US08663390B2
A method and apparatus for delivering precursor materials to a processing chamber is provided. In one embodiment, a deposition apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a longitudinal axis, and a gas distribution assembly coupled to a sidewall of the chamber. The gas distribution assembly comprises a plurality of plenums coupled to one or more gas sources, an energy source positioned to provide energy to each of the plurality of plenums, and a variable power source coupled to the energy source, wherein the gas distribution assembly provides a flow path through the chamber that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
US08663387B2
A method and system for processing at least one portion of a thin film sample on a substrate, with such portion of the film sample having a first boundary and a second boundary. One or more first areas of the film sample are successively irradiated by first beamlets of an irradiation beam pulse so that the first areas are melted throughout their thickness and allowed to re-solidify and crystallize thereby having grains grown therein. Thereafter, one or more second areas of the film sample are irradiated by second beamlets so that the second areas are melted throughout their thickness. At least two of the second areas partially overlap a particular area of the re-solidified and crystallized first areas such that the grains provided in the particular area grow into each of the at least two second areas upon re-solidification thereof.
US08663367B2
A system for isolating a greenhouse gas from an exhaust gas includes a vessel having an inlet to receive an exhaust gas, and an outlet to discharge a process stream, an adsorbent contained in the vessel to selectively adsorb the greenhouse gas from the exhaust gas under suitable conditions, and a heat source to heat the adsorbent and desorb the adsorbed greenhouse gas therefrom to produce a process stream of greenhouse gas for release through the outlet.
US08663366B2
The invention is directed to a device that removes humidity/moisture from a container or enclosed area. The device includes a plastic housing having a cavity chamber. A silica desiccant is in the cavity chamber. A color indicator indicates if the silica desiccant is active. A polyester screen/filter is heat welded to the raised circles on the bottom inside of the cavity chamber of the plastic housing. The polyester screen/filter ensures that the silica desiccant stays inside the housing even when the device is reactivated in a microwave or oven. A cover with a number of holes may be placed over the screen/filter and the screen/filter may be welded to the cover. The cover and housing may be made out of food safe polypropylene.
US08663364B2
Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
US08663362B2
An HVAC system having an air cleaner, a fan configured to selectively generate an air flow, wherein at least a portion of the air flow is passed through the air cleaner, and a controller configured to control the air cleaner in response to at least one of a setting for controlling the fan and an operation characteristic of the fan is disclosed. A method of controlling an air cleaner by determining an air flow related criterion value, wherein the air flow is associated with an air flow through an air cleaner, comparing the determined air flow related criterion value to a threshold criterion value, and controlling the air cleaner as a function of a result of comparing the determined air flow related criterion value to the threshold criterion value is disclosed. A method of controlling an ozone concentration outputted by an air cleaner is disclosed.
US08663357B2
A holding sealing material includes a plurality of mats and at least one belt-shaped body. The plurality of mats include inorganic fibers and are layered. The plurality of mats are bundled by the at least one belt-shaped body. The at least one belt-shaped body has no fixing force which fixes the plurality of mats to the at least one belt-shaped body.
US08663355B2
Air cleaner assemblies and components therefor are described. An example first or main filter cartridge is described which includes a media pack comprising strips of fluted material secured to facing sheets, oriented in a stack. The media pack defines opposite inlet and outlet flow faces, with flutes extending in a direction therebetween. The media pack is non-removably secured within a filter cartridge housing, at a location between opposite sections of a shell, typically secured thereto with an adhesive. The shell also defines a closed end, spaced from, but in overlap with, the outlet end face of the media pack. The closed end is typically curved and the shell typically provides either a d/b-shape or a u-shape.
US08663330B2
An expandable cage supports adjacent vertebra in spine surgery. The expandable cage includes a first supporting member configured to engage tissue and a second supporting member operatively associated with the first supporting member. The first and second supporting members are movable relative to each other. The expandable cage further includes a cam lock mechanism configured to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relative position. In another embodiment, the expandable cage includes a ring plate lock mechanism in lieu of the cam lock mechanism. The ring plate lock mechanism is adapted to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relative position.
US08663321B2
Treatment methods and devices are provided for percutaneously accessing a patient's thoracic region via a controlled opening in the aorta, so that cardiac procedures, such as a coronary bypass procedure, can be performed in a minimally invasive manner. Advantageously, it may be possible to perform the procedure without placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. The method may include percutaneously delivering at least one catheter into an aorta of a heart, forming a controlled opening in the aorta and pericardium via the at least one catheter to access a thoracic region within the patient's chest, and performing at least one coronary bypass graft procedure through the controlled opening.
US08663316B2
An endoluminal device for affixation to a wall of a body lumen having a neck region defined by a relatively narrow width and a shoulder region that diverges from the neck region to a relatively wider width. The device comprises a bulbous portion having a shoulder portion with a diameter profile that conforms to the shoulder region of the lumen, and a converging diameter portion sized not to conform to the body lumen diameter profile. In some embodiments, a plurality of affixation members in an area of the device that typically extends from a distal end of the device through the shoulder portion. In one embodiment, the device comprises an endograft for repair of an aneurysm, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
US08663312B2
An intravascular cuff acts as a lining between a native vessel and an intravascular prosthetic device. During deployment, the ends of the cuff curl back upon themselves and are capable of trapping native tissue, such as valve leaflet tissue, between the ends. The cuff creates a seal between the vessel and the prosthetic, thereby preventing leakage around the prosthetic. The cuff also traps any embolic material dislodged from the vessel during expansion of the prosthetic.
US08663309B2
A stent-graft system comprising a graft member and a stent having a connection end interconnected with the graft member and a free end opposed thereto. The stent includes a plurality of struts extending between the connection end and the free end and at least two of the struts having different lengths such that the free end has a nonuniform profile. A method of securing at least one end of a stent-graft within a vessel is also provided.
US08663301B2
An expandable substantially spherical structure for deployment in a blood vessel or other body lumen, comprising: an open frame formed out of a closed loop of filament and configured to assume (i) a collapsed configuration in the form of a substantially two-dimensional elongated loop structure so as to facilitate insertion into the blood vessel or other body lumen, and (ii) an expanded configuration in the form of a three-dimensional substantially spherical structure so as to facilitate retention at a site in the blood vessel or other body lumen; and a flow-restricting face carried by the open frame; wherein the open frame is configured so as to permit substantially normal flow therethrough when the open frame is in its expanded configuration, and further wherein the flow-restricting face is configured so as to restrict flow therethrough.
US08663299B2
A cable fixation device comprises a clamp including a head portion and a body portion along with a lumen extending therethrough. The head portion is removably coupleable with an actuating mechanism. The lumen is sized and shaped to slidably accommodate a cable in combination with a clamping ring including a channel extending therethrough. The channel includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is sized and shaped to slidably accommodate the cable therethrough. The second portion is sized and shaped to engage the clamp. A portion of the clamp is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the cable slidable therethrough in the first configuration. The portion of the clamp moves radially inward in the second configuration to clamp the cable.
US08663298B2
The present invention is directed a polyaxial bone fixation element for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod with a patient's vertebra. The polyaxial bone fixation element preferably includes a bone anchor, a collet, a body, and a locking cap. The polyaxial bone fixation element preferably enables in-situ assembly. That is, the polyaxial bone fixation element is preferably configured so that in use, the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body. Accordingly, the polyaxial bone fixation element enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the body can be snapped-onto the bone anchor. The bone anchor preferably also includes a second tool interface so that a surgical instrument can be directly coupled to the bone anchor.
US08663296B2
A bone-anchored surgical mesh has slot-like anchoring members that allow for the variable placement of screws and other bone fasteners. This permits the surgeon discretion in the placement of bone fasteners used to attach the mesh to the patient's bone. The elongate openings of the anchoring members allow for a sliding motion between the bone fasteners and the anchoring members, and facilitates positioning and articulation of the mesh. The anchoring members may include bushings to aid the sliding motion of the anchoring member on the bone fastener. In one embodiment, the mesh consists of shorter modular strips that overlap each other such that a single bone fastener is passed through two overlapping anchoring members to lock the two modular mesh strips together. Additional modular mesh strips can be added on at either end, as desired, to provide the desired length of dural coverage.
US08663295B2
A posterior spinal prosthesis is configured to cover exposed portions of a spinal column especially, but not necessarily, as a result of a medical spinal procedure and particularly, to provide posterior coverage of an exposed spinal cord, soft tissue, Foramen and/or adipose tissue, associated with one or more vertebrae as a result of the removal the spinous processes and/or the spinous process and laminar hoods from the one or more vertebrae of the spine as a result of a spinal decompression procedure or other reason. A plate forming the prosthesis is connectable to spine rod constructs implanted on lateral sides of the vertebrae and projects in the posterior direction relative to the connection. The plate is generally curved in the superior/inferior direction to provide either a lordotic or kyphotic curvature depending on the portion of the spine to which the prosthesis is utilized. As such, the posterior spinal prosthesis may be used on any portion of the spine such as the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae and/or the lumbar vertebrae. The present posterior spinal prosthesis also provides posterior stabilization of the associated vertebrae as well as aiding in preventing post operative soft tissue cavitation at the decompression site.
US08663291B2
The fastening system consists of the polyaxial ball and socket joint used in conjunction with a bone screw having threads on one end for use in anchoring to the spine and a spherical connector on the other end operating as a pivot point about which a connecting assembly moves in a polyaxial fashion. A substantially U-shaped connecting assembly has a lower receptacle that operates as a socket for housing a retainer ring within a retaining ring groove.
US08663284B2
A connecting element for a spinal column stabilization system includes a first attachment section for fixing to a first bone attachment device, a second attachment section for fixing to a second bone attachment device and an at least partially flexible intermediate section. The intermediate section is arranged between the first and the second attachment section and is in the form of a strip-like, winding leaf spring element having at least one recess. A desired spring stiffness is maintained as precisely as possible, especially in the intermediate section independently of possible manufacturing tolerances arising from the manufacturing process. At least one of the two leaf spring element surfaces of the leaf spring element includes at least one stiffness-modifying element. The connecting element may be part of an improved spinal column fixation system and made by an improved method of manufacturing a connecting element.
US08663282B2
A new intra-spinal decompression implant is introduced. One example for our presentation is a device with 2 or 3 pieces, with each piece with 2 clamps, symmetrically located on each side of each piece. The main piece has at least 2 screws which engage into 2 or more grooves in the side piece, to get attached to the side piece. The 3rd piece, as an optional piece, is the bottom piece, which is similar to the side piece, and gets attached to the main piece, using same or different screws. Each piece is attached to the human body, during back surgery, with corresponding clamps. This improves the quality of the surgery and the result for the patient. More examples are given here.
US08663279B2
A method and device for knotless fixation of tissue. A swivel anchor having a rotatable implant is used to capture suture for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. The implant may be provided with a conical metal tip which is self-punching and avoids the need for pre-drilling a hole in bone. The implant includes a closed aperture to allow free sliding of a suture strand. The swivel anchor is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over the body of the implant.
US08663272B2
Devices and methods for sealing an opening in a blood vessel are disclosed. A device can include: an elongate, tubular non-stick outer sheath, the non-stick outer sheath having a distal end that is insertable into a vessel of a patient through the opening in the vessel wall, and having a proximal end remaining outside the patient; an elongate, tubular non-stick inner sheath disposed within the non-stick outer sheath; and an elongate, tubular adhesive film disposed between the non-stick outer sheath and the non-stick inner sheath, the adhesive film having both inward-facing and outward-facing adhesive surfaces and being supportable by the non-stick inner sheath during insertion into the vessel of the patient.
US08663265B2
A lancing device includes a main body having a drive spring, hammer, trigger mechanism and a lancet holder 22. A lancet 34 may be pushed to engage in snap fit with forwardly extending arms 28 of the lancet holder. Whilst free to move axially, the lancet 36 is held against rotation and, following use, is released from the lancet holder by rotating the lancet holder to disengage the lancet from the forwardly extending arms 28 thus freeing the lancet.
US08663261B2
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue (3) from the iliac artery (1) of a patient. The device comprises a flexible, rotatable drive shaft (10) having an elongated proximal portion, an elongated distal portion, and an abrasive element (16) mounted to the drive shaft between the elongated proximal (11) and distal (14) portions of the drive shaft and configured for rapid rotation together with the drive shaft. The drive shaft is configured to extend throughout an entire length of the iliac artery to be treated and one elongated portion of the drive shaft extends out of the patient through a first access opening located in a femoral artery (9) which is ipsilateral to the treated artery. Another elongated portion of the drive shaft extends through a second access opening located in another peripheral artery (19) of the patient. A method for treating an iliac artery of a patient using such a rotational atherectomy device is disclosed. A pair of drive shaft sheaths (41, 43) extends over the elongate distal and proximal portions of the drive shaft and are equipped with balloons for a double occlusion.
US08663260B2
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from the iliac artery of a patient. The device comprises a flexible, rotatable drive shaft having an elongated proximal portion, an elongated distal portion. An abrasive element is mounted to the drive shaft between the elongated proximal and distal portions of the drive shaft and between and spaced away from a pair of counterweights which are mounted to said elongated portions of the drive shaft. The eccentric abrasive element and the counterweights are configured for rapid rotation together with the drive shaft, the drive shaft is configured to extend throughout an entire length of the iliac artery to be treated. One elongated portion of the drive shaft extends out of the patient through a first access opening located in a femoral artery which is ipsilateral to the treated artery. Another elongated portion of the drive shaft extending through a second access opening located in another peripheral artery of the patient. A method of treating an iliac artery of a patient using such a rotational atherectomy device.
US08663243B2
Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).
US08663241B2
A full-thickness resection system is disclosed. In an embodiment for the resection system, the system may include a flexible shaft, a flexible guide member disposed within the flexible shaft, a stapling mechanism disposed around the flexible guide member, and a grasper. The stapling mechanism has an elongated portion that is at least partially disposed within the flexible shaft. The stapling mechanism includes a stapling arm and an anvil arm. The stapling arm has a longitudinal axis and includes a stapling head having a longitudinal axis. The anvil includes an anvil head. The stapling arm and anvil arm extend from the elongated portion of the stapling mechanism and are moveable with respect to each other between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position. The grasper extends through the flexible shaft and is adapted to grasp a portion of a tissue that is to be excised from an organ in the patient's body. The grasper is movable on an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stapling head.
US08663230B2
A method according to one embodiment may provide access to an articular surface of a bone. The method includes forming a passage through at least a portion of the bone. The passage provides an opening in the articular surface. The method further includes inserting a tether through the passage. The tether inserted through the passage can be coupled to at least one device from an insertion site remote from the articular surface. The tether can be withdrawn through the passage to convey the device to a location proximate the articular surface.
US08663229B2
Instruments and methods for preparing an intervertebral space for receiving an implant. An adjustable trial implant has an adjustable stop mechanism having a stop member connected thereto to vary the distance that a body portion of the trial implant can move into the intervertebral space. Cutting tools for forming cutouts in the adjacent vertebrae use the trial implant and/or a guide to position a cutting tool which may be a burr or a chisel. The chisel cutting tool can be moveable relative to a selected trial implant or the chisel cutting tools can be fixed onto a trial implant shaped body portion.
US08663221B2
An endoscopic treatment tool includes a flexible sheath; an operating member inserted to the sheath so as to freely advance and retract; a treatment section disposed at the distal end of the operating member that protrudes and retracts from the sheath; and an operator section connected to the proximal end of the operating member including a sliding member which makes the operating member advance and retract. The endoscopic treatment tool includes the operating member consisting of a member which increases its rigidity by compression, and a member which compresses the operating member. Therefore a sufficient incision or excision is achieved relative to the distance of movement of the treatment tool by preventing a deflection of the flexible tube when in use.
US08663213B2
High-strength microwave antenna assemblies and methods of use are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Proximal and distal radiating portions of the antenna assembly are separated by a junction member. A reinforcing member is disposed within the junction member to increase structural rigidity.
US08663205B2
A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.
US08663204B2
The invention relates to a medical instrument, comprising a signal transmitter and at least one activating device for activating the transmitter which is provided on a transmitter unit which is separate from the instrument, wherein the transmitter unit is a unit which can be fastened to the exterior of the instrument. It also relates to a method for controlling a treatment-assisting medical software by means of a signal transmitter which is arranged on a medical instrument, wherein the instrument is positionally detected by means of a medical tracking system, and wherein the software assigns a different significance to the signal output by the transmitter depending on the position of the instrument.
US08663200B2
A negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a wound dressing, a fluid collection container, a vacuum pump comprising a pump motor, and tubing. Additionally, the apparatus can include a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in the tubing. One or more tubes can channel a fluid between the wound dressing, the fluid collection canister, and the pump. In addition, first and second control circuits can be provided for controlling the pump motor without using a processor. The first control circuit can generate a difference signal between a desired pressure input and a pressure sensor input, and can further generate a motor control signal responsive to the difference signal. Moreover, a second control circuit can provide an override signal based at least in part on the difference signal and at least one reference signal. The override signal beneficially overrides the motor control signal to prevent the pump motor from stalling.
US08663197B2
A flexible channel to be incorporated into an endoscopic insertion portion having a flexible portion at least in part of its length, for the purpose of providing a flexible passage internally of the endoscopic insertion portion. The flexible channel is composed of a flexible tube with a helical groove on and around its outer periphery, and a reinforcing coil fitted in the helical groove on the flexible tube. At the root of the helical groove, angular projections are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction and the reinforcing coil is tightly pressed tightly against the angular projections.
US08663191B2
Heat transfer catheter apparatus and methods of making and using same are disclosed wherein fluid connection means is provided between the distal portions of two adjacent, thin-walled, high strength fluid lumens to define a closed loop fluid circulation system capable of controlled delivery of thermal energy to or withdrawal of thermal energy from remote internal body locations.
US08663184B2
An absorbent article may comprise a chassis having a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region between the front waist region and the rear waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges, and a pair of side panels extending between and connecting the front waist region and the rear waist region to form a leg opening. Each side panel may comprise a uniformly colored stretch laminate. The stretch laminate may comprise a colored elastomeric member and a first substrate joined to the elastomeric material. The side panels may be joined by a mechanical bond which may form an informational indicia.
US08663183B2
A disposable absorbent article is claimed that comprised a backsheet and an absorbent core and a core coversheet or topsheet, that in use faces the wearer, and one or more cuffs (25, 26), comprising one or more longitudinally extending elastic laminate portion(s) (10), formed by at least an elastic material (12) attached to a supporting sheet (20) of said cuff (25, 26), said laminate portion(s) (10) comprising in at least relaxed and partially contracted state a body-facing surface with a multitude of wrinkles, and whereby said elastic laminate portion (10) has an absolute contracted length Lc and a fully stretched absolute length Ls, whereby at a partial elongation of the elastic laminate potion (10) of ε=0.5: a) said wrinkles have an average wrinkle height Hw of less than 600 micrometers; and b) said laminate portion (10) has an average wrinkle density Dw between 5 and 10 wrinkles per cm.
US08663182B2
A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent core having a garment surface and an opposed body surface, which surfaces meet along at least one longitudinal edge and at least one end edge; a liquid permeable topsheet positioned adjacent the body surface of the absorbent core and having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges; a liquid impermeable backsheet positioned adjacent the garment surface of the absorbent core; and a waistcap/waistband disposed adjacent to at least one projection associated with the absorbent core, wherein the waistcap/waistband is capable of absorbing moisture and subsequently deforming to fill at least a portion of space between the article and a portion of the wearer's body.
US08663177B1
Embodiments described herein generally relate to improved devices, systems, kits, products and methods related to topical medicament application of measured dosages. The kits and devices can single use and/or disposable for example.
US08663167B2
The present invention relates to a device for delivering a fixed dose or an adjustable dose of liquid medicament to a patient. Characterising for the present invention is that it is equipped with a planetary gear with the purpose of increasing the power needed to deliver liquid medicament out of this type of devices. On almost all of the devices of this type appearing on the market with the purpose of delivering a fixed dose or an adjustable dose of liquid medicament, the dose volume can be set in separated steps. With assistance of a planetary gear these steps, which each represent an increase of the volume of the medicament to be delivered, get smaller, which increases the possibility to set an optimum dose volume of the medicament. In its primary field of use the invention is intended to be used together with an injection needle. The invention facilitates to create high fluid pressure in the medicament and can be used to operate an inhaler or a needle free injector at the same time as the invention will keep a compact outside measurement.
US08663163B2
A needle tip of a needle tube stuck in the skin is caused to be reliably positioned in the skin upper layer part and the injected drug is caused not to leak to the outside of the body. An injection needle is provided with a needle tube having a needle tip, a hub that holds the needle tube and an adjustment unit provided around the needle tube and having a needle-protruding surface through which the needle tip of the needle tube protrudes. The needle-protruding surface of the adjustment unit is formed such that the distance S from the circumferential edge to the circumferential surface of the needle tube is in the range of 0.3-1.4 mm.
US08663146B2
Methods for promoting angiogenesis comprising administering platelet-rich plasma to a site and stimulating the site with an electromagnetic field. Platelets include platelet-rich plasma and compositions can further include stem cells such as adipose stromal cells and cells derived from bone marrow aspirate. Methods also comprise isolating platelets from a patient's blood, forming a composition including the platelets, delivering the composition to a site in need of treatment, and electrically stimulating the site.
US08663144B2
An apparatus for applying pressure to a body part comprising multiple interconnectable bands of compressible or noncompressible material. Optional spine to further interconnect the bands. Interconnectable pieces designed for covering specific body areas. Modular arrangement of the individual components. Customized or off-the-shelf availability of the apparatus.
US08663142B1
A joint having two-axis construction having a distal member and a main member joined in co-linear pivotal relation that provides enhanced joint strength and compactness. Hydraulics further provide variable extension assist and an infinite number of flexion stops for controlled flexion flow, and two gears provide a functional gear ratio that also promotes compact construction by reducing the amount of hydraulic piston travel required for maximum joint extension. A drive gear associated with the main member is positioned between the distal end of the piston and a transfer gear partially press-fit into a cut-out in the distal member, to provide needed radial hydraulic force transfer. Although it is contemplated for joint use to be primarily in orthotic devices that assist the movement of an inadequately functioning body limb, any application for which the mechanical joint's compact configuration would provide assistance or technical advantage is considered to be within its scope.
US08663139B2
Techniques associated with an implant system for imparting vibratory massage to tissue within a body is disclosed. Methods include placing an implant device near a surface of a colon, the implant device configured to produce and communicate a vibration to colon tissue, the implant device including a case forming a portion of an exterior of the implant device and defining an interior of the implant device, a vibration generator mounted on the case to vibrate the implant device, and a tissue engaging structure located on the exterior surface of the case to engage the colon tissue, securing the implant device to the colon, and activating the vibration generator of the implant device to cause the implant device to vibrate against the colon, wherein the vibration stimulates a nerve to induce a bowel movement.
US08663125B2
Dual path noise detection and isolation for an acoustic respiration monitoring system detects noise in an acoustic signal recording lung sounds using two discrete noise detection techniques. A first technique detects portions of the signal that exhibit long-term, moderate amplitude noise by analyzing cumulative energy in the signal. A second technique detects portions of the signal that exhibit short-term, high amplitude noise by analyzing peak energy in the signal. Noisy portions of the signal are isolated using the combined results of the dual path detection. A respiration parameter is estimated using the signal without resort to the noisy portions and information based at least in part on the respiration parameter is outputted.
US08663124B2
A multistage system and method for estimating respiration parameters from an acoustic signal. At a first stage, the method and system detect and isolate portions of the signal that exhibit long-term, moderate amplitude noise by analyzing cumulative energies in the signal, and portions of the signal that exhibit short-term, high amplitude noise by analyzing peak energies in the signal. At a second stage, the method and system filter heart sound from the signal energy envelope by applying an adaptive filter that minimizes the loss of respiration sound. At a third stage, the system and method isolate respiration phases in the signal by identifying trends in the energy envelope. Once respiration phases are isolated, these phases are used to estimate respiration parameters, such as respiration rate and I/E ratio.
US08663122B2
Cardiac tissue motion characteristics acquired by novel cardiac sensors are analyzed and processed for the derivation of physiological indices. The indices are output to a hand held local or remote volumetric haptic display and enable an operator to obtain motion related dynamic characteristics of cardiac tissues. The ability to tactually sense the motion of cardiac tissue and the affect on such motion from inserted cardiovascular instrumentation enhances the operator's performance of procedures including the positioning and placement of implanted catheters/sensors, extraction of permanently implanted leads and delivery of cardiovascular therapies. Optimal haptic rendering is achieved by using computational techniques to reconstruct the physically and perceptually relevant aspects of acquired signals and bridge the gap between the inserted catheter and operator's hand/catheter handle.
US08663120B2
An area of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of an area or volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of an imaging device. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
US08663116B2
A catheter assembly includes an elongated member having an ultrasonic beacon disposed adjacent to a distal end portion of the elongated member, a power supply releasably attachable adjacent to the proximal end of the elongated member, and a catheter. The distal end portion of the elongated member with the ultrasonic transmitter is inserted into an anatomical structure of the human body, and the ultrasonic transmitter is powered by the power supply. Using conventional medical ultrasonography equipment, a technician is able to observe and/or track on a display an image of the internal structure of the human body and an image such as an illuminated bright spot representing the energized ultrasonic beacon. After locating the elongated member, the power supply is removed, and the catheter is slid onto the elongated member to locate the catheter tip. Thereafter, the elongated member is removed.
US08663114B2
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiments includes an ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit, a tomographic image generating unit, an analyzing unit, and an analysis result display controller. The ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit is configured to transmit ultrasonic beams in multiple directions and is configured to receive echo signals of the multiple directions. The tomographic image generating unit is configured to generate a tomographic image in accordance with each of the directions of the ultrasonic beams. The analyzing unit is configured to compare echo signals of corresponding spatial positions in the tomographic images generated by the tomographic image generating unit with respect to each of the directions of the ultrasonic beams, and is configured to perform an analysis based on the comparison. The analysis result display controller is configured to display the analysis result obtained by the analyzing unit onto the displaying unit.
US08663110B2
Embodiments for providing an optimal ultrasound image for interventional treatment in a medical system are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, a medical system comprises: a medical device that is inserted into a target object and configured to remove a lesion within the target object; an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from the target object to output ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to form a plurality of ultrasound images based on the ultrasound data and perform an image processing upon each of the ultrasound images to detect a position of the medical device.
US08663099B2
In accordance with the present design there is provided a method utilizing a novel laryngoscope design that inserts a bougie along a canal on one side of a sheath; the sheath being further comprised of a canal capable of being threaded with a bougie, providing a method of access for guiding a Bougie into the trachea, while facilitating a method for the removal of oral/pharyngeal secretions, by placing a suction catheter in a canal through which a method for creating suction is provided; and further the bougie canal provides a method of facilitating placement of a topical anesthetic by providing a channel through which a local anesthetic can be sprayed.
US08663094B2
An in-vivo observation system provided with a capsule endoscope including an in-vivo observation section, a battery, a magnetic field detection section, a power supply switch that controls a power supply and a power supply control section that causes the power supply switch to operate according to an internal signal from the magnetic field detection section, and a magnetic field generating apparatus including a magnetic field generating section, an operation section that outputs an operation signal according to an operation by a user and a masking section that masks an operation signal inputted to the magnetic field generating section for a predetermined period.
US08663091B2
A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide, and a controller configured to limit joint velocities in the entry guide manipulator so as to prevent movement of tips of the articulatable instruments from exceeding a maximum allowable linear velocity when the entry guide manipulator is being used to move the entry guide.
US08663090B2
An endoscope cleaning sheath includes a flexible tube body that is mounted to an insertion portion having a bending portion included in an endoscope, and that has a plurality of through-holes parallel to a longitudinal axis; and a cylindrical distal end nozzle that is provided at a distal end portion of the flexible tube body and that sprays at least one of a gas and a liquid at least at an observation window provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope. The through-holes are a hole for an endoscope insertion portion through which the insertion portion of the endoscope is inserted, and at least a first fluid conduit that supplies gas and a second fluid conduit that supplies liquid. The first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit are provided at positions in a direction that is different from a bending direction of the bending portion of the insertion portion that is inserted and disposed in the hole for an endoscope insertion portion. The flexible tube body includes a sheath bending portion that covers a circumference of the bending portion of the insertion portion that is inserted and disposed in the hole for an endoscope insertion portion. The sheath bending portion includes at least one concave portion or hole that decreases a bending resistance of the sheath bending portion to a resistance that is less than a bending resistance of the flexible tube body.
US08663088B2
A clip or flexible handles extension facilitate simultaneous retention and operation of a bronchoscope and associated bronchoscopic tools held in one hand to allow operation by a single practitioner. Also provided is an adapter for the connection port of the working channel of a bronchoscope which performs both sealing and tool-locking functions. Also disclosed is a guide sheath arrangement with a reduced flexibility proximal portion to facilitate insertion of tools into the guide sheath.
US08663087B2
An erogenic stimulation device for men having a compact state for inconspicuous storage when not in use which expands to an approximate size and shape of a female pelvic region when filled with warm water, the cooperation of warm water with elastomeric interior and exterior elements provides a more natural sensation of warmth, pressure, and responsive motion for the user, the device including contours simulating the structural features of the pelvic region and buttocks and an anatomically correct depiction of female genitalia including vulva and vaginal opening.
US08663083B2
A system and method for planning a necrosis-inducing therapy and subsequent administration of a necrosis-targeting agent are described. The system takes into account the effect of necrosis-induction therapy as a basis for the biodistribution estimate of the necrosis-targeting agent. This interaction between the different calculation steps is essential for an accurate planning result. A computer-readable medium and use are also provided.
US08663082B2
The water aeration capsules provide a quick and highly portable system for aerating polluted water. The capsules contain bubbles of air, oxygen, and/or other gas(es) surrounded by a water soluble membrane. The capsules are ballasted to sink. Magnetically attractive ballast elements may be provided, and a magnetic sheet may be placed on the bottom of a smaller body of water to enhance the settling of the capsules. The gas burial disposal capsules may be formed of non-degradable material for substantially permanent gas storage, or of degradable material to allow the gases to slowly permeate the surrounding earth for slow and relatively harmless release. The gas may be pressurized within the capsules to approximately the pressure of the surrounding earth.
US08663079B2
A deflection roller for guiding a nonwoven web is described, which deflection roller comprises a guide jacket, which is mounted so as to be rotatable and on the circumferential surface of which the nonwoven web can be guided so as to be in contact therewith. In order to achieve a smooth-running and low-inertia guide jacket, the jacket material is formed by a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. For preventing any interaction between the nonwoven web to be guided and the guide jacket, the circumferential surface is formed, as suggested by the invention, by a wear-resistant layer that is applied to the jacket material and that has an electrical conductivity.
US08663075B2
A change of direction machine provides training for various muscles and body structures of a user. In one embodiment, the machine provides focused training for the muscles and body structures associated with making changes in the body's direction. The machine may comprise a pivoting arm assembly supported by a structure. The arm assembly may be configured to provide a resistance such that when a user engages the arm assembly a downward resistance may be applied to the user. The user may engage the arm assembly with his or her upper body and perform training or exercises involving lifting and lowering the user's body, moving laterally, or both. The machine may have various adjustable components to fit a user and to provide the desired resistance to the user.
