US08747199B1
A computerized system and method for measuring physical activity to advance play in a game. In example embodiments, a cell phone generates a screen display and the game is played through the mobile device. The measurement of physical activity progresses the player through the game by progressing the player through “game days,” by permitting the player to travel from a current location to another location on a map of the game, by earning rewards points for the player that may be utilized in game play, etc. A specified number of steps equates with a game day and a complete game is measured in game days. The device tracks physical activity, related game days, and completion of games. During a game day, a player advances in the game as well as encounters challenges and obstacles and may be prompted to make other decisions related to the game play.
US08747198B2
The exemplary embodiments described herein relate to systems and/or methods for competitive simulations and, more particularly, to systems and/or methods in which users build stock portfolios that compete against each other, with the performance of each user's stock portfolio being based on one or more stock market related metrics (e.g., price per share, market capitalization, volume of trade, etc.). A user's portfolio may be formed and/or reformed so as to comply with certain predefined criteria (e.g., company traded on a particular exchange, company belonging to a particular market sector, etc.). The performance of each team/portfolio may be depicted using sports-related imagery (e.g., as teams on a football field, a basketball court, around a baseball diamond, etc.).
US08747192B2
The invention concerns an apparatus for picking up and guiding loops or the like which can be applied to articles, in particular sausage-shaped packs, comprising a loop feed means, an angled pick-up means having a front end, a pin which has a contact surface and which is movable between a first position in which it passes through the fed loop and in which the contact surface is in contact with the front end of the pick-up means, and a second position away from the front end of the pick-up means, and a drive for actuation of the contact pin. A torque support means is provided in the front region of the front end of the pick-up means and the contact surface of the pin has means for centering the pick-up means in such a way that the pick-up means does not bear against the torque support means when the pin is in the first position.
US08747182B2
A system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A mobile agent is provided that includes a drive motor, an imaging system for taking images of the markings, a vehicle wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the motor, the imaging system, and the vehicle wireless transceiver. A basestation is provided that includes a controller operatively coupled to a basestation wireless transceiver. Via wireless communication between the wireless transceivers of the mobile agent and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the mobile agent can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the mobile agent, whereupon the microcontroller of the mobile agent controls detailed movement of the mobile agent on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the mobile agent to implement the action on the drivable surface.
US08747180B2
A relay for a toy is disclosed herein, the relay having: a first relay segment having an upper portion rotatably secured to a lower portion for movement between a first position and a second position with respect to the lower portion; a trigger coupled to the first relay segment, the trigger being configured for movement from a first position to a second position; a mechanism for retaining the upper portion in the second position after it has been rotated to the second position from the first position, the upper portion being spring biased towards the first position, wherein the mechanism releases the upper portion to allow for rotation movement of the upper portion to the first position from the second position, when the trigger is moved from the first position to the second position; a projectile launcher for launching a projectile into air after the release mechanism releases the upper portion and the upper portion is rotated to the first position from the second position; and a second relay segment, the second relay segment having a release mechanism for launching a portion of the second relay segment in the air as well as launching an object from the relay when the second relay segment is impacted by the projectile.
US08747175B1
The invention is a unique ergonomic personal flotation device suitable for comfortably supporting a human user while floating in a fairly calm water-based environment such as a swimming pool, lake or other natural body of water that allows a person using the flotation device to comfortably lie on their stomach, in order to provide even tanning on their backside. Likewise, the person can also comfortably lie on their back to get tanning on the front of their body. The ergonomic flotation device is comprised of a number of separate air chambers that provide an overall comfortable ergonomic experience when in use by a person. When lying on their stomach, there is provided an opening for the person's face with side air channels around the opening for comfort. When lying on their back, there is provided a separately inflatable lower back support chamber.
US08747172B2
A water jet propulsion watercraft includes a hull having a sealed engine room, an engine installed in the engine room, a jet propulsion unit arranged to be driven by the engine so as to suck in water from around the hull and jet the water, a saddle type seat disposed above the engine room, a first exhaust pipe, an exhaust pipe cooling unit, and a catalyst unit. The first exhaust pipe is attached to a side of the engine inside the engine room, extends rearward from the side of the engine, and is arranged to guide exhaust gas discharged from the engine. The exhaust pipe cooling unit is arranged to cool the first exhaust pipe. The catalyst unit is connected to the first exhaust pipe, is disposed inside the engine room so as to oppose a rear surface of the engine, and is arranged to promote reaction of components contained in the exhaust gas.
US08747167B2
An LED lamp assembly including an LED lamp and an LED insert having a body defining two coupler passages extending therethough from a top to a bottom thereof. Two conductive piercing couplers are engaged in one of the two coupler passages. The LED insert is engaged in an upper housing and the upper housing is coupled to a lower housing. The lower housing presents a wire receiving space structured and positioned to be aligned with the insulation piercing wire engaging portion of the two conductive piercing couplers when the upper housing is secured to the lower housing. The two leads of the LED lamp are positioned each in one of the two coupler passages in secure electrically conductive and mechanical contact with one of the spring contact portions of the two conductive piercing couplers.
US08747163B2
A card connector assembly includes a card connector (100) and a memory card (5) received in the card connector. The card connector includes an insulative housing (2), a number of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing, a slider (41) assembled on the insulative housing and movable relative to the insulative housing, a spring (42) urging the slider along a card ejection direction; and a metal shell (7) covering the insulative housing for defining a card receiving space. The metal shell includes a spring leaf (711, 712) extending into the card receiving space. The memory card forms a metal plate (52) on a top surface thereof and a number of metal traces (51) on a bottom surface thereof. The metal plate is located above the metal traces along a vertical direction and the spring leaf contacts with the metal plate.
US08747156B2
A terminal fitting (10) includes a tubular main portion (11) into which a mating male tab (91) is insertable. A resiliently deformable contact piece (22) which is to be resiliently held in contact with the male tab 91 is formed in the main portion (11), and a contact portion (32) which receives the male tab (91) is formed fixedly at a position facing the resilient contact piece (22). A ceiling wall (19) is at a position opposite to the resilient contact piece outward of the contact portion (32). A ceiling wall lance hole (27) penetrates through the ceiling wall (19) and can receive a locking lance (64) for retaining the terminal fitting (10) in a connector (60). A clearance (33) is formed between the ceiling wall (19) and the contact portion (32) for allowing the entry of the locking lance (54).
US08747144B2
A latching mechanism for latching a plug to a socket is provided. The socket has a housing for receiving the latching mechanism. The latching mechanism includes a latching member slidably received in the housing and a rotating member rotatably received in the housing. The latching member is capable of sliding between a latching position for latching the plug to the socket and an unlatching position for allowing the plug to be disengaged from the socket. The rotating member drives the latching member to slide between the latching position and the unlatching position when rotated. A connector assembly using the latching mechanism is also provided.
US08747138B2
In a plug connection assembly for a moisture-protected electrical plug connection having at least one plug which has a main body (1) having a fastening flange (4) on the front side and a resilient sealing element (7) arranged on said flange and an electric line cable (2) emerging rearward from the main body (1), a contact carrier (5) which receives electric contacts (6) is inserted into the main body (1) in a form-fitting manner. The fastening flange (4) can have a rigid contact area (14) for contact with a socket (9), and the sealing element (7) can have a surface seal (17) and a raised molded seal (27) on a partial surface thereof.
US08747130B2
An electrical connector including a housing; a slide slidably mounted to the housing, wherein the slide comprises a rack section with teeth; a cam member and a connector position assurance (CPA) member. The cam member is rotatably mounted to the housing. The cam member comprises a caming surface adapted to contact a cam portion of a mating electrical connector. The cam member comprises a gear section with teeth engaging the teeth of the slide. The CPA member is movably connected to the housing. The CPA member is adapted to directly engage the cam member for preventing the cam member for rotating relative to the housing.
US08747123B2
An apparatus is described for burn-in and/or functional testing of microelectronic circuits of unsingulated wafers. A large number of power, ground, and signal connections can be made to a large number of contacts on a wafer. The apparatus has a cartridge that allows for fanning-in of electric paths. A distribution board has a plurality of interfaces that are strategically positioned to provide a dense configuration. The interfaces are connected through flexible attachments to an array of first connector modules. Each one of the first connector modules can be independently connected to a respective one of a plurality of second connector modules, thereby reducing stresses on a frame of the apparatus. Further features include for example a piston that allows for tight control of forces exerted by terminals onto contacts of a wafer.
US08747121B1
Described systems and methods allow the manufacture of compact television (TV) tuner modules comparable in size to standard RF connectors. In some embodiments, a compact TV tuner module (tuner can) includes a metallic housing mounted on an external printed circuit board (PCB), a radio-frequency (RF) connector, an internal PCB within the housing, and a bare-silicon TV tuner chip centrally mounted on a side of the internal PCB facing away from the RF connector, directly opposite a central contact made directly a central pin of the RF connector and a central area of the internal PCB. A major dimension of a shielded internal volume enclosed by the housing is less than 150% of an outer shell of the RF connector, and may be about equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the RF connector.
US08747118B2
A method of surveying a population of voters concerning a pool of contestants to obtain a consensus comprises generating a digital list of all possible pairs, triplets or quadruplets of contestants in the pool and/or sublist of such small subsets of contestants in a subpool such as a social network, presenting to voters in the population at a web site each small subset of contestants in the digital list and/or digital sublist, and for each small subset of contestants presented prompting the voter to select a preferred contestant among the contestants that appear in the small subset of contestants. The voters may also be contestants. A tally of preferred contestants among all voters is assembled as is a tally among contestants from the subpool, and contestants may be ranked. The voting may be applied to costume contests, pet contests, political elections, market surveys and other data collection methods.
US08747114B2
A set or assembly for producing at least one temporary crown or bridge material has a carrier for accommodating a crown and bridge material and a crown and bridge material in an amount that is at least sufficient for the production of a tooth crown. The crown and bridge material is a light-curing and, in particular, flowable single-component material, and the carrier that can be adapted to the tooth situation is transparent or translucent. In another aspect, a method for producing a temporary tooth crown or bridge and a temporary tooth crown or bridge produced by the method are also provided.
US08747107B2
A gas lighter with safety mechanism comprising an inner frame mounted on top of a fuel reservoir and provided with a valve for releasing fuel contained in the fuel reservoir; an outer frame mounted on top of the inner frame and having two supports each of which is provided with a L-shaped supporting hole including a vertical section and a horizontal section; a lever sandwiched between the two supports and pivotable with respect to the outer frame to actuate the valve; a flint disposed between the two supports; a friction wheel rotatably sleeved on a shaft between the two supports, the shaft are movably supported in the supporting holes, the friction wheel is separate from the flint when the shaft is moved to the vertical sections while contacts the flint to enable to generate sparks by rotating the friction wheel when the shaft is moved to the horizontal sections.
US08747106B2
An energy independent dry corn fractionation ethanol production system which utilizes at least one product of a dry corn fractionation process as fuel to generate power for the production of ethanol. Specifically, power production devices and methods of generating power from dry corn fractionation products for the production of ethanol.
US08747091B2
A water injection type screw compressor wherein gas sucked from an intake flow is supplied to a rotor chamber, compressed and discharged into a discharge channel as compressed fluid together with water supplied to the rotor chamber, comprises a water separator disposed in the discharge channel to separate water and gas from compressed fluid, a water channel connecting the water separator to a compressor main body for supplying the rotor chamber with the water separated in the water separator, and an oil circulation channel including an oil pump, an oil filter, and a housing for storing oil for supplying the oil to where lubrication is needed. Further, a part of the water channel is arranged passing through an oil trap formed at the bottom inside the housing for storing oil. Thus, oil temperature increases can be minimized in simplified structure having no oil cooling means such as an oil cooler.
US08747089B2
An O-ring has a shape including a first portion that is arranged side by side with a suction port in an axial direction, a second portion that is arranged side by side with a suction port, and a third portion that connects these portions. The first portion and the second portion are arranged to be displaced from each other in the axial direction. The third portion is arranged to extend in a direction different from a circumferential direction between the suction port and the suction port when a pump body is viewed in a radial direction. Thus, the suction ports can be located closer to each other in the axial direction. Therefore, the axial direction length of the pump body can be reduced, and size reduction of a rotary pump device can be achieved.
US08747088B2
A compressor may include a compressor housing, an oil sump, an intake chamber, a compression mechanism, a drive shaft, and a first oil passage. The oil sump may be in communication with the compression mechanism. The intake chamber may be defined within the housing. The drive shaft may include first and second ends with an oil inlet passage located therebetween. The first end may be disposed within the intake chamber and may be drivingly engaged with the compression mechanism. The second end may extend outside of the housing for driven engagement external to the housing. The oil inlet passage may be located within the intake chamber. The first oil passage may be disposed within the housing and in communication with the oil sump and the oil inlet passage.
US08747084B2
A peristaltic pump system including an arcuate pressing surface, a force element that applies an occluding force towards the pressing surface, a drive mechanism that drives the force element, a diaphragm disposed between the pressing surface and the force element that defines a pump cavity, an actuator strip disposed between the diaphragm and the force element that receives the occluding force, deflects to deform the diaphragm, and occludes the pump cavity, a support structure that retains the actuator and diaphragm positions relative to the pressing surface, and a restitution mechanism that recovers the open pump cavity configuration.
US08747083B2
An air compressor includes a cylinder housing, an outlet receptacle disposed on the cylinder housing, and a partition formed between the cylinder housing and the outlet receptacle and having an air passage formed in the partition, a piston slidably received in the cylinder housing and coupled to a motor for moving relative to the cylinder housing in a reciprocating action in order to generate a pressurized air, and a spring-biased check valve engaged with the partition for selectively blocking the air passage of the partition, the outlet receptacle includes an inner diameter “D2” no less than an inner diameter “D1” of the cylinder housing for allowing the pressurized air to easily flow into the outlet receptacle and for allowing the piston to be moved in a greater moving speed.
US08747081B2
A linear compressor is provided that includes a stationary member including a cylinder that provides a space to compress a refrigerant; a movable member linearly that reciprocates with respect to the stationary member, and includes a piston that compresses the refrigerant inside the cylinder and a supporter piston connected to the piston and having a support portion that extends in a radial direction of the piston; front main springs positioned so as to be symmetrical with respect to centers of the piston and the supporter piston, one end of each of which is supported by a front surface of the support portion of the supporter piston and the other end of each of which is supported by the stationary member; a rear main spring positioned at an opposite side of the piston, one end of which is supported by the supporter piston; and a back cover having a support portion that constrains the other end of the rear main spring from moving in a transverse direction.
US08747077B2
A reciprocating piston machine includes a drive shaft having a central axis, a driving element rigidly connected to the drive shaft and extending essentially perpendicular to the central axis, a guide sleeve enclosing the drive shaft and axially displaceable thereon, and a spring element for applying a force to the guide sleeve and which on the one hand is supported on the guide sleeve and which on the other hand introduces forces into the drive shaft. Forces from the spring element are indirectly introduced into the drive shaft.
US08747072B2
The present disclosure provides an improved first stage airfoil for a compressor blade having a unique chord length (CD) stagger angle (γ) and camber angle (Δβ). The stagger angle (γ) and camber angle (Δβ) provide improved aerodynamics while the chord length (CD) provides for reduced airfoil weight.
US08747066B2
A gas turbine housing component includes a wall structure including two adjacent wall parts and a connection arrangement arranged between adjacent edges of the two wall parts. The connection arrangement includes an elongated seal strip positioned along the wall part edges and bridging the distance between the wall part edges.
US08747065B2
A fan assembly includes a bracket and a fan module. The bracket includes a ventilation plate. A limiting portion protrudes from the ventilation plate. The fan module is secured to the ventilation plate and includes a frame and a plurality of fan blades. The frame includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. The plurality of fan blades are received in the frame, and each of the plurality of fan blades includes a first edge adjacent to the first sidewall and a second edge adjacent to the second sidewall. A height of the limiting portion is greater than a distance between the first edge and the first sidewall and smaller than a distance between the second edge and the second sidewall.
US08747063B2
An electrical submersible pump having a pump section with a stack diffusers and a stack of impellers mounted on a rotatable shaft. Flow paths extends through the pump section directed axially and radially within the impellers and diffusers. Vanes define the flow path through each impeller that provide fluid communication with an upstream side of each impeller and an outer circumference. An annular flow diverting hub is provided on a downstream side of each impeller. The hub has an outer surface that curves radially inward, and having a minimum radius proximate its middle portion. The diffusers are annular members coaxially mounted in a housing of the pump section. Passages define the flow path through each diffuser that extend axially along the pump section and radially between an outer and inner circumference of each diffuser. The outer surface of each hub makes up a portion of an associated passage.
US08747060B2
A system to cool the air inside a nacelle of a wind turbine. The system has an upper cooling circuit, with a reservoir disposed below the nacelle. The reservoir has at least one pair of annular chambers and a lid that freely rotates about its axis and about the nacelle yaw axis. Coolant flows from a first annular chamber to a second annular chamber through a heat exchanger in the nacelle, thereby carrying heat from the nacelle to the second annular chamber. The system also has a lower cooling circuit, having a coil that connects the first annular chamber to the second annular chamber and being exposed to the outside of the wind turbine. Coolant flows from the second annular chamber to the first annular chamber through the coil, thereby dissipating the heat to ambient air.
US08747044B2
An assembly improving, lower mass fastener head that is easier to handle and reduces the amount of material that is required in manufacturing the fastener comprises three lugs at multiples of 60 degrees around an axis of a threaded body. Those portions of a hex head that are not necessary for application and transmission of torque, nor necessary to resist axial loading, nor necessary to axially stabilize the fastener head within current driving tooling may be removed. Compatibility with existing hex head tools is maintained while improving handling of the fastener by an assembler and reducing material used in the fastener head.
US08747043B2
A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.
US08747042B2
A threaded fastener includes a shank having a first, threaded portion and a hardened thread portion. The shank includes a thread extending outwardly from a shank body over a first length of the shank. A second portion of the shank includes a groove positioned coincident with the thread and including a turn ratio equal to a turn ratio of the thread. The shank comprises corrosive resistant stainless steel. A coil of hardened steel engages the groove to fill the groove along the second portion.
US08747037B2
The inventive subject matter relates to novel tie down devices for securing a vehicle to a surface. In one preferred aspect of the inventive subject matter, the vehicle is secured during transport. The inventive apparatus may be used to secure a variety of vehicles having at least one generally rigid, elongated member, such as handlebars or a tubular frame member, to which the device is attached.
US08747035B2
The invention relates to the production of plunge-cut crown wheels having straight or linear hypocycloid as the flank longitudinal line of the teeth. The production is performed by means of a forming method in which the axial movements are coupled. Corresponding pinions can be produced using a modified hobbing method. A corresponding tapered generating wheel is used. The milling tool carries multiple cutters. The teeth of the conical virtual generating wheel are reproduced in the engagement area by the blades or blade flanks of the cutters of the milling tool.
US08747028B2
This invention relates to a container emptying apparatus including a frame, a first and second tube, a suction tube, a motor, and a sweeper. The frame is adapted to be positioned over an opening of the container. The first tube is mounted on the frame and is in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The second tube is rotatably connected to the first tube and is also in fluid communication with the first tube. The sweeper assembly is connected to the second tube. The suction tube extends from the second tube such that, when the frame of this invention is placed over a container, the second tube, the suction flexible tube, and the associated sweeper assembly are lowered into the container and rotated by the motor such that, when the vacuum source is activated, the suction tube suctions the contents from the container.
US08747026B2
An installation vessel for installing an offshore structure, the installation vessel comprising a hull and a plurality of legs, each leg comprising vertical chords and cross braces, the hull having a plurality of leg openings each configured for passage of a leg therethrough, each leg opening having a number of jack-cases for supporting pinions thereon, each pinion being configured for rotatably engaging a rack disposed on a chord of the leg to move the leg relative to the hull, each jack-case comprising a number of guides for guiding passage of the leg through the leg opening, each guide comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured for sliding engagement with a corresponding plurality of surfaces of a rack, each of the plurality of angled surfaces comprising a wear plate.
US08747018B2
A method for installing a paver system includes positioning a first grid substrate adjacent to a second grid substrate. The first grid substrate and the second grid substrate are flexibly bridged with a first paver piece. A first portion of the first paver piece is movably coupled with the first grid substrate at a first joint, and a second portion of the first paver piece is movably coupled with the second grid substrate at a second joint, the first and second grid substrates and the first paver piece forming an articulated paver linkage. A second paver piece is coupled with the second grid substrate. A third paver piece is coupled with the first grid substrate. The articulated paver linkage is fit within the specified area by movement of at least one of the first, second and third paver pieces and the first and second grid substrates. The movement is transmitted along the articulated paver linkage to maintain a specified alignment and spacing of the first, second and third paver pieces.
US08747011B2
A ball and socket joint, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle, as well as to a process for manufacturing a joint housing for a ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint has an essentially annular joint housing (3), in the cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell (1) can be arranged. The ball (2) of a ball pivot can be accommodated in the ball shell (1) in a slidingly movable manner. The joint housing is of a smooth cylindrical design in the area of a housing cover-side functional section (14), while elevations (10) and/or depressions (15) are arranged in the area of a ball pivot-side functional section (13) of the inner jacket surface of the joint housing.
