding tool to form the end caps, foaming out of the first molding tool with a first foam material to produce at least the end caps and subsequent hardening of the first foam material. The invention also relates to a fitness apparatus produced in particular with the inventive method.
US08597156B2
A one-way clutch of an inscribed gear type has a cylindrical outer member having an inner gear at an inner circumference thereof; an inner member rotatably disposed in an inside space of the inner gear, and having gear receivers and a lock edge on one side in a circumferential direction of the gear receiver; and a planetary gear received rollably in each of the gear receivers to mesh with the inner gear. Shafts are projecting from both ends of the planetary gear, and bearing recesses are formed on the gear receiver to receive the shaft. By the engagement between the shafts and the bearing recesses, the planetary gear allows a circumferential displacement within a predetermined range with respect to the inner member required for engaging to or disengaging from the lock edge, and the planetary gear is prohibited from being displaced inward in a radial direction of the inner member.
US08597152B2
A planetary gear train may include an input shaft, an output gear adapted to output a shifted torque, a first compound planetary gear set having four rotation elements by combining first and second planetary gear sets, a second compound planetary gear set having four rotation elements by combining third and fourth planetary gear sets, eight rotation shafts including two rotation elements connected to each other or one rotation element among the rotation elements of the first and second compound planetary gear sets, and six friction members including three clutches interposed between a selected rotational shaft among the rotational shafts and the input shaft and adapted to selectively transmit the torque and three brakes interposed between a selected rotational shaft among the rotational shafts and a transmission housing.
US08597150B1
A disconnectable driveline arrangement for an all-wheel drive vehicle includes a power take-off unit having a disconnect mechanism, and a drive module having a torque transfer device and a limited slip clutch assembly.
US08597149B2
A split-axis transmission may include two planetary gear sets to provide two parallel torque paths from an input axis to an output axis. Thus, the split-axis transmission may provide the ratio preselection capability and the low power losses of a dual-clutch transmission, while also providing the ratio-changing control and smoothness of a traditional powershift automatic transmission.
US08597148B2
A bearing arrangement for a shaft, particularly a driveshaft (1) in a transmission housing (5) of an automatic transmission with an actuating piston (6) of a shifting element arranged inside the shaft. At least one self-sealing bearing is provided at least on the side of the transmission housing (5) remote from the motor to support the shaft.
US08597147B2
A power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle includes an input shaft, a first planetary gear set having first, second, and third rotation elements, the second directly connected to the input shaft, and the third directly connected to a first motor/generator, a second planetary gear set having fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, the fourth directly connected to the first rotation element and a second motor/generator, and the fifth selectively connected to the second rotation element, an output gear connected to the sixth rotation element, a first clutch selectively connecting the second rotation element with the fifth rotation element, a second clutch selectively connecting two rotation elements among the rotation elements of the first planetary gear set, a first brake interposed between the fifth rotation element and a transmission housing, and a second brake interposed between the third rotation element and the transmission housing.
US08597144B2
A sport ball may have a plurality of panels that are joined at seams to form a casing. The panels may include a thermoplastic polymer material applied to an interior side of the panels, and the thermoplastic polymer material may be heat-activated to extend across the seams. The ball may further include a bladder within the casing and an intermediate layer located between the casing and the bladder. The thermoplastic polymer material may also be heat-activated to bond with the intermediate layer or casing.
US08597137B1
A high volume aerodynamic golf club head having a post apex attachment promoting region with a club head volume of at least 400 cc producing reduced aerodynamic drag forces. The post apex attachment promoting region is on the surface of the crown section at an elevation above a maximum face height and begins at the crown apex and extends toward the back of the club head. The post apex attachment promoting region is a relatively flat portion of the crown section that is behind the crown apex, yet above the maximum top edge plane, and aides in keeping airflow attached to the club head once it flows past the crown apex.
US08597121B2
A gaming system comprises a gaming platform adapted to run a computer game in which an avatar is associated with a player of the game; a memory arranged to store one or more attributes associated with said avatar, said attributes affecting at least the appearance of the avatar in the game; a first input port adapted to receive an input of the player for controlling the progression of the avatar in the game; and a second input port adapted to receive an input of a moderator indicating a modification to be applied to one or more of the avatars attributes stored in said memory, wherein the gaming platform is adapted to display to the player an indication of modified attributes.
US08597119B2
Various embodiments are directed to converting a conventional video-based gaming machine into a mechanical reel gaming machine with physically-spinning stepper reels having video displays affixed thereto. The repurposed gaming machine does not need any further approval by a government regulator because the existing video game software is not changed. In other embodiments, a mechanical reel-based gaming machine is upgraded to provide physically-spinning stepper reels having video displays affixed thereto.
US08597111B2
A monitoring system for monitoring customer activities within a casino enterprise is described. The monitoring system can be used to determine a current utilization of casino activities so that an optimal mixture of activities can be offered by the casino. Further, the system can be used to identify customers, based on their utilization of the activities, whose loyalty that a casino enterprise may wish to cultivate. In particular embodiments, the monitoring system can be configured to passively track portable wireless devices and associate the portable wireless devices with activities within the casino enterprise that are not attributable to customers registered in a loyalty program. The identity of the person controlling a particular portable device can be unknown. A virtual customer account can be created where the first portable device is used to identify a virtual customer associated with the account. Based upon identification of the first portable device, activities can be associated with the virtual customer and store to the virtual customer account.
US08597110B2
A gaming system has a central authority connected to a plurality of gaming machines. Player activity is tracked at the gaming machines during regular gaming sessions and during virtual gaming sessions. Such data is transmitted to the central authority for providing player points in a player account file of a central database. Regular gaming sessions occur between player card insertion and player card removal. Virtual gaming sessions may occur prior to player card insertion as well as after player card insertion. For example, a coin-in event prior to player card insertion will establish a virtual session, and credits remaining on the credit meter at a card-out event will establish a virtual gaming session.
US08597106B2
Safeguards against cheating and malfunctioning of gaming devices that use forms of cashless wagering
This disclosure relates to a safeguard system on networked gaming devices. The safeguard system measures how much monetary value is output by a particular gaming device, in any form. If the gaming device has delivered an amount of value that is over a threshold amount, a warning is generated. The warning could be a visual or audio warning on a central controller, or could be an audio signal transmitted to floor personnel. Embodiments of the safeguard system include timers so that the performance of the gaming device can be independently measured over one or more time periods. The safeguard system is operable with gaming devices that accept and pay only physical currency, those that accept and pay in both physical currency and electronic methods, and those that only accept and pay by electronic methods. Some embodiments are able to remotely shut down the gaming device if the device is suspected of being cheated or malfunctioning.
US08597096B2
A player of a card game, such as poker, may be presented with opportunities to replace one or more of the cards in his or her hand. For example, the player may be dealt a first set of cards, and then offered a first opportunity to replace one or more cards in the first set. The player may also be dealt a second set of cards, and then offered a second opportunity to replace one or more cards in the second set. Preferably, the first set and the second set of cards, when combined, form the player's hand of cards. The player may accept at least one of these two offers and, in doing so, may incur a cost for accepting one or more of the offers. This cost may be based on the difference between a first return associated with hand of cards played without replacement, and an expected second return associated with the offer(s) the player accepted.
US08597089B2
Animals such as poultry are stunned while still caged and on a vehicle or stationary platform prior to processing the animal by isolating the atmosphere surrounding the animal, adjusting the composition of the isolated atmosphere by introducing a gaseous mixture that brings the animal to the desired state, and evacuating or exhausting the gaseous mixture.
US08597080B2
Ophthalmic rough-cut and polishing wheels having a plurality of swarf clearance grooves formed across the shaping face are described. The grooves are spaced around the shaping face of the wheels, wherein the slots are configured so as to be substantially angled either towards or away from one another.
US08597069B2
A toy car race track set comprised of a plurality of easily connectible track sections, in which the track sections have novel provisions for integrating the track sections with structures formed with K'NEX rod and connector elements, including but not limited to structures for elevating track sections above a support or above other track sections, providing obstructions on the race course, and the like. A variety of shapes and forms of track sections enables a substantially limitless variety of track configurations to be assembled. Each section is provided at each end with at least one tongue element and one slot element positioned such that the tongue element of one section is received in the slot of an adjacent section with a desired, snap-in action substantially preventing unintended separation. Optional locking pins are provided for positively locking the track sections to other sections when desired.
US08597068B1
A safe spinning button necklace toy having a knotless string loop, a rotatable button spinner disposed on the string loop and a pair of protective casings covering the string loop that eliminates a strangulation hazard without interfering with the operation of the toy. The protective casing covers a pair of strands of the string loop, keeping the strands together inside the casing and preventing the strands from separating and creating a hazard. The casing substantially covers two-thirds of the string loop and prevents the strands separating without knotting the strands, allowing the string loop to freely twist when the button spinner is rotated. The casing has a plurality of links covering the string loop providing amusing noises by reverberating when the spinning button spins. A pair of handles on the string loop can be safely fastened together to close the necklace when the toy is not in use.
US08597060B2
A cable connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2), a metallic shell (3) enclosing the insulative housing and a spacer (5). The insulative housing includes a first tongue (121) and a second tongue (122). The contacts comprise a plurality of first contacts held in the first tongue and a plurality of second contacts held in the second tongue. At least one of the contacts comprises a main body (2210), a pair of vertical soldering portions (2212) and a pair of connecting portions (2214), the pair of connecting portions are connected with a top edge and a bottom edge of the main body, and the connecting portions are located on different levels, the pair of soldering portions are stagger with each other.
US08597045B2
A transceiver connector (100) includes a housing (1) having a number of faces including a primary face (10) and a pair of side faces (13) and a collar clip (2). The collar clip includes a base at least partially surrounding the plurality of faces of the housing. The primary face defines at least one vertically extending locking recess (104) having a stepped portion (1041). The collar clip includes a base (20) at least partially surrounding the number of faces of the housing. The base includes at least one locking beam (204) inserted into the corresponding locking recess of the housing along a first direction and having a click portion (2041) engaging with the stepped portion of the housing along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08597039B2
A vehicle-side connector (10) to be connected to a charging connector in charging a battery of a vehicle includes a receptacle (33) which is connectable to the charging connector, a mounting portion (31) which is provided to partition between the receptacle (33) and a vehicle (B) and to be fixed to the vehicle, a recess (40) which is open upward and provided on the top of the connecting portion (33), and water drainage paths (41) formed in inner surfaces of the recess (40) without penetrating through the mounting portion (31).
US08597038B2
A connector is connectable to a card. The connector comprises an eject member including a pressed portion. The eject member is configured to eject the card along an eject direction when the pressed portion is pressed by an operation member separated from the connector and having a tip. The pressed portion is formed by bending a metal plate so as to have a receiving wall and a side wall. The receiving wall is configured to be brought into abutment with the tip of the operation member so that the pressed portion is pressed by the operation member. The side wall extends in a direction crossing the receiving wall so that the side wall is located lateral to the tip upon the abutment of the tip with the receiving wall.
US08597037B2
The present invention relates to a socket and a system of cascadable sockets for insertion therein of electrical devices such as relays, timers or counters. The socket includes device connection means by which an electrical device may be electrically connected to the socket, and may further include terminals providing electrical contacts for connecting the electrical device to an external electrical signal or a circuit. The socket includes socket connection means, for example, in the form of a slidable connector for engaging another socket placed against it. Two or more sockets engaged in this manner may facilitate a parallel electrical connection between the electrical devices each inserted in one of the two or more sockets.
US08597036B2
A receptacle connector includes a housing having a mating interface for mating with a mating connector. Ground contacts are held by the housing. The ground contacts include ground mating segments arranged along the mating interface of the housing for mating with ground terminals of the mating connector. The ground mating segments of the ground contacts include ground mating surfaces configured to engage the ground terminals. The ground mating surfaces of the ground mating segments extending within at least one ground plane. Signal contacts are held by the housing. The signal contacts include signal mating segments arranged along the mating interface of the housing for mating with signal terminals of the mating connector. The signal mating segments of the signal contacts include signal mating surfaces configured to engage the signal terminals. The signal mating surfaces of the signal contacts extend within at least one signal plane that extends parallel to and is spaced apart from the at least one ground plane.
US08597034B2
An interface system may be used for connecting a mother board with a peripheral device board. The interface system may include a mother interface and a daughter interface. The mother interface may establish a connection portal for the mother board, and the daughter interface may establish a connection portal for the peripheral device board. The interface system may be equipped with a socket with multi-contact surface for providing high speed, high performance, and low noise data transmission. The interface system may be ruggedized with various stabilizing mechanisms, such that it may deliver consistent and reliable performance under harsh military and/or aerospace conditions.
US08597020B2
Method and apparatus for sequentially delivering multiple shots of polymer material to a plurality of mold cavities to form multilayer articles. A first shot of greater than 50% of the total article weight of a first polymer material is simultaneously delivered to a plurality of mold cavities using, at each cavity, a chamber of predetermined volume that is prefilled with the first polymer material. A second shot of no greater than 10% of the total article weight of a second material is simultaneously delivered to all of the cavities beginning subsequent to the step of delivering the start of the first shot delivery step. The second shot of second material is delivered through a manifold channel that fluidly communicates with each cavity, and is injected to all cavities under pressure exerted by a source of the second material that is common to all of the plurality of cavities.
US08597015B2
An apparatus and method for shaping an airfoil. A prepreg assembly is positioned relative to a part in a plurality of parts for a tool for the airfoil using a positioning section for a frame. The positioning section is configured to move relative to the tool and a base of the frame and move a number of parts in the plurality of parts for the tool relative to each other. A number of sections in the prepreg assembly are heated. A force is applied to the number of sections in the prepreg assembly that have been heated to conform to the tool to cause the number of sections in the prepreg assembly that have been heated to conform to the tool with a shape for a component of the airfoil.
US08597012B2
An automated mandrel dip coating process assembly for RTV silicone dispersions is described, including an enclosure adapted to hold a moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium for mandrel dip molding and at least one mandrel having a surface for contacting the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium. An automated motive drive assembly is arranged to removably translate one or more of the mandrel(s) into contact with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure, and to subsequently translate at least one mandrel contacted with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium into at least one of (A) contact with a bubble crusher in the enclosure, and (B) disengagement from the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure and rotation of the mandrel at a vertical displacement angle of from 70° to 110°. By such arrangement, air bubble entrapment on the dip molded film on the mandrel is avoided, and controlled film thickness is achieved at desired location(s) so that the product molded film article is free of pinholes and air bubble inclusions in the film, and complies with desired thickness specifications.
US08597011B2
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to an ultraviolet (UV) cure chamber for curing a dielectric material disposed on a substrate and to methods of curing dielectric materials using UV radiation. A substrate processing tool according to one embodiment comprises a body defining a substrate processing region; a substrate support adapted to support a substrate within the substrate processing region; an ultraviolet radiation lamp spaced apart from the substrate support, the lamp configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation to a substrate positioned on the substrate support; and a motor operatively coupled to rotate at least one of the ultraviolet radiation lamp or substrate support at least 180 degrees relative to each other. The substrate processing tool may further comprise one or more reflectors adapted to generate a flood pattern of ultraviolet radiation over the substrate that has complementary high and low intensity areas which combine to generate a substantially uniform irradiance pattern if rotated. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08596997B2
A membrane pump (1) has a pump housing, a membrane (4), which is mounted to the pump housing and delimits a pump chamber (8) inside the pump housing, an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for feeding medium into and out from the pump chamber, and an actuating member (7) for moving the membrane back and forth between a first and a second position. The membrane, the inlet and the outlet are arranged in a first part (2) of the pump housing, the first part being detachably connected to a second part (3) of the pump housing, in which the actuating member is arranged. The membrane is detachably connected to the actuating member by a magnetic coupling, which has a first magnetic coupling part (9) fixed to the membrane and a corresponding second magnetic coupling part (10) fixed to the actuating member.
US08596996B2
A pump for pumping a medium from a suction side to a pressure side includes a filter arrangement. The filter arrangement includes an inflow path, a first outflow path, and a second outflow path. A hydrophobic membrane filter is arranged between the inflow path and the first outflow path. A hydrophilic membrane filter is arranged between the inflow path and the second outflow path. At least one section of the hydrophobic membrane filter and one section of the hydrophilic membrane filter are located opposite each other at a distance of no more than 1 mm so that a gas bubble that moves along with a medium flowing in the inflow path comes into contact with the hydrophobic membrane filter during the movement. The first and second outflow paths of the filter arrangement are connected to the suction side of the pump.
US08596994B2
A compressor includes a compressing mechanism, a discharge chamber, a housing accommodating the compressing mechanism and the discharge chamber, a discharge port communicating with the discharge chamber through a discharge passage and also with an external refrigerant circuit, a muffler formed by an expanded space disposed on the discharge passage, and a check valve disposed on the discharge passage. The pressure loss caused by the discharge passage is less than that in the known compressor. The check valve is disposed in the muffler to open and close an inlet of the muffler, and the muffler is formed by the housing and a cover independent of and connected to the housing.
US08596986B2
A compressor component having an airfoil with a profile in accordance with Table 1 is disclosed. The compressor component, such as a compressor blade, has an increased thickness over a portion of the airfoil span in order to increase stiffness. Furthermore, the airfoil has been restacked so as to induce a compressive stress in the blade root/attachment area. The increased stiffness and restacked airfoil combine to improve high-cycle fatigue capability of the compressor component.
US08596979B2
A ceiling sweep fan comprising a rotor supported for axial rotation about upper and lower housings, the rotor supporting a plurality of radially extending fan blades, the upper housing and rotor enclosing an electric motor that drives the rotor; wherein the fan includes stop means to cause the rotor to stop at a fixed position relative to the upper and lower housings.
US08596973B2
A seal assembly which, among other applications, may be used for sealing fluid leakage between low temperature multistage compressors and pumps, steam turbine rotors and turbine stator bodies. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided that includes a leaf seal including a plurality of staggered leaf seal members; and a polymer member disposed on a high pressure side of the leaf seal, wherein the polymer member is in compliant contact with the leaf seal.
US08596970B2
An assembly for a turbomachine comprising: a plurality of components (16, 26) which, in use, are assembled into a circumferentially extending annular array; each component having a radially outer platform (20, 28), the outer platforms (20, 28) of the components (16, 26) forming a ring in the assembled array; wherein adjacent components (16, 26) interface at adjacent surfaces (22, 30) of their outer platforms (20, 28); wherein the outer platforms (20, 28) each comprise at least one lug (24) which extends from the outer platform (20) over a portion of the outer platform (28) of an adjacent component (26), and in use prevents relative radial displacement of the outer platform (20, 28) of the adjacent component (16, 26).
US08596965B2
A compressor case support arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a fan section having a central axis and a compressor case for housing a compressor. An inlet case guides air to the compressor. The compressor case is positioned axially further from the fan section than the inlet case. A support member extends between the fan section and the compressor case. The support member restricts movement of the compressor case relative to the inlet case. The support member is positioned axially further from the fan section than the plumbing access area.
US08596956B2
A bidirectional water turbine including: an upstream rotor and a downstream rotor, wherein the upstream rotor and downstream rotor are contra-rotating and each rotor includes a plurality of blade, the blades of the upstream and downstream rotors having substantially the same profile.
US08596946B2
There is provided a storage system for storing and retrieving watercraft or other items to or from a storage position in a storage area as part of an enclosure having a plurality of storage areas. The storage system may include at least one carrier to support the item during movement to or from a storage position, and a positioning system to move the carrier system. An elevator system is usable to move the positioning system and carrier system to and from a storage area, and a control system is usable to control the positioning system to move the carrier system and item into and out of its storage position.
US08596940B2
A firewood trailer features a roof-covered storage compartment dimensioned to accommodate a predetermined volume of cut firewood. At least one wall section of the compartment has a substantially full height access opening that is openable and closeable to access the compartment's interior, and arrays of airflow openings are provided in opposing wall sections of the compartment. Between the roof and the airflow openings, the firewood is allowed to dry out inside the trailer and subsequently kept dry by the roof protection. The same trailer can thus be used both to transport the cut firewood and then store the firewood at its destination, thereby avoiding the conventional need for a full unloading of the trailer upon reaching the firewood's destination. A fleet of trailers are used for a firewood distribution service in which a trailer left onsite for a customer, once emptied, is replaced with a newly delivered wood-filled trailer.
US08596936B2
An apparatus for applying a leverage force to a hand drill has a rigid elongated support having a first end and a second end. A travel member is movable axially along the support with a friction lock for locking the travel member to the support in a selected axial position. A lever is pivotally attached to the travel member. The lever has an engagement surface for engaging a spine of a hand drill, whereby a force is exerted upon the hand drill by means of the lever. A stop is positioned at the second end of the support to prevent axial movement of the support when a force is exerted by the lever.
US08596930B2
An erosion control barrier for installation in a drainage path in a service environment. The erosion control barrier includes a unitary permeable sheet which is bent along a longitudinal axis to provide an upslope side, a downslope side and a longitudinally extending apex. The permeable sheet is constructed of a degradable material so that the erosion control barrier has a design service life in the service environment and a design material life in the service environment. The design material life is longer than the design service life. The permeable sheet is designed to be sufficiently transversely stiff and resilient during the design service life to enable the erosion control barrier to be self-supporting. The permeable sheet is designed to substantially disintegrate within the design material life.
US08596929B2
Avalanche control system and method using one or more chambers in an avalanche-prone area to control the removal of snow or other material which might avalanche. The system includes a plurality of spaced housings made of a solid material like “shock-crete” and an asymmetric flywheel coupled to a motor which is controlled by a signal to warm up and turn on at a desired time to vibrate the housing and cause removal of loose snow or other material and/or the compacting of that material to make avalanching less likely.
US08596922B2
Systems and methods are provided for establishing and securing a foundation in a substrate. For example, in one embodiment, a pump conveys a first fluid (e.g., water) through a pile member to produce an elongate opening in a substrate, which allows the pile member to be advanced into the substrate. After the pile member has been advanced into the elongate opening in the substrate, a second fluid (e.g., fluidized concrete) is conveyed out of openings on the side (and the bottom) of the pile member to substantially secure the pile member in the elongate opening defined in the substrate.
US08596920B2
An apparatus is disclosed including but not limited to a cylindrical sleeve having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein a diameter of a circular interior vacancy formed by the interior surface has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a pile; a longitudinal opening along an entire length of the sleeve; and a plurality of elements that emit energy on the exterior surface of the sleeve. A method is also disclosed for using the apparatus.
US08596919B2
The present disclosure provides a disk for reducing scour around a pile, such as a monopole, installed in the seabed. The disk has a pile opening through which the pile protrudes. The disk includes a peripheral skirt for embedding into the seabed below the portion of the disk installed above the seabed. The disk can include partitions for segmenting chambers of the disk. The disk can include mesh on the top, bottom, or both surfaces with one or more fill bags installed in the chambers. The disk can include chambers that can be filled with fluidized fill material, such as grout or concrete. The fill material can be inserted into the fill bags through conduits with valves that can be remotely operated with an ROV. The fill material can also be injected below the disk using the conduits for support on the seabed.
US08596907B2
A lifting system for navigable watercraft or marine vessels for temporary stationary positioning of the vessel on a seabed includes supporting legs that may be lowered and raised, and a locking and braking device to provide a force locking engagement with the respective supporting leg. The lifting system also includes a hydro-mechanical device, combined with hydraulic devices, to allow a stationary position of a raised vessel and a lowering of the vessel during transition to a travelling position to be achieved.
US08596891B2
Disclosed herein is a camera module including: a lens part including a lens; a housing having the lens part coupled thereto; a bracket coupled to the housing; and a shaft mounted in the bracket and driving the lens part and the housing.
US08596870B2
A dust seal is provided with a tubular fitting portion, a bush end surface abutting portion, a lip portion and a sealing projection integrally formed. The sealing projection is formed to project in an axially opposite direction to the lip portion from a radial inner section of the bush end surface abutting portion and abuts against a chamfered portion of a bush in such a manner as to overlap the chamfered portion. Therefore, at the time of supplying lubricant between the bush and a connecting pin, the sealing projection can prevent a part of the lubricant from entering between an end surface of the bush and the bush end surface abutting portion of the dust seal to maintain a sealed state therebetween. In consequence, the dust seal can be stably held on the inner peripheral side of a boss member, preventing the pulling-out of the dust seal.
US08596869B2
An opening-closing guiding structure of a long-stroke sliding cover includes a sliding member, a relative sliding member, first elastic assemblies and second elastic assemblies. The sliding member includes first sliding-guided portions having turned curved portions. The relative sliding member includes a second sliding-guided portion and a third sliding-guided portion, wherein the second sliding-guided portion has a sliding track interlaced with the first sliding-guided portion, and the third sliding-guided portion has a sliding track interlaced with an apex of the turned curved portion of the first sliding-guided portion. The first elastic assembly is slidably connected to the first and second sliding-guided portions. The second elastic assembly is slidably connected to the first and third sliding-guided portions. When a short part of an opening stroke of a sliding cover is performed, a subsequent, long part of the opening stroke of the sliding cover can be automatically operated.
US08596867B2
A reclosable package for food products has the following features: a cold seal formed between a first and a second sealing portion, in which the bonding force of the cold seal to the first and the second sealing portion is greater than the bonding force within the cold seal, so that the cold seal is separated and partly adheres to the first, and partly adheres to the second sealing portion when the seal is opened, or a seal with an initial opening force of 2, preferably 2.5, to 4 N/15 mm, and opening forces for one or more re-closings of 0.5 to 2 N/15 mm, preferably 1 to 1.5 N/15 mm.
US08596857B2
A means for securing a proper mixing of a particle shaped material, such as powder, into a liquid by supplying shear forces in a mixing zone, the shear forces being produced by pumping liquid through a restriction (22), such as a nozzle (27,29) in a pipe at a high pressure. A plurality of nozzles (22) is used, placed in such position with respect to each other that a jet from at least one of the nozzles (22) hits the jet from at least a second nozzle (22) in one single theoretical point downstream of the nozzles (22).
US08596849B2
An optical component adapted for using in a backlight module providing light sources to a display apparatus is provided in the present disclosure. The optical component includes a first optical layer comprising a plurality of first blind holes extending downward from an upper surface to a first predetermined depth of the optical component, and a second optical layer comprising a plurality of second blind holes extending upward from a lower surface to a second predetermined depth of the optical component. A backlight module and a display apparatus are also provided.
US08596848B2
A cross section of each divided light guiding plate is formed in a wedge shape, a step is formed at a portion of each divided light guiding plate where LEDs are arranged, and holes used for accommodating the LEDs are formed at the step. A plated face is formed on a lower face of each LED, and is coupled to a wiring substrate through solder. Each LED includes a light-emitting face, a lower frame, and an upper frame. The height of the lower frame of each LED is larger than the height of the upper frame, so that a lower end of the light-emitting face of each LED can be always located higher than a lower end of the divided light guiding plate.