US08663074B2
An exercise apparatus including a frame, a carriage, a central pulley, first and second frame pulleys, a pull cord, and a locking mechanism. The frame defines a longitudinal axis. The carriage is mounted on the frame and movable along the longitudinal axis. The central pulley is attached to the carriage. The first and second frame pulleys are attached to the frame. The pull cord has first and second handle portions. The pull cord is looped about the pulleys. The central pulley is between the first and second frame pulleys along the pull cord. The first frame pulley is between the first handle portion and the central pulley along the pull cord. The second frame pulley is between the second handle portion and the central pulley along the pull cord. The locking mechanism is configured to engage the central pulley.
US08663068B1
An exercise guidance system displays either a workout option or different exercise options based on a person's exercise objectives. In one embodiment, the displayed option or options is additionally based at least partially upon a metabolic equivalent. In another embodiment, the displayed option or options is additionally based at least partially upon the time current available time for the workout.
US08663067B2
A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The automatic transmission, when the motor vehicle is driven with an actuated accelerator and an engaged starting clutch, and then coasts with the accelerator not actuated and the starting clutch engaged, during coasting with the engaged starting clutch the transmission remaining in the gear in which it was previously driven with the gas pedal actuated. When the transmission input speed of the automatic transmission drops below a limit value, during coasting, the starting clutch is disengaged. During coasting with a disengaged starting clutch in the automatic transmission, a gear is shifted that matches the current speed of the motor vehicle so that, when the starting clutch is subsequently engaged, a gear is available that matches the speed of the motor vehicle prevailing at the time the starting clutch is subsequently engaged.
US08663046B2
A transmission includes a main gearbox and an electric machine. The main gearbox has a primary shaft, a secondary shaft and gear sets, each having a driving gearwheel carried by a respective primary shaft and a driven gearwheel carried by a respective secondary shaft. A first gearwheel and a second gearwheel meshing with each other are idly mounted on the primary shaft and on the secondary shaft, respectively, and are selectively connectable for rotation with the respective shaft by a first coupling device and of a second coupling device, respectively. The electric machine is releasably connected to the first gearwheel or to the second gearwheel, such that with the first coupling device in an engaged position the electric machine is able to transmit torque to the primary shaft on which the first gearwheel is mounted, while with the second coupling device in an engaged position, the electric machine is able to transmit torque to the secondary shaft on which the second gearwheel is mounted. The transmission further includes a secondary gearbox with two or more gears between the electric machine and the first or the second gearwheel.
US08663034B2
A kickoff tee and a placement tee are disclosed. The kickoff tee has a kicking surface surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped support wall defining an open-ended kicking channel. The support wall can further include a pair of opposing protrusions that taper from the top of the support wall downwards toward the kicking surface. The placement tee exhibits a kicking surface atop a kicking platform. The kicking surface includes a kicking target than can be surrounded by a plurality of concentric support ridges. Additionally, the placement tee has a lateral surface extending from the kicking surface downward towards the ground. The lateral surface can exhibit one or more visual indicators to facilitate lining up of a place kick.
US08663031B2
A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6, and a cover 8. The difference between: a hardness H(5.0) at a point located at a distance of 5 mm from the central point of the core 4; and a hardness Ho at the central point is 6.0 or greater. The difference between: a hardness H(12.5) at a point located at a distance of 12.5 mm from the central point; and the hardness H(5.0) is 4.0 or less. The difference between a hardness Hs at the surface of the core 4 and the hardness H(12.5) is 10.0 or greater. The difference between the hardness Hs and the hardness Ho is 22.0 or greater. In the core 4, there is no zone in which a hardness decreases from the central point to the surface. A hardness H3 of the cover 8 is greater than a hardness H2 of the mid layer 6. The cover 8 is formed from a resin composition containing a polyamide copolymer including a polymerized fatty acid (a-1), sebacic acid and/or azelaic acid (a-2), and a polyamine component (a-3).
US08663027B2
Embodiments of golf club face plates with internal cell lattices are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08663019B2
Gaming machine chairs and wagering game systems and machines with a gaming chair are presented herein. A gaming chair is disclosed that includes a base, a seat portion supported by the base, and at least one actuator attached to the seat portion to selectively move the seat portion. A movable shroud at least partially circumscribes the base and the actuator(s) to inhibit access thereto. The movable shroud is attached to the actuator(s) for concurrent movement therewith. Optionally, the base may be attached to both the seat portion and the actuator(s). In this instance, the actuator(s) may be pivotably mounted to a chair support structure, whereas the base may lack a direct connection to the chair's support structure. An optional flexible boot at least partially circumscribes the base and the actuator(s). The moveable shroud and flexible boot cooperate to substantially conceal and inhibit access to the base and the actuator(s).
US08663018B2
Disclosed are various embodiments enabling a saved state of an application to be stored at a central location and to be retrieved by multiple computing devices executing the application. Accordingly, saved states of applications and interfaces are also enabled to follow a user from one personal computing device to the next.
US08662997B1
In certain embodiments, computer systems and methods are provided that allow a game distribution platform to distribute, update and/or control copies of games published across multiple game portals. In some embodiments, copies of the games are maintained in data storage on the game distribution platform and distributed to game portals and/or gaming devices. Additional content for purchase may also be stored on the data storage and available for purchase during a gaming session. Advantageously, in certain embodiments the game distribution platform enables game portals and/or gaming devices to receive the latest version of a game and/or a player's purchased content when a player selects to play the game.
US08662993B1
The player makes a wager to receive a plurality of primary game arrays. Winning primary game outcomes occur when specific primary game array positions, designated by paylines, are randomly assigned winning combinations of indicia. The winning game outcomes of a plurality of primary game arrays are converted to symbols corresponding to the winning primary game outcomes to form a secondary game array. Winning secondary game outcomes occur when winning combinations of symbols occur on the secondary game array paylines.
US08662985B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a gaming apparatus. The gaming apparatus includes a primary display area, a wager data device, a secondary display area, and a controller. The wager data device receives wager data indicative of a wager submitted by a player. Results of the base game are displayed on the primary display area. Credits earned in the base game are converted to points in the secondary game. Results of the secondary game are displayed on the secondary display area while the base game is being played, in relation to predetermined point levels for each round of the secondary game. Based on the achieved point levels and the predetermined point levels for each round of the secondary game, it is determined whether to advance the player or to end the secondary game.
US08662984B2
A reel assembly includes a mounting bracket including a substantially planar mounting bracket body. A reel motor is connected to a first lateral side of the mounting bracket and a reel superstructure is connected to be driven by the reel motor about a rotational axis extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting bracket body. A mounting flange is located at a top edge of the mounting bracket. This mounting flange includes a substantially planar surface lying in a plane extending transversely to the plane of the mounting bracket body, preferably forming a “T” shape with the planar mounting bracket body as viewed in transverse section. A stabilizing structure is located at a rear edge of the mounting bracket in a spaced apart relationship with the mounting flange, and a locking structure is located at an intersection of the top edge of the mounting bracket and the front edge of the mounting bracket.
US08662983B2
An electronic game system (100, FIG. 1) displays game element images (246, FIG. 2) within multiple game element areas (240). If a triggering event occurs (312, FIG. 3), a set of video images (402, FIG. 4) is overlayed over one or more of the game element images. Portions of the game element images may be visible during at least a portion of the duration of the set of video images. Various game element images (504, FIG. 5) can be replaced with altered images (608, FIG. 6) and/or other game element images (702, FIG. 7) while the set of video images is being displayed, thus causing the appearance that the set of video images is interacting with the game elements. Embodiments are incorporated into a wagering game system, such as an electronic slot machine game.
US08662982B1
A method for a game includes providing a plurality of individual gaming machines for playing a base game, where an outcome of each gaming machine is determined at least in part by chance, and communicatively coupling a progressive bonus apparatus to said plurality of individual gaming machines. The method includes creating value elements and inserting them onto individual gaming machines in a bank of gaming machines. The value elements can be seen visually by players so that the players can monitor the status of the bonus game while playing the base game. Also disclosed is an apparatus capable of carrying out the above method as well as a media carrying an instruction set for carrying out the above method.
US08662972B2
A method for unloading crop stored in a grain tank of a self-propelled combine harvester into a drivable collecting container equipped with a drive unit includes positioning the collecting container relative to the combine harvester and moving the collecting container parallel thereto while the crop is fed to the collecting container directly or indirectly by way of a grain tank discharge pipe equipped with an outlet chute, simultaneously with the harvesting operation.
US08662970B2
An air conditioning register includes a retainer having an elongated opening, a first fin, and a plurality of second fins. The first fin is arranged along long sides of the opening at a downstream position in the retainer. The second fins are arranged along short sides at an upstream position in the retainer. The retainer includes a pair of facing inner wall surfaces corresponding to the long sides of the opening. First inclined surfaces that are continuous with the long sides of the opening and second inclined surfaces that are continuous with the first inclined surfaces through ridges are each formed in the corresponding inner wall surface of the retainer.
US08662966B2
A shellfish cracking utensil has a handle portion and a head portion, with the head portion comprising (a) a base region having a lower part and an upper part, with the lower part being connected to one end of the handle portion, and (b) first and second tines connected to, and extending outwardly from, the upper part of the base region. The tines are preferably of substantially equal length, extending in substantially parallel relationship and defining a gap between them for inserting a shell portion of a shellfish. The two tines are substantially prong-shaped with the second tine wider than the first tine. The second tine has a bump portion on an edge thereof facing the first tine, preferably near the end of the second tine.
US08662961B2
A seasoning plate is placed on a polishing pad and performs seasoning of the polishing pad by abrading the polishing pad through the friction caused by rotation of the polishing pad. The seasoning plate includes: conditioners that abrade the polishing pad; a round flexible substrate that has the conditioners attached to the lower face thereof; an O-ring that is placed on the upper face of the flexible substrate, the O-ring forming a circle concentric with the flexible substrate; and a weight plate serving as a weight portion that is placed on the O-ring and applies weight for deforming the flexible substrate.
US08662958B2
A chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes: a spin chuck for supporting and rotating a semiconductor wafer; a polisher comprising a polishing pad for planarizing a surface of the semiconductor wafer, the polisher moving along the surface of the semiconductor wafer by a polishing arm; and a polisher supporting device for supporting the polisher and maintaining the polisher in a horizontal state, while polishing an edge part of the surface of the semiconductor wafer, in order to improve polishing uniformity of a center part and the edge part of the semiconductor wafer. Accordingly, polishing uniformity of the center part and edge part of the semiconductor wafer may be improved, and a height of the polisher supporting device may be optimized according to a polishing degree. Also, the polisher may be easily supported, wear and tear of the support head may be minimized, and the support head may function as a conditioner.
US08662952B2
A diving stick of the type that, after being tossed into a swimming pool, sinks to the bottom while maintaining an upright posture so that it be can easily grasped by a diver. The stick includes a soft hollow shank designed to prevent accidental impalement.
US08662945B2
The present invention relates to an outboard drive device (10) comprising an outboard motor (11) having a crankshaft (16), wherein said outboard drive device (10) further comprises a propeller which propeller is below the hull (13) of a boat when said outboard drive device (10) is operated, and a power coupling system for transferring power from the motor (11) to the propeller. The power coupling system comprises a power transfer device (17) for transferring output power from the crankshaft (16) to a transmission drive shaft (19) of a transmission (18), and a power transfer means (20) for transferring output power from the transmission (18) to a drive shaft (21) of an endless loop flexible drive coupling (22) operatively connecting said transmission (18) to a propeller shaft (12) for driving said propeller, wherein the crankshaft (16) is substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the propeller shaft (12) when said outboard drive device (10) is operated. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing said outboard drive device (10).
US08662944B2
A vehicle is provided that is amphibious to include submersible operations. The vehicle has wings configured to generate a sufficient dive force to oppose buoyancy of the vehicle, when desired, which are disposed on opposing sides of a central hull. The vehicle is configured to enable easy transition from land operations to water operations, to include water surface travel as well as submerged travel.
US08662943B2
Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to provide a cooling arrangement for a system are described. The system includes a component coupled to a heat sink. A signal associated with a temperature control of the component is asserted. A target temperature of the heat sink is adjusted based on the signal. In one embodiment, a temperature control loop of the heat sink is operated. The temperature of the heat sink may be monitored using one or more sensors placed on the heat sink. An operation of the component, a cooling unit coupled to the heat sink, or both, may be adjusted based on a relationship between the temperature of the heat sink and an adjusted target temperature. Adjusting the target temperature of the heat sink based on the asserted signal increases efficiency of the system while decreasing cooling.
US08662941B2
Apparatus for supporting the wires in a hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a terminal connector for a hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) system may include a base; a wire clamp moveably disposed with relation to the base along an axis; a reflector shield extending from the wire clamp in a first direction along the axis; and a tensioner coupled to the base and wire clamp to bias the wire clamp in a second direction opposite the first direction.
US08662934B2
Connector receptacles that may be used in a variety of applications, may have a desirable aesthetic appearance, may be durable and reliable, and may be manufactured in a simplified manner. One example may provide a receptacle that may be used in a number of different devices to avoid having to redesign a receptacle for different devices. Another example may maintain a desirable appearance by reducing the chance of marring or functional damage during insertions of an insert.
US08662928B1
A receptacle connector adapted for engaging with a plug connector includes an inner insulating housing, a plurality of terminals integrally molded to the inner insulating housing, a shielding shell, a waterproof plate and an outer insulating housing. The shielding shell is looped from a first metal plate with an inserting space being formed therein. The inner insulating housing together with the terminals is inserted into the inserting space. The shielding shell defines two buckling holes. The waterproof plate is made of a second metal plate thinner than the first metal plate in thickness, and is fastened on the shielding shell. Two opposite sides of the waterproof plate are punched upward to form two receiving hats corresponding to the two buckling holes. The outer insulating housing is integrally molded around the shielding shell, the waterproof plate and the inner insulating housing with soldering portions of the terminals projected outside.
US08662927B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a contact module inserted into the insulative housing, a metal shell locked to the insulative housing, a number of cables and an outer shell over-molding the metal shell and the cables. The contact module includes an insulative block and a number of contacts embedded in the insulative block. The contacts include a plurality of cantilevered contacting portions extending beyond the insulative block and a plurality of soldering pads exposed on the insulative block. The cantilevered contacting portions of all the contacts overlap each other from a side view, while the soldering pads of all the contacts are alternately arranged in two parallel planes, respectively, from the side view.
US08662918B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of first terminals, disposed side by side in the insulating body. The insulating body is formed with at least two bridging-portion removal holes. Bridging portions between the first terminals are capable of being removed through the bridging-portion removal holes. The at least two bridging-portion removal holes are respectively formed through plate surfaces of the insulating body, and the at least two bridging-portion removal holes are arranged in a staggered manner in a front-to-rear direction.
US08662916B2
A board connector comprising: a contact comprising a first and a second clipping portion and for clipping therebetween a board which is inserted from the outside, a first beam portion supporting the first clipping portion, and a second beam portion supporting the second clipping portion; a housing that supports the contact; an actuator that is fixed to the first beam portion; and a metal locking member that is fixed to the actuator, wherein the metal locking member has an action point portion that is formed at a position which is brought into physical contact with the board at the time of insertion of the board, and that is pushed by the board at the time of the insertion of the board.
US08662912B2
An RJ-type plug mating with an RJ-type housing includes a plug body. The plug body includes a latching block and a latching beam respectively protruding from two opposite surfaces thereof. The latching block includes a resisting end connecting to the first surface, a front end opposite to the resisting end, and a guiding surface connecting the resisting end and the front end. The guiding surface is operable to guide the latching block to be latched into or be separated from a top of the RJ-type housing. The latching beam is operable to latch a bottom of the RJ-type housing.
US08662909B2
A fast coupling apparatus on a media-carrying line is provided. The fast coupling apparatus includes a plug piece arranged on a first line end and a receiver piece arranged on a second line end coupled together with the plug piece, where an electrically-conductive contact sleeve is arranged on an inner periphery of the receiver piece, the electrically-conductive contact sleeve is electrically-conductively connected with the receiver piece and has a contact lip that protrudes from a surface of the contact sleeve and touches the plug piece in a connected position.
US08662906B2
The invention relates to a plug-and-socket connector with a first housing with first electrical contacts and a second housing with second electrical contacts. The first housing has a lever and a blocking element. The second housing has a toothed surface on which the lever arm can be brought into contact with an actuating surface upon pivoting in order to draw the first and the second housing together into an end position in which the first and the second contacts are contacted with each other.
US08662903B2
An electric component structure is provided with at least two electrical conductive parts, an insulator and a magnetic flux generating structure. The electrical conductive parts are arranged with an electric line of force existing between adjacent ones of the conductive parts. The insulator holds the conductive parts. The magnetic flux generating structure generates a magnetic flux with magnetic flux lines oriented in a direction different from a direction of the electric line of force existing between the adjacent ones of the conductive parts.
US08662893B2
The present invention relates to thermochromatic inks. The present invention provides a toy, wherein the toy includes at least one thermochromatic ink. The present invention provides a pre-printed item, wherein when the temperature of the pre-printed item is changed to particular temperatures, the color of a marking, the color of a drawing, or both, change. The present invention provides an interactive item, wherein the visual appearance of the item is changed by changing the color of at least one of a first or second inks. The present invention provides a drawing device, wherein the position of a substrate and a temperature element are such that a thermochromatic ink does not change color unless sufficient pressure is applied to the substrate effective to deflect the surface of the substrate and bring it temporarily sufficiently more proximate to the temperature element. The present invention provides a smart wand for drawing on a substrate that includes thermochromatic ink. The present invention provides a backlight system. The present invention provides a light box.
US08662881B2
A stretch-blow molding machine with at least one blow molding station, where for electric stretching, at least one stretching rod is coupled with a drive unit comprising an electric servomotor, and the stretching rod can be changed in a defined, at least approximately axial direction, and has a stretching rod quick change device transferable between a centered operating position and a change position.
US08662878B2
A laminate nanomold includes a layer of perfluoropolyether defining a cavity that has a predetermined shape and a support layer coupled with the layer of perfluoropolyether. The laminate can also include a tie-layer coupling the layer of perfluoropolyether with the support layer. The tie-layer can also include a photocurable component and a thermal curable component. The cavity can have a broadest dimension of less than 500 nanometers.
US08662863B2
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a system and method are provided for converting a conventional automobile engine into a gas compressor. In various embodiments, the system and method may provide an economical and efficient gas compressor by modification of a balance-opposed internal-combustion engine to provide a balance-opposed gas compressor. More specifically, in some embodiments, the modification may include a uniquely designed cylinder head adapted to convert an automobile engine into a gas compressor for the recovery, gathering, transfer, or staged compression of natural gas. In one embodiment, a four-cylinder balance-opposed engine is utilized.
US08662860B2
A microfluidic driving system includes a first planar electrode, a second planar electrode, a third planar electrode, a fourth planar electrode, a power supply unit and a detection module. The second, third and fourth planar electrodes are disposed parallel to the first planar electrode and face-to-face with the first planar electrode to form an accommodation space for accommodating a fluid. An AC power is provided by the power supply unit and an AC electrical field is applied by alternately connecting the third planar electrode and the fourth planar electrode with the first planar electrode for driving the first fluid and the second fluid to flow; and then AC electrical field is also applied by connecting the second planar electrode to the first planar electrode to mix the first fluid and the second fluid. Finally, a detection is performed upon a mixture of the fluids through the detection module.
US08662859B2
Systems and methods for monitoring operation of a pump, including verifying operation or actions of a pump, are disclosed. A baseline profile for one or more parameters of a pump may be established. An operating profile may then be created by recording one or more values for the same set of parameters during subsequent operation of the pump. The values of the baseline profile and the operating profile may then be compared at one or more points or sets of points. If the operating profile differs from the baseline profile by more than a certain tolerance an alarm may be sent or another action taken, for example the pumping system may shut down, etc.
US08662854B1
The disclosed embodiments relate to turbulence inducing mechanisms applied to portions of wind turbine blades and methods for increased power production using turbulence inducing mechanisms. Embodiments provide methods and mechanisms for increasing the range of optimal wind performance for wind turbines and provide for increasing the maximum energy producing capacity of wind turbines at a given wind speed. Some embodiments have a rotor blade that includes a capture side and a drag side. The blade also includes a film disposed over at least a portion of only the drag side of the blade. The film comprises a conformable sheet material with a plurality of perforations therethrough which are configured to induce turbulence on a fluid flowing thereover. The turbulence inducing film reduces the drag of the blade and consequently increases the blade's rotational speed at a given wind speed, which increases the turbine's power production and optimal performance range.
US08662852B2
An arrangement and a method for mounting articulated turbine buckets in axial entry slots of rotor wheels. A curvature on a vertical plane may be incorporated on an axial male dovetail projection of the bucket root and the associated axial female dovetail slot of the rotor wheel. The curvature facilitates loading of buckets otherwise precluded by interferences, such as interlocking tip shrouds on adjacent buckets. Such loading may be provided by locating the shroud tip shroud in proximity to an adjacent tip shroud and pivoting the root end of the bucket around the location of the tip shroud such that the arc formed by the bucket allows the curvature of the axial male dovetail projection to swing into the axial female dovetail slot of the rotor wheel.
US08662845B2
A rotor disk assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor disk with a circumferentially intermittent slot structure that extends radially outward relative to an axis of rotation. A heat shield has a multiple of radial tabs engageable with the circumferentially intermittent slot structure to provide axial retention of the cover plate to the rotor disk.
US08662841B2
A vacuum pump comprises a housing, a drive shaft supported by a beating arrangement for rotation relative to the housing about an axis, and a pumping mechanism comprising a stator component mounted on the housing and a disk-shaped rotor component mounted on the drive shaft axially proximate the stator component. The bearing arrangement comprises a bearing supported in both radial and axial directions by a resilient support, comprising inner and outer annular portions connected by a plurality of flexible members, so that there is a fixed relation between the inner race of the bearing and the outer portion of the resilient support to determine the axial clearance between the rotor and stator components of the pumping mechanism.
US08662840B2
A fan shroud for a cooling fan assembly with a fan that is rotatable about an axis of rotation defines a downstream direction along the axis of rotation. The shroud includes a barrel for containing the fan. The barrel is concentric with the axis of rotation and further includes a base portion. A plenum includes a plenum body extending radially from the base portion. The plenum body defines at least one edge of length L1. A skirt extends proximate the at least one edge of length L1 and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. An interface joins the at least one edge of length L1 and the skirt and has a length L1. The interface comprises an underside having a transition surface of a length less than length L1.
US08662834B2
A method for reducing tip rub loads in a rotor blade is described having the steps of selecting a location of contact between the rotor blade and a static structure; selecting a location on the blade for incorporating a tip-cutter; selecting a cutter-profile for the tip-cutter; and incorporating the tip-cutter on the selected location on the blade such that tip-cutter is capable of removing a portion of the static structure during a tip rub such that tip rub loads are facilitated to be reduced.
US08662832B2
A fan includes at least one fan frame, at least one impeller and at least one active flow-control device. The fan frame includes at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet. The impeller is disposed in the fan frame. The active flow-control device is disposed on the fan frame for adjusting the size of the air inlet or the size of the air outlet according to demands.
US08662829B2
The present disclosure relates generally to a sump pump guard adaptor, system, and method of adapting thereof, and more particularly to an inlet pre-screen cover also acting as a platform for pit positioning of a pump, a platform for adapting multiple pumps made to adapt over the inlet of sump pumps of different size to be configured into sump pits also of varied size. The adaptor can be adapted using a base connected to a top portion or simply a top portion also called the adaptor itself. The design also includes a plurality of flow openings that allow for easy cutting or bending of different portions of the adaptor for example on the inner and outer radii of the adaptor, a multi-segment design for better stacking and storage in a compact configuration, a plurality of pipe openings for use in a staked sump pumps configuration, an access doors to help lower the sump pump into the adaptor, and an adaptor with a secondary pump support built in the main body or as an external piece adaptable to the main body.
US08662811B2
Manufacturing cost or energy consumption of a substrate processing apparatus can be reduced. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate loading/unloading unit (a substrate transit chamber 12) that transfers a substrate 2 accommodated in a carrier 3; a substrate transfer chamber 14 (25) communicating with the substrate loading/unloading unit via a substrate loading/unloading port 37 (39); a plurality of substrate processing chambers 15 to 24 (26 to 35) arranged along the substrate transfer chamber 14 (25); a substrate transfer device 36 (38) provided in the substrate transfer chamber 14 (25) and configured to transfer the substrate 2 between the substrate loading/unloading unit and the substrate processing chambers 15 to 24 (26 to 35); and a clean air flowing unit 41 (42) that allows clean air to flow along the substrate transfer chamber 14 (25).
US08662807B2
In case when an external force in a direction of pulling out from a female member acts on a male member in a fully fastened state, the male member moves in an axial direction, and a position where claw parts of engaging leg pieces engage moves from mounting parts and to contact parts. An engaging slot is formed on the contact part, and the engaging slot therefore engages with the claw part of the engaging leg piece. Movement in the direction of rotation of the male member is thereby restricted, and the male member is moved in state along the axial direction, so that the claw parts of the engaging leg pieces do not engage with engaging holes, and a state in which a vehicle body panel and a trim board are sandwiched by a flange part and the engaging leg pieces can be maintained.
US08662805B2
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a torque-limited attachment device, having a first head piece with at least one shaped element for the purpose of establishing a positive-fit connection to an attachment tool, and having a second head piece which has at least one threading, wherein both head pieces are connected to each other, forming at least one predetermined breaking point which breaks at a limit torque between the two head pieces such that a first breakaway surface, the same being functionally assigned to the first head piece, and a second breakaway surface, the same being functionally assigned to the second head piece, are created, and wherein at least the second head piece has a base material inside, the same having a corrosion-resistant surface coating.
US08662798B2
A tool for the turn/turn broaching or external milling of a workpiece is disclosed. The tool comprises a disk-shaped broaching wheel or at least one segment of such a broaching wheel. In each case, at least one cutting-tip holding fixture in each case for receiving a cutting tip is provided on the end faces of the broaching wheel or segment laterally adjoining a circumferential surface. On at least one of the two end faces, a cutting-tip holding fixture is formed in a cartridge, which is axially adjustable with respect to the broaching wheel or segment by an axial clamping wedge. The cartridge is designed in such a way that it at least partially covers the axial clamping wedge in a direction towards the circumferential surface.
US08662795B2
A head includes an outer cylindrical body with at least one upper inlet for fluids, at least one outlet side nozzle and at least one helical duct having a helical central line. The duct connects the upper inlet to the nozzle and imparts the fluid flowing through it a helical motion about the longitudinal axis of the outer body towards the nozzle. The helical duct is progressively tapered towards the nozzle and includes a terminal length of the duct which is radiused to the nozzle in a tapered manner, both when viewed in cross-sectional planes parallel to the longitudinal axis and tangent to the helical central line, as well as when viewed in cross-sectional planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
US08662789B2
A paver includes an enclosed furnace for melting an inorganic paving material and a carriage for carrying the furnace. The furnace includes a heating chamber for receiving the paving material, a heater for heating the heating chamber to a temperature greater than 1,600° C. to melt the paving material, and an outlet for discharging melted paving material to form a paved road surface.
US08662786B2
A vehicle destabilizing device that provides for the selective, remotely-deployed deflection and/or overturning of a targeted vehicle regardless of wheel or undercarriage configuration. The device is comprised of a combination of a remote arm/safe mechanism, a remote deployment switch, one or more lifting devices, a housing, and one or more structural members contiguously engaging the vehicle. The housing can be at least partially submerged in a road surface or protrude from the road surface so as to be driven over until deployed. A sensor can provide independent deployment once the device is armed.
US08662783B2
Ball joints, systems in which they are used, and suspension systems in which the ball joint systems are employed. The ball joints, systems and suspension mechanisms are especially useful for racing vehicles in which premium performance is desired. As an additional feature, the products of this invention are especially appreciated because of the ability to quickly and easily replace or change them.
US08662778B2
A floor finish application tool and method for applying floor finishes to a floor. Some embodiments are provided with disposable or quickly replaceable features, such as feed lines or reservoirs to eliminate the need for time consuming clean-up operations. Some embodiments are provided with a two portion hinged head having a spreading or distributing portion and a leveling portion to provide substantially uniform floor finish thickness across a floor. Some embodiments also feature an applicator pad composed of at least two different types of material. The first material is a floor finish distributing material that serves a function of substantially uniformly spreading bulk floor finish across a floor. The second material is a floor finish finishing material that is suitable for leveling the already spread floor finish.
US08662777B2
A packaging item for a product includes a receptacle with a wide opening at which is mounted a plate carrying at least two wiping members. The plate is movably mounted on the receptacle so that each wiping member can occupy different positions in the opening of the receptacle. The positions allow product to be removed with an applicator from the different zones of the receptacle.
US08662770B2
Image recording apparatus including manual medium insertion tray manually loaded with recording medium, the tray being connected to rear end portion of housing such that the tray is pivotable in vertical direction about horizontal axis of first hinge portion located below first hinge portion provided for image reading device, between its operative position in which the second recording medium is fed to feeding path leading to image recording device, and its retracted position, the tray placed in the operative position having upwardly inclined posture extending outwardly from the rear end portion of the housing, while the tray placed in the retracted position having posture extending generally downwards into accommodating space formed within the housing and on rear side of U-turn sheet transfer path connecting the sheet supply cassette and the feeding path, the tray being pivotable between the operative and retracted positions through rear opening formed in the housing.
US08662766B2
A light path adjustment apparatus includes a support plate that has a first through hole through which light passes and optical units that move between an open location where the first through hole is opened by the optical units moving toward an outside of the first through hole and a closing location where the first through hole is divided into a plurality of regions by the plurality of optical units moving toward the first through hole. The optical units block at least a part of the light in the closing location.
US08662761B2
A laser optical system using optical fiber transmission, includes a first optical fiber for transmitting laser light emitted from a laser oscillator, a collimator lens for collimating laser light emitted from the first optical fiber, a spherical array lens including a plurality of cells for converging laser light emitted from the collimator lens into a plurality of spots, a plurality of second optical fibers each having a smaller core diameter than the first optical fiber and configured to admit the laser light converged into the corresponding spot by the spherical array lens, the second optical fibers having output ends that have mutually parallel axial lines and are arranged linearly in a single row, and a linearization optical unit for shaping laser light emitted from the second optical fibers into laser light having a linear cross section at an illuminated surface.
US08662753B2
A slide device for an electronic device includes a substrate including a substrate including a pair of side edges; an intermediate plate including a pair of sandwiching portions slidably sandwiching the pair of side edges in the front and back direction, respectively, and a pair of outer edges at outer sides of the side edges in the width direction, respectively; a slide plate including a pair of outer sandwiching portions slidably sandwiching the pair of outer edges in the front and back direction, respectively; an intermediate housing position defining portion that protrudes an outer side in the width direction from the front end portion of the outer edge for defining an intermediate housing position of the slide plate with respect to the intermediate plate; an intermediate using position defining portion that protrudes the outer side in the width direction from the back end portion of the outer edge for defining an intermediate using position of the slide plate with respect to the intermediate plate; a housing position defining portion that protrudes in an upper direction of an upper and lower direction at a front portion of the substrate for defining a housing position of the intermediate plate with respect to the substrate; and a using position defining portion that protrudes in the upper direction at a back portion of the substrate for defining a using position of the intermediate plate with respect to the substrate.