US08747010B2
A control device has a plurality of possible attachment places for receiving attachment elements at least one of the attachment places being formed as a blocking attachment place which prevents receiving of an attachment element.
US08747003B2
A pencil that includes a polymer-bonded lead, a polymerbonded wood substitute material that includes an organic filler and covers or surrounds the lead along its length, and an adhesion promoter layer disposed between the lead and the wood substitute material. The lead and the wood substitute material each have a polymer. The polymer in the lead being incompatible with the polymer in the wood substitute material so that the polymer of the lead and the polymer of the wood substitute material do not create any connection with one another. The adhesion promoter layer is connected to the polymer in the lead and to the polymer in the wood substitute material so that the adhesion promoter layer forms a connection with the polymer in the lead and with the polymer of the substitute material. The organic filler is formed by particles having a maximum particle size of 250 μm.
US08747002B2
The subject wearable ring assembly comprises a ring shank portion, integrally or mechanically connected to a personal care product receptacle, which is mechanically or frictionally connected to a protective cap element configured to contain and protect personal care products stored in the receptacle. The ring shank portion is sized to fit a wearer's finger or is adjustable to fit a wearer's finger. The ring is made from jewelry grade materials selected from precious metals such as gold and silver or costume jewelry grade materials selected from non-precious metals, thermo-formable plastic resins, ceramics, leather, fabrics or woven materials.
US08747001B2
A printing apparatus capable of maintaining print sheet conveying performance while keeping apparatus cost low and apparatus size small is provided. The printing apparatus includes a conveying mechanism and a print unit. The conveying mechanism includes a conveying roller which is a driving roller, a plurality of pinch rollers which are passive rollers disposed facing the conveying roller, and a plurality of pinch roller axles supporting the pinch rollers. The print unit prints onto a sheet conveyed by the conveying rollers and the plurality of pinch rollers. The conveying mechanism includes one or more first pinch roller sets including two pinch rollers and a first pinch roller axle supporting the two pinch rollers, and one or more second pinch roller sets including three pinch rollers and a second pinch roller axle supporting the three pinch rollers.
US08746993B2
A system for mounting a camera to an arm is disclosed. Specifically, the system can comprise a bracket system capable of supporting a camera; and an arm mount, wherein the bracket system connects to the arm mount. The system can also comprise a hinge system that mounts bracket system to arm mount. The hinge system can comprise a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can connect to the bracket system, and the second portion can connect to the arm mount.
US08746983B2
A rolling bearing for a turbocharger, which has an outer ring with a first rolling element raceway, an inner ring with a second rolling element raceway, and several rolling elements accommodated in rolling element pockets of a rolling element cage. The rolling element cage has a guide surface, which is guided on an inner surface of the outer ring and arranged on a smaller radius than the radius of the first rolling element raceway. The rolling element cage has an extension, which is arranged over the circumference of the rolling element cage and extended annularly in the radial direction, on the side opposite the guide surface.
US08746977B2
Provided is a bearing capable of satisfying demands for cost reduction and further quietness, and stably maintaining high support accuracy. A sliding bearing (4) includes an inner member (5) having a mounting surface (9) with respect to a rotary shaft (2), and an outer member (6) being arranged on a radially outer side of the inner member (5). A radial bearing gap is formed between an outer peripheral surface (5a1) of the inner member (5) and an inner peripheral surface (7a1) of the outer member (6), and a lubricating oil is interposed in the radial bearing gap. Further, between the inner member (5) and the outer member (6), sealing gaps (S, S) for maintaining an oil level of the lubricating oil on both axial sides of the radial bearing gap are formed. At least a part of the mounting surface (9) of the inner member (5) is made of a metal.
US08746974B2
The invention relates to a medical x-ray imaging apparatus which includes a support construction (1) supporting a substantially ring-shaped structure (2), an O-arm (2), which in turn supports imaging means (21, 22) and which O-arm (2) is arranged with an examination opening (4). The imaging means (21, 22) are arranged movable within the O-arm (2). The examination opening (4) is arranged for its predominant portion substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle but to comprise an extension, within the sector covered by which extension the distance from the centre of said arch of the circle to the edge of the examination opening (4) is longer than within the prevailing portion of the examination opening (4) being substantially of the shape of an arch of a circle.
US08746959B2
A portable feed apparatus comprising a feed container, a mixing assembly that receives a feed from said feed container, at least one feed additive assembly in flowable connection with said mixing assembly, and a controller in communication with said mixing assembly.
US08746954B2
A system for managing a concrete delivery vehicle having a mixing drum 14 and hydraulic drive 16 for rotating the mixing drum, including a rotational sensor 20 configured to sense a rotational speed of the mixing drum, a hydraulic sensor 22 coupled to the hydraulic drive and configured to sense a hydraulic pressure required to turn the mixing drum, a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the drum, and a communications port 26 configured to communicate a slump calculation to a status system 28 commonly used in the concrete industry, wherein the sensing of the rotational speed of the mixing drum is used to qualify a calculation of current slump based on the hydraulic pressure required to turn the mixing drum. Temperature readings are further used to qualify or evaluate a load. Also, water purge connections facilitate cold weather operation.
US08746950B2
The invention discloses a front frame and a back light module. The front frame comprises at least one stacked plate which is stacked with the front frame. The invention adds the stacked plate on the front frame which the stacked plate is stacked with, so that the structure thickness of the front frame is increased, thereby increasing the total strength. In case that the strength is increased, the plate thickness of the front frame can be reduced, or some structures of the front frame like side walls can be removed, or structure material with low cost can be employed to achieve the aim of reduction of material cost.
US08746949B2
Provided is a surface light emitter that supplies light using a light guide method, and ensures transparency by lowering a haze value in a thickness direction at the time when a light source is turned off, and enables highly efficient light emission by using plate-surface transversal radiant emitted light at the time when the light source is on. A surface light emitter (2) including light diffusing particles guides light in a length direction of the light guide while scattering the light in the thickness direction of the light guide while scattering the light in the thickness direction of the light guide, and a calculated value (m−1/%) obtained by dividing a luminance attenuation coefficient E (m−1) by a haze value (%) per 5 (mm) thickness of the light guide is greater than or equal to 0.55 (m−1/%) and less than or equal to 10.0 (m−1/%).
US08746943B2
A light emitting diode (LED) based illumination system with particular application to large scale side lighted liquid crystal displays (LCD). The invention uses on board closed loop intensity control in conjunction with red, green and blue (R,G,B) LED die and a hybrid non-imaging optical system to overcome substantial temperature dependence, loss in intensity with time, increased system cost and complexity, and decreased dynamic range. The invention obtains a large color gamut in excess of 110% of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) recommendation. A high performance thermal management design, the use of “chip on board” technology, compact and efficient collection optics, and on board closed loop intensity control increase and maintain luminous performance and decrease cost relative to less efficient RGB LED approaches. One or more line sources can be generated for applications other than in lighting LCD displays.
US08746931B1
Light incoupling structures for lighting applications, such as lightguides, are described herein. The incoupling structures include an optically substantially transparent medium for transporting light emitted by a light source and an optical element including at least one hole in the medium for coupling light together with optional further optical elements. A lighting element includes a light source with related integrated optics.
US08746918B1
A telescopic flashlight that includes a universally adjustable mirror unit for reflecting the light of the lighting unit over a universal range, which mirror unit is readily and easily attached and detached from the distal end of the flashlight apparatus via a metallic mounting collar that is magnetically retained by means of an annular magnet affixed to the distal end of the apparatus, which mounting collar itself is rotatable relative to the distal end of the flashlight apparatus in order to provide two of the three degrees of freedom on motion of the mirror proper.
US08746916B2
A showcase comprising an illumination apparatus which includes a shade member constituted of a light-transmitting front wall positioned on the side of the light emitting surfaces of LED elements, and a back wall positioned on the side of a substrate provided with the LED elements, the front wall comprising a curved portion having an arc-like section and a pair of flat portions extended continuously from both ends of the curved portion to intersect with the back wall at an acute angle, corner portions where the flat portions intersect with the back wall being a pair of engaging portions; and a holder provided with a plurality of engagement portions and the like with which the engaging portions are disengageably engaged.
US08746912B2
A display device of this invention comprises a display panel, an accommodating part accommodating the display panel, circulating means for circulating air in the accommodating part around the display panel, which is arranged on a rear surface side of the display panel, an advertizing part arranged on the rear surface side of the display panel, and an illuminating part illuminating the advertizing part from the display panel side and arranged at a position below or above the circulating means. Another display device comprises a display panel, a fan arranged on a rear surface side of the display panel and forming an air flow on a display screen of the display panel, an advertizing part arranged on the rear surface side of the display panel, and an illuminating part illuminating the advertizing part from the display panel side and arranged at a position below or above the fan.
US08746911B2
The invention discloses a backlight module and an LCD device including the backlight module. The backlight module includes a light source, an aluminum extrusion, and a backplane. The light source is fixed on the aluminum extrusion, and the aluminum extrusion and the backplane are integratedly joined. The aluminum extrusion heat dissipation is used by the backlight module of the LCD device of the invention, the aluminum extrusion and the backplane are integratedly joined, the contact area between the aluminum extrusion and air is increased, and thus high-efficiency heat dissipation is obtained.
US08746908B2
A medical supply cabinet having improved features for user access, user control, and illumination is provided. The supply cabinet is provided with a selectively controllable illumination source, such as light-emitting diodes, that provide the operator with visual information regarding access to individual compartments of the supply cabinet.
US08746907B2
A fluorescent tube type LED lamp includes an elongated lamp body that has a largest dimension in a longitudinal direction, a light source substrate mounted on the lamp body, a light transmissive cover attached to the lamp body, and an LED unit mounted on the light source substrate such that the LED unit extends in the longitudinal direction of the lamp body. The LED unit includes a plurality of LED chips mounted on the light source substrate, and a transparent encapsulant encapsulating the LED chips. The encapsulant is molded such that the encapsulant is raised from the light source substrate. The LED unit radiates light from an entire surface of the encapsulant in an angular range including a region lateral to the lamp body.
US08746902B2
This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles that include a low-index material and a printed region. This disclosure also generally relates to methods of making retroreflective articles.
US08746901B1
A fogless shower mirror includes a mirror assembly having an elongated hollow body which has a thin, rectangular-shaped mirror frame section on which is mounted a mirror plate, and an upper rearwardly curved water supply conduit section. A rectangular slab-shaped reservoir within the mirror frame communicates at the upper end thereof with a bore through the water supply conduit, which has at an outer end thereof a vertically disposed water fill aperture. The reservoir and water supply conduit are filled with warm water, and the mirror assembly is releasably attached to a mirror support stand attached to a shower enclosure wall. The mirror plate is heated by the warm water in the reservoir to thus resist fogging caused by condensation of water vapor, Water cooled by warming the mirror plate trickles from a small drain hole in the reservoir and is replenished with warm water from the water supply conduit.
US08746899B2
A light emitting apparatus includes a first rod integrator and a second rod integrator supported by a support substrate and a light emitting device disposed between the first rod integrator and the second rod integrator. The light emitting device emits a plurality of light beams to be incident on the first rod integrator and a plurality of light beams to be incident on the second rod integrator. Each of the rod integrators has a light incident surface on which the plurality of light beams are incident, a bent portion that changes the propagating direction of the plurality of incident light beams, and a light exiting surface through which the plurality of light beams mixed with each other exit.
US08746897B2
An optical projection system for projecting an enlarged image on a projection surface is provided. The optical projection system includes an image forming element, a coaxial optical system and a concave mirror. The coaxial optical system and the concave mirror are arranged in this order on an optical path from the image forming element to the projection surface. The coaxial optical system includes lens groups and an aperture stop that share an optical axis. The lens groups include a first lens group and other lens groups. The first lens group has negative refractive power and independently moves in an optical axis direction for adjusting the focus of the optical projection system. The aperture stop is arranged at a position closer to the image forming element than the first lens group that is arranged closest to the concave mirror among the lens groups having the negative refractive power.
US08746883B2
Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image. The resulting image can be processed and analyzed to measure a tear film layer thickness (TFLT), including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT).
US08746868B2
An oily ink including a pigment, a pigment dispersant, and an organic solvent, the oily ink further including 0.5 to 7% by mass of resin particles, which are swollen by the organic solvent, wherein (1) a dispersion of 1% by mass of the resin particles in an equilibrium state of swelling in the organic solvent has an optical transmittance at 700 nm ranging from 20 to 70%, and (2) a dispersion of 10% by mass of the resin particles in an equilibrium state of swelling in the organic solvent has such a viscosity that a ratio of the viscosity to a viscosity of the organic solvent ranging from 1.5 to 5.0. The oily ink form dense printed images on plain paper.
US08746864B2
A filter, the alignment of which does not need to be adjusted, and an ink-jet recording apparatus having such a filter are provided, the ink-jet recording apparatus capable of avoiding leakage of residual liquids in filter exchange operation. The filter of the present invention includes an upper capsule member, a lower capsule member, and a filter medium. The upper capsule member has a central connecting port and a peripheral connecting port, and also has a pipe section that extends, within the capsule, from the peripheral connecting port to the vicinity of the bottom surface (the deepest section) of the lower capsule member. A liquid supplied from the peripheral connecting port via the pipe section is filtered through the filter medium, and the filtered liquid is output from the central connecting port.
US08746863B1
A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzles. The array of grooves has a pitch that is greater than the pitch of the nozzle array.
US08746854B2
A liquid ejection head includes a channel plate, a diaphragm member, and a piezoelectric member. The channel plate includes a separate liquid chamber, a fluid resistance portion, and a liquid introducing portion. The diaphragm member has a thin layer and a thick layer. The thin layer forms a wall face of each of the separate liquid chamber, the resistance portion, and the introducing portion and includes a vibration area facing the separate liquid chamber. The piezoelectric member is arranged to deform the vibration area and has a portion opposing the introducing portion. The thin layer has a thin portion forming the wall face of the introducing portion. The thick layer has a thick portion formed along the longitudinal direction of the separate liquid chamber on a first face opposite a second face opposing the introducing portion. In a plan view, the thin portion is divided by the thick portion.
US08746853B2
A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer and an electrode provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer has a Perovskite-type structure containing bismuth and iron, and includes nitrogen in an oxygen site of the Perovskite-type structure.
US08746848B2
Systems and methods of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a printhead with one or more actuators with associated nozzles and membranes. A voltage waveform can be applied to the actuators to fill the actuators with a volume of ink and eject the ink through the nozzles as ink drops. The voltage waveform can have associated pre-fill voltage to fill the actuator with ink and a firing voltage to eject the ink. The actuator membranes can have multi-height dimples to protect the membranes from contacting electrodes and reduce the electric field.
US08746847B2
An ink jet print head is configured to reduce the inclination of an ink ejection direction to make improper print conditions such as stripes and density unevenness unnoticeable. An individual wire is extended to lie under a common wire. Thus, wires under ink channels arranged on the respective opposite sides of a pressure chamber are symmetric. Consequently, an equivalent step structure is provided at the bottoms of the ink channels arranged on the respective opposite sides of the pressure chamber.
US08746841B2
A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a liquid jetting head configured to have a liquid jetting surface on which a plurality of nozzles, from which liquid is jetted, are open; a wiper configured to move, relative to and along the liquid jetting surface, while being brought in contact with the liquid jetting surface and to wipe the liquid adhered on the liquid jetting surface; a wiper movement mechanism configured to move the wiper in a direction orthogonal to the liquid jetting surface and to make the wiper approach to or separate from the liquid jetting surface. The wiper moving mechanism includes: a cam configured to have a cam surface; an axis configured to extend along the liquid jetting surface; and an arm member configured to make the wiper approach to the liquid jetting surface by pushing and moving the wiper in accordance with movement of the cam.
US08746838B2
A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a conveyor mechanism for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction; a head including an ejection face including an ejection opening region having ejection openings, the region being longer than the recording medium in a conveyance perpendicular direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; a capping unit for selectively establishing a sealing state or an open state; an air supply opening and an air discharge opening; a humidification unit for performing a humidifying maintenance; a recording control unit for performing image recording; and a flushing control unit. The conveyor mechanism conveys the recording medium in the image recording such that one of opposite end portions of the ejection opening region and one of opposite edge portions of the recording medium are opposed to each other in the conveyance perpendicular direction when seen in a direction perpendicular to the ejection face.
US08746829B2
An image recording apparatus has low intensity ink ejection parts for ejecting low intensity ink, and a high intensity ink ejection part for ejecting high intensity ink. With respect to a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of printing paper, a pitch of outlets in the high intensity ink ejection part is larger than that in the low intensity ink ejection part. Thus, manufacturing cost of the apparatus is reduced. With respect to each gray level in a middle grayscale range, if a tint image is recorded with the high intensity ink, a spatial frequency of this tint image is lower than that of a tint image recorded with the low intensity ink. By the above image recording control, even if the high intensity ink ejection part includes an abnormal outlet where a flight direction of droplet is abnormal, streak unevenness in a color halftone image can be suppressed.
US08746825B2
When printing is to be performed on sheets by switching a plurality of sheet storage units and feeding the sheets, a user confirms, before the designated number of sheets is printed, whether the sheet matches a designated sheet type, and then instructs printing to be continued. Two or more sheet storage units among the plurality of sheet storage units are set as one group, and one sheet is conveyed from each of the two or more sheet storage units set as one group. An image is printed on the conveyed sheets which are then discharged to a sheet discharge unit, and printing is interrupted. If an instruction to continue the interrupted printing is received, control is performed to resume the interrupted printing.
US08746823B2
To reduce the tendency of glossiness to vary according to the ink ejection quantity, a printing device includes a color ink head for ejecting color ink to a medium, a clear ink head for ejecting transparent clear ink to the medium, and a controller for controlling ejection of the clear ink so that the clear ink is ejected to a region in which an ejection quantity of the color ink per unit area of the medium is less than a predetermined quantity, and the clear ink is not ejected to a region in which the ejection quantity of the color ink per unit area of the medium is greater than the predetermined quantity.
US08746815B2
A vehicle track-module including an upper drive wheel, a plurality of idler and bogey wheels, and an endless rubber track with spaced lugs which extends around the wheels and is driven by the drive wheel, which has: a middle main plate with a outer edge of first diameter and inward and outward sides forming the exposed inward and outward surfaces of the drive wheel; drive members axially across and projecting radially beyond the main-plate edge to a second diameter, each drive member having axially inward and outward end portions, a middle portion affixed at its middle position to the main-plate edge, and an outer track-engaging surface; and a rigidity ring affixed to the inward end portions of the drive members and having an inner diameter no less than half the first diameter and an outer diameter no greater than the second diameter. In some embodiments, the axial dimension of the track-engaging surfaces of the drive members is at least 50% greater than the axial dimension of the track lugs. In some, the track module has preferably annular wheel-weights around the central portion of the drive wheel.
US08746814B2
A vehicle brake fluid pressure control apparatus controls operations of a fluid pressure adjusting unit capable of performing adjustment of individually increasing and decreasing brake fluid pressures acting respectively on wheel brakes for front wheels and wheel brakes for rear wheels to be within allowable differential pressures allowable between the brake fluid pressures of the wheel brakes for the left and right coaxial front wheels and the left and right coaxial rear wheels. In the apparatus, a fluid pressure acquiring device acquires a lock fluid pressure of a wheel brake of a wheel coaxial with a wheel being a control target, the lock fluid pressure being a fluid pressure at which pressure decrease by an anti-lock brake control is started. An allowable differential pressure setting device sets the allowable differential pressures matching a road surface friction coefficient on the basis of at least the lock fluid pressure obtained by the fluid pressure acquiring device. The allowable differential pressures stably matching a friction coefficient of a road surface can be thereby obtained.
US08746808B2
A bicycle rim is provided with an annular tire mounting part, an annular spoke mounting part, at least one spoke attachment member and an orientation maintaining structure. The annular spoke mounting part includes a plurality of spoke openings a circumferential spaced along the annular spoke mounting part. The spoke mounting part extends from the annular tire mounting part to define an interior space containing the spoke attachment member. The orientation maintaining structure is dimensioned with respect to the interior space to form an orientation maintaining arrangement such that the spoke attachment member is slidably disposed within the interior space in a circumferential direction of the bicycle rim to selectively align with one of the spoke openings while also maintaining an orientation of the spoke attachment member within the interior space to align with the one of the spoke openings.
US08746804B2
An apparatus generally includes a dump frame pivotably coupled to a vehicle's chassis, and a slide frame slidably coupled to the dump frame. The apparatus further includes at least one slide frame actuator for causing sliding movement of the slide frame, and at least one dump frame actuator for causing pivotal movement of the dump frame.
US08746794B2
An infant seat comprising an upper torso support, a lower torso support pivotally articulated to the upper torso support and a seat supporting structure; at least one of the upper torso support or the lower torso support is pivotally articulated to the seat supporting structure, the seat further comprising a converting mechanism for converting the seat between at least an angular position in which the upper torso support is inclined with respect to the lower torso support, and a planar position in which the upper torso support and the lower torso support are substantially co-planar.
US08746787B2
A roof frame for a motor vehicle has a cowl frame with upper and lower segments and a plurality of chambers in each segment. An upper connecting surface is on top side of the free end of the lower segment. A lower connecting surface is opposite the upper connecting surface and is connected to a reinforcing element of an A pillar. The upper segment is arranged offset back from the lower segment of the cowl frame and is shortened by mechanical machining to form a step-shaped shoulder in which the outer roof frame is held.