US08596846B2
The frontlight illumination system is intended for enhancing illumination of a reflective display having pixels arranged in a matrix pattern and using monochromatic laser lights as light sources. The unit contains a network of light-distributing planar ridge waveguides with holograms arranged in a matrix pattern that corresponds to the matrix pattern of the reflective display. The light-distributing holograms of the system are formed on opposite sides of each core of respective light-distributing planar ridge waveguides. Neighboring holograms located on opposite sides of the core are combined into pairs and are arranged on each core in positions at which they interact with a predetermined phase shift that doubles the intensity of light directed to the reflective display and extinguishes light directed to the external surface.
US08596838B2
A display module having one or more outer walls configured to house an array of optical component stacks, where the one or more outer walls are configured to support a transparent support structure spanning the array of optical component stacks, and where an upper portion of the one or more outer walls in contact with the transparent support structure is tapered.
US08596835B2
An LED underwater lamp comprises a housing (1) and an LED lamp body (2), wherein the housing (1) is fixed in a mounting hole of a mounting plate (20), an opening is provided at one end of the housing (1), the LED lamp body (2) is inserted through the opening and fastened within the housing (1), an inner water-proof sealing ring (3) is disposed between the LED lamp body (2) and the opening of the housing (1), an LED bulb (4) is disposed within the LED lamp body (1) situated at the opening of the housing (1), and a power line (5) extending to outside through the housing (1) is detachably connected to the other end of the LED lamp body (2).
US08596828B2
A lighting element that includes a hollow enclosure, an optical lighting film, reflective interior surfaces, and a partially collimating light source is described. The lighting element can be used as a light block for illuminating light boxes, sign boxes, or luminaries. The lighting element can be rectangular in shape, thin, bright, uniform, energy efficient and lightweight, and can be configured to emit light from one or opposing surfaces. Additional light management elements, such as diffusing films, graphic films and information displays, can be positioned adjacent to the output surface(s) of the lighting element for a variety of applications. Several lighting elements can be tiled together to light larger areas and larger signs.
US08596817B2
Certain example embodiments relate to lighting system covers that include AR-coated textured glass, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, at least one light source is provided proximate to a cover comprising a glass substrate. The glass substrate includes an anti-reflective (AR) coating on the surface that is closer to the at least one light source, and the glass substrate is textured (e.g., such that it is substantially prismatic in texture) on the surface opposite the AR-coated surface. The surface of the glass substrate on which the AR coating is formed may be a flat, irregular, or textured matte. An optional AR coating also may be formed on the textured surface of the glass substrate.
US08596807B2
A backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same are disclosed. The backlight unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector and at least one light source disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector. The second reflector includes a specular reflection area and a diffuse reflection area. The specular reflection area occupies about 5 to 50% of an entire area of the second reflector.
US08596806B2
A backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same are disclosed. The backlight unit includes a light guide plate having a first hollowness, a light source module disposed at the first hollowness, a bottom chassis having a second hollowness corresponding to the first hollowness, and an elastic member disposed at the second hollowness of the bottom chassis between the light source module and the bottom chassis.
US08596804B2
Various apparatus and associated methods involve a light source that provides light at wavelengths that substantially correlate to local maxima in the spectral sensitivity of a diurnal avian. In an illustrative example, the light source may output light primarily in wavelength bands that are not substantially absorbed by colored oil droplets and/or visual pigment in at least one type of cone in the eye of a diurnal avian. In some embodiments, the light source may include a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. Exemplary light sources may output spectral components to illuminate diurnal avians with local maxima of intensity at wavelengths that substantially correspond to local maxima in a spectral sensitivity visual response characteristic of the diurnal avians.
US08596802B2
A low-cost and easy-to-operate solution for adjusting the curvature and the focal length of an adjustable reflector, which includes a curved plate, a rotation member, and a contour adjustor. The curved plate has a curvature. The rotation member engages the curved plate and rotates the curved plate about an axis and to an angular position. The contour adjustor has an adjustment surface contacting the curved plate, such that it may cooperate with the rotation member to adjust the curvature of the curved plate according to the angular position of the curved plate. Advantageously, the contour adjustor has a low manufacturing cost and a low installation cost. The contour adjustor operates without relying on additional control circuitry because it may perform its intended function while the curved plate is being rotated.
US08596801B2
Retroreflective sheeting includes a body layer having a structured surface with recessed faces forming cube corner cavities. A reflective film is disposed at least on the recessed faces, and a fill material fills the cube corner cavities. The fill material comprises radiation-curable materials, adhesives, or both, and preferably transparent radiation-curable pressure-sensitive adhesives. The fill material preferably forms a continuous layer covering both the recessed faces and upper portions of the structured surface. A transparent cover layer preferably contacts the fill material layer.
US08596796B2
A projection display device that includes: a light source unit 1 that includes a discharge lamp 2 as a light source; an image formation unit; a projection optical system; and a light source cooling unit that cools the light source unit. The light source unit is disposed so that a lamp axis that connects two discharge electrodes of the discharge lamp is orthogonal to a projecting direction of the projection optical system, and the light source unit includes: a concave mirror 3; and a transparent part 4 that covers an opening of the concave mirror. The light source cooling unit includes: a blowing fan that supplies cooling air; a plurality of air blowing ports 6a and 6b disposed at the concave mirror or a connecting part that connects the concave mirror and the transparent part; an air duct 9 that connects the air blowing ports and the blowing fan; a branch switching valve 10a that is disposed in the air duct and switches between a plurality of branch flow paths so as to allow the cooling air to flow therethrough; and a control valve that is provided for each of the air blowing ports and rotated around a supporting axis by the action of gravity depending on a posture of the light source cooling unit, thereby controlling a wind direction so that the cooling air is blown from above the discharge lamp. The top of the light source lamp is cooled effectively regardless of the installation posture of the projection display device.
US08596791B2
Systems and methods for improving the peripheral vision of a subject are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure includes a method, which may be embodied on a system, for improving peripheral vision of a subject using a visual marker on a display screen, the method includes, displaying a peripheral target on the display screen, the peripheral target having a visually discernable characteristic and determining whether the subject is able to correctly identify the peripheral target displayed on the display screen using the peripheral vision. The visual marker is intended for viewing using central vision of the subject and the peripheral target is intended for identification using the peripheral vision of the subject.
US08596777B2
A printer includes a heating roller unit that heats recording paper at a position downstream of a recording head, which is provided at an upstream position, in the direction of the transportation of the recording paper. The recording head ejects ink to the recording paper that is transported from an upstream side to a downstream side. The heating roller unit is disposed along the direction of the width of the recording paper, which intersects with the transportation direction thereof. The heating roller unit is divided into a plurality of areas in the width direction. Heat applied by first areas of the plurality of areas to the recording paper is different from heat applied by second areas, which are adjacent to the first areas in the width direction, to the recording paper.
US08596766B2
A liquid ejecting head includes: flow channel units, each of which includes a pressure generating chamber operable to generate pressure therein and a nozzle plate formed with a nozzle; drive units, each of which includes a piezoelectric vibrator operable to apply a pressure vibration to the pressure generating chamber, and which correspond to the flow channel units; and a head casing to which the flow channel units and the drive units are fixed and which includes attachment parts.
US08596747B2
The disclosure generally relates to a modular printhead configured for ease of access and quick replacement of the printhead. In one embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an integrated printhead which includes: a printhead die supporting a plurality of micropores thereon; a support structure for supporting the printhead die; a heater interposed between the printhead die and the support structure; and an electrical trace connecting the heater to a supply source. The support structure accommodates the electrical trace through a via formed within it so as to form a solid state printhead containing all of the connections within and providing easily replaceable printhead.
US08596741B2
An ink-jet printer including: an ink supply portion; a transport mechanism; an ink-jet head; an inverting mechanism; and a controller is provided. The controller is configured to control the ink-jet head to perform an ordinary jetting operation and a marking jetting operation, and is configured to control the ink-jet head and the inverting mechanism such that only the ordinary jetting operation is performed on the one surface of the printing medium without performing the marking jetting operation, and the marking jetting operation is performed on the other surface of the printing medium after inverting the printing medium with the inverting mechanism.
US08596733B2
In a liquid ejecting apparatus, when a ON/OFF detector detects that power of the liquid ejecting apparatus is switched to an ON state from an OFF state, a controller controls a liquid transfer unit such that liquid is transferred to a tank of which residual amount of liquid is smaller from a tank of which residual amount of liquid is larger based on the residual amount of liquid in a first tank detected by the first liquid residual amount detector and the residual amount of liquid in a second tank detected by the second liquid residual amount detector.
US08596732B2
A liquid droplet discharging apparatus includes a pair of workpiece stages, a workpiece moving table configured to move the two workpiece stages, a head moving table configured to move a functional liquid droplet discharging head, a pair of workpiece exchanging mechanisms arranged in two workpiece exchange areas, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to execute control to move the workpiece stages alternately between the image formation area and the workpiece exchange areas such that one of the workpiece stages moves between the image formation area and one of the workpiece exchange areas and the other of the workpiece stages moves between the image formation area and the other of the workpiece exchange areas. Furthermore, the control unit executes control such that image forming operations and exchanges of workpieces are executed alternately with respect to each of the workpiece stages.
US08596731B2
An installation support unit includes a base board, a support member, two installation members and a locking member. An end board extends from the base board and has a bent portion. The support member has a face board and an elongate hole. Each of the installation members is connected to the support member which is fixed to the end board. The locking member is movably connected to the support member and the end board, and includes a head portion, a protrusion and a threaded hole defined through the head portion and the protrusion. The diameter of the protrusion is smaller than the transverse width of the elongate hole. The protrusion extends through the elongate hole, and the height of the head portion is longer than the longitudinal distance of the elongate hole. The head portion is movably clamped between the support member and the end board.
US08596727B2
An assembly for the primary fastening of a bicycle or other wheeled vehicle wheel to wheel mount(s), as is commonly done by a cam operated quick release, incorporating a uniquely formed drawbar and a rotation handle wherein primary fastening is accomplished by simple rotation of the rotation handle about the drawbar axis.
US08596711B2
A vehicle front part structure efficiently absorbs collision energy upon a narrow offset collision in which a collision object, such as an oncoming vehicle, makes a front collision with a vehicle outer side outer than a front side frame, and thereby inhibits the vehicle body front part from moving rearward to the vehicle interior side. The vehicle front part includes a pair of left/right front side frames extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a power unit disposed at the longitudinal center between the left/right front side frames. The left/right front side frames beside the power unit include branch frames extending toward the vehicle laterally outer side. The rear end portions of the branch frames penetrate the outer surface of the left/right front side frames and extend along an inner wall. Connection members are provided at the front portions of the left/right front side frames.
US08596708B2
Elongated side rails for attachment to a sidewall of a truck cargo box as a portion of a tonneau cover assembly. Each assembly includes a flexible cover that can be operatively secured to side rails. One side rail includes a securing portion that can be operatively connected to the sidewall; an inclined portion extending from the securing portion, the inclined portion having first and second sides; a connecting member extending downwardly away from the inclined portion from a position located between the first and second sides; and a longitudinal portion extending from the connecting member opposite the inclined portion. To secure the cover to the side rails, hook fastener is preferably attached to loop fastener on the cover. One preferred side rail has a ridge to prevent premature engagement of the fasteners. Another preferred side rail has directional hook fastener to prevent premature engagement of the fasteners.
US08596698B1
A two-piece telescoping handle mounts on the threaded ends of a tilt-tube of an outboard motor, moving from a first unobtrusive, retracted position to an extended position where the handle can be readily gripped to remove/carry the outboard motor, as needed.
US08596686B1
A moveable shower joint adapted to give a user the ability to adjust a showerhead in any direction. The moveable shower joint has upper and lower rotating circular members that may be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to any position. A water inlet is incorporated into the exterior of the upper circular member, and a water outlet is incorporated into the exterior of the lower circular member. A circular seal is retained in a groove in the inner rim of a circular member. Annular tooth rings in the inner rims of the circular members work together to hold the moveable shower joint in place when the desired position is reached. A floating annular tooth ring in the lower member engages a fixed annular tooth ring in the lower member. Springs press the floating tooth ring into the fixed ring, creating the friction needed to hold the joint in place. The water inlet may incorporate a ball joint with a set screw to provide additional adjustability, and a showerhead may be attached to the water outlet. The moveable shower joint's inlet and outlet may be internally or externally threaded to facilitate connection with other plumbing fixtures.
US08596683B2
In a steering apparatus including a column 46, a column 42, a bracket 21 movable with respect to the column 42 upon a secondary collision, a member 81 attaching to the moving bracket 21 and absorbing impact energy with making plastic deformation, a guide bracket 61 fixed to the column 46 and having a guide groove 63 guiding movement of the column 42, and a guide pin 71 fixed to the bracket 21 and movable with the bracket 21 with being guided by the guide groove 63, the guide bracket 61 includes a gap forming portion 61e forming a gap 61d between the guide bracket 61 and the bracket 21, a member 81 is latched to the guide bracket 61 and includes an extending portion extending along the gap 61d, thereby providing a steering apparatus not necessary to fix an end of an impact-energy-absorption member to a vehicle-body-side bracket upon attaching the steering apparatus to the vehicle body, or not restricting a shape of a connecting member by the impact-energy-absorption member.
US08596679B2
To prevent positional deviation in a folded back portion of a deployment restriction sheet reliably, an air bag device includes an air bag 1, an inflator 7 for deploying the air bag 1 by supplying the air bag with a generated gas, an air bag case 3 used to attach the inflator 7 and store the air bag 1, a retainer 6 for fixing an opening portion peripheral edge of the air bag 1 to the air bag case 3, and a deployment restriction sheet 11 that covers the air bag 1 from a vehicle body rear side to a vehicle body front side when the air bag 1 is stored. In the deployment restriction sheet 11, a folded back portion 11c is subjected to tacking 11d so as to separate upon application of a predetermined load A, and a rupturable portion 11e that ruptures upon application of a predetermined load B, which is larger than the load A, is provided on a first end 11a side positioned on the vehicle body front side. The first end 11a is attached to an air bag main body. A second end 11b is installed on the air bag main body. As a result, positional deviation of the folded back portion does not occur, and a cushioning effect can be applied to an occupant effectively.
US08596676B2
There is provided a steering device. The steering device has an airbag module that is disposed inside a steering wheel for steering a vehicle and that protects a vehicle occupant during a collision of the vehicle with another object by deploying an airbag body toward the vehicle occupant. The steering device includes a detecting unit that detects the collision of the vehicle with another object in advance; and an adjusting unit that positionally adjusts the steering wheel to a neutral position when the collision of the vehicle with another object is detected by the detecting unit, the neutral position of the steering wheel being a position of the steering wheel when the vehicle is traveling straight.
US08596670B2
A folding stroller with changeable seating positions two infants or children is provided. The seating positions for two children may include side-by-side, with the seats positioned to be transverse to the direction of travel of the stroller, with seats facing the same or facing in opposite directions. Seating positions may also include in-line front-to-rear, facing forward or backward; side-by-side facing forward or backward. At least one seat may be provided with a reclining mechanism in which the seat may be reclined between a first position and a second position such that the center of mass of the seat remains substantially aligned with a vertical axis of the stroller.
US08596669B2
A baby stroller is formed by a stroller frame and a chair, and the stroller frame includes a rotatable base. When the baby stroller is unfolded, the base is provided for abutting the stroller frame and positioned automatically, and when the baby stroller is folded, the chair and the stroller frame are folded and positioned directly together with the rotation of the base. The chair includes a folding joint, such that the chair can be folded directly onto the stroller frame to provide a simple, easy and quick operation and to achieve the effect of reducing the storage volume of the baby stroller.
US08596664B2
An anti-rattle hitch (100) includes a tubular insert (102) that is configured to be inserted into a receiver (90). A wedge mechanism comprising a first wedge member (112) and a second wedge member (114) are disposed in the insert, and have slidably engaged angled faces. The second wedge member includes one or more pistons that extend through piston (110) apertures in the insert such that the longitudinal position of the second wedge member is fixed. An adjustment member (120) adjusts the position of the first wedge member, thereby adjusting the piston position which can be biased against the receiver.
US08596653B2
A two-fold four-wheel golf bag cart folding device includes a lower cart frame having a connecting plate installed at an upper end of the lower cart frame and a lower supporting base disposed at a lower end of the lower cart frame. An upper cart frame includes a lower end coupled to the connecting plate and has an upper supporting base and a handle module at an upper end, such that the upper supporting base and the lower supporting base are fixed to the golf bag. A rear wheel stand is mounted on both sides of the connecting plate and has a rear wheel. A pull rod includes an end coupled to the handle module and the other end coupled to the rear wheel stand. A front wheel set has two front wheels installed on both sides of the lower supporting base respectively. A locking mechanism is installed between an upper end of the upper cart frame and a lower end of the handle module and has a function of fixing an angle between the upper cart frame and the handle module. A four-link-rod mechanism is installed among the handle module, the rear wheel stand and the pull rod. The front wheels can be closed synchronously while the rear wheels are being folded, and the four wheels touch the ground simultaneously to skip the step of folding the front wheels and removing the golf bag, preventing staining the user, but also facilitating the user to carry and move the golf bag cart and to store both the golf bag and cart altogether.
US08596652B2
One embodiment of a battery-powered motorized vehicle for a user includes a riding platform, a steering wheel, a second-end wheel, a seat base, a battery-powered motor, a carrying platform, a swivel wheel, a hinge, and an attachment device. The riding platform includes a first end and a second end. The steering wheel is in proximity to the first end of the riding platform. The second-end wheel is close to the second end of the riding platform. The seat base can be on top of the riding platform, with the seat base including a seat back. The battery-powered motor is configured to drive the second-end wheel. The carrying platform includes a first end and a second end. The swivel wheel is configured to connect to the bottom of the carrying platform. The hinge is configured to connect the first end of the carrying platform to a back surface of the seat base. The attachment device is configured to secure an article to the carrying platform. The carrying platform, via the hinge, can be configured to be in the downward position with the swivel wheel touching the ground to carry the article. The carrying platform can also be configured to be held in an upward position with the swivel wheel lifted off the ground when not carrying the article, to make the motorized vehicle more maneuverable.
US08596648B2
A pump includes a housing defining an interior volume, and a diaphragm, where the diaphragm partitions the interior volume into a pumping chamber and an actuating chamber. The diaphragm is formed from a polymeric material, and the pump further includes a diaphragm support configured to limit a stroke of the diaphragm. The diaphragm support includes an array of apertures through which fluid passes to interface with the diaphragm during operation of the pump.
US08596645B2
An assembly that includes first and second housing members, a gasket and a plurality of bolts that exert a clamp force to clamp the gasket between the first and second housing members. The gasket includes a plurality of tab members that engage the interior of one or both of the first and second housing members. The gasket tabs can resist a force exerted by a pressurized fluid within one or both of the first and second housing members. A gasket that is resistant to side loading due to a pressurized fluid is also provided.
US08596643B1
An impact marking ballistic target blank includes a substrate having a photoreflective colored ink applied thereto. The photoreflective colored ink is covered by a thin transparent film. An opaque monochromatic base print coat is coated onto the outer film surface to obscure the photoreflective colored ink. The blank is manufactured and sold to an end user who prints various custom target images in one or more colors or color combinations contrasting with the photoreflective colored ink on the forward surface of the target blank base print coat, either by hand or by means of a computer and related laser, ink jet or dot matrix printer, or by other suitable printing technology medium. The substrate of the impact making blank target blank may include pressure sensitive label stock, with labels that are removably attached to a backing sheet to facilitate removal of labels, after an image has been printed onto them. After the printed label is detached from the backing paper, it is ready to be applied to a target mounting assembly and used as a target.
US08596639B1
This is a rectangular box for randomly picking lottery numbers. The box is comprised of a rectangular shaped frame that holds a permanent place for a thin number pattern card with numbers on front and back of card. Unlike other related art in the invention the number card has a rectangular screen with open rectangular squares to be applied to lie over the front and back of number card. This will allow balls or objects to be trapped in a square on the number card. When the balls or objects are scattered about then laid still it will reveal the number on the card trapped by the screen. A thin Plexiglas cover is applied over the front and back of the screen, number card, frame, and brass balls to protect and keep the brass balls or objects from falling out of the box when shook.
US08596636B2
A sheet feeding unit having a holding section; a separation pad that contacts a sheet and imparts a conveyance resistance to the sheet; a separation roller that imparts a conveyance force to the sheet; a drive source that supplies driving force to the separation roller; a conveyance roller disposed at a position downstream of the separation roller, wherein the conveyance roller rotates at a circumferential speed greater than a circumferential speed of the separation roller, to impart conveyance force to the sheet, and wherein the conveyance roller and the separation roller are disposed so as to simultaneously contact the same sheet; and a drive shutoff unit, which shuts off the driving force supplied to the separation roller when the conveyance roller imparts the conveyance force to the sheet so the separation roller rotates in a following manner with the conveyance of the sheet.
US08596635B2
A system for conveying mailpieces along a conveyance path and singulating a mailpiece from a stack of mailpieces along the conveyance path. The system includes a first conveyance for conveying mailpieces at a variable velocity and a second conveyance, downstream of the first conveyance, for conveying mailpieces at a constant velocity along the conveyance path. A series of optical sensors extends from the first to the second conveyance and is operative to issue a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the conveyance path. A processor is responsive to the gap signal and is operative to control the first conveyance to decrease the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces when the gap signal exceeds a threshold value.
US08596633B2
A sheet processing apparatus that forms asperity on a sheet bundle so as to bind the sheet bundle, has a pair of rotating members having a concave and convex portions on the outer periphery, a moving portion that moves at least one of the pair of the rotating members so as to nip the sheet bundle by the pair of the rotating members or release the sheet bundle, and a controlling portion that controls the moving portion to allow the pair of rotating members to rotate with a concave portion of one rotating member and a convex portion of the other meshed with each other while nipping the sheet bundle or releasing the sheet bundle.
US08596631B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a binding unit, a folding unit, a conveyance unit, a press unit, a grasping unit, and a control unit. The binding unit performs binding processing on a sheet bundle stacked in the sheet stacking unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet bundle folded by the folding unit. The press unit presses a fold line portion of the conveyed sheet bundle from a direction perpendicular to a surface of a front page of the sheet bundle while moving along the fold line portion. The grasping unit is switched between a first state in which the grasping unit fixes the sheet bundle in position and a second state in which the grasping unit does not grasp the conveyed sheet bundle. The control unit shifts the grasping unit to the first state and causes the press unit to press the sheet bundle.
US08596626B2
A workpiece carrier (2) comprises a rotary frame (3) and a driving part (22), both of which are rotatable about a driving axle (4). The rotary frame (3) can be driven by a motor (6), and carries a plurality of workpiece holders (13) which are distributed around the driving axle (4) so as to be rotatable about holder axes. Mounted in the driving part (22) on a mount is a pinion (25) which engages with a stationary central wheel (21) and a ring gear (27) of a transmission part (26), at the centre of which lies an output point (29) which is at a distance of an eccentricity from the driving axle (4). Driving apertures (28) on the transmission part (26), through which driving pins (19) of the workpiece holders (13) project, are also at the distance of the eccentricity from the holder axes. On rotation of the rotary frame (3), the driving part (22) revolves about the driving axle (4) and additionally imposes on the transmission part (26), which rotates concomitantly with the rotary frame (3), an eccentric motion such that the output point (29) circles round the driving axle (4), as a result of which corresponding rotation of the workpiece holders (13) is effected.
US08596622B2
A belt splicer for butt-welding conveyor belts and methods for its operation. The belt splicer has clamp jaws that close to contact the butt edges of two belt sections against opposite ends of a heating wand and to hold the two melted butt edges together as they weld to each other. A toggle linkage assembly locks the clamped jaws closed and stores energy in a spring mechanism. The toggle linkage assembly allows the rapid release of the spring energy to accelerate the clamp jaws open to pull the melted butt ends rapidly away from the sides of the wand to avoid sticking. In another version, an air cylinder is used instead of the toggle linkage assembly and spring mechanism to close and rapidly open the splicer.
US08596618B2
A fence-frame-to-post connector comprises two separate members joined by one or more fasteners separate from the members. One member is attached to the fence frame with additional fasteners separate from those used to join the two members and also separate from the connector. One of the fasteners that joins the two members of the connector can be a hinge that is preferably made by a key tab and key slot combination in which the key pivots in the keyhole.
US08596608B2
A sub sea valve actuator system including a piston and cylinder assembly and a return spring arranged in an actuator housing, a hydraulic pump and electric motor assembly associated with the piston and cylinder assembly, and hydraulic flow lines for hydraulic medium driving the piston and cylinder in relative displacement against a force of the return spring. The valve actuator system includes a detector configured to detect an end-of-stroke position of the piston and cylinder assembly. The detector includes at least one of: a motor current monitoring circuit unit, a hydraulic medium pressure sensor unit, a position sensor unit, and a linear variable differential transformer unit. An electromechanical arresting mechanism is arranged to be energized for releasably arresting the return spring in a compressed state in result of the detected end-of-stroke position. A method for operation of a sub sea valve actuator system by which an end-of-stroke position for a piston and cylinder assembly in a sub sea valve actuator system can be determined.
US08596600B2
A modular collaborative panel system intended for use on walls, frames and stands is disclosed. The system uses dry erase boards, chalk or black boards, or other panels having at least one writing surface. The panels have notches or cut-outs on each side so the panels can be mounted to a wall or a frame using pegs. The system combines panels in rows or columns, or both, to form a large, modular system for use at meetings, gatherings or other assemblies. The system allows a large number of users to contribute to a presentation, and also allows users to view the presentation.
US08596589B2
The present invention relates to block style tube and pipe hangers which include polymeric grommets that are used as a dampener or insulator for hanging tubes and pipes and particularly to a post and port arrangement for securing and aligning the silicone grommets during initial mounting and placement. The grommets are typically two opposing symmetrical parts that together define a passage having an inner diameter which directly surrounds and supports the pipe or tube, the post and port arrangement provides a structure and method for connecting the polymeric grommet parts and supporting the grommets on the pipe or tube during installation of the frame and support structure.
US08596584B2
A high-lift system for an aircraft with a main wing and a slat that by way of an adjustment device is adjustable relative to the main wing to various adjustment states, with a gap resulting between the rear of the slat, which rear faces the main wing, and the main wing, where the size of the gap results from the adjustment state of the slat relative to the main wing, where in the interior of the slat an air guidance channel with at least one inlet and an outlet is formed, where the inlet is arranged at the rear, which faces the main wing, in order to influence the airflow in the gap.
US08596574B2
A streamlined profile reducing the speed deficit in a wake, a pylon with such a profile, a propulsion assembly including such a pylon and an aircraft including this assembly. The profile has a device for suction of air from the boundary layer formed on this profile. This suctioned air is discharged with the aid of a nozzle the outlet of which is situated close to the trailing edge of the profile. Suction of the air and discharge thereof contribute to reducing the speed deficit downstream from the profile and therefore to reducing the turbulences in this zone.