US08662752B2
A motion guide device has a moving block mounting surface 501 of an end plate 5 formed in a planar shape and a thinned-down portion 52 formed in an opposing moving block mounting surface 502. Moreover, in this motion guide device, a lubrication path 30 includes: a first lubrication path 30a formed extending in a horizontal direction from a surface of side surfaces parallel to a longer direction of a track rail 1 in the end plate 5 to a central portion of the end plate 5; a second lubrication path 30b formed in the central portion of the end plate 5; and a third lubrication path 30c connected to the second lubrication path and formed in a groove shape in the moving block mounting surface 501 of the end plate 5, and, moreover, the first lubrication path 30a is formed in a hollow shape continuous to inside a built-up portion 52a appended to the thinned-down portion 52 of the end plate 5. Having such a configuration enables this motion guide device to achieve an average dispersal of lubricant to each of rolling element circulation paths regardless of mounting position of a greasing nipple with respect to the end plate, type of lubricant, and so on.
US08662750B2
A medical examination device for CT imaging and for nuclear medical imaging is provided. The medical examination device has an essentially ring-shaped gantry with a CT imaging arrangement and a nuclear medical imaging arrangement. The gantry has an especially laterally arranged, fold-out or removable segment for creating an access opening to the interior of the gantry.
US08662748B2
An X-ray device including a C-arm movably guided on a mount is provided. A radiation source and a radiation detector are arranged on the C-arm. The radiation source and the radiation detector are connected to the C-arm by cables fed in from outside, the cables being arranged on a cable clamp that may be moved at least in segments along the C-arm.
US08662746B2
A gas turbine component (49) may be instrumented to provide a plurality of signals indicative of thermal measurements in a high temperature combustion environment of the gas turbine. A thermocouple arrangement may include a first thermocouple leg (50) disposed within a thickness of the component. At least two or more thermocouple legs (52, 53, 54) is each electrically connected to the first leg to form individual thermocouple junctions (56, 57, 58, 59) along the first leg for conversion of respective thermal gradients to respective electrical signals, such as electromotive force (emf) based voltages. The thermocouple arrangement may be used in combination with a thermographic system (70) to calculate heat flux over a region of the turbine component.
US08662744B2
A method of calibrating a position sensor in an automotive transmission having a transmission housing having mounted therein a casing (10) for the position sensor which includes a pressure member (14) movably supported in the casing (10), and an electrical displacement sensor (38) actuated by the pressure member (14) for measuring the position of the pressure member (14) relative to the casing (10), such that, after the casing (10) of the position sensor has been mounted in the transmission housing, the displacement sensor (38) is used for performing at least one calibration measurement for at least one gear position, and, for each gear position to be detected, a tolerance range for the corresponding measurement value of the displacement sensor is defined on the basis of the result of the calibration measurement.
US08662732B2
The present invention is directed generally to lighting devices, and more particularly to white light LED-based lighting devices configured such that key subassemblies may be replaced, thereby enabling the modification, upgrade and/or repair of said device.
US08662725B2
Into a case member, either of a unidirectional adjusting device for adjusting an irradiating direction of light only in a vertical direction by tilting a lamp unit in the vertical direction or a bidirectional adjusting device for adjusting the irradiating direction of light in two directions of the vertical direction and a horizontal direction by tilting the lamp unit in the vertical direction and rotating the lamp unit in the horizontal direction can be installed.
US08662721B2
An aircraft external lighting system and method is applicable to aircraft position, navigation and strobe lights. The lighting system includes a light source, a cylindrical lens adjacent the light source, and a lenticular lens between the light source and the cylindrical lens.
US08662719B2
An operating light (1) has a housing (2), which has a light exit opening (4); a holding system, which is coupled with housing (2) and is designed to movably hold the operating light; at least one light source (3) as well as at least one corresponding optical system to direct light emitted by the at least one light source (3) in the direction of light exit opening (4). A grip assembly unit (14) is provided approximately in the middle of light exit opening (4). The grip assembly unit (14) has a handle (5) to pivot the operating light (1) into a desired position. At least one rotating ring (11) is located between the handle (5) and the housing (2) and is rotatable in relation to the handle (5) and is designed to set various functions of operating light (1). As an alternative or in addition, a touch-sensitive sensor element (15), which is designed to set various functions of operating light (1), is located between the handle (5) and the housing (2).
US08662708B2
A LED tube having double heat sinks is disclosed. One of the embodiment shows a first plurality of light unit is fixed onto the top heat sink, and a second plurality of light unit is fixed onto the bottom heat sink, while with the light chips configured in between the two heat sinks for light emission to the ambient.
US08662699B2
A lantern having a plurality of removable area lights. Each area light includes a separate power source capable of powering the area light. Each area light is separately selectively illuminable by activating a switch on the area light. The lantern includes a docking station having a docking station power source capable of simultaneously powering all area lights attached to the docking station simultaneously or any subset of the area lights attached to the docking station.
US08662698B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle circuit includes an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) having a first power terminal, a second power terminal, and an output. The circuit also includes a light-emitting diode (“LED”) and a single-pole switch. The LED is configured to receive a signal from the output of the ASIC. The single-pole switch is configured to selectively provide the battery voltage to at least one of the first power terminal and the second power terminal. Additionally, the single-pole switch is configured to remove the battery voltage from both of the first power terminal and the second power terminal to turn the ASIC off. The ASIC is configured to drive the LED in a first mode when the battery voltage is provided to the first power terminal. The ASIC is also configured to drive the LED in a second mode when the battery voltage is provided to the second power terminal.
US08662684B2
Described is a device comprising a retro-reflective marker sphere comprising: a core ball comprising: a generally spherical body portion, a mounting base extending from one end of the body portion of the core ball, and a mounting recess having a recess opening in the mounting base and extending into the body portion of the core ball, and a retro-reflective covering on the core ball, the retro-reflective covering comprising an opening through which the mounting base of the core ball extends, wherein a flat lower surface of the mounting base is spaced proximally from a lower edge of the opening of the retro-reflective covering, and wherein the mounting recess includes an interior screw thread for engaging an exterior screw thread of a mounting post when the retro-reflective marker sphere is mounted on the mounting post.
US08662671B1
The present invention features an optical apparatus for the transmission of a virtual image to facilitate an individual's copy or reproduction thereof onto a working surface. The optical apparatus provides an image transfer that is more realistic than apparatuses of the prior art because of the illusion that the image is in actual contact with the working surface, when in reality the image impinges only a transparent medium. In addition, the invention provides a more effective image transfer than conventional devices by not including an opaque transfer of the artist's hand and/or art utensil, but rather by rendering the illusion that the artist's hand and/or art utensil is transparent. The optical apparatus consists of a supporting frame upon which is mounted a light source, an upper transparent support plate, a lower plate consisting of at least two layers, and a working surface on which is disposed canvas or paper for receiving the artist's final, copied image or work.
US08662667B2
A method determines the position and/or radius of the limbus and/or the position and/or radius of the pupil of a patient eye. In the method, an image of the patient eye is obtained and a plurality of different ring-shaped comparison objects having respective radii and respective centers are provided. The image is correlated with the plurality of comparison objects to yield a local best match between the image and the comparison objects when there is a coincidence of one of the ring-shaped comparison objects and a ring-shaped jump in brightness in the image having the same radius and the same center. The comparison objects having a local best match with the image are determined. Thereafter, the position of the center of the comparison object having a local best match with the image is selected as the position of the center of the limbus and/or the position of the center of the pupil.
US08662665B2
Aspects of the present invention provide multifocal lenses having one or more multifocal inserts comprising one or more diffractive regions. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can provide a constant optical power or can provide a progression of optical power, or any combination thereof. A multifocal insert of the present invention can be fabricated from any type of material and can be inserted into any type of bulk lens material. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can be positioned to be in optical communication with one or more optical regions of a host lens to provide a combined desired optical power in one or more vision zones. Index matching layers of the present invention can be used to reduce reflection losses at interfaces of the host lens and multifocal insert.
US08662662B2
A contact lens for treating binocular diplopia, the contact lens comprising: a central region adapted to degrade light passing therethrough, so as to create a central scotoma in a patient's eye in which the contact lens is placed in use; and a peripheral region adapted to degrade light passing therethrough to a lesser extent than in the central region, or not at all; such that, in use, an image in the field of view of the said eye is degraded only in the center or to a greater extent in the center than in the periphery. Also provided is a method of manufacturing such a lens, and a method of treating binocular diplopia comprising applying such a lens to a patient's eye.
US08662657B2
A method for performing duplex printing with improved throughput has been developed. The method includes forming an image of a back side of a first duplex page and an image of a front side of a second duplex page on an image receiving member. Two recording media sheets are serially passed through a nip to transfer the image of the first duplex page back side to a bare side of a recording media sheet that also bears the image of the front side of the first duplex page on an obverse side and to transfer the image of the second duplex page to a bare side of a recording media sheet that has not been previously printed.
US08662656B2
In one embodiment, an inkjet printer includes: a first series of print bars arranged along an arc on a first side of an arched printing unit and a second series of print bars arranged along an arc on a second side of the arched printing unit and a dryer positioned within a footprint of the arched printing unit. A plurality of web guides are arranged to guide the web along a duplex printing path past the first print bars for printing on a first side of the web, then through the dryer for drying the first side of the web, then past the second print bars for printing on a second side of the web, and then through the dryer for drying the second side of the web.
US08662652B2
An ink composition is provided that includes (Component A) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide, (Component B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, 2-(dimethylamino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-1-[4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-1-butanone, and 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-1-butanone, (Component C) a thioxanthone compound, (Component D) a polymerization inhibitor, and (Component E) a polymerizable compound, Component C having a content of 0.01 to 5 wt % relative to the total weight of the ink composition, Component D having a content of 0.01 to 5 wt % relative to the total weight of the ink composition, the sum of the content of Component A and the content of Component B being 6.0 to 9.5 wt % relative to the total weight of the ink composition, and the ratio by weight ((A)/(B)) of the content (A) of Component A and the content (B) of Component B being 0.8 to 2.0.
US08662646B2
The present invention provides a droplet generator (10) of the velocity modulation type, the generator (10) being configured so that substantially all the modulation energy generated by piezo-electric crystals (60) is transformed into vibration of the nozzle (34). The generator preferably also includes an internal closure mechanism (70) which blocks off the nozzle (34) when the generator is not in operation, but which is de-coupled from the modulation process when the generator is operating.
US08662640B2
A flexible printed wiring member includes a flexible insulating base layer; a patterned copper layer disposed on the insulating base layer, the patterned copper layer including: a first portion including unplated copper leads; and a second portion including a plated metal layer disposed on the patterned copper layer; a first insulating cover layer disposed over the unplated copper leads in the first portion, the first insulating cover layer terminating at a first edge located proximate a boundary between the first portion and the second portion of the patterned copper layer; and a second insulating cover layer disposed over the first insulating cover layer, the second insulating cover layer terminating at a second edge located within the second portion of the patterned copper layer.
US08662636B2
An inkjet printhead includes: a first row of longitudinally spaced apart first printhead segments, each first printhead segment having a plurality of nozzle rows configured for ejecting a plurality of different colored inks; and a second row of longitudinally spaced apart second printhead segments, the second row being parallel with the first row, each second printhead segment having a plurality of nozzle rows configured for ejecting a plurality of different colored inks The first and second printhead segments overlap in a media feed direction transverse to the first and second rows so as to provide seamless printing across a width of the printhead.
US08662630B2
A recording apparatus including: a liquid ejection head which has an ejection surface; a conveying mechanism having a support surface, and configured to convey a recording medium; a first capping mechanism having an annular-shaped lip member disposed to surround the ejection surface of the liquid ejection head, and configured to execute a first capping that causes the ejection surface to be covered with the support surface and the lip member; a second capping mechanism having a movable member which is positionable in an opposed position and a retracted position, and configured to execute a second capping that causes the ejection surface to be covered with at least the one movable member that is positioned in the opposed position; and a controller configured to control the first capping mechanism and the second capping mechanism, and to execute a selected one of the first capping and the second capping.
US08662627B2
A linehead that is producing an artifact in the content printed on a print media is identified by capturing an image of the content as the print media is moving to obtain pixel data and averaging the pixel data to produce blur in a direction the print media is moving. A determination is made as to whether the averaged pixel data is associated with content printed by a first linehead in a printing module. If the averaged pixel data is not associated with the first linehead, the averaged pixel data from an image captured by a preceding linehead is subtracted from the averaged pixel data in the image to produce averaged pixel data that is associated with a single linehead. Derivative data of the averaged pixel data is then determined. A determination is made as to whether one or more peaks are present in the derivative data.
US08662624B2
According to one embodiment, a foreign object detection device includes a signal generator, a transmitter, a receiver, a storage section, and a detection section. A signal generator configured to generate an electrical signal. A transmitter configured to convert the electrical signal from the signal generator and to generate a pressure wave in a liquid. A receiver configured to receive a reflection wave from the liquid and to convert it to an electrical signal. A storage section configured to store information on a state of absence of a foreign object in the liquid. A detection section configured to detect at least one of presence or absence of the foreign object and size of the foreign object based on difference between the electrical signal converted from the reflection wave and an electrical signal based on the stored information.
US08662620B2
In one embodiment, a method of operating a permanent magnet direct current (PMDC) motor in a printer has been developed. The method includes identifying that a temperature of the PMDC motor exceeds an operating temperature of the motor without the use of a direct temperature sensor. The PMDC motor operates at a reduced printing rate to prevent the motor from overheating.
US08662619B2
A liquid ejection apparatus, including: a conveyor mechanism; a recording head; a treatment-liquid application portion; a sealing mechanism for selectively taking a sealing state in which an ejection space is sealed or an unsealing state in which the ejection space is not sealed; a humid-airy supply mechanism for performing a humidifying operation to produce and supply the humid air into the ejection space in the sealing state; a forcible discharge mechanism for performing a forcible discharge operation for forcibly discharging recording liquid from the head; and a maintenance control section for, when a time elapsed from an occurrence of a jam to a clearance of the jam is less than a first time, performing the forcible discharge operation, and for, when the time is equal to or greater than the first time, performing the humidifying operation in the sealing state and then performing the forcible discharge operation.
US08662609B2
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording head, head tanks, main tanks, liquid feed pumps, a first driving source, a drive control unit, and a drive switching assembly. The drive switching assembly includes a second driving source, a cam, a slider member, a switching gear, switching position detected portions, and a detector. The detected portions are disposed at the cam so as to correspond to switching positions of the liquid feed pumps. One of the detected portions has a greater width in a rotation direction of the cam than any other detected portion. When a time from when the detector detects one of the detected portions to when the detector detects another one of the detected portions is shorter than a threshold value, the drive control unit determines, as a home position, a position of the cam on detection of the another one with the detector.
US08662599B2
A wheel hub includes a wheel rim and a support. The wheel rim has an inner rim surface, an outer rim surface and a connection concave. The wheel rim is composed of a metallic layer and a carbon fiber layer. The outer rim surface has an outer wall to be the metallic layer. The wheel hub is composed of the metallic layer and the carbon fiber layer. Compared to the conventional wheel hub made of a single metallic material or a carbon fiber material, the wheel hub made of metal and carbon fiber of the present invention is light in weight, endurable, and cost-effective. The outer wall of the outer rim surface of the conventional wheel hub is easily to be damaged by an external force when in use, which result in a break of the carbon fiber to lose the strength of the carbon fiber. By contrast, the present invention has the metallic layer to protect the outer wall of the outer rim surface of the wheel rim, so that the carbon fiber layer of the wheel rim won't be hit by an external force so as to enhance the quality of the wheel hub.
US08662589B2
A vehicle seat including: a tilting lever provided to an outer part of a seat main body, and by operating the tilting lever, a seat back can be tilted to a position of an upper surface of a seat cushion, wherein the tilting lever is arranged within an inwardly recessed space that is formed to a shield covering an outer part of the seat cushion, and an input movement of an operation to the tilting lever is completed within the recessed space.
US08662587B2
A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided with a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between an upright seating position and a forwardly folded dump position. A seat track assembly is fixedly secured to the seat cushion for providing a selective fore and aft sliding adjustment of the seat assembly along a first linear path between a full forward position and a full rearward position. A tip slide mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat track assembly and adapted for mounting the seat assembly to a vehicle floor. The tip slide mechanism provides fore and aft movement of the seat assembly along a second curved path transverse to the first linear path between a seating position and an easy entry position to provide access behind the seat assembly.
US08662574B2
A body structure is provided for a motor vehicle that includes, two side sills running in the vehicle longitudinal direction, between which a floor group is situated, and two rear frame profiles rigidly connected to the floor group, which extend from the floor group to the rear. The body structure has a structure crossbeam running in the vehicle transverse direction, which rigidly connects each of the two side sills and also the two rear frame profiles directly to one another.
US08662573B2
A lateral impact energy transfer rail for an automotive vehicle and a body structure incorporating the same. The transfer rail includes a cross member having a gusset mounted at each end. The gussets opposing end of each gusset is attached to a roof side rail of the vehicle. The gussets are secured to the cross member by a fastener and an additional connection. The additional connection is laterally offset from the fastener.
US08662570B2
A radiator grille for a motor vehicle includes a basic support with a region for a marquee badge having an external contour that is, at least in regions, curved or oblique. A number of fins are held on the basic support, the number of fins are movable out of a closed position closing respective passage openings in the radiator grille into an open position uncovering the passage openings. In this case, at least one of the fins is displaceable in the direction of its longitudinal extent by bringing it from the closed position into the open position.
US08662559B2
A removable cargo liner for use in a vehicle cargo area. The removable cargo liner comprises an upper cargo liner layer being positionable in the cargo area of a vehicle and a lower layer being made of a dual purpose, nonwoven, needle punch fiber having a loop feature. The lower layer is fixedly coupled to the upper cargo liner layer. The lower layer provides a generally non-abrasive contact interface with the vehicle cargo area. An intermediate layer made of a compliant material is coupled between the upper cargo liner layer and the lower layer such that the coupling of the lower layer to the upper cargo liner layer is via the intermediate layer. A single-sided member is connectable to the cargo area defining a hook feature, such that the hook feature of the single-sided member is releasably coupled to the loop feature of the lower layer.
US08662557B2
A train axle assembly includes a train axle, a ring assembly coaxially mounted on the train axle and a structure operatively engaged by the ring assembly and mounted on the train axle. The ring assembly has an outer diameter and a main section adjacent the outer diameter. The ring assembly includes a projection extending axially from the main section which is located at a diameter less than the outer diameter of the ring assembly. The projection has a portion of a diameter contacting the train axle so that the ring assembly is affixed to the train axle to provide resistance to relative rotation and axial movement between the ring assembly and the train axial.
US08662543B2
A plug connector for media lines that includes a plug part having a plug shaft, which can be inserted into a receiving part and is releasably locked therein. The plug part has at least two spring elastic latching arms that extend in the insertion direction. The latching arms have radially inwardly projecting catch cams at their free ends for engaging behind a latching step of the receiving part. The latching arms can be spread radially by a release element to release the plug part. The latching arms are radially spread by displacing the release element. The release element has axially extending release arms, which extend to the area of the catch cams, located radially between the latching arms and the plug shaft. The actuating sections are arranged in such a way for spreading the latching arms to release the catch cams.
US08662541B2
A fitting connectable to an end portion of a pipe generally includes an insert member configured to be received at least partly within the end portion of the pipe, a retention member coupled to the insert member and configured to be received at least partly within the end portion of the pipe, and a sealing member carried by the insert member adjacent the retention member. The retention member and seal engage the end portion of the pipe to help frictionally secure and seal the end portion of the pipe on the insert member when the insert member is received at least partly within the end portion of the pipe.
US08662530B2
A vehicle seat assembly according to the present disclosure includes an air bag module having a front and a side, and the air bag module includes an inflatable air bag and a rigid cover at least partially covering the air bag. The rigid cover may include a protection portion that extends at least partially along the side of the air bag module. The protection portion has an end spaced away from the front of the air bag module. The seat assembly further includes a seat pad disposed outside of the air bag module, and a trim cover positioned over the seat pad. In at least one embodiment, upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the protection portion is configured to move forwardly such that the protection portion extends between the seat pad and the air bag.
US08662526B2
The decorative panel provided at the instrument panel includes the protruding portion that is engaged with the engagement hole of the airbag door, in a state in which the distal end portion protrudes from the rear surface of the airbag door, and the door decorative portion that is formed integrally with the protruding portion and attached to the front surface of the airbag door by engaging the protruding portion with the engagement hole. The protective plate that includes the protective portion covering the distal end portion of the protruding portion from the airbag side is provided at the rear surface of the airbag door. When the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag is prevented from interfering with the distal end portion of the protruding portion.
US08662518B2
A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can facilitate maintenance of an air cleaner without complicating a peripheral structure of a fuel tank. The vehicle can include a body frame, a rear arm attached to the body frame to support a rear wheel, a rear cushioning member provided between the body frame and the rear arm, and an engine fixed to the body frame. The vehicle can further include a fuel tank supported rotatably at a supporter arranged closer to a rear side of the vehicle than a substantially central position of an axis of the rear cushioning member.
US08662516B1
A caster mounting assembly for mounting a caster wheel on a wheelchair frame includes a mounting body defining a barrel portion to be fixed relative to the wheelchair frame and a rotatable body within the barrel portion that supports the caster wheel thereon for rotation relative to the rotatable body about an upright caster axis. The caster axis is arranged for rotation together with the rotatable body relative to the mounting body. A locking member is slidable within a channel in the mounting body and includes teeth in meshing engagement with corresponding teeth on the rotatable body. One or more positioning screws permit the locking member to be controllably displaced between longitudinally different locking positions within the channel corresponding to different angular orientations of the caster wheel axis.
US08662505B2
A snowboard binding and hold-down device that may flex or move with the snowboard when ridden to minimize any impact on flex characteristics. The snowboard binding may be compatible with a variety of snowboard binding mount arrangements.
US08662494B2
A recording medium feeding device includes a lower stage side tray which stores a recording medium, an upper stage side tray which is provided above the lower stage side tray and stores the recording medium, a first separation inclined surface which is opposite to a tip of the recording medium which is stored in the lower stage side tray and the upper stage side tray and extends along a feed path of the recording medium, and a second separation inclined surface in which a trailing end in the feed path is positioned below a bottom surface of the upper stage side tray, and thus, which is opposite to the tip of the recording medium which is stored in the lower stage side tray and is not opposite to the tip of the recording medium which is stored in the upper stage side tray.
US08662492B2
A multi-function peripheral having an automatic document feeding device (ADF) suited for being configured in a body of an apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a first and second power sources to drive the ADF to transmit a paper in or out of the body. The ADF includes a limiting structure, a swinging member and a blocking member. The first and second power sources drive the limiting structure and the swinging member to swing respectively. The blocking member has a first end connected to the swinging member and a second end extending toward the limiting structure. When the limiting structure is at a second position and the swinging member swings toward a third position, the second end is trapped into the limiting space. When the limiting structure moves toward a first position and the swinging member swings toward the third position, the second end escapes from the limiting space.
US08662491B2
A multi-function peripheral having an automatic document feeding device (ADF) suited for being configured in a body of an apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a first and second power sources to drive the ADF to transmit a paper in or out of the body. The ADF includes a limiting structure, a swinging member and a blocking member. The first and second power sources drive the limiting structure and the swinging member to swing respectively. The blocking member has a first end connected to the swinging member and a second end extending toward the limiting structure. When the limiting structure is at a second position and the swinging member swings toward a third position, the second end is trapped into the limiting space. When the limiting structure moves toward a first position and the swinging member swings toward the third position, the second end escapes from the limiting space.
US08662490B2
A bulk document feeder module is adapted for connection to a document acceptor and is operable, when attached to the document acceptor, to feed one document at a time, from a bundle of documents, to the document acceptor. The bulk document feeder module can include a document transport mechanism, a portion of which includes a removable cartridge, to facilitate removal of a jammed object from the feeder module. The document acceptor can form part of a bill or other document validator.
US08662484B2
This compound linear flexure bearing incorporates a simple but unique flexure arrangement which inherently allows stable long travel operation. The flexure arrangement passively constrains all degrees of freedom except translation along the bearing axis while also compensating for flexure foreshortening. This design permits large displacement, low operating stress, low operating force, and high stiffness in the five noncompliant degrees of freedom. The linear flexure bearing described herein has applications in precision mechanics, particularly opto-mechanics. Specific applications include but are not limited to wafer and reticle positioning stages used in microlithography systems, optic translation and scanning mechanisms used in tactical and spaceborne systems, as well as flip-in mechanisms used in multiple field of view optical systems.
US08662475B2
A ball valve gasket structure includes a housing base having an accommodating area and a position limit area; a leakproof washer installed in the position limit area; a ring-shaped slide unit having a ring-shaped steel plate and a ring-shaped graphite plate installed in the accommodating area, and both top and bottom sides are ring-shaped steel plates of the slide unit, and the ring-shaped steel plate at the bottom side abuts the bottom of the accommodating area, and the other ring-shaped slide unit has an arc surface portion disposed at the internal periphery; and a cover coupled to the housing base for sealing the slide unit. The ball valve gasket structure can be used together with a ball valve to achieve the slide assisting effect, improving service life, and facilitating installation and disassembly.
US08662474B2
Embodiments of a combination bearing are provided, as are embodiments of a valve assembly including a combination bearing. In one embodiment, the valve assembly includes a flowbody having a flow passage therethrough, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the flowbody, a valve element mounted to the drive shaft and positioned within the flow passage, and a combination bearing coupled between the flowbody and the drive shaft. The combination bearing comprises an integral radial load/thrust ring coupled to the drive shaft, and a thrust washer substantially adjacent the integral radial load/thrust ring, as taken along the longitudinal axis of the combination bearing. An outer radial ring circumscribes the integral thrust/radial load ring. A first plurality of rolling elements is captured between the thrust washer and the integral radial load/thrust ring, and a second plurality of rolling elements is captured between the outer radial ring and the integral radial load/thrust ring.
US08662470B2
A dental syringe may include a replaceable valve cartridge containing one or more valves which may use a seating surface and an opposing seating surface with a relative angle formed between the two surfaces. The relative angle allows for regulation of the flow of fluid. The replaceable valve cartridge may also include a system to remove a residual liquid from a tip of a dental syringe. Additionally, the replaceable valve cartridge may include a seal that prevents bleed-over of fluids. Further, the dental syringe may comprise a tip retention insert which may use either a pair of plates or a plurality of ball bearings to retain the dental syringe tips. An alternate embodiment of a valve may comprise features intended to reduce the force necessary to actuate the valve. A metering screw and/or flow-control groove with increasing depth may control of flow through the valve.
US08662469B2
A power-assisted mechanism having a simple structure which can perform a power-assisted operation can be achieved in a power-assisted on/off valve including a valve stem which opens and closes a flow passage, an operational member which is positioned on an axis of the valve stem and is relatively movable with respect to the valve stem, and a power-assisted mechanism which reduces the speed and power-assists the movement of the operational member, and transfers the movement of the operational member to the stem valve.The power-assisted mechanism is provided with a transmission rod which is positioned on an axis of the operational member, the transmission rod provided with a reduced-diameter portion that reduces the diameter thereof in a direction toward the valve stem; a pressing member which is interconnected with the valve stem; a pair of motion-transmission surfaces that are formed so as to face the pressing member and a housing that movably supports the pressing member, wherein a space between the pair of motion-transmission surfaces increasingly narrows toward the outer periphery thereof; and a plurality of radial-direction movable bodies that are interposed between the pair of motion-transmission surfaces and the reduced-diameter portion of the transmission rod and are in contact therewith.
US08662467B2
A formliner and master mold are disclosed. The master mold corresponds with the formliner, which includes a plurality of courses, each course having a plurality of pockets, each pocket sized and configured to receive a decorative brick, and a plurality of ridges arranged and disposed to separate the pockets. In the embodiment, the ridge lattice has a first ridge having a dimension that differs from a same dimension of a second ridge or a portion of the first ridge.
US08662466B2
A multi-functional mobile laptop desk includes a base, on which a support member is set; the end of the support member far from the base is provided with a joint, the top of the joint is provided with a first upper arm, and the lower part of the joint is provided with a first A lower arm and a first B lower arm paralleling with the first upper arm; the end of the first upper arm far from the joint is connected with the top of a tooth tank; the ends of the first A lower arm and the first B lower arm far from the joint are connected with the lower part of the tooth tank; the top of the another end of the tooth tank is provided with a second upper arm, and the lower part of the end is provided with a second A lower arm and a second B lower arm paralleling with the second upper arm; the another end of the second upper arm far from the tooth tank is connected with the top of a connecting seat; the another ends of the second A lower arm and the second B lower arm far from the tooth tank are connected with the lower part of the connecting seat; the front of the connecting seat far from the tooth tank is provided with a moveable computer seat.
US08662464B2
An adjustable, retractable hanging system. The hanger, housing a spring-loaded reel and a retractable cable, is attached to a ceiling or exposed ductwork by either opposing flanges or bonding material that is located on the hanger's flat exterior housing wall. A cup, lined with a flexible gasket and having a fin-like appendage on its surface, holds the hanger and is also attached to a pole. The cup and pole assembly attaches the hanger to a ceiling or exposed ductwork without the use of a ladder or any elevating device. After the hanger is attached, the cup's fin-like appendage is used to engages the clip on the cable, allowing the user to lower the clip to within reach. An adjustable cable-stop, which is also attached to the cable, allows the user to adjust the suspended height of the material to be hung.
US08662458B2
Provided are holders for compactly storing infusion management systems to surfaces. In an embodiment the holder apparatus has a head portion for receiving and infusion management system trunk portion and a foot for receiving an apex portion of the infusion management system. The holder apparatus may be mounted to a wall so that the infusion management system is compactly stored and then mounted against the wall, thereby dramatically decreasing the storage footprint of the systems when not in use, without sacrificing the ability to conveniently and rapidly deploy the system when needed. Also provided are infusion management systems configured for use with the holder apparatus and related methods of storing the system.
US08662456B2
There is provided an articulated cable protection and guide apparatus that can securely guide cables between a machine frame-side fixing end area and a machine movable-side moving end area without scattering abrasion powder of the articulated supporting members and the cables to the outside and that can be easily installed in the machine frame-side fixing end area and the machine movable-side moving end area. Connector units, fixed to the machine frame-side fixing end area and the machine movable-side moving end area, integrally retain articulated end portions of the articulated supporting member, cable end portions of the cables and slot end portions of the flexible belt member and seal the slot end portions of the flexible belt member.
US08662449B2
An apparatus having a composite air-based structure with a first carbon nanotube infused material and a second carbon nanotube infused material. The first and second carbon nanotube infused materials each having a range of carbon nanotube loading selected to provide different functionalities.
US08662447B2
A flexible-usage travel suite that includes an enclosure having a floor, surrounding walls defining a predetermined area and an egress/ingress opening. A seat is positioned adjacent a first side of the enclosure and is moveable between a deployed seating configuration and a stowed storage configuration against the first side of the enclosure. A bed is positioned adjacent a second side of the enclosure and is moveable between a deployed lie-flat configuration when the seat is in its stowed storage configuration, and a stowed storage position when the seat is in its deployed seating configuration. A utility chair and utility table are positioned within the enclosure and are moveable among a stowed position and a use position.
US08662442B2
A system and method for adjusting a rotor blade upon detection of a harmful force exerted on an aircraft wing includes a sensor attached to the wing and a subsystem operably associated with the sensor. The method includes sensing the force exerted on the wing with the sensor and determining whether the sensed force is potentially harmful to the structural integrity of the wing. The method further includes counteracting the harmful force by adjusting the rotor blade movement.