US08746783B2
A positioning and reinforcement structure for a vehicle includes a top support member and a bottom support member each extending relatively horizontally in a cross-car orientation and relatively parallel to each other. Also included is a first side member and a second side member each extending relatively vertically and relatively parallel to each other, the first side member and the second side member each coupled to the top support member and the bottom support member. Further included is a first wing structure detachably coupled to the first side member, the first wing structure comprising a first side flange configured to operably mount to a first fender assembly. Yet further included is a centering bracket disposed proximate a top side of the top support member, the centering bracket configured to locate a front region of a hood to the positioning and reinforcement structure.
US08746779B1
A tri-wing system for reduction of aerodynamic drag on a ground vehicle comprises one or more wings designed to redirect airflow toward low pressure areas behind the ground vehicle. The wings are mountable a bottom rear of the vehicle, a bottom rear of a trailer attached to the ground vehicle, and/or a top rear of the trailer attached to the ground vehicle. Airflow travels through a gap between an inner surface of the wing and the vehicle and is redirected toward an area behind the vehicle at an angle relative to the mounting surface of the vehicle. The increase in the pressure behind the vehicle can reduce the total drag force on the vehicle, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
US08746777B2
At a back door structure, a back door, that is rotatably supported at a rear roof header via a pair of door hinges, rotates around hinge shafts and opens and closes a rear opening portion. The back door is held in a fully open posture that opens the rear opening portion, by a single damper that is provided only at a right side with respect to the rear opening portion. In the back door structure, a fit posture of the back door is corrected due to a vertical position of a mounting surface of the door hinge at the right side being set at an upper side with respect to a mounting surface of the door hinge at a left side in a state of not supporting the back door.
US08746776B2
A roof construction of a motor vehicle has a fixed roll bar, and a roof element which, in the closed position, is accommodated between the roll bar and a windshield and, in the open position, is accommodated behind the roll bar in a convertible-top compartment. The roof element can be shifted from the open position into the closed position and vice versa beyond the roll bar via an opening and closing mechanism. With the roof element in the closed position, the mechanism penetrates lateral offsets of the roll bar and, in the open position, opens up the lateral offsets. The lateral offsets of the roll bar are each assigned, on the front side of the roll bar, a covering which, in the closed position of the roof element, opens up the lateral offset for the passage of the mechanism and which, in the open position, covers the lateral offsets.
US08746769B2
A portable ski and ski pole carrier system includes a pair of flexible straps, each having a strap receiver and a strap fastener disposed at opposite ends. The strap receivers are configured to receive the strap fasteners and secure a pair of skis and ski poles within the straps. A handle is attached perpendicularly to the pair of straps and parallel to the pair of skis and ski poles. The ski poles are disposed between a heel binding on one of the pair of skis and a brake lever handle extending from the other of the pair of skis. The loops formed by the straps may be disposed between toe and heel bindings on the pair of skis. The interior of the straps may include a non-slip material to help secure the pair of skis.
US08746768B1
A filter removing tool for aiding with removing an air filter from a housing, such as a furnace. The filter removing tool generally includes a pair of handles, each having a linkage portion extending therefrom. The respective linkage portions cross each other and are interconnected via a pivot pin so that the handles may be opened or closed. A first arm extends from the first linkage portion and a second arm extends from the second linkage portion, each of the arms including a gripping member, at their respective distal ends. Each gripping member includes an inwardly-extending flange which is adapted to grasp the outer frame of a filter to aid its removal from a housing.
US08746767B2
An industrial long handled tool component system is provided having interchangeable tool heads, connectors, handles and grips. The novel connector system provides a polygonal locking bar concentric with a round outer reinforcing collar both engaged by a material connector insert and separated by plastic isolations seals. The novel connector promotes connection integrity and prevents joint movement. An alternate embodiment provides a connector system without the collar to save weight and manufacturing cost.
US08746753B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of devices and kits for making knotted string accessories. Embodiments of a device comprise a base that has a substantially planar surface, a perimeter, and a center axis. Furthermore the embodiments include a plurality of holders connected to the substantially planar surface proximate to the perimeter of the base, located at a distance from the center axis, wherein the plurality of holders are configured to retain individual strings. Embodiments of a kit comprise the device, a plurality of strings for use with the device, and storage compartments.
US08746744B2
The invention relates to an enhanced security feature for identification document. For that, the identification document comprises at least two constitution layers, a first specific coating (15) inside the document, between two constitution layers, said coating being able to be revealed under predetermined lighting conditions. It comprises also an assembly of micro-holes (16) provided through at least one of the layers, in order to make possible the revelation of the first specific coating under said predetermined conditions, said assembly of micro-holes, together with said coating to be revealed through micro-holes, drawing said security pattern.
US08746730B2
A foldable frame includes first and second upper bars, first and second lower bars, and first and second pin joint pieces. The first and second pin joint pieces are respectively provided with first and second pin joint holes. The first and second lower bars are respectively fixed with the first and second pin joint pieces. The first pin joint piece is pin-jointed with the second pin joint piece through the first pin joint hole, and end surfaces of the first and second pin joint pieces respectively abut against end portions of the second and first lower bars. Two ends of the first upper bar are respectively pin-jointed with an upper end of a front wheel support and at the second pin joint hole of the second pin joint piece. Two ends of the second upper bar are respectively pin-jointed with a rear wheel support and at the second pin joint hole of the first pin joint piece.
US08746727B1
A utility hitch provides a shaft defining a longitudinal axis. A socket is affixed to the shaft and at least partially receives a ball. A slide lock coupled with the shaft is translatable parallel with the shaft longitudinal axis. A tongue protrudes from the slide lock. The tongue secures the ball into the socket by engaging the ball at a bottom surface, and alternatively releases the tongue from the ball bottom surface to enable the ball to release from the socket. Retracting pins protrude from the shaft to retain the slide lock and tongue in a first position immediately adjacent to the ball, and are operative to retract inside the shaft and slide lock when the slide lock is translated to a second position distal to the ball, to permit the slide lock to translate or reciprocate relative to the shaft. Wings may be provided to facilitate actuation of the retracting pins.
US08746725B2
An adapter for connecting a agricultural implement swivel hitch to a drawing hitch on a towing vehicle that enables relative pitch and roll movement between the implement and vehicle at a single, pinned joint. Elongated openings in a first portion of the hitch adapter receive a transversely aligned connection pin. The openings are sized to allow limited pin angular movement about a vehicular roll axis. A second portion of the hitch adapter is also connected to the connection pin and configured to allow limited relative angular movement about a transverse pitch axis. The connection between the first and second portions at the connector pin allows relative angular movement therebetween about generally co-planar pitch and roll axes. The connector pin is formed from a softer material than the surrounding first and second portions thereby providing an inexpensive and easily replaceable weak link in the hitch adapter assembly.
US08746723B2
A spark generating device that is supported by a tricycle is movable to a position in which the spark generating device contacts the riding surface. The spark generating device includes a handle actuation portion and a spark portion that creates sparks on the riding surface as a result of frictional contact with the riding surface. The spark generating device can also include a handle actuation portion which is accessible to the user and allows the user to move the spark generating device to the second position without having to manipulate the wheels or pedals of the tricycle.
US08746721B2
A steering mechanism may include a four-bar linkage having a ground link, a coupler link, and a pair of follower links. The ground link may be connected to a vehicle having a wheel defining a wheel centerline. The coupler link may be connected to the wheel and may be located aft of the ground link. The pair of follower links may pivotally connect the ground link to the coupler link. The follower links may extend aftwardly from the ground link at converging angles and may define a steering axis located aft of the wheel centerline.
US08746715B2
A folding skateboard may include a first board piece, a second board piece and a third board piece. The first board piece and third board piece may be secured to the second board piece with first and second sets of hinges. The board pieces may include an outer rail disposed on the outer edges of the board pieces that can slide along the outer edges of the board pieces in an unfolded configuration. The outer rails may lock in place to allow the folding skateboard to remain in a rigid unfolded configuration or allow the board to be folded into a three-layered configuration for storage. The trucks of the folding skateboard may be easily secured to and removed from the first and third board pieces.
US08746714B2
The present invention includes a cam, an arm plate, and a slide plate, wherein the cam defines at least one opening, the arm plate defines at least one channel, and the slide plate defines at least one hole. The control arm length may be adjusted by rotation of the cam and fixedly securing the cam to the arm plate to the slide plate with a bolt and at least one bolt securing device.
US08746703B2
A screwdriver head mounting structure includes a mounting base, a screwdriver head, a latching member and an elastic member. The mounting base defines a mounting hole and an eccentric latching hole communicating with and positioned eccentric to the mounting hole. The screwdriver head is detachably assembled to the mounting base. The screwdriver head has a latching end inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting base. The latching member is releasably and adjustably assembled to the mounting base together with the elastic member. The latching member passes through the eccentric latching hole and latches with the latching end of the screwdriver head.
US08746694B2
A sensing method and system to protect printer print heads from substrate media contact comprising a trip wire sensor to detect and signal a printer control system that substrate media carried by transport media is positioned to strike or contact the print head. The trip wire sensor is located upstream of the print heads, a controlled distance above the transport media in the direction normal to the plane of the media, and comprises a trip wire operatively connected to at least one transducer. Substrate media exceeding the height requirements associated with the print heads contact the trip wire sensor causing the generation of an electrical signal which is received by the printer control system which then takes corrective action to prevent damage to the print heads, for example, by raising the print heads further away from the transport media and allowing the non-conforming substrate media to pass through and be purged. Also disclosed is a protective guide positioned to constrain substrate media from going over the top of the trip wire which can result in the substrate media becoming jammed in the trip wire sensor.
US08746690B1
A duplexing unit for reversing an orientation of a sheet in an imaging apparatus, the duplexing unit includes an outer member including an inner surface; and an inner member that is housed within the outer member, the inner member including: a stationary structural element having an outer surface with a radius of curvature; and a freely rotatable element having a radius that is larger than the radius of curvature of the stationary structural element, wherein a duplexing path is provided between the inner surface of the outer member and a contact surface of the freely rotatable element.
US08746685B1
Disclosed is a printing apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of a transport error and prevent useless printing even when the sheet size of the actually fed sheet is different from the sheet size specified in the printing setting. The printing apparatus forms an image on one side of a recording medium first and then forms an image on another side of the recording medium. A determination section determines the medium length of the recording medium, and a control section causes the recording medium to be ejected to a sheet ejection port after the image is formed on the one side of the recording medium, when the determined medium length is outside of a preset threshold range.
US08746682B2
A large capacity automatic printer paper tray operatively mounts a printing device to its upper extent. A paper support is disposed in a frame of the paper tray and is slideably supported by vertical frame rails. A drive screw rotatably secured in the frame is operatively coupled to the paper support. An actuator motor operatively drives the drive screw to raise and lower the paper support. Lower and upper limit sensors control the motor to limit downward and upward movement of the paper support. A paper pick-up interface plate transfers a top paper from the paper support into a paper pick-up roller of the mounted print device, via a feed roller of the print device. A pull-track sensor operates the motor to maintain a top level of paper on the paper support between a minimum and a maximum pull-track threshold.
US08746680B2
A paper tray for a printer includes a bottom plate and a rear plate. A plurality of papers is placed on the bottom plate. The plurality of papers includes a first paper and a second paper. The first paper is located on a topmost portion of the plurality of papers, and the second paper is located adjacent to the first paper and below the first paper. A plurality of bent pieces is secured on the rear plate. Each bent piece includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is placed on the rear plate. An obtuse angle is defined between the first piece and the second piece. The second pieces of the plurality of bents pieces are configured to allow the first paper sliding there over, and block the second paper sliding there over.
US08746672B2
An image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing time and effort for a user in setting a size of an irregular-size sheet. Width information indicative of a width of a sheet set by the user is stored in a storage unit. A width of the sheet held by a sheet holding unit that holds the sheet is detected. From the width information stored in the storage unit, candidates for a size of the sheet are extracted based on the detected width of the sheet. The extracted candidates for a size of the sheet are displayed on a display. A size of the sheet selected by the user from among the displayed candidates for a size of the sheet is set as a size of the sheet held by the sheet holding unit.
US08746660B2
An absorber or desorber contains a layer (10) for a structured packing which has corrugations, wherein a plurality of open channels (12, 14, 16) is formed by the corrugations, wherein the channels include a first corrugation valley (22), a first corrugation peak (32) and a second corrugation peak (42). The first corrugation peak (32) and the second corrugation peak (42) bound the first corrugation valley (22), wherein the first and second corrugation peaks have a first apex (33) and a second apex (43). An indentation (34) extending in the direction of the first apex (33) is formed on the first apex (33) of the first corrugation peak (32). The first corrugation valley (22) has a valley bottom (23), wherein the normal spacing (27) of at least one point of the indentation (34) from the valley bottom (23) of the corrugation valley (22) is smaller than the normal spacing (28) of the first apex (33) from the valley bottom (23) of the corrugation valley (22).
US08746654B2
Tunable fluid end embodiments comprise a family, each family member comprising a pump housing with at least one installed tunable component chosen from: tunable valve assemblies, tunable valve seats, tunable radial arrays and/or tunable plunger seals. For example, a tunable valve assembly or tunable radial array selectively attenuates valve-generated vibration at its source, thus reducing the likelihood of fluid end failures associated with fatigue cracking and/or corrosion fatigue. Adding tunable valve seats and/or tunable plunger seals to a fluid end facilitates optimal damping and/or selective attenuation of vibration at one or more predetermined (and frequently localized) fluid end resonant frequencies. Thus, the likelihood of exciting destructive resonances in a pump's fluid end housing is further reduced. Optimized vibration attenuation and optimized fluid end damping are provided by altering resonant frequencies in each tunable component in relation to one or more fluid end resonant frequencies and/or tunable component resonant frequencies.
US08746652B2
An illustrative method for operating a valve, where the valve includes a valve seat, a valve plunger and a stepper motor for moving the valve plunger from a first position into a second position in which the valve plunger is pressed against a valve seat and for compressing a flexible element assigned to the valve plunger in said second position. The stepper motor may be driven a defined number of steps (NTOTAL) in order to move the valve plunger into the second position and to compress the flexible element. The method may include: driving the stepper motor a first number of steps (N1) at a first current level (I1); driving the stepper motor a second number of steps (N2) at a second current level (I2); and driving the stepper motor a third number of steps (N3) at a third current (I3) level.
US08746640B2
A hook having a fastener receiver with an axis of radial symmetry and two opposing edges defining a linear axis, where a support extends from the first edge and is angled away by a first angle from a midline plane defined by the linear axis and the axis of radial symmetry and a retainer extends from the second edge and is angled away from the midline plane by a second angle, preferably equal to the first angle and oppositely directed. The hanger hook is preferably of one piece construction but a two-piece interlocking version may also be made. Direct access to the fastener receiver is provided for tools and fasteners. The hanger hook retains equipment against 9 G horizontal accelerations and 3 G vertical accelerations.
US08746622B2
An aircraft de-icing system and method for removing the ice from the surface of an aircraft. The aircraft de-icing system reduces power requirements by allocating power from a single power source between the parting strip elements and the shed zone elements. The aircraft de-icing system may utilize a measurement of heat transfer to schedule the time necessary to shed ice from the surface of the aircraft. The de-icing system may also utilize a method for calculating the ice accumulation on the surface of the aircraft based on the outside air temperature.
US08746621B2
The stiffening frames (14) of an aircraft fuselage (2) remain continuous while passing through an upper panel (5) of the wing box and extend over the ribs (3) situated in that box. The overall mechanical strength of the assembly is improved, despite the notches it is necessary to make in the panel (5).
US08746618B2
A stringer comprises a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. The orientation of at least one of the first and second webs may transition from a first angle to a second angle within an angle transition zone.
US08746617B2
Described are aircraft cabin modules including at least two seats positioned one behind the other and at least one upper berth positioned above at least one lower berth, each of said berths being associated with one of the seats. The upper berth extends over part of the length of the lower berth, but not all of the length thereof, in order to optimize the space in the cabin. The aircraft cabin may be equipped with two- or three-berth modules.
US08746613B2
A first trailing edge portion of a scarfed jet engine exhaust nozzle aft of a second trailing edge portion relative to a central axis of an associated exhaust duct causes an automatic nozzle-pressure-ratio responsive transverse deflection of the associated exhaust flow away from the first trailing edge portion. When offset from both the center of gravity (CG) and the central longitudinal axis of an aircraft, at a relatively low nozzle pressure ratio, e.g. during takeoff, the thrust vector from the exhaust flow acts relatively close to the CG, whereas at a relatively high nozzle pressure ratio, e.g. during relatively high-speed cruise, the scarfed exhaust nozzle deflects the exhaust flow so that the resulting thrust vector is relatively parallel to the path of the aircraft. With the final portion of the exhaust duct skewed, the primary axis of the jet engine can be relatively parallel to the path of the aircraft.
US08746611B2
Lightning protection arrangement for diverting a current, caused by a lightning strike, from an electronic unit which is fitted to an aerodynamic fairing of an aircraft. The device includes an electrically conductive mounting plate which is arranged on an outer side of a CFRP sandwich panel of the aerodynamic fairing. Furthermore, the device has an electrically conductive rear plate which is arranged on an inner side of the CFRP sandwich panel of the aerodynamic fairing and is connected electrically to the mounting plate. In this respect, a first group of attachment means provided for the electronic unit connects the electrical unit electrically to the rear plate. An electric current generated during a lightning strike is diverted with low resistance from the electrical unit via the rear plate and the mounting plate onto the fuselage of the aircraft.
US08746607B2
A cable handling system has a cable traction unit having a sequence of cable-driving pulleys, a cable path coiling partially around each one of the cable-driving pulleys in the sequence, the cable traction unit being mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle; a cable accumulator unit mounted on the vehicle, having an cable chamber fixed relative to the vehicle and having an annular cable receiving area between a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, and a cable channel having a first end communicating with the cable traction unit, and a second end communicating with the annular cable receiving area.
US08746603B2
A one-way clutch for a fishing reel includes an outer race, an inner race, a first roller, a second roller, and a cam surface. The first roller is disposed between the outer race and the inner race, and is disposed to make contact with the outer race and the inner race. The second roller is disposed between the outer race and the inner race, and is disposed to make contact with the outer race and the inner race. The cam surface is disposed on either an inner peripheral surface of the outer race or an outer peripheral surface of the inner race, and is disposed to allow the first roller and the second roller being stuck with the cam surface. The first roller has a coefficient of friction greater than a coefficient of friction of the second roller.
US08746601B2
A lifter bar assembly for a crushing mill is disclosed including: a plurality of lifter bar segments; the segments being arranged to be installed adjacent to one another to form a lifter bar; wherein each of the segments are of a weight which can be safely handled by a team of two people.
US08746600B2
A bone mill including a base and a mill head that is removably attached to the base. A cutting disc is moveably disposed in the mill head. A motor is disposed in the base. A spindle attached to the motor releasably engages the cutting disk. The spindle is also capable of movement towards and away from the motor. A spring holds the mill head away from the motor. In some versions of the invention, the spring urges the spindle towards the cutting disc. The biasing force exerted by the spring urges the spindle into engagement with the cutting disc. A locking assembly releasably holds the mill head to the base in opposition of the force exerted by the spring.
US08746597B2
An electrostatic spray system, comprising a hand held device having an inlet and an outlet. The hand held device includes a charging device for producing a high voltage charging field and a spray nozzle having an outlet, the outlet being disposed within the charging field. The system further includes an air movement system disposed within the hand held device, the air movement system configured to produce an airflow around the spray nozzle and through the high voltage charging field to create a directionally controllable electrostatic charged mist existing the hand held device at low velocities.
US08746590B1
Described is a riser assembly for use with a fluid dispenser, such as a sprinkler. The assembly includes a container partially circumscribing a reservoir configured to contain a pressurized fluid, the container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed therethrough. The assembly further includes a signal processor situatable outside the container that is configured to receive a signal. The signal processor is operatively connectable to a control valve that is operatively connectable to the fluid dispenser. The control valve is configured to selectively control expulsion of the fluid through the fluid dispenser in response to the signal received by the signal processor.
US08746585B2
A power trigger sprayer comprising an integrated nozzle and pump assembly. The pump may comprise one or more pistons. Each piston feeds an input port of a swirl chamber spray nozzle. The nozzle is pulsed at a high rate, producing a predetermined spray pattern. In a further embodiment, the sprayer may be configured for handheld application of liquids and may comprise a tank for holding the liquid, a power source and control actuator together with the spray pump and nozzle in a hand operable unit. The sprayer may comprise a drip guard for directing drip flow away from the trigger and hand grip portion of the sprayer. The sprayer may include a battery within the hand grip portion. The battery may be in a battery module with grip/latch tabs allowing easy removal and replacement of the battery.
US08746583B2
A thermostat assembly comprises a thermostat and a removable and replaceable first communication module physically and functionally removably connected to the thermostat. The first communication module is configured to permit information transfer between the thermostat and a first device remote from the thermostat. If more than one communication module is used to communicate with more than one device, the communication modules may operate using different communication protocols.