US08596572B1
A solar powered radiometric lift device operable to generate sustained lift is disclosed. A hot surface powered by solar energy and a colder surface are utilized to generate a pressure differential via free molecular momentum exchange. An insulating space may be situated between the hot surface and the colder surface, and formed into channels allowing thermal transpiration. The solar powered radiometric lift device is operable to provide sufficient lift for a geostationary stratospheric platform. Embodiments of the solar powered radiometric lift device are further operable to provide station keeping thrust and controllability.
US08596563B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for separating carpet fibers from a backing material to which said fibers are secured. The apparatus includes a belt for driving a carpet strip having one or more backings and one or more fibers secured on a face of said backing into the operative part of the device. There are a pair of rollers that are adapted to receive the carpet strip from said belt, and pass the carpet strip to a dish plate. The dish plate has an edge extending upwardly from the dish plate. The face of the carpet having the fibers contacts the edge after the carpet passes through the rollers. The edge of the blade holds the carpet presenting it to the main drum. The main drum rotates downwards and has a plurality of pins that shred the carpet backing and tear apart and free the face carpet fibers from the backing fibers. The face fibers pass to a receptacle for recycling. The torn backing fibers, being usually longer and lighter than the face fibers, remain within the pins of the drum and are transported towards the back end of the machine and fall in a different receptacle for recycling.
US08596562B2
A fuel injector for fuel ignition systems of internal combustion engines includes a magnetic circuit having a core, a magnetic coil and an armature, and a movable valve needle, which has a valve-closure member that cooperates with a fixed valve seat, the valve seat being shaped on a valve-seat member and being provided with a valve-seat support in which the valve-seat member is inserted. At least one metallic component of the fuel injector, in this context, has a serrated structure on its outer circumference for producing a solid connection to a corresponding component made of plastic. The plastic components may be the connection piece, the valve-seat support, the coil shell and the connecting pipe of the valve needle. The fuel injector is particularly suitable for use in fuel-injection systems of mixture-compressing internal combustion engines having externally supplied ignition.
US08596557B2
A pest control aerosol sprayer that is free from giving rise to a fire or a burn in its storage or use, includes a pressure-tight container receiving therein a noxious insect behavioral inhibitor of which an active ingredient is HFC-152a acting also as both a propellant and refrigerant. The pressure-tight container has at its top a valve having a stem, and the stem has an injection hole therein that can be opened with the stem forced down. A head cap is attached to a top of the pressure-tight container and is provided with a spray nozzle and an inflow port in which the stem of the valve in the pressure-tight container is fitted. The head cap has an injection passage leading from the inflow port to the spray nozzle.
US08596552B2
A valve (4) for a refrigeration system. Comprises two diaphragms (8, 10) being operatively connected. One diaphragm (8) is in contact with the refrigerant, the other (10) is in contact with the filling fluid. The two diaphragms (8, 10) may have different active areas. In combination with the connection between the two diaphragms (8, 10) this provides a ‘pressure gearing’ between the filling fluid and the refrigerant. Allows the pressure of the filling fluid to be relatively low even when the pressure of the refrigerant is high, while ensuring that the valve (4) can function properly. Particularly suitable for high pressure refrigeration systems, such as CO2 systems.
US08596550B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for incorporating manual changes to the setpoint for a thermostatic controller into long-term programming of the thermostatic controller. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems compares the actual setpoint at a given time for the thermostatic controller to an expected setpoint for the thermostatic controller in light of the scheduled programming. A determination is then made as to whether the actual setpoint and the expected setpoint are the same or different. Furthermore, a manual change to the actual setpoint for the thermostatic controller is compared to previously recorded setpoint data for the thermostatic controller. At least one rule is then applied for the interpretation of the manual change in light of the previously recorded setpoint data.
US08596537B2
An anesthesia system (1) is provided with an anesthesia apparatus (2), at least one anesthetic dispenser (3) and at least one parameter detection device (7) for detecting at least one parameter of the at least one anesthetic dispenser (3) at the anesthesia apparatus (2). The parameter detection device (7) is provided with an apparatus interface unit (10) with at least one camera (17) at the anesthesia apparatus (2) and with a dispenser interface unit (11) with at least one image pattern (16) at the at least one anesthetic dispenser (3). The at least one image pattern (16) can be detected by the camera (17), and the dispenser interface unit (11) is a passive dispenser interface unit (11).
US08596525B2
Systems and methods are described for using topographic and/or contrast spot scanning to facilitate various types of functionality in context of a data storage library. A robotic mechanism includes a hand assembly that has one or more integrated spot scanners. The hand assembly is configured to travel in at least two directions and to rotate, thereby locating and/or pointing the spot scanner in desired locations throughout the data storage library. By sweeping the spot scanner across a scan window, contrast and/or topographic data can be acquired and decoded to generate a profile of a region. The profile can be interpreted to facilitate functions, such as calibration of robot location with respect to media cartridges, targeting, proximity detection, empty cell detection, etc.
US08596521B2
A system for one or more portions of one or more regions of an electronic paper assembly having one or more display layers includes, but is not limited to: one or more position obtaining modules configured to direct obtaining first information regarding one or more positions of one or more portions of one or more regions of the electronic paper assembly and one or more physical status sending modules configured to direct sending one or more electronic paper assembly physical status related information portions to the electronic paper assembly based upon the obtaining of the first information. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08596511B2
A pneumatic fastening tool may include a tool housing including a dispensing portion for dispensing a fastener, a handle portion and an inlet configured to receive input of compressed air. A cap assembly may include a cap housing having an opening and mounted to the tool housing. A deflector may be configured to direct exhausted air through an outlet in a first direction. The deflector may have a stem received in the opening. The stem may define a bore extending in a second direction that is distinct from the first direction. A locking member may extend at least partially in the bore and be configured to rotatably capture the deflector relative to the cap housing.
US08596498B2
A device for dispensing a mixture of at least two fluids is disclosed. The device has a plurality of cartridges that each contain a fluid. A flow channel communicates with each cartridge. A valve adjusts a mass flow rate of the fluid drawn from the corresponding cartridge. A manifold has a mixing chamber and a plurality of inlets that each communicate with one of the flow channels. The manifold has a spring and a seal that covers the inlets. A piston is between the seal and the spring. The spring is moveable between an extended position that positions the seal to substantially and simultaneously close the inlets from the flow channels and a compressed position that positions the seal to substantially and simultaneously open the inlets to the flow channels. A dispensing pump communicates with the manifold and draws fluid from each of the cartridges. A nozzle dispenses the mixture.
US08596496B2
An apparatus for storing and dispensing wine comprises a housing formed substantially in the shape of a wine barrel. The housing including a circumferential wall, a first closed end and a second open end. A spigot for selectively dispensing wine is supported by and positioned through the first closed end of the housing. A removable insert disposable within the housing through the second open end contains a collapsible bladder of wine. A wine dispensing port is contained within the bladder and insert. With the insert positioned within the housing, the port is positioned proximate the second open end thereof. A conduit in fluid communication with the spigot extends from the first closed end toward the second open end. Upon disposing the insert within the housing, the conduit is connectable to the port wherein the wine can be selectively dispensed from the spigot.
US08596492B2
A system for aiding the visual matching of containers having diverse openings with matching lids includes affixing, such as by molding or embossing, geometric planar patterns on the bottom walls of a plurality of rectangular containers having different sized openings and affixing the same geometric patterns to the top wall of the matching lids.
US08596490B2
A tray in accordance with the present disclosure includes a floor and a side wall arranged to extend along a perimeter edge of the floor. The floor and the side wall cooperate to form a product-storage region.
US08596469B2
A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a cyclone separator for a vacuum toilet system, with a casing; an input-side swirl generator, whose input openings impart a swirl to the inflowing fluid; a separating wall arranged in the casing, which encloses the fluid stream in the cyclone separator ring-like and whose interior cross section tapers downstream; and a collection tank in the casing for receiving and accumulating constituents separated out of the fluid. In addition, the invention relates to a wastewater tank and vacuum toilet system having such a cyclone separator.
US08596468B2
New silica gel materials and novel methods of producing such are provided. The method itself entails a manner of mixing the reactants together in a one-pot process such that the time required for aging is reduced without compromising the ability to target pore size production. In such a way, the pH of the reaction drives pore size development, thereby permitting a more efficient process to be followed in terms of expensive drying/heating steps being reduced timewise, if not altogether. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the resultant gel materials exhibit a certain pore size minimum while simultaneously exhibiting a degree of softness heretofore unavailable. As such, not only is this novel method more efficient in silica gel manufacture, but the resultant materials are completely novel as well. The gel materials made therefrom may be utilized in a variety of different end uses, such as cooking oil filtration, soft skin cleansers, dental abrasives, and the like. Methods of production and use, as well as the novel gel materials themselves, particularly caustic and composite gels, are thus encompassed within this invention.
US08596465B2
There is provided a ceramic filter provided with a ceramic porous membrane having few defects, small and uniform membrane thickness, and high resolution performance. The ceramic filter includes: a porous substrate which is a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane), a titania UF membrane which is an ultrafiltration membrane (UF membrane) formed on the porous substrate and has an average pore size of 2 to 20 nm and an average thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 μm, and a silica membrane which is formed on the titania UF membrane and a ceramic porous membrane a part of which has penetrated into pores of the titania UF membrane or into pores of the UF membrane and the porous substrate.
US08596461B2
A method of facilitating a sorting of a plurality of components nested in a workpiece, including at least two sets of components, each adapted to be assembled to form a structure, comprising producing a plan replicating the cut pattern of the workpiece, depicting the profiles of the components, each provided with an identifier denoting the location of the component on the workpiece; producing at least one of a plurality of labels, each bearing a distinguishable one of the location indicators and a distinctive, readily visible identifier denoting a different one of the sets of components; applying each of the labels on a nested component of the workpiece corresponding to the profile of the component on the plan, guided by the plan and the applicable location identifiers; removing each of the nested components provided with labels bearing the same readily, visible identifier and grouping all components provided with labels bearing the same identifier, together.
US08596459B2
The invention relates to a large cargo carrier (1), comprising a pallet shaped base (2), at least one side wall (4a), at least one first stand element (3a) which is at least partially made from plastic material and which is disengageably connected with the pallet shaped base (2) at an edge portion of the pallet shaped base (2), wherein the at least one side wall (4a) is disengageably connected with the first stand element (3a).
US08596456B2
The present invention includes a display apparatus including an item retention wall defining a cavity, and a suspension member coupled to the item retention wall, wherein the item retention wall is configured to retain an item within the cavity by a retention seal between the item and the item retention wall.
US08596455B2
An adapter for inserting into a carton containing a non-reel coil of filamentary material or wire has a shaft-receiving sleeve supported by a box structure. The adapter's structure has top, front, bottom and back walls reinforced by side gussets. The underside of the top wall, the interior of the back wall, and the top of the bottom wall of the adapter define a channel. The channel is oriented such that it may receive a shaft or rod of a wire pulling rack. The adapter may be assembled from a blank of foldable material. The adapter blank may be manufactured as a detachable element of a carton blank which is also used to construct a carton to hold a non-reel coil of filamentary material.
US08596439B2
A hydraulic assembly for actuating a setting unit in a motor vehicle may include at least one hydraulic actuating unit which acts on the setting unit, as well as at least one piston pump with a piston which is displaceably positioned in a housing, wherein, when the piston moves, there is built up a hydraulic pressure for loading the actuating unit. There is provided a driveshaft with an axis of rotation and an eccentric, wherein the eccentric acts on the piston of the at least one piston pump and, when the driveshaft rotates, builds up a hydraulic pressure. Furthermore, the hydraulic assembly may be integrated within a coupling assembly.
US08596434B2
An electric railway system includes an electric car and an electric-power supply device that supplies electric power to the electric car. The electric-power supply device includes a power source, and an overhead conductor portion connected to the power source. The electric car includes: a power collector installed on a roof of the electric car, having a contact conductor portion contactable to the overhead conductor portion, and being capable of raising and lowering the contact conductor portion based on an instruction from outside; a switching unit connected to the power collector, opening and closing a main circuit; an electric-power conversion device connected to the switching unit, performing an electric power conversion; an electric-power storage device connected to the electric-power conversion device; an electric motor driven by the electric-power conversion device, driving the electric car; and a control unit controlling at least the switching unit.
US08596432B2
While comprising filled minor compartments being filled with an inclusion in which a liquid makes the major component, and vacant minor compartments being filled with the air, at least one of the vacant minor compartments adjoins the filled minor compartments, and a fragile section is formed in at least one of ribs that demarcate the filled minor compartments and the adjoining vacant minor compartments. After the fragile section has fractured, shock energy can be absorbed furthermore by means of circulation resistance to the inclusion that flows from the filled minor compartments to the vacant minor compartments.
US08596431B2
A self-adjusting end position damping arrangement includes a stroke space 9 which is delimited by a movable stroke element 7, 24 and a part of the pneumatic cylinder 1, with the stroke space 9 being connected via a connecting duct 14 to the working pressure P1 which acts on the cylinder piston 22 or to the ventilation pressure (P3) in the outlet duct 3 and the stroke element 7, 24 being acted on via a damping duct 16 by the damping pressure P2 in the damping volume 19, a non-return valve 12 is arranged in the connecting duct 14 upstream of the stroke space 9, which non-return valve 12 blocks in the direction of the working pressure P1 or the ventilation pressure (P3), respectively, and a ventilation duct 5 is provided, which ventilation duct 5 can be opened by means of the movable stroke element 7, 24 and which is connected to an outlet duct 3.
US08596429B2
The invention relates to a brake disk comprising a ceramic friction ring (4) and a connecting flange (6) that is disposed concentric to the friction ring (4). The friction ring (4) is provided with a fastening ring (8) in an interior area, which encompasses fastening bores (10). The friction ring (4) is joined to the connecting flange (6) at the fastening bores (10) by means of fixing means. The invention is characterized in that the friction ring (4) is provided with relief slots (12) between the fastening bores (10) in the fastening ring (8), said relief slots (12) radially extending from an interior area of the fastening ring (8) in the direction of a friction zone (20) of the friction ring (4).
US08596424B2
A locking device for locking a displaceable motor vehicle part which is lockable by the means of the locking device within a displacement range in a respective rest position reached by displacement is provided. The locking device comprising a braking device with at least two braking elements which interacts in a braking manner in a respective rest position of the motor vehicle part in order to lock the motor vehicle part. An actuator is assigned to the locking device, which is optionally combinable with the braking device and with which a displacement movement of the motor vehicle part is brakable for locking the motor vehicle part. The actuator is operatively connected independently on the braking device with a component which can be moved by displacement of a motor vehicle part so that a displacement movement of the displaceable motor vehicle part is brakable by the action of an actuator on the component.
US08596422B2
A safety stop is provided for stopping a movable member having at least one set of opposed wheels for gripping a rail. The stop has a track on each of opposite sides forming a wedge shape of a narrow end progressively widening to a wide end in a direction of travel of the movable member. With the opposed wheels of the movable member respectively at opposite sides of the wedge shape member, the tracks of the wedge shape member engage and impart a spreading strain to the opposed wheels as the movable member moves in the direction of travel. The opposed wheels of the movable member comprise a deformable material to absorb the kinetic energy of the movable member. The tracks of the stop additionally may have undulating features comprising concave and convex surfaces in the direction of motion.
US08596418B2
An automatic lubrication apparatus is designed and intended to be mounted on a hydraulic tool and can be driven by a hydraulic-pressure medium, in particular on a hydraulic hammer, and includes a lubricant pump incorporating a pump element. The pump element of the lubricant pump is cyclically impacted by a cam, and the cam is operatively connected to a hydromotor from which torque is transferred so as to produce synchronous rotation.
US08596416B2
A system configured for lifting or lowering a tool carriage device via a ladder climbing structure is described. The tool carriage device may be adapted to enclose and transport a payload and include a fall arrest grab with an overspeed brake to stop an uncontrolled descent of the carriage device. The tool carriage device may include obstruction sensors to detect an obstruction along the path of the carriage device.
US08596411B2
The present disclosure relates to a speaker cabinet for electronic device, which is disposed in an electronic device and comprises a cabinet body, two first fixing structures, two dampers, and two second fixing structures. The damper is disposed on two side surfaces of the cabinet body through the two first fixing structures and fixed on the electronic device through the two second fixing structures for fixing the cabinet body in the electronic device. The cabinet speaker according to the present disclosure adopts only two fixing structures to fix the cabinet body to the electronic device. The damper is also used for mitigating the vibrations generated by the cabinet body. In addition, the two fixing structures are used for supporting the damper for avoiding inclination of the cabinet body towards an unpredictable direction and colliding the housing of the electronic device and its internal components.
US08596406B2
A utility vehicle is provided. The utility vehicle may include a transmission including a transmission mechanism and a transmission case assembly for accommodating the transmission mechanism; and an air discharge duct coupled to the transmission case assembly, to discharge air from inside the transmission case assembly; wherein the air discharge duct includes an upward extending portion extending substantially upward from the transmission case assembly, and a downward extending portion which is bent back at an upper end portion of the upward extending portion, and then extends substantially downward; and the upward extending portion and the downward extending portion partially overlap with each other in at least either a forward and rearward direction or a rightward and leftward direction.
US08596403B2
An electric vehicle includes a right side member and a left side member with a motor compartment disposed therebetween, a motor compartment cross member extending transversely across the motor compartment, the motor compartment cross member coupled to the left side member and the right side member, a front cross member extending transversely across the motor compartment, wherein the front cross member is spaced apart from the motor compartment cross member in a vertical direction, and a motor mount member extending between the front cross member and the motor compartment cross member, wherein the motor mount member is coupled to the front cross member and the motor compartment cross member, the motor mount member comprising an attachment point for receiving a corresponding coupler of an electric motor.
US08596402B2
The invention relates to a safety device for controlling the opening of an automobile door (100). According to the invention, the device (130) includes means (131, 132, 133) for blocking said control in the event of a side impact. The invention can be used for automobile safety with respect to side impacts.
US08596394B2
A brake structure for a wheel rotating device includes a motor provided in a wheel and is driven for rotating the wheel, and a braking mechanism for actuating brake to brake the wheel. The motor includes: a motor housing; a stator positioned in and fixed to the motor housing; and a rotor positioned in the motor housing and facing to the stator. The braking mechanism includes: a brake rotor to rotate with the wheel; frictional members to be in contact with the brake rotor for generation of braking force; a pressing force generating unit for generating pressing force of the frictional members so that the frictional members are urged to and pressed against the brake rotor by supplying brake fluid through a brake fluid passage to transmit fluid pressure; and a housing for the pressing force generating unit. The brake fluid passage is formed inside a wall of the motor housing, and is connected to a brake fluid supply port provided in the housing for the pressing force generating unit.
US08596392B2
A method for operation of a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle has a first drive apparatus for driving the wheels on a first axle by an internal combustion engine, a second drive apparatus having two electrical machines for driving the wheels on a second axle, and at least one electrical energy store that can be discharged when an electrical machine is being operated as a motor and can be charged when an electrical machine is being operated as a generator. The method includes operating at least one driver-operated control for causing at least one of the electrical machines to output additional electrical drive torque to the axle that is not driven by the internal combustion engine.
US08596379B2
The level of hydrogen sulfide in drilling fluid within a well formed in the Earth is assessed in an ongoing and/or in situ manner. The well may be constructed for the removal of hydrocarbons from the Earth. The assessment of hydrogen sulfide level may be provided in an ongoing manner such that real time, or near real time, fluctuations in hydrogen sulfide levels in the drilling fluid within the well may be conveyed to users. This may provide various advantages over systems in which drilling fluid must be extracted and separately tested for hydrogen sulfide content, and/or in which assessments of hydrogen sulfide level require time for performance.
US08596378B2
Perforating assemblies and perforating safety systems capable of being disposed in a wellbore for hydrocarbon fluid production are described. The perforating assemblies can include an isolation device that is capable of preventing a denotation train when the assemblies are in a first orientation and allowing a denotation train when the perforating assemblies are in a second orientation. The isolation device can be automatically reoriented or reconfigured upon a change in the orientation of the perforating assembly.
US08596376B2
A support apparatus is disclosed for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle. The support apparatus includes a beam having a first and a second end, the beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle. A plate having a first and a second extremity is rigidly secured to the beam. A first trailing link is pivotally secured to the plate about a first pivotal axis. A second trailing link is pivotally secured to the plate about a second pivotal axis. A support arm is provided for supporting the wing plow. The support arm has a first termination and a second termination and is pivotally secured to the first trailing link about a third pivotal axis. Also, the support arm is pivotally secured to the second trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis. The first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes are spaced and parallel relative to each other so that when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, the third and fourth pivotal axes trail behind the first and second pivotal axes relative to the forward direction of the vehicle. The arrangement is such that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.
US08596364B2
A method for treating a wellbore in a hydrogen sulfide-containing formation that includes injecting a first slug in the wellbore, the first slug comprising: at least one of primary amine and ammonia; and a base fluid; injecting a second slug in the wellbore, the second slug comprising: a triazine scavenger; and a base fluid; and allowing the triazine scavenger to react with the hydrogen sulfide is disclosed.
US08596355B2
A method for spacing heater wells for an in situ conversion process includes the steps of determining a direction along which thermal energy will travel most efficiently through a subsurface formation, and completing a plurality of heater wells in the subsurface formation, with the heater wells being spaced farther apart in the determined direction than in a direction transverse to the determined direction. In one aspect, the step of determining a direction along which thermal energy will travel most efficiently is performed based upon a review of geological data pertaining to the subsurface formation. The geological data may comprise the direction of least horizontal principal stress in the subsurface formation. Alternatively, the geological data may comprise the direction of bedding in the subsurface formation, the tilt of the subsurface formation relative to the surface topography, the organic carbon content of the kerogen, the initial formation permeability, and other factors.
US08596347B2
A slip for use in the anchoring of a downhole tool in the well casing wherein the anchors include a plurality of buttons and at least one wicker. The slip is positioned about a mandrel and radially expands upon the application of force. The buttons and wicker first engage the casing in response to a first force, and the wicker deformably engages the casing in response to a second force. The second force causes the wicker to cut into and deform the casing, thereby anchoring the downhole tool for high-pressure operations.
US08596341B2
A family of structures and designs for use in devices such as heat exchangers so as to allow for enhanced performance in heat exchangers smaller and lighter weight than other existing devices. These structures provide separate flow paths for liquid and vapor and are generally open. In some embodiments of the invention, these structures can also provide secondary heat transfer as well. In an evaporative heat exchanger, the inclusion of these structures and devices enhance the heat transfer coefficient of the evaporation phase change process with comparable or lower pressure drop.
US08596340B1
Heat sinks for use in assemblies for preheating liquid samples prior to their introduction into an analytical stream. The heater assemblies have a heat sink having a metallic heater block and a heating element for heating the block. The block has a basin for receiving a liquid sample and allowing heat to be transmitted from the block to the sample. A drain at the lower end of the basin allows sample in the basin to flow out of the basin. A passageway extends through the block from the drain to an exterior surface of the block and provides a conduit for sample flowing from the drain, A temperature sensor is mounted in a cavity in the block and extends into the basin to measure the temperature of sample in the basin. A temperature sensor is mounted in a cavity in the block and measures the temperature of the block.
US08596335B2
A method for continuous casting from molten metal, where metal flows vertically downward from a mold and the metal strip is then guided vertically downward along a vertical strand guide, cooling as it moves. The strip is then deflected from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. In the terminal area of the deflection of the strip into the horizontal direction or after the deflection into the horizontal direction, a mechanical deformation of the strip is carried out. The strip is cooled at a heat-transfer coefficient of 3,000 to 10,000 W/(m2 K) in a first section downstream of the mold and upstream of the mechanical deformation of the strip. In a second section, downstream of the cooling, the surface of the strip is heated to a temperature above Ac3 or Ar3 by heat equalization in the strip, after which the mechanical deformation is carried out in a third section.
US08596332B2
The invention relates to a speed synchronization system for an aluminum alloy slab continuously casting and rolling line having a twin-belt casting machine and skin pass rolling machine which controls the belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine and roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine. An actually measured value of a slab speed during advance from a twin-belt casting machine to a skin pass rolling machine is compared with a line speed setting to control roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine by proportional/integrated control and simultaneously control belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine based on the line speed setting and a solidification shrinkage rate of the aluminum alloy to be cast.
US08596328B2
A bail lock for coverings for architectural openings wherein at least one of the bails defines a cord guide surface of changing front-to-back cross-sectional profile so as to define a cord passage between the inner and outer bails that varies from a relatively straight path that allows the cord to pass freely through, to a more tortuous path that applies substantial frictional force to the cord.
US08596327B2
A shade product is described that is made at least in part with a sheer material. Sheer materials are highly porous materials that allow significant amounts of light to pass through the material. When placed in an architectural opening, such as a window, sheer materials can provide a soft and elegant appearance while still providing privacy. When using sheer materials to construct shade products, one layer of the sheer material typically needs to be bonded to an adjacent material, such as another layer of the sheer material. In accordance with the present disclosure, an adhesive receptive coating is applied to the sheer material at the bond sites in order to prevent against adhesive migration. In one embodiment, the adhesive receptive coating is substantially transparent and therefore does not interfere with the overall look and aesthetic appeal of the product.
US08596317B1
A utility blanket is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the utility blanket includes a fabric layer. A strip that includes hook fastener material is located about the fabric layer, and the hook fastener material is adapted to engage removeably the fabric covering of a vehicle, in various aspects. A cover that is positionable between at least an engaged position and a disengaged position is located about the fabric layer, in various aspects, and a complementary strip comprised of loop material is located about the cover. With the cover positioned in the engaged position, the complementary strip engages the strip to secure the cover over the strip, and, with the cover positioned in the disengaged position, the strip is exposed, in various aspects. This Abstract is presented to meet the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.
US08596316B2
The invention relates to a coupling closure for a docking device used for decanting, filling, and/or emptying containers, particularly in an environmentally isolated manner. The coupling closure has a closure side and a container side and comprises a nozzle stub and a cap which is mounted in the nozzle stub so as to be pivotable about an axis and has an external side that faces the closure side in the closed position. The invention further relates to a docking device for decanting, filling, and/or emptying containers, particularly in an environmentally isolated manner. The docking device comprises first and second disclosed coupling closures which can be placed flush against each other by the respective closure sides thereof. The invention also relates to a working platform, a locking unit for a docking device, and a method for decanting, filling, and/or emptying containers, particularly in an environmentally isolated manner.
US08596303B1
A supplementary beater used with a handloom for constructing a fabric weave, and an associated method of use thereof. The handloom includes a warp beam, a harness for supporting and controlling warp threads, a reed defining a shed and disposed adjacent to the harness for supporting warp threads, and a shuttle for passing weft threads, one at a time, into the shed. The supplementary beater is adapted for manual insertion into the shed and for the purpose of providing an undulating weft pattern in the fabric weave.