US08662441B2
A system for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload includes a launch tube, liquid rocket, and launch control assembly. The rocket is positioned in the launch tube and contains the UAV payload. A booster assembly may include a canister partially filled with liquid. A gas cylinder is filled with compressed gas. The liquid is pre-pressurized by the gas or mixed with the gas right before launch such that, upon launch, liquid and gaseous thrust stages launch the rocket to a threshold altitude. The UAV payload deploys after reaching the threshold altitude. Optional stability tubes may be connected to the launch tube, which may be buoyant for water-based operations. An optional tether may be connected to the liquid rocket for arresting its flight prior to reaching apogee. The UAV payload is not launched directly by the gas/liquid mix. A method of launching the UAV payload is also disclosed.
US08662422B2
A vehicle is disclosed which includes a chassis and a storage and dispensing apparatus. The storage and dispensing apparatus can be mounted directly to the chassis or disposed within or on a body, which in turn is mounted to the chassis. The storage and dispensing apparatus has an opening therein to permit material to be transported therethrough. A conveyor assembly for selectively conveying materials from the opening of the storage and dispensing apparatus is also included. The conveyor assembly can include a dual auger arrangement. The vehicle includes a spreader chute that is operably arranged with the conveyor assembly to direct the materials to a spreader. A liquid storage system for storing liquid is provided. A liquid dispensing system is provided for selectively dispensing liquid from the liquid storage system. The liquid dispensing system includes an anti-icing system for selectively dispensing liquid from the vehicle and a pre-wetting system for selectively dispensing liquid onto material being transported by the endless conveyor out of the vehicle.
US08662418B1
A showerhead system for dispensing soap and water simultaneously having a reservoir with an inner cavity for holding a material, a first and second opening are each in the reservoir providing access to the inner cavity, a reservoir hose extending from the second opening into the inner cavity, a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir hose having a switch activating and deactivating the pump, a connector hose fluidly connected to the pump, and a showerhead having an inner cavity and a connector base for fluidly connecting to a main water line in.
US08662413B2
An apparatus for providing cooling to a user comprises a bag, an input hose, an output hose, one or more discharge extensions, and a pump. The bag is operative to store a liquid. The one or more discharge extensions are in fluidic communication with the output hose, and each of the one or more discharge extensions terminates in a respective one of one or more nozzles. Lastly, the pump is operative to draw the liquid from the bag via the input hose and to expel the liquid into the output hose so as to cause the liquid to flow to the one or more discharge extensions and to be expelled through the one or more nozzles in the form of a water mist.
US08662411B2
A fuel injection valve includes a nozzle needle interacting with a valve seat by longitudinal movements thereof, thus opening/closing an injection opening. The nozzle needle undergoes a locking force toward the valve seat pressure in a control space. A control valve adjusts pressure in the control space. The control valve has a control valve space connected to the control space, in which a control valve member is disposed longitudinally movably, and opens and closes a connection of the control valve space to a leakage oil space by longitudinal movement. The control valve member is surrounded by pressure in the control valve space and configured such that no or very little resulting hydraulic force acts upon the control valve member in the movement direction by the pressure in the control space, if the control valve member closes the connection of the control valve space to the leakage oil space.
US08662399B2
A cradle for a hand held, battery-powered coded information reader comprises a base part and a reader support part which can be oriented with respect to the base part in at least two positions, the cradle including a power supply input and a power supply/recharge electrical interface for coupling with an electrical interface of the reader when supported in the cradle. The power supply input and the electrical interface of the cradle are housed in the support part. The cradle permits recharging irrespectively of the reader orientation.
US08662397B2
A multicamera imaging-based bar code reader for imaging a target bar code on a target object features: a housing supporting a plurality of transparent windows and defining an interior region, a target object being presented to the plurality of windows for imaging a target bar code; an imaging system including a plurality of camera assemblies coupled to an image processing system, each camera assembly of the plurality of camera assemblies being positioned within the housing interior position. Each camera assembly includes a sensor array and an imaging lens assembly for focusing a field of view of the camera assembly onto the sensor array and wherein the sensor array is read out at a predetermined frame rate. The predetermined frame rate of at least one camera assembly is less than the predetermined frame rates of the other camera assemblies.
US08662396B2
A segmented 2D matrix symbol may be formed by dividing data into a plurality of segments, separately encoding the plurality of segments as corresponding arrays of cells, and arranging the arrays of cells in an abutting relationship. The segmented symbol may be reproduced, for example by receiving a bitmap corresponding to the formed symbol followed by printing; by copying a printed symbol; or by scanning a printed symbol and printing a copy. The reproduced symbol may be scanned, and data from only decoded segments, for example audio data, may be output.
US08662394B2
An electronic system comprising a printed circuit having first and second opposite surfaces, an electronic component attached to the second surface and a first device of protection against access attempts on the first surface side. The system comprises a second protection device at least partially covering, on the second surface side, the electronic component, and comprising at least one tab. The printed circuit comprises at least one through opening, the tab extending in the opening and being attached to the printed circuit. The tab comprises at least one conductive portion electrically contacting at least one first conductive track of the first surface.
US08662391B2
A receiving and dispensing unit and a self-checkout system of an embodiment includes a coin receiving and dispensing device which holds received coins in accordance with the denomination and dispenses the held coins, and a bill receiving and dispensing device which holds received bills in accordance with the denomination and dispenses the held bills. The bill receiving and dispensing device is arranged to overlap the coin receiving and dispensing device in the height direction of the coin receiving and dispensing device.
US08662383B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first paper feed discharge unit which feeds and discharges a recording medium; a second paper feed discharge unit which is formed with an opening and which feeds and discharges the recording medium via the opening; an image forming section which forms an image on the recording medium fed from the first paper feed discharge unit and the second paper feed discharge unit; a first transport mechanism which transports the recording medium from the first paper feed discharge unit to the image forming section; a second transport mechanism which connects the second paper feed discharge unit and the first transport mechanism and which transports the recording medium; a paper feed unit which feeds the recording medium or a storage type recording medium having a storage unit; a transport control unit which controls the first and second transport mechanisms.
US08662382B2
A non-contact storage medium fixing structure includes a non-contact storage medium that has a memory unit which stores predetermined information of an object to be controlled, a pair of wire connection guide members respectively provided at at least two positions on a body of the non-contact storage medium, and a wire connection member that fixes the non-contact storage medium at a predetermined position of the object to be controlled, by way of the pair of wire connection guide members.
US08662381B2
A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.
US08662376B2
A wheel resurfacing method and system for resurfacing a worn track wheel to its original profile are disclosed. The system comprises a support for maintaining the worn railway wheel, a welding device, a controller, and a surface processing device. The worn railway wheel's circumferential surface defining a flange and a tread surface is reconstituted using a welding material. The welding device and the worn railway wheel rotate one relative to the other at a predetermined rate to adaptively aggregate annular welding beads along the circumferential surface to form a curvilinear profile slanted away from the flange. A surface processing device is then applied to the welded layer to form a substantially uniform surface to reconstitute the worn railway wheel to its original profile.
US08662372B2
A spindle head for performing friction stir welding includes concentric spindle shafts driven by stacked, coaxial motors contained within a spindle housing. The coaxial arrangement of the motors results in a more compact package. Each of the motors is concentrically arranged around one of the spindles by directly connecting a rotor of the motor to a spindle shaft. The stators of the motors are mounted on the housing and are concentrically arranged around the concentric spindle shafts.
US08662369B1
An exemplary surgical staple may include a base including a first end and a second end; a single tine extending from the second end of the base; and a barb extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base. An end of such a staple may be frangibly affixed to a feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one staple including a base including a first end and a second end, a first tine extending from the second end of the base, and a second tine extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base.
US08662365B2
A cargo carrier adapted to be removably mounted to a roof of a vehicle includes a body portion and an interior space defined by the body portion. The cargo carrier further includes a lid portion that provides access to the interior space. The lid portion is releasably attachable to the body portion by relative linear motion between the lid portion and the body portion. The cargo carrier further includes at least one mechanical fastening assembly slidingly engageable with a complementary fastening assembly, wherein the mechanical fastening assembly prevents relative motion between the lid portion and the body portion. Another embodiment of the cargo carrier includes a lid cover constructed to coact with a space defined by the lid portion and the body portion. The lid cover creates mechanical interference to prevent relative linear motion between the lid portion and the body portion.
US08662360B2
In a liquid distributor, a valve seat is hollow axially with a connection part in the lower end. The valve bonnet can axially move relative to the valve seat, and has a liquid outlet and a cylinder housing part. The valve plug is in a fluid outlet chamber, comprising a valve plug main body, a plug and valve plate part. The valve plug main body is hollow axially and the bottom with the inner wall of the central passage seals. The plug is molded in the head of the aforementioned valve plug main body and a transversal outlet is formed between the plug and the valve plug main body. The valve plate part radially extends and is molded in the upper end of the valve plug main body; the elastic piece is arranged in the fluid outlet chamber. The invention further discloses a container provided with the liquid distributor.
US08662356B2
A dispenser including a base unit with an actuation mechanism for dispensing liquid and a refill unit insertible into the base unit in an inverted configuration with its outlet lowermost for the supply of liquid to the base unit. The refill unit includes an annular wall projecting into the refill unit and defining an outlet from the refill unit, the annular wall being closable at its innermost end by a valve element biased onto the annular wall. The base unit includes a hollow spigot and an annular seal surrounding and spaced from the top of the spigot whereby insertion of the refill unit into the base unit causes the spigot to enter the annular wall and to lift the valve element from the annular wall to define a flow path from the refill unit, and the annular seal to seal between the spigot and the annular wall.
US08662351B2
A secondary container assembly includes a skirt configured to securely and removably engage the rim of a beverage can. The secondary container includes a secondary compartment holding a secondary liquid. A primary flow channel extends through the secondary container to provide a fluid flow path from the open beverage can to an outlet of the secondary container. A plurality of mixing apertures provide fluid communication ports between the secondary compartment and the primary flow channel, allowing the secondary liquid to mix with beverage from the can in the primary flow channel. A vent tube prevents a vacuum from forming that would otherwise impede flow of the secondary liquid into the primary flow channel. A removable seal covers the outlet and mixing ports. A threaded lid holds the seal in place.
US08662350B2
There is provided a storage container for a dental adhesive that allows a stable dropping operation during use of a dental adhesive and smooth fine dropping work such as strict control of an amount of drops with high reproducibility, and can prevent expansion of an adhesive stored in the storage container caused by a temperature increase. A storage container for a dental adhesive is used, including a cylindrical container portion that can store a liquid such as an adhesive therein, wherein one end surface of the container portion has a discharge port communicating with an outside, the other end surface of the container portion is closed by a bottom wall, and a tail portion is formed protruding from the bottom wall to the side opposite from the discharge port.
US08662339B2
A liquid flavor enhancement apparatus includes a lid for a container adapted to hold a liquid to be consumed and an aroma pod arranged in the lid. The lid defines a consumption opening extending therethrough to allow passage of the liquid from the container through the lid during consumption of the liquid. The aroma pod includes a body adapted for insertion into a liquid container lid, and has an aromatic material retained therein. Air inside the container is allowed to pass through the aroma pod from the second to the first surface of the lid. The container is filled such that the liquid does not contact the aromatic material during filling.
US08662334B2
A vacuum storage container having a container body, a check valve and a lid with an outer rim surrounding a diaphragm. A vacuum pump is engagable with the check valve to remove air from the interior of the container to create a vacuum in the container. The diaphragm is pushed inward by atmospheric forces upon removal of the air until the diaphragm touches and conforms to at least upper exposed surfaces of the contents of the container. The storage container aids in preventing degradation of the contents of the container by maintaining the contents free from the degrading effects of air and by substantially immobilizing the contents during movement of the container to protect the contents from breakage and bruising.
US08662333B2
A foldable box having four foldable exterior walls has at least one stable exterior wall having at least a first and a second spherical wall area convex with respect to an exterior side of the box. A bridge arranged at the outside of the exterior wall is arranged between the first and the second spherical surface and extends across the height of the exterior wall. At least one rib additionally extends from the bridge to the first and to the second spherical surface area.
US08662332B2
A blow molded plastic container for hot fill and pasteurization uses includes a main body portion that is shaped so as to be substantially round in horizontal cross-section and a base portion. The base portion is shaped to define a generally circular standing ring and an elevated push-up portion that is positioned radially inward of the standing ring. The push-up portion includes a central region, an annular, substantially straight and substantially vertical rise portion that is positioned immediately radially inward of the standing ring and a plurality of radially oriented waves. Each of the waves extends radially outwardly from the central region to the vertical rise portion and is preferably shaped so as to subtend a substantially constant angle along its length.
US08662319B2
An integrated “T” assembly combines into a single integrated assembly, a track portion along both sides of a divider. The T assembly may have a wide-base portion, which may include a spring-urged-pusher track, on one side of the divider and a narrow-base portion on the opposite side of the divider. An offset pusher may have an upper portion that is offset, via an angled offset portion, from a lower portion of the pusher. Additional supporting bases, any of which may include spring-urged-pusher tracks and/or a spring-urged pusher, may be used under a wide product. Left and right side finisher components may be paired with T assemblies near the sides of a merchandise-display shelf. The T assembly, base, and/or end finishers may be coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groove arrangement and/or a non-slidable engagement.
US08662310B2
The invention relates to a method for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in urban waste material. The method comprises obtaining particles of urban waste material; screening the particles of urban waste material by size,—selecting particles of urban waste material that lie within a defined size range; and processing the selected particles using at least one physical or chemical technique whereby to increase the concentration of platinum group metals to at least 5 ppm. The invention also relates to an apparatus for increasing the concentration of platinum group metals in particulate urban waste material. The apparatus comprises: a drying unit (4), a particle size screening unit (5); and one or more processing units for effecting platinum group metal concentration of the particulate urban waste material by physical and/or chemical techniques, in particular a magnetic separation unit (7) and a froth flotation cell (9).
US08662307B2
A one-piece thermoformed packaging cap for article shock-protection which has two elongate wings integrally hinged and have upstanding shoulders which define a channel that receives part of the article. Ridges and grooves run along the shoulders of each wing such that when the wings are folded abut each other, the ridges and grooves of one wing nest within those of the other wing and provide cushioning and lateral interlocking between the wings. Caps can have four wings and wrap the entire perimeter of the article and may incorporate a locking tab to secure the wrap. Alternatively, an assembly of partial wrap-components can be locked via flap-tabs. For locking, a projection of one wing enters into a recess of another wing, and a locking flap of the latter wing is folded and a projection of the flap is snapped into the reverse recess of the thermoformed projection.
US08662305B2
A display package is provided that informs the customer of the product contained therein as well as providing a functional and useful storage unit for artificial nails when not in use. The display package includes a cylindrical neck portion at a first end having one or more grooves and a cap having one or more tabs located in an inner portion of the cap, the one or more tabs fitting into the one or more grooves. The display package further comprises a main body having a front wall, a back wall, and sidewalls that contour inwards to connect to the cylindrical neck portion, the main body having a flat base at a second end opposite to the cylindrical neck portion with the walls of the main body forming a cavity there within.
US08662291B2
A telescopic belt conveyor includes a base conveyor unit (4), an outer conveyor unit (10) and optionally one or more intermediate conveyor units (6, 8). The outer conveyor unit (10) and any intermediate conveyor units (6, 8) are mounted on the base conveyor unit and extendable telescopically therefrom in an extension direction. The outer conveyor unit (10) includes a pivotable conveyor section (12) that is mounted for pivoting movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis. A conveyor belt (14) is supported by the base conveyor unit (4), the outer conveyor unit (10) and the intermediate conveyor units (6, 8), the conveyor belt providing a conveyor surface that extends continuously along an upper surface of the base conveyor unit (4), the outer conveyor unit (10) and the intermediate conveyor units (6, 8). The pivotable conveyor section (12) has a free end remote from the pivot axis whose height relative to a ground surface may be adjusted by pivoting movement of the pivotable conveyor section.
US08662279B2
A method of upgrading a single space meter that includes an existing meter mechanism located within an outer meter housing is provided. The method includes providing a new meter mechanism that includes wireless communications hardware configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system and a credit card mag-strip reader. The method includes removing a preexisting meter from an outer meter housing and inserting the upgraded mechanism into a preexisting internal space of the outer housing.
US08662275B2
A synchronizing ring for a synchronizing device of a motor vehicle gearing with a ring body. The ring body has a plurality of recesses, and frictional elements are arranged in the recesses.
US08662270B2
An actuator for operating a multi-mode overrunning multi-directional clutch includes an axially displaceable shaft portion, an engagement member connected to the shaft portion and having a resilient segment for displacing a piston to engage the clutch. A locking portion is connected to the shaft portion for displacing an actuator pin to lock the clutch. In an example embodiment, the clutch is a three-mode overrunning bi-directional clutch. In some example embodiments, the resilient segment is radially flexible. In some example embodiments, the engagement member includes a tubular section with a plurality of circumferentially-offset axial slots, and the resilient segment is circumferentially disposed between corresponding axial slots.
US08662254B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a lubrication system for a machine comprising: a direct current (DC) motor; a battery system for powering the DC motor; a lubricating system in communication with the DC motor, the lubricating system including a supply of lubricating oil and a pump for delivering the lubricating oil to at least one component of the machine requiring lubrication; a hydraulic motor operably coupled to a shaft of the DC motor; a supply of a pressurized fluid in communication with the hydraulic motor; and a control device for discharging the supply of pressurized fluid into the hydraulic motor to power the hydraulic motor, whereby the hydraulic motor, when powered by the supply of pressurized fluid, is operable to turn the shaft of the DC motor, thereby reducing an operating current supplied to the DC motor by the battery system.
US08662250B2
A mobile oilfield storage tank includes a front wall and a removable stair system coupled thereto. The stair system includes a platform suitable for use as a walkway and a platform extension operably associated therewith. The platform extension creates a continuous walkway between the platform and a platform of an adjacent mobile oilfield storage tank.
US08662248B2
The present invention relates to a sound attenuation stud. The stud includes two engagement portions for engaging within a building element. The stud also includes two sound attenuation formations located between the engagement portions. Each sound attenuation formation includes a first portion relative to which second and third portions extend. Preferably, each portion is either parallel or orthogonal with all the other portions.
US08662239B2
A series-hybrid vehicle is provided, comprising a vehicle body frame; a pair of right and left front wheels; a pair of right and left rear wheels; a drive motor mounted to the vehicle body frame to drive the front wheels or the rear wheels; a battery mounted to a center portion of the vehicle body frame in a forward and rearward direction to supply electric power to the drive motor; an engine electric generator including an electric generator for generating electric power charged into the battery and an engine for actuating the electric generator; and a driver seat; wherein the driver seat is positioned rightward or leftward relative to a center portion of the vehicle body frame in a vehicle width direction; and the engine is positioned at an opposite side of the driver seat relative to the center portion of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle width direction.
US08662229B2
A saddle-ride vehicle includes a vehicle-body frame, an engine, a seat, a storage box, a box lid, a box-side locking mechanism, a filler lid, a filler-side locking mechanism, an unlocking mechanism, a box-side cable, and a filler-side cable. The unlocking mechanism includes a key cylinder which is key-operated. The unlocking mechanism is disposed between a head pipe and the storage box. The box-side cable is connected to the key cylinder. The box-side cable is to be caused to unlock a lock of the box-side locking mechanism by turning a key in one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction. The filler-side cable is connected to the key cylinder. The filler-side cable is to be caused to unlock a lock of the filler-side locking mechanism by turning the key in another of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction.
US08662228B2
A three-wheeled leaning passenger vehicle comprises a frame rigidly mounting a passenger seat; a rear wheel rotatably mounted on the frame in a rearward region thereof; a frame-mounted rotary drive cooperatively coupled with the rear wheel for rotation of the rear wheel relative to the frame; and a frame-mounted coast/steer system including two front wheels freely rotatable relative to the frame in a forward region thereof, and a handlebar coupled with the two front wheels for turning the two front wheels in a plane defined by their rotational axes substantially parallel with one another to corner, the vehicle being configured to substantially freely lean left and right in a natural response to a driver thereof in the driver seat steering the vehicle and leaning respectively left and right, and, alternatively or additionally, to have controlled leaning in response to a hydraulically or otherwise provisioned front-wheel suspension subsystem.
US08662225B2
A built-in equipment for a micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle, and to a micro-hybrid device comprising the same. The built-in equipment for a micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle of the present invention can be electrically connected to operational components of the micro-hybrid device and comprises a pack of super-capacitors provided with voltage balancing means and electronic circuits. The equipment comprises a housing containing a first compartment for receiving the pack of super-capacitors, and a second for receiving the electronic circuits and the voltage balancing means.
US08662217B2
A hospital bed with a chassis and with four rollers arranged on the chassis has at least one further auxiliary roller that can be brought into contact with the floor or that can alternatively be driven. The auxiliary roller is mounted on a rigid frame and, together with the frame, can be raised or lowered relative to the chassis by pivoting. A drive motor is secured on the frame and drives the auxiliary roller. A separate pivot drive is provided for raising and lowering the auxiliary roller. The separate pivot drive is secured entirely on the frame and pivots with the frame.
US08662213B2
An amorphous robot includes a compartmented bladder containing fluid, a valve assembly, and an outer layer encapsulating the bladder and valve assembly. The valve assembly draws fluid from a compartment(s) and discharges the drawn fluid into a designated compartment to displace the designated compartment with respect to the surface. Another embodiment includes elements each having a variable property, an outer layer that encapsulates the elements, and a control unit. The control unit energizes a designated element to change its variable property, thereby moving the designated element. The elements may be electromagnetic spheres with a variable polarity or shape memory polymers with changing shape and/or size. Yet another embodiment includes an elongated flexible tube filled with ferrofluid, a moveable electromagnet, an actuator, and a control unit. The control unit energizes the electromagnet and moves the electromagnet via the actuator to magnetize the ferrofluid and lengthen the flexible tube.
US08662207B2
Rotary drag bits comprise a body comprising a face at a leading end of the body. An abrasive-impregnated cutting structure is located at the face of the bit body. The abrasive-impregnated cutting structure comprises abrasive particles dispersed within a matrix material. The abrasive-impregnated cutting structure exhibits an anisotropic wear resistance. The wear resistance varies at least substantially continuously within the abrasive-impregnated cutting structure.
US08662197B2
The disclosure relates to a method of assembling a hand machine tool having (i) an intermediate flange that includes (i) at least one base body having a slot-shaped opening extending in a bearing position and in a bearing, (ii) an intermediate shaft assembly that includes an intermediate shaft and a wobble bearing having a wobble pin, and (iii) a drive piston. The method includes sliding the drive piston onto the wobble pin, introducing the wobble pin into the slot-shaped opening such that the drive piston slides into the at least one base body, and inserting, in an assembly direction corresponding to a direction of a longitudinal axis of the base body, the intermediate shaft of the intermediate shaft assembly into a second base body of the immediate flange.
US08662196B2
It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for a motor support structure of a power tool to reduce vibration. A representative reciprocating power tool may include a tool body, a tool bit, a grip, a motor, a tool bit side bearing, a grip side bearing, a tool bit side bearing housing, a grip and an elastic element. The tool bit side bearing housing houses the tool bit side bearing, while the grip side bearing housing houses the grip side bearing. The elastic element is disposed between the grip side bearing housing and the grip wherein the grip side bearing housing is elastically supported by the grip via the elastic element. According to the invention, because the grip is adapted to support the grip side bearing housing via the elastic element and the rigidity of the grip side bearing housing can be increased and vibration of the grip side bearing housing can be reduced. Further, the elastic element can absorb manufacturing errors caused between the tool body and the grip when the grip is mounted to the tool body.
US08662188B2
A technique facilitates the conveyance of signals along a drill pipe. A cable system is combined with the drill pipe and attached along the drill pipe to convey signals. The cable system may comprise a conductive cable, a cable retention system, a cable termination, and a cable connector coupled to the conductive cable at the cable termination.
US08662183B1
A blow out preventer comprises a valve casing assembly, a tubing cutter, a hydraulic cylinder and piston, and a linkage assembly. The valve casing assembly has a first port and a second port. The ports are in axial alignment along a longitudinal axis extending between the ports. The well tubing is run through the ports and transversely through the tubing cutter. The tubing cutter is rotatably positioned in the casing assembly and is rotatable from a first position to a second position. The tubing cutter has an axis of rotation which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the valve casing assembly. The piston is annularly shaped and moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve casing. Linkage between the piston and the tubing cutter converts the axial movement of the piston into rotational movement of the tubing cutter to shear the tubing when needed. When the tubing has been sheared, a seal is formed between a face of the tubing cutter and a valve seat in the valve casing assembly.
US08662178B2
A wellbore servicing apparatus comprising a housing substantially defining an axial flowbore and comprising one or more ports, an expandable seat, and a sliding sleeve slidably fitted within the housing, the sliding sleeve being transitional from a first position to a second position and from the second position to a third position, wherein, in the first position, the sliding sleeve does not permit fluid communication via the one or more ports and the expandable seat is retained in a narrower, non-expanded conformation, wherein, in the second position, the sliding sleeve permits fluid communication via the one or more ports and the expandable seat is retained in a narrower, non-expanded conformation, and wherein, in the third position, the sliding sleeve does not permit fluid communication via the one or more ports and the expandable seat is allowed to expand into a wider, expanded conformation.
US08662168B2
A sensor used to determine the height of one or more fluids in a fluid column and to determine a location of an interface or boundary between a plurality of fluids in a fluid column is disclosed. The sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements comprising a capacitor and other components, such as resistors and inductors. The sensor also includes an oscillator that alters a frequency of an electrical current applied to the sensor, from which the dielectric constant of the fluid in which each sensing element is disposed can be determined. Methods of using such a sensor to determine the relative heights of various fluids in a fluid column are disclosed. In particular, methods of using embodiments of the invention in a well, such as water and petroleum wells, are described.
US08662167B2
A separating device for removing sand and rock particles, and is an integral component of extraction equipment for extraction of liquids or gases from deep wells, having at least one ceramic filter module comprising: an annular stack of annular discs, the upper side of which has at least three elevations uniformly distributed over the circumference of the discs, the discs are stacked such that a separating gap for the removal of sand and rock particles is present between the individual discs, a coupling-on element at the upper end and a coupling-on element at the lower end of the annular stack, a clamping device bracing the annular stack, an outer cage, a coupling element at the upper end and a coupling element at the lower end of the filter module connecting the filter module to further components of the extraction equipment.
US08662147B2
The present invention is directed to provide a geothermal air-conditioner device utilising the earth's temperature and electrical field for processing—preheating, cooling and purifying—room intake air. This air-conditioner device includes at least one first pressure reducing chamber (1) with air intake opening (8) and second pressure reducing chamber (2) with processed air outlet (9), whereas these chambers are connected to each other by air conduits (3) located in the ground for conveying air from the first pressure reducing chamber (1) to the second pressure reducing chamber (2). The earth layer (4) on the air channels (3) is covered by a coarse material layer (5), under which at least one first ventilation conduit (6) is extending, through which coarse material layer is connected to air in chamber (1). Likewise there is exhaust ventilation piping (7) to provide exhaust from the coarse material layer (5) located.
US08662128B2
A heavy duty tire comprises a belt disposed radially outside a carcass. The belt consists of a innermost first ply, a second ply and a outermost third belt ply. With respect to the tire equator, the cords of the first ply are laid at an angle θ1 of 15 to 25 degrees; the cords of the second ply are laid at an angle θ2 of 15 to 25 degrees; the cords of the third ply are laid at an angle θ3 of 45 to 60 degrees; the cords of the second ply are inclined oppositely to the cords of the first ply; the cords of the third ply are inclined to the same direction as the cords of the second ply; |θ2−θ1| is not more than 5 degrees; |θ3−θ2| is 30 to 45 degrees; the axial widths W1, W2 and W3 of the first, second and third belt plies, respectively, satisfy W1>W2>W3; strengths S1, S2 and S3 of the first, second and third belt plies, respectively, satisfy S1>S2>S3 and 1.0>S2/S1>=0.6.
US08662127B2
A self-inflating tire system includes a compression actuator assembly mounted to a tire carcass for compressing air for delivery to a tire cavity. The compression actuator assembly includes a hollow containment body formed from a resilient deformable material composition and containing a quantity of a non-compressible medium. The containment body is affixed to a relatively high flex-deformation region of the tire carcass and reciprocally transforms between a deformed state and a non-deformed state responsive to deformation and recovery of the tire high flex-deformation region in a rolling tire. Accordingly, the containment body in the deformed state displaces a pressurized displaced quantity of the non-compressible medium which generates a compression force for application to a volume of air delivered to the tire cavity. A pump assembly affixes to the tire carcass and includes valves for reciprocally opening and closing the inlet opening and the outlet opening of a compressor body synchronously with the cyclic transformation of the containment body.
US08662121B2
Methods for reducing warp potential of lumber derived from a raw material, such as a log or stem are provided. The methods involve examining the log or stem for shrinkage properties and/or properties of spiral grain. The location of the shrinkage properties and/or properties of spiral grain determine how the log is oriented relative to a cutting device. In another embodiment, these characteristics determine what cutting pattern is selected for creating the lumber. In the case of a stem, these characteristics determine how the stem will be bucked.
US08662112B2
A three-dimensional distance woven fabric including two outer fabrics, at least one inter-layered fabric and a plurality of inter-yarns connected with each one of the outer fabrics and the inter-layered fabric, wherein a gap between the inter-layered fabrics and each one of the outer fabrics of the three-dimensional distance woven fabric is greater than 20 centimeters and is less than 300 centimeters. A weaving machine and a method for weaving the aforesaid three-dimensional distance woven fabric are also provided.
US08662104B2
A slot valve (20) for use in the pneumatic switching circuit of a respirator, wherein said slot valve is designed to act bidirectionally and to pass over into the opened state to make possible the flow of a fluid at different pressure threshold values depending on the direction of flow of a fluid.
US08662103B2
The present invention includes a hose reel having side rollers. A hose reel includes: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and one or more rollers associated with said housing, wherein the one or more rollers are able to rotate during coiling of the flexible hose around the spool.
US08662102B2
A gas appliance including a frame and a control knob assembly connected to the frame, the control knob assembly including a gas valve with a valve stem, a control knob attached to the valve stem, and a valve restraint. The valve restraint is substantially fixed relative to the frame and longitudinally disposed substantially between the gas valve and control knob, and is configured to limit lateral movement of the valve stem.
US08662086B2
A recloseable package for containing smoking papers to be dispensed therefrom, the package comprising: a body for holding the smoking papers, the body having a cover which overlays the body of the package for closure, wherein the cover has a first magnet, and wherein the body has a second magnet, the first and second magnets being positionally mounted to contact one another when the cover is folded downwardly over the body of the package for closure.
US08662076B2
The present invention relates to capsules for housing pharmaceutical preparations for powder inhalers with increased medicinal product safety and capsules for pharmaceutical preparations for powder inhalers with improved adaption to use in powder inhalers. The capsules consist of non-water-soluble, hydrophobic plastics, which themselves do not substantially influence the pharmaceutical quality of the contents, but improve the usability of the filled capsules in respect of their operation, the period of use and/or the geographical location of their use and are advantageous in various steps from manufacture to use.
US08662071B2
A household gas appliance includes a gas supply valve which is operated using a magnetic key. The gas supply valve itself may be magnetically operable. In this instance, when a magnetic key is placed adjacent the magnetically operable gas supply valve, the gas supply valve would open. When the magnetic key is removed, the gas supply valve would close. In other embodiments, a magnetic sensor may sense the presence or absence of a magnetic key. If the magnetic key is present, the magnetic sensor would generate an opening signal which causes the gas supply valve to open. When the magnetic key is removed, the magnetic sensor would generate a closing signal which causes the gas supply valve to close.