US08746580B2
A high coercivity bias piece for making acousto-magnetic labels is made of an alloy strip with 10-14% weight percent Mn, less than 7% weight percent of one or more other transitional metals, with the balance Fe, after cold rolling to final gage, going through a final aging heat treatment at below 590 C, longer than 5 minutes. The strip thickness is 0.065-0.18 mm with coercivity measured by direct current method being 56-90 Oe. The method of making the high coercivity bias piece is to cold roll the strip to 0.07-0.15 mm with aging temperature at 450-570 C, for 0.5-20 hours to form a magnetic strip with coercivity of 60-85 Oe, followed by cutting the strip to required size. This high coercivity bias piece is manufactured without expensive Co and Ni materials, showing that a low cost Fe-(10-14% weight percent Mn) based alloy can be used to make high coercivity bias.
US08746577B2
An antenna includes a ground plane having a slot. The slot may be miniaturized using a meandered slot structure or other appropriate reactive loading method as an end load to one or both ends of the slot. An edge treatment may be included on one or more edges of the ground plane or a closely spaced reflecting plane. The antenna is structured to transmit or receive a signal independently or in response to electromagnetic radiation.
US08746574B2
An antenna arrangement comprises an electric antenna (4) configured to receive a reception signal from a sender and at least one conductive loop (3, 25) with two terminals (16, 17) to be connected to a receiver circuit (2, 24) which is configured to process an electric signal generated by the at least one conductive loop (3, 25). The at least one conductive loop (3, 25) is spaced within a distance from and magnetically coupled to the electric antenna (4) such that the at least one conductive loop (4, 25) generates the electric signal in response to the reception signal received by the electric antenna (4). Alternatively, the antenna arrangement may be used as a sending antenna used with a transmitter.
US08746563B2
A laser scanning module employing a laser scanning assembly mounted within a module housing using a mechanism that allows the laser scanning assembly to be rotated to an angular position within the engine housing so that light collection, beam folding and light collection mirrors in the module housing are optically aligned. A PC board is mounted on a side of the housing and has a configuration of elongated apertures of open-ended and/or closed geometry, arranged in a non-parallel manner. An electromagnetic coil structure, associated with the laser scanning assembly, has a linear array of electrically-conductive pins that project through the configuration of elongated holes, at locations along the elongated holes that are determined by the angular rotation of the laser scanning assembly attained during optical alignment conditions during manufacture.
US08746562B2
Embodiments related to methods and systems for determining support for a memory card, where the memory card is accessible to a card reader and the card reader is in communication with an accessing device. One embodiment comprises transmitting a first test command to the memory card, receiving a response to the first test command, and determining that the response to the first test command indicates that a card type is not supported by a plurality of card drivers. In response to said determining, at least one additional test command specific to a card type supported by a selected card driver is automatically transmitted, and if the response is successful, the selected card driver, which was previously determined not to support the card type of the memory card, is indicated to support the card type of the memory card.
US08746553B2
A payment device—payment device reader combination obtains issuer token data that was generated by an issuer entity from: input data, and an issuer application cryptogram based on the input data and a session key. The issuer token data is disassembled by the payment device—payment device reader combination to obtain the input data and the issuer application cryptogram, and the payment device—payment device reader combination computes a payment device application cryptogram based on the input data and the session key. This is compared, by the payment device—payment device reader combination, to the issuer application cryptogram. If the payment device application cryptogram matches the issuer application cryptogram, at least one action is allowed to take place on the payment device.
US08746550B2
A system is described for managing administration of medical care. The system can include a patient record system that contains electronic records for patients in a hospital. The electronic records may include scheduling information for medicine administration to the patient. A display terminal can be connected to the patient record system and be configured to read an RFID tag on the patient. The display terminal can then identify the patient and display the patient's medicine schedule.
US08746548B2
Multi-dimensional barcodes at a product include service identifiers for the product so that an end user with a portable information handling system captures an image of the multi-dimensional barcode and extracts the service identifiers to obtain service information from a service network location. For example, a service identifier embeds a URL that links to a video demonstrating how to assemble the product. As another example, a service identifier links to a service network location and includes a unique identifier so that an end user retrieves warranty or purchase information for the product. In one embodiment, a chassis supports plural information handling system modules and present information for the modules with QR codes displayed at a chassis-wide dynamic fault code display.
US08746547B2
A medical-technical identification device for identifying a sterile product and a method of identifying such a product are provided. The product may be intended for one-time-use only, when connected to a piece of medical equipment. A fixedly mounted information carrier is adapted to deliver or to offer specific product information in a contactless fashion to a reading element connected to the medical equipment. The function of the identification device is improved so that even specific data can be forwarded to the medical equipment such as an infusion-type fluid pump. Thus operation of the pump may be reprogrammed, for example, to change the calibration factor or the operation mode or to change irrigation depending on the patient group to undergo surgery.
US08746546B2
A fully erected one-piece, four wall container made of a foldable material having a tray with a bottom wall panel, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. Each of the front wall, the two side walls and the rear wall are configured to be folded to a position that is perpendicular to the bottom wall panel. Locations on the front wall and the rear wall that are mutually adjacent the first and second side walls each have a triangular piece hingedly joined thereto and to a respective one of the first and second side walls. Each triangular piece is configured to be oriented perpendicular to respective first and second side walls and parallel to respective front and rear walls, all in response to each of the front, rear and first and second side walls becoming oriented perpendicular to the bottom wall panel.
US08746543B2
A container assembly having an inner container and an outer cover fixedly attached to one another. The inner container has multiple sidewalls for forming the inner container sidewalls and has a bottom forming flap attached thereto. The outer cover has multiple cover sidewalls that fit over the inner container sidewalls to enclose the inner container. At least one attachment member attached to and extending from the outer cover is attached to the bottom forming flap, thereby fixedly attaching the inner container to the outer container. The attachment member can be separated from the container outer cover to allow removal of the outer cover from the inner container without marring the finish of the outside face of the sidewalls of the inner container. A knockdown assembly that is erectable to form the container assembly is also provided.
US08746535B2
A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.
US08746533B2
A surgical stapling device comprises a first jaw, a second jaw having an open position and a closed position with respect to the first jaw, a carriage, a driver, and an actuator configured to reciprocate the driver at a high rate with respect to the first and second jaws to translate the carriage with respect to the first and second jaws.
US08746528B2
A fan switch and an ignition switch are arranged such that the moving directions of operating buttons thereof cross the moving directions of a contact lever and the moving direction of a switch lever, respectively.
US08746527B2
A pneumatic nailer for use with a fluid source includes a housing, a cylinder, a first valve assembly, a piston, and a port assembly. The housing defines a storage chamber configured for fluid communication with the fluid source. The cylinder is configured for movement with respect to the housing between a first cylinder position and a second cylinder position. An inner side of the cylinder defines a sleeve chamber and an outer side of the cylinder and the housing defines an actuating chamber therebetween. The first valve assembly is connected to the cylinder and is configured to (i) to allow fluid flow from the sleeve chamber to the actuating chamber and (ii) to prevent fluid flow from the actuating chamber to the sleeve chamber. The piston has a piston head and a driver member extending from the piston head.
US08746519B2
A releasable attachment apparatus has multiple components that allow for easy storage, deployment and detachment of small portable items carried on the apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a retractable unit having a housing inside of which are a reel, a spring coil biasing rotation of the reel, and a tensile member carried on the reel. The housing has a female opening that fittingly receives a connector so that there is minimal swivel action in the connector and thus minimal strain on the tensile member when the tensile member is fully retracted in drawing the connector to a stored configuration with the retractable unit. The apparatus also includes a fastener that is adapted to carry the small portable items and is removably attached to the connector. The apparatus also includes a locking switch which is movable between a neutral position that allows rotation of the reel and a locking position which locks the reel against rotation.
US08746494B2
Disclosed is a synthetic resin container provided with an inverting, foldback bottom wall that can maintain a stable, self-supporting position while being able to minimize the amount of residual contents, and that can be formed by blow-molding, etc., and maintain the favorable producibility or low cost of the past. The synthetic resin container is provided with a bottom wall that forms the bottom of the container, and a drum section that is united to the perimeter of the bottom wall and forms a filling space M for contents on the inside, and is a synthetic resin container wherein a raised bottom is formed by inverting and folding back said bottom wall toward said drum section. Said drum section has a lower peripheral wall that touches or approaches the outer wall part of said bottom wall and forms a self-supporting base by the inversion and folding back of said bottom wall.
US08746476B1
A seal covering a discharge port of a container is opened without leaving superfluous elements on the container by a container closure unit which has seal-piercing knife-like elements mounted on a flexible dome-shaped base which is located to place the knife-like elements adjacent to the seal. The dome-shaped base is flexed to move the knife-like elements through the seal and then to move them outwardly toward the periphery of the seal to cut slits in the seal. The slits act as fluid passages to permit decanting of the fluid from the container. Once the seal has been opened, the dome-shaped base is removed using a pull ring and discarded. The container closure unit has a cap which is used to close the container discharge port between uses.
US08746462B2
A filter includes a filter element (1) having a filter medium (106) pleated in a zigzag manner, with a raw side (105) and a clean side (104). Filter medium sections (120) extend on either side of the raw-side pleat tips (102a) to adjoining raw-side pleat bases (103a) include a first bend (552) toward the raw side (105), and behind that a second bend (554) toward the clean side (104). A plurality of elongated depressions (656) are formed on the raw side (105), which extend between pleat tips (102a) and pleat bases (103a) approximately perpendicular to pleat edges (F) and implement corresponding elevations (658) on the clean side (104) such that, in a raw-side pleat intermediate space (148a), in each case, two depressions (656) on the two medium sections (120) delimiting the pleat intermediate space (148a) are located directly opposite of each other and each form a flow channel (660).
US08746459B2
Methods for automatically controlling a vibratory separator, e.g., but not limited to a shale shaker for processing drilling fluid, the methods in certain aspects including: introducing material to a vibratory separator; sensing with sensor apparatus a state parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator; providing a signal indicative of a value of said state parameter to control apparatus; and, with the control apparatus, automatically controlling the vibratory separator based on the level of the state parameter. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08746452B2
A tray (100) for accommodating a coiled medical device, such as a catheter assembly (700), includes a first compartment (101), a second compartment (102), and a third compartment (103). The catheter assembly (700) and devices associated with a catheterization procedure, such as syringes (701,702) containing sterile water and lubricating jelly and a specimen container (703) can be disposed within the tray. A first barrier (105) and second barrier (106) separate the compartments. The barriers can have openings (121,122) therein to accommodate large syringes or to enable the first compartment (101) to be used as a lubricant applicator for the catheter. The first compartment (101) can include a stair-stepped contour (115) such that the syringes are held at different depths to facilitate ease of use. The various devices can be disposed within the tray (100) in accordance with their order of use in the catheterization procedure.
US08746451B2
A protector assembly includes a first shield segment defining a first blade space. The first shield segment includes a first channel structure defining a first channel facing the first blade space. The protector assembly further includes a second shield segment defining a second blade space. The second shield segment includes a second channel structure defining a second channel facing the second blade space. The first shield segment further includes (i) a first end portion that includes a first coupling structure, and (ii) a second end portion that includes a second coupling structure. The second shield segment further includes (i) a third end portion that includes a third coupling structure, and (ii) a fourth end portion that includes a fourth coupling structure. When the first end portion of the first shield segment is positioned adjacent to the third end portion of the second shield segment, the first coupling structure cooperates with the third coupling structure to couple the first end portion to the third end portion. When the second end portion of the first shield segment is positioned adjacent to the fourth end portion of the second shield segment, the second coupling structure cooperates with the fourth coupling structure to couple the second end portion to the fourth end portion.
US08746447B2
A protector for a portable electronic device is provided. The protector includes a substrate having a first surface, a second surface and an edge; a first sheet disposed on the first surface and having an edge portion; and a second sheet disposed on the second surface, wherein the edge portion of the first sheet is folded along the edge of the substrate, disposed on the second surface, and sandwiched between the second sheet and the substrate.
US08746433B2
A document handler is provided which comprises a connector 4 made up of cam guides 5 and followers 6 detachably connected to cam guides 5 to detachably attach a validator 2 to a frame 1 in document handler. Cam guides 5 are formed on a pair of side walls 41 of frame 1, and followers 6 are formed on a pair of side walls 51 of validator 2. Each cam guide 5 comprises a distal path 10 for guiding movement of follower 6 to transport validator 2 in a spaced relation to bracket 7, and an access path 11 for guiding follower 6 passed through distal path 10 to bring validator 2 to the fixed position.
US08746427B2
The invention relates to a friction lamella (1) comprising a disk-shaped carrier element (2) having a first surface (3) and a second surface (4) opposite thereto, a first friction lining (5) being situated on the first surface (3) and a second friction lining (6) being situated on the second surface (4), which are formed from a composite material, comprising a resin and a fibrous material, and grooves (9, 10) being situated in the first and in the second friction linings (5, 6), which divide the friction linings (5, 6) into segments (7, 8) at least in surface-proximal areas. The segments (7) of the first friction lining (5) are implemented offset by a defined offset angle (11) to the segments (8) of the second friction lining (6). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and a device for producing the friction lamella and the use of the friction lamella.
US08746415B2
A control unit for an elevator installation comprises a cover and a base. The control unit further comprises a lock which can lock the cover to the base or release it from the base. The lock comprises a locking bar with a magnet, wherein this locking bar is movable back and forth between a closed position and an open position by movement of a magnetic lock on a surface of the cover. The locking bar with the magnet is stabilized in the closed position by a first magnetic element and the cover is locked. The locking bar with the magnet is stabilized in the open position by a second magnetic element and the cover is released.
US08746412B2
An exemplary enclosure for housing electronics useful with an elevator system includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall adjacent the first sidewall. A third sidewall is at an oblique angle relative to the first sidewall. The third sidewall provides a support surface for supporting electronics inside the enclosure. The first and second sidewalls are moveable relative to the third sidewall to provide a single opening facing the support surface.
US08746411B2
An exemplary method of controlling elevator car position includes determining that an elevator car requires re-leveling and determining whether a vibration damper is activated. A gain for controlling operation of a motor responsible for moving the elevator car for the re-leveling is adjusted if the vibration damper is activated.
US08746404B2
Gas turbine engines systems and methods involving oil flow management are provided. In this regard, a oil pressure analysis system for a gas turbine engine is operative to: receive information corresponding to measured oil pressure and rotational speed during a start up of the engine; correlate the information into data sets, each of the data sets containing a measured oil pressure and a corresponding rotational speed; and determine whether the oil flow valve is functioning properly based on the information contained in the data sets.
US08746401B2
A muffler for raising the audible pitch of an internal combustion engine's exhaust note that includes an enclosed case having an inlet and an outlet, and a plurality of flow-directing components which are adapted to subdivide an inlet flow into a plurality of discrete interior flows, including a first interior flow providing the shortest flow length through the muffler between the inlet and the outlet, a second interior flow having a flow length at least about twice the length of the first interior flow, and one or more intermediate flows following by-pass passages to split off from the second interior flow between the inlet and the outlet and having flow lengths between the flow lengths of the first and second flows.
US08746395B2
An operator interface for advanced transmission control of a vehicle is disclosed. The operator interface may include a hand operated joystick mounted on a vehicle and a roller mounted on the joystick, the roller having at least two detents for providing at least four distinct states of speed control, the at least four distinct states including one or more increasing states and one or more decreasing states. In another embodiment, the roller of the operator interface may include at least one detent for providing at least three distinct states of speed control, the at least three distinct states including at least one increasing state, at least one decreasing state, and at least one other speed state provided in one of either an increasing state or a decreasing state.
US08746389B2
A head pipe of a vehicle body frame includes an upper side head pipe with a pair of upper and lower facing piece parts extending from an upper side pipe part so as to fit to upper and lower wall portions of a pair of right and left main frames, a lower side head pipe with a lower side pipe part joined to the upper side pipe part and a front side tongue piece part extending from the lower side pipe part so as to fit to a front wall portion of a down frame, and a reinforcing member joined to a rear portion of the upper side head pipe and having a rear side tongue piece part extending so as to fit to a rear wall portion of the down frame from a vertical wall part positioned between inner side wall portions of the main frames.
US08746388B2
A vehicle comprising a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track, a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121), steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track and track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112).
US08746385B2
A hub unit includes an electric machine adapted for driving a wheel. The hub unit includes at least two planetary gears coupled in series between the electric machine and a wheel hub, and a gear shifting device for connecting and disconnecting, respectively, one of the planetary gears from being drivingly connected to the electric machine.
US08746378B2
Here invented are efficient road vehicles having special aerodynamic shapes, with stabilizing provisions that enable aerodynamic efficiency. It is a vehicle that is configured to include a carriage part that encloses a driver and passenger riding in tandem. This car width is for persons seated in single file, enabling a narrow width that makes a body shaped like an airship practical, where that shape is characterized by a very low drag coefficient in free flow conditions. This body is elevated on struts above a wheel system to enable such free flow aerodynamic conditions, thus, the drag coefficient of the airship is made applicable to this road vehicle. The wheel system includes wheels on each side of the vehicle that are arranged in horizontal columns, to which the struts are attached. The horizontal columns act as individual aerodynamic entities that function independently of the carriage aerodynamic operation. Because this car has both low frontal area and low drag coefficient it will require minimal energy for high speed operation.
US08746366B2
A downhole tool includes a downlinking system deployed in a downhole tool body having an internal through bore. The downlinking system includes a differential pressure transducer configured to measured a pressure difference between drilling fluid in the internal through bore and drilling fluid external to the tool (in the borehole annulus). The differential transducer is electrically connected with an electronic controller (deployed substantially anywhere in the drill string) that is configured to receive and decode pressure waveforms.
US08746361B2
A tillage implement has gang assemblies of rotatable tillage tools that can be angle-adjusted from the seat of the towing tractor using hydraulic actuators. The tillage tools may comprise generally flat, wavy coulter blades or the like so that the machine may be set up for vertical tillage with the coulters aligned at a zero degree angle with the path of travel of the implement or for residue management operations with the coulters maintained at an oblique angle of up to ten degrees relative to the path of travel. A six degree angle is preferred for the residue management position. A master-slave hydraulic flow arrangement for the actuators assures simultaneous actuation, while mechanical synchronizing apparatus between the two front gang assemblies on the center frame section of the machine assures synchronized movement of those assemblies. Mechanical motion-transmitting mechanism transmits the hydraulically powered adjusting movement of the front gang assemblies to the rear gang assemblies.
US08746358B2
A system of operating a plurality of fire extinguishing units. The system comprises a plurality of valve control units each set to activate one of the plurality of fire extinguishing units when triggered and to trigger the activation of another of the plurality of fire extinguishing units by another of the plurality of valve control units substantially simultaneously and an actuating element which triggers one of the plurality of valve control units.
US08746351B2
Systems and methods for stabilizing a riser or similar object against motion can include engaging two or more cylinder apparatus to the object. Communication of fluid between cylinder apparatus, responsive to a force on the object, can limit movement of the object, such as through extension or retraction of pistons within the cylinders. The cylinder apparatus can include internal channels that can accommodate coiled tubing, slickline, wireline, and similar conduits or devices, enabling operations to be performed through the cylinders, independent of their position.
US08746350B2
A wellhead assembly made up of a wellhead housing, a production tree mounted on the wellhead housing, tubing suspended into a wellbore from within the wellhead housing, and an annulus between the tubing and the wellhead housing. A shuttle valve is provided within a tubing hanger that supports the tubing from within the wellhead housing. An accumulator is disposed in the annulus that is in fluid communication with a closed position port on the shuttle valve. Pressure is maintained in the accumulator for closing the shuttle valve when a force for opening the valve is removed.
US08746340B2
A down hole apparatus for filtering debris from a fluid in a well bore including a screen sub, a diverter assembly connected to the screen sub, a screen section extending from the diverter assembly and connected to the screen sub. The screen section includes a plurality of openings for filtering debris from the fluid. The debris collects in an annulus between the screen section and the screen sub. The diverter assembly includes a detachable plug having a fishing portion capable of engaging a fishing tool. Removal of the detachable plug with a fishing tool opens a central passage through the diverter assembly and the screen section. The diverter assembly may include an outer and an inner body and one or more passages between the outer and inner bodies. The detachable plug may include one or more dog members capable of engaging the inner body.
US08746339B2
Methods for preventing or alleviating the loss of drilling fluids and other well treatment fluids into a subterranean formation during drilling or construction of boreholes therein include a drilling fluid including a lost circulation material. The lost circulation material includes a suspension of swelled particles of a pH sensitive polymeric material, the swelled particles capable of reversibly attaching to other swelled particles of the polymeric material. The pH of the aqueous solution is such that each particle of the swelled pH sensitive polymeric material is not attached to other swelled particles, and wherein upon lowering the pH of the suspension, the swelled particles attach to each other.
US08746336B2
A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well.
US08746332B2
Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retro-fitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replace the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
US08746322B2
Technology of production of bimetallic and multilayer casts by gravity or spun casting, at which at least two different metal materials are being gradually cast into the mold, while before casting of the second material there is started feeding of a flame into the mold and the flame is created by stream of aflame inflammable gas. Stream of aflame inflammable gas is created by hydrogen flame.
US08746319B1
A vertical window blind apparatus that enables lateral and angular operation of multiple two-piece slat assemblies comprises a control rod that manipulates vertical slats while allowing a user to select a relative angle between upper and lower portions of each slat assembly. In this manner, the slats at the top of the window can be securely angled to let light in, while the slots at the bottom can be kept closed for privacy. Additionally, the upper and lower halves of the slat assembly may be arranged in a coplanar manner, thereby allowing similar operation as common blinds having one-piece slats.