US08596299B2
An externally mounted mechanical device for mechanically closing a pressurized tank or cylinder valve, such as a grill tank, is provided. The device comprises a securing mechanism, a rotatable mechanism having a handle recess to receive a handle of pressurized tank or cylinder valve, and a torsional spring, wherein the torsional spring is configured to store potential torsional force and then release the torsional force by way of a timed release mechanism. The mechanical device comprises a securing device for securing the mechanical device to a tank or cylinder. Torsional force may be stored in torsional spring by way of a ratchet and pawl that also is configured to release the stored torsional force by way of a timed release.
US08596295B2
A check valve position indicator assembly is disclosed including an indicator housing, an indicator shaft rotatably disposed in the indicator housing, an indicator arm attached to the shaft, a rod attached to the shaft, a mounting bracket, an indicia member attached to the mounting bracket, and at least one fastener attaching the indicator housing with the mounting bracket. In some embodiments, a seal is included along the bottom of the indicator housing.
US08596288B2
An improved crutch assembly and walking aid is provided. The crutch assembly can be retrofitted to an existing walking aid and provides spring assisted motion. The assembly includes a ball-in-socket joint and a spring operably connecting the joint to a walking aid shaft.
US08596286B2
A flossing device including a first elongated member and a second elongated member each including a channel disposed at a top end, wherein each channel includes a first cross-sectional spacing and a second cross-sectional spacing, wherein the second cross-sectional spacing is less than the first cross-sectional spacing, and the second cross-sectional spacing is closer to a top edge of the first elongated member than the first cross-sectional spacing. The flossing device includes a floss string having a first end including an enlarged portion disposed within the channel of the elongated members, and sized to be substantially larger than the second cross-sectional spacing. The floss string may include a second end coupled to a top end of the second elongated member. The flossing device includes a seal and an aperture disposed on a surface of the elongated members and are disposed adjacent the channel.
US08596285B1
A system and method of changing the shape of hair by breaking disulfide bridges in the keratin proteins of hair with atomic hydrogen. A hair setting structure is provided that contains at least one cathode and at least one anode. Hair is set into a predetermined shape. The hair is wet with the electrically conductive medium. Electrolysis is induced within the electrically conductive medium by flowing electrical current between cathodes and anodes. The electrolysis creates hydrogen. The hydrogen cleaves the disulfide bonds in the keratin proteins of the hair. After the disulfide bonds are broken, electrolysis is stopped and the hair is neutralized. The neutralization enables the disulfide bonds to reform, therein reshaping the hair into what is commonly referred to as a permanent wave.
US08596278B2
A nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering a substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a delivery unit for delivering a flow entraining a substance to one nostril of a subject, the delivery unit including a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of the subject; and a flow resistor unit for fitting to the other nostril of the subject, the flow resistor unit including a progressive resistor for progressively providing an increasing flow resistance to the delivered flow.
US08596277B2
According to various embodiments, a tracheal tube may include a pressure monitoring lumen configured to sample the gases in the tracheal space. The pressure monitoring lumen may be in fluid communication with a pressure transducer that provides pressure measurements. An opening of the lumen may be covered with a porous membrane that allow gas to diffuse freely in and out of the lumen, but that prevents secretions from clogging the lumen.
US08596272B2
A device (1) for separating moisture from breathing gas is improved in terms of the storage of water of condensation. A collection volume (5) is provided for water of condensation with a water-binding substance (6).
US08596271B2
A patient interface device that includes a support member sized and configured to span at least a portion of a patient's face while remaining below the patient's eyes responsive to the patient interface device being donned by such a patient and a sealing assembly operatively coupled to the support member such that the support member is moveable relative to the support member. The support member defines a gas carrying conduit adapted to carry a flow of gas to the sealing assembly. The support member is a single-piece unitary member and includes a conduit coupling portion adapted to be coupled to a patient circuit.
US08596269B2
The present invention proposes a breathing assistance device for a patient, comprising: A source of respiratory pressurised gas, A breathing connection to allow the patient to receive said gas, At least one sensor for acquiring a parameter representative of the operation of the device, characterised in that said gas source is a ventilator, and said ventilator is integrated into a removable module which also comprises at least one sensor for acquiring a parameter representative of the operation of the device.
US08596267B2
An inhaler (1) for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a plurality of blister pockets (3) is proposed. A tape is used for numbering.
US08596262B2
A liquid discharge head includes an energy generating element which generates energy to be used to discharge a liquid; and a plurality of discharge ports which is formed for each energy generating element and allows the liquid to be discharged therethrough. The plurality of discharge ports have regions where the angles of contact with the liquid are different around the discharge ports, and the regions in the discharge ports where the contact angles are relatively small are formed at different positions in the plurality of discharge ports, and the liquids discharged from the plurality of discharge ports are discharged in directions away from each other.
US08596256B2
A releasable mount comprising two mounting posts that releasably engage into notches in the ends of a resilient, generally C-shaped bracket. The releasable mount is particularly useful to releasably mount an archery accessory such as an arrow quiver to an archery bow, tree or tree stand or the like. The arrow quiver may include a hood having an arrow retaining insert for receiving an arrow with a single-point or a 2-4 bladed broadhead. The quiver may also include an arrow gripper having a plurality of fingers whose sides define expandable oval slots between adjacent fingers into which the arrows are loaded.
US08596251B2
An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus including a canister for adsorbing an evaporated fuel in a fuel tank, a control valve at a vapor path communicating with a fuel tank and a canister, has a dead-zone range where a flow of the evaporated fuel is blocked even if an opening angle of the control valve is increased in an open direction from zero opening angle, and allows the evaporated fuel to flow through over the dead-zone range. The control unit increases the opening angle from substantially zero to a predetermined angle in the dead-zone range and stands by prior to the opening control, and increases the opening angle from the predetermined angle upon the opening control. An output value by control unit set in the dead-zone range is compared with a detected value to detect a failure of the control valve.
US08596250B2
A canister for a fuel vapor processor connected to a fuel tank and an engine includes a housing defining an adsorption chamber therein and an absorber being capable of adsorbing fuel vapor and filled in the adsorption chamber. The housing has an air communicating pipe communicating the adsorption chamber with the atmosphere, an introducing pipe communicating the adsorption chamber with the fuel tank and an exhaust pipe communicating the adsorption chamber with the engine. It is configured that airflow resistance in the canister along a first route between the air communicating pipe and the exhaust pipe is smaller than airflow resistance along a second route between the introducing pipe and the exhaust pipe.
US08596246B2
A fuel rail for high-pressure direct-injection internal combustion engines has an injector holder and a fastening bracket directly attached to a main body of the fuel rail. Thermal deformation may occur at the time of temporary fitting or brazing when assembling the rail. However, positional accuracy of the injector holder can be assured, which results in having an excellent sealing property. Components of the fuel rail for direct-injection internal combustion engines are made of steel or stainless steel, and the components are joined reciprocally by brazing. The components joined by brazing are finished by cutting work and/or burnishing processing after the brazing step.
US08596245B2
Increase in combustion noise and deterioration of exhaust gas performance caused by inter-cylinder correction are prevented, and decrease in temperature rise performance of a diesel particulate removal device caused by inter-cylinder correction is prevented. A fuel injection control device of an engine comprises inter-cylinder correction amount calculation means 5 for calculating, for each cylinder, an inter-cylinder correction amount for correcting by increasing/decreasing a fuel injection amount in each cylinder according to a difference in engine revolution speed between the cylinders, inter-cylinder correction amount division means 6 for dividing the inter-cylinder correction amount into a first divided inter-cylinder correction amount for correcting by increasing/decreasing the basic injection amounts of main injection and sub-injection and a second divided inter-cylinder correction amount for correcting by increasing/decreasing only the basic injection amount of main injection, first correction means 7 for distributing the first divided inter-cylinder correction amount to main injection and sub-injection according to the basic injection amount of main injection and sub-injection, and second correction means 8 for adding the second divided inter-cylinder correction amount to the basic injection amount of main injection.
US08596236B2
A variable valve driving apparatus includes a driving shaft including a first camshaft and a second camshaft coaxially disposed to the first camshaft, a driving cam including an opening cam disposed to the first camshaft and a closing cam disposed to the second camshaft, a phase control portion controlling relative phases between the first camshaft and the second camshaft and a valve opening portion opened by the opening cam and the closing cam.
US08596235B2
A variable valve drive for internal combustion engines is used for activation of gas exchange valves, in which the gas exchange valves engage different cam profiles of a camshaft driven by the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The camshaft has at least one displaceable cam segment that carries multiple different cam profiles having the same base circle section. Each one of the cam profiles is switched to be active for the related gas exchange valve, in accordance with the axial position of the cam segment relative to at least one related gas exchange valve. The axial positioning of the cam segment takes place by a setting shaft that can be rotated and is disposed parallel and next to the camshaft. The setting shaft has a guide track in which a tappet is guided, which acts on a transfer element that determines the axial position of the cam segment.
US08596229B2
A ventilation head cover of an engine may include a head cover main body having a blow-by exhaust portion, a baffle plate disposed in the head cover main body with a predetermined distance from the head cover main body to form a gas passage with the blow-by exhaust portion, and an oil inflow prevention wall formed to an end portion of the baffle plate and engaged with the head cover main body, wherein the oil inflow prevention wall includes at least a gas passage hole to form the gas passage.
US08596224B2
A muzzle for use with an animal, the muzzle having a muzzle body, at least one strap circumferentially affixed to the muzzle body and adapted to widen or narrow the muzzle body using a tensioning mechanism and a clip coupled to the muzzle body configured to receive an emergency airway device or an endotracheal tube.
US08596223B1
A feet washing system has a generally rectangular trough with a planar floor, an anterior side wall, a posterior side wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The system has an anterior raised floor support, a posterior raised floor support, and a middle floor support. The system has a fluid inlet and a drain outlet. The system has a generally planar perforated raised floor component. The system has an agitation pump operatively connected to a power supply. The agitation pump is located between the floor and the raised floor component. The system has an anterior side rail located on a top surface of the anterior side wall, a first side rail located on a top surface of the first side wall, and a second side rail located on a top surface of the second side wall.
US08596222B1
A collapsible air-permeable animal container enclosing a volume between 8 cubic inches and 768 cubic inches in its expanded state is disclosed. In one embodiment, the container can be assembled from a plurality of nesting tubular frusta, one frustum serving as a base tube and another frustum serving as a top tube. The top tube can nest substantially inside the base tube when the container is in a collapsed configuration and the top tube can be locked into place relative to the base tube when the container is in an expanded configuration. The container may also include a base cap attached to the base tube that can be opened to add or remove an animal stored in the container and closed to prevent the container contents from escaping.
US08596218B2
An on-demand animal feed apparatus is provided comprising a receiving chamber, base tube and actuator. The receiving chamber comprises an upper section to connect to a feed supply, a lower section, and an intermediate section disposed between the upper and lower sections. A base tube is connected to the lower section of the receiving chamber and cooperates with the receiving chamber to define the feed reservoir. A lower portion of the base tube defines a discharge opening for dispensing animal feed. An actuator is disposed at least partially within the base tube and is configured to raise and lower in an axial direction in response to movement by an animal, thereby allowing the transfer of animal feed from the feed reservoir through the discharge opening. The lower section of the receiving chamber defines a relief area for the temporary displacement of animal feed when the actuator is raised or lowered.
US08596217B2
An application controller for an application unit, for marking substances comprises a radiation sensor, by means of which the relative position of the application unit relative to a reference plane may be determined. The relative position of the application unit can be determined by means for recording the orientation of the application unit controller relative to the reference plane from the association of position with orientation information, such that control instructions, in particular for positional correction may be generated by the application unit controller. The position of the application unit can be adjusted by an actuator device according to the control instructions.
US08596214B2
An apparatus and method for thoroughly soaking wood for use in the grilling or preparation of food. The apparatus being capable of accepting and soaking wood in the form of wood planks, wood chunks, or wood chips. The apparatus in a form of a tank which holds the cooking wood plank in liquid for any amount of time, ensuring that the plank absorbs the liquid evenly and for a long enough period for proper cooking. Other items can be added to the liquid while soaking, such as seasonings, sauces, or other wood types. These flavors will meld with the liquid in the tank and evenly distribute the flavor to the cooking plank.
US08596212B2
A boat boarding apparatus for boarding animals onto a boat and methods of using the apparatus. The apparatus has a set of boat boarding steps, a first mounting assembly attached to said boarding steps for connecting said boarding steps to said boat ladder and a second mounting assembly for connecting said boarding steps to said boat ladder. The mounting assemblies provide resistance forces for securing the ladder, with the resistance forces being opposing forces to one another.
US08596199B2
A bearing system for a spin-stabilized projectile including bearing configurations that permit selective relative rotation between a spindle and a body portion and which facilitate automatic centering of the spindle. Each bearing configuration includes a conical bearing surface rotatable with respect to a corresponding conical body surface. One bearing configuration is in a forward portion of the body portion and selectively engages a first body surface upon the projectile experiencing set-back forces to direct forces away from bearing elements, and another bearing configuration is in a rearward portion of the body portion and engages a second body surface upon the projectile experiencing set-forward forces to direct forces away from the bearing elements. Biasing elements work in cooperation with the bearing configurations to automatically maintain the spindle centered with respect to the body portion during pre-launch and in-flight and to re-center the spindle after set-back, balloting and/or set-forward phases.
US08596196B2
An adjustment wheel assembly of an adjustable stamp, mounted on an adjustment wheel unit of the adjustable stamp, has a printing type cover combined with a torsion spring and pivotally mounted on the adjustable wheel unit, and a fastener mounted on the adjustment wheel unit. The printing type cover has a tab and a snap part formed on another side of the printing type cover to engage the fastener and disengage the fastener when a pressing part of the fastener is pressed. The torsion spring enables the printing type cover to flip up. The printing type cover is closed and fixed by pressing down the tab formed on an edge portion of the printing type cover. Accordingly, users' fingers can be prevented from being stained upon flipping up and closing the printing type cover.
US08596195B2
A sludge dehydrating apparatus (200) according to the present invention is configured such that power is provided at opposite sides of a rotating rod (243) of movable disks (230) so that even if the apparatus is comparatively large or is operated at low speed, the rotating rod of the movable disks (230) can be prevented from being deformed. Thereby, the movable disks (230) can be smoothly rotated at the same time, thus enhancing the efficiency of the dehydration operation. Furthermore, because power is provided on the opposite sides both of the rotating rod (243) of the movable disks (230) and of the drive shaft of a screw (210), even if the screw (210) is comparatively long, the drive shaft of the screw (210) can be preventing from bending, thus preventing malfunction of the apparatus such as deformation of a fixed disk or a movable disk.
US08596182B2
A spall liner including a first plurality of flexible fabric plies of a first dimension secured together and secured to a first tie layer of a second, larger dimension. At least a second plurality of flexible fabric plies are secured together and secured to a second tie layer. The first and second tie layers are secured together. A cover includes separable fastener structure of a first type for removeably securing the liner to the inside hull of a vehicle equipped with separable fastener structure of a second type.
US08596172B2
A deep throat chuck jaw system adapted to be used with a lathe with or without a headstock hole is provided. The system includes a set of jaw extension members having an inboard end supported from a face of a master chuck jaw coupled to a lathe chuck. The jaw extension members also include an outboard end. The set of jaw extension members are operable to grip an outer surface of a part having an outer diameter greater than the headstock hole with a clamping assembly clamped around the outboard end.
US08596171B2
A driver for a brass cylindrical type nut for an electrical terminal includes a handle, a sleeve, and a rotation axle. The handle has an exterior wall and an interior wall, in which the interior wall has a first accommodating space, and the exterior wall has a plurality of notches formed thereon in communication with the first accommodating space. The sleeve disposed in the first accommodating space and coupled to the interior wall further has a second accommodating space and a coupling opening arranged at a front end of the sleeve. The rotation axle is disposed in the second accommodating space and has a thread mated with the brass cylindrical type nut at an end corresponding to the coupling opening, while a rotation nut arranged within the first accommodating space and corresponding to the pair of notches is connected to the rotation axle.
US08596170B2
The present invention discloses a single direction ratchet wrench which comprises a main body, a ratchet wheel, a pawl, an elastic element and a clip. The ratchet wheel and the pawl are lodged within the main body. The pawl has retaining cogs, concave surfaces and recess. One end of the elastic element is lodged within the second housing and the other end within the recess. The elastic element pushes the pawl with a particular angle so that the retaining cogs of the pawl are engaged with the ratchet teeth.
US08596164B2
A flexplate comprising a single integral body portion having a generally circular shape. One or more borings are formed in the body portion for receiving an end of a crankshaft of the engine on a first side of the body portion and for receiving a torque converter of an unrelated transmission on a second side of the body portion. Apertures may be formed in the body portion and positioned on the flexplate for alignment with corresponding apertures on a flange mounted to the end of the crankshaft and apertures on the torque converter.
US08596163B2
A pedal stroke sensor is placed at a point of a pedal bracket, which is located away from a pedal, and where the pivot of the pedal stroke sensor is not aligned with the pivot of the pedal; the pedal and the pedal stroke sensor, which are thus separated away from each other, are connected together by a link mechanism; and a pedal deflection is transmitted through the link mechanism to the pedal stroke sensor.
US08596161B2
A spring for assisting a tilt adjustment operation can be easily and rapidly attached to a fixed bracket and a movable bracket. Each of two flanges of a fixed bracket has a tilted flange plate and a locking piece. The locking piece has a guiding edge, a locking recess, an insertion recess, and a fixing hole. In a spring member, a first locking shaft portion is formed on the rear side of two coil portions, and a second locking shaft portion is formed rearward from the distal end of the first locking shaft portion. The first locking shaft portion is engaged with the locking recess, and the second locking shaft portion is engaged with the fixing hole. The distance between the first locking shaft portions of the spring member is less that the distance between the two guiding edges.
US08596158B2
A speed reducing mechanism includes a speed reducer and a bearing engaged with the speed reducer. The speed reducer includes a driving member, a first transmission member and a second transmission member. The driving member is connected to the first transmission member. The first transmission member forms a plurality of first engaging teeth, and the second transmission member forms a plurality of second engaging teeth. The total number or count of the first engaging teeth is different from that of the second engaging teeth. The bearing includes a bearing cone, a bearing cup, and roller bearings mounted between the bearing cone and the bearing cup. The first transmission member is fixed to the bearing cup, and the second transmission member is fixed to the bearing cone.
US08596146B2
A wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces of outer and inner members, which are opposed to each other. Electronic components including a plurality of the sensor units, a signal processing IC for processing respective sensor output signals thereof and a signal cable for transmitting the processed output signal to the outside of the bearing assembly are arranged inwardly of an annular protective covering to provide an annular sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is fitted to a peripheral surface of a stationary member in a fashion coaxial with the stationary member.
US08596140B2
An ultrasound flow meter unit arranged to measure a fluid flow rate with one or more ultrasound transducers (606), and a circuit board (602) with an electronic circuit arranged to operate the ultrasound transducer(s) (106, 306). The ultrasound transducer (606), e.g. in the form of a piezo-electric element, is mechanically fixed to the circuit board (602) by a first electrically conducting fixing means which additionally serve(s) to provide an electrical connection between an electrical terminal of the transducer (606) and the electronic circuit. Hereby a functional flow measurement unit (600) is provided which can be tested prior to assembly with a flow meter housing etc. Preferably, a set of ultrasound transducers (106, 306) are soldered directly onto electrically conducting paths (631) on a surface of the circuit board (602) being in electrical connection with the electronic circuit, e.g. in a single SMT mounting process together with mounting of all other electronic components on the circuit board (602). Through-going openings (630, 640) of the circuit board (602) in the vicinity of these conducting paths (631) serve to provide thermal elasticity. A metal clip soldered to the circuit board (602) may serve to electrically connect a second electrical terminal of the transducer (606) to the electronic circuit.
US08596138B2
A detecting device for performing fatigue tests on a pivoting piece includes a clamping module and an actuating module. The clamping module clamps the pivoting piece. The actuating module includes an elastic actuating shaft abutting the clamping module and a resilient member mounted in the elastic actuating shaft. The resilient member is adapted to push forward against spring pressure and retract by the release of spring tension so as to achieve cyclic movements in the pivoting piece.
US08596137B2
Methods, devices, and systems relating to a sensing device are disclosed. A device may comprise a structure including a first surface and a second, opposite surface, wherein the structure comprises one or more segments. Further, the device may include a plurality of sensors disposed on the structure, wherein each segment of the one or more segments comprises a first sensor of the plurality of sensors coupled to the first surface and an associated second sensor of the plurality of sensors coupled to the second surface. Moreover, each sensor of the plurality of sensors may be configured to measure a strain exhibited on an adjacent surface of the structure at an associated segment of the one or more segments.
US08596134B2
The bolt tension monitoring system provides remote monitoring of the tension of a bolt, thus allowing for remote monitoring of general structural health and integrity of the fastener. The bolt tension monitoring system includes a housing adapted for being retained on a head of a bolt to be monitored. The system further includes a force transducer positioned between the head of the bolt and a surface in which the bolt is fastened and measures tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface. A controller circuit within the housing calculates the difference between currently measured tension between the head of the bolt and the workpiece surface and an initially measured tension. A wireless transponder mounted in the housing transmits an alert signal if the calculated difference exceeds a pre-defined threshold value.
US08596131B1
The present invention relates, in general, to pressure sensors capable of operating at high temperatures. The present invention further relates to a high temperature pressure sensor with an improved gage factor. The present invention still further provides a pressure sensor with a smaller sized diaphragm, which is capable of reading higher pressures. The present invention also provides a method and sensor for detecting strain using shape memory alloys.
US08596128B2
A nondestructive evaluation system, consisting of a metrology device and a directable acoustic transducer, is used to measure the variation of the surface when stress is applied. The directable acoustic transducer selects the location of the applied stress. The difference between the surface during stress application and in the absence of stress detects both surface and buried defects along the location of the stress. By scanning the beam from the acoustic transducer, the location of the stress can be adjusted, enabling the system to locate the detected defect in three dimensions.
US08596126B2
A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, is adjustable by the flexing design of the drive rollers to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller. This allows the indentation to accommodate the varying dimensional tolerances of the wheel flange, mitigating the possibility of dynamic instability resulting from departure of the wheel flange from the indentation.
US08596123B2
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device (20) includes a substrate (24) and a movable element (22) adapted for motion relative to the substrate (24). A secondary structure (58) extends from the movable element (22). The secondary structure (58) includes a secondary mass (70) and a spring (68) interconnected between the movable element (22) and the mass (70). The spring (68) is sufficiently stiff to prevent movement of the mass (70) when the movable element (22) is subjected to force within a sensing range of the device (20). However, the spring (68) deflects when the device (20) is subjected to mechanical shock (86), and the spring (68) rebounds thus causing the mass (70) to impact the movable element (22) in a direction that would be likely to dislodge a potentially stuck movable element (22).
US08596116B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide improved non-destructive testing of pavements and in particular non-destructive testing of pavements using rolling wheel deflectometer systems having more than four sensors. The additional sensors more accurately detect pavement deflections under load by compensating for the influence the load deflection basin can have on sensors beyond those at the wheel load. The sensors should be spaced with equal distances from the rolling weight and can have a distance between adjacent sensors that is greater than the equivalent thickness of the pavement being measured.
US08596106B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for attachment to a conventional sheet metal forming press. The apparatus allows the sheet metal forming process to be preformed fully submerged in an oil. Methods for sheet metal forming in oil are also provided.
US08596105B2
A punch for use in molding a workpiece with lubricating oil interposed between the punch and the workpiece includes a straight portion and a diameter-increasing portion. The straight portion includes an end face and a side face. The straight portion extends in an axial direction. The end surface extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The side surface is connected to the end surface. The diameter-increasing portion is connected to the straight portion. The diameter-increasing portion includes a width in the radial direction, which is identical to that of the straight portion, at a junction between the straight portion and the diameter-increasing portion. The width of the diameter-increasing portion in the radial direction increases with distance from the straight portion. At least one of the end surface and the side surface of the straight portion is formed with a pit.
US08596099B1
An apparatus for deterring theft of an outdoor-type HVAC condenser unit that includes a first cut-resistant, elongate restraint for being extended across a top and down opposing sides of the unit, and includes on opposite ends thereof a respective anchor for being secured in a supporting structure on which the unit is positioned. A second cut-resistant, elongate restraint is provided for being extended across the top and down opposing sides of the unit in spaced-apart relation to and intersecting the first restraint, and includes on opposite ends thereof a respective anchor for being secured in the supporting structure on which the unit is positioned. At least one lock is provided for connecting together the first restraint and the second restraint at a point of intersecting the first restraint and the second restraint.
US08596094B2
A method of making a silica glass having a uniform fictive temperature. The glass article is heated at a target fictive temperature, or heated or cooled at a rate that is less than the rate of change of the fictive temperature, for a time that is sufficient to allow the fictive temperature of the glass to come within 3° C. of the target fictive temperature. The silica glass is then cooled from the target fictive temperature to a temperature below the strain point of the glass at a cooling rate that is greater than the relaxation rate of the glass at the target fictive temperature. The silica glass has a fictive temperature that varies by less than 3° C. after the annealing step. A silica glass made by the method is also described.
US08596092B2
In a method of manufacturing a through electrode-attached glass substrate, electrode through holes and at least one dummy through hole are formed in a plate-shaped glass, and electrode members are inserted into the electrode through holes but not into the at least one dummy through-hole. The plate-shaped glass and the electrode members are welded by heating the plate-shaped glass at a temperature higher than a softening point of the plate-shaped glass so that the glass is allowed to flow into the at least one dummy through hole. Opposite surfaces of the plate-shaped glass are ground together with the electrode members so as to expose the electrode members to the opposite surfaces of the plate-shaped glass and to configure the electrode members as through electrodes that are electrically separated from each other.
US08596086B2
Provided is a refrigerator and a control method thereof. In the refrigerator and control method thereof, when hot water is dispensed from a dispenser, a safety tap is withdrawn to prevent splashing of water and enable hot water to be safely dispensed.
US08596085B2
According to the structure of the refrigerator and the dispenser for the same, water is easily dispensed as the water dispensing device and the ice dispensing device are separately provided and the water dispensing button is provided at the front of the chute cover, and the water dispensing device is minimally damaged due to the absorbing pad structure.
US08596084B2
An apparatus includes a mold body with at least one cavity configured and dimensioned to receive water to be frozen into ice; a hollow sealed tube having an evaporator portion in thermal communication with the mold body and an offset condenser portion opposite the evaporator portion; a two-phase heat transfer fluid contained within the hollow sealed tube; and an actuation arrangement which causes the mold body and the tube to transition between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the water can be introduced into the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is above the evaporator portion. In the second position, the ice can be discharged from the at least one cavity and the offset condenser portion is below the evaporator portion. A refrigerator using the apparatus is also disclosed.
US08596075B2
The present invention provides methods and system for power generation using a high efficiency combustor in combination with a CO2 circulating fluid. The methods and systems advantageously can make use of a low pressure ratio power turbine and an economizer heat exchanger in specific embodiments. Additional low grade heat from an external source can be used to provide part of an amount of heat needed for heating the recycle CO2 circulating fluid. Fuel derived CO2 can be captured and delivered at pipeline pressure. Other impurities can be captured.