US08662070B2
A gas cooking grill is disclosed. The cooking grill has a firebox having a combustive heat source near the bottom therein, a cooking surface disposed along an upper portion of the firebox, and a convex intermediate element interposing the burner and the cooking surface, the intermediate element having an apex near the cooking surface and sides spaced apart from the cooking surface.
US08662065B2
The present invention relates to a portable composite roaster that is small in size, enables a user to selectively use gas, charcoal or the like as a heating means, and is simple and convenient to use for anyone. The roaster has primary, secondary and tertiary heat-isolating screens arranged outside the heating means to effectively isolate heat and to protect a table on which the portable composite roaster is placed or users from heat generated by the heating means such that the users may use the roaster in accordance with the needs thereof. The portable composite roaster of the present invention enables users preferring charcoal-cooked food to roast food using charcoal, and enables users inconvenienced by charcoal to easily use gas instead of charcoal and enjoy delicious food.
US08662054B2
An ECU 70 is provided to an engine 50 including a TCV 57 that changes a tumble flow generated inside a cylinder and being configured to be capable of securing a cooling of a cylinder block 51 and suppressing an occurrence of a cooling loss in a cylinder head 52. The ECU 70 includes a control unit that feedback-controls the TCV 57 based on a primary blow-off voltage Vi so that a flow velocity of air flowing along a surface on the cylinder head 52 side becomes greater than a flow velocity of air flowing along a surface on the piston 53 side in a case where a flow velocity of air flowing along a surface on one of the cylinder head 52 side and the piston 53 side becomes greater than a flow velocity of air flowing along a surface on another side in the cylinder.
US08662052B2
A power unit (14) which has a spark-ignition engine unit (1) of the Wankel type including a three flanked rotary piston (R) mounted on an eccentric shaft (63) rotating eccentrically within a cavity within a two lobed epitroochoidal inner peripheral surface (14), the cavity including an inlet port (7) through which air at ambient pressure is induced into the working chambers, and an outlet port (45) through which exhaust gasses are exhausted from the working chambers, and the power unit also including a rotary expander unit (4) which has a two flanked rotor (24) mounted on an eccentric shaft (12) rotating eccentrically within a single lobed epitrochoidal chamber (25), both shafts (62, 63) being coupled to rotate together, and the exhaust port (45) of epitrochoidal cavity of the engine unit (1) being connected to an inlet port (26) of the expander unit (4) so that the exhaust gasses from the engine unit (1) are further expanded in the expander unit (4).
US08662047B2
A handheld work apparatus has an internal combustion engine (9, 9′, 9″) and a starter device (8). The internal combustion engine has a piston (10, 10″) which has at least one piston ring (37, 38). In order to avoid a delay when starting the engine, at least one recess is provided in the cylinder bore (26) which bridges the at least one piston ring (37, 38) in at least one position of the piston (10, 10′) and which has a distance (n, o, p) to all function openings of the engine (9, 9′, 9″) configured in the cylinder bore (26). To reduce the compression in the combustion chamber (25), the piston (10′) has only one piston ring (37) or two piston rings (37, 38) are provided having respective piston ring gaps (39, 40) defining an angle (β) which is up to approximately 45°.
US08662046B2
A balancer integrated with a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, including balance shafts that are driven and rotated by a rotational force transmitted from a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to the balance shafts through an endless transmission member to reduce second order vibration of the internal combustion engine, a tensioner that applies tension to the endless transmission member by pressing an outer surface of the endless transmission member using a hydraulic pressure, a tensioner mounting portion to which the tensioner is mounted, the tensioner mounting portion being integrally formed with the crankcase, and an oil supply portion projectingly disposed along an outer surface of the tensioner mounting portion and integrally formed with the tensioner mounting portion, the oil supply portion supplying the hydraulic pressure to the tensioner through the tensioner mounting portion.
US08662040B2
The invention relates to an oscillating-motor camshaft adjuster having a hydraulic valve, which has two working ports. These two working ports each have a standard opening axially adjacent to one another and an opening for the utilization of pressure peaks as a consequence of camshaft alternating torques. A hydraulic pressure can be guided from a supply port to the working port to be loaded, while the working port to be relieved of pressure is guided to a tank port. In order to also keep the control performance high in the case of internal combustion engines with very greatly fluctuating camshaft alternating torques, it is proposed according to the invention that a position of hydraulic valve can be controlled proportionally, in which the pressure peaks of the working port to be relieved of pressure are blocked relative to the supply port and the working port that is to be loaded.
US08662039B2
A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator includes vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A lock pin is provided for selective engagement with a lock pin seat for preventing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. Pressurized oil disengages the lock pin from the seat while oil is vented for engaging the lock pin with the seat. A phase relationship control valve is coaxial with the rotor and controls the flow of oil into and out of the chambers. A lock pin control valve is coaxial with the phase relationship control valve and controls the flow of oil to and from the lock pin. The control valves are operational independent of each other.
US08662030B2
A split cycle reciprocating piston engine includes a compression cylinder (2) accommodating a compression piston (4) and an expansion cylinder (12) accommodating an expansion piston (14). The compression cylinder (2) has an inlet port (30) for the admission of air and an outlet port (36) which communicates with a first path of a heat exchanger (5). The expansion cylinder (12) has an inlet port (52), which communicates with the first path of the heat exchanger (5), and an outlet port (56), which communicates with a second path of the heat exchanger (5) in heat exchange relationship with the first path. The method of operating the engine includes injecting a liquefied, non-oxidizing, non-combustible gas, such as nitrogen, into the compression cylinder (2).
US08662029B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.
US08662019B2
An apparatus is disclosed for applying a chemical, such as an ammonia control chemical, in an animal house. The apparatus includes spreading apparatus adapted to be installed at an elevated position in the animal house and adapted for spreading the chemical onto the floor in the house. The apparatus also includes feeding apparatus adapted for feeding the chemical from a supply to the spreading apparatus. A method of controlling ammonia emissions from an animal agriculture operation includes applying an ammonia control chemical during both the early part and the late part of the grow out of the animals so that the chemical contacts ammonia from animal waste and reduces or prevents its emission into the air.
US08662018B2
A Easy-To-Clean birdhouse that can be mounted at or above a person's reach includes a plurality of walls one of which is a front wall. The front wall includes an access hole for a bird and a tool-hole opening which extends from an inside surface to an outside surface of the front wall. A hinged floor having a top surface, a bottom surface, a rear end and a front end is pivotly attached about its rear end to two walls of the housing, the front end abuts the inside surface of the front wall, and the top surface is located below the top of the tool-hole opening in the front wall. Whereby, when a tool is inserted into the tool-hole and moved down, it will contact the top surface of the hinged floor and urge the hinged floor to swing down from a horizontal position to a vertical position.
US08662013B2
A gripping device (10, 10′) for a milking unit (12, 12′) provided with a manifold (14, 62), a pulse tube (16, 64), shells and teat-cups to be connected to the udders of the animal, the gripping device applied to a terminal portion of the pulse tube (16, 64) connected to the manifold (14, 62), said device comprising means for a firm, safe and ergonomic grip and means for a quick replacement and maintenance of the unit or components thereof.
US08662009B2
An adhesive application apparatus for applying a liquid adhesive to an object includes a regular application stage against which the object is placed for a regular application of the liquid adhesive to the object, a trial application stage to which a trial application of the liquid adhesive is carried out, an application unit relatively movable with respect to the regular application stage and trial application stage to carry out the regular application and trial application of the liquid adhesive, and a suction unit carrying out a suction operation of the liquid adhesive used in the trial application. The adhesive application apparatus smoothly carries out the trial application of the liquid adhesive without bothering the operation of an adhesive application line.
US08662004B2
A balloon fill gauge for a balloon made of elastomeric expanding material has a base sheet with balloon filling indicia thereon that is temporarily tackable on to the balloon face material. An indicator tab with two ends having one end temporarily tackable onto the balloon material has its other end slideably interlockable with the base sheet. An indicator mark on the tab is alignable with the balloon filling indicia to indicate when the balloon is full as the tacked base sheet and tacked indicator tab move apart during the filling of the balloon. The balloon fill gauge alternatively may have an elongate non-stretchable indicator tab having two ends tackable onto the balloon material which physically acts to visual indicate when the balloon is full by snapping in two, popping off the balloon or changing color. Alternatively, the balloon filler gauge may include a base sheet with a balloon filling indicia temporarily tackable onto the balloon which is indexed with an expansible indicator ink mark on the balloon alignable with the filling indicia to indicate upon expansion of the ink mark when the balloon is full or the ink otherwise changes color.
US08661995B2
A device for use with an embroidery machine to hold an item or material to be embroidered between upper and lower hooping members, with the hooping members being secured to one another by use of a magnetic force, preferably with rare earth magnets, is disclosed. The magnets provide a solid, secure mating arrangement between the upper and lower hooping members as well as providing proper alignment of the hoping members. A ridge may be formed in at least one hooping member to securely retain the item or material to be embroidered. One hooping member has interchangeable arms for attaching the mating hooping members to different brands of embroidery machines.
US08661992B2
An outer shroud for a solid fuel nozzle tip includes: an top shell portion and a bottom shell portion, each portion fabricated from a preform produced from a single sheet of flat stock and each shell portion including a forward area and a backward area and outlet sidewalls, wherein a right outlet sidewall and a left outlet sidewall are each separated from the forward area by a rounded corner; and a left inlet sidewall and a right inlet sidewall coupled to the top shell portion and the bottom shell portion.
US08661989B2
An adjustable desk includes a desk board, a supporting unit, and a first adjusting unit. The desk board includes front and rear ends. The supporting unit disposed between the desk board and the ground includes a first leg pivotally connected with the front end. The first adjusting unit mounted between the desk board and the first leg includes a screw shaft, at least one linkage, and at least one level. The linkage is engaged screwedly with screw shaft. The level pivotally connected between the linkage and the rear end. While the screw shaft is rotated, the linkage is moved axially between two ends of the outer screw portions to drive the level pivoting with respect to the screw shaft. The desk board is pivoted with respect to the first leg to adjust a slope angle formed between the desk board and the supporting unit steplessly without tools.
US08661979B2
An auxiliary safety mechanism for a grenade to prevent detonation from shockwaves, heat, fragments, etc., the grenade including a fuse housing containing a delay detonator and explosive train. In at least one embodiment, the fuse housing includes a reversible slider element interposed between the delay detonator and the rest of the explosive train to form a barrier therebetween when the grenade is in an unarmed condition, and when the slider element is withdrawn the barrier between the delay detonator and explosive train is removed leaving the grenade in an armed condition. In another embodiment, a further safety mechanism involves connecting the two sections of the housing with a weak connection that ruptures prior to the explosive contained therein reaching the critical explosive temperature/pressure.
US08661975B2
A sheet guiding apparatus with a sheet diverter function, a production system with a printer and a folding machine for printed products, in which such a sheet guiding apparatus is used, and a method for producing printed products with the production system, permit productivity to be raised without increasing the operating speed of the folding machine.
US08661961B2
An active denial apparatus for use in non-lethal weaponry includes at least one focusing element configured to focus millimeter-wave energy along an axis of propagation. The at least one focusing element includes an astigmatic or dual axis focusing system configured to direct a focused beam that allows the active denial apparatus to accurately immobilize targets at both close and long range within acceptable limits of intensity.
US08661949B2
A power line spreading device used to separate the two conductor lines of a twisted pair conductor. The spreading device includes a substantially conical body and a handle. The body further includes a groove in an outer surface orientated in a conic spiral along a length of the body wherein the diameter of the conical body gradually increases from a first end to a second end. The spreading device is engaged with the two conductor lines proximate the first end, rotated about an axis of rotation whereby the groove acts to draw the two conductor lines from a first end toward a second end of the body. The gradual increase in diameter of the spreading device causes and maintains a desired spread distance between the two conductor lines of a twisted pair connector.
US08661946B2
A ratchet wrench includes first recess in the function end thereof and a second recess is defined in the inside of the first recess. A ratchet wheel is located in the first recess, and a pawl and a resilient member are located in the second recess. The resilient member is connected between the pawl and the inside of the second recess. The resilient member biases the pawl to be engaged with the ratchet wheel. A C-shaped restriction member is engaged with the first recess and has a rod which is inserted into the second recess. A space is defined between the inside of the first recess and the rod. The second end of the resilient member is located in the space so as to position the resilient member in the second recess.
US08661943B2
A mechanical four-speed gearbox/drive system for household appliances comprising two drive-outlets; each drive-outlet driven at two different speeds in the same rotational direction; a motor, motor shaft, first drive-outlet and second drive-outlet, with installation of one-way bearings in suitable places in the gear-train. The motor drives two drive-outlets and rotates in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions through three one-way bearings and two gear down systems to provide four different speed drives. When operating in hi-speed mode, the first drive-outlet is directly driven by the motor. When operating in lo-speed mode, the first drive-outlet is driven via the gear down system, with resulting increase in torque. Simultaneously, second drive-outlet is driven via second gear down system to provide two different speed drives. This gearbox is simple to construct and operable without expensive control electronics. In applications with electronic motor speed and directional control, much broader and practical drive-outlet speed ranges are achieved.
US08661942B2
An angle drive arrangement for a drive train comprises an input shaft and a shift clutch. The input shaft can be driven about a first rotational axis. The shift clutch is arranged coaxially with respect to the first rotational axis and has a clutch input part and a clutch output part which can be coupled to one another to transmit torque. The angle drive arrangement further includes an angle gearing with a crown gear, which is arranged coaxially to the first rotational axis, and a pinion, which is mounted about a second rotational axis and which is in meshing engagement with the crown gear. The second rotational axis is at a right angle to the first rotational axis. The crown gear is fixedly connected to an intermediate shaft mounted in a housing by first and second bearing mechanisms, which are arranged on the same side of the second rotational axis.
US08661941B2
A hybrid drive system with first drive 11—especially a combustion engine—and second drive 12—especially an electric machine—for driving a transmission output shaft 20 of a transmission 10 for a vehicle is provided. The transmission 10 can include a first shiftable partial transmission 15 with a first main shaft 17, which is connectable by a first group of shiftable gear pairs 41/51, 45/52, 43/53, 44/54 to an intermediate shaft 28, and the first drive 11 is connectable to the first main shaft 17 of the first shiftable partial transmission 15. In addition, a second shiftable partial transmission 16 with a second main shaft 18, which is connectable by a second group of shiftable gear pairs 45/51, 46/52, 47/53, 48/54 to the intermediate shaft 28, can be included. At least one shiftable gear pair of the first shiftable partial transmission 15 is formed by two shiftable idlers 41, 51, a first of the two shiftable idlers 41 is connectable via a shifting element A to the first main shaft 17 and a second of the two shiftable idlers 51 is connectable via a shifting element C to the intermediate shaft 28.
US08661935B2
A bicycle including a frame that has a head tube. The bicycle also includes a fork that is rotationally coupled to the head tube and that has a steerer tube extending upward through the head tube, a wheel rotationally coupled to the fork, a handlebar, and a stem assembly. The stem assembly is coupled to and extends from the steerer tube to attach the handlebar to the fork. The stem assembly includes a stem, a shim that is coupled to the stem, and a clamp contacting both the shim and the handlebar to secure the handlebar to the stem assembly.
US08661931B2
A steering column assembly includes an outer jacket defining a through aperture and an inner jacket slidably disposed within the outer jacket. A plurality of steering shafts are movable relative to one another within the inner jacket. A frictional plate is disposed within the through aperture for selectively engaging the inner jacket. A radial force transmitting assembly is coupled to the frictional plate and applies a force on the frictional plate causing the frictional plate to engage the inner jacket. The radial force transmitting assembly includes a first cam member and a second cam each coupled to the frictional plate and each including a plurality of inclined surfaces facing one another. A lever is coupled to one of the cam members for rotating the other of the cam members for applying a force on the frictional plate to prevent movement of the steering shafts.
US08661930B2
A steering device smoothly moves a variable tilt lock gear in a tilt direction, smoothly engages the movable tilt lock gear with a stationary tilt lock gear, and facilitates the assembling. When a movable tilt lock gear is not well engaged with a stationary tilt lock gear, and the respective threads of a gear of the movable tilt lock gear and a gear of the stationary tilt lock gear are abutted against each other, arm parts of a wire spring are elastically deformed by its reaction force. As a result, the movable tilt lock gear is slightly moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle body while the stationary cam is fixed, and the gear of the movable tilt lock gear and the gear of the stationary tilt lock gear are normally engaged with each other.
US08661928B1
A mechanism for articulating a right arm, a left arm, a right forearm, and a left forearm of a humanoid, the arms are coupled with a torso of the humanoid by humeroscapular joints. Each of the forearms is coupled with a humerus of the respective arm, by a respective proximal radioulnar joint. The mechanism includes a first transmission, a second transmission, a first actuator, a second actuator, and a controller. The first actuator is coupled with the right humeroscapular joint and with the left proximal radioulnar joint via the first transmission. The second actuator is coupled with the left humeroscapular joint and with the right proximal radioulnar joint via the second transmission, the controller controlling the movements of each of the first actuator and of the second actuator.
US08661889B2
The present invention relates to coin value safeguard devices and methods by determining and monitoring the eye appeal of a coin and labeling that eye appeal on an appropriate holder of the coin such that the eye appeal is displayed to a viewer of the holder, and that coin's value is thus increased. Appropriately knowledgeable graders assess a coin's eye appeal by determining the coin's axial ultimate refractory angle(s) (AURA) and assigning an AURA rating to the coin. The coin image is stored in a database where it may be compared to secondary temporal images of the coin as necessary to determine whether coin doctoring has been employed.
US08661882B2
Methods and systems for controlling and/or diagnosing an emission control system of a vehicle having a first SCR region upstream of a second SCR region are provided herein. One exemplary method includes, indicating degradation based on a first SCR region performance during a first condition; and indicating degradation based on a second SCR region performance during a second condition, the first condition different than the second condition. In this way, different levels of degradation among different SCR regions may be used to indicate emissions levels have increased above a threshold value, for example.
US08661880B2
Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system associated with multiple powerplant machines of a powerplant. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while at least one of the powerplant machines is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system by adjusting the speed of a shaft while at least one of the powerplant machines operates at full-speed-no-load.
US08661877B2
Apparatus and method for testing float equipment used in the construction of wellbores for the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry. The apparatus has a housing and an opening for receiving an item of float equipment. A seal arrangement is configured to seal with the item of float equipment, such that the housing and seal arrangement together define a test chamber. The test chamber is pressurized to expose at least a part of the item of float equipment in the test chamber to a test pressure. In embodiments of the invention, at least a part of an outside surface and at least a part of the item of float equipment may be simultaneously loaded. The tests performed more closely simulate the conditions to which the equipment is exposed in a wellbore.
US08661873B2
Ultrasound transducers may be mapped by varying a focus-affecting parameter and adjusting the parameter so as to improve focus quality. In some embodiments, mapping involves successively varying the phase of one transducer element, or group of elements, with respect to a constant phase of the other transducer elements, and determining the phase at which a tissue displacement in the ultrasound focus is maximized.
US08661872B2
A testing system tests or calibrates an electronic test subject while rotating the test subject within a thermally controlled chamber. The testing system includes a stationary thermal chamber, a test subject, testing electronics that receive electronic data from the test subject, and a rotating platform inside the thermal chamber to which both the test subject and the testing electronics are mounted. The testing system further includes a platform cover for the rotatable platform that rotates with the rotatable platform, and exposes the test subject to the temperature inside the thermal chamber and insulates the testing electronics from the temperature inside the thermal chamber.
US08661871B2
Described herein is a method for testing a microelectromechanical device provided with a microstructure having a fixed structure and a movable mass, which is capacitively coupled to the fixed structure and mechanically connected thereto so as to be movable between a rest position and at least one position of maximum extension. The method envisages: applying a test voltage between the movable mass and the fixed structure so as to set up an electrostatic force between them and displace the movable mass into the position of maximum extension; keeping the movable mass in the position of maximum extension for a time interval; releasing the movable mass from the position of maximum extension; and detecting a current position of the movable mass.
US08661869B2
A stretch-forming apparatus includes a main frame which carries a die enclosure between jaw assemblies. The die enclosure includes radiant heaters for supplying heat to a workpiece being stretch-formed against the die.
US08661858B2
A home laundry machine (1) having an outer casing (2) and, inside said casing (2), a laundry container (3, 5) for housing the laundry to be dried, and a steam generator (15) for feeding a given amount of steam into the laundry container (3, 5), and which in turn has a tubular vaporizer (16) containing a given amount of water; a heater (19) for boiling and converting the water in said tubular vaporizer (16) into steam; and a steam exhaust pipe (20) for feeding the steam produced in the tubular vaporizer (16) into the laundry container (3, 5), and which has at least one tubular portion (20a) contacting the heater (19), so that the steam flowing along the tubular portion (20a) receives a certain amount of heat from said heater (19).
US08661851B2
Process for producing a structure on one of the faces of a glass ribbon, carried out continuously using a printing device, in which: the printing device (8) is placed in a zone (A) in which the ribbon (B) is at an average temperature T1 insufficient for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be printed, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device; that face to be etched, upstream of the printing device (8), is heated so as to bring a limited and sufficient thickness of the ribbon to a temperature T2>T1 necessary for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be etched, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device, while still keeping the rest of the ribbon at a temperature close to T1; the heat flux transmitted through the ribbon by the heating means is such that the “printing number” is between 0.05 mm″1 and 2.00 mm″1 and preferably 0.3 mm″ 1.
US08661850B2
A method keeps the width of the manufactured sheet substantially the same by attaching edge directors for the formed sheet to the manufacturing apparatus structure instead of to the forming block. Thus, sheet glass may be manufactured to specification for a longer time with the same forming block. An additional method adjusts the width of the manufactured sheet by changing the distance between the edge directors. Thus sheet glass may be manufactured to different width specifications with the same forming block.
US08661845B2
A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanging section for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and a cooling medium and a passage section. The passage section includes a first passage and a second passage for supplying the refrigerant to the heat exchanging section and a supply passage for supplying the refrigerant to the first passage and the second passage. The first passage and the second passage define a first opening portion and a second opening portion opening at an end of the supply passage. A minimum distance between an opening edge of the first opening portion and an inner surface of the supply passage is equal to a minimum distance between an opening edge of the second opening portion and the inner surface of the supply passage.
US08661844B2
A heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a blower, an evaporator, a heater core, and a single door. The blower is operable to blow air. The evaporator is positioned downstream from the blower and is operable to cool air flowing through the evaporator. The heater core is positioned downstream from the evaporator and is operable to heat air flowing through the heater core. The single door is positioned downstream from the heater core and is rotatable to control airflow through the heater core and to direct airflow to at least one of a first outlet and a second outlet.
US08661840B2
A liquid circulation heating system performs air-heating by heating a liquid to produce a heated liquid and releasing heat of the heated liquid from a heating radiator. This liquid circulation heating system includes: a heat pump circuit for circulating a refrigerant, having a radiator for heating the liquid by radiating heat from the refrigerant; and a solar heating apparatus for heating the liquid by solar heat. In this liquid circulation heating system, a first passage passing through the radiator and a second passage passing through the solar heating apparatus are formed as passages through which the liquid flows to produce the heated liquid.
US08661836B2
A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can recover and recharge refrigerant. The unit is further configured with a pair of service hoses and a refrigerant control circuit operable to receive and transport the refrigerant between the hoses and the storage vessel and to process the refrigerant to substantially remove contaminants from the refrigerant. A fluid connector is provided in fluid communication with the hoses to enable the refrigerant to flow between the hoses and to establish a closed loop through the refrigerant control circuit, and a controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant control circuit and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant through the refrigerant control circuit and through the fluid connector.
US08661821B2
The present invention relates to a process for reducing coal consumption in coal fired plant with fluidized-bed drying, namely a fluidized-bed drying system is provided between a coal powder bunker as well as a weighing belt and a coal grinding mill of the prior coal fired boiler generating set, and superheated steam which has done partial work is extracted from an steam turbine and used as a drying medium, moisture contained in the coal powder is evaporated with sensible heat and latent heat of the superheated steam, water resulted from the condensation of the superheated steam is fed into a deaerator of the steam turbine via a condensate pump for recirculation. The present invention has advantages of reducing coal consumption and saving coal, recovering residual heat, reducing emission of carbon dioxide and adopting to the national industrial policy on energy saving and emission reduction.
US08661819B2
A system reclaiming contaminated water includes a heat exchanger that receives the contaminated water and converts at least a portion of the contaminated water into steam and collects at least a portion of the contaminants within the heat exchanger. A thermal transfer fluid is heated by a solar concentrator during daytime and by a biofuel combustion device during nighttime. The heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger to heat the contaminated water. A steam engine is coupled to a generator, the steam engine receives the steam from the heat exchanger to drive the generator to provide power for the system. Steam exhausted from the steam engine is supplied to supplemental heat loads. The collected contaminants are directed to an evaporation device to remove residual liquid.
US08661811B2
A vehicle brake device includes an elastic body being formed such that a circulation of an operation fluid is permitted from a front end to a rear end of the elastic body until a filling rate of the elastic body reaches a predetermined value in a filling area where deformation of the elastic body is stopped by restraint of a control piston in a state where a forward stroke of the control piston is less than at least a predetermined stroke, but the circulation of the operation fluid is stopped when the filling rate reaches the predetermined value or more.
US08661802B2
The present invention relates to a flange plate for connecting exhaust pipes to a combustion engine, with at least two connecting sockets integrally moulded on the flange plate, on each of which an exhaust pipe can be fastened, and with a plurality of through openings for fixing the flange plate to the combustion engine. Thermal expansion effects can be better compensated if at least one of the connecting sockets is formed in a connecting region, which is surrounded by a slit penetrating the flange plate, wherein the respective slit comprises at least one interruption and the respective connecting region in the region of the respective interruption is connected to the remaining flange plate.
US08661801B2
A thermoelectric generator apparatus of a vehicle, may include a high temperature member installed on an external wall of the exhaust pipe inside a silencer of the vehicle and exchanging heat with the exhaust gas, a low temperature member installed on the external wall of the exhaust pipe and at a side of the high temperature member, and a thermoelectric module formed by joining a P-shaped semi-conductor and an N-shaped semi-conductor, wherein the thermoelectric module may be installed on the external wall of the exhaust pipe between the high temperature member and the low temperature member so that a side thereof may be heated by the high temperature member and the other side thereof may be cooled by the low temperature member in order to use a thermoelectric phenomenon caused by a temperature difference between the side and the other side of the thermoelectric module to generate electricity.
US08661795B2
An exhaust system for exhausting multiple cylinders of a small engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a plurality of exhaust units is described herein. Each exhaust unit of the exhaust system is operatively and fluidly connected to a separate cylinder of the small engine such that the exhaust gases from each cylinder remain separated as they pass through different exhaust units of the exhaust system. The exhaust system includes at least two exhaust units, and of the exhaust units is separated by an inner chamber wall that is shared by adjacent exhaust units yet prevents fluid communication between the adjacent exhaust units.
US08661777B2
A combined cycle power system is provided including at least one solar power plant including a concentrating dish configured to concentrate solar radiation; a solar receiver disposed and configured to utilize concentrated solar radiation for heating a first working fluid, and a first turbine configured for generating electricity by expansion therein of the heated first working fluid, and at least one recovery power plant including a heat recovery unit configured for utilizing exhaust heat of the first turbine to heat a second working fluid, and a second turbine configured for generating electricity by expansion therein of the heated second working fluid.
US08661772B2
A method for sealing-in a gas in a bag that has therein a gas filling compartment, including the steps of: placing a blow-out port of a nozzle, which is connected to a pressurized gas supply source, against a cut-in or a hole of the bag and holding the back surface side of the bag with a backing member; blowing a gas from the nozzle into the gas filling compartment of the bag through the cut-in or the hole; gripping and thus closing the gas flow path in sealed portions surrounding the periphery of the cut-in or the hole by a blocking gripper while the gas blow-in continues, thus cutting off the flow of the gas between the cut-in or the hole and the inside of the gas filling compartment; and then sealing the cut-in or the hole, thus allowing the gas to be sealed in the gas filling compartment.
US08661767B2
An anchor for a rectangular tube employs a wedge assembly, whereby rotation of an adjustment bolt of the wedge assembly moves an upper and lower wedge member together, and the wedge engagement with a central wedge member causes said central wedge member to move toward engagement with the tube, thereby securing the tube within a base body. Clevis pins and corresponding key hole slots mount the wedge assembly to a base, while allowing easy removal of the wedge when desired.
US08661765B2
Interlocking support posts form an interlocking rack system which may have a single mold which provides both a male and a female joinder member. Between the support posts can be mounted panels such as solar panels. Under the support posts can be installed a roof stand off assembly which prevents water from weakening the roof. Various combinations of construction members offer a cost effective building block array of mounting panels, wind turbines, and any appliance on a roof and/or anywhere in a building. A two recess mounting bracket is ideally suited to mount solar panels on a roof. A lower recess can be fastened to a bolt anchor on the roof. The opposing recess can secure a mounting clip which attaches directly to the solar panel. Identical support posts can interlock. Various embodiments include conduit clasps, slider tracks, mounts for cabinets, sign posts, and thru roof screwed anchors.
US08661759B2
A shingle layer of shingle is provided having an increased thickness adhesive coating on at least a portion of its rear surface, with granules embedded therein, with the granules being of a size range that is larger than the fine particles normally applied to the rear surface of a shingle layer.
US08661758B2
A seal assembly (10) is provided for sealing a core hole (52) formed in a concrete slab (54) having opposite first and second surfaces, with the core hole (52) extending between the first and second surfaces. The seal assembly (10) comprises a cover assembly (12) having a cover plate (14) that is configured for engaging the first surface of the concrete slab (54) and seating over and covering the core hole (52). The cover assembly (12) has a lower plate (16) that is configured for being received within the core hole (52). The lower plate (16) is coupled to the cover plate (14) through a support member (20) so that the lower plate (16) is spaced apart from the cover plate (14) when the cover plate (14) is seated over the core hole (52) to define a cavity between the lower plate (16) and the cover plate (14). A locking element carrier (26) is coupled to the cover assembly (12). A locking element (40) is movably coupled to the carrier (26) and facilitates securing the seal assembly (10) to the concrete slab (54). The cavity of the seal assembly may be filled with an insulating material (62).
US08661754B2
A system and method of constructing a composite floor system having increased shear transfer between a slab and support members of the system is described. The composite floor system may include any combination of the following elements: a support member, a reinforcing member, a transfer member, a decking material, a fastener, and/or a slab. The transfer member may be connected to the support member.
US08661753B2
A water-resistant apparatus is provided. This water-resistant apparatus is positioned near a photovoltaic module. The water-resistant apparatus includes hollow, elongated conduits, and each conduit can hold water with surface tension based on exposure of the conduit to water. The surface tension causes a formation of a meniscus that inhibits a flow of water through the conduit.
US08661738B2
A door frame for a vehicle includes a door frame, a window regulator mounted to the door frame for opening and closing a window pane, and a door lining mounted to the door frame. A plurality of mounting apertures is defined in the door frame, including at least one first mounting aperture for mounting the window regulator and at least one second mounting aperture for mounting the door lining. An isolating aperture is defined in the door frame between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture for isolating the at least one second aperture from the at least one first aperture to thereby reduce lateral forces imparted to the door frame from the window regulator from transferring to the door lining.