US08746313B2
A correction tape dispenser includes a body having a plurality of body teeth disposed on an inner surface thereof, an applicator tip mounted in the body, and a supply and take-up assembly mounted in the body, the supply and take-up assembly being biased away from the body teeth with a biasing element. The supply and take-up assembly includes a supply reel and a take-up reel. The supply reel and the take-up reel have a common axis of rotation. One of the supply reel and the take-up reel include a plurality of teeth that engage the plurality of body teeth during correction tape re-tensioning when the biasing force from the biasing element is overcome.
US08746312B2
The invention relates to a bearing arrangement between a carrier (15) for pressing and/or brushing elements (14) and a rotor (4) of a labeling machine (1), said rotor driven about a vertical machine axis (MA), with at least one first bearing element (19) provided on the rotor and a second bearing element (28) provided on the carrier (15), wherein the bearing elements abut one another across bearing surfaces forming a sliding bearing.
US08746308B2
In a manufacturing method of a package carrier, a substrate including a first metal layer, a second metal layer having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other, and an insulating layer between the first and second metal layers is provided. The second metal layer has a greater thickness than the first metal layer. A first opening passing through the first metal layer and the insulating layer and exposing a portion of the top surface of the second metal layer is formed. The first metal layer is patterned to form a patterned conductive layer. Second openings are formed on the bottom surface of the second metal layer. The second metal layer is divided into thermal conductive blocks by the second openings that do not connect the first opening. A surface passivation layer is formed on the patterned conductive layer and the exposed portion of the top surface.
US08746296B2
A refrigerator appliance is provided with a dispenser for directing a flow of ice and/or water to a dispenser recess of the dispenser. A camera is directed towards the dispenser recess, and a display is also provided for displaying an image from the camera. The image can assist a user in positioning a container within the dispenser recess.
US08746295B2
A filling apparatus for serially filling multiple lanes of containers includes a plurality of piston pumps which receive flowable product from an associated source. Each pump includes a reciprocably movable pump piston, which can “float” upwardly during a filling stroke, as each pump is filled with product delivered thereto under pressure. The pump pistons can move upwardly independently, until each reaches a predetermined position, corresponding to the quantity of product with which each container is to be filled. After all of the pistons reach their respective predetermined positions, valves of the pumps are simultaneously operated, and the pistons simultaneously stroked so that respective containers are filled with the flowable product. The multiple lanes of containers are thereafter indexed, and the filling cycle repeated.
US08746292B2
A sealing fluid container assembly (3), connectable to a compressor assembly and to a control circuit of the compressor assembly, has a connecting unit (25) defining a releasable connection to the compressor assembly; and a connecting device (12) for injecting sealing fluid into an inflatable article, and which cooperates releasably with a valve (V) of the inflatable article. More specifically, the container assembly (3) has a sensor carried by the connecting device (12); and at least one electric contact (33) connected to the sensor (12) and cooperating with an electric terminal (24) to transmit a signal from the sensor (12) to the control device when the connecting device (12) is connected to the valve (V); the sensor (12) having a first and a second terminal (40, 39) designed to be short-circuited directly by the valve (V).
US08746288B2
A crush resistant hose comprises a plurality of layers (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) comprising a reinforcing carcass formed from a mixture of multifilament fibers (30) including at least one of polyester, aramide, nylon and rayon.
US08746285B2
A programmable fluidic device for generating droplets with resolutions of micrometer in size and milliseconds in generation timing is provided. The programmable fluidic device has a valve forming a droplet cutter, which contains a fluid deflectable membrane capable of controlling the flow of a dispensing fluid from a fluidic dispensing channel. The programmable fluidic device is able to perform temporal control over the droplet generation independent from the size control.
US08746281B2
A method of making a one-way gas release valve for releasing gas pressure from within a coffee container comprises pre-oiling a relatively narrow dry strap of flexible material and laminating the pre-oiled dry strap between relatively wide ribbons of base and cover material with the dry strap overlying spaced vent patterns in the base material. Alternatively, the base material may be pre-oiled or both the base material and the dry strap may be pre-oiled. The dry strap and base may be made of PET and the cover may be made of mPET. Gas release valves are then die cut from the resulting web with each valve containing a vent pattern. Pre-oiling of the dry strap and/or the base can be accomplished through a roll metered process to insure that the oil is applied in precise amounts and with consistent thickness and coverage. Since the oil is applied during fabrication of the gas release valves, the vent patterns in the base can be configured to function also as a filter to prevent coffee grinds from migrating into the valve.
US08746277B2
A fuel pump has a pump chamber accommodating a rotor member. The rotor member is rotatable to supply fuel to from a tank to an exterior of the tank. A case is supported in the tank. The case accommodates a part of the fuel pump. A pump bracket is located in the tank. The pump bracket is in a tubular bottomed shape having a sidewall portion in which a remaining portion of the fuel pump is inserted such that the sidewall portion surrounds a radially outside of the pump chamber of the remaining portion. The pump bracket is joined with the case to define a gap therebetween in a radial direction of the rotor member such that the pump bracket is movable relative to the case.
US08746272B2
A solenoid valve assembly capable of providing a continuous flow of pressurized inert gas to operate a process tool without interruption. A system comprising the solenoid valve assembly is also provided. The valve assembly comprises a manifold that is internally fluidly connected to each of the internal pressure ports, the internal actuator port, and the internal relief port of each solenoid valve, and wherein the manifold comprises a dedicated external relief port for each of the solenoid valves, wherein the dedicated external relief port is in fluid communication with the internal relief port of the respective solenoid valve such that, when one of the solenoid valves is de-energized, a second source of pressurized inert gas can be connected to the external relief port and supply pressure to the respective pneumatic valve operated by that solenoid valve. The system allows a controller to be capable of being removed away from the system such that a panel comprising the valve assembly remains on the fluid system.
US08746260B2
A system and method for securing tokens to be cleaned includes a tray with a curved surface defining a channel extending along a first direction and spacers projecting from the curved surface into the channel. The spacers are disposed at regular intervals along the first direction. The curved surface also has at least one opening. The tokens may be inserted into the channel between adjacent spacers and the tray holding the tokens can be submerged into a cleaning liquid. Identical trays containing tokens can also be stacked and together submerged into the cleaning liquid. The tray holding the tokens can be placed on a drying surface that has a drainage hole, and wetness remaining on the tokens can be sucked through the hole in the channel and the drainage hole by a vacuum or blown through the hole in the channel and drainage hole by an air blower.
US08746252B2
A sterile drape, a surgical system with the drape, and a draping method are provided. In one embodiment, a sterile drape includes a plurality of drape pockets, each of the drape pockets including an exterior surface to be adjacent a sterile field for performing a surgical procedure and an interior surface to be adjacent a non-sterile instrument manipulator coupled to a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system. The drape further includes a plurality of flexible membranes at a distal face of each of the drape pockets for interfacing between outputs of an instrument manipulator and inputs of a respective surgical instrument, and a rotatable seal adapted to couple a proximal opening of each of the drape pockets to a rotatable element at a distal end of the manipulator arm.
US08746245B2
A gas mask and breathing equipment is provided with a circuit for breathing gas and with a heat exchanger (7) cooled by an evaporating agent. The evaporating agent is introduced from an evaporating agent container (8) into the heat exchanger (7) via at least one group of spraying elements (9) and a gas delivery means (11) allows a gas volume flow to flow through the heat exchanger (7).
US08746243B2
A fluid dispenser device comprising a body (10) provided with a dispenser orifice (15), said device further comprising: an elongate flexible strip (20) supporting a plurality of reservoirs (21) each containing a dose of fluid; reservoir-opening means (80) for opening a respective reservoir on each actuation; first displacement means (30) that can be actuated so as to cause said flexible strip (20) to advance before and/or during and/or after each actuation, so as to bring a full reservoir into register with said reservoir-opening means; and second displacement means (50) for displacing a full reservoir (21) against said opening means (80) each time the device is actuated, the leading end (25) of said flexible strip (20), in the advance direction of said strip, being fastened to a receiver element (500) that is rotatably mounted, said receiver element (500) being adapted to exert a traction force on said elongate strip (20), said device including an abutment element (5000) that is disposed between said first displacement means (30) and said receiver means (500), said abutment element (5000) co-operating with said flexible strip (20) so as to eliminate said traction force, at least in part, on the portion of the flexible strip that is disposed upstream of said abutment element (5000) in the displacement direction of said flexible strip (20).
US08746235B2
This application discloses a heat driven liquid self-circulating device, system and method, means the liquid system formed by said devices according to said method can be circulated automatically to transfer the heat without external pump power. The heat driven self-circulating device for heated liquid which used with a liquid heat collector, comprises an airtight container for containing heated liquid, having a wall to separate its outer and inner spaces; said inner space is filled with heated liquid partially and having a upper air/vapor space above liquid level surface and lower liquid space under liquid level surface; a first inlet, a first outlet, a second inlet and a second outlet arranged on said wall of the container that both first inlet and first outlet are under the liquid level surface in said container, and said first inlet not lower than said first outlet.
US08746232B2
In a hot water supply system having a solar heater that heats a heating medium with absorbed solar heat, a cogeneration unit that heats the medium by heat exhausted from an engine, a hot water supply unit with a heat exchanger for heat-exchanging between the medium and water supplied from a water supply source to generate the hot water, a medium circulator that circulates the medium among the solar heater, cogeneration unit and heat exchanger, an electric heater that heats the hot water with the power generated by the generator, a heat absorption amount to be adsorbed by the solar heater is estimated and operations of the cogeneration unit and the electric heater are controlled based on the estimated heat absorption amount, thereby enabling to improve energy efficiency of the entire system.
US08746230B2
The present invention relates to a method for aerating and deaerating an oven (1), which has at least two oven muffles (2, 3) disposed one above the other, the feed apertures (5, 6) of which are or can be closed in each case by a door (7, 8), comprising the following procedural steps: cooling air (L) is drawn off from an outside area surrounding the oven (1), and the drawn-off air (L) is blown at least partially into interior spaces (9, 10) of the doors (7, 8) and then blown out into the outside area after flowing through at least a part of the interior spaces (9, 10), wherein the drawn-off air (L) is blown into the upper door (7) in an upper section of that door (7) and flows substantially downward from above through the interior space (9) of the door (7), wherein the drawn-off air (L) is blown into the interior space (10) of the lower door (8) at a bottom end section thereof and flows substantially upward through the interior space (10) of the door (8), and that the air blown into the interior spaces (9, 10) of the two doors (7, 8) is blown out to the outside area after flowing through the interior spaces (9, 10) of the doors (7, 8) in the lower section of the upper door (7) and the upper section of the lower door (8).
US08746227B2
A method for slicing wafers from a workpiece includes providing wire guide rolls each having a grooved coating with a specific thickness and providing rings at opposing ends of a first of the coatings of a respective wire guide roll. The rings are fixed exclusively to the first coating. A sawing wire including wire sections disposed in a parallel fashion is tensioned between the wire guide rolls. The wire sections of the sawing wire are moved relative to the workpiece so as to perform a sawing operation. A change in length of the first coating, brought about by a temperature change, is measured by measuring distances between sensors and the rings. The wire guide rolls are cooled in a manner dependent on the measured distances.
US08746217B2
Disclosed is a power system comprising an internal combustion engine. A fan is associated with the engine and configured for providing an air flow. The power system further comprises an EGR system having an air cooled, HT EGR cooler configured for cooling recirculated exhaust gas, wherein the HT EGR cooler is positioned downstream of the internal combustion engine. The HT EGR cooler is further positioned such that the air flow travels across the outside of the HT EGR cooler. The EGR system further comprises an air cooled, LT EGR cooler is configured for further cooling at least a portion of the recirculated exhaust gas, wherein the LT EGR cooler is positioned downstream of the HT EGR cooler. The LT EGR cooler is further positioned such that the air flow travels across the outside of the LT EGR cooler.
US08746216B2
An internal combustion engine may include a piston engine having at least one combustion chamber and a fresh air system for feeding fresh air to the at least one combustion chamber including at least one fresh air line. A bloom mixer may be arranged in the fresh air line and configured to divide a fresh air flow conducted in the fresh air line into at least two partial flows and reunite these again on the outflow side subject to the formation of a turbulence.
US08746208B2
An internal combustion engine has a combustion chamber, from which exhaust gas can be discharged by way of at least one exhaust valve. An engine braking device includes an hydraulic additional valve control unit is integrated into a connecting mechanism connecting the exhaust valve to a camshaft and holding the exhaust valve in a partially opened position when the engine brake is actuated. The connecting mechanism includes a rocker lever and an intermediate element between the rocker lever and the exhaust valve. The hydraulic additional valve control unit of the engine braking device has a first piston-cylinder unit for the temporary partial opening of one exhaust valve, and an hydraulic valve lash compensating mechanism has a second piston-cylinder unit for counteracting valve lash. The first piston-cylinder unit is arranged in or on the intermediate element. The second piston-cylinder unit is arranged in or on the rocker lever.
US08746201B2
A system and method are provided for increasing heating of engine oil during a cold start. In one example, engine oil is returned directly to the oil pump inlet, thus bypassing the sump. In this way, a smaller volume of oil receives more heat and is used for lubricating engine components during a cold start, thus providing reduced friction earlier than otherwise possible.
US08746198B2
An operation control system for an engine having at least one piston includes an engine control unit which drives a fuel pump for supplying fuel to an injector. The engine control unit is configured to perform a control function to cut the electric power supply to the fuel pump when the piston arrives at a position in the vicinity of compression top dead center in the cylinder of the engine.
US08746195B2
A variable valve train for actuating a plurality of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of individual cam sleeves axially displaceable relative to one another and disposed so as to form the camshaft. Each of the plurality of individual cam sleeves include a plurality of different cam profiles. A switching shaft is disposed inside the plurality of cam sleeves and is configured to rotate together with the plurality of cam sleeves. A switching ball operatively connects one of the plurality of cam sleeves to a switching contour disposed on the switching shaft. A displacement piece is disposed so as to be rotationally engaged but axially displaceable on one of the plurality of cam sleeves and connected to the switching shaft. An actuator is operatively connectable to the displacement piece by the switching ball so as to displace the one of the plurality of cam sleeves.
US08746191B2
A two-stroke engine has an intake arrangement including a carburetor. An intake channel divides into a mixture channel and an air channel. An intermediate flange is mounted between the carburetor and the cylinder. This flange has a carburetor connecting surface, which faces toward the carburetor, and a cylinder connecting surface which faces toward the cylinder. Referred to the flow direction in the intake channel, the air channel divides upstream of the cylinder connecting surface into two branches. The first branch has a first longitudinal center axis and the second branch has a second longitudinal center axis. The intersect points of the center axes with the connecting surfaces are mutually connected via an imaginary connecting line in the carburetor connecting surface or the cylinder connecting surface. The two connecting lines conjointly define an angle β in the carburetor connecting surface with this angle being greater than 0°.
US08746189B2
An internal combustion engine wherein a variable compression ratio mechanism which can change the mechanical compression ratio and a detection sensor for detecting the mechanical compression ratio are provided and wherein the mechanical compression ratio is controlled based on the mechanical compression ratio detected by the detection sensor. When a signal line of the detection sensor breaks, the mechanical compression ratio is lowered to the minimum mechanical compression ratio.
US08746186B2
A rotating screen, for use with a centrifugal fan of an engine, includes a hub having a rotational axis and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub. Each of the blades includes a root adjacent the hub, a tip, a leading edge extending between the root and the tip, and a trailing edge extending between the root and the tip. The blades also include an airfoil shape. The rotating screen also includes a band concentric with the hub and interconnecting the tips of the respective blades.
US08746185B2
A control device is provided for an engine equipped with an electric oil pump for circulating coolant, and having a flow rate of the coolant restricted, when a temperature of the coolant is lower than a threshold value, as compared to a case where the temperature of the coolant is equal to or higher than the threshold value, and the engine control device includes a coolant temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the coolant, and a control unit stopping the engine in accordance with the temperature to be detected by the coolant temperature sensor after the pump is driven so as to increase the flow rate of the coolant, in a case where the flow rate of the coolant is restricted.
US08746180B2
A dog toy having a center portion and two opposedly positioned free ends. Each of the free ends of the elongated member includes a plurality of extension members [tines] having a first end connected to the elongated member and a free end spaced apart from the connected portion. The extension members are manufactured by a series of cuts made through each of the free ends of the elongated member. Hence, the user throws the stick through the air, wind or air passes through the slots created by the extension members thereby making an intermittent whistling noise to attract the dog's attention. Further, the extension members of the elongated member make a loud thrashing or clacking noise as the apparatus reaches the ground before retrieval.
US08746176B2
In certain embodiments, a robotic attacher performs a method of attaching and detaching a cup from the teats of a dairy livestock in the sequence of right front teat, left front teat, left rear teat, and right rear teat. The method comprises the steps of determining a reference point and then, for each teat, positioning the cup relative to the reference point, determining a location of the teat, attaching the cup to the teat, and detaching the cup from the teat. In certain alternate embodiments, the sequence of attaching and detaching the cup comprises left front teat, right front teat, right rear teat, and left rear teat.
US08746171B2
A substrate treating system includes a coating apparatus having a resist coating unit, an exposing apparatus having an exposing machine and a heat-treating unit, and a controller for controlling the resist coating unit, exposing machine and heat-treating unit. The controller coordinates schedules of treatment in the coating apparatus and exposing apparatus, such that the coating apparatus can operate efficiently despite an increase in the processing time of the exposing machine.
US08746162B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide mechanical sail systems, methods, apparatus, and code which allow use of the Magnus effect to provide thrust to a ship. In some embodiments, a mechanical sail system is provided which includes a silo, positioned below a deck level of a ship, a lift carriage, mounted within the silo, and supporting a first sail cylinder and a second sail cylinder, and at least a first drive motor coupled to a control system for selectively positioning the lift carriage within the silo, the control system operable to control the at least first drive motor to position the lift carriage at a top position within the silo to deploy the first and second sail cylinders.
US08746159B2
A metering member for a seed meter having a with a sidewall formed with an radially outward and axially flared rim portion is provided. A plurality of apertures extend though the rim portion to which seed is adhered. The metering member is oriented at an angle to the vertical such that an upper portion of the metering member extends beyond a lower portion of the metering member. This orientation allows a seed delivery system to extend into the interior of the metering member and cooperate with the overhanging metering member to remove seed therefrom.
US08746155B2
A structure constructed from plastic may include one or more reinforcing portions that are sized and configured to prevent damage to the structure. For example, the structure may be a table top constructed from blow-molded plastic and the table top may include a body with one or more corners. The corners may include an interior portion and an exterior portion, and reinforcement portions may be sized and configured to help prevent damage to the corners of the table top. In addition, one or more depressions may be at least partially disposed within the reinforcement portions, if desired. The reinforcement portions, for example, may include one or more inwardly and/or outwardly extending portions.
US08746150B2
A motorization kit for a storage system with mobile cabinets comprises a box-like body for fixing the motorization kit to a mobile cabinet, which houses: an electric motor, a driven pinion designed to be keyed to the drive shank of the mobile cabinet, mechanical drive for kinematically rotatably connecting the shaft of the electric motor and the driven pinion, electronic adjustment and control for managing the operation of the motor, an actuation mechanism for providing an enable signal to the electronic adjustment and control, for rotary actuation of the motor and a safety mechanism for stopping the motor in response to a signal emitted as an obstacle is found along the path of the mobile cabinet.
US08746147B1
A tubular filter is provided having an outer edge compressed to an outer dimension within a predetermined range. A gas generating system and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the filter are also provided.
US08746142B2
A stencil printer includes a stencil having a top surface and a bottom surface, a material applicator to apply material on the top surface of the stencil, and a stencil wiper assembly to clean the bottom surface of the stencil in a y-axis direction. The stencil wiper assembly has a wiper blade assembly configured to engage the bottom surface of the stencil and wipe the bottom surface of the stencil when moving the stencil wiper blade assembly along a stencil wiper gantry. The stencil wiper assembly further includes a spot cleaner assembly movably secured to the stencil wiper assembly. The spot cleaner assembly is configured to move in an x-axis direction and to spot clean the bottom of the stencil. A method for spot cleaning a stencil is further disclosed.
US08746140B2
A base material 10 for screen printing includes a screen 12, a resist layer 30 of resist material and a protective film 22.
US08746136B2
A banding device includes a frame. A feeding assembly is mounted on the frame for feeding elastic tubing into the frame. A transfer assembly disposed within the frame includes transfer arm and fingers. The fingers receive the rubber tubing as fed. A cutting assembly is disposed between the transfer assembly and the feeding assembly for cutting the tubing into bands. The fingers of the transfer assembly move between a first closed position for receiving the band and a second open position for opening the band. The transfer arm is moveable between a first position for receiving the band and a second position for transferring the band. A banding assembly disposed at the second position receives the band from the transfer assembly. The banding assembly stretches the band and receives an item to be bundled within the band. The banding assembly releases the band about the bundle.