US08596074B2
A gas turbine combustor is provided, which comprises: a combustion chamber having an axial direction and a radial direction; air passages for feeding an air stream into the combustion chamber which are oriented such that the flowing direction for each air stream flowing into the combustion chamber includes an angle with the combustion chamber's radial direction so as to introduce a swirl in the in-flowing air and an angle of at least 60° with the combustion chamber's axial direction; and fuel injection openings which are located in the air passages. Each air passage defines a turning flow path with a turning between 70° and 150° in a radial direction of the combustion chamber and a turning between 0° and 235° in an axial direction of the combustion chamber.
US08596070B2
A combustor and a combustion method for the combustor, which can suppress backfire and ensure stable combustion. The combustor comprises a mixing-chamber forming member for forming therein a mixing chamber in which air for combustion and fuel are mixed with each other, and a combustion chamber for burning a gas mixture mixed in the mixing chamber and producing combustion gases. A channel for supplying the air for combustion to the mixing chamber from the outer peripheral side of the mixing-chamber forming member is provided inside the mixing-chamber forming member. The fuel and the air are premixed in the channel, and a resulting premixed gas mixture is supplied to the mixing chamber.
US08596065B2
There is provided a control device for an internal combustion engine capable of suppressing trouble such that the gas having an EGR ratio higher than necessary is sucked with the opening of an intake air bypass passage. A supercharger having a compressor is provided in an intake air passage of an internal combustion engine. An EGR passage and an EGR valve are provided. The intake air bypass passage connects the upstream side of the compressor in the intake air passage to the downstream side of the compressor in the intake air passage. The intake air bypass passage is provided with an air bypass valve (ABV). The EGR valve is closed simultaneously with the operation of the ABV.
US08596064B2
A method for operating a turbocharged engine is disclosed. In one example, an engine operation is adjusted in response to a turbocharger expansion ratio. Degradation of the engine may be reduced under some engine operating conditions by adjusting engine operation in response to the turbocharger expansion ratio.
US08596063B2
A reductant delivery system for an exhaust treatment system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes a turbocharger fluidly coupled to, and configured to receive exhaust gas from, the internal combustion engine. An exhaust gas driven turbine wheel is disposed for rotation in a turbine housing of the turbocharger. A reductant injection device is fluid communication with the exhaust gas driven turbine wheel, a reductant tank having a reductant stored therein and a conduit system fluidly connecting the reductant tank with the reductant injection device. Reductant is delivered to the reductant injection device for delivery of the reductant to the exhaust gas driven turbine wheel.
US08596061B2
An in-line brake system with a hydraulic booster includes a master cylinder defining a cylinder bore, a master cylinder piston located within the cylinder bore, a transfer piston located within the cylinder bore rearwardly of the master cylinder piston, a transfer piston actuator with a first seat, a sealing member aligned with the first seat, a sealing member spring operably connected to the sealing member and the transfer piston, an input rod aligned with the first seat, a return spring operably connected to the input rod and the transfer piston actuator, a sleeve actuator located within the cylinder bore rearwardly of the master cylinder, and a sleeve spring configured to bias the sleeve actuator away from the master cylinder piston, wherein the sleeve actuator is configured to bias the transfer piston toward the master cylinder piston in response to an applied boost pressure.
US08596060B2
A system is provided for producing mechanical energy. The system may include a solar collector configured to receive solar energy and an external heater configured to provide secondary thermal energy. Furthermore, the system may include an engine disposed in communication with the solar collector and the external heater. To this end, the engine may be operable to receive the solar energy from the solar collector, receive the secondary thermal energy from the external heater, and convert the solar energy and the secondary thermal energy to mechanical energy. Additionally, the system may include a controller in communication with the solar collector, the engine, and the external heater. The controller may be configured to control an amount of solar energy and an amount of secondary thermal energy received by the engine.
US08596058B2
There is provided a hydraulic system, including an oil tank storing operating oil, a hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic pump which draws the operating oil from the oil tank and supplies the operating oil to the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system is provided with an operating oil separating unit which is located at a midway point of a main tube sending the operating oil from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator and which separates a part of the operating oil supplied from the hydraulic pump to return the part of the operating oil to the oil tank. A universal testing machine including the hydraulic system is also provided.
US08596055B2
A hydraulic drive system for an actuator uses a pair of pressure compensated hydraulic machines to control flow to and from the drive chambers of the actuator by varying the controlled pressure of one of the machines. The machines are mechanically coupled to permit energy recovery and charge an accumulator to store supplies energy. The drive system may be combined with other services including a transmission for incorporation in a vehicle. The transmission uses a pressure compensated supply and torque control of the wheels.
US08596054B2
Methods and systems for operating an absorber-replenisher to supply fluid to a low pressure circuit in a hydrostatic circuit or recover surplus energy usually wasted across a pressure relief valve in the low pressure side by intensifying it for use in a high pressure circuit in the hydrostatic circuit. The absorber-replenisher 1) allows fluid flow through a high pressure motor-pump section of the absorber-replenisher from a high pressure circuit source causing a low pressure motor-pump section to turn providing additional fluid flow to the hydrostatic circuit, or 2) allows increased fluid flow from the low pressure portion of the hydrostatic circuit to increase pressure until the higher pressure induces a higher net torque of the low pressure motor-pump section to reverse the direction of the absorber-replenisher and pump fluid flow into a high pressure circuit through the high pressure motor-pump section.
US08596053B2
A fluidic torque transfer device is configured such that the attachment angle of a turbine blade at a fluid outlet of a turbine runner is smaller than the attachment angle of the turbine blade at a fluid inlet of the turbine runner. Furthermore, the turbine runner is structured so that a cross-sectional area St of a turbine flow path defined by the turbine shell, adjacent turbine blades, and the turbine core, which is perpendicular to a centerline of the turbine flow path, satisfies |St−Sref|/Sref≦0.2, where a reference area Sref is an average of maximum and minimum values of a cross-sectional area of a pump flow path defined by the pump shell, adjacent pump blades, and the pump core of the pump impeller, which is perpendicular to a centerline of the pump flow path.
US08596052B2
A method for controlling a working machine including a hydraulic system for controlling a plurality of work functions, including lift and tilt of an implement, includes the steps of determining a maximum pressure of a hydraulic fluid for performing a certain task with the implement individually for at least one of the work functions, and delivering the hydraulic fluid, pressurized at most to the determined maximum pressure, to the work function.
US08596046B2
In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (16), an exhaust purification catalyst (13), an aqueous urea solution feed valve (17), and an NOx selective reduction catalyst (15) are arranged in that order. A first NOx purification method which makes the concentration of hydrocarbons flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) vibrate by within predetermined ranges of amplitude and period to reduce the NOx, which is contained in exhaust gas in the exhaust purification catalyst (13) and a second NOx purification method which uses the fed aqueous urea solution to reduce the NOx in the NOx selective reduction catalyst (15) are selectively used.
US08596032B2
In an embodiment, a core-sheath type conjugated yarn includes a core portion containing a double-prepolymer type polyurethane and a sheath portion containing an elastomer. The double-prepolymer comprises a prepolymer having terminal isocyanate groups obtained from reacting a polyol and a diisocyanate, and a prepolymer having terminal hydroxyl groups obtained from reacting a polyol, a diisocyanate, and a low-molecular weight diol. In other embodiments, a method of producing the core-sheath type conjugated yarn using conjugate spinning conditions provides a conjugated yarn with a fineness of 18 to 110 dtex, a weight ratio of the core portion to the sheath portion of 95/5 to 60/40, and a drawing ratio of 1.5 to 4.0.
US08596020B2
A trim part for a body part includes an angled region having diverging limbs that enclose a first angle. A cut-out is disposed in the angled region. A closure part is configured to at least partially close the cut-out and includes diverging limbs that enclose a second angle. At least one of the diverging limbs of the closure part lies in congruence with a respective limb of the angled region so as to form a flush visible side. The first angle of the angled region is greater than the second angle of the closure part and the second limb of the angled region does not lie in congruence with the second limb of the closure part so as to provide a clearance with a third angle.
US08596003B2
An acoustic configuration (1) for acoustic insulation, with the configuration includes a floor covering (5) attached to a floating floor with elastic skates (4) resting on a substrate (3) (10), the floating floor including skates (4) that are substantially elastic. The floating floor consists of a modular assembly of prefabricated rigid panels (2) with a density of 0.5 to 6, positioned edge to edge with an element of position adjustment that is either male or female, with the skates being homogeneous one-piece elements attached inside the panel, and with the total seat surface ratio Sta of the skates on the substrate on the total surface area Stp of the panel, Sta/Stp being 0.03 to 0.08. In one variant, shims are interposed between the skates and the panel. In the implementation method, a layer of fibrous insulation can be interposed between the substrate and the floating floor.
US08595995B2
An unitized curtain wall unit houses energy conversion devices (such as photovoltaic modules), and includes integrated raceways/wireways for routing signal and power cables within a building façade or exterior shell structures.
US08595994B1
An insulating glass unit may include at least three panes of transparent material and at least two spacers positioned between different panes of the unit. For example, a first spacer may hold a first pane of transparent material a first separation distance from a second pane of transparent material and a second spacer may hold the second pane of transparent material a second separation distance from a third pane of transparent material. In some examples, the insulating glass unit is configured so that the first separation distance is greater than the second separation distance. In such examples, the insulating glass unit may have a comparatively larger first between-pane space and a comparatively smaller second between-pane space. In some applications, the insulating glass unit may exhibit thermal and sound insulating properties approximately equal to a triple-pane insulating glass unit while having size characteristics approximately equal to a double-pane insulating glass unit.
US08595992B2
The invention provides a high-visibility roof-drain cover comprising a roof-drain cover, a marked, reversible, elongated flag, and coupler means for mounting the flag to the roof-drain cover, wherein the flag extends upwardly from the roof-drain cover a sufficient distance that a top portion of the flag will remain visible above an accumulation of wind-blown debris and snow. The invention provides a first group of high-visibility roof-drain cover embodiments, each of which includes a novel roof-drain cover. The invention provides a second group of high-visibility roof-drain cover embodiments for retrofit, each of which includes a prior art roof-drain cover. The invention provides a third group of sub-assemblies for retrofit.
US08595989B1
A grain bin and deck assembly includes a generally cylindrical grain bin having an inclined roof and a substantially vertical cylindrical side wall the top of which is located adjacent to the bottom of the inclined roof, and a deck encircles at least a portion of the cylindrical side wall beneath the bottom of the inclined roof and the deck is positioned to permit access to vents on the roof. The deck is mounted to and supported on the exterior of the side wall and its side wall stiffeners which stiffeners are spaced from each other and extend substantially vertically over at least a portion of the height of the cylindrical side wall and adjacent the top of the cylindrical side wall. The deck is fastened to the stiffeners of the side wall by a support assembly which includes mounting plates having a width that extends across the width of the stiffeners, and the mounting plates have plural rows of holes which are arranged to overlie stiffeners of differing widths.
US08595982B2
An outer lip 26 is forked into an inner-attaching lip 26X and an outer-attaching lip 26Y, wherein the outer-attaching lip 26Y is set on a position where a top end 26a thereof is not drawn toward a connecting wall 24 side by the door glass 9; a folding point 60 is formed on a connecting wall 24 side of a base root 26d of the inner-attaching lip 26X for turning the inner-attaching lip 26X toward the connecting wall 24 side; thickness 31 of the base root 26d of the inner-attaching lip 26X is thicker than thickness 32 on the folding point 60 and thickness 34 of the base root 26b of the outer-attaching lip 26Y is thinner than thickness 33 of the top end 26a; and the outer-attaching lip 26Y follows turn of the inner-attaching lip 26X and is slidably brought into contact with the door glass 9.
US08595978B2
A path-controlled window lifter of a motor vehicle is provided. The path-controlled window lifter includes a driver which is connected with a window pane of the motor vehicle and can be driven by means of a drive mechanism for adjusting the window pane, and a base plate mounted in the motor vehicle and composed of a carrier part and a reinforcement part, on which at least two guide paths are formed for guiding the driver and for adjusting the driver along an adjustment path formed by the guide paths. The carrier part and the reinforcement part are arranged at a distance from each other, but connected to each other at defined areas.
US08595970B2
An embodiment of a hand guard for a firearm, such as a rifle, includes an elongated tubular housing comprising an upper part, a lower part, opposite open ends, and a lumen configured to receive an intermediate portion of a barrel of a firearm longitudinally therein. An expansion collar is disposed at one end of the housing. The expansion collar has an expansion mechanism configured to adjustably compress the expansion collar and the lower part of the housing longitudinally between a pair of surfaces respectively disposed at opposite ends of the intermediate portion of the barrel.
US08595963B2
Provided are a device and method for rapidly and efficiently labeling wires or cables to be installed in machinery, vehicles, computers, buildings, or other structures, whether the wires are new installations or are replacing presently existing wires. In particular, the invention is a multi-sectioned wire-label which adheres to a wire and is self-protective, thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the label during the wire-installation process. The invention also describes multiple storage forms for pluralities of the wire-label, and a method for use of the wire-label itself.
US08595962B2
An expanding card holder includes pleated flaps operated by manipulating opposing pull tabs to selectively reveal hidden images, decorations, characters or text within the holder.
US08595959B2
A piece of footwear includes ornamental protrusions made to resemble toes. The toe-shaped protrusions stick out beyond the user's toes and may include toenails or other designs. Decorations on the surface of the toes, such as lights or removable ornaments, augment the toes' design. The decorations may take the form of lights within the protrusions that activate selectively in response to the wearer's movement. The lights may be visible within recesses in the protrusions or through transparent or translucent coverings over the protrusions. The decorations may also take the form of self-adhesive ornaments such as stickers or gems that are provided to the user, allowing the user to customize the look of the toe protrusions through selection and positioning of the ornaments thereon. Ornaments may also include symbols which can be arranged to convey a message selected by the user. Ornaments may be removed and replaced or interchanged as desired.
US08595953B2
A clothes treating apparatus includes a drum configured to accommodate therein an object to be dried, an air suction device configured to form a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an air exhaustion device configured to form a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a condenser disposed to heat air sucked into the drum through the air suction device, an evaporator disposed to cool air exhausted from the drum the air exhaustion device, and a compressor and an expander configured to constitute a heat pump together with the condenser and the evaporator. The method includes a temperature detection step of detecting a temperature change of air passing through the condenser or the air suction device, and a determination step of determining that refrigerant leakage has occurred when a temperature decrease amount measured in the temperature detection step is more than a predetermined level.
US08595937B2
A method for fabricating a reinforced concrete beam which greatly increases the effectiveness of stirrups in contributing to shear resistance. The method for fabricating a reinforced concrete beam generally includes the steps of positioning a plurality of rebars parallel with respect to each other to form the internal reinforced frame of the beam. A plurality of stirrups may then be extended around the plurality of rebars to provide additional support. An equivalent spacing value is computed in terms of transverse spacing (sw), longitudinal spacing (sL) and effective depth (d) and efficiency is then maximized in light of practical considerations by varying the transverse spacing (sw), In a preferred embodiment, after calculating the longitudinal spacing (sL) of the stirrups and the effective depth (d) of the rebars, the stirrups are positioned within the rebars using a transverse spacing (sw) calculated by the following equation: s w = ( s L d ) 0.5 d .
US08595927B2
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes preparing a core substrate having first and second surfaces, forming a penetrating hole from the first surface toward the second surface of the substrate, forming first conductor on the first surface of the substrate, forming second conductor on the second surface of the substrate, and filling conductive material in the hole such that through-hole conductor connecting the first and second conductors is formed. The forming of the hole includes forming a first opening portion on the first-surface side of the substrate, a second opening portion from the bottom of the first portion toward the second surface, and a third opening portion from the bottom of the second portion toward the second surface, and the forming of the hole satisfies X2
US08595922B2
The embodiments disclose a method for creating a silicone encased flexible cable using manufacturing machinery including arranging plural individual conduits, at least one assembly and at least one junction box assembly into a grouped arrangement including at least one of the conduits is a fluid communication conduit, wherein the silicone encased flexible cable is coupled between a controller and an electro-mechanical device, and wherein the fluid communication conduit is configured to transfer at least a liquid and pneumatic gas through the silicone encased flexible cable during operation of the electro-mechanical device; and integrating a snap washer within the singular encasement, wherein the manufacturing machinery is configured to cut a slit along the cable run of a silicone encased flexible cable, insert a snap washer base through the slit and position a snap washer into the snap washer and snapping the snap washer into a locked position.
US08595921B2
An electrode is formed using a sanding mechanism to condition the surface of the electrode for electrochemical purposes. Hazardous particles emitted during sanding are captured using jetted liquid, and may be recycled for later use. The sanded surface provides increased electrode lifespan and lead oxide adherence.
US08595918B2
An image taking system including: (a) a CMOS or CCD image sensor; (b) an interest-region setter configured to set regions of interest within an image taking area of the image sensor; (c) an acquiring-condition determiner configured to determine an image-data acquiring condition required for acquiring at least two image data generated in at least two of the regions of interest; and (d) an image-data acquirer configured to acquire the at least two image data. The acquiring-condition determiner includes an exposure-time determining portion configured to determine, as the image-data acquiring conditions, at least two different exposure times required for acquiring the at least two image data generated in the at least two regions of interest. The image-data acquirer includes an exposure-time-based-image-data acquiring portion configured to acquire the at least two image data, such that the acquired at least two image data are based on the at least two different exposure times. Also disclosed is an electronic-circuit-component mounting machine that includes the image taking system.
US08595907B2
The necklace clasp fastener for a string of beads consists of a male bead member, and a female bead member, that do not have any visible loop or eyelets for assembling and holding a string of beads together when the male and female bead members are snapped together. The resulting bead configured clasp is almost undetectable from the outside of the beaded necklace which creates an unbroken, unified string of beads for a much more aesthetic and beautiful piece of jewelry. The improved clasp of the invention provides a safety feature to guard against breakage. The two parts are designed to snap together with enough force to hold the necklace on the wearer under normal wear and use. If, however, the necklace catches on to something, the clasp will release easily from the wearer instead of breaking the necklace, and releasing the beads all over the place.
US08595905B1
A blind pull for a blind cord, such as is used on window blinds of various types, is disclosed. A weight has a central bore therethrough and is adapted for receiving the blind cord. A pair of mating shells is adapted to enclose the weight and a portion of the blind cord. Each shell has a recessed portion for receiving one-half of the weight therein. Each shell has a groove adapted for receiving one-half of the portion of blind cord. Each shell further includes mechanical fasteners such that the pair of shells may be held onto the weight thereby. In use, with the blind cord captured by the central bore of the weight, the pair of shells may be fitted around the weight and the blind cord and held thereto with the attachment means. The blind pull may then be pulled to actuate the blinds in a normal fashion. The shells may be interchanged with alternate shells, for example, alternate shells that take the form of a holiday theme, or the like.
US08595903B2
A self-locking clip may include a first member configured to attach to an item, the first member having a tongue arranged adjacent the item when the first member is attached to the item, the tongue configured to allow an article to be received between the tongue and the item when the first member is attached to the item; a second member pivotally attached to the first member, the second member having at least one engagement surface for engaging the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item; and a bias member arranged to bias the second member to pivot in a direction to urge the at least one engagement surface toward the article to engage the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item.
US08595897B2
A vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly having a base with an air inlet, a handle, a dirt container, an air passage joining the inlet and the dirt container, an intermediate member connected to the base and handle providing relative movement between the intermediate member and the base and handle, and a handle lock. The handle lock includes a key, a protrusion extending from the base, and a detent in the handle. The key slides against the protrusion to generate a force that biases the key towards the handle as the base is moved towards a parked base position, and the detent is positioned such that the force moves the key into the detent when the handle is positioned in a parked handle position. The intermediate member may have a pair of arms straddling a central portion of the base, in which case the protrusion may be between the arms.
US08595892B1
An ultrasonic cleaner and scrubber is disclosed. The cleaner and scrubber includes a housing, dispenser reservoirs disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least one dispense liquid, collection reservoirs disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least one collected liquid, at least one dispenser port through which to dispense the held dispense liquid, an ultrasonic waveform emitter disposed upon an underside of the housing to provide ultrasonic waves to a floor surface at a user-selected frequency and at a user-selected intensity to vibrate the dispense liquid, once dispensed from the dispenser port, within and upon the floor surface to clean the floor surface, at least one suction and liquid and debris collection port, and a control panel handle disposed upon the housing and with which to hold and move the cleaner and scrubber and through which to access controls for use.
US08595886B2
A bristle configuration providing enhanced cleaning of teeth. At least one elongated bristle tuft is formed to at least partially enclose an area, and a complementary-shaped tuft is provided in the at least partially enclosed area. The elongated tuft and the complementary tuft have angled profiles angled to a different degree, and preferably also in a different direction. A series of elongated tufts with angled profiles may be provided to form an overall bristle profile providing enhanced cleaning of teeth. In addition, one or more tufts may be provided along the elongated tufts to form another tuft pattern along the pattern formed by the elongated tufts. In one embodiment, the other tuft pattern presents a contoured bristle profile angled to a different degree from the profile of the elongated tufts along which the other tuft pattern is provided.
US08595882B2
A power toothbrush includes a small electromagnetic actuator positioned within the brushhead for driving a brushhead assembly which includes a brushhead portion with bristles extending therefrom. The actuator includes a fixed lower element and a moveable upper element, with the lower and upper elements each having curved roller contacting portions at opposing ends thereof. Roller members are positioned between the roller contacting portions of the upper and lower members. At least one coil is mounted on the lower element, responsive to an alternating current energizing signal. Further, at least two permanent magnet assemblies are positioned on the upper element, having alternating polarity positions.
US08595879B2
Beam placement during bridge construction by a carriage moving across an abutment or pier, supporting the end of a beam or pipe to position and align it on the abutment. A lift assembly lowers the end and the carriage is disengaged and moved to receive another beam, placing multiple parallel beams, without requiring a large crane. A carriage formed in sections separates to return to a new position. A screw jack or hydraulic unit moves the lift assembly, and deposits the beam on a load plate, and opposed separately-operated lift plates connected by a hinged cross-bar may form a beam-receiving basket assembly. Carriage rollers bear against a channel iron that protects underlying concrete structure from damage. A first set of rollers may bear against a horizontal surface and a second set of rollers bear against a vertical face of the abutment, aligning the carriage and beam along orthogonal axes.
US08595874B1
A combined oxygen tank key, glass breaker and bottle opener includes an elongated handle portion defining a first plane and having first and second ends that define the length thereof and first and second side edges that define the width thereof. A socket is integrally formed within the handle portion and is adapted to fit onto the rectangularly shaped end of an oxygen tank valve control stem. A hardened point is formed at the first end of the handle portion and is capable of breaking vehicle glass. A bottle opener is carried by the first side edge of the handle portion.
US08595873B2
A patient support apparatus includes an inflatable support structure that varies in size as a frame of the patient support apparatus varies in size. The inflatable support structure includes a bladder assembly and bias members that urge the bladder assembly to a collapsed configuration during deflation of the bladder assembly.
US08595872B2
In one embodiment, a support pillow comprises a pillow body having a medial region and two opposing arms that form a well region, a first side and a second side. The pillow body further includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery outlining the well region. The pillow body further comprises a fill material and a cover enveloping the fill material. The cover comprises a main section that extends about the first and second sides and the outer periphery, and a center panel coupled to the main section so as to be located along the inner periphery. Also, the center panel is constructed of a woven fabric having two grain directions that are generally perpendicular to each other and a bias. The woven fabric is generally non-stretchable in at least one of the grain directions, and the center panel is coupled to the main section so as to be substantially on the bias.
US08595870B1
A collapsible playpen system featuring a base panel and side panels that form an enclosure for a mattress. Bottom bars, side bars, and top bars separate the base panel and side panels. The bars each feature a center hinge joint allowing for the bars to move between an extended position and a collapsed position for storage purposes. The system also features a carrying case for housing the playpen when not in use.
US08595869B2
The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for tempering the temperature of a liquid in a fluid conducting system. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention relates to tempering the temperature of water supplied to a fixture from a water heater in a fluid conducting system. The system can include a heater for heating the fluid and a diffuser for slowing the rate at which water provided to a decontamination fixture is heated.
US08595862B2
A releasable vest having a front panel; front shoulder strap elements that include at least one front shoulder strap attachment opening; a back panel; a first waist belt element that extends from the front panel and has at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed through the waist belt element; a second waist belt element that extends from the front panel and has at least one release loop attached thereto, wherein the at least one release loop is capable of being passed through the waist belt attachment opening of the first waist belt element and the at least one front shoulder strap attachment opening of the front shoulder strap elements; and a release lanyard that is capable of being passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the first waist belt element and the at least one shoulder strap element to the release loop.
US08601607B2
Apparatus for generating a microwave frequency comb (MFC) in the DC tunneling current of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by fast optical rectification, caused by nonlinearity of the DC current vs. voltage curve for the tunneling junction, of regularly-spaced, short pulses of optical radiation from a focused mode-locked, ultrafast laser, directed onto the tunneling junction, is described. Application of the MFC to high resolution dopant profiling in semiconductors is simulated. Application of the MFC to other measurements is described.
US08601601B2
A method and apparatus for controlling access restrictions for media resource playback may include defining a user-specific content control profile authorizing one or more classes of content to be delivered to a client device, generating a media resource request identifying a first media resource associated with a first class of content and one or more attributes of the content control profile, determining whether the first class of content has been authorized for delivery to the client device based at least in part upon the one or more attributes of the content control profile, and delivering the first media resource to the client device if the first class of content has been authorized for delivery to the client device.
US08601593B2
The consistency between an application output destination and a permitted user for an I/O device section is ensured when a user deploys an application for processing and outputting input data onto an entrance node. The entrance node includes an output destination/user table that manages correspondence between an application output destination and a user. The output destination/user table stores information about the output destination used for each user who uses the entrance node. An application deployment management function of a processing section in the entrance node determines whether application deployment can be accepted from a user. To do this, the application deployment management function specifies a user corresponding to the output destination for the application from the output destination/user table and verifies that the user is consistent with a user permitted for an I/O device in the I/O device section used by the application.
US08601592B2
A system for operating an enterprise computer network including multiple disparate clients, data elements and computer resources, the system including monitoring and collection functionality for providing continuously updated metadata relating to at least one of actual access, access permissions and content of the data elements and operating functionality utilizing the continuously updated metadata provided by the monitoring and collection functionality for functions other than reporting the at least one of actual access, access permissions and content or recommending changes in the access permissions.
US08601586B1
One embodiment provides a system that detects vulnerabilities in a web application. During operation, the system obtains a web request which is directed to the web application, wherein the web request specifies at least one request parameter. The system then determines whether the web request is a suspicious web request by determining if at least one request parameter matches a known attack. Next, the system determines whether the suspicious web request can cause a vulnerability of the web application to be exploited.