US08661732B2
The present invention provides an electric door-locking apparatus, and an electric door comprising same. The electric door-locking apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a locking switch arranged at a door frame to check the locked status of an electric door body when the electric door body is closed; a screw rotatable in the forward and backward directions; a locking roller guide arranged at the door frame in the vicinity of the screw; and a sliding unit, one end of which is rotatably connected to the screw and the other end of which is connected to the electric door body. The electric door-locking apparatus according to the present invention has a structure which enables simple and easy operation, improves the reliability of the locking function, reduces the risk of failure and erroneous operation, and enables easy manufacture and maintenance to reduce manufacturing costs and maintenance costs as compared to conventional apparatuses.
US08661724B2
Applicant has disclosed a foam swab for cleaning and lubricating firearms. In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises: a molded plastic shank having a threaded free end and a series of parallel rings spaced between parallel spacers; and a foam cover, preferably made of polyurethane, thermally bonded to the spacers. To clean a firearm, solvent or lubricant is applied to the foam cover. Then the threaded end can be screwed into a gun cleaning rod and the foam swab drawn through a firearm bore.
US08661712B2
An article of footwear includes a tongue. The tongue includes a medial portion, a lateral portion, a central portion, a top portion and an upper perimeter portion. The lateral portion, the central portion and the upper perimeter portion include holes. The top portion and medial portion are substantially solid portions without holes. Each portion of the tongue corresponds to a different pressure zone along a foot in order to provide differential cushioning and support against pressure applied by a fastening system.
US08661707B2
A program-controlled laundry drier equipped with a rotary drum in which the material to be dried is inserted and moved during the drying process. The dryer comprising a heater for heating the drying air and a blower which guides the drying air stream into the interior of the drum. The axis of a current generator is mechanically coupled to the rotary drum and the output voltage of the current generator is applied to the excitation winding of a relay whose switching contacts switch the heating current circuit for the drying air.
US08661701B2
A digital angle gauge includes a gauge body having a reference surface that is engageable with an object to be measured for angular inclination. An angle sensor and processor mounted in the body determine an inclination angle of the object with which the reference surface of the gauge body is engaged. A digital screen is pivotally mounted to the gauge body for visually displaying the determined inclination.
US08661700B2
The present system, method, article of manufacture, software, and apparatus is an “intelligent” probe system and components thereof and may openly encompass, in at least an embodiment, an embedded IC chip located in an interchangeable probe(s) which offers repeatable, fast, easy, and error free probe swapping on a CMM.
US08661690B2
The invention relates to scissors and a sharpening device. The scissors include two blades, each blade having a cutting edge and a back edge which respectively form opposite longitudinal edges of the blade. A pivot connects the two blades for relative movement of the blades between an open condition in which the cutting edge of each blade are apart and a closed condition in which each blade are substantially adjacent and the back edge of each blade projects beyond the cutting edge of the other blade. The blades also include a sharpening condition in which the cutting edge of each of the blades can be sharpened. A biasing means is included for biasing the blades away from the sharpening condition towards the closed condition and/or the open condition. The sharpening device is for scissors including two blades having a cutting edge. The sharpening device includes a hollow housing for receiving the blades of the scissors, a pair of positioning units within the housing arranged in an opposed relationship to receive the blades therebetween when the scissors are inserted into the housing, and a pair of sharpener units located within the housing arranged in an opposed relationship to contact the blades therebetween.
US08661688B2
An electric shaver including: a gripper portion to be held by the user's hand; and a head portion configured to hold a shaving-blade unit and supported to be swingable in predetermined directions with respect to the gripper portion, wherein the head portion is provided with an edge-trimmer-blade unit.
US08661683B2
A method and apparatus for preventing damage to a metal component that is susceptible to damage by electro-magnetic effects or reduce manufacturing assembly steps. An initial channel is formed through the metal component. The initial channel is defined by an inner surface. A bushing is placed into the initial channel, wherein the bushing has an outer surface and an inner channel. An interference fit is created between the outer surface of the bushing and the inner surface of the initial channel through the metal component. A final channel is formed through the bushing. In forming the final channel, material is removed from the bushing to increase a size of the inner channel to one that is suitable to receive a fastener and such that the inner surface of the metal component remains unexposed within the final channel. The final channel extends through a second component. A fastener is placed into the final channel to attach the metal component to a second component, wherein electrical magnetic effects occur between the fastener and the bushing.
US08661682B2
A ring manufacturing method of the present invention includes: a laminating step laminating a plurality of metal plates; a junction step jointing the plurality of metal plates by heating and giving pressure; a twisting step heating and twisting the plurality of metal plates after the junction step, an angle stick processing step performing twist processing to the plurality of metal plates to make angle stick shape, a slit formation step forming two longitudinal slits in angle stick component, a ring formation step opening the slits from inside thereof to make two ring components, and a cutting step cutting and separating the two ring components into two rings.
US08661681B2
The invention relates to a method (1) of fabricating a micro-mechanical component that includes the following step: b) forming (3) at least one plate that includes a frame connected by at least one bridge of material to a part of said component, wherein said part has a hole. According to the invention, the method (1) also includes the following steps: e) stacking (5) said at least one plate against a support; f) securing (7) a pin in the hole of said at least one stacked part so as to form the component; g) releasing (9) the component formed from each plate. The invention concerns the field of watchmaking.
US08661672B2
An exhaust gas purifying member comprises a housing an exhaust gas purification block placed in the housing, and an exhaust gas purification block-retaining element inserted in an annular space between the housing and the block. The retaining element is, during manufacture of the member, made from a material including at least one nonfunctional component intended to disappear after a characteristic period of using the member. A method of manufacturing the member comprises assembling the housing, the retaining element, and the exhaust gas purification block to obtain a housing whereof a diameter is equal to a predetermined diameter, and with the installation density of the retaining element being equal to a target installation density after the characteristic usage period of the member.
US08661669B2
A ducted fan gas turbine engine aerofoil is made by electron beam welding together at least two metal sheets (10) and (12) and electron beam welding that sub assembly via an end to a root that has been manufactured in a separate operation, and then heating the whole to a temperature that will convert the electron beam welds to diffusion bonds.
US08661667B2
A hinge arm having a hinge pin hole having a worn bore, for example a hinge arm of a hinge assembly of an access door on a gas turbine engine, is repaired by forming in the worn hinge arm a new hole with a keyway extending outwardly from the new hole. A keyed bushing is provided having a cylindrical body having a central bore extending axially therethrough and a key extending outwardly from the cylindrical hole. The keyed bushing is inserted into the new hole and keyway formed in the hinge arm thereby preventing rotation of the bushing relative to the hinge arm.
US08661658B2
A lashing platform includes a base frame, a setting plate resiliently supported on the base frame, a plurality of screwing devices for inserting twistlocks into container fittings or removing twistlocks from container fittings, a plurality of magazines for accommodating the twistlocks, and a plurality of transfer devices for transferring a twistlock from a magazine to a screwing device or from a screwing device to a magazine. The lashing platform being characterized by at least two units, which are each formed by at least two screwing devices, at least one transfer device, and at least one magazine and which can be moved relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the lashing platform within the base frame, at least one drive for moving the units, and a controller for moving the units into positions in which the screwing devices have access to the container fittings of containers of different size.
US08661655B2
A method for transferring an electronic component supported by a carrier to a desired position on a substrate include moving the carrier supporting the component relative to the substrate while the component is present on a side of the carrier facing towards the substrate, with the component is positioned opposite the desired position on the substrate. Then, a light beam is directed at the carrier, at the location of the component, from a side remote from the substrate, as a result of which a connection between the component and the carrier is broken and the component is transferred from the carrier to the substrate.
US08661654B2
A method for manufacturing a spiral coil, the method including: forming a solenoid having a diameter larger than a length by spirally winding an insulated electric wire; forming a spiral coil having folded corners by folding four corners in a circumference direction with respect to the solenoid; fixing the folded corners of the spiral coil; and fixing two terminal portions corresponding to start and end points of the spiral coil to a fixing module. According to the method, a thin and long spiral coil having folded corners is easily manufactured by using a general insulated electric wire. In addition, the spiral coil manufactured by using such a method is applicable to a surface radio frequency (RF) coil optimized for various applications of an electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) and enables easy access to an optimized transducer.
US08661652B1
RFID tags are assembled through affixing an antenna to an integrated circuit (IC) by forming one or more capacitors coupling the antenna and the IC with the dielectric material of the capacitor(s) including a non-conductive covering layer of the IC, a non-conductive covering layer of the antenna such as an oxide layer, and/or an additionally formed dielectric layer. Top and bottom plates of the capacitor(s) are formed by the antenna traces and one or more patches on a top surface of the IC.
US08661649B1
A method of manufacture of antenna electronics attachment is disclosed. A nutplate is coupled to a mounting plate via a plurality of embedded fastening structures such that mechanical-electronic coupling means allow in-service change-out of an electronic component coupled to the nutplate.
US08661643B1
A portable hand operated hose fitting swaging device preferably includes a swaging frame, the pair of swaging die halves, a hydraulic cylinder, a hand hydraulic pump and a support base. The swaging frame includes a cylinder support, a pair of support straps and a die base. The two swaging die halves are retained in the die base. The swaging die halves include a bore to receive a hose end of a hose fitting. A fitting ram is attached to an end of the cylinder rod of the hydraulic cylinder. The hand hydraulic pump includes a pump, an accumulator and a pump relief valve. The pump includes a removable actuator rod. The removable actuator rod is pulled to generate an output of pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pump forces hydraulic fluid through an output opening. The output opening is connected to the hydraulic cylinder through at least one hydraulic line.
US08661635B2
A piezoelectronic device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The piezoelectronic device has a plurality of carbon nanotubes; at least one piezoceramic layer covering the plurality of carbon nanotubes; and a supporting material for supporting the carbon nanotubes and disposed between the carbon nanotubes, the supporting layer being coated with at least one piezoceramic layer, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes is arranged in a comb-shape.
US08661634B2
A method of manufacturing a flexible piezoelectric device including laminating a first metal layer on a silicon oxide layer on a silicon substrate. The method further includes laminating a device on the first metal layer and annealing the first metal layer to oxidize the first metal into a first metal oxide. The method further includes etching the first metal oxide to separate the device from the silicon oxide layer and transferring the separated device to a flexible substrate using a transfer layer. The metal oxide layer laminated on the silicon substrate is etched to separate the device from the substrate. As a result, physical damage of the silicon substrate is prevented and a cost of using expensive single-crystal silicon substrate is reduced.
US08661630B2
The present invention provides a coating comprising a reservoir layer comprising a semi-crystalline polymer and a primer layer comprising an amorphous polymer on an implantable device and methods of making and using the same.
US08661626B2
A circumferential clamp (2) including a clamping band (4) having oppositely disposed circumferential ends (8, 10) and a latching assembly (6) for securing the ends (8, 10) together. The latching assembly (6) includes first and second latching devices (12, 14), each of which includes an elongate element (16, 26, 28) which is pivotably mounted on the clamping band (4) adjacent one of the ends (8, 10) and is engageable with the clamping band (4) adjacent the other end to latch the ends (8, 10) together. The lengthwise axes of the elongate elements (16, 26, 28) lie in, or intersect, a common plane tangential to the clamping band (4), and may be coincident with, or intersect, each other.
US08661623B2
An attachment selectively attachable to a pet training device that emits signal upon actuation by the hand that grasps the pet training device. The attachment includes an aperture for selectively securing the attachment to a hand and at least one connector for securing the attachment to the pet training device.
US08661620B2
A furniture hinge, comprising a fitting part, a hinge cup that is articulated thereto for fastening to furniture parts, and a cushioning apparatus for cushioning a relative movement between the fitting part and the hinge cup, wherein the cushioning apparatus is disposed in or on the hinge cup, wherein the cushioning apparatus comprises a housing having first fastening means, and second fastening means are disposed on the hinge cup, wherein the housing of the cushioning apparatus can be inserted from above into the hinge cup and in the installed position is disposed substantially completely inside the hinge cup, wherein the housing of the cushioning apparatus and the hinge cup can be connected to each other in said installed position by the first and second fastening means.
US08661617B1
A hooking structure disposed on a door of a vehicle ensures safety of a passenger by preventing the door from being pushed inside in a side collision of the vehicle, by fastening a hooking structure integrally formed with the lower end of the door. The hooking structure may include: a welding flange that is fastened in parallel to an inner panel of a vehicle door; a hooking flange formed perpendicularly to an outer panel of the vehicle door; a connecting portion integrally connecting the welding flange with the hooking flange; a first closed-section flange disposed in an inverted wall shape between the welding flange and the connecting portion; and a second closed-section flange disposed in an inverted wall shape between the hooking flange and the connecting portion.
US08661616B1
A pneumatic door closer having an arming and latching mechanism that once armed permits a door to be held open by placing it in the desired open position and easily released by opening the door slightly, resetting the arming and latching mechanism permitting the door to be closed. A lever having a flat-profile spring over a substantial portion of its exterior surface is rotated into a position adjacent a latching washer causing the latching washer to canter upon a slight closure of the door, locking the door in an open position. Upon release of the door by further opening the door slightly, the cantered latching washer is released and a recoil spring causes the released latching washer to straighten or become uncantered, permitting a piston rod to move freely relative to the latching mechanism causing the door to close. The single piece lever and external flat-profile spring are easily manufactured and assembled and provides a reliable latching mechanism that can be conveniently operated with one hand.
US08661611B2
A dust collector includes a centrifugal separator, a discharge unit having a filtered dust collecting space provided with a discharge unit discharge hole at a discharging side of the centrifugal separator and an intake passage communicating with a bottom of the discharge unit discharge hole, a filter unit provided with a filter member and mounted at the discharge unit discharge hole, and a sealing member including a dust removing device mounted on the filter unit and a dust container formed on a bottom surface of the centrifugal separator, wherein the sealing member opens the filtered dust collecting space and the intake passage by means of the weight thereof and closes the filtered dust collecting space and the intake passage by means of negative pressure.
US08661607B2
The present invention comprises: a collecting section mounted at one side of the pathway, in which the suction force of a vacuum cleaner for sucking dust is transmitted, and moves at least some of the sucked dust towards one direction; a dust collecting section made of transparent material coupled with the collecting section, in which the receiving status of the inflow of dust through the collecting section is exposed to the outside; a discharge section which guides air and dust, which has passed through the dust collecting section, to be discharged into the pathway that transmits the suction force of a vacuum cleaner; and a foreign material discharge means which guides the flow of air into the inner corner of the dust collecting section by the operation of the user and forcibly discharges the remaining dust in the dust collection section to the outside. According to the present invention, the invention enables the user to check the status of the dust that is sucked and the convenient discharge of the dust collected in the inside of the collecting section.
US08661587B1
A generally C-shaped infant support pillow ideal for small, premature or disabled infants. The pillow comprises a center section with two curved arms. The arms may be the same length or one may be longer than the other. Preferably, the end of one arm is receivable in a recess formed in or near the end of the other arm, so that the pillow has an open and a closed position. The arms may have opposing, inwardly-extending bulges that divide the central well into a larger and a smaller secondary well. The inner perimeter of the center section may be elasticized to “hug” the infant. The pillow may include a strap that extends from one arm and attaches to the other. The strap can be stored in a pocket and then unfurled and removably connected to the other arm to hold the ends of the pillow together.
US08661584B1
In a device for controlling an operation of an anti-collision switch, the anti-collision switch is provided in a support close to a guide frame that is provided at at least one of both lateral sides of a table frame, to prevent collision of the table frame that is supported on the table support to be capable of moving in a lengthwise direction. The device includes a first lever coupled to the table support so that at least a portion of the first lever moves in a vertical direction according to deformation of the guide frame, and a second lever pressing the anti-collision switch in a normal state and, when a vertical movement of the first lever deviates from a preset height, being moved up by the first lever to remove pressing of the anti-collision switch and operate the anti-collision switch.
US08661578B2
A patient transfer tube and method for manufacturing the same. In a polyethylene embodiment of the tube, there is at least a base layer that contains at least 85% by weight of polyetheylene, has an overall density of at least 0.935 g/cm3, and has a thickness in the range of 33-64 microns.
US08661575B2
Disclosed is a pool opening to be exposed and/or concealed based on low profile covers constituted by roof components juxtaposed in the direction of the length of the swimming pool and each comprising a cover in a translucent material and a rigid frame formed of two arches placed in transverse planes and braced by longitudinal crosspieces with two end crosspieces delimiting two longitudinal parallel edges to the roof component and which rest on the longitudinal edges of the pool of said swimming pool defining a support surface, the system comprising a storage area located at an end of said pool said storage area being sufficient to accommodate the ground surface of a roof component allowing said roof components to be stored in a stacked way, all of said storage area being horizontally displaced from said pool opening, a wheel configured to mobilize said roof components allowing said roof components to be displaced horizontally along the pool towards and/or away from said storage area, a lifter in the storage area, the lifter being configured to engage said roof components to vertically displace said roof components said storage area, to position one roof component over another roof component in a stacked position.
US08661570B2
Disclosed is a headband with an air cushion pad, which is mounted on a welding mask, a working helmet, a safety mask or a protective mask. A plurality of air pockets is arranged at regular intervals or asymmetrical intervals within the air cushion pad mounted on the entirety or a part of the headband contacting the worker's head, a plurality of projections is formed on the front surface of the air cushion pad contacting the worker's head, the worker's forehead or the rear portion of the worker's head, and if the worker wears the headband, the amount of air filling air pockets is adjusted according to a shape of the worker's head or a pressing degree of the headband onto the worker's head so that the worker may firmly and comfortably wear the headband under the condition that the headband is completely adhered to the worker's head.
US08661567B1
An interior layer has inner and outer surfaces. The interior layer is fabricated of an elastic sweat transferring material. An exterior layer is positioned overlying the interior layer. The exterior layer has inner and outer surfaces. The exterior layer is fabricated of an elastic sweat transferring material. A chamber is formed between the interior layer and the exterior layer. An intermediate layer is provided within the chamber in pressure contact with the interior layer. The intermediate layer is fabricated of a sweat-trapping and containing material.
US08661563B2
An elbow pad is provided for an upper body garment with a sleeve portion having a shoulder end and a wrist end. The elbow pad includes padding material and a substantially J-shaped preferential fold line. The preferential fold line is configured so that the padding material bends along the preferential fold line to cup the wearer's elbow. The elbow pad may have multiple layers. The elbow pad may be attached to an upper body garment, and may be done so as to fill an opening in a sleeve portion of the garment.
US08667606B2
A method for controlling access to client data by support providers includes initiating a session on a server computer in response to receipt of a request for assistance from a client, the session having client data associated therewith. A session key is generated for the session. The session key includes a session identifier and a support provider identifier corresponding to an assignee. The session key may further include a client identifier corresponding to the client. Requests to access the client data include an assignee key including a session identifier and a support provider identifier, and potentially a client identifier if needed. The assignee key is compared to the session key. If correspondence is found between the identifiers in the assignee key and the session key, access is granted. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also described.
US08667593B1
A client computer maintains storage of a trusted set of files. For files that the client computer detects that are not part of the trusted set, a server scans copies of files to protect the client computer against malicious software. After scanning, the server sends to the client computer a scan report indicating in which, if any, of the files malicious software was found. The client computer then sets access directives for the files based on the scan report. The system may be configured so that, when the client computer detects a file that is not part of the trusted set, the client computer creates an identifier for the file and sends the identifier to the server. The server can use the file identifier to determine if it has a copy of the file, and only if it does not will it request a copy of the file.
US08667590B1
A technique for protecting a high availability device in a computer network includes deploying an appliance between the high availability device and a network connection. The high availability device may be a device configured for a manufacturing operation, such as wafer fabrication, for example. The appliance may be a transparent security appliance with a scanning engine for scanning packets for malicious content, such as computer viruses or worms, for example. Scanning control information can be supplied to the appliance by way of either a removable storage medium or a secure server coupled to the appliance, for example. The scanning control information can include a patch update, perhaps with signatures of viruses and associated control instructions. The appliance can then block any malicious content entering the appliance in response to the scanning control information. Among other advantages, the technique allows for low-cost, plug-and-play protection of high availability devices with good scalability to larger network configurations.
US08667588B2
Systems and methods provide an alert correlator and an alert distributor that enable early signs of an attack to be detected and rapidly disseminated to collaborating systems. The alert correlator utilizes data structures to correlate alert detections and provide a mechanism through which threat information can be revealed to other collaborating systems. The alert distributor uses an efficient technique to group collaborating systems and then pass data between certain members of those groups according to a schedule. In this way data can be routinely distributed without generating excess traffic loads.
US08667587B1
A mechanism is provided for determining a safety reputation for a network site in a manner that provides both wide coverage of potentially malicious sites as well as improves the freshness of information from which the safety reputation is derived. Community-based information, such as reports from users related to recently-visited network sites, malware detected by reporting network nodes, non-specific information such as unusual CPU usage and network activity of visiting nodes, and information received from other types of external feeds is used in determining the safety reputation and updating the safety reputation. Such information is analyzed in order to determine network sites that are potential sources of malware, which can then be subjected to more detailed analysis. Historical information as to a site's reputation and other factors such as commercial importance can also be reviewed to make a determination as to whether information being currently gathered by a community of users is sufficient to trigger additional analysis of the network site. Thus, resources used for detailed analysis of suspect network sites is conserved.
US08667576B2
A computer system is provided comprising a non-volatile storage medium and a processor. The processor acquires authentication information from a first removable storage device, stores the authentication information into the non-volatile storage medium, and forbids data access of the computer system when detecting that a second removable storage device has been inserted and identification data of the second removable storage device is different from the authentication information.
US08667574B2
Virtually extending the functionality of a network device to a server is provided. A virtual device which virtually represents functionality of the network device is created. An association is stored between the network device and a user or a group for the network device. A determination is made as to whether the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network or to a disparate network, based on the stored association. A network address for the virtual device is assigned based on the determination. Functionality of the network device is accessed via the virtual device, using the assigned network address for the virtual device.
US08667553B2
A method and mechanism for automating user input in an interactive television system. An interactive application is conveyed concurrently with a broadcast programming stream in an interactive television system to a receiver. The interactive application is configured to provide added content to a television viewer upon a request by the viewer. In order to request the display of the available added content, a viewer may provide an indication that the use of a script is desired. Subsequently, a script corresponding to the interactive application is utilized to provide input to the interactive application in lieu of the viewer actively providing the input necessary to display the added content. In addition, a viewer may configure the receiver to indicate default preferences for the use of scripts. The receiver may then utilize a standardized script to provide input to interactive applications having added content available for viewing. Further, a corresponding program, interactive application, added content, and script may be received and stored on a mass storage device. Subsequently, the stored material may be retrieved for display and execution.
US08667544B2
Vehicular entertainment systems where devices in the systems can each utilize a common type of storage units are presented. A vehicular entertainment system can include a media server head unit in communication over a network with a plurality of media players that are installed about the cabin of a vehicle. Media content can be stored on a plurality of field replaceable storage units where each of the storage units can be installed in any one of the players or the server. Each of the storage units can store a substantially identical content set including passenger content, player content, server content, crew content, or other types of content. The server or players can be restricted from accessing content to which they lack rights, possibly based on a location identifier that indicates roles or responsibilities of the players at their installed location.
US08667543B2
The present invention provides a method and system for improving playing quality of a mobile TV to address the technical problem that the playing quality of a mobile TV is influenced by network coverage discrepancies of a mobile TV. In the present invention, a terminal detects the network signal intensity of a mobile TV, performs a match determination between the network signal intensity and the data rate of the mobile TV, and requests a mobile TV service platform to dynamically adjust the program data rate of the mobile TV according to the result of the match determination. In this way, the present invention improves the playing quality of the programs of the mobile TV, and enables the user to enjoy programs of the mobile TV satisfactorily in different mobile TV network environments.
US08667541B1
A system is provided for intelligent handset remote control. The system includes a processor on a handset and a remote control component. When executed by the processor, the remote control component stores a list of media network providers, determines a location associated with the handset, retrieves an index associated with a media presentation device based on the location, and maps each of the media network providers in the list with at most one entry in the index. The remote control component also presents the list of media network providers to a user interface for the handset as a list of selectable inputs, receives a selection of one of the list of selectable inputs via the user interface, and transmits a command to the media presentation device to present media based on an entry in the index that corresponds to the selection.
US08667532B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing advertisements. A plurality of advertisement targeting criteria is determined from a video stream or file. A first advertisement targeting criterion of the advertisement targeting criteria is associated with a first time position in the video. A second advertisement targeting criterion of the advertisement targeting criteria is associated with a second time position in the video. One or more first advertisements are provided, for presentation at or after the first time position in the video, based on the first advertisement targeting criterion. One or more second advertisements are provided, for presentation at or after the second time position in the video, based on the second advertisement targeting criterion.
US08667530B2
A method and system are disclosed to provide interactivity using an interactive channel bug. The interactive channel bug (e.g., an “interactive broadcast channel branding logo”) allows a television user to access a variety of interactive services. The interactive broadcast channel branding logo may be configured to launch a functionality determined by a broadcaster. This functionality may change over time. The form of the interactive broadcast channel branding logo may also change over time in which the availability of new interactive services is indicated.
US08667528B2
Disclosed is a broadcast advertisement service system based on media ID matching, including: a broadcast-contents receiving terminal for receiving broadcast contents from a broadcasting system for a TV broadcaster and displaying the broadcast contents; a server for an AR advertisement broadcaster for receiving the broadcast contents from the broadcasting system for the TV broadcaster, generating a first media ID lookup table from the broadcast contents, and searching for AR advertisement data linked with on-air broadcast contents by referring to the first media ID lookup table; and a user terminal for acquiring the on-air broadcast contents in real time from the broadcast-contents receiving terminal, generating a second media ID lookup table from the acquired on-air broadcast contents, receiving the AR advertisement data linked with the on-air broadcast contents from the server for the AR advertisement broadcaster, and mixing and displaying the acquired on-air broadcast contents and the received AR advertisement data in real time.
US08667526B2
A system may present video content with a data scroll on a video display device. The data scroll may include data scroll items that are automatically and consecutively presented on the video display device. Each of the data scroll items may include information associated with a particular topic. The system may receive a selection of a softkey corresponding to one of the data scroll items, retrieve, in response to receiving the selection of the softkey, additional content corresponding to the particular topic associated with the one of the data scroll items, and present the additional content on the video display device.
US08667517B2
Provided is a compact-type objective lens (OBL) holder and the like provided with a bobbin making it possible to appropriately wind a coil therearound. An OBL holder of the present invention includes: a main surface portion provided with a fixing part on which an objective lens is fixed; and a first side-wall portion and a second side-wall portion provided with bobbins around which tracking coils for driving the OBL holder itself by using a magnetic effect are wound. Further, in the present invention, each bobbin includes a tubular portion and a through-hole penetrating the tubular portion in a thickness direction thereof. Thus, an adhesive can be supplied to the tracking coil through the through-hole.
US08667515B2
A casing structure of an optical disc drive (ODD) includes an ODD case body and a panel part. The ODD case body includes a body and an embedded portion, where the embedded portion is located on the body and has a combination hole. The panel part includes a panel and a positioning portion, where the positioning portion is located on the panel and includes a positioning post and a limit part, the positioning post is disposed on the embedded portion and embedded in the combination hole, so that the panel is fixed to the body, and the panel and the limit part clamp the body. The panel masks a part of the body.
US08667511B2
A storage system comprising: a SCSI initiator being configured for receiving a data request and providing a SMP request corresponding to the data request, the SCSI initiator being further configured for encapsulating the SMP request into a first SCSI command; a SCSI target being configured for receiving the first SCSI command, the SCSI target being further configured for recognizing encapsulation of the SMP request and obtaining the SMP request from the first SCSI command; and an SMP target being configured for processing the SMP request and providing an SMP response to the SCSI target. The SCSI target being further configured for acknowledging the SCSI initiator upon reception of the SMP response; and the SCSI initiator being further configured for sending a second SCSI command to the SCSI target to retrieve the SMP response.
US08667510B2
A system and method for providing time-sensitive information to a handset using a scrolling ticker. The method includes receiving the time-sensitive information at a server, determining the time period before the next update for a second set of information, and if less than a pre-determined value, then streaming the time sensitive information at the end of the time period to the handset. If the time period is greater that than the pre-determined value, then streaming the time-sensitive information immediately. In an alternative embodiment, a method is provided which includes determining a base schedule for periodically streaming the information to a handset via a scrolling ticker, receiving time-sensitive information relating to an event, determining a second schedule for periodically streaming time-sensitive information related to the event, and streaming the time-sensitive information in accordance with the second schedule during a time period associated with the event.
US08667508B2
A method for providing stand-in objects, where relationships among objects are automatically resolved in an object oriented relational database model without the necessity of retrieving data from the database until it is needed. A “fault” class is defined, as well as fault objects whose data haven't yet been fetched from the database. An object that's created for the destination of a relationship whenever an object that includes the relationship is fetched from the database. When an object is fetched that has relationships, fault objects are created to “stand-in” for the destination objects of those relationships. Fault objects transform themselves into the actual enterprise objects—and fetch their data—the first time they're accessed. Subsequently, messages sent to the target objects are responded to by the objects themselves.
US08667504B2
Fault isolation capabilities made available by user space can be provided for a embedded network storage system without sacrificing efficiency. By giving user space processes direct access to specific devices (e.g., network interface cards and storage adapters), processes in a user space can initiate Input/Output requests without issuing system calls (and entering kernel mode). The multiple user spaces processes can initiate requests serviced by a user space device driver by sharing a read-only address space that maps the entire physical memory one-to-one. In addition, a user space process can initiate communication with another user space process by use of transmit and receive queues similar to transmit and receiver queues used by hardware devices. And, a mechanism of ensuring that virtual addresses that work in one address space reference the same physical page in another address space is used.
US08667501B2
Performing a local barrier operation with parallel tasks executing on a compute node including, for each task: retrieving a present value of a counter; calculating, in dependence upon the present value of the counter and a total number of tasks performing the local barrier operation, a base value of the counter, the base value representing the counter's value prior to any task joining the local barrier; calculating, in dependence upon the base value and the total number of tasks performing the local barrier operation, a target value, the target value representing the counter's value when all tasks have joined the local barrier; joining the local barrier, including atomically incrementing the value of the counter; and repetitively, until the present value of the counter is no less than the target value of the counter: retrieving the present value of the counter and determining whether the present value equals the target value.
US08667499B2
Systems and methods are described for managing requests for computing capacity from a provider of computing resources. The computing resources may include program execution capabilities, data storage or management capabilities, network bandwidth, etc. In some implementations, user requests are probabilistically denied or granted while some computing resources are still available. By denying some requests or granting only some, the rate of computing resource usage can be reduced, thus preserving some capacity for a longer period of time. In one embodiment, the capacity can be provided to clients based on client priority, provided to clients with reserved resources, provided to clients probabilistically, sold on a spot market, or allocated in some other fashion.
US08667494B1
Described are techniques for allocating resources. Two consumer processes using two resources are provided. A first threshold of a first of the resources for a first of said two consumer processes is provided. A second threshold of a second of said resources for said first consumer process is provided. Consumption information is received regarding actual consumption of the two resources by the first consumer process. Execution of the first consumer process is scheduled in accordance with the first and the second thresholds and the consumption information.