US08746134B2
A matchbox oven is disclosed. The matchbox oven includes a housing, a slider, a mover, a heat source and a blower. The housing includes a cavity having two openings. The mover moves the slider in and out of the cavity through the two openings. The heat source provides heat to the cavity for heating up any food item placed within the cavity. The slider includes multiple stoppers to serve as oven covers for preventing heat within the cavity from escaping through the two openings. The slider can also be utilized as a heat sink for lowering the cavity's temperature during oven operation. When a new cook temperature is substantially lower than the temperature of the cavity, the blower forces heated air within the cavity to exit through the two openings before the starting of and/or during the initial portion of a new cook cycle.
US08746119B2
An inductive or capacitative programming of a projectile is disclosed. A waveguide is used for the programming, the electromagnetic field being concentrated in the waveguide. The used programming unit includes at least one waveguide which is preferable located and/or integrated in the region of the muzzle, for example in front of the muzzle brake. A transmission coupler for the transmission is fed by a signal generator. The information relating to the projectile is modulated to the carrier frequency in the modulator. A reception coupler integrated on/in the projectile is electrically interconnected to a store or processor in the projectile. The reception coupler receives the modulated signal and transmits it to the processor which is where the eventual programming takes place.
US08746107B2
A bicycle cable structure is provided with an inner cable, a first outer case, a second outer case and an adjustment structure. The first and second outer cases are disposed over first and second sections of the inner cable and the adjustment structure is disposed between adjacent ends of the first and second outer cases. The adjustment structure includes a main body and an operating member. The operating member is movably connected to the main body by a non-slidable connection between a first position and a second position. The operating member maintains the adjacent ends of the first and second outer cases farther away from each other while the operating member is in the first position as compared to the second position of the operating member.
US08746106B2
A bicycle operating device operates a bicycle component by moving a winding member that moves a take-up member relative to a fixed member in first and second directions. A positioning member is movably arranged with respect to the fixed member between a non-holding position and a holding position to selectively engage a positioning ratchet that is fixed to the take-up member. In the holding position, the positioning member prevents the take-up member from moving in the second direction by selectively engaging one of at least three engaging portions of the positioning ratchet. A preventing member is movably arranged with respect to the positioning ratchet such that the preventing member prevents the positioning member from engaging an intermediate engaging portion of the positioning ratchet while the winding member moves the take-up member in the first direction.
US08746097B2
A drive train, which has an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft and a parallel shift transmission with two part drive trains, which each have one transmission input shaft. One shaft is formed as a hollow shaft around the other shaft, and a dual clutch, which is received rotatably on the hollow shaft, is connected to the crankshaft and has two friction clutches and two clutch plates each assigned to one clutch and are each connected to one transmission input shaft. Each clutch plate has a torsional vibration damper with a working range which is smaller than a maximum torque of the engine. A build-up of a combined vibration which has an axial vibration of the dual clutch and a rotational vibration of the drive train during an overlap shift operation is prevented by the design of the torsional vibration dampers for a smaller torque.
US08746081B2
A bicycle force sensing assembly is basically provided with a first attachment member, a second attachment member, a first translation sensing device and a second translation sensing device. The first attachment member is configured to be mounted to a first side of a bicycle bottom bracket hanger and configured to receive and rotatably support a crank axle. The second attachment member is configured to be mounted to a second side of the bicycle bottom bracket hanger and configured to receive and rotatably support the crank axle. The first translation sensing device is coupled to the first attachment member such that the first translation sensing device senses strain on the first attachment member. The second translation sensing device is coupled to the second attachment member such that the second translation sensor senses strain on the second attachment member.
US08746079B2
A sensor for determining a mass flow of a fluid in a pipe includes a wall element adapted for insertion into a cutout in a wall of the pipe through which a mass flow can flow, so that at least one gap remains between the wall element and the wall of the pipe, and so that the wall element is positionable on the outside facing away from the mass flow. A sealed chamber is adapted to enclose the wall element on the outside of the pipe. At least one expandable connection is located in the sealed chamber and is clamped in between the wall element and one wall of the chamber. At least one strain gauge comprising a fiber Bragg grating sensor is located on a section of the expandable connection that is clamped in between the wall of the chamber and the wall element.
US08746072B2
A pressure switch comprises a housing having a cavity for conveying a pressurized fluid. The cavity extends from an inlet to an outlet and defines a flow path for the fluid. A pressure-transducing element is provided for measuring the fluid pressure. The pressure-transducing element is in fluid communication with the cavity and is at least partially disposed in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The pressure-transducing element has a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter and is partially disposed in a bore in the housing. The bore has a constant bore diameter. One end of the pressure-transducing element extends into the flow path.
US08746071B2
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable. The apparatus includes a housing, a mechanically oscillatable unit, and a transducer unit, which is arranged and clamped between two housing elements in such a manner that a predeterminable pressure acts on the transducer unit along an imaginary axis. An equalizing element is provided, whose coefficient of thermal expansion and/or height are/is selected in such a manner that a temperature-related expansion of the equalizing element during a temperature-related expansion of a housing element to be compensated leads to the pressure acting on the transducer unit being greater than or equal to a predeterminable prestress limit value.
US08746062B2
A measurement system for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a capacitor, a signal generator, a digital counter, counter register, a digital clock, a digital timer, and a data register. The sensor of the measurement system is the capacitor. The measurement system generates a repeating signal having a measurement cycle that corresponds to the capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitor comprises more than one capacitor mechanically in series. Electrically, the capacitor comprises more than one capacitor in parallel. In one embodiment, the capacitor includes a dielectric layer comprising polyimide. A force, pressure, or load is applied to the capacitor that elastically compresses the device.
US08746054B2
An object is to provide a peel tester that continuously detects the characteristics of an adhesive tape from the moment an impact is applied to an adherend until the adherend is peeled, and a new method for evaluating the impact peel characteristics of an adhesive tape, which enables quantitative evaluation for the impact peel characteristics by using the test result obtained by the peel tester. Provided is a peel tester 1 with a main body 2, to which an adherend I is to be adhered via an adhesive tape III, for performing a peel test by an impact applied to the adherend I, which includes: a load detection device 6 that detects change in load applied to the adhesive tape I until the adherend I is peeled off from the main body 2; and a displacement detection device 7 that detects change in moving distance of the adherend I until the adherend I is peeled off from the main body 2.
US08746044B2
A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
US08746043B2
A method for permanently monitoring pressurized pipelines and line systems, including connected loads, which carry fluid media, includes carrying out pressure measurements in different modes downstream of the transfer point between the supply device and the load connection in order to determine consumption values over predeterminable periods of time and to infer the system state. An electronically controllable shut-off valve is arranged downstream of the transfer point and a pressure sensor is arranged downstream of the valve in the direction of flow. All of the removal locations are closed and pressure is built up in the system. The shut-off valve is closed and an outlet pressure drop, which may be present, is determined over a first period of time and the initial and final pressure values are stored. The valve is opened and the consumption of water with the longest equal flow rate is set and stored as the end of commissioning. A transition is made to the drawing-off mode by opening the valve over a second period of time.
US08746036B2
A method for sensing analyte. The method includes the steps of sensing one or more parameters in reaction to the presence of one or more analytes and outputting a current therefrom in accordance with level of the sensed parameter by each of a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being provided in one or more sensor array columns, selectively heating one or more of the sensor array columns by a heating element, and receiving an output current from one of the plurality of sensors from each of the plurality of sensor arrays by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) arranged in a VCO array. The method further includes the steps of generating an output oscillation frequency by each VCO in accordance with the level of the received output current, and counting a number of oscillations over a predetermined time received from each of the plurality of VCOs in the VCO array by a plurality of counters arranged in a counter array.
US08746023B2
A locking device comprises a key that comprises a key power coil and a key data coil and an electronically-actuatable lock comprising a lock power coil and a lock data coil. The key power coil and the lock power coil are coaxial and at least partially overlapping one another when the key engages the lock. The key data coil lies in a first plane and the lock data coil lies in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel to one another.
US08746021B2
A retractable cable combination lock assembly according to the present invention can protect the newly designed Macbook pro with retina display and Macbook Air series and traditional computer with or without Kensington lock slot from theft by securing the laptop via the thunderbolt slot to an immovable object such as a piece of furniture. The lock assembly of the present invention can also be designed to plug into the USB port or HDMI port of Macbook Pro with Retina display, Macbook Air laptop series, and traditional computers with or without Kensington lock slot to lock the computer rather than using thunderbolt port.
US08746017B2
A front opening horizontal axis washing machine having an outer wash tub and a rotary inner tub basket for receiving items to be laundered. The inner and outer tub have an annular gap about respective frontal portions thereof, and an annular guard is fixed to the outer tub for reducing the size of the gap. The guard has an inner lip portion that extends radially inwardly and rearwardly with respect to the front opening of the basket for defining a relatively small axial gap with a front side of the inner rotating basket for more effectively preventing migration of foreign objects between the inner and outer tubs. The inner lip of the guard has a radial clearance with the frontal portion of the inner tub that is greater than the axial gap, but recessed from sight to a user of the machine.
US08746016B2
A suspension (1) of a washing machine has a mechanical assembly resting on the bottom of the cabinet (3) by means of a lower cushion including plates (5 and 7) and shock absorbers (6) and a liquid containing casing (4). The suspension system (1) is intended to absorb the movement of the mechanical (wash group) assembly during a centrifugal spin, reducing the transmissibility of forces/movements to the external cabinet (3), while the liquid containing casing provides a cost-effective counterbalance within the system.
US08746014B2
A biocompatible surgical silk mesh prosthetic device employs a knit pattern that substantially prevents unraveling and preserves the stability of the mesh device, especially when the mesh device is cut. An example prosthetic device employs a knitted mesh including at least two yarns laid in a knit direction and engaging each other to define a plurality of nodes. The at least two yarns include a first yarn and a second yarn extending between and forming loops about two nodes. The second yarn has a higher tension at the two nodes than the first yarn. the second yarn substantially prevents the first yarn from moving at the two nodes and substantially prevents the knitted mesh from unraveling at the nodes.
US08745999B2
A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a condenser, expansion means, and an evaporator are serially connected. Condensation temperature detection means that detects a saturation temperature of the condenser, and evaporation temperature detection means that detects the saturation temperature of the evaporator are provided. Operation efficiency is estimated by a value obtained by dividing heating ability estimated from a detection value of the condensation temperature detection means by a difference between a detection value of condensation temperature detection means and that of evaporation temperature detection means or dissipation power estimated by the difference.
US08745998B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a defrost unit for a vehicle. A prediction is performed as to whether condensation has formed against a surface of the vehicle. The defrost unit is automatically activated when it is predicted that the condensation has formed against the surface. Another prediction is made as to whether condensation has dissipated from the surface while the defrost unit is operating. The defrost unit is automatically deactivated when it is predicted that the condensation has dissipated.
US08745989B2
A gas turbine engine has an annular reverse-flow combustor with a combustor inner liner enclosing a combustion chamber. The inner liner having a dome portion at an upstream end of the combustor and a downstream combustor exit defined between a small exit duct portion and a large exit duct portion. At least one of the dome portion, the small exit duct portion and the large exit duct portion is made of a separately formed hemi-toroidal shell composed of a ceramic matrix composite.
US08745987B2
A late lean injection (LLI) manifold is provided and includes a central nozzle and first and second side nozzles positioned at circumferential locations defined around a vessel, a connector, a first leg, to which the connector is connected, formed to define a tube extending from the central nozzle to the first side nozzle such that fuel is communicable between the connector, the central nozzle and the first side nozzle and a second leg. The second leg is formed to define a tube extending from the central nozzle to the second side nozzle such that the fuel is communicable between the central nozzle and the second side nozzle.
US08745975B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an exhaust system for a combustion engine with a bent pipe section conducting an exhaust gas flow. The exhaust system further includes an injector for introducing a liquid reduction agent into the exhaust gas flow, which is connected to the pipe section via a connecting pipe so that the injector can introduce the reduction agent through the connecting pipe into an introduction region of the pipe section into the exhaust gas flow. The risk of a crystallization of the reduction agent can be reduced with a return flow plate, which in the pipe section is arranged upstream of the introduction region.
US08745964B2
A tractor has hydraulically driven wheels at a cab end and castor wheels at an engine end. It can be driven cab forward in a working mode with a header on the forward end. It is rotated to engine forward in the transport position for more stable higher speed travel. There is provided a float module with adjustable and calibrated springs on the header which allows the header to float relative to the lift system on the tractor. The float force is adjusted by raising and lowering the lift system in dependence on an angle measurement of the lift position. The lift system includes a lift cylinder and tilt cylinder controlled to change cutter angle while maintaining a sight line to the cutter bar for the operator.
US08745962B2
A cigarette packing machine for producing a rigid packet a hinged lid has a first packing unit which folds a first blank about a group of cigarettes to form an outer container with a hinged lid; and a second packing unit which folds a second blank about the outer container to form a tubular slide surrounding the outer container to slide axially with respect to the outer container; the tubular slide has a transmission member, in turn having a first end integral with the lid, a second end opposite the first end and integral with the slide, and a deformable intermediate portion having a U-shaped fold between the outer container and the slide.
US08745961B2
A multi-pharmaceutical dispensing station includes a circular platform around which a plurality of individual dispensers is arrayed at a convenient loading height. Each dispenser accepts a single bulk canister containing one pharmaceutical. Cylindrical, empty prescription containers carry labels bearing indicia of the patient and pharmaceutical to be dispensed into each container. Sensors detect the indicia and direct the containers to the proper dispenser which fills them with the type and quantity of a pharmaceutical according to the indicia. Incident containers first drop into a dispersion wheel which translates them around the circular station and aligns them with a vertical chute leading to the correct dispenser. After filling, the containers are urged onto a moving, circular table which conveys them to automatic closing and sealing apparatus. Once closed and sealed, the containers exit the dispenser station through pneumatic tubing which conveys them to verification, sorting and shipping stages.
US08745959B2
A light steel structural stud includes a web portion, a pair of flanges and a pair of flange lips. The web portion has a web face and sides. The pair of flange portions each extend generally orthogonally from each side of the web portion. Each flange portion is in a plane that is generally parallel to the plane of the other flange portion. Each of the flange portions has a flange face. The pair of flange lips each extend generally orthogonally from each of the flange portions and are generally parallel to the web portion. Each flange lip has a double thickness and at least a portion of each flange portion has a double thickness.
US08745957B2
The induced macro-cell corrosion prevention method includes the step of replacing a corroded or chloride-contaminated section of a steel reinforcement or rebar in steel-reinforced concrete with a new rebar section free of chloride. A non-conductive insulating buffer is placed between the end sections of the new rebar and the corresponding end sections of adjacent chloride-contaminated rebar sections in order to form a non-conductive layer between the new steel and the old steel. This prevents or substantially reduces formation of a macro-cell that would cause a galvanic reaction to occur and increase corrosion potential.
US08745953B2
Retaining wall building blocks for receiving fill material during construction of a retaining wall, retaining walls constructed with the building blocks and methods of manufacture of the building block wherein the block comprises a cast cement body having a base, a generally upright face wall extending upward from the base, two generally upright side walls extending upward from the base and generally rearward of the face wall, the base, upright face wall, and side walls each having an inner and an outer surface, the side walls each having a top and a rearward most end, and a fill receiving cavity defined by base inner surface, side wall inner surfaces and face wall inner surface for receiving fill material, the fill receiving cavity having a volume wherein a ratio of the volume of the fill receiving cavity to the volume of the retaining wall building block is at least 0.75:1, respectively.
US08745951B2
A flange component used to secure a first panel to a second panel including a first section to be affixed to the first panel and a second section to be affixed to the second panel. The second section is integrally formed with the first section, which has a length dimension that is longer than a length dimension of the second section forming first and second tabs. The second section of the flange component is integral to an intermediate section between the first and second tabs. The second tab is offset relative to the intermediate section and first tab whereby when the first section is attached to the first panel, a space is formed between the second tab and the first panel. A first tab of an adjacent flange component is inserted this space, and the second section protrudes from a periphery of the first panel for receiving the second panel.
US08745948B2
An assembly for wall covering, includes a fastening structure provided with a body, an anchoring face, recesses having an insertion portion, two facing parallel upper reception portions, two facing parallel lower reception portions, and two support blocks, each block bordered in part by one of the upper and lower edges of the insertion portion and by the upper and lower reception portions. A fastening interface is configured to be attached to a covering element and to be mounted on the structure, which interface includes three branches, two of these branches projecting from a first branch configured to be inserted into the insertion portion then slid against a face of the body along a block and with the other branches being configured to be received in the upper or lower portions.
US08745944B1
A firestopping apparatus including a sleeve with at least one pair of airflow-blocking elements, at least one element of which is movable towards, and away from, the other element.
US08745936B2
A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plurality of rail structures, where each retention structure is configured to support one or more solar modules at a given height above the underlying body. At least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures o be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the solar modules. Additionally, at least one of (i) one or more of the rail structures, or (ii) the one or more retention structures are adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions.
US08745930B2
A composite floor panel includes a frame assembly having a base plate, a plurality of first lateral supports secured to the base plate, and a plurality of second lateral supports secured to the base plate. The first lateral supports lie in a first plane and the second lateral supports lie in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane each intersect the base plate and the first plane is disposed at an angle relative to the second plane. The composite floor panel also includes a concrete portion coupled to and supported by the first lateral supports and the second lateral supports.
US08745916B1
A fishing lure includes an inner member and a sheath. The inner member is positioned in the sheath with a bottom wall of the inner member facing an open end of the sheath. A closed end of the sheath, a perimeter wall of the inner member and the bottom wall of the inner member define an interior space. Openings are provided in the bottom wall. A primary hook is inserted through the closed end of the sheath and the open end of the inner member. The hook extends through the perimeter wall and a peripheral wall of the sheath such that a point of the hook is positioned outside of the sheath. A weighted capsule is positioned in the interior space. A scent producing material is releases a scent through the openings in the bottom wall of the inner member and the open end of the sheath.
US08745915B2
The present invention is a variable light fishing lure comprised of a plastic housing with an internal cavity for holding a submergible lighted element and an angled aperture for inserting the lighted element into the cavity. A plug is inserted into the angled aperture to prevent the lighted element from falling out of the housing. Water can be added to plastic housing before inserting the plug to adjust the buoyancy of the fishing lure. The outside of the plastic housing contains a striated pattern which allows light from the lighted element to shine through the housing. The lighted element can be easily removed from the housing and replaced with the same or another color lighted element.
US08745908B2
Index tab holders are movably mounted on top portions of file folders or data separation sheets to locate the tab holders in selected lateral locations without removing the tab holders from the file folders. Linear rails associated with the top portions of the file folders cooperate with ribs on the tab holders to mount and laterally guide the tab holders on the file folders.
US08745907B2
A panel fastening assembly comprising a frame member securable to a beam, an advertising track, a rod mating the frame member and the advertising track, a carrier for retaining an advertising panel therein, and wherein the carrier is secured to the advertising track to display the advertising panel. A method of displaying an advertising panel comprising the steps of engaging an advertising panel with a carrier, attaching a frame member to a beam, attaching a rod to the frame, coupling an advertising track to the carrier, and securing the advertising track to the rod.
US08745905B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for a greeting card having an integrated bubble feature. The greeting card may include, in one non-limiting example: a frame; an energy storage device; a switch mechanism; a motor operatively connected to each of the energy storage device and the switch mechanism; a fan operatively connected to the motor; and a bubble forming substrate.
US08745903B1
A rock removal skid steer attachment includes a connection portion that has a rear face, a lower edge, and an upper edge. The connection portion is configured for engaging a skid steer. A pair of side plates extends from the connection portion. The side plates are spaced from each other. The distal section of the side plates relative to the connection portion includes a barbed portion. Each of the side plates has a top edge and a lower edge. The top edges taper toward an associated one of the lower edges as the side plates extend away from the connection portion and towards the barbed portions. The side plates are configured to be extended into a ground surface to extract boulders from the ground surface with the barbs.
US08745901B2
An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a tongue opening and a heel opening. The tongue opening extends through a tongue of the upper, and the tongue opening is located in a rearward area of the tongue. The heel opening extends into a heel region of the upper. In donning an article of footwear a first finger may extend through an opening in a tongue of the article of footwear. A second finger is located through an opening in a heel region of the article of footwear. The fingers are separated to expand a size of an ankle aperture of the article of footwear, and foot is inserted into the article of footwear through the ankle aperture.
US08745885B2
A level including an elongate hollow frame with two sidewalls and a topwall extending therebetween. A topnotch is formed by removal of a topwall section and adjacent sections of sidewalls including notch-defining bottom and side edges. A central vial is within the topnotch. The frame includes an inner horizontal wall extending between the sidewalls at the notch-defining bottom edges. A central-vial reference surface is formed in the inner horizontal wall parallel to the top and bottom measuring surfaces and defining a notch-bottom. The central vial is supported against the central-vial reference surface in accurate orientation without calibration. The central vial is secured with respect to the inner horizontal wall by mechanical fasteners. The frame further preferably includes an integral inner vertical wall extending between the top and bottom walls thereby reinforcing the frame along the frame length.
US08745880B2
Provided is a rotary cutter for a mower that achieves easy and rapid cord insertion and improved work efficiency. A rotary cutter for a mower includes: a cord cutting grass or the like; a reel housing the cord, a case and a cover housing the reel therein; a pressing body rotating the reel; and a resilient element elastically supporting the case and the cover, and the rotary cutter is configured such that the reel axially moved by rotation of the pressing body so as to come into contact with the pressing body, and the cord is wound around the reel while being clamped in a clearance created between the reel due to the axial movement of the reel.