US08601584B1
A computer is protected from argument switch attacks by intercepting a function call to terminate a process. The function call and a handle used as an argument in the function call are forwarded by an antivirus system service descriptor table to an antivirus. The antivirus is configured to evaluate the function call to determine whether or not the function call is terminating an antivirus process. A consistent handle table includes a listing of handles of processes employed as arguments in function calls that terminate processes and are approved by the antivirus. Instructions that close a handle are detected by the antivirus, which compares the handle to those in the consistent handle table. The antivirus blocks those instructions that close a handle that is included in the consistent handle table.
US08601582B2
The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium, method, and system for determining security vulnerabilities for a plurality of application programs used to provide television services to a customer device over a communications network. The method includes running a first scanning program against a first application program relating to a control panel for the customer device; running a second scanning program against a second application program that provides Internet content to the customer device, running a third scanning program against a third application program that relates to a component management system of customer premises equipment; and correlating security vulnerabilities identified utilizing the first, second, and third scanning programs.
US08601579B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for preserving references in sandboxes. A system implementing the method receives a document for use in a sandbox environment and passes the document to a parser, via a coordinator. The parser finds references in the document to other resources and outputs a list of references. The system passes the list of references to a verifier that verifies each reference and outputs a list of verified references. The system passes the list of verified references to the sandboxed application which extends the sandbox to include the resources on the list of verified references. In one embodiment, the system preserves references in sandboxes without the use a coordinator.
US08601575B2
An anomaly detection method and system determine network status by monitoring network activity. A statistics based profile for said network over a period is generated to analyze potentially anomalous network activity to determine if said network activity is anomalous by comparing current activity against the profile. Using the profile as a reference, the anomaly detection system and process estimate and prioritize potentially anomalous network activity based on the probability that the behavior is anomalous. The level of severity that the anomaly detection process uses to determine if an alarm is needed is based on comparing user-adjustable thresholds to the current probability. If the threshold has been breached, the user is alerted, subject to other quality checks. After a reporting cycle concludes, the anomaly detection system and process recompiles the statistics based profile to take into account the information observed in the previous reporting cycle.
US08601573B2
A presentation system including a computing device, a display device coupled to the computing device and an image capture device that obtains an image containing facial images of at least two individuals capable of viewing the display device, the at least two individuals including a primary user and at least one secondary user, is provided. The system also includes a recognition apparatus operably coupled to the computing device and including a permission engine, the permission engine applying a policy to a protected information element displayed on the display screen, the policy causing one or more actions to be taken based on the identify of the primary and one or more of the secondary users.
US08601567B2
A NAT device and method implemented on the device for filtering tunneled IPv6 traffic is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving an IP traffic stream at an ingress network interface to the NAT, performing deep packet inspection on the traffic stream to detect the tunneled IPv6 packets, and applying a filter to the IPv6 packets.
US08601554B2
The authentication of identities within a realm in which some identities are authenticated using direct authentication, and some identities are authenticated using federated authentication. Requests for service from valid identities in the realm that are to be authenticated by direct authentication are responded to with a direct authentication interface. Requests for service from valid identities in the realm that are to be authenticated by federated authentication are responded to with a federated authentication interface. Requests for service from invalid identities are responded to pseudo-randomly with either the direct authentication interface or the federated authentication interface.
US08601551B2
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a system and method for business data provisioning for a pre-emptive security audit. In one aspect, a method embodiment may comprise the steps of identifying the business resources as expressed in business terms, ensuring that applications dealing with (parts of) the business resources are aware of the link to the resource, transmitting the information about the used business resources throughout the call stack up to the UI, making use of the highest access enforcement point possible where it can be ensured that access to the protected resource is only done through either authorized users or trusted code, and having this access enforcement point taken over by a framework to ensure adequate protection even in extensibility scenarios.
US08601543B2
A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal selects a method of interfacing an identification device with the mobile terminal according to whether the mobile terminal enters a sleep mode.
US08601541B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a plurality of token-based rules. The apparatus may further store a plurality of tokens. The apparatus may receive a first token indicating that access to a mainframe resource has been requested. The apparatus may determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon the first token. The at least one token-based rule may condition access to the resource upon a second token. The second token may be associated with a device. The second token may indicate a password. The second token may further indicate a geographic location associated with the device. The apparatus may determine that the plurality of tokens includes the second token generate a session token based at least in part upon the first token and the second.
US08601539B1
Multi-tiered systems and methods for identifying and monitoring user permissions in a computer network are described. A data structure, such as an index, for each network device identifies all the security identifiers (SIDs) and their associated permissions for accessing the resources on the network device. Each data structure can be initially populated by scanning access control lists (ACLs) of the respective network device. A collection server in communication with the network devices stores an aggregate index that identifies the SIDs in the network and the network devices on which each SID is granted, denied or revoked one or more permissions. The individual data structures and/or aggregate index are updated based on permission changes detected through real-time or periodic monitoring. The aggregate index can also be replicated to multiple servers. In certain examples, the multi-tiered arrangement facilitates identifying the network resources for which a user has been granted, denied or revoked a permission.
US08601527B2
The wireless communication device includes a terminal communication transition unit for sending a transition instruction for transitioning to a state in which communication with a communication terminal is possible, a terminal communication unit that transitions to a state in which the communication with the communication terminal is possible in response to the transition instruction sent by the terminal communication transition unit, a signal generating unit for generating a transition instruction signal corresponding to the transition instruction, a transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting the transition instruction signal generated by the signal generating unit to an information processing device, a reception unit for wirelessly receiving a response from the information processing device to the transition instruction signal transmitted from the transmission unit, and a terminal communication control unit for starting to control information transmission/reception between the communication terminal and the information processing device according to the response received by the reception unit.
US08601526B2
A system comprises television equipment and a number of portable electronic devices. The television equipment includes a large display and control circuitry. The control circuitry receives media content and media guidance data for display on the display. The control circuitry also includes communication components for communicating with the portable electronic devices. The portable electronic devices are operable for displaying video and communicating with the television equipment. A method comprises the steps of receiving media guidance information with a first portable electronic device; transmitting at least some of the media guidance information from the first portable electronic device to the control circuitry of the television equipment; and displaying the media guidance information from the first portable electronic device on the display of the television equipment while simultaneously displaying media content or media guidance information received from a source other than the first portable electronic device.
US08601523B2
Methods and systems to detect topographic fraud are provided herein. The system includes a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to periodically poll active cable modems and generate polling data. The system also includes a processor and a memory coupled to the CMTS. The processor is configured to, based on instructions in the memory, periodically determine a current geographic location for each polled cable modem based on the polling data from the CMTS, determine a geographic radius within which each polled cable modem is to be operated in and determine cable modems whose current geographic location is outside of their geographic radius.
US08601508B2
A system for presenting an electronic programming guide in a satellite communication system is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a satellite media receiver having a controller element to transmit to a portal information associated with an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). The portal can process the information to present a Graphical User Interface (GUI) window corresponding to a slideable canvas of the EPG in an Internet browser of a communication device requesting the EPG. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08601504B2
A secure tracking system for video program content places a special code (watermark) within the broadcast program, preferably via the user bits of the SMPTE time code already used on virtually all film and video production systems. A registering authority provides proof of a program broadcast by detecting watermarking and fingerprinting on various broadcast media around the world and reporting it back to a central database.
US08601493B2
An application controlling apparatus includes a basic application storage unit 1 for storing basic applications 31 to 3n for implementing basic functions, a basic application execution unit 2 for reading a basic application from the basic application storage unit so as to make the basic application be executed, an extended application acquisition/storage unit 5 for acquiring and storing extended applications 71 to 7m for implementing additional functions, an extended application execution unit 6 for reading an extended application from the extended application acquisition/storage unit so as to make the extended application be executed, and a resource monitor unit 8 for monitoring resources currently being consumed by the execution of the extended application, and for stopping a predetermined extended application while keeping the basic application running when the amount of usage of the resources exceeds a predetermined amount.
US08601490B2
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a business rule business object.
US08601482B2
A delegation metasystem for composite services is described, where a composite service is a service which calls other services during its operation. In an embodiment, the composite service is defined using generic descriptions for any services (and their access control models) which may be called by the composite service during operation. At run time, these generic descriptions and potentially other factors, such as the user of the composite service, are used to select actual available services which may be called by the composite service and access rights for the selected services are delegated to the composite service. These access rights may subsequently be revoked when the composite service terminates.
US08601470B2
Systems and methods for augmenting the functionality of a device using a virtual machine monitor is provided. In general, in one aspect, a computer implemented method is provided. The computer implemented method includes launching a virtual machine monitor on a host device and for a peripheral device. The virtual machine monitor comprises one or more software components capable of performing actions including connecting a peripheral device to a host device, where the peripheral device memory includes peripheral device specific software and one or more available software bundles. The software components can launch the virtual machine monitor for the peripheral device and execute the peripheral device-specific software and an available software bundle on the host device. In one implementation, the computer implemented method includes connecting a peripheral device to a host device, where the peripheral device memory includes peripheral device-specific software that is executed on the host device.
US08601456B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that provide software transactional protection of managed pointers. A software transactional memory system interacts with and/or includes a compiler. At compile time, the compiler determines that there are one or more reference arguments in one or more code segments being compiled whose source cannot be recovered. The compiler executes a procedure to select one or more appropriate techniques or combinations thereof for communicating the sources of the referenced variables to the called code segments to ensure the referenced variables can be recovered when needed. Some examples of these techniques include a fattened by-ref technique, a static fattening technique, a dynamic ByRefInfo type technique, and others. One or more combinations of these techniques can be used as appropriate.
US08601454B2
Device and method for automatically optimizing composite applications having orchestrated activities
A device (D) is intended for optimizing composite applications comprising at least two orchestrated activities participating to at least one process. This device (D) comprises i) an analyzing means (AM) arranged for determining orchestrated activities contained into a composite application to be optimized and dependencies between these activities, and ii) an optimizing means (OM) arranged for determining a new orchestration between the determined activities which allows the composite application to execute requests of users in a minimal time, according to the determined dependencies and to predefined rules, and for outputting an optimized composite application based on the new orchestration.
US08601453B2
A system that translates source code of a compiled high level language into bytecode. Compiled languages are so named because their implementations are typically compilers that generate machine code. The described system takes source code of the compiled high level language and translates it into bytecode. The bytecode can be optimized with control flow analysis and method splitting.
US08601450B2
A method for a 3D computer graphics shading process compiler, utilized to generate hardware machine code corresponding to a script is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. Operation mapping code indicating an operation of the script, and argument mapping code indicating an argument associated with the operation is provided. The hardware machine code is generated by performing a bitwise OR operation to the operation mapping code and the argument mapping code.
US08601440B2
Versions of a model in UML or another modeling language can be published on web feeds, such as RSS or Atom web feeds. A model feed includes a sequence of incremental differences to a base version of a model; the base version can be an empty model or a snapshot of another model feed, for example. Stream charts show the relationship between model feeds. A selected sequence of incremental differences can be applied, in forward or reverse, to animate changes in a model. A developer working on a different computer than another developer can create new model versions which use some elements from a published feed and other elements introduced by the local developer. New model versions and semantic information about the sequence taken to reach them can be shared through web feeds.
US08601437B2
Reusable component data persistence using markup languages may be provided. A file including data associated with a reusable software component may be opened. Next, it may be determined if the file includes a persistence element comprising a dataset. The dataset may contain the data associated with the reusable software component. The data associated with the reusable software component may be described in the markup language and may reference a sub-element in a binary format. In addition, if the file includes the persistence element comprising the dataset, saving the data associated with the reusable software component to the dataset may be performed or loading the data associated with the reusable software component from the dataset may be performed.
US08601428B2
Various embodiments of methods and systems for heuristic determination and thermal analysis of component placement on a printed circuit board (“PCB”) for use in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. It is an advantage of embodiments that thermal energy generating components, such as processors, may be heuristically selected and arranged on a selected PCB according to varying layouts and combinations and then evaluated for thermal dissipation efficiency under an assortment of use case scenarios. In this way, users of the system and method may quickly narrow down commercially feasible component layouts, identify the most efficient layouts and then heuristically modify the layouts to develop an optimal arrangement.
US08601426B1
A level shifter physical verification system identifies missing level shifters in a multi-voltage domain integrated circuit design. The system analyzes a physical layout design data file for design to identify domains and signals that cross domains, and connected nets of devices within the IC design having one or more missing level shifters.
US08601424B1
A programmable logic device architecture having logic elements with dedicated hardware to configure the look up tables of the logic element to either perform logic functions or to operate as a register for pipelining. The programmable logic device includes a general interconnect and a plurality of logic array blocks interconnected by the general interconnect. Each of the plurality of logic blocks further includes one or more logic elements. The logic elements each include a first look up table, a second look up table, and dedicated hardware within the logic element to configure the first look table and the second look up table as a register without having to use the general interconnect. In one embodiment, the dedicated hardware includes a plurality of dedicated interconnects within the logic element to configure the two look up tables as a pair of cross coupled muxes or latches when configured as a register.
US08601421B2
An imaging solution that uses a small, adaptable, real-time, scalable, image-processing (SMARTS IP) chip configured to function like any one of a wide range of specialized FPA imaging devices, and a method for configuring and implementing same is provided. Configuration for a wide range of applications and implementations, including ones with or without IDCA assemblies or other types of dewar/cooler structures, is disclosed. A wide range of output data formats, including all SDI-compatible image data formats, may be accomplished. Frame stacking and variable effective resolution and charge well depth levels may be accomplished in output image data based on on-chip image processing techniques. On-chip image processing algorithms may include XR™, DRC, NUC, and other similar or related techniques. Image data output compression through on-chip processing is also disclosed.
US08601419B1
An accurate process hotspot detection technique based on DRC is provided. In this technique, critical DRC rules can be extracted from a pattern. This extraction can include generating horizontal tiles and vertical tiles in the pattern, and adding directed edges to indicate relations between adjacent tiles in the pattern. Rule rectangles, which can also be generated during the critical DRC rule extraction, describe polygon placement in the pattern with a minimal number of critical DRC rules. The extracted DRC rules can be included in a DRC runset file. DRC can be performed with the DRC runset file on a layout. The DRC results can be filtered using the rule rectangles to identify potential hotspots and to verify actual hotspots.
US08601417B2
Systems and methods for identifying a Boolean function as either a threshold function or a non-threshold function are disclosed. In one embodiment, in order to identify a Boolean function as either a threshold function or a non-threshold function, a determination is first made as to whether the Boolean function satisfies one or more predefined conditions for being a threshold function, where the one or more predefined conditions include a condition that both a positive cofactor and a negative cofactor of the Boolean function are threshold functions. If the one or more predefined conditions are satisfied, a determination is made as to whether weights for the positive and negative cofactors are equal. If the weights for the cofactors are equal, then the Boolean function is determined to be a threshold function. Further, in one embodiment, this threshold function identification process is utilized in a threshold circuit synthesis process.
US08601416B2
A method includes (a) generating a set of samples, each sample representing a respective set of semiconductor fabrication process variation values; (b) selecting a first subset of the set of samples based on a probability of the set of semiconductor fabrication process variation values corresponding to each sample; (c) estimating a yield measure for a semiconductor product based on relative sizes of the set of samples and the first subset, without performing a Monte Carlo simulation; and (d) outputting an indication that a design modification is appropriate, if the estimated yield measure is below a specification yield value.
US08601405B2
Multi-layer structures are electrochemically fabricated by depositing a first material, selectively etching the first material (e.g. via a mask), depositing a second material to fill in the voids created by the etching, and then planarizing the depositions so as to bound the layer being created and thereafter adding additional layers to previously formed layers. The first and second depositions may be of the blanket or selective type. The repetition of the formation process for forming successive layers may be repeated with or without variations (e.g. variations in: patterns; numbers or existence of or parameters associated with depositions, etchings, and or planarization operations; the order of operations, or the materials deposited). Other embodiments form multi-layer structures using operations that interlace material deposited in association with some layers with material deposited in association with other layers.
US08601404B2
Systems and techniques for modeling the EUV lithography shadowing effect are described. Some embodiments described herein provide a process model that includes an EUV lithography shadowing effect component. Polygon edges in a layout can be dissected into a set of segments. Next, the EUV lithography shadowing effect component can be used to bias each segment. The modified layout having the biased segments can then be used as input for other components in the process model.
US08601401B2
An apparatus for synchronizing cursor events may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive an indication of a cursor event of a cursor presented within and associated with a sourcing window of a user interface that also includes a sourced window, wherein the cursor of the sourcing window indicates a geographical location within the geographical area presented by the sourcing window. Additionally, the processor may be configured to communicate information reflecting the cursor event to the sourced window. The processor may further be configured to subject the cursor of the sourced window to the cursor event reflected by the information to thereby synchronize a cursor event of the cursor of the sourced window with the cursor event of the cursor of the sourcing window, wherein the cursor of the sourced window indicates the geographical location indicated by the cursor of the sourcing window.
US08601396B2
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.
US08601390B2
A two-dimensional canvas onto which heterogenic objects of various types may be arranged side-by-side. Each type of object has an associated set of control(s), the control(s) at least partially differing from one type to the next. The two-dimensional canvas is fixed in one dimension, but extensible in a second dimension. The canvas may be displayed in miniaturized for with a view box superimposed upon the canvas. As the view box is moved over the miniaturized canvas, the enlarged editable portion of the corresponding canvas is displayed in an edit view. The canvas may also display clusters of objects that are arranged in dashboards. In that case, the display might include a dashboard review area that allows a user to select the appropriate dashboard to display.
US08601382B2
A file execution method and system for a portable device for expediting an execution of files is provided. A method for executing an audio file including at least one track associated with a cover image includes displaying a first cover image associated with a track that is playing and displaying a first track list on the first cover image in response to a first key input signal, the first track list listing tracks associated with the first cover image. The portable device implemented with the file execution method and system of the present invention enables a track list to be displayed together with a cover image shared by a set of tracks listed on the track list, thereby expediting execution of files.
US08601373B1
A sales system is disclosed for coupling to a communications network. The sales system includes a first sales interface at a first network address, with the first sales interface including a first set of user interface elements. The system also includes a second sales interface at a second network address, with the second sales interface including a second set of user interface elements. A customization interface is responsive to user input to define the first and second sets of user interface elements.
US08601372B1
A computerized method is provided that includes (a) receiving from the user a selection of one of a plurality of templates for the digital media album; (b) receiving from the user a subset of media album components; (c) in response to a user input, compiling an interim multimedia album using the selected template, the subset of media album components, and default data for each media album component not included in the subset of media album components, and thereafter displaying to the user the interim multimedia album; (d) receiving from the user additions to the subset of the media album components, and repeating step (c) with the subset including said additions; (e) receiving from the user further additions to the subset of the media album components until all of said media album components are received; and (f) compiling the created multimedia album using the selected template and said media album components.
US08601370B2
A method for moving icons on a display of a mobile device, either on the display or into a folder is provided. When an icon has been selected to be moved, its appearance is altered with respect to the other icons so as to provide a visual cue to the user regarding the move and the altered icon is overlaid on the other icons as it moves thereover. The icon may be displayed with a move cursor indicating where the icon will be placed if the current position is selected. A method is also provided for creating new folders on the display using a dialog box that is configured to enable a name and icon for the folder to be chosen and/or selected. Default names and folder icons may be used and alternative icons may also be presented in the dialog box to enable a preview of the choices.
US08601368B2
A method of processing a document having hierarchized data organized into items includes a prior step of generating at least one coding table and a step of coding the document. The coding table, which includes coding information organized into coding structures, each associated with an item, is generated based on the prior coding of other documents of hierarchized data. Coding the document includes extracting an item to code, determining within the coding table a coding structure associated with the item, and coding the extracted item on the basis of the determined coding structure.
US08601367B1
Embodiments are disclosed for the preparation, validation, and dissemination of XBRL based documents and reports. An embodiment system includes a user input device, an editing system, a data store, a validation system, and a publishing system. The user input device is configured to accept numerical and textual input from existing spreadsheet and word processing systems. The editing system provides functionality to generate a first XBRL based document including numerical and textual data, and, based on user input, to generate one or more additional XBRL based documents from the first document. The data store is configured to store source files associated with the corresponding XBRL based documents. The validation system is configured to validate, identify, and correct errors in XBRL based documents. The publishing system is configured to provide access to XBRL based documents over the internet and generate a reference locator to be used to access the documents.
US08601363B2
The functionality of a browser application is enhanced using a browser plug-in, which enables the browser application to access portions of a file system not otherwise accessible to the browser application. The enhanced functionality provided by the browser plug-in is used in one example by an image uploading web application. The browser application may also start a task in the background, such as a task for uploading several images, and then monitor the progress of the task even when the browser application navigates away from the page that initiated the task. The browser application may use a local web server running on the client device to perform tasks, including the rendering of images and monitoring progress of long running tasks.
US08601360B2
Methods and computerized apparatus for shared business modeling involving multiple spreadsheet-based business models in a network of computers, report generation involving consolidation from at least two different spreadsheet-based business models as well as report generation involving multiple different spreadsheet-based business models are described.
US08601359B1
A computing device receives key inputs indicating a string of text from a user. The string of text may be auto-corrected by inserting one or more space characters. In response to receiving subsequent key inputs indicating a period character followed by a domain suffix, the computing device may remove the inserted one or more space characters from the string of text to form a valid uniform resource locator. The computing device may output the valid uniform resource locator for display at a display device operatively coupled to the computing device.
US08601355B2
A decoding circuit, is provided, comprising: a turbo decoder configured to receive a input systematic bit soft information values and input parity bit information values, and to generate output systematic bit soft information values and hard decoded bits according to a turbo decoding operation; and a parity bit soft information generation circuit configured to receive the input systematic bit soft information values, the input parity bit soft information values, and the output systematic bit soft information values; to determine initial forward metrics, initial backward metrics, and branch metrics as a function of the input parity bit soft information values and the output systematic bit soft information values; to determine output parity bit soft information values based on the branch metrics, the initial forward metrics, and the initial backward metrics; and to provide the output parity bit soft information values as a signal output.
US08601352B1
A method includes accepting a definition of a mother Error Correction Code (ECC) that is represented by a set of parity check equations and includes first code words, and a definition of a punctured ECC that includes second code words and is derived from the mother ECC by removal of one or more of the parity check equations and removal of one or more punctured check symbols selected from among check symbols of the first code words. A mother decoder, which is designed to decode the mother ECC by exchanging messages between symbol nodes and check nodes in accordance with a predefined interconnection scheme that represents the mother ECC, is provided. An input code word of the punctured ECC is decoded using the mother decoder by initializing one or more of the symbol nodes and controlling one or more of the messages, and while retaining the interconnection scheme.
US08601350B2
A method is provided for configuring an overall encoding scheme comprising a first encoding for generating first encoded packets from source packets and a second encoding for generating second encoded packets by combination of first encoded packets according to a combination scheme applied by predetermined nodes of the network. The method obtains a number N of defective paths among paths used to transmit the first and second encoded packets to at least one destination node, a path being defective if an associated quality of transmission is below a predetermined threshold. A combination scheme is selected from among at least two possible predetermined combination schemes for which a number of encoded second packets is greater than or equal to N.
US08601348B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for error checking addressable blocks in storage. Addressable blocks of data are stored in a storage in stripes, wherein each stripe includes a plurality of data blocks for one of the addressable blocks and at least one checksum block including checksum data for the addressable block. A write request is received to modify data in one of the addressable blocks. The write and updating the checksum are performed in the stripe having the modified addressable block. An indication is made to perform an error checking operation on the stripe for the modified addressable block in response to the write request, wherein the error checking operation reads the data blocks and the checksum in the stripe to determine if the checksum data is accurate. An error handling operation is initiated in response to determining that the checksum data is not accurate.
US08601340B2
Multiple data permutation operations in respective different dimensions are used to provide an overall effective data permutation using smaller blocks of data in each permutation than would be used in directly implementing the overall permutation in a single permutation operation. Data that has been permuted in one permutation operation is block interleaved, and the interleaved data is then permuted in a subsequent permutation operation. A matrix transpose is one example of block interleaving that could be applied between permutation operations.
US08601338B2
Modified error distance decoding. In certain communication systems, multiple signals (e.g., which may be viewed as being codewords, groups/sets of bits or symbols, etc.) can be commonly affected by such deleterious phenomenon as burst noise when traversing a communication channel (e.g., from a transmitter communication device to a receiver communication device). In such instances, a test error pattern may be identified which covers those affected bits (or symbols) among at least two respective signals (e.g., all of the respective signals or any subset thereof). Various respective test error patterns may be employed, each having a different respective weight, to the desired group of signals (e.g., codewords, groups/sets of bits or symbols, etc.). As such, more than one possible estimate of each respective signal may be generated. A variety of selection operations may be employed when more than one possible estimate exists (e.g., random selection, that estimate with minimum distance, etc.).
US08601334B2
A system for delivering content over a network includes a server. The server is configured to divide the content into multiple segments, to create multiple data streams using the segments of the content, and to transmit each of the data streams via a respective multicast session, wherein a copy of each of the multiple segments is transmitted during a single time slot of the multicast session.
US08601330B2
A device for repair analysis includes a selection unit and an analysis unit. The selection unit is configured to select a part of the row addresses of a plurality of spare pivot fault cells and a part of the column addresses of the spare pivot fault cells in response to a control code. The analysis unit is configured to generate an analysis signal indicating whether row addresses of a plurality of non-spare pivot fault cells are included in selected row addresses and column addresses of the non-spare pivot fault cells are included in selected column addresses.
US08601324B2
A trace output unit for collecting, buffering and outputting trace data generated by trace circuitry monitoring processing activities of a data processing apparatus is described. The trace output unit comprises an input for receiving a stream of trace data; a plurality of data stores arranged in parallel with each other for storing the trace data; and storage control circuitry for controlling storage of items of the trace data in the data stores. The control circuitry is configured to route the trace items to selected ones of the data stores and to store control data identifying related trace items stored in different data stores. The trace output unit further comprises output control circuitry configured to identify related trace items stored in different data stores from the stored control data and to recombine the related trace items from different data stores to form an output trace data stream.
US08601321B2
A system-on-chip includes first and second memories, a descrambler, and logic. The first memory stores firmware. A first portion of the firmware is scrambled and located at a predetermined address in the first memory. The second memory stores boot code for a processor. In response to the processor being booted, the boot code instructs the processor to read the first portion of the firmware from the predetermined address in the first memory. The descrambler is configured to create a descrambled value by descrambling the first portion of the firmware. The logic is configured to, in response to the descrambled value matching a predetermined authorization code, enable a test interface that allows a device external to the system-on-chip to access the processor through the test interface. The logic is further configured to, in response to the descrambled value not matching the predetermined authorization code, disable the test interface.
US08601307B2
A method includes providing a persistent common view of a virtual shared storage system. The virtual shared storage system includes a first shared storage system and a second shared storage system, and the persistent common view includes information associated with data and instructions stored at the first shared storage system and the second shared storage system. The method includes automatically updating the persistent common view to include third information associated with other data and other instructions stored at a third shared storage system in response to adding the third shared storage system to the virtual shared storage system.