US08667492B2
A method for controlling runtime behavior of processes of an automation system is provided. A priority is assigned to each of the processes, wherein an operating system of the automation system assigns runtime to the processes as a function of their priority. A scheduling service monitors starting and ending of all processes, wherein the highest priority available in the operating system is assigned to the scheduling service. Metadata is assigned to at least one process, the data including at least one rule on the priority of the process. The scheduling service analyzes the metadata and registers the process for monitoring when starting a process to which metadata is assigned, wherein the scheduling service monitors the registered processes for compliance with the at least one rule per process, and wherein the scheduling service modifies the priorities of the registered processes, the at least one rule of which is in non-compliance, according to the rule.
US08667491B2
A method of executing a workflow in a computer includes representing a main workflow of at least one computer as a series of steps which are linked to define the workflow, the steps being grouped in at least two groups. The method includes representing a transition workflow as at least one transition step, the transition step not being linked to the steps of the main workflow and defining a rule for executing the transition workflow based on transitions between steps of different groups. The method includes executing in at least one computer the steps of the main workflow in an order defined by the links. The method includes evaluating the rule to determine whether the rule applies when, during the executing, a step from one of the groups is followed by a step from another of the groups and executing in at least one computer the steps of the transition workflow when the rule applies.
US08667485B2
A file executing method for executing a computer executable code set stored in a hidden storage area of a storage device in an operating system of a computer host is provided. The method includes connecting the storage device to the computer host and providing a loader for managing the computer executable code set. The method also includes running the loader in a main memory of the computer host, requesting the operating system to allocate a first address segment in the main memory for running the loader, loading the computer executable code set from the hidden storage area into the first address segment by using the loader, transforming the computer executable code set into an executable content of the operation system by using the loader and storing the executable content into the first address segment; and establishing a derivative execution procedure by using the loader to execute the executable content.
US08667475B2
A program-converting module for a multi-axis cooperated machine and a program-converting method. Machining programs and mechanism data of a plurality of first machines are input to a first input module. Mechanism data of a plurality of second machines are input to a second input unit. A setting unit sets at least one of the first machines to be a source machine, and sets one of the second machines to be a target machine. A conversion unit uses a kinematical method to convert the machining program of the source machine into a machining program applicable to the target machine based on the mechanism data of the source and target machines, without requiring CAD/CAM software.
US08667460B2
A computer system is used to create an application. An application is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a master application template by creating an application representation and creating associated metadata that define at least one allowable modification that may be made to the application representation. The master application template may be certified. A child application template is derived from the master application template by deleting at least one allowable modification of the master application template, or by deleting, adding, or modifying at least one constraint to at least one allowable modification of the master application template, where the effect of the deletion, addition, or modification is to reduce the scope of the allowable modification to the child application template source code. The child application template is used to create an application.
US08667445B2
The invention discloses a power mesh management method utilized in an integrated IC. The integrated circuit includes a macro block including at least a macro block power supplying line growing along a first direction. The management method includes: defining a plurality of first power supplying lines located in a metal layer above the macro block, wherein each of the first supplying lines grows along the first direction; defining a plurality of second power supplying lines located in another metal layer above the macro block, wherein each of the second supplying lines grows along a second direction; defining a partial power supplying line from the plurality of first power supplying lines where the partial power supplying line overlaps the macro block power supplying line; and removing the partial power supplying line from the plurality of first power supplying lines.
US08667430B1
A method of fabricating an integrated circuit includes designing an optical photomask for forming a pre-pattern opening in a photoresist layer on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the photoresist layer and the pre-pattern opening are coated with a self-assembly material that undergoes directed self-assembly (DSA) to form a DSA pattern. Designing the optical photomask includes using a computing system, inputting a DSA target pattern, and using the computing system, applying a DSA model to the DSA target pattern to generate a first DSA directing pattern. Further, the step of designing the optical photomask includes using the computing system, calculating a residual between the DSA target pattern and the DSA directing pattern, and using the computing system, applying the DSA model to the first DSA directing pattern and the residual to generate a second, updated DSA directing pattern. Generating the second, updated DSA directing pattern includes linearizing a self-consistent field theory equation.
US08667426B2
An input apparatus includes an input unit that receives a predetermined motion image signal, a motion detecting unit that detects a motion from the motion image signal received by the input unit, a video signal processing unit that outputs a predetermined video signal when a motion detected by the motion detecting unit is a predetermined motion, and a control unit that controls the video signal processing unit, in which the control unit controls the motion detecting unit not so as to detect a motion when the predetermined video signal is being outputted by the video signal processing unit, thereby providing a useful input apparatus for a user.
US08667420B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for presenting and browsing hierarchical data. A hierarchical chart is displayed with a primary entity being displayed in a center region of the display. One or more peers to the primary entity are displayed along a horizontal axis in comparison to the primary entity. One or more parents to the primary entity are displayed above the primary entity, and one or more children to the primary entity are displayed beneath the primary entity. A method for performing searches against a hierarchical chart is also described. Input is received for a name to search for in a hierarchical chart. A filter criteria selection is received. A search is performed against the hierarchical chart to find one or more matching records that match the name and the filter criteria. The one or more matching records are displayed, with at least a name and photo.
US08667417B1
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for pop-up suppression. A method for pop-up suppression in a display of a web page to a user is provided. The method includes detecting a web page request for a pop-up. The method also includes automatically running the pop-up based on the web page request in a minimized pop-up window when the web page request for the pop-up is detected. A system for pop-up suppression is also provided. The system includes a pop-up manager configured to place a pop-up based on a web page request in a minimized pop-up window when the web page request for the pop-up is detected. The system also includes an execution module configured to run the pop-up in the minimized pop-up window. The system further includes a window module configured to open a minimized pop-up window for display when a user selects the minimized pop-up window.
US08667416B2
Functionality is implemented to determine that a first content presented by a first graphical user interface container is related to a second content presented by a second graphical user interface container. The first graphical user interface container and the second graphical user interface container are merged to generate a merged container that presents a merged content. The merged content comprises a first constituent content of the merged container that corresponds to the first content and a second constituent content of the merged container that corresponds to the second content. It is determined that a first action associated with the first constituent content can operate upon the second constituent content. The first action operates on the first constituent content when invoked. Computer program code that implements the first action is reconfigured to operate upon the first and the second constituent content of the merged container.
US08667403B2
A mobile terminal and group chat controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a chat content transceived in an performed group chat after a join-impossible state can be received in the course of performing the group chat if impossible to join the group chat. The present invention includes performing a group chat with a plurality of counterparts, displaying a chat window of the performed group chat, if the mobile terminal is impossible to join the group chat (i.e., if the mobile terminal enters a join-impossible state) in the course of performing the group chat, receiving chat contents transceived among a plurality of the counterparts in the performed group chat after the join-impossible state, and displaying the received chat contents.
US08667398B2
A real time notification system that tracks, for each user, the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system and displays that information in real time to the tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists”, that track specific co-users in real-time automatically. A user can create many separate buddy lists of co-users, either with intersecting or disjoint lists of users, and label these buddy lists according to the user's preference. The user can update a buddy list or create new buddy lists whenever necessary. When a user logs on to a system, the user's set of buddy lists is presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user's buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user's buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system.
US08667387B2
A method and system are disclosed for acquiring and transforming existing content (e.g., Hyper Text Markup Language HTML content) for display and execution on multiple platforms and architectures. In one embodiment, capture templates are created to harvest content from disparate content sources on multiple platforms. Data is extracted from the content from the disparate content sources using the created capture templates that drives extracting process. A standardized data stream is generated from the extracted data. The standardized data stream is provided for display on one or more different type of platforms.
US08667386B2
A method of rendering an optimized web page or other resource includes requesting a resource and receiving a response including a user interface control declaration and a data array containing properties for the user interface control. The data array is parsed to produce a first property value, and a property of the user interface control is modified to correspond to the first property value. Alternatively, the response may not include a user interface control declaration, but a user interface control may be instantiated having a property that corresponds to the first property value. The property value may have been determined dynamically based at least in part on information provided with the request.
US08667381B1
An element of a block diagram may be modified to produce a modified block diagram. A change record including a change entry associated with a modification of the element may be created. A commentary related to the modification may be received. The commentary may be associated with the change entry. The change record may be associated with the modified block diagram. The modification may be displayed. The change entry with the associated commentary my be displayed proximate to the displayed modification.
US08667377B1
In one embodiment, a block code decoder is provided. The block code decoder includes a first decoder configured to decode Bose-Chaudhuri-Hochquenghem (“BCH”) coded data packets and a second decoder configured to receive and decode Reed-Solomon (“RS”) encoded data from the first decoder. The first decoder includes a first buffer configured to receive BCH encoded data and one or more BCH decoder circuits coupled to the first buffer. Each BCH decoder circuit decodes a plurality of BCH encoded bits in parallel. A second buffer is arranged to store the decoded BCH data. The second decoder includes a third buffer, arranged to receive the RS encoded data from the first decoder, one or more RS decoder circuits configured to decode a plurality of RS encoded bits in parallel, and a fourth buffer arranged to store RS payload data decoded by the RS decoder circuits.
US08667372B2
An estimating unit estimates, when there is a request for data in a system in which an error checking unit of data is formed with a plurality of memories each of which is a dual memory having an independent address line, whether an error has occurred on the address line based on a result of an error checking for data related to the request. A control unit generates, when it is estimated that an error has occurred on the address line, error data of the data related to the request, and controls the memory in such a manner that one line of the dual memory is disabled by switching the data related to the request to generated error data.
US08667362B2
A system, method and computer program product is provided for mitigating the effects of burst noise on packets transmitted in a communications system. A transmitting device applies an outer code, which may include, for example, a block code, an exclusive OR (XOR) code, or a repetition code, to one or more packets prior to adaptation of the packets for transmission over the physical (PHY) layer of the communications system, wherein the PHY layer adaptation may include FEC encoding of individual packets. The outer coded packets are then separately transmitted over a channel of the communications system. A receiving device receives the outer coded packets, performs PHY level demodulation and optional FEC decoding of the packets, and then applies outer code decoding to the outer coded packets in order to restore packets that were erased during transmission due to burst noise or other impairments on the channel.
US08667361B1
Systems and methods are provided for decoding data using hard decisions and erasures. Circuitry receives data from each of a plurality of variable nodes which correspond to bits of data being decoded. Each variable node stores one of at least three values. The circuitry determines processes the values received from the plurality of variable nodes according to a set of processing rules. The processing rules are used to determine a condition related to the values stored by the plurality of variable nodes. The circuitry stores an indication of the stored condition at a check node.
US08667353B2
A semiconductor chip having a functional block that performs a communication function includes an input circuit that supplies an oscillating test signal to the functional block, and a test circuit that detects the strength of an oscillating signal which the functional block outputs in response. A strength signal indicating the detected strength is output from the test circuit through an external terminal of the semiconductor chip to a test device. The test device evaluates the strength signal to decide whether an operating characteristic of the functional block is within a specified range. The strength information indicated by the strength signal is not affected by impedance on the signal transmission line between the semiconductor chip and the test device, so the test is not affected by impedance loss.
US08667350B2
An integrated circuit or circuit board includes functional circuitry and a scan path. The scan path includes a test data input lead, a test data output lead, a multiplexer, and scan cells. A dedicated scan cell has a functional data output separate from a test data output. Shared scan cells each have a combined output for functional data and test data. The shared scan cells are coupled in series. The test data input of the first shared scan cell is connected to the test data output of the dedicated scan cell. The combined output of one shared scan cell is coupled to the test data input lead of another shared scan cell. The multiplexer has an input coupled to the test data output, an input connected to the combined output lead of the last shared scan cell in the series, and an output connected in the scan path.
US08667340B2
A distributed computing system includes a plurality of intercommunicating component machines. In a method for alert processing, when a component machine fails to perform an operation, and no alert information regarding that operation is currently stored by that component machine, peer machines among the component machines are identified with regard to the operation. Notification is sent to the peer machines regarding failure to perform the operation, notifying the peer machines to store alert information regarding the operation. The component machine stores the alert information regarding the operation and issues an alert corresponding to the failure to perform the operation. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions is also described.
US08667336B2
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method determines whether one or more manageability conditions are present in a computer system, and then invokes an out-of-service manageability remediation environment stored within a portion of a flash device in the computer system when one or more manageability conditions are present.
US08667324B2
In one embodiment, a cache element allocation method is provided. Each cache element on a CPU is assigned a quality rank based on the error rate of the cache element. If an allocated cache element is deemed to be faulty, the quality rank of the faulty allocated cache element is compared with the quality rank of the non-allocated cache elements. If a non-allocated cache element has a lower quality rank than the allocated cache element, the non-allocated cache element is swapped in for the allocated cache element.
US08667319B2
Clock management is implemented using a variety of systems, devices and methods. According to one embodiment a clock transitioning circuit arrangement (104) is implemented for receiving data from a processor system (102) via a data bus (212, 214) and for modifying a state a clock-generation unit (106) having a local memory for controlling a plurality of clock outputs that provide clock signals for use by the processing system (102). The arrangement has a memory circuit (206) for storing the data from the processor system (102) and a control circuit (208) for accessing the data in the memory circuit (206) in response to a request to change a clock signal provided by an output of the plurality of clock outputs and for providing corresponding data to the local memory of the clock generation unit (106).
US08667315B2
A synchronization control apparatus includes a counter that carries out a counting and outputs resulting count information, a timeout time holder that holds a predetermined timeout time and outputs the timeout time, a comparator that compares the count information output from the counter and the timeout time output from the timeout time holder, a synchronization controller that monitors a synchronization between a first processor and a second processor by comparing an output from the first processor and an output from the second processor and starts a counting, when a mis-match of the outputs from the first processor and the second processor is detected and wherein the comparator detects that the count information and the timeout time match, the comparator stops either the first processor or second processor in which a synchronization delay has occurred.
US08667314B2
A power switching circuit of a portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device can be coupled to an expansion device. The power switching circuit includes a first power terminal, a second power terminal, a first switch module, a second switch module, and a power pin. The first switch module is coupled to the first power terminal. The second switch module is coupled to the second power terminal. The power pin is coupled to the first switch module and the second switch module, respectively. When the portable electronic device is not coupled to the expansion device, the first switch module and the second switch module are turned off, such that first power provided by the first power terminal and second power provided by the second power terminal fail to be provided for the power pin via the first switch module and the second switch module.
US08667313B2
An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a System on Chip (SoC) are provided. The SoC includes a clock unit for providing clocks to all elements included in the SoC, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) for controlling the SoC to perform designated functions, a main regulator for supplying power provided from an external battery to remaining elements included in the SoC other than a PMU, and a restoration processor for storing, in the PMU, registration information on the CPU and all peripherals included in the SoC when a transition from an active state to a sleep state is made. The PMU stops provision of a clock from the CPU by controlling the clock unit for stopping provision of all clocks by controlling the clock unit and for controlling the main regulator to be powered off when the restoration processor, wherein the PMU requests the restoration processor to store the registration information, completes the register information storing, when the transition from the sleep state to the active state is made.
US08667311B2
Aspects of a method and system for optimized power management for a network device supporting PCI-E and energy efficient Ethernet are provided. In this regard, in a network interface controller that supports energy efficient Ethernet, a PCI-E core may be transitioned from a low power PCI-E state to a full power PCI-E state when a PHY core in the network interface controller initiates transition from a low power mode to a full power mode and before the PHY core receives an Ethernet packet. In another embodiment, the PHY core in the network interface controller may be transitioned from a low power mode to a full power mode when the PCI-E core initiates transition from a low power PCI-E state to a full power PCI-E state, and before the PCI-E core receives a command to send an Ethernet packet.
US08667304B2
Conditional access to media content of primary security systems on a secondary networked environment. In one embodiment, a conditional access server is used to provide services to secondary CA clients (e.g., a bridge, a renderer, a storage, or their different combinations) through network connections. Containing data representing the subscriber, a conditional access server recovers entitlement data and/or decryption keys of a primary security system for the conditional access protected content, such as service keys and control words, and/or enforces conditional access to the content by secondary CA clients according to the authorization of the primary security system for the secondary CA clients. In one embodiment, a conditional access system provides delayed authorization for use so that the content can be recorded for later use when authorized and broadcasts rights for use on multiple secondary CA clients.
US08667302B2
A signature generating device includes a receiving unit that receives a sequence of data; a summary data generating unit that generates summary data of the data upon reception of each of the data by the receiving unit; an obtaining unit that obtains, when the number of data included in a sequence of the generated summary data reaches a given number, the sequence of the summary data as a block; a setting unit that sets, as a signature subject, a current block constituted by the sequence of the summary data, and the summary data selected from at least one block contiguous to the current block; a digital signature generating unit that generates a digital signature concerning data summarized for the current block; and a sending unit that sends the generated digital signature, the signature subject associated with the digital signature, and the data summarized for the current block.
US08667301B2
In a first computer (digital) data obfuscation process, data which is conventionally arranged in a data structure called an array (e.g., a table) and conventionally stored in computer or computer device memory is obfuscated (masked) by logically or mathematically combining the data, entry-by-entry, with a masking value which is computed as a logical or mathematical function of the entry itself or its index in the array, modulo a security value. The complementary unmasking value is a pointer to the entry's address in the table modulo the security value. In a second computer (digital) data obfuscation process, the addresses (location designations) in memory of a data array are themselves obfuscated (masked) by partitioning the array into blocks of entries and shuffling the order of the data entries in each block by a predetermined algorithm, resulting in a shuffled array also differing from the original array in terms of its size (the total number of entries).
US08667300B2
Encrypted video data is decrypted as first image data. If a first image processing module includes an output processing to an outside of a first secure memory which an access from an outside of an apparatus is restricted, the first image processing module is converted to a second image processing module including the output processing invalidated. The first image data is processed using the second image processing module, by accessing the first secure memory, and second image data is generated. If a first rendering module includes an output processing to an outside of a second secure memory which an access from the outside of the apparatus is restricted, the first rendering module is converted to a second rendering module including the output processing invalidated. The second image data is rendered using the second rendering module, by accessing the second secure memory.
US08667296B1
A method for generating a password for a user account. The method includes selecting a media item from a media library associated with a user; selecting a portion of the media item; generating a password based on the selected portion of the media item, where at least a portion of the password is based on selecting a first letter of a word included in the portion of the media item; and presenting the password as a suggested password to the user.
US08667289B2
Method, apparatus, and media for embedding a watermark in digital content. An exemplary method comprises receiving digital content in an encrypted form, receiving a decryption key associated with the digital content, receiving permitted use information specifying conditions under which the digital content is permitted to be rendered and indicating that a watermark is to be embedded in a rendered copy of the digital content, determining whether the conditions are satisfied, and rendering the digital content if the conditions are satisfied based on the determining, the rendering including generating a watermark based on the permitted use information and creating a rendered copy of the digital content having the watermark embedded therein.
US08667285B2
The invention provides a method, apparatus, computer readable medium and signal which allows the usage of devices containing PKI private keys such as PKI-enabled smart cards or USB sticks to authenticate users and to sign transactions. The authenticity of the user and/or the message is verified. Furthermore the operation (authentication and/or signing) occurs without the need for an application to have some kind of a direct or indirect digital connection with the device containing the private key. In addition the operation occurs without the need for the PKI-enabled device containing the private key (e.g. a PKI smart card or USB stick) to either support symmetric cryptographic operations or to have been personalized with some secret or confidential data element that can be read by a suitable reader.
US08667283B2
A message is signed using a PUF without having to exactly regenerate a cryptographic key. Another party that shares information about the PUF is able to verify the signature to a high degree of accuracy (i.e., high probability of rejection of a forged signature and a low probably of false rejection of a true signature). In some examples, the information shared by a recipient of a message signature includes a parametric model of operational characteristics of the PUF used to form the signature.
US08667281B1
A computer-implemented method for transferring authentication credentials may include 1) identifying a request to receive an authentication credential that is stored on a first computing device onto a second computing device, 2) identifying an asymmetric key pair on the second computing device, 3) generating an identifier of the asymmetric key pair on the second computing device, 4) transmitting an encryption key of the asymmetric key pair and the identifier of the asymmetric key pair to a credential repository, 5) displaying the identifier of the asymmetric key pair to facilitate retrieval of the authentication credential from the credential repository based on the identifier, and 6) retrieving the authentication credential, encrypted with the encryption key of the asymmetric key pair, from the credential repository. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08667278B2
An apparatus stores first divided trust information which is one portion resulting from division of trust information generated by a transmission target apparatus that is a transmission target for data, receives a transmission request for the data from the target apparatus and receives second divided trust information which is the other portion resulting from division of the trust information of the target apparatus and verification information generated using information indicating a state of the target apparatus that made the request, recovers the trust information using the first divided trust information stored and the received second divided trust information, verifies trustworthiness of the target apparatus using the recovered trust information and the received verification information, transmits the data indicated by the request to the target apparatus when the verification of trustworthiness is successful.
US08667277B1
Text containing files are encrypted by first formatting the files for display. The display-formatted files are then coded to form files indicating the information. The files are encrypted. The coding can determine a distance of a transition between a first color and a second color in the display file, and code that distance to form coded distance information and encrypt the coded distance information.
US08667265B1
Detection and deterrence of device tampering and subversion by substitution may be achieved by including a cryptographic unit within a computing device for binding multiple hardware devices and mutually authenticating the devices. The cryptographic unit includes a physically unclonable function (“PUF”) circuit disposed in or on the hardware device, which generates a binding PUF value. The cryptographic unit uses the binding PUF value during an enrollment phase and subsequent authentication phases. During a subsequent authentication phase, the cryptographic unit uses the binding PUF values of the multiple hardware devices to generate a challenge to send to the other device, and to verify a challenge received from the other device to mutually authenticate the hardware devices.
US08667254B1
In one embodiment, a network device is disclosed. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a processor and a core memory having a receive buffer and a transmit buffer. The device comprises a bus coupled to the processor and the core memory. The device comprises at least one co-processor coupled to the core memory via a direct link, wherein the at least one co-processor is capable of accessing at least one of: the receive buffer, or the transmit buffer, without assistance from the processor.
US08667249B2
A method and apparatus for matching parent processor address translations to media processors' address translations and providing concurrent memory access to a plurality of media processors through separate translation table information. In particular, a page directory for a given media application is copied to a media processor's page directory when the media application allocates memory that is to be shared by a media application running on the parent processor and media processors.
US08667248B1
A data storage device is disclosed including a non-volatile media having a first and a second plurality of physical locations, the first plurality of physical locations storing user data and the non-volatile media storing first metadata associating each of the first plurality of physical locations with a logical block address (LBA), and a mapping table including a mapping of each LBA to a current physical location. The data storage device further includes control circuitry that reads the first metadata to obtain a first plurality of LBAs, reads the mapping table to determine a current physical location for the first plurality of LBAs, and compares the current physical location of each of the first plurality of LBAs to a corresponding one of the first plurality of physical locations to identify valid user data in the first plurality of physical locations for migration into the second plurality of physical locations.
US08667245B2
Provided are techniques for migrating a first extent, determining a spatial distance between the first extent and a second extent, determining a ratio of a profiling score of the second extent to the spatial distance, and, in response to determining that the ratio exceeds a threshold, migrating the second extent.
US08667244B2
In one implementation, a data set including a plurality of data values having an order is stored at a memory having a plurality of memory locations. Each data value from the data set stored a current memory location of that data value from the plurality of memory locations. Each data value from the data set is periodically moved from the current memory location of that data value from the plurality of memory locations to a next memory location of that data value from the plurality of memory locations. The next memory location of each data value from the plurality of memory locations is the current memory location of that data value from the plurality of memory locations after the moving. The plurality of data values is then provided in the order to a client in response to a request for the data set.
US08667239B1
Data de-duplication (“de-dupe”) allows IT organizations to replace aging tape systems with disk-based backup solutions and minimize the storage allocated to backup and data protection. The effectiveness of de-dupe technology is dependent on the data being protected. Data streams with little data repetitiveness provide disappointing results when processed through a block-level de-dupe engine. To avoid this problem, Assisted Mainframe De-Dupe (AMDD) technology can insure that filesystem block-level de-dupe products efficiently de-dupe tape backup streams received from IBM™ and/or compatible mainframes. By pre-processing backup tape volumes before sending the data to storage, AMDD insures that large amounts of unchanged data lines up on de-dupe block boundaries each time the data is sent to the de-dupe process engine. By providing “well-behaved” data to the de-dupe process, AMDD can improve the effectiveness of de-dupe processing and substantially reduce the storage used to backup critical mainframe DASD resources.
US08667237B2
A method for deleting a relation between a source and a target in a multi-target architecture is described. The multi-target architecture includes a source and multiple targets mapped thereto. In one embodiment, such a method includes initially identifying a relation for deletion from the multi-target architecture. A target associated with the relation is then identified. The method then identifies a sibling target that inherits data from the target. Once the target and the sibling target are identified, the method copies the data from the target to the sibling target. The relation between the source and the target is then deleted. A corresponding computer program product is also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08667236B2
A host write based write ordering mechanism is used so the write ordering on the secondary system is derived from the write ordering applied by the host to the primary system. In this scheme any set of writes that was issued in parallel on the primary system may also be issued in parallel on the secondary system. The parallel writes provide better performance compared to absolute or strict write ordering allowing only one outstanding write per volume group.
US08667235B2
Data storage and retrieval methods and apparatus are provided for facilitating data de-duplication for serial-access storage media such as tape. During data storage, input data is divided into a succession of chunks and, for each chunk, a corresponding data item is written to the storage media. The data item comprises the chunk data itself where it is the first occurrence of that data, and otherwise comprises a chunk-data identifier identifying that chunk of subject data. To facilitate reconstruction of the original data on read-back from the storage media a cache (50) is used together with a database (35R), stored on the media, that includes for each duplicated chunk, the location of the corresponding chunk of subject data.
US08667221B2
An apparatus to detect streaming data in memory is presented. In one embodiment the apparatus use reuse bits and S-bits status for cache lines wherein an S-bit status indicates the data in the cache line are potentially streaming data. To enhance the efficiency of a cache, different measures can be applied to make the streaming data become the next victim during a replacement.
US08667214B2
Method and apparatus to store configuration information in an option read-only memory are described.
US08667203B2
Methods and systems are described for transmitting and displaying video data after a hot plug event during a start-up dead period. In particular, hot plug events occurring when a toggleable hot plug detection mechanism is used.
US08667198B2
Data processing systems with interrupts and methods for operating such data processing systems and machine readable media for causing such methods and containing executable program instructions. In one embodiment, an exemplary data processing system includes a processing system, an interrupt controller coupled to the processing system and a timer circuit which is coupled to the interrupt controller. The interrupt controller is configured to provide a first interrupt signal and a second interrupt signal to the processing system. The processing system is configured to maintain a data structure (such as, e.g., a list) of time-related events for a plurality of processes, and the processing system is configured to cause the entry of a value, representing a period of time, into the timer circuit. The timer circuit is configured to cause an assertion of the first interrupt signal in response to an expiration of the time period.
US08667196B2
A method and apparatus are provided for mapping addresses between one or more slave devices and at least one corresponding master device in a multilayer interconnect system including a plurality of bus matrices for interfacing between the one or more slave devices and the master device. The method and apparatus are operative for receiving an address map corresponding to the system, receiving information regarding connectivity of one or more slave devices through at least one of the bus matrices, determining whether the master device has more than one default slave unit associated therewith, and, when the master device has more than one default slave unit associated therewith, generating first and second address mappings and configuring the system to have no more than one default slave unit per master device.
US08667188B2
A method for communicating between a computer and a data storage device comprises receiving, by a data storage device, information indicative of a plurality of commands and information indicative of a memory location in a computer associated with each of the plurality of commands. The method further comprises executing, by the data storage device, one of the plurality of commands. In one embodiment, executing the command comprises directly accessing the computer memory location associated with the command.
US08667186B2
The disclosed method includes obtaining a result concerning a busy rate and the number of accesses per unit time for a storage device including first and second storage areas; determining, from the result, whether an event that a first indicator value for the busy rate is reset occurs; when the event occurred, notifying a controller that makes the number of accesses for the second storage area not greater than the notified number of accesses of the first number of accesses less than the second number of accesses, which was notified immediately before; obtaining another result; updating the first indicator value based on another result; calculating the third number of accesses so that a sum of busy rates corresponding to the third number of accesses and corresponding to the designated number of accesses becomes equal to the updated first indicator value; and notifying the controller of the third number of accesses.
US08667177B2
An example network device includes a set of interfaces, a control unit, and a forwarding engine. The control unit includes an interface group information repository that stores data defining interface groups. Each interface group includes one or more interfaces. The forwarding engine includes a media access control (MAC) address repository that stores a mapping of a first interface to a source MAC address, and a MAC address management module that determines whether an interface group to which the first interface is assigned is the same interface group as the interface group to which a second interface is assigned. The control unit is configured to receive a layer two (L2) communication via the second interface, wherein the L2 communication includes the source MAC address. The forwarding engine dynamically updates the MAC address repository based on the determination of the MAC address management module.
US08667169B2
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving network traffic associated with a first user and a second user; evaluating keywords in the network traffic in order to identify a topic of discussion involving the first and the second users; determining a first sentiment associated with a first data segment associated with the first user; determining a second sentiment associated with a second data segment associated with the second user; and generating an argument map based on the first data sentiment and the second data sentiment.
US08667166B2
Resource-aware dynamic bandwidth control uses information about current network state and receiver performance to avoid, minimize and/or recover from the effects of network spikes and data processing spikes. Linear models may be used to estimate a time required to process data packets in a data processing queue, and are thus useful to determine whether a data processing spike is occurring. When a data processing spike occurs, an alarm may be sent from a client to a server notifying the server that the client must drop packets. In response, the server can encode and transmit an independent packet suitable for replacing the queued data packets which can then be dropped by the client and the independent packet present to the processor instead.
US08667151B2
In one embodiment, a method of the invention has the steps of: (A) establishing an access-layer security association (SA) between a mobile node (MN) and an authentication authorization accounting (AAA) server; (B) deriving a secondary key from an extended master session key (EMSK) corresponding to the access-layer SA; (C) providing the secondary key to a home agent; and (D) based on the secondary key, establishing an SA corresponding to an Open System Interconnection (OSI) layer higher than the access layer for securing communications between the home agent and a selected network node. In various embodiments, the selected network node can be (i) the MN, (ii) a proxy node configured on behalf of the MN, or (iii) a proxy node configured on behalf of the home agent.
US08667136B2
A method of updating a data record stored in a data store with information supplied by at least one of a plurality of users of a communication network includes storing a communication identifier in association with the data record; providing information to update the data record from a user together with a communication identifier associated with the user providing the information; and comparing the identifier stored in association with the data record to the communication identifier associated with the user providing the information. If the information is the first type of information, the data record is updated with the information only if the identifier associated with the user providing the information is the same as the identifier stored in association with the data record and if the information is the second type of information the data record is updated with the information.
US08667129B2
Provided is a server including: a storage section for pre-storing information on routes between the server and each of a number of terminals; a transmission/reception section for transmitting/receiving messages to/from the number of terminals; a terminal information acquisition section for acquiring information differentiating the terminals and acquiring delay times for transmission between the server and each of the number of terminals; a transmission distance calculation section for calculating respective transmission distances between the server and the number of terminals, based on the transmission delay times acquired by the terminal information acquisition section; and a terminal installation location identifying section for identifying locations where the number of terminals are installed, based on the differentiating information acquired by the terminal information acquisition section, the transmission distances calculated by the transmission distance calculation section, and the route information stored in the storage section.