US08745867B1
A viscous clutch head may be replaced by selecting a viscous clutch head and a mount adapter. The viscous clutch head and the mount adapter may be selected from a group of universal modular fan drives and from a group of mount adapters. The mount adapter of a threaded type or a flange and bolt type may be selected. Depending on the viscous clutch head to be replaced, a fan adapter and/or a pilot adapter may also be selected from a group of fan adapters and from a group of pilot adapters. Accordingly, a range of models of viscous fan clutch systems may be replaced by using a limited number of parts. These parts may be stored on a tool cart. As different models of viscous fan clutch systems may be replaced using a limited number of parts, the in-stock inventory of replacement parts may be reduced.
US08745864B2
Systems and methods of coupling digitizing sensors to a structure are disclosed. A particular method includes applying one or more communication traces and one or more power traces to a structure using at least one direct-write technique. The method may also include coupling the one or more communication traces to at least one digitizing sensor. The method may also include coupling the one or more power traces to the at least one digitizing sensor.
US08745861B2
A method of making an electronic storage system includes receiving a substrate with a detection region. A transceiver formed on a transceiver substrate separate from the substrate is affixed to the substrate. A code circuit separate from the transceiver is disposed over the substrate. The code circuit includes a conductor disposed over the substrate at least partly in the detection region. The conductor has an electrical state that changes in response to an environmental factor. The transceiver is electrically connected to the code circuit so that the transceiver can detect the electrical state of the conductor. The transceiver includes an interface adapted to selectively transmit an uplink signal representing the electrical state of the conductor.
US08745859B2
A manufacturing method for a component built-in module, including: forming, in a sheet member including resin, a via hole filled up with a conductive paste, a cavity in which an electronic component is to be built, and an adjustment space; and performing a heat press allowing the sheet member to abut against a substrate on which the electronic component has been mounted, wherein the adjustment space is formed so that a flow vector of the resin in a neighborhood of the via hole during the heat press, which is directed toward the electronic component, is cancelled by a flow vector of the resin in a neighborhood of the via hole during the heat press, which is directed toward the adjustment space.
US08745855B2
A method for manufacturing an antenna device is provided. The manufacturing method includes forming an antenna circuit so that the resonance frequency of the antenna circuit will be lower than an oscillation frequency of the reader/ writer and affixing a magnetic sheet to an antenna coil via an adhesive. The antenna circuit includes the antenna coil that receives the magnetic field transmitted from the reader/ writer and a capacitor electrically connected to the antenna coil. The magnetic sheet is at a face-to-face position with respect to the antenna coil and is configured to change the inductance of the antenna coil. The adhesive is of a film thickness to change the inductance so that the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit will be coincident with the oscillation frequency depending on the spacing between the antenna coil and the magnetic sheet.
US08745854B2
A method of fabricating a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The fabrication method includes providing a proximal portion having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the inner conductor extending at least partially therein. The method further includes providing a distal portion disposed distally of the proximal portion, with the inner conductor extending at least partially therein. A high strength material may be injected from an inflow slot to an outflow slot of the distal portion such that the material is disposed in-between the inner conductor and a ceramic layer. The material bonds the distal portion and the ceramic layer to the proximal portion while providing mechanical strength to the distal portion.
US08745852B2
An RFID antenna assembly is made by first adhering a continuous aluminum foil between 1 μm and 20 μm thick by an adhesive film to a front face of a mounting layer, then providing on a back face of the mounting layer a film of contact adhesive, and then releasably securing to the mounting-layer back face a backing strip. The foil and the mounting layer but not the backing strip are then punched through so as to punch out antennas from the foil and identical pieces from the mounting layer. Finally the foil and mounting layer are stripped from around the punched-out antennas on the backing strip to leave on the backing strip a row only of the punched-out antennas and the respective pieces of the mounting layer.
US08745842B2
A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.
US08745840B2
A method of manufacturing a forceps includes providing first and second jaw members and depositing an electrically-conductive tissue sealing plate atop each jaw member via vapor deposition. The jaw members are then coupled to one another to permit movement of one (or both) of the jaw members relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue sealing plates thereof.
US08745828B2
An attachment strap created from an elastic strap capable of being stretched. The elastic strap is a continuous substrate forming a base of the attachment strap. A plurality of fastener sections attached to said strap, such that the fastener sections are spaced along the lengthwise direction of said strap and cross substantially the entire width of said strap. The fastener sections cross the width of the elastic strap at angles to the width of said strap. Also discussed is a method of manufacturing a flexible attachment strap which results in forming an elastic strap capable of being stretched. Per the method, a strap forms from a plurality of fastener sections having a fastener outer surface and a mounting inner surface and attaching said inner surfaces of fastener sections on said elastic strap. The mounted fastener sections form discrete fastening regions on the surface of the flexible attachment strap.
US08745823B2
A vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly includes a rotatable component, and a shaft disposed through the rotatable component. The hinge assembly also includes a first friction disk rotationally coupled to the shaft, and a second friction disk rotationally coupled to the rotatable component. The hinge assembly further includes a biasing member configured to urge the first and second friction disks toward one another to establish a friction force that provides resistance to rotation of the rotatable component about the shaft.
US08745822B2
The invention is a hinge having a first joint part a second joint part and at least one articulated axle element. A locking device selectively locks the first joint part relative to the second joint part. A basic element is arranged at the first joint part. A holding device, having at least one articulated axle seat, is arranged at the second joint part. The articulated axle element is arranged at the articulated axle seat, and is arranged at the basic element. The locking device has at least one first clamping plane arranged at the articulated axle element, and a first clamping element arranged at the holding device. The first clamping element comprises a second clamping plane. The first clamping plane is located at the second clamping plane to lock the first joint part in relation to the second joint part.
US08745818B2
A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body having a downwardly-directed suction opening and at least one surface engaging support member, a front agitator and a rear agitator, with each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, and a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator. The front agitator has a relatively flexible pile and the rear agitator has relatively stiff bristles arranged to dislodge matter from the pile of the front agitator. The pile of the front agitator and the at least one surface engaging support member extend downwardly beyond the bristles of the rear agitator so as to space the bristles of the rear agitator from a relatively hard surface to be cleaned.
US08745815B2
A handheld blower has a body including a combustion engine and a blower section driven by the combustion engine, and a handle coupled to the body. The blower section has an air outlet directed forward with respect to an operator. The handle has a grip portion extending in a front-back direction with respect to the operator, a front arm extending from a front portion of the grip portion to the body, and a rear arm extending from a rear portion of the grip portion to the body. The front arm and the rear arm are more flexible in the front-back direction than in directions perpendicular to the front-back direction.
US08745814B2
A scrubber assembly includes a scrubber support structure, an elongated scrubber element and a motor. The scrubber support structure is configured to attach to a windshield wiper. The scrubber element is movably attached to the scrubber support structure and extends between a first end and a spaced apart second end along a central longitudinal axis. The motor is mounted to the scrubber support structure and is engaged with the scrubber element to reciprocally move the scrubber element along the central longitudinal axis. A portable power source mounted to the scrubber support structure may provide power to the motor.
US08745795B2
Components, such as bedding components including mattresses are disclosed herein. The components include a first layer, a fire-resistant layer affixed to the first layer or an optional additional layer, and a fire-resistant sock. The first layer, the optional additional layer, and fire-resistant layer are disposed within the fire-resistant sock.
US08745792B2
A Firefighter Rapid Emergency Extraction device or F.R.E.E. Sled, is an emergency piece of equipment that acts as a rapid removal sled in which to apply to a downed firefighter, FF, within moments of locating or arriving at the victim. The F.R.E.E. Sled allows for the low profile loading and packaging of the downed FF as well as a securing strap for the RIC bag and air supply unit so that it stays with the victim. The instant invention allows the rescuer to quickly retrieve the compactly stored sled from the storage compartment of their own response vehicle, enter, locate and package the victim without the need for converting the gear that may be worn by the victim-firefighter. The F.R.E.E. Sled easily allows the operations level rescuer to secure the harness system in low-to-zero visibility environments with the “Twin Strap-Two Snap Buckle” method faster and more efficient than any other device available in the rescue art without having to remove the rescuers' protective gloves to accomplish this task. The instant invention stands to revolutionize the way the fire service saves one of their own in these Rapid Intervention deployments.
US08745789B2
A robotic patient positioning assembly including a patient treatment couch, and a robotic arm coupled to the patient treatment couch. The robotic arm is configured to move the patient treatment couch along five rotational degrees of freedom and one substantially vertical, linear degree of freedom.
US08745779B2
An in-bed patient-positioning and manipulation system for moving patients within their bed. The in-bed patient-positioning and manipulation system comprises: a conveyor sheet; at least one housing unit having, a roller located therein comprising a shaft; at least one gearing cluster; a power source; and a remote. The conveyor sheet is connected to the roller(s) with the roller(s) being housed within inner volume(s) of the housing unit. The two housing units are mounted under each end of a hospital (or other) bed. There is one long sheet, which is rolled and sequentially stored in the housing units and along the upper surface of the bed. The sheet will retract back once the control on the included remote is pressed. Further, the conveyor sheet is able to be rolled and unrolled to manipulate a relative position of a patient residing in the bed.
US08745778B2
Adjustable shower curtain rod designs for providing a shower curtain rod that allows the wet, inner-stall facing side of a shower curtain to be quickly and easily rotated up to 360 degrees. This rotation allows the wet, inner-stall facing side of the shower curtain to be positioned so that it faces out into the room rather than facing the shower stall. This facilitates faster and easier drying of the wet, inner-stall facing side of the shower curtain due to improved airflow and the lower humidity of the room. These features facilitate ease of cleaning and/or inspecting of the shower curtain, while also reducing the opportunity for mold, mildew and bacteria to grow on the curtain as the shower curtain has an improved drying time.
US08745777B2
A cover for a bathtub includes a base and wall that extends from the base. The wall defines an interior space and includes a plurality of wall segments. A panel is connected to the wall and closes an end of the interior space. The panel is adapted to engage the bathtub and has a plurality of pockets for protecting the bathtub.
US08745768B1
A concealed safety pocket in a garment for securely carrying a smart phone and a method for making same. The safety pocket provides a separate storage place for carrying a smart phone where it can be found quickly, a user knowing exactly the place where the smart phone is. The smart phone is stored on a user's person and can be easily heard and answered, the safety pocket providing quick access to the smart phone. The separate safety pocket protects the smart phone from scratches from coins and keys. The safety pocket has a closure that prevents the smart phone from sliding out or falling out of a pocket, but providing quick access through the easily opened closure. The safety pocket attaches to a waistband and an open side seam, the closure of the pocket completing the side seam.
US08745766B2
A novel bathing garment set for taking showers in public places. Oversized, snap-fastened shirt tops and shorts are designed for easily putting on and disrobing normal clothes in public with privacy. Made of semi-permeable fabrics, the bathing garment is to be worn during a shower and while washing.
US08745763B2
There is provided a helmet including a shield having inner coupling holes at both ends thereof and fitted and coupled to an assembly coupling hole of a shield coupling assembly provided at a helmet main body and a front opening configured to be opened and closed by the shield. The helmet includes: a lock supporting member fixed to the helmet main body; and a locker including a shield mounting portion fixed to the shield, a coupling shaft coupled to be rotated with the shield mounting portion at an end of the locker, and a locker hooking part coupled to or decoupled from the lock supporting member at the other end of the locker.
US08745762B2
A visor assembly for an aviation helmet includes a lens, lens/strap anti-tear interface assemblies, retainer plates, and attachment strap assemblies. A friction strip mounted on the brim of the helmet operates to increase the friction between the visor lens and the helmet. The combined function of the friction strip and the configuration of the strap assemblies operate to maintain the visor in a deployed (as-worn) positioned in front of the wearer's face, even during high speed wind blasts of up to 600 KEAS (Knots Equivalent Air Speed).
US08752204B2
Systems and methods for identifying and redacting privileged information automatically in electronic discovery documents such as emails are disclosed. In reviewing documents for discovery review, some documents have both privileged and non-privileged information. Significant cost savings are achieved in conducting electronic discovery by automatically identifying and redacting privileged content while preserving non-privileged information for production.
US08752203B2
A secure data storage system for controlling access having a data user facility, a data owner facility and a data storage facility, wherein a third party data holder managing the data storage facility grants the data user access to the data without knowing the identities of the data user or data owner.
US08752201B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for managing digital rights. An agent unit manages application programs to which DRM is to be applied and rights to contents processed by the application programs to which DRM is to be applied, and encrypt and decrypt the contents processed by the application programs. A rights management unit authenticates a user and manages a user right to the contents processed by the application programs. A kernel API hooking unit monitors input/output of a file through hooking kernel native APIs, requests the rights management unit to verify the user right to the contents to be processed, and requests the agent unit to encrypt or decrypt the contents when the user right to the contents to be processed is verified.
US08752193B2
A method and system of binding content at first access is disclosed. A non-volatile storage device may provide a content access script and a content binding script in order to access protected content. An accessing application may attempt to access the protected content by executing a content access script. The accessing application must have permission to access and execute the content access script. If the accessing application cannot access or execute the content access script, the accessing application may access and execute the content binding script. The content binding script contains instructions that enable the accessing application to successfully execute the content access script. The content binding script, when executed, may disable itself from being executed again by moving critical information associated with the access to protected data. Thus, the content binding script may be executed once to enable an accessing application to successfully execute the content access script.
US08752191B2
Methods, systems and computer program products to implement generic Digital Rights Management (DRM) are provided herein. The methods include opening a session between an initiator and a responder, exchanging one or more of device and system information and sending one of an operation or event based on DRM capabilities, DRM partner, DRM authority, DRM characteristics, DRM Trust and CCEVS profiles. The operation includes one or more of a dataset, response code, operation parameter and response parameter. These extensions may be in the form of one or more of an operation, an event, a dataset or property code.
US08752189B2
The invention provides a secure and efficient resource management system and a corresponding method for managing resources of a product that is put on the market by a licensor via a distribution chain. In particular, the number of keys needed for managing said resources can be reduced. At the time that the product is released to the market the exact licensing conditions of the product need not be known yet. The licensing conditions and the associated configuration of resources of the product are managed via a second key which is provided to a licensee. The licensee, however, has no knowledge of the first key and the derivation function which generates said second key based on the first key. Therefore, it is ensured that the licensee cannot claim more resources of the product than the licensor allows.
US08752186B2
An external system (such as a website) that interacts with users communicates with a social networking system to access information about the users, who may also be users of the social networking system. If a privacy setting is changed in the social networking system, and the change applies to information that has been shared with an external system, the change is enforced at the external system. For example, the external system may be notified that the information is invalid and must be deleted, or the external system may periodically request the information so that changes to the privacy settings are eventually experienced at the external systems. When an external system again needs the information, whether expired naturally or actively invalidated by the social network, the external system sends a new request for the information, which is subject to the (possibly revised) privacy settings.
US08752181B2
A system and method of providing identity theft security is provided. The system and method utilizes a computer program that identifies, locates, secures, and/or removes from computers, computer systems and/or computer networks personally identifying and/or other sensitive information in different data formats. The computer program utilizes a multi-tiered escalation model of searching/identifying sensitive information. The computer program of the instant invention utilizes a self-learning process for fine-tuning a level of scrutiny for identifying potentially sensitive information.
US08752168B2
Provided is a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an access rights update program causing a computer to be executed as: an acquisition unit that acquires access rights update information, which includes information specifying an object of personnel changes, a type of personnel changes, a changed organization, a delegate of access rights for a storage unit that stores a document, and an effective period of the access rights, before the personnel changes; a search unit that searches for the storage unit, for which access rights information including the effective period of the access rights is set and which needs to be updated, on the basis of the acquired access rights update information; and an update unit that updates the access rights information, which is set for the searched storage unit, before the personnel changes on the basis of the acquired access rights update information.
US08752162B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to security enforcement point operability in a TLS secured communications path and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for the secure sharing of TLS session keys with trusted enforcement points. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for securely sharing TLS session keys with trusted enforcement points can be provided. The method can include conducting a TLS handshake with a TLS client to extract and decrypt a session key for a TLS session with the TLS client traversing at least one security enforcement point. The method further can include providing the session key to a communicatively coupled key server for distribution to the at least one security enforcement point. Finally, the method can include engaging in secure communications with the TLS client over the TLS session.
US08752158B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to identity technology. In aspects, a user device sends a request for access to a service. In response, the service directs the user device to a user agent that may be downloaded or that may already exist on the user device. The user agent includes code that executes on the user device to create a security boundary. The security boundary controls transmission of identity information that may be used to identify a user of the device.
US08752149B2
A device (300s) has an authentication ID generator (320) for applying a first one-way function to a combination of a process password and information to be shared, and generating an authentication ID; an anonymizer (330) for generating anonymized information from the authentication ID and the information to be shared; an information sharing section (340) for causing the anonymized information to be held on another device; and an anonymized information process requesting section (350) for sending a process request containing the process password, and requesting the other device to subject the held anonymized information to a predetermined process, the request being sent on the basis of a match between the authentication ID of the anonymized information and the result of the first one-way function being applied to the combination of the process password and the anonymized information held on the other device.
US08752148B1
A processorless hardware token provides a one-time password for user authentication. The processorless hardware token contains a non-volatile memory upon which is stored a pre-produced sequence of one-time passwords. The processorless hardware token uses limited circuitry on a circuit board to read from the non-volatile memory and display a one-time password associated with a current interval. The displayed one-time password is then used for authentication by an authentication server that compares the one-time password displayed on the processorless hardware token with a one-time password retrieved from a copy of the pre-produced sequence of one-time passwords stored on the Authentication Server.
US08752147B2
Provided is a two-actor user authentication system with a reduced risk of leakage of authentication information.The two-factor user authentication system is designed to use, as a password, a one-time-password derivation rule to be applied to certain pattern elements included in a presentation pattern at specific positions so as to create a one-time password, and further use, as a second authentication factor, information identifying a client to be used by a user. An authentication server is operable to generate a pattern seed value adapted to uniquely specify a presentation pattern in combination with a client ID, and transmit the pattern seed value to an authentication-requesting client. The authentication-requesting client is operable to create a presentation pattern based on a client ID acquired therefrom, and display the presentation pattern to allow a user to enter thereinto a one-time password based on the presentation pattern.
US08752132B2
Embodiments of the inventions are generally directed to methods, apparatuses, and systems for the dynamic evaluation and delegation of network access control. In an embodiment, a platform includes a switch to control a network connection and an endpoint enforcement engine coupled with the switch. The endpoint enforcement engine may be capable of dynamically switching among a number of network access control modes responsive to an instruction received from the network connection.
US08752124B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may receive a resource token associated with a resource indicating that access to the resource has been requested. The apparatus may determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon the resource token, wherein the at least one token-based rule may be associated with at least one subject token. The apparatus may then determine that the at least one subject token is not in the plurality of first subject tokens and the plurality of second subject tokens based at least in part upon the at least one token-based rule, and deny access to the resource.
US08752120B2
A choice specifying unit 500 specifies, as displayable subtitles, standard subtitles which a subtitle processing unit 300 can decode using a standard function, and expanded subtitles which the subtitle processing unit 300 can decode by an application processing unit 900 executing character expansion applications that can be obtained from data broadcasting. A user interface unit 200 displays a subtitle switching screen on a monitor 30 as a user interface which can present the specified displayable subtitles as choices of switchable subtitles when a user presses a “Subtitle” button, and in the subtitle switching screen the user can select one subtitle out of the presented choices as a subtitle to be superimposed on an image.
US08752116B2
A method of updating dedicated firmwares of a plurality of content providers in a network TV system is provided. A user interface allows easy and intuitive control of the update so that the firmwares according to the content providers can be updated in accordance with a user's desired order and type on the network.
US08752112B2
Systems and methods for processing a live video stream are provided. An ingestion component receives segments of a live video stream in association with a request to process the live video stream. A control component generates an instruction graph for the live video stream based on predetermined criteria. The instruction graph defines a workflow for processing the live video stream, the workflow comprising a set of services for processing the segments. A transcoding component employs a subset of the services to process the segments based at least in part on the instruction graph and a distribution component then streams the segments to a device in response finishing process of the segments. With the live video processing system, segments of a video stream are processed and distributed as they are received. Thus segments of the video stream are processed and distributed prior to processing of the entire video stream.
US08752110B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor can have a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system according to one or more graphical user interface (GUI) templates that define a plurality of segments of a presentation area of the personal TV channel and one or more modules that arrange media content of the subscriber in the plurality of segments of a select one of the plurality of GUI templates. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08752109B2
A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) service and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including an NRT service, method comprises receiving a broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying the NRT service based on the first signaling information, identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NRT service signaling data based on the first signaling information and the second signaling information, receiving the NRT service signaling data by accessing the IP address, and downloading a desired NRT service based on the NRT service signaling data.