US08601305B2
A power gating device may include a control unit that generates a first interrupt signal based on a mode change signal when a mode of a system is changed from a normal operation mode to a stand-by mode, and generates a second interrupt signal based on the mode change signal when the mode is changed from the stand-by mode to the normal operation mode, a memory unit that stores data of a function block based on the first interrupt signal, and restores the stored data to the function block based on the second interrupt signal, and a power source unit that provides a normal operation power to the function block and the memory unit based on a power down signal in the normal operation mode, and provides a stand-by power to the memory unit based on the power down signal in the stand-by mode.
US08601296B2
For one disclosed embodiment, a transition from a first state to a second, different state for at least a portion of a downstream device may be identified. The first and second states may correspond to different levels relating to activity for at least a portion of the downstream device. Data corresponding to a service latency may be transmitted to an upstream device in response to the identified transition for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the service latency. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08601295B2
A network includes nodes that transmit information to each other. Some nodes operate intermittently; other nodes operate continuously. Information is transmitted to an intermittently operating node by a handshaking protocol in which the intermittently operating node indicates that it is ready to receive. Information is transmitted to a continuously operating node without such handshaking, thereby saving time and power. Each transmitting node has a memory storing information indicating which other nodes require handshaking.
US08601287B1
A method for use in deploying computers into a data center includes calculating in a computer an expected peak power draw for a plurality of computers. The expected peak power draw for the plurality of computers is less than a sum of individual expected peak power draws for each computer from the plurality of computers.
US08601285B2
The invention relates to a method for secure piecemeal execution of a program code. In the method, the program code is split to a number of pieces in a first electronic device. The pieces are provided one after another to a second electronic device, which computes a message authentication code from the pieces and returns the authenticated pieces back to the first electronic device. In order to execute the program, the authenticated pieces are provided for execution to the second electronic device, which verifies the message authentication codes in the pieces to allow the execution of the pieces in the second electronic device.
US08601279B2
The present invention provides a secure JTAG interface to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In the preferred embodiment the invention operates through the combined efforts of a Security Module (SM) comprising a state machine that controls the security modes for the ASIC, and a Test Control Module (TCM) which contains the JTAG interface. The TCM operates in either a restricted mode or an unrestricted mode, depending on the state of the SM state machine. In a restricted mode, only limited access to memory content is permitted. In an unrestricted mode, full access to memory content is permitted.
US08601278B2
A method and system for validating access to a group of related elements are described. The elements within the group access a security context associated with a markup domain when a call is made to an element. An authorized call to an element is enabled such that the markup domain is navigated to a new web page. However, an unauthorized call is prevented so that the navigation to the new web page is not permitted. After the markup domain has been navigated, the security context associated with the markup domain is invalidated. A new security context is generated and associated with the markup domain. The elements associated with the web page navigated from are inaccessible after navigation of the markup domain to the new page. The association of the new security context with the markup domain prevents an unauthorized user from accessing any element that references the previous security context.
US08601276B2
In a method for managing access to a secure content-part of a PPCD following introduction of the PPCD into a workflow among a plurality of workflow participants, in a secure content manager, from a workflow participant of the plurality of workflow participants, a key-map file for a subsequent workflow participant that is to receive the key-map file is received, wherein the key-map file comprises a set of keys to enable the subsequent workflow participant to access the content-part in the PPCD. In addition, authenticity of the received key-map file is verified, the subsequent workflow participant to receive the PPCD is identified and authenticated, a public key of the subsequent workflow participant is accessed, the key map file or a symmetric key used to encrypt the key-map file prior to receipt of the key-map file by the secure content manager is encrypted using the public key of the subsequent workflow participant, and the encrypted key-map file is sent to the subsequent workflow participant.
US08601270B2
A method for preparing a chip card for electronic signature services. According to said method, data is exchanged between a chip card user and a signature portal, an asymmetric pair of keys and a signature PIN that is associated with the asymmetric pair of keys being generated on the chip card by means of a software application which can be executed on the chip card, and the chip card communicating the signature PIN to the user.
US08601267B2
The present invention relates to a method for establishing a secured communication session in a communication system between a user using an untrusted device and a server. According to the present invention the user first obtains an authentication algorithm and an encryption algorithm and then creates a session key. Next the user obtains a public key of the server and sends a personal identity number to the server for authentication by using the authentication algorithm, the personal identity number being encrypted by using the encryption algorithm and the public key of the server. The user also sends the session key to the server for encrypting purpose between the user and the server, the session key being encrypted by using the encryption algorithm and the public key of the server.
US08601266B2
A system, method, and server computer configured to authenticate a consumer device. The consumer device is authenticated via a mobile gateway using challenge-response authentication. If the consumer device is successfully authenticated, a secure channel is established between the consumer device and a first entity. The secure channel allows for secure communication between the consumer device and the first entity.
US08601257B2
A method, a cluster system, and a computer-readable medium for distributing data packets addressed to at least one virtual address over a communication network using a protocol, which allows for at least some content of the data packet to be encrypted, to a multiplicity of service nodes. The method includes receiving incoming data packets addressed to a virtual address through a packet analyzer and identifying whether the incoming data packets are encrypted. Each encryption data packet is forwarded to a decryption module and a decrypted data packet is returned. Based on the decrypted data packet, a scheduling decision is made by a scheduling module. Scheduling data is then combined with the originally received encrypted data packet such that the encrypted data packet can be forwarded to one service node for further processing.
US08601256B2
A system and method of performing electronic transactions between a server computer and a client computer. The method implements a communication protocol with encrypted data transmission and mutual authentication between a server and a hardware device via a network, performs a decryption of encrypted server responses, forwards the decrypted server responses from the hardware device to the client computer, displays the decrypted server responses on a client display, receives requests to be sent from the client computer to the server, parses the client requests for predefined transaction information by the hardware device, encrypts and forwards client requests, displays the predefined transaction information upon detection, forwards and encrypts the client request containing the predefined transaction information to the server if a user confirmation is received, and cancels the transaction if no user confirmation is received.
US08601254B1
A programmable system includes an input/output (I/O) pin that is configurable into multiple operational states. The programmable system further includes a memory device to store configuration data that, when provided to the I/O pin, causes the I/O pin to reconfigure into one of the operational states. When power is supplied to the system, the memory device is configured to provide the configuration data to the I/O pin prior to a system microcontroller becoming operational responsive to the power.
US08601252B2
A restart controller for an information handling system includes a first latch and a second latch. An output of the second latch is coupled to an input of the first latch. The restart controller is configured to detect that the information handling system has been shut down responsive to a first disorderly shutdown, and in response to detecting the shut down, to set the first latch, initiate a first startup of the information handling system to enable a remote wake mechanism of a chipset of the information handling system, and determine, at the second latch, that a basic input/output system (BIOS) of the information handling system is operational. In response to determining that the BIOS is operational, The restart controller is further configured to initiate an orderly shutdown of the information handling system, and clear the first latch.
US08601248B2
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a first volatile semiconductor memory (VSM), and a second VSM. When the disk drive is powered on, control circuitry first reads VSM initialization code from the disk, first initializes the first VSM using the VSM initialization code, stores the VSM initialization code in the second VSM, and then enters a power save mode. When exiting the power save mode, the control circuitry second initializes the first VSM using the VSM initialization code stored in the second VSM.
US08601243B2
This invention relates to a communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus, the second apparatus comprising: a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium; communication means for communicating data with the first apparatus; edit means capable of editing the management information; and control means for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communication means on the basis of the management information edited by the edit means.
US08601242B2
A technique to perform a fast compare-exchange operation is disclosed. More specifically, a machine-readable medium, processor, and system are described that implement a fast compare-exchange operation as well as a cache line mark operation that enables the fast compare-exchange operation.
US08601236B2
A processor core, comprises one or more vector units operable to change between a fine-grained vector mode having a shorter maximum vector length and a coarse-grained vector mode having a longer maximum vector length. Changing vector modes comprises halting all instruction stream execution in the core, flushing one or more registers in a register space, reconfiguring one or more vector registers in the register space, and restarting instruction execution in the core.
US08601234B2
The disclosure includes a method and system of configuring a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). In an embodiment, the TLB includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion or the second portion may be selectively disabled in response to a value of a TLB configuration indicator.
US08601231B2
An asynchronously pipelined SDRAM has separate pipeline stages that are controlled by asynchronous signals. Rather than using a clock signal to synchronize data at each stage, an asynchronous signal is used to latch data at every stage. The asynchronous control signals are generated within the chip and are optimized to the different latency stages. Longer latency stages require larger delays elements, while shorter latency states require shorter delay elements. The data is synchronized to the clock at the end of the read data path before being read out of the chip. Because the data has been latched at each pipeline stage, it suffers from less skew than would be seen in a conventional wave pipeline architecture. Furthermore, since the stages are independent of the system clock, the read data path can be run at any CAS latency as long as the re-synchronizing output is built to support it.
US08601226B1
Some embodiments provide a method for creating an image of a virtual machine. The method identifies a particular computer system operating as a virtual machine with a particular configuration on a hardware resource of a hosting system that includes several hardware resources. The method captures data representing the particular computer system. Capturing the data includes copying a particular section of the data, computing a checksum for the particular section of the data, and streaming the particular section with the computed checksum to a storage.
US08601223B1
A memory access technique, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes coalescing mappings between virtual memory and physical memory when a contiguous plurality of virtual pages map to a contiguous plurality of physical pages. Any of the coalesced page table entries are sufficient to map all pages within the coalesced region. Accordingly, a memory subsystem can redirect one or more pending page table entry fetch requests to an appropriate coalesced page table entry.
US08601213B2
A system, method, and computer-readable medium that facilitate efficient use of cache memory in a massively parallel processing system are provided. A residency time of a data block to be stored in cache memory or a disk drive is estimated. A metric is calculated for the data block as a function of the residency time. The metric may further be calculated as a function of the data block size. One or more data blocks stored in cache memory are evaluated by comparing a respective metric of the one or more data blocks with the metric of the data block to be stored. A determination is then made to either store the data block on the disk drive or flush the one or more data blocks from the cache memory and store the data block in the cache memory. In this manner, the cache memory may be more efficiently utilized by storing smaller data blocks with lesser residency times by flushing larger data blocks with significant residency times from the cache memory. The disclosed cache management mechanisms are effective for many workloads and are adaptable to various database usage scenarios without requiring detailed studies of the particular data demographics and workload.
US08601201B2
A method and system manages memory in a network of virtual machines, including a copy of a master virtual machine (VM) memory system, the copy accessible to a memory server. The method includes determining whether a memory page requested by a clone VM memory system is fetchable from the memory server, the clone VM memory system hosted in a host memory system; if the memory page is fetchable from the memory server, fetching the memory page from the memory server; determining whether there is sufficient space in the host memory system to load the memory page; if there is insufficient space in the host memory system, evicting a selected memory page from the host memory system; and loading the memory page into the host memory system and the clone VM memory system.
US08601200B2
A controller for a solid state disk is provided. The controller includes a storage module to store an index of at least one idle bank among a plurality of memory banks, and a control module to control an access to the at least one idle bank using the stored index. Here, the access to the at least one idle bank may be controlled based on a state of a channel corresponding to each of the at least one idle bank.
US08601197B2
A microcontroller includes a system bus matrix to connect various modules. The microcontroller also includes direct connections between modules. For example, the microcontroller may include a direct connection between a data processing module and a memory controller module to improve the transfer rate for data that is processed by the data processing module.
US08601192B2
Provided is a hierarchical arbitration device wherein an arbitration device at each level of the hierarchy selects a resource use request having the highest priority and a resource use request having the second highest priority, outputting these two resource use requests to the arbitration device that is one level higher. After outputting the memory use request having the highest priority to a resource control unit as the top priority resource use request, when the arbitration device at the highest level of the hierarchy receives a signal from the memory control unit indicating receipt of the resource use request, the arbitration device then selects the resource use request having the second highest priority and outputs this resource request as the next top priority resource use request.
US08601189B2
In case that a main component and an auxiliary component to be presented in synchronization with the main one have to be presented through data transmission between both devices, the present invention issues an action for setting access location information (e.g., URL) of at least one auxiliary component to a media renderer, wherein the action is different from an action for setting access location information of a main component. As a different way, the present invention sets access location information of at least one auxiliary component to a media renderer through an action including access location information of an auxiliary component as well as access location information of a main component.
US08601185B2
The disclosed system and methods involve controlling the timing and order in which numerous motors and sensors exchange data over a data bus. The method can be used with, for example, motion control, automotive, industrial automation, and medical equipment applications using data buses. As an example of one possible medical equipment application, the method of exchanging data on a bus can be used with a remote catheter guidance system. The disclosed system and methods help optimize data exchange over a bus and avoid collisions by grouping the transmission of sensor readings, by grouping the transmission of motor commands, and by predetermining the order of these groups. Further, the method provides a way of ensuring that incomplete data sets are not exchanged over the bus. The method also provides a way of synchronizing motor actuation based on data transmitted to the data bus.
US08601184B2
Various embodiments related to a host computing device for rendering and sending image data to a peripheral device for display at the peripheral device. For example, one embodiment comprises a host computing device, the host computing device comprising a data storage subsystem and a logic subsystem. The host computing device further comprises instructions stored in the data storage subsystem and executable by the logic subsystem to output to the peripheral device a frame of image data representing a difference between a currently rendered image and an (N−1)-th previously rendered image, N being an integer and having a value of 3 or more.
US08601178B2
Disclosed are a method and a computer program storage product for dynamically stabilizing a stream processing system. The method includes receiving at least one computing resource allocation target. A plurality of downstream processing elements and an upstream processing element are associated with at least one input buffer. Each of the downstream processing elements consumes data packets produced by the upstream processing element received on an output stream associated with the upstream processing element. A fastest input rate among each downstream processing element in the plurality of downstream processing elements is identified. An output rate of the upstream processing element is set to the fastest input rate that has been determined for the plurality of downstream processing elements.
US08601176B2
Techniques for providing improved data distribution to and collection from multiple memories are described. Such memories are often associated with and local to processing elements (PEs) within an array processor. Improved data transfer control within a data processing system provides support for radix 2, 4 and 8 fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms through data reordering or bit-reversed addressing across multiple PEs, carried out concurrently with FFT computation on a digital signal processor (DSP) array by a DMA unit. Parallel data distribution and collection through forms of multicast and packet-gather operations are also supported.
US08601175B1
A method, system, and program product for use in managing on-site access to ecosystem features is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method, system, and program product may comprise sending, from a data storage system, a set of context information about the data storage system; at a recipient location on a common intranet with the data storage system, receiving the set of context information and, based on criteria specified for opportunity alerts, determining from the set of context information a subset of the opportunity alerts applicable to the data storage system; and causing the data storage system to be updated with the subset of opportunity alerts.
US08601163B2
Methods and apparatus for transcoding metadata are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to meter media content presented by a media consumption device comprises detecting at a metering device first metadata accompanying the media content presented by the media consumption device, receiving from a transcoder at the metering device second metadata associated with the media content presented by the media consumption device, the second metadata comprising third metadata that has been transcoded to form the second metadata, and processing the first metadata and the second metadata to meter the media content presented by the media consumption device.
US08601161B2
An address translator includes an SIP message detecting function. Upon detection of an SIP message, the address translator sends the SIP message to an SIP address translator. The SIP address translator extracts addresses for translation, and makes a query to the address translator. The SIP address translator translates an IP address included in the SIP message, using translation information of the address translator. Thus, an SIP communication is accomplished between terminals belonging to different regions in association of the address translator and the SIP address translator.
US08601154B2
A system and method for data communication connecting on-line networks with on-line and off-line computers. The present system provides for broadcast of up to the minute notification centric information thereby providing an instant call to action for users who are provided with the ability to instantaneously retrieve further detailed information. The notification centric portions of information is wirelessly broadcast to wireless receiving devices which are attached to computing devices. Upon receipt of the information at the personal computer, the user is notified through different multimedia alerts that there is an incoming message. Wirelessly broadcasted URL's, associated with the data, are embedded in data packets and provide an automated wired or wireless connection back to the information source for obtaining detailed data.
US08601139B2
A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server including a multi-core central processing unit (CPU) is presented. The multi-core CPU includes a receiving core dedicated to pre-SIP message processing. The pre-SIP message processing may include message retrieval, header and payload parsing, and Call-ID hashing. The Call-ID hashing is used to determine a post-SIP processing core designated to process messages between particular user pair. The pre-SIP and post-SIP configuration allows for the use of multiple processing cores to utilize a single control plane, thereby providing an accurate topology of the network for each processing core.
US08601137B2
Provided is a session management method of managing a session created between a wireless universal serial bus (USB) host and a wireless USB device through a wireless network, the session management method including: receiving session status messages periodically transmitted for checking a status of the created session; counting a number of continuous reception failures representing a number of the session status messages that are not received; and if the number of the continuous reception failures of session status messages is greater than a reference number, changing the current status of the session to a suspended status if the current status of the session is a connected status, and closing the created session if the current status of the session is a suspended status.
US08601134B1
Methods, apparatus, and computer-accessible storage media for remotely managing a gateway that serves as an interface between processes on a customer network and a service provider, for example to store data to a remote data store. The gateway sends a connection request to a gateway control server. The server holds the connection until the server receives information (e.g., information from the customer sent via the service provider) for the gateway. The server sends the information as requests via the gateway-initiated connection, and continues to hold the connection. If a server receives information for a gateway to which it does not hold a connection, the server sends the information to the server that does hold the connection. The server may either discover the appropriate server via a registration service that registers connections to gateways or broadcast the information to peer servers identified through a registration service.
US08601115B2
Systems and methods for providing state information and remote command execution using Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or any other protocol that provides for authentication, presence and messaging. A device may exist within a managed or unmanaged network and sign on to a managed network and provide presence information augmented with state information to provide near real-time state information to the managed network. The network may also discover remote command support in endpoint devices to command and control the devices remotely, while traversing unmanaged networks and components.
US08601109B2
A method for incrementally fingerprinting a computing device includes steps for executing device-identification code programmed to retrieve a complete set of device configuration metrics from a web browser of the computing device, interrupting execution of the device-identification code after retrieval of a first subset of the device configuration metrics, generating a partial device fingerprint from the first subset, generating a temporary device identifier from the partial device fingerprint, and generating a subset indicator identifying the device configuration metrics that compose the first subset. Additional steps include writing the temporary device identifier and the subset indicator to browser-based storage of the computing device, resuming execution of the device-identification code, querying the browser-based storage for presence of the temporary device identifier, and retrieving, responsive to detecting the temporary device identifier, a second subset of the device configuration metrics, the second subset comprising device configuration metrics not identified by the subset indicator.
US08601097B2
Example embodiments of the present disclosure concern a system and method for selectively intercepting communications in a cloud computing environment by receiving communications from one or more thin-client terminal systems connected via a local area network, determining one or more recipients of each received communication, and based on a determination that the one or more recipients of a communication include only thin-client terminal systems connected via the local area network, intercepting the communication and preventing the communication from being transmitted to a central server connected to the local area network via a wide area network, storing the communication, and forwarding the communication to the one or more recipients connected to the local area network.
US08601091B2
A method and system of an embodiment may include receiving network device information associated with a network device, parsing the network device information, identifying one or more network device attributes associated with the network device from the parsed network device information, displaying via a user interface, user information associated with the one or more identified network device attributes, receiving one or more user commands via the user interface, and translating, by a command interpreter module, the one or more user commands into one or more network device executable commands.
US08601088B2
A host device is provided comprising an interface configured to communicate with a storage device having a public memory area and a private memory area, wherein the public memory area stores a virtual file that is associated with content stored in the private memory area. The host device also comprises a cache, a host application, and a server. The server is configured to receive a request for the virtual file from the host application, send a request to the storage device for the virtual file, receive the content associated with the virtual file from the private memory area of the storage device, wherein the content is received by bypassing the cache, generate a response to the request from the host application, the response including the content, and send the response to the host application.
US08601085B1
Described are techniques for determining preferred paths. A host requests first information from each of one or more ports of a data storage system. The first information includes preferred path information for a first device visible to the host through each port. The preferred path information includes one or more parameters used by said host to perform one or more mathematical calculations to determine a preferred path for transmitting to the data storage system a data operation directed to the first device. The first information is sent from each port to the host.
US08601083B1
Apparatus and methods for sharing electronically rendered information between a plurality of devices over a data communications network with limited used of network data storage is described. Content may be shared automatically between members of a share group, without interactive content-sharing operations being executed by users. The embodiments include content tagging, commenting, searching, and syncing of content. Action metadata messages, that are not viewed by a user of a device, may be sent separately from content portions to notify share-group members of content to be shared. Sharing of content can be accomplished via peer-to-peer links as well as intermediary links, which may execute concurrently.
US08601074B2
An electronic mail receiving apparatus used in a system including an electronic mail transmitting apparatus, the electronic mail receiving apparatus, and an electronic mail server, includes: a communicating unit executes a first-kind electronic mail communication performed via the electronic mail server, and a second-kind electronic mail communication performed not via the electronic mail server; and a mail output controller configured to control an outputting unit configured to output an electronic mail received from the electronic mail transmitting apparatus. The communicating unit includes: a first information transmitting unit configured to, if a first-kind electronic mail is received by executing the first-kind electronic mail communication, transmit, to the electronic mail transmitting apparatus, reception information; and a second information transmitting unit configured to, if a second-kind electronic mail is received by executing the second-kind electronic mail communication, transmit, to the electronic mail transmitting apparatus, reception information by the communication session.
US08601069B1
A method and system for message multicasting which provides a programmable persistent header in a message to allow one message to be read by multiple target consumers and to ensure that the message passing mechanism does not delete the message until all target consumers have received it. The persistent header may have information about all target consumers and their priority to consume the message. A message parser may obtain from the persistent header identities of target consumers and the order in which they consume the message and allow target consumers to consume the message following the order. The message parser may have a counter which counts the number of consumers that have consumed the message, and keep the message in the queue until all target consumers have consumed the message.
US08601068B2
A computer implemented method includes detecting an event in a multi-component information technology system. Multiple parties having an interest in the event are identifies. An interactive collaboration mechanism is created and access to the collaboration mechanism is provided to the identified multiple parties having an interest in the event.
US08601065B2
Methods and apparatus for preventing spam e-mail messages from being propagated or transmitted by monitoring user interaction events associated with the system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for processing a first e-mail message on a system that transmits e-mail message and has an input device includes identifying an attempt to transmit the first e-mail message; and determining whether a user interaction event has occurred within a given time interval. If it is determined that a user interaction event has not occurred within the given time interval, the first e-mail message is prevented from being transmitted.
US08601063B2
A method for presenting an attachment within an email message on a display of a portable electronic device includes displaying the email message using a messaging application, sending a conversion request to an attachment server in order to view the attachment in an attachment viewer of the portable electronic device, receiving a converted attachment from the attachment server; and upon receiving the converted attachment from the attachment server, inserting a thumbnail image in a message body of the email message.
US08601048B2
Herein described is a method and system of implementing integrated circuit logic modules that provide maximum efficiency and minimum energy dissipation. In a representative embodiment, a method of implementing one or more digital signal processing functions comprises determining one or more parameters associated with generating an optimal logic module. The one or more parameters may comprise the circuit area of the logic module and the processing time through a critical path of the logic module. In a representative embodiment, the system comprises a logic module that utilizes four full adders arranged in a tree configuration. In a representative embodiment, the logic module comprises a carry-save accumulator that provides maximum efficiency and minimal energy dissipation.
US08601045B2
An SR-2/8 FFT apparatus includes a memory, an SRFFT processor and a control unit. The control unit includes an input control block, an SRFFT control block and an output control block. The input control block loads memory banks with the input data in a first order, such that the SRFFT processor is able to retrieve data from the memory banks simultaneously in a single clock cycle. The SRFFT control block determines a decomposition structure of a 2M-point FFT and controls the SRFFT processor to repeatedly perform a butterfly computation along the decomposition structure. The order of the input data of each butterfly computation fits in with the first order. The SRFFT control block controls output results of each butterfly computation to be written back into the memory banks corresponding to the input data. The output control block controls the output results to be outputted in a second order.
US08601039B2
A computation apparatus includes an inverse conversion table creation unit configured to create an inverse conversion table in which discrete values obtained by applying a predetermined conversion on predetermined data correspond to inverse conversion values obtained by applying a conversion inverse to the predetermined conversion on the discrete values, a range decision unit configured to decide in which range the predetermined data is included when the predetermined data is input among ranges where the inverse conversion values adjacent in the inverse conversion table are set as border values, and a discrete value decision unit configured to decide the discrete value corresponding to the inverse conversion value whose value is close to the predetermined data among the inverse conversion values serving as the border values of the range decided by the range decision unit.
US08601036B2
A method, system and computer program product for reducing garbage collection pause time. According to example embodiments, a garbage collection cycle is initiated on a set of objects that have been dynamically allocated in a memory. An identification is made of new persistent objects and reachable non-persistent objects while ignoring old persistent objects that have been identified as persistent in previous garbage collection cycles. The new persistent objects are associated as members of a set of persistent objects that includes the old persistent objects. The persistence information for the set of persistent objects is preserved for use during subsequent garbage collection cycles. All reachable non-persistent objects and all persistent objects in the set of persistent objects are marked for memory reclamation phase processing. The persistent objects are so marked using the preserved persistence information such that repeated scanning of persistent objects during multiple garbage collection cycles is avoided.
US08601035B2
A process of determining explicitly free data space in computer data storage systems with implicitly allocated data space through the use of information provided by a hosting computer system with knowledge of what space allocated is currently being used at the time of a query, is provided. In one embodiment, a File System (“FS”) is asked to identify clusters no longer in use which is then mapped to physical disks as visible to an Operating System (“OS”). The physical disks are mapped to simulated/virtualized volumes presented by a storage subsystem. By using server information regarding the FS, for those pages that are no longer in use, point in time copy (“PITC”) pages are marked for future PITC and will not be coalesced forward, thereby saving significant storage.
US08601031B2
A system and method may include receiving a non-linear content identifier request. The system and method may further include identifying linear content metadata associated with the non-linear content identifier request, the linear content metadata representing at least one metadata keyword. The system and method also may include identifying a relationship between the at least one metadata keyword and at least one non-linear content keyword.
US08601028B2
It is desirable to provide a secure search mechanism to provide for searching over any and all content, such as across an enterprise. A secure search, however, requires access to the secure content repositories holding the data to be searched. In some cases the credentials required to crawl a repository may be extremely sensitive, or the user may be reluctant or unwilling to store user identification information in memory or on disk for any longer than is absolutely necessary. An approach is provided that allows a user or an administrator to provide security credentials to be stored and used only during a crawl, and to erase the credentials from the system when the crawl is complete.
US08601026B2
Contents can be opened to a suitable group by a simple operation. A data management method allows a plurality of users to browse stored data. The method includes setting association of first data which is previously set to be opened and at least one second data. Third groups to which these second data is opened are determined based on first groups of the first data set to be opened and second groups to which a user setting the association belongs. Then, the second data are opened to a user who belongs to the third groups.