US08667114B2
A program update management server includes a storage unit configured to store an update program for updating a program to be managed, a setting unit configured to set an update timing in accordance with each client in which the program to be managed is installed, an update recommending unit configured to transmit information regarding recommendation of an update so that the client acquires the update program at the update timing, and a program transmitting unit configured to transmit the update program, at the update timing, to the client that receives the information regarding recommendation of an update.
US08667110B2
A remotely managed expandable multi-user computer system is provided. The computer system includes a removable compute cartridge and a removable storage cartridge allowing easy upgrade of the computer system. The computer system self-configures when powered on to allow remote management by another system over a network. Automatic failover support is provided without the need for a separate compute element. A self-configurable removable secure-to-wireless converter to couple to a client computer system allows secure communications between the multi-user system and the client computer system via a wireless network.
US08667105B1
Provided is a software entity adapted to operate in a first network on behalf of a relocatable device to negotiate services for the relocatable device from the network, and to be transportable or replicable to operate in a second network to negotiate services for the relocatable device from the second network.
US08667104B2
A method and system for notifying a network administrator of any attempted or actual remote firmware upgrades, or software updates, occurring on a network device, particularly a printing device, wherein a network administrator may be informed of the remote firmware update by e-mail.
US08667103B2
A system and method for knowledge management is disclosed. The method discloses: monitoring messages transmitted over a peer-to-peer network; profiling the messages; receiving a messages report request; identifying message profiles corresponding to the message report request; selecting messages corresponding to the identified message profiles; and generating the requested messages report from the selected messages. The system discloses means for implementing the method.
US08667102B1
A system that enables a person to monitor and/or control a device via a network, such as the Internet, via an interactive hardware module that interfaces with the device and communicates with a module server located locally or remotely from the placement of the module. The hardware module allows for the transmission and receipt of data between the device interfaced to the hardware module and the module server, thereby enabling the user manually or automatically to control or monitor the device via an access medium, such as an API.
US08667098B2
A storage cluster including a first storage apparatus and a second storage apparatus is defined. Communication between the first storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus uses a first network and an access request from a host computer uses a second network. Each of the first and second storage apparatuses defines internal LUs by using storage devices included in that storage apparatus. The first storage apparatus defines other internal LUs by using internal LUs of the second storage apparatus and the second storage apparatus defines other internal LUs by using internal LUs of the first storage apparatus.
US08667097B2
A system and method for mapping a network to facilitating configuration is disclosed. Address registration information is appended to an enhanced local management interface message sent between devices in a network of routers and switches. A network management system for an outside network can use that information to map out the network and configure the network as needed. The address registration information includes an Internet Protocol address and an interface index. The interface index includes both slot and port number.
US08667096B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for automatically generating a system restoration order for network recovery. A set of managed machines, such as personal computers or servers, can be managed by a network management platform communicating with the machines via a secure channel. The network management platform can access a dependency map indicating a required order for restoration of machines or nodes on a network. The network management platform likewise access a reverse kickstart file for each machine to be automatically restored in order to ensure proper functioning of the network, and extract a current configuration of that machine for purposes of restoring the overall network.
US08667089B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for executing an application. Using the apparatus and method, an application is executed in a terminal directly, or by receiving a computing service from a remote server. After an execution time and/or power consumption of when the application is executed in the terminal directly, and an execution time and/or power consumption when the computing service is received from the remote server are estimated, one of the application execution methods of the two cases may be selected according to the estimated values. The estimated values may be determined based on a state of the terminal, the quality of service (QoS) state of the remote server, and a characteristic of the application.
US08667074B1
An email redirection server handles email sent by subscribers or intended for subscribers, obfuscating the subscriber's identity through replacement of the subscriber's native email address with a proxy address in the message header and forwarding the email with only the proxy address. Acquiring a proxy address includes assignment by the email redirection server of a child domain in the DNS namespace for the subscriber's exclusive use. When a subscriber intends to send an email to a particular recipient without revealing the subscriber's native email address to the particular recipient, the subscriber addresses the message by putting the recipient's full email address in the local part of the “To” field, replacing the “@” symbol with a known replacement character, and placing the subscriber's assigned subdomain in the domain part of the “To” field, assuring that the email gets to the email redirection server for appropriate readdressing and forwarding.
US08667065B1
Described is a system and methods for multiple tier distribution of task portions for distributed processing. Essentially, a task is divided into portions by a first computer and a task portion transferred to second participatory computer on the network, whereupon an allocated task portion is again portioned by the second computer into subtask portions, and a subtask portion transferred by the second computer to a third participatory computer on the network, whereby distributed processing transpires, and results collated as required.
US08667063B2
A social networking system displays raw stories about a user's friends' actions in a news ticker as those actions occur. The social networking system is monitored for actions associated with users connected with the target user. The social networking system may be continually monitored such that actions are identified in real-time as they are performed. The news ticker is updated such that stories including the identified actions and the associated connected users are displayed within a news ticker interface. The news ticker interface may be a dedicated portion of the social networking system interface, for example in a column next to a newsfeed. The news ticker interface may be updated in real time as actions associated with connected users are performed. The target user may select a displayed story in the news ticker, and additional information related to the selected story may be displayed, for instance in a separate interface.
US08667059B2
An approach is disclosed for providing a managed chat session. An agent establishes a chat session with a user for customer support. Information from the user is received via the chat session, wherein the information is used to determine customized content to be presented to the user over the chat session for duration of the chat session.
US08667058B2
When data is disclosed to a plurality of users by using a transfer network and a transfer apparatus, data disclosure time control which cannot be adversely affected by the users is performed to reduce the difference in data disclosure time among the users. A transfer network system includes a distribution server serving as a data-distribution-source transfer apparatus, and a network terminal connected to distribution-destination user equipment. The distribution server and the network terminal each have a time keeping function and a time synchronization function for matching the time of the time keeping function with a master clock. The distribution server sends in advance disclosure data and disclosure time to the network terminal. When the time of the time keeping function of the network terminal matches the disclosure time, the network terminal sends the disclosure data to the user equipment.
US08667056B1
Requests from multiple users for one or more shared resources can be dynamically throttled based on at least one allowance value determined for each user at a current point in time. One or more business functions or other such algorithms can be used to determine an appropriate allowance value for a user based on any of a number of appropriate factors, such as the cost of a resource, a value of the user, a request volume of the user, or other such factors. The values for each user can be fed into one or more algorithms to determine information such as request limits, burst limits, and costs per request. Such approaches provide for dynamic and fine-grained traffic shaping while allowing for variance of these limits or values over time.
US08667054B2
Systems and methods are provided for viewing portions of an image in high resolution and in context with a full image, which is displayed at a base resolution that is lower resolution than the resolution of the high-resolution image. A client device can send a request to a server for a composed image comprised of the base-resolution image overlaid at the area of interest with a virtual lens showing the area of interest in high-resolution image. The request can include the coordinates of the area of interest relative to a reference point on the image, the desired resolution level for the high-resolution image, and the virtual lens size and shape. The desired resolution can fall into a range above the resolution of the base-resolution image and up to the resolution of the maximum-resolution image stored on, generated on, or input to the server.
US08667051B2
The present invention detects indicia, identifiers, or partial URLs to mark up in real time from input sources such as that of radio, television, cable, and other sources that have a digital, analog or digital/analog signal where text can be decoded from. A device receives a broadcast and decodes text data from the broadcast signal. The data is stored and words are parsed from the stored data. The words may be matched against a table of identifiers or rules to determine whether indicia have been detected. If not and it is determined that there is more data, then the next word may be parsed from the stored data. If an identifier or the like has been detected then it may be determined whether the word is a phone number. When the word is a phone number, the number is stored in a phone cache to speed-dial, auto-dial, generate a hyperdial link, or update a phone book. If the word is not a phone number, then it may be determined whether the word is a lottery number, stock symbol and price, zip code, e-mail, domain name, weather and any other indicia types that may be detected to perform an operative function.
US08667048B2
A method for managing Internet protocol (IP) addresses in a network is provided. IP addresses are assigned to a plurality of virtual machines of servers in the network according to media access control (MAC) addresses of the virtual machines, and IP addresses are assigned to the servers according to MAC addresses of the servers. An active server and the virtual machines thereof respectively record the assigned IP addresses thereof in a recording unit. Then, the assigned IP addresses recorded by the recording unit are transmitted to a storage module in the network. Accordingly, the IP addresses assigned to the servers and the virtual machines could be handled properly in the network, and the servers and the virtual machines could be remotely controlled according to the IP addresses recorded in the storage module.
US08667045B1
Generalized parallel counter circuitry is configured from logic elements—e.g., on a programmable integrated circuit device. Each logic element includes a logic stage, an adder and an output stage. The logic stage includes logic units, and a logic stage selector for selectively outputting to an input of the adder at least one of (a) outputs of the logic units, and (b) a first logic unit output of another one of the logic elements, and for selectively outputting to the output stage one of (a) an output of the logic units, and (b) a first output of the adder. The output stage includes at least two outputs, an output selector for selectively outputting, to the at least two outputs, at least one of (a) a second output of the adder, and (b) an output of the logic stage selector.
US08667044B1
Radix-based division is described. A dividend operand and a divisor operand are obtained. An estimate that is a reciprocal of the divisor operand is obtained. For a prescaling mode, a prescaling iteration is performed which includes: multiplying the divisor operand with the estimate to provide a prescaled divisor; apportioning the dividend operand into portions from most significant to least significant; providing the estimate to iteration blocks ordered from highest to lowest; providing the most significant to the least significant of the portions of the dividend operand respectively to the highest to the lowest of the iteration blocks; respectively multiplying the portions of the dividend operand with the estimate to provide first partial products; and parsing most significant residue portions and least significant residue portions as associated with order of the iteration blocks from the first partial products.
US08667031B2
Techniques for facilitating the sharing of metadata. In one set of embodiments, a metadata document is referenced by a plurality of software applications as a URL, the URL comprising a protocol component identifying a specialized protocol name and a path component identifying a name and namespace of the metadata document. The specialized protocol name indicates that the metadata document is a shared document stored in a shared metadata repository. When an application in the plurality of software applications needs to access the metadata document, the URL is passed to a URL resolver configured to identify the shared metadata repository based on configuration information associated with the application. The metadata document is then retrieved from the shared metadata repository. Since many existing application framework components and standards are adapted to reference metadata documents as URLs, embodiments of the present invention facilitate metadata reuse with minimal or no code changes to the applications or their underlying framework.
US08667020B2
Models and tools for facilitating database instance consolidation are described. One approach obtains standardized database instance performance data, receives instance isolation criteria which are applied to divide instances into sets, determines resource usage for each set, and assigns instance sets to target machines based on resource usage and capacity. Each instance set is associated with a virtual machine in some cases. A security isolation criterion indicates that specified instances shall not co-reside on a target machine; an organizational criterion indicates that specified instances shall be located together in a single data center; a compatibility criterion indicates that instances shall not reside in the same virtual machine, the same physical server, or the same server pool. Users iteratively reach an acceptable consolidation of instances at one or more data centers, such as an enhanced assignment of instances that is more efficient than a linear additive solution.
US08667009B2
Methods and systems for indexing, storing, recalling and displaying social network user profiles, event calendar postings and user feed postings are described. A single, discrete set of keywords, can be utilized and assigned to both user profiles and postings and can operate as a method of indexing. The assignment of these keywords may allow users to control the display of calendar and feed content by matching assigned posting keywords to assigned profile keywords via a matching algorithm. Matched event-related postings may also be automatically displayed in a user's calendar. Searches of profiles and postings may also be performed by constructing queries using the same set of discrete keywords attached to profiles and postings. Users may have the ability to control the display of specific profile information and postings via privacy settings, which utilize unique methods of tracking relationship segmentation and social distance.
US08667007B2
Provided are techniques for providing recommendations to improve a query. A query with query keywords and selected categories is received. In response to determining that the selected categories are ranked high with reference to query relevance indicator values for each of the selected categories, a query relevance indicator of the query is calculated with each subcategory using keyword relevance indicators, each subcategory is ranked based on the query relevance indicators, and the ranked subcategories are provided for use in selecting new categories to be submitted with the query.
US08666997B2
One or more requests from a client for data representation items can be received by an items manager. The data representation items can represent data items in a data source. In response, the items manager can perform the following: generating placeholders corresponding to the data representation items; returning the placeholders to the client; fetching the data items from the data source; providing the data representation items to the client; and informing the client that the placeholders are to be replaced with the data representation items. The items manager may determine whether each data representation item can be synchronously returned to the client. If so, the items manager may return that data representation item synchronously, and may forego providing the client with a placeholder for that data representation item. This may allow a client to interact with a single interface for both synchronous and asynchronous data sources.
US08666995B2
A method of generating search information enables efficient navigation of content and an image apparatus therefore. The method of generating search information includes extracting and storing a portion of a plurality of searched screens, and generating search information using the stored screens. Accordingly, search information regarding digital content can be generated in a more convenient manner. In addition, since searched screens are generated as search information, search information which enables more efficient navigation can be provided to the user.
US08666988B2
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method to configure a network of classifiers includes configuring a plurality of classifiers in a network of classifiers, such that the configuring associates a plurality of operating points with each output branch, associating a different quality profile with each output point for each output branch in the plurality of classifiers, and storing the configured network of classifiers and quality profile associations in the computer system to be used for classifying future input data according to the network configuration and quality profile association. Each classifier comprises executable code that classifies the data. Each of said classifiers has a plurality of the output branches that each output the data to another classifier. Each operating point comprises a probability of determining that a data item input to the classifier has a particular characteristic and a probability that said determination falsely detected the characteristic.
US08666973B2
A machine receives a description of the relationships among members of a data set. The machine constructs a graph that represents the relationships among the members of the data set, organizing the members of the data set into groups. The groups are analyzed to determine their relative strengths. Unbalanced groups can be balanced by splitting off heavy sub-trees that include too large a percentage of the nodes in the group. The machine can then use the graph to answer queries about members of the data set.
US08666971B2
Adaptive index density in a database management system is provided, which includes receiving a number of partitions for an index for a database table, the index subject to creation. The adaptive index density also includes selecting a column from the database table, the column selected based upon an estimated frequency of execution of database queries for the column. The adaptive index density further includes calculating an estimated cost of executing each of the database queries for the column, and determining data to reside in each of the partitions of the index responsive to the estimated cost.
US08666966B2
A system and method for providing parallel result streams for database queries is provided. The system includes a network including a client, a server, and a database. The client executes an application and sends a query to the server. In response, the server compiles the query to produce a query plan, executes statements in the query plan and sends parallel result streams to the client.
US08666961B1
A content management system allows users to capture content from content sources such as web pages and hardcopy publications, by using a client application running on personal computers and even mobile devices. The client application creates bibliography citations for captured content by gathering information from and/or about the content sources. Captured content and corresponding citations can be stored in a cloud data storage and can be searchable by other users. The client application can include a document editor facilitating importation of captured content and bibliography citations into documents being edited. Embodiments are adapted for use by course instructors and students, to facilitate, e.g., sharing of captured content among students and plagiarism checks by instructors and students. Embodiments are integrated with social networking services to facilitate sharing of content with users' contacts. An online marketplace of providers (e.g., tutors) and tutorials may be provided to enrich the collaborative learning experience.
US08666959B2
A data access device provided with a sequence storage unit which stores in advance a sequence for accessing the data contained in each of the multiple data units stored in a data storage section. The data access device receives and stores in the data access request storage section multiple data access requests for any of the multiple stored data units, determines an execution sequence for the multiple stored data access requests that corresponds to the aforementioned sequence stored in the sequence storage unit, locks the data units to be accessed as per the data access requests, sequentially implements the data access requests in the determined execution sequence, and removes all the locks after implementing all of the stored data access requests.
US08666958B2
Lock communications in a shared disk database system is reduced by several approaches: sending a single message to a lock manager for locks required for an operation and locks that will be required in the future, the operations may include row update, row delete, large scan, and row insert; performing an operation in two executions, where in a first execution locks required for the operation is determined without performing the operation, and in a second execution a single message is sent to a lock manager for the required locks and the operation is performed; in free space searching, sending a single message to a lock manager for row and page locks before a row insert is actually performed; and granting locks in an unfair manner.
US08666957B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed in which locks for shared data are acquired by specifying a pathname for the shared data. One embodiment, among others, includes a method for locking shared data. The method includes the steps of receiving a first request to acquire a lock for a first pathname, storing the first pathname in a lock store, searching the lock store for a corresponding pathname in response to a further request to acquire a lock for a second pathname, and if the second pathname corresponds to the first pathname in the lock store then denying the further request to acquire the lock for the second pathname.
US08666956B1
A SEQUENCED request a) to apply a temporal Source table to a temporal Target table under a predicate is received. The Source table includes a plurality of rows that qualify to apply to a single Target table row under the predicate. The predicate specifies a Source table join column. Each of the plurality of Source table rows and the single Target table row include a ValidTime dimension. The plurality of Source table rows is b) ordered by the Source table join column and a period-to-be-modified. The next of the ordered plurality of Source table rows is c) applied by determining that the Target table row has a TransactionTime and, in response, closing out the TransactionTime of the Target table row. Applying the next of the ordered plurality of Source table rows includes identifying an RDIFF range as the period-to-be-modified of the Source table row being applied that is later than the ValidTime range of the single Target table row. Applying the next of the ordered plurality of Source table rows includes creating an RDIFF row being the same as the Target table row except the ValidTime of the RDIFF row is set to RDIFF range. A second of the ordered plurality of Source table rows d) is applied by applying c) to the RDIFF row as the Target table row.
US08666955B2
A data management system respectively computes first hash values while sliding a window a prescribed amount at a time with respect to a prescribed range from a start location of a data block to a prescribed size. The system extracts, from among the first hash values, a first hash value, which is equivalent to a characteristic value, and partitions the data block into a first chunk of data at a location corresponding to this first hash value. The system determines coincidence between a first chunk of data and a stored second chunk of data, and prevents duplicate data from being stored twice.
US08666953B2
A version file for maintaining version information is described herein. The version file comprises an identifier to identify a target collection of associated files and a target index specifying binary level contents of the target collection of associated files to compare with a reference index specifying contents of a reference collection of associated files. The version file farther comprises a checksum generated based on the identifier and the target index.
US08666949B1
A system for creating a random order file format, wherein randomization occurs at the sub-file level, the system having a data storage unit that stores a plurality of data pieces and at least one RODFF file that is created from said data pieces, where the RODFF files and data pieces are stored according to commands received by a software application; a microprocessor configured by the software application and operatively connected to the data storage unit whereby the microprocessor is configured to execute the software application and enable the RODFF files to be created, according to a set of predetermined methods from the plurality of digital data pieces, and also enables the RODFF files to be stored on and retrieved from the data storage unit.
US08666946B2
A method and apparatus are provided for incrementally tracking quantiles in the presence of multiple record types. A method for performing incremental quantile tracking includes receiving a first data record of a first record type and a second data record of a second record type, and updating a quantile probability for a quantile value, based on the first record type of the first data record and the second record type of the second data record, to obtain a new quantile probability for the quantile value.
US08666939B2
Approaches for replicating data in a distributed transactional system. At a first node of a cluster, a per-transaction write set that comprises a plurality of write operations that are performed against a first data store maintained by the first node is committed. The per-transaction write set is replicated from the first node to a second node of the cluster. At the second node, the plurality of write operations, specified by the per-transaction write set, may be performed in parallel against a second data store maintained by the second node. At the second node, two or more threads may perform a portion of the plurality of write operations against data blocks stored within an in-memory buffer.
US08666938B1
An application installed on a computer system is cloned to provide quick recovery and/or failover should the application become corrupted or inoperable. The installed application is profiled to determine a footprint of files, system registry, data files, and configurations (or “application resources”) that are associated with the installed application. The installed application is then cloned as a virtualized application package that captures a plurality of application resources residing on the computer system. In an embodiment, the installed application is profiled by simulating a removal of the installed application from a virtual machine (VM) that is a copy of the computer system.
US08666936B2
A system and method for asset management is disclosed. The method receives information from a first reporting source about an asset. In addition, information from a second reporting source about an asset is also received. A database is then populated with the information from the first reporting source and the information from the second reporting source such that information from the first reporting source and information from the second reporting source can be collected from the database.
US08666933B2
Provided are methods and systems for distributing an asset to a multi-tiered network node. A pending notice is received from a distribution server. If the notice indicates that at least one asset is pending, i.e., awaiting deployment, an asset descriptor manifest is received from the distribution server. The asset descriptor manifest, which is stored in a memory on a node, identifies at least one asset to be deployed to the node and includes an offset associated with the asset identifier. A fragment, associated with the asset, is received and stored in the memory. The offset associated with the asset is marked with the end of the fragment and a second fragment, beginning at the offset, is received. Additional fragments are received, and the offset updated, until the entire asset is deployed to the node. Alternately, the entire asset or multiple assets are received in the first fragment.
US08666925B1
A method for operating a plurality of processor to determine a sequence of states traversed by a finite state machine in processing an input stream that includes a plurality of characters. The method divides the input stream into a plurality of contiguous sections characterized by a beginning character and an end character. Each section is assigned to a different processor. Each processor determines an end state that the finite state machine would traverse after the end character in the section assigned to that processor has been processed. That end state is provided to a processor that did not process the section associated with that end state. Each processor determines a sequence of states that the finite state machine would traverse if the finite state machine processed the section assigned to that processor using one of said received end states.
US08666912B2
An electronic system includes an accelerometer. A method for excessive mechanical shock feature extraction for overstress event registration and cumulative tracking includes obtaining a sample from the accelerometer. Feature extraction is performed on the sample using empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to produce a plurality of modes. A pattern classifier is utilized for processing the plurality of modes to determine if the sample classifies as a shock event. If the sample classifies as a shock event, a shock event counter is incremented. If the shock event counter reaches a specified count, an indication to a user is generated.
US08666905B2
In various embodiments, a central server grants access to a plurality of anonymous one-time-usable, time-sensitive encrypted tokens that identify consumer purchase orders. A plurality of certified merchant servers are certified by being provided with an application to securely connect the certified merchant servers to the central server for, among other things, transmitting purchase order data to the central server for use in generating the tokens. A plurality of financial institution servers can also be certified by being configured for use with an application that enables secure connection to the central server for, among other things, requesting the tokens.
US08666903B2
A leveraged procurement network (LPN) system for leveraging purchasing across company and company groups includes a front-end requisition and catalog system accessible by users from a plurality of companies in different company groups. Access to procurement resources is controlled by user profiles and resource profiles specifying for each user and resource the applicable company group. Purchases against volume specific contracts are leveraged by requisitions for a plurality of company groups, while user access to procurement resources within the front-end system are controlled by company and/or company group.
US08666900B1
A system and method provide an enablement scheme that accommodates small bandwidth channels and does not rely on shared secrets between parties. This is accomplished by storing a table of messages on a vendor server and a table of hashes of the message on client machines. A process is used by the vendor to select a message from the table to use for a validation code for enablement, and an identical process is used by the client to find a corresponding hash in the hash table. By comparing the hash in the hash table to a hash of the validation code received, the client can verify the validation code. The system includes software portions for enabling the method.
US08666899B2
In an information communication system, user personal information is batch-managed in a user management center apparatus. The center apparatus issues temporary information, which includes temporary user information and temporary authentication information, in response to a log-in request from a user terminal apparatus that designates a net-shop apparatus, and sends the information to the user terminal apparatus and the designated net-shop apparatus. Thereby, if the user terminal apparatus sends an authentication request to the net-shop apparatus on the basis of the information, the net-shop apparatus can authenticate the user terminal apparatus on the basis of the information from the user management center apparatus. At this time, the user personal information does not go to the net-shop apparatus, and there is no need for the net-shop apparatus to manage the user personal information.
US08666893B1
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an electronic funds transfer authentication system and method to facilitate the verification and authentication of a user and the ownership of the source account from which funds are being transferred to another account. The user and transfer data is validated, and then the electronic funds transfer is validated using payment analytics that analyze the behavioral characteristics of the user which may be derived from both internal and external sources of information. Using a unique combination of security measures and procedures, the risk associated with various types of fund transfers is reduced, thereby enabling a financial institution to protect its customers' accounts with a greater degree of certainty.
US08666887B2
An automated account management system provides a user with the ability to establish rules that dictate how the account management system is to manage the user's accounts. Once the user specifies a set of rules, the system automatically manages multiple accounts across multiple financial institutions in accordance with the user-defined rules. Other features, such as an on-line bill payment system, a money transfer system, and a retirement planning system, may be integrated within the automated account management system to provide the user with even greater control over his or her financial assets.
US08666886B2
A consumer is prequalified for a line of credit attached to a checking account by a lending institution computer responsive to consumer underwriting data. The lending institution computer makes available draws to the line of credit line in an authorization stream for a proposed payment from the checking account. When the line of credit is accessed, the checking account is credited with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the account then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed payment. Next, a new value for the line of credit balance available is determined, accounting for value credited to the checking account and a preselected loan advance fee for each loan increment credited to the account.
US08666877B2
A system and method of aggregating and predicting stock ranking stocks. The novel system and method uses a neighborhood model to aggregate a plurality of “neighboring” or related stocks having similar pricing trends. The system and method then uses a ranking optimization method to predict the ranking of each stock based on percentage change in price. The current invention facilitates investors trading by using a novel methodology to predict stock rankings and providing a neighborhood of related stocks, while having an easy-to-use interface.
US08666876B2
In an electronic auction, bids may be received from each of a plurality of bidders for a plurality of commodities for online distribution, wherein each bid includes a price and information used to identify an appropriate commodity to which to apply the bid. Then a process is performed for each bid. This process includes: validating bid information from the bid, the validating occurring after a customer record has been created for a bidder corresponding to the bid, then based on a successful validation of the bid, entering the bid for the item in a bid database, then awarding one or more commodities from the plurality of commodities to each of a plurality of successful bidders of the plurality of bidders at different item prices based on the prices in the bid information for each of the plurality of successful bidders.
US08666866B1
A method and a system is disclosed for creating and managing financial instruments, which may be designed to increase the risk-adjusted return of investment portfolios and other collections of assets and/or liabilities. A computer may be used to access databases containing asset information, liability information, counterparty information, metric information, and swap agreement information. Swap information may be received including first counterparty information and first metric information comprising a future cash flow that is at least partially determined by a randomly selected outcome of returns from one or more defined time periods. A first swap agreement may then be executed. A metric value for the first metric information may be determined and cashflows value to be paid and/or received may be calculated. The calculated cashflows value may be exchanged.
US08666861B2
Systems and methods for risk and fraud mitigation are presented. According to one or more aspects of the disclosure, a plurality of transactions may be processed without applying one or more active fraud rules. A hit rate for at least one fraud rule of the one or more active fraud rules then may be determined. Thereafter, a positive hit rate for the at least one fraud rule may be determined based on fraud event data corresponding to the plurality of transactions. In some arrangements, each transaction of the plurality of transactions may be randomly selected, from a larger plurality of received transactions, for inclusion in the plurality of transactions to be processed without application of the one or more active fraud rules. Additionally or alternatively, in certain arrangements, one or more fraud rules may be activated or deactivated based on their corresponding hit rates and positive hit rates.
US08666858B2
A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently.
US08666857B2
A computer system for administering a life insurance policy is configured to, responsive to receipt of certification that the insured has either loss of ability to perform two activities of daily living or cognitive impairment, provide instructions to pay an owner of the policy, in periodic payments, an accelerated benefit, the accelerated benefit being in an amount less than the death benefit, a first of the periodic payments being for a time period commencing on a date of receipt of the certification, and continuing until the insured no longer has the loss of ability to perform two activities of daily living or cognitive impairment. The system is further configured to, responsive to each of the periodic payments, determine a reduction of the amount of the death benefit by an amount of each of the periodic payments.
US08666854B2
Systems and methods are provided that provide a unified view of invoice and revenue information for a contract. One embodiment includes receiving a request to display information about a contract, and displaying, in response to the request, a financial summary interface including invoice and revenue information for the contract in the same financial summary interface. The invoice and revenue information for the contract may include contract value, invoiced amount, accrued revenue, and backlog amount.
US08666851B2
A computer-implemented engine, system and method for generating business valuations, scoring, and/or flagging over a network, responsively to information input by a user remote from the engine, system and method. The invention may include a graphical user interface capable of locally querying a user to input the company information, at least one network port capable of remotely receiving the company information from the graphical user interface, and at least one engine communicatively connected to the at least one network port, which engine preferably includes a plurality of rules to generate, responsively to the input company information, at least one of a business valuation, a business score, and/or one or more business flags to be used as indicators in a network marketplace, for the company associated with the inputted company information.
US08666836B2
A social networking system predicts a life event (e.g., birthday, change in marital status, relationship status, etc.) for a target user based on information associated with the user. The social networking system identifies gift suggestions to provide to one or more friends of the user based on the predicted event. A gift suggestion may include an invitation to purchase or send an item, voucher, or other gift to the target user, wherein the gift may be determined based on information about the target user's interests obtained by the social networking system. The social networking system sends a gift suggestion to one or more friends of the target user, where the gift suggestion identifies the predicted life event and provides the gift suggestion to the target user's friend. The advertisement may require action by multiple of the target user's friends before the gift is sent to the target user.
US08666816B1
In one embodiment, information pertaining to preferences of end users with respect to network access is received from a first entity, and properties of one of wireless access points (WAPs) are then configured based on the information pertaining to the preferences of end users.
US08666813B2
An improved system and method is provided for using sampling for scheduling advertisements in an online auction with budget and time constraints. A multi-armed bandit engine may be provided for sampling new advertisements by allocating advertisements for web page placements of equal quality and optimizing payments to maximize the welfare of the advertisers while remaining within advertiser's budget and time constraints. Advertisers may report their private information including arrival time, departure time, value per click, and budget. And the multi-armed bandit mechanism may approximate the maximal welfare that may be achieved under budget and time constraints by bounding the possible gain from any possible lie an advertiser might submit in reporting private information. Advertisers departing from the online auction may be charged using a payment method that may provide truthful guarantees on budget, arrivals, departures, and valuations for a budget-constrained online auction.
US08666797B2
It is an object to provide a mechanism that can efficiently collect and accumulate unspecified large number of information as much as possible for marketing activities and that can make use of the information. An information collection program includes: an information receiving step that receives information provided from an information provider; an information collecting/managing step that manages the received information in association with the information provider; an information analyzing step that analyzes the managed information; an analysis information managing step that manages the analyzed information; a feedback information receiving step that receives evaluation based on a result of utilizing the analyzed information as feedback information; and an evaluating step that gives an evaluation point to the information provider or the provided information based on the received feedback information.
US08666796B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for content distribution. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining reservation data for a resource, the reservation data specifying a reservation period and a number of impression reservations for the reservation period; receiving, during the reservation period, content item request data specifying that the resource was requested; identifying candidate content item providers; determining an expected revenue that will be obtained by selecting one of the candidate content item providers to provide a content item providing, to a content item exchange, auction data including a reserve price; receiving positive response data specifying that the content item exchange will provide an exchange content item for a price that meets the reserve price; and in response to receiving the positive response data, selecting the exchange content item as the content item to be provided in response to receiving the content item request data.
US08666795B2
Systems and methods of workforce scheduling are disclosed. One example embodiment, among others, comprises a computer-implemented method of scheduling workers. Each worker is associated with one of a set of flexibility classifications, which include non-flex-time and at least one flex-time. The method includes generating a set of shift instances to cover forecasted demand over a planning period, and assigning the shift instances to the set of workers by iterating through the each of the workers to assign at least a portion of the shift instances to a selected one of the workers. The assigning is such that total hours assigned to the selected worker depends on a number associated with the classification of the selected worker.