US08601025B1
Described are techniques for reporting requested information to a client. A bidirectional graph is stored in a cache. The bidirectional graph includes a first set of nodes and a second set of edges between pairs of nodes of the first set, each node of the first set representing an object in an object model of a server. Each edge of the second set between a pair of nodes of the first set represents an association between two objects corresponding to the pair of nodes. A request is received from the client. A response to the request is determined by traversing a portion of the bidirectional graph to extract first information, and filtering the first information in accordance with a usage context customized for the client.
US08601017B2
A system and method for serving reliable content in search, the method comprising: receiving at a server computer from a user, a request to search a network for certain information; searching the network for the information requested and obtaining a set of results including user-generated content; searching the user's list of social connections; determining whether any of the search results related to a person in the user's list of social connections/contacts; and providing an indication of greater reliability for the search results that correspond to persons from the user's list of social connections.
US08601015B1
In a method for generating example queries, an actual query is received, and the actual query is portioned into one or more tokens. One or more fragments of the actual query are generated based on reassembly of the one or more tokens. A plurality of example queries are generated based on different interpretations of one or more fragments, and at least one example query is outputted.
US08601011B2
A detailed data aggregation apparatus holds detailed data of a plurality of events and a transcription and replenishment rule. In the rule, a plurality of common items, which are common to different events as a minimum unit of aggregation, are defined, and a transcription instruction (for instructing to transcribe a value corresponding to an event definition item to a value corresponding to the common item) and a replenishment instruction (for instructing to replenish a value to be replenished as the value corresponding to the common item) are described, associated with each common item for each event. Regarding the held detailed data, transcribed/replenished detailed data including values corresponding to the common items is created from the respective detailed data according to the transcription instruction or replenishment instruction. The apparatus aggregates the created data in a unit of predetermined common item specified as a unit of aggregation or in a unit of combination of predetermined common items.
US08601006B2
A search unit 11 presents a Web search result report to a client terminal 20. A theme space construction unit 12 updates theme information within a theme information DB 13 by a user-acquired information feedback from the client terminal 20, and performs a Web search to construct a theme space. The search unit 11 includes an exhaustivity calculation unit that calculates exhaustivity being a ratio of a user-acquired part to a part of an entire target theme. Moreover, the search unit 11 includes a difference calculation unit that calculates a difference between a “user-acquired” range when a user has acquired target Web pages and a user-acquired range before that, and a relevance calculation unit that calculates relevance of the target Web pages to the target theme.
US08601005B2
A system and method described herein simplifies data entry by a subject of a structured blood glucose test as well as helps with dietary compliance by providing specific dietary suggestions to the user. The system includes a portable device configured to be possessed by the subject. The portable device has a location detection system configured to provide data indicative of the location of the subject. A food database provides to the portable device a list of food items that are limited based on foods available at the location, such as a restaurant. The portable device is configured to receive a selection from the list that is indicative of a food consumed by the subject. A blood glucose meter reads blood glucose readings from the subject. The food database is configured to store the blood glucose readings and information about the foods consumed by the subject. Compliance to a prescribed dietary regimen can be monitored by the user and/or a physician.
US08601003B2
System, method and computer program that encompasses one or more client devices cooperating with a program host's on-line data processing center for making purchase recommendations of media items to a program participant. Accordingly, there is a transmission from a program host to a program participant of identification of at least one recommended-for-purchase media item selected based on the recommended-for-purchase media item being rated as similar to a designated media item presently contained in an inventory of a media library of the program participant. The rating of the recommended-for-purchase media item as being similar to the designated media item presently contained in the inventory of the media library of the program participant is representative of a frequency at which the recommended-for-purchase media item co-occurs with the designated media item in media libraries of others.
US08600995B1
The role of a user within an organization is automatically determined based on the classification of applications and content on the user's computer. Applications and files installed on a user's computer are identified. Identified applications and files that are not indicative of the role of the user within the organization are filtered out. The non-filtered out applications are functionally classified according to associated roles within the organization, based on predetermined functional classification information. The non-filtered out files are also functionally classified, based on predetermined functional classification information concerning types of files associated with specific organizational roles. The content of files that are of types not indicative of the user's organizational role can be analyzed, and these files can be functionally classified based on their content. The functional classifications are used in determining the role of the user.
US08600993B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining resource attributes from site address attributes. In one aspect, a method includes resource attributes of resources addressed by the resource locator and address attributes of the resource locators, determining a set of similar resource locators from the address attributes of the resource locators, comparing the address attributes of the resource locators in the set of similar resource locators to the resource attributes of the resources addressed by the resource locators in the set of similar resource locators, and determining, based on the comparison, likelihoods that the address attribute of the resource locators in the set of similar resource locators indicates resource attributes of the resources.
US08600991B2
A content information reproducing apparatus, a content information reproducing system, a content information reproducing method, a content information reproducing program, a recording medium storing the program, and an information processing apparatus facilitate introductory comment creators creating introductory information while creating introductory information reflecting the intent of the content distributor. A content information reproducing apparatus has a reception unit that receives an introductory information template set containing various introductory information templates that are configured for particular scenes according to different biometric information levels, an introductory information production unit that determines a biometric information level from the biometric information of the user viewing the content, extracts an introductory information template corresponding to the biometric information level from the introductory information template set, correlates the biometric information level and the extracted introductory information template, and creates introductory information, and a transmission unit that outputs the introductory information when content reproduction ends.
US08600984B2
An affinity server estimates an affinity between two different time based media events (e.g., TV, radio, social media content stream), between a time based media event and a specific topic, or between two different topics, where the affinity score represents an intersection between the populations of social media users who have authored social media content items regarding the two different events and/or topics. The affinity score represents an estimation of the real world affinity between the real world population of people who have an interest in both time based media events, both topics, or in a time based media event and a topic. One possible threshold for including a social media user in a population may be based on a confidence score that indicates the confidence that one or more social media content items authored by the social media user are relevant to the topic or event in question.
US08600971B2
An example of a game apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU activates two outward cameras to allow a user to image, for example, a flower. The CPU filters data for search included in a database. The CPU obtains color information, shape information and a size of the imaged flower. A shape category is obtained, and with the shape category, data for search included in a database for search is further filtered. Then, by comparing the color information, the shape information, and the size of the imaged flower with the data for search to be used, a score of a degree of approximation of the color information and scores of the degree of matching of the shape information and size, etc. are obtained. Then, images of flowers as candidates are presented in the descending order of the score (similarity level).
US08600962B2
A transaction processing device including: a representative key decision portion for deciding a representative key to be any one of the keys of every record of a record group as an object for maintaining consistency in a transaction process; a log compilation portion for updating a subordinate log by adding consistence object information indicating the object for maintaining the consistency to the subordinate log other than a representative log corresponding to the representative key among the logs corresponding to every record of the record group; a log update portion for updating the representative log by writing update information for every record of the record group into the representative log; and a record update portion for updating every record by reflecting the update information written into the representative log in the every record of the record group.
US08600948B2
Avoiding duplicative storage of managed content is disclosed. It is determined whether content associated with an object has been stored previously in an associated one of a plurality of storage locations used to store managed content with which the object is associated. If it is determined that the content has been stored previously in the storage location, the previously-stored content is associated with the object and the object, but not a duplicate copy of the content, is stored in the storage location.
US08600944B2
Cluster recovery time is reduced by an incremental refresh technique that is described herein. The goal of the technique is to salvage the portion of the redundant distributed database lost (e.g., during a fault) by performing an incremental refresh of only the updates occurring to that portion of the database since the time of loss.
US08600930B2
Provided is a conversation assistance device which enables a user to easily search for a desired content. The conversation assistance device includes an input unit, a memory unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. A template database stored in the memory unit includes a plurality of templates. Each of the templates associates category sentences in a plurality of languages with a keyword. A keyword is specified by one keyword expression and one or more character inputs (keyword reading). When the input unit receives any of the plurality of character inputs, an example sentence selection unit retrieves one of the templates having a keyword corresponding to the input character.
US08600925B2
A balance is provided between automation of repetitive database creation and configuration efforts, on the one hand, and flexibility to depart from prior configurations, on the other hand, to assist developers with aspects of database initialization. An application domain includes data context instances, database connections, object models mapped by an object-relational mapper, and database initializers. Upon the first attempted runtime use of a particular database connection—data context instance—object model combination, a database initializer is invoked. Initializers may check to see if the database exists, (re)generate a database and schema based on the object model, determine whether the database is compatible with the current object model, delete the database and its schema, seed data, modify database indexes, and/or migrate an existing database, for example. A custom initializer can run developer-supplied code as desired to place the database in a known state for use by the application.
US08600906B2
This disclosure relates to systems and methods of classifying exports. These systems and methods are generally computer implemented methodologies, or software for implementing such methodologies on a computer or computer network, that serve to make it easier to determine the classification of an export and to generate a report associated with that classification. Through a series of user inputs of information about the export entered at the user's own personal computer, the classification software installed on the remote auxiliary computer generates a classification report associated with the export and transmits the report to the personal computer via the Internet.
US08600904B1
A document delivery system for electronic and physical documents with proof of service. The system may receive uploaded electronic documents for delivery to one or more electronic and/or physical endpoints. After the electronic documents have been received, the delivery system determines whether the received electronic documents should be delivered electronically or physically, based on recipient data in the delivery system. If physical documents are to be delivered, the system may intelligently decide whether to aggregate some documents into a multi-document package. The system provides for delivery by commercial carrier, postal service, and/or electronic delivery. Optional services available to the sender include, but are not limited to, certified mail, proof of service, and email confirmation.
US08600902B2
A system generates an encoded identifier representing shipping data associated with the first party, wherein the shipping data is associated with a transaction between the first party and a second party. The system then communicates the encoded identifier to the second party and the second party creates a shipping label including the encoded identifier. The encoded identifier is decoded by a shipping service provider thus providing the shipping data of the first party.
US08600901B2
Embodiments are directed towards providing a likeness application that may be integrated into one or more different messaging applications to provide a user with an indication of how much the user may be liked by their messaging contacts. Such application is directed towards providing a level of fun to a first user through a dynamically calculated social networking indicator. In one embodiment, the first user may communicate with one or more other users over a network using the messaging application modified with the likeness application. The other users may also communicate with each other over the network using the modified messaging application. Then, at various times or conditions, the likeness application may display to the first user a relative percentage indicating how much the first user is being ‘liked’ by one or more other users.
US08600888B2
An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system. The integrated system generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc.
US08600880B2
A system for transmitting information between a seller and a supplier uses a web services application to interface between a seller application and the supplier's server. The web services application uses a proxy to transmit information from the web services application to the supplier's server in a secure and reliable manner. The information is transmitted via HTTP using SOAP messages that conform to WSDL. In such a manner, the web services application can transmit selected information to the supplier's server, without any need to re-key redundant information. The proxy provides various services, such as encryption/decryption, digital signing, non-repudiation services, reporting capabilities, and software updating capabilities.
US08600879B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computerized method for effecting payment by a check includes electronically receiving payment information for a check drawing on a checking account of an account holder, retrieving from a storage location an image replacement document template associated with the checking account in response to receiving the payment information, and generating an image replacement document representative of the check by inserting the payment information into respective fields of the image replacement document template. The payment information includes a date, a payee, a dollar amount, a legal amount, and a signature.
US08600874B2
A technique involves providing an actual cost commitment and investing a retail value of the actual cost commitment to a student venture, and receiving a return on the retail value and a return on actual cost that is equal to the return on the retail value minus the actual cost commitment. A system constructed according to the technique may include an investment decision engine, a portfolio management engine, and a venture scholar fund operations engine. The system may further include, for example, an authentication engine and a public information engine.
US08600859B2
A computerized trading system for trading a tradable product at stock exchanges where a user can define a number of criteria to be met in order for the system to allow/indicate a trade order of a selected Symbol or allow/indicate a pair trade of two selected Symbols. A method to format a data stream providing a novel result used for the calculation of technical indicators and the derived criteria and/or used for visual presentation of price movements of the tradable product in the computerized trading system by determining the time to close a bar. Product data having product prices is received at different times by the computer system, and the computer system for each closed bar has corresponding bar data buffers with data representing time of close of bar and last received product price at close of bar.
US08600851B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for preparing a financial plan for a military member eligible to receive military benefits. The systems and methods dynamically and automatically access military parameters stored in one or more data records corresponding to the military member. The military parameters, which are indicative of the one or more military benefits received by the military member, are used to develop a customized financial plan, thereby resulting in increased accuracy and consistency to provide an improved experience for the military member.
US08600846B2
A method and system for a P2P financial transaction can connect to a card company server via a wired/wireless communication network, and a financial card with credit card functions. The method includes closing a first contract involving monetary claim/obligation between members, reporting a first claim amount or a first obligation amount to the card company server, and recording first incoming or first outgoing amounts. The method further includes establishing a second claim amount and a second obligation amount according to a second contract, reporting the second claim amount or the second obligation amount to the card company server, recording second incoming or second outgoing amounts, adding or subtracting respectively to or from the first incoming or the first outgoing amounts, and settling final incoming or outgoing, added or subtracted amounts at regular intervals.
US08600838B2
A method for improving media search capability includes providing a user with access to an interface that allows the user to provide one or more inputs relating to an item of media (such as an audio or video recording of a song or a cover song), performing a media search in response to the one or more inputs, and presenting search results via an interactive display generated depending upon media ratings, wherein one or more of the media ratings is determined from media ratings inputs depending upon one or more metrics associated with sources or providers of the media ratings inputs.
US08600834B2
A floral network system and method allows for collecting, storing and retrieving data regarding the processing of personalized or custom floral arrangements linked to personal accounts for a plurality of customers. For example, a floral network method and system may store one or more close-up or detailed images of a personalized or custom-made floral arrangement for a customer along with data regarding the order, the customer, and a recipient. The next time that the customer places an order, the close-up or detailed images and data on past orders can be retrieved and viewed by the customer and used by the florist in the preparing a subsequent floral arrangement. Reminders may also be sent to the customers for important events where floral arrangements may be desired.
US08600827B2
The PRODUCT RECALL PLATFORM APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“PR Platform”) transforms recall initiation request, product identifier and purchase processing request inputs via PR Platform components into recall notification message outputs. In some embodiments, the PR Platform receives a purchase processing request including a plurality of product identifiers and preselects product identifiers that qualify for purchase processing based on at least one purchase processing rule. The PR Platform facilitates querying of a product recall database to determine if the preselected product identifiers match recalled product identifiers in the product recall database. If at least one of the preselected product identifiers match the recalled product identifiers, the PR Platform retrieves a recall message associated with the at least one of the preselected product identifiers and notification preferences associated with the purchase processing request. The PR Platform then generates a recall notification message in accordance with the notification preferences to include the recall message associated with the at least one of the preselected product identifiers.
US08600825B2
A method for providing on-line payment services is provided where a payment service provider pays for a plurality of purchases that are made by a user during a plurality of on-line shopping sessions. An authorization is received for the payment service provider to collect a reimbursement amount from a financial institution of the user. The reimbursement amount is at least equal to a cumulative amount of the payments for the plurality of purchases made by the user during the plurality of on-line shopping sessions. The payment service provider collects the reimbursement amount in a single transaction from the financial institution of the user and pays a fee to the financial institution of the user. The fee is based on the single transaction carried out to collect the reimbursement amount rather than being applied to each of the plurality of purchases or assessed as a percentage of the reimbursement amount, which allows the payment service provider to reduce the costs associated with providing payment services.
US08600822B2
Systems and methods for facilitating an on-line purchase of at least one item on behalf of a consumer are disclosed. A consumer may shop and purchase at least one item on a consolidated shopping (CS) website displaying one or more items available for purchase on one or more different merchant websites. The CS website provides consumers with advanced searching that takes into consideration a personal profile of the consumer, the consumer's previous shopping history, transactional data relating to a group of similar consumers, and the like. A host computer providing the CS website may access a merchant website selling the requested item, and order the requested item on behalf of the consumer, and charging a transaction fee, listing fee, receiving a rebate and/or offering a rebate for performing such. One embodiment allows a consumer to purchase/order multiple items from multiple websites in a single purchase request to the CS website.
US08600821B2
A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.
US08600812B2
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving at a server information indicating activity levels of users of a computer-implemented social network or acquaintance relationships of the users on the computer-implemented social network. The method further includes generating by the server influence scores for the users based on the received information. The method also includes recursively propagating by the server an ad through the computer-implemented social network between users having an acquaintance relationship by transmitting the ad from a propagating user to a recipient user when a difference between a first influence score of the propagating user and a second influence score of the recipient user is greater than a threshold.
US08600804B2
A method and computer program product for managing information about transactions occurring in a physical establishment includes gathering information about multiple transactions at a physical establishment, and storing the information as metadata. A byte stream corresponding to the metadata is generated. Several elements of the metadata are associated with a particular session based on predefined criteria.
US08600800B2
A promotion distribution system that distributes promotions based on where a user has parked provides the benefit of allowing providers or merchants to target promotions to particular areas where users park. The target areas may be remote from a merchant's location. In addition, since there are a vast number of vehicle drivers and passengers that park, the system provides a large audience for merchant promotions. The system may comprise one or more parking locators that detect the presence of a vehicle within a vicinity. A repository server and parking kiosk may retrieve promotions for presentation to a user based on where the user has parked and the area in which a promotion is targeted.
US08600799B2
A method, system, and article of manufacture for defining and managing instances of time-based organization hierarchies, and for assigning sales credit to corresponding positions within the time-based organization hierarchy in response to a sales data input are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a user may define and/or manage one or more instances of the time-based organization hierarchy via a user interface generated on a client. Moreover, and in response to the sales data input corresponding to a transaction, a sales credit assignment process may then be executed to assign sales credit to one or more positions within the instance of the time-based organization hierarchy based on an evaluation of conditions specified in one or more identified assignment rules associated with the time-based organization hierarchy.
US08600797B1
Information about a set of users of a social networking system is obtained to develop a predictive model of income distribution for all users of the social networking system. This predictive model is based on selected attributes about the users (e.g., declared/profile information, user historical information, and/or social information). Users of the social networking system are mapped to a specific income bracket based on statistical correlations derived from the predictive model. Advertisements are targeted to users based on income bracket. The system may use a machine learning algorithm to analyze conversion rates of targeted advertising to retrain the predictive model.
US08600796B1
An overall average review rating for a product may be determined, based on user ratings that are associated with opinions of a product, within a dimension corresponding to a user trait. A segment variation score for each of a plurality of segments of the dimension may be determined. Each segment may correspond to one or more values of the user trait corresponding to the dimension. A total variation score may be determined for the dimension based on the segment variation scores determined for each of the plurality of segments of the dimension. The total variation score for the dimension may be compared to a polarization threshold to determine whether the dimension is polarized. Generated information may identify the product as having sentiment that is polarized.
US08600791B2
In one embodiment, a method for refining a business process model includes receiving business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users, creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users, receiving business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users, and augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users. The method further includes iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by the first class of users and/or the second class of users.
US08600790B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for providing a survey to a user comprises accessing a web site by the user, determining if the user is qualified to partake in a survey related to the web site, tracking the user's interaction with the web site when the user is qualified to partake in the survey, presenting the survey to the user based on the user's interaction, receiving responses to the survey, tracking the user's further interaction with the web site, determining if a page unload event followed by a page load event occurs within a period of time, determining if the user has left the web site when the page unload event followed by the page load event does not occur within the period of time, presenting a static first portion of an additional survey to the user, and presenting a dynamic second portion of the additional survey to the user based on at least one of: the user's further interaction with the web site, the user's interaction with the web site, and the user's responses to the survey, when it is determined that the user has left the web site.
US08600787B2
A computer based system for maximizing revenue by determining an optimal quantity of a product to be sold is disclosed. The system determines the optimal number of seats to be sold for a flight based upon the flight's capacity and forecasted costs associated with the flight. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models and takes into account passenger itinerary data, passenger and market historical data, whether a passenger has flown on a previous leg of an itinerary, and the ripple denied boarding effect of reaccommodating a denied passenger. The system evaluates the potential effect of double selling a unit of inventory (e.g., seats). Downstream inventory control, revenue management and reservations systems may use the optimization data to affect the operation of the airline.
US08600779B2
Technologies are described herein for advertising with an influential participant in a virtual world. A facilitator rating is determined for each of a plurality of participants in the virtual world. The facilitator rating may indicate an influence of each of the plurality of participants on other participants in the virtual world. One or more participants are identified from the plurality of participants based on the facilitator rating. The one or more participants are utilized to provide an advertisement in the virtual world.
US08600775B1
A method for enhancing and supplementing the informed consent process of a patient undergoing a medical procedure is disclosed. A plurality of interactive multi-media program segments relating to a medical procedure are presented on-line to a patient who is to undergo the procedure. The patient views the multi-media program segments which may include a review of anatomy and physiology, the disease, the procedure, pre and post-operative instructions and risks and benefits. Patients may pose written questions to their doctor. The patient's experience, including which program segments are viewed as well as the patient's interactions therewith are captured, documented and preserved.
US08600773B2
Amongst other things, the availability of service providers is tracked across one or more service provider networks. A status change of the service provider is identified on one or more of the service provider networks and the other service provider networks associated with the service provider is sent data indicating the changed status of the service provider.
US08600770B2
A method and system is provided for convergence of multiple independent applications into a single payment vehicle. In the context of a medical procedure, the invention provides for the convergence of medical/dental insurance with at least one secondary payment source to effect payment for the entire procedure. Through the instant invention insurance benefit information can be determined and funds blocked, then secondary payment source(s) can be utilized to effect payment of the insurance co-payment amount. The use of Smart Card technology enables the convergence at the point of sale of information about multiple applications/payment sources (i.e. insurance plan and secondary payment plan) that are processed to determine the amount of payment to be received from each source.
US08600767B2
Service by a packet switched network is controlled based on bids from consumer equipment. The bids may be compared to historical bids previously received from each of the consumer equipment. A low bid from one of the consumer equipment may be disregarded, based on a history of high bids.
US08600766B2
Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding data. One method of encoding data includes generating second data by altering locations of bits within first data to be encoded next based on values of bits within at least one piece of previously encoded data; and entropy-encoding the second data. Also provided are methods and apparatuses for decoding data.
US08600761B2
Technologies are described herein for providing a hands-free and non-visually occluding interaction with object information. In one method, a visual capture of a portion of an object is received through a hands-free and non-visually occluding visual capture device. An audio capture is also received from a user through a hands-free and non-visually occluding audio capture device. The audio capture may include a request for information about a portion of the object in the visual capture. The information is retrieved and is transmitted to the user for playback through a hands-free and non-visually occluding audio output device.
US08600758B2
Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for reconstruction of a smooth speech signal from a stuttered speech signal. One aspect provides for accessing a stored speech signal having stuttering; identifying at least one stuttered region in the stored speech signal; modifying the at least one stuttered region in the stored speech signal; and responsive to modifying the at least one stuttered region, reconstructing a smooth speech signal corresponding to the stored speech signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08600752B2
A search apparatus includes a sound recognition unit which recognizes input sound, a user information estimation unit which estimates at least one of a physical condition and emotional demeanor of a speaker of the input sound based on the input sound and outputs user information representing the estimation result, a matching unit which performs matching between a search result target pronunciation symbol string and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string for each of plural search result target word strings, and a generation unit which generates a search result word string as a search result for a word string corresponding to the input sound from the plural search result target word strings based on the matching result. At least one of the matching unit and the generation unit changes processing in accordance with the user information.
US08600751B2
Digital method for authentication of a person by comparing a current voice profile with a previously stored initial voice profile, wherein to determine the relevant voice profile the person speaks at least one speech sample into the system, this speech sample is conveyed to a voice-profile calculation unit and thereby, on the basis of a prespecified voice-profile algorithm, the voice profile is calculated, such that the overall size of the speech sample and/or parameters of its evaluation to determine the relevant voice profile are established dynamically and automatically as the sample is spoken, in response to the result of an evaluation of a first partial speech sample.
US08600750B2
In an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system that employs speaker clustering (or speaker type) for transcribing audio. A large corpus of audio with corresponding transcripts is analyzed to determine a plurality of speaker types (e.g., dialects). The ASR system is trained for each speaker type. Upon encountering a new user, the ASR system attempts to map the user to a speaker type. After the new user is mapped to a speaker type, the ASR employs the speaker type for transcribing audio from the new user.
US08600748B2
A system and methods for matching at least one word of an utterance against a set of template hierarchies to select the best matching template or set of templates corresponding to the utterance. The system and methods determines at least one exact, inexact, and partial match between the at least one word of the utterance and at least one term within the template hierarchy to select and populate a template or set of templates corresponding to the utterance. The populated template or set of templates may then be used to generate a narrative template or a report template.
US08600745B2
A system and method for speech file processing which provides users with differentially selectable speech file transcripts which can be sent to one or more other users. The speech files may be voicemail messages from which respective voicemail transcripts are created. The voicemail transcripts are provided in a user selectable format from which users may select non-contiguous portions of the transcript.
US08600744B2
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing speech recognition. The method embodiment comprises selecting a codebook from a plurality of codebooks with a minimal acoustic distance to a received speech sample, the plurality of codebooks generated by a process of (a) computing a vocal tract length for a each of a plurality of speakers, (b) for each of the plurality of speakers, clustering speech vectors, and (c) creating a codebook for each speaker, the codebook containing entries for the respective speaker's vocal tract length, speech vectors, and an optional vector weight for each speech vector, (2) applying the respective vocal tract length associated with the selected codebook to normalize the received speech sample for use in speech recognition, and (3) recognizing the received speech sample based on the respective vocal tract length associated with the selected codebook.
US08600743B2
Systems, methods, and devices for noise profile determination for a voice-related feature of an electronic device are provided. In one example, an electronic device capable of such noise profile determination may include a microphone and data processing circuitry. When a voice-related feature of the electronic device is not in use, the microphone may obtain ambient sounds. The data processing circuitry may determine a noise profile based at least in part on the obtained ambient sounds. The noise profile may enable the data processing circuitry to at least partially filter other ambient sounds obtained when the voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use.
US08600731B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates communication within a telepresence session. A telepresence session can be initiated within a communication framework that includes two or more virtually represented users that communicate therein. The telepresence session can include at least one virtually represented user that communicates in a first language, the communication is at least one of a portion of audio, a portion of video, a portion of graphic, a gesture, or a portion of text. An interpreter component can evaluate the communication to translate an identified first language into a second language within the telepresence session, the translation is automatically provided to at least one virtually represented user within the telepresence.
US08600730B2
A system and method for segmenting a multi-language text is provided. An exemplary method comprises determining an initial probability distribution for sentences in the multi-language text, the initial probability distribution indicating the likelihood of each sentence being in each of a set of languages. A probability of language transitions across sentences may be learned based on the initial probability distribution. Additionally, a highest probability language sequence of sentences in the multi-language text may be determined based on a combination of the probability of language transitions and the prior probability distribution provided by an initial model.