US08752107B2
A system and method for time-shifting and chase-play for an IPTV system. A control channel is established between an originating user's set top box (STB) and an IPTV Application Server (IPTV-AS) utilizing SIP signaling over an IP Multimedia Subsystem. For time-shifting, the STB sends a start time-shifting command to the IPTV-AS over the control channel, and the IPTV-AS sends a start recording command to a Network Private Video Recorder (N-PVR). When the user is ready to resume viewing, the STB sends a start chase-play command to the IPTV-AS to establish a unicast channel. The IPTV-AS sends a playback command to the N-PVR to begin playback of the time-shifted content.
US08752093B2
A method of providing recommendations related to a service is disclosed and includes receiving data from a device associated with a service subscriber, the data identifying an individual. The method also includes creating a personalization profile associated with the service subscriber. The personalization profile is populated with information included in a profile of the identified individual. The method further includes providing at least one recommendation based on the personalization profile of the service subscriber.
US08752089B2
A mosaic video channel displayed on a monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time. A mosaic video channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, a cursor, which can be moved between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that the user can then directly select a video program associated with the selected video cell, and a receiver, coupled to the monitor and receiving the plurality of video feeds and mosaic video channel, wherein a blackout criteria is dynamically programmed into the receiver such that when at least one of the video cells is selected by the cursor, the receiver tunes to a channel other than the individual video feed associated with that video cell.
US08752085B1
Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives an advertisement insertion input. The advertisement insertion input identifies a presentation time in media content to insert an advertisement. In response to receiving the advertisement insertion input, the advertisement insertion tool inspects an original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the presentation time to locate a key frame at or prior to the presentation time. The advertisement insertion tool creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the original slice up to the presentation time and creates a second new slice comprising the media content of the original slice after the presentation time. The advertisement insertion tool updates a descriptor file to include the first new slice, the advertisement, and the second new slice for streaming.
US08752080B2
Provided is a turntable for rotatably supporting a disc member on a disc support surface in a state where the disc member is sandwiched and held between the turntable and a clamp member placed opposite thereto, wherein the disc support surface is provided with an elastic layer having a predetermined width, and configured to project from the disc support surface, and at least one of an outer peripheral part and an inner peripheral part of the elastic layer is provided with a high contact pressure portion of which a contact pressure generated by pressing the clamp member thereto is higher than that of other portion.
US08752079B2
Provided is an optical disc drive including a tray on which a spindle motor assembly is mounted. The spindle motor assembly may include a turntable, a conductive plate to which a motor is fixed, a frame to which the conductive plate is fixed, a flat cable that is connected to the spindle motor and includes a ground line, and a first coupling member that passes through the flat cable and the conductive plate and is coupled to the frame.
US08752077B2
An example of an optical disc apparatus includes a top case and a bottom case. The top case includes a tab extending downward from one end of the top case. The tab includes a protrusion protruding inward. The bottom case includes a lower-side folded portion formed by folding inward an upper end of one side surface of the bottom case. The lower-side folded portion includes a cantilever spring. The cantilever spring includes a spring portion extending in a vertical direction and a curved portion formed by folding inward an upper part of the spring portion. The protrusion comes into contact with the curved portion when the top case is being affixed to the bottom case and is in contact with the spring portion under a state where the top case is affixed to the bottom case.
US08752076B2
A lift frame supports a turntable unit, and moves between a lower-most position and a read/write position in conjunction with slide movement of a follower slider. The follower slider has a pressing member and a cam groove. Pressed to a bottom plate of a device chassis by a coil spring, the pressing member stabilizes the movement of the follower slider. The cam groove fits onto a lifting pin of the lift frame. At the read/write position, the cam bottom wall is constituted of a pin pushing portion. The pin pushing portion is pushed upward by the coil spring to press the lifting pin to a cam groove upper wall when the lift frame is in the read/write position.
US08752067B2
A middleware layer based on a middleware program is provided between a platform layer and an application layer. In the middleware layer, an interface on the application layer side is selectable, and also an interface on the platform layer side is selected. Further, functions in the middleware layer are configured as functional modules so that they are selectable according to a function on the application layer side and a function on the platform layer side.
US08752063B2
In embodiments of a programming interface for data communications, a request queue and a completion queue can be allocated from a user-mode virtual memory buffer that corresponds to an application. The request queue and the completion queue can be pinned to physical memory and then mapped to kernel-mode system addresses so that the request queue and the completion queue can be accessed by a kernel-mode execution thread. A request can be received from an application for the kernel to handle data in the request queue, and a system issued to the kernel for the kernel-mode execution thread to handle the request. The kernel-mode execution thread can then handle additional requests from the application without additional system calls being issued.
US08752061B2
A device receives a request for an amount of a resource. It determines for each resource provider in a set of resource providers a current load, a requested load corresponding to the requested amount of the resource, and an additional load corresponding to an expected state of an application. It determines for each of the resource providers an expected total load on the basis of the current load, the requested load, and the additional load. It subsequently selects from the set of resource providers a preferred resource provider on the basis of the expected total loads. The resource may be one of the following: memory, processing time, data throughput, power, and usage of a device.
US08752060B2
A multi-CPU domain mobile electronic device, includes: a first CPU domain, comprising at least a first migration agent unit, the first migration agent unit detecting a task migration condition, determining whether to migrate a migratable task, and sending an associated migration event, and a second CPU domain, comprising at least a second migration agent unit, the second migration agent unit receiving the migratable task from the first migration agent unit.
US08752057B1
Described are techniques synchronizing processing of at least two code threads. A first thread executing in user space is provided. A second thread executing in kernel space is provided. A global mutex lock is provided for synchronizing processing between said first thread and said second thread. One of said first thread and said second thread holds the global mutex lock and is identified as a current owner of the global mutex lock. The other of said first thread and said second thread requests the global mutex lock and is blocked until the current owner of the global mutex lock releases the global mutex lock. The global mutex lock is held by at most one thread at a point in time and is identified as the current owner.
US08752045B2
By implementing various types of tags, easy management and control of assets in a business system is enabled. These assets may be virtual machines, hardware assets, personnel assets, etc. System tags are determined and associated with an asset automatically. Virtual tags and dynamic tags are tags that do not contain the information sought—rather, these tags contain instructions about how to determine the tag value associated with an asset. Management tags are user-entered tags indicating information about an asset based on the knowledge of an individual. These tags can be combined using Boolean algebraic operators, resulting in a tag-based algebra system, which enables a Tag-Based Query Language for searching a universe of assets based on the associated tags. Additionally, tag-based algebra enables access control based on tags associated with a user, assets in a universe of assets, and enables policies to be enforced in a universe of assets.
US08752044B2
A method, system, and device supporting installation of updates to software and/or firmware in memory of an electronic device. The updates may be accompanied by advertising, promotional and information content that is dynamically displayed to a user during processing of the update in the electronic device. The update information may be automatically generated based upon a list of all software components or packages already present on the electronic device, and may comprise software components for all dependencies of an application being installed by the update that are not already present on the electronic device.
US08752035B2
Transforming dynamic code. The method includes obtaining one or more first data structures defining constructs in a body of dynamic language source code. From the one or more first data structures, identifier information is extracted for one or more of the defined constructs. Knowledge about the constructs is augmented. Using the identifier information and augmented knowledge, metadata is generated about the body of the dynamic language source code. The generated metadata is represented as a symbol table. Using the symbol table, the body of dynamic language source code is transformed.
US08752019B2
A testing system, a testing process, a medical device, e.g., an anesthesia device (G), and a computer program product are provided for testing installed program versions for acceptability. The anesthesia device (G) comprises a plurality of electronic components (K), which are operated and/or controlled with a program, which may have various versions. A release function (50) is activated for releasing the anesthesia device (G) or for putting same into operation only if a consistent set of acceptable program versions can be detected, and the anesthesia device (G) is otherwise blocked.
US08752016B2
A device-independent intermediate representation of a source code is generated and stored, e.g., in a memory or other storage mechanism. The stored intermediate representation of the source code is used to generate a device-specific machine code corresponding to the source code. The stored intermediate representation may be updated, e.g., periodically, for example by obtaining an updated version of the source code and compiling the updated source code to generate an updated intermediate representation. The stored intermediate representation may be based on source code received from a device that is synchronized with which a compiling device that generates the device-specific machine code. In some cases, the stored intermediate representation may be used to generate for each of a plurality of devices a corresponding device-specific machine code.
US08752012B2
A process evaluation device, comprising: a development process definition storage unit which stores definition information on a plurality of processes for developing software and sequence numbers thereof; a transition information acquiring unit which acquires identification information or a sequence number of a new process after a backward transition occurs, wherein a process transition from a certain process referred hereafter as an evaluation origin to said new process is said backward transition when a sequence number of said new process is smaller than a sequence number of said evaluation and a transition information analysis unit which calculates and thereby outputs a backing-away distance which is a difference between a sequence number of said evaluation origin and a sequence number of said new process, is provided, in order to apprehend what are real causes of the development delay.
US08752006B1
A system and method accepts source code for one or more procedures and, for those procedures flagged as being remotely callable, generates communication code and a description that allows the code to be remotely callable via a server using a variety of formats, such as conventional web services formats.
US08752005B2
Software system facts comprising concepts, concept instances and relationships within the software system are identified and stored in a repository. The software system facts are extracted from artifacts comprising the software system or are provided through explicit definition. Architectures of the software system are recovered from the stored software system facts. Layered views of the recovered architectures are generated. The stored software system facts are checked against architectural rules to ensure architectural compliance of the software system. The impact of proposed changes to the software system is assessed by querying the identified software system facts.
US08752002B2
Techniques for generating one or more artifacts for service delivery are provided. The techniques include receiving one or more service design inputs, using the one or more service design inputs to generate an internal representation of the service design, using the internal representation of the service to generate one or more artifacts of the service, and incorporating the one or more artifacts into the service design and outputting the service.
US08751995B1
A method of common-centroid IC layout generation includes the following steps of acquiring a netlist of one circuit-element set; summing up the numbers of the unit element of all elements of the circuit-element set to get the total number of the unit elements and then determine the unit element array, the aspect ratio of which is closest to 1, via a combination operation; generating multiple common-centroid placements according to the unit element array and applying global routing assignment to each of the common-centroid placements; proceeding with cost evaluation in such a way that a cost calculation is applied to each of the common-centroid placements to get a corresponsive value; and comparing all of the common-centroid placements according to the values got from the cost evaluation and selecting the common-centroid placement corresponding to one of the values according to a predetermined condition for detailed routing.
US08751977B2
A method and apparatus for designing a lithography mask set which provides polygon features of a desired size at advanced technology nodes, for example, using live features and dummy features. A dummy feature can be formed within a confined space by specifying an allowable dummy feature length even though the feature length may result in contact between the dummy feature and the live feature. After specifying the dummy feature length, a pattern generation (PG) extract can be performed to pull back the dummy feature away from the live feature by an allowable distance. The PG exact process can result in a shorter dummy feature which has a length which is shorter than can be specified directly by design rules, but which passes rule checking.
US08751971B2
An electronic device presents a first user interface element of a first type and a second user interface element of a second type. In a sighted mode, the device detects a first interaction with the first user interface element, and performs an operation in accordance with sighted-mode gesture responses for the first user interface element. The device detects a second interaction with the second user interface element, and performs an operation in accordance with sighted-mode gesture responses for the second user interface element. In an accessible mode, the device detects a third interaction with the first user interface element, and performs an operation in accordance with accessible-mode gesture responses for the first user interface element. The device detects a series of interactions with the second user interface element; and, for each interaction, performs an operation in accordance with the sighted-mode gesture responses for the second user interface element.
US08751969B2
The present invention provides a configuration that allows for a cursor or other object that has moved outside the display section to be displayed as a virtual object and observed. A cursor or object lying in an area outside the area of the display section of a PC or other device is displayed as a virtual object. For example, the display of goggles worn by the user displays a display device such as a PC and the area outside the display device. The three-dimensional position of the cursor or object that has probably moved in response to user operation is calculated, after which the cursor or object is displayed as a virtual object at the calculated position. Further, object information for the object specified by the cursor is acquired and presented.
US08751962B2
In regards to the conventional technology for performing operational inputs by referring a GUI and by means of a touch sensor, there exists a problem in which the relationship of correspondence between on-screen locations of selection items on a GUI and touchpad locations cannot be accurately grasped. Moreover, cases in which a touch panel equipped with an information display function instead of a touch sensor is used cause problems in that the cost thereof or power consumed thereby can be relatively high, etc. In order to solve the problems described as above, the present invention provides a remote control that selects an icon on a GUI as a target of operation using a touch sensor, and which is characterized by a configuration that allows a user to easily identify the relationship of correspondence by brightening of a touch sensor on a touchpad corresponding to icon arrangement on a GUI.
US08751959B2
An information processing apparatus is disclosed. The information processing apparatus executes a function corresponding to a menu item of application software which menu item is selected by a user. The information processing apparatus includes an information processing unit which executes plural small functions of which the function corresponding to the selected menu item is formed, a recipe data forming unit which forms recipe data in which an executing condition and an executing order of the plural small functions corresponding to the selected menu item are defined, and an information process executing unit which causes the information processing unit to execute the plural small functions based on the formed recipe data.
US08751958B2
System and method of integrating web-based graphical user interfaces with data from exterior sources
Commercially available applications which display information via a graphical user's interface can be supplemented with additional related information. The related information can be automatically extracted and overlaid on the information with the assistance of a pre-established ontology.
US08751957B1
A method and apparatus are disclosed for updating a user profile in a recommendation system for a given user based on auditory or gestural feedback information provided by the user. The auditory or gestural feedback is detected using audio or video processing techniques, or both, and includes, for example, auditory or gestural commands or facial expressions indicating the strength of the user's preferences. The auditory or gestural feedback can be explicit or implicit. Once predefined behavioral feedback is identified, the present invention updates the corresponding user profile, in an appropriate manner.
US08751955B2
Two sliding user interactions along a display surface of a multitouch input display device are detected in approximately opposite directions proximate to a display location of a scroll element displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the device. Available content displayed within the GUI is automatically zoomed based upon the detected two sliding user interactions along the display surface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08751945B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide tools and methods for the development and specification of a responsive graphical design. A graphical user interface allows a user to specify a design. The graphical user interface has an area for displaying a rendering of the design according to a first dimension specification. The system also has a dimension specification interface that allows the user to set a second dimension specification. The system also has a widget interface that allows the user to (i) add a widget to said design, (ii) specify a first state for the widget when the design is rendered according to the first dimension specification, and (iii) specify a second state for the widget when the design is rendered according to the second dimension specification.
US08751943B1
A system and method for providing views of dialogues to a user defines a user interface that conveys the views of the dialogues. The views of dialogues include a display of notifications that may provide information about relative positions in an array wherein the dialogues are assigned to corresponding positions and may provide indications of directions about the dialogues with respect to a dialogue being presented in a current view. In some examples, the dialogues may be assigned to corresponding array positions dynamically based on information regarding the dialogues, such as the time information. In some examples, the notifications may also be generated based on information regarding the dialogues such as the time information. Additional criteria may be provided by the user to customize the array determination and/or the notification generation.
US08751941B1
A single user interface for a user of an identity management module is presented. The single user interface includes options for transmitting an access management instruction to a customer internal application via an on-premise proxy, and transmitting another access management instruction to a shared computing system application via a multi-customer gateway on the shared computing system. The user interface is adaptively adjusted to highlight suggested access entitlement operations based at least in part upon expected access entitlements derived from a prediction engine.
US08751938B2
In a system for dynamically and remotely providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel embedded within a multifunction peripheral (MFP) such as a digital copier having an internal computer for controlling the touch panel, a method that comprises linking the internal computer to an external data communication network having an external remote computer on the network; and upon the inputting of desired selections by a user at the UI and communicating the same over the network to the external computer, providing information from the external computer via the network back to the internal computer that enables dynamically changing or updating the UI display and behavior during run time of the MFP.
US08751937B2
In a system for dynamically and remotely providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel embedded within a multifunction peripheral (MFP) such as a digital copier having an internal computer for controlling the touch panel, a method that comprises linking the internal computer to an external data communication network having an external remote computer on the network; and upon the inputting of desired selections by a user at the UI and communicating the same over the network to the external computer, providing information from the external computer via the network back to the internal computer that enables dynamically changing or updating the UI display and behavior during run time of the MFP.
US08751930B2
An approach is provided that captures an admin-console context. The first admin-console context includes a set of state attribute values corresponding to elements that are included in a context hierarchy of a console software application that is being executed at a computer system. A number of events that occur at the admin-console are recorded in a memory. A Reusable User Interaction (RUI) Script is stored in a nonvolatile storage area. The RUI Script includes the captured admin-console context and a sequence of the recorded plurality events. A collection of RUI Scripts are stored in a central knowledge repository for reuse. Search the RUI Scripts repository for reuse, using the current admin-console context.
US08751928B2
Multi-lingual text is rendered by creating bit map files and by determining font bindings. In particular, a font property file is specified. Font bit map files are created based upon the font property file. An input file with multi-lingual text is received. The font bit map files are accessed to determine font bindings for characters within the input file. Related methods, apparatus, systems, and articles are also described.
US08751927B2
A method and system is provided for creation and distribution of dynamic multi-content cards in a virtual universe. More specifically, the method creates a card containing contact information for viewing in a virtual universe (VU) and distribute the card in the VU. Additionally, the system includes a card selection tool configured to create a card containing contact information for viewing in a virtual universe (VU) and distribute the card to another resident in the VU.
US08751925B1
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a web page, sending a first response portion for generating the requested web page to a client computing device that includes a structured document including a page-assembling process, generating one or more second response portions each for generating a corresponding portion of the requested web page that each include a call to the page-assembling process, transmitting the second response portions to the client computing device, and wherein the page-assembling process is configured to, responsive to a call corresponding to a respective second response portion, insert, or cause to be inserted, content, resources, or calls to resources included in the respective second response portion into a model representation of the structured document generated by a client rendering application at a location in the model representation determined by a corresponding place-holder code segment included in the structured document.
US08751924B2
Presentation of accessible content is in accordance with a grid established by rules independent of the content. Different rules establish different grids utilizable with the same content, thereby enabling proper formatting across a wide range of devices and displays. The rules provide for fixed size and auto sized column widths and row heights. Additionally, the rules provide for column widths and row heights size based on fractional weighting of the remaining space after the fixed size and auto sized grid members are accounted for. The grid establishes a coordinate system onto which content is “hung” by aligning an aspect of the content with a coordinate point. Content is hung by reference to its beginning, its end, its center point, or, alternatively, content can be specified to be stretched to fit the width of the column and the height of the row with which it is associated.
US08751923B2
An image processing apparatus acquires information indicating a region to be output designated by a user in a web page displayed on a display apparatus by a browser, and extracts data indicating an image corresponding to at least a part of the region to be output indicated by the acquired information. The image processing apparatus updates a portion from which data is extracted in the region to be output based on the acquired information, when a portion corresponding to the extracted data of the region to be output indicated by the acquired information in the web page is a part of the region to be output.
US08751919B2
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing global annotations made for data elements that may be instantiated (e.g., displayed) by a variety of different type applications are provided. By anchoring the global annotations to the data element, rather than the particular data source containing the data element at the time the data element was annotated, the annotation may be retrieved from any application that instantiates or displays it.
US08751918B2
A system for creating links among diverse elements in order to convey a variety of logical relationships. The system uses a unique approach to browser development in order to allow for the delayed transformation of data which has undergone either a change to its actual value, or a change in its relationship to other data. Linked data is left unevaluated until a user desires to view the data through a user interface. This delayed evaluation conserves bandwidth and system resources, and further enables the system to more efficiently create, organize, and maintain relationships between large volumes of diverse elements.
US08751915B2
The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for selectable positive feedback data processing.
US08751911B2
A CRC code is generated from original data, a BCH code is generated based on the original data and CRC code; the original data, CRC code, and BCH code are recorded in pages from different planes of plural memory chips. An RS code is generated from the original data across pages, a CRC code is generated based on the RS code, a BCH code is generated based on the RS code and the CRC code; the RS, CRC, and BCH codes are recorded in a different memory chip than the original data. When reading data, error correction is performed on the original data using the BCH code, then CRC is calculated. If the number of errors is correctable by erasure correction using the RS code, the original data is so corrected. Otherwise, normal error correction using the RS code and further error correction using the BCH code are performed.
US08751910B2
In staircase forward error correction coding, a stream of data symbols are mapped to data symbol positions in a sequence of two-dimensional symbol blocks Bi, i a positive integer. Each of the symbol blocks has data symbol positions and coding symbol positions. Coding symbols for the coding symbol positions in each symbol block Bi in the sequence are computed. The coding symbols are computed such that, for each symbol block Bi that has a preceding symbol block Bi−1 and a subsequent symbol block Bi+1 in the sequence, symbols at symbol positions along one dimension of the preceding symbol block Bi−1, concatenated with the data symbols and the coding symbols along the other dimension in the symbol block Bi, form a codeword of a FEC component code, and symbols at symbol positions along the one dimension of the symbol block Bi, concatenated with the data symbols and the coding symbols along the other dimension in the subsequent symbol block Bi+1, form a codeword of the FEC component code. Thus, each row in [Bi−1T Bi] and each column in [ B i B i + 1 T ] , for example, is a valid codeword.
US08751909B2
A network communication device includes a host interface, which is coupled to communicate with a host processor, having a host memory, so as to receive a work request to execute a transaction in which a plurality of data blocks are to be transferred over a packet network. Processing circuitry is configured to process multiple data packets so as to execute the transaction, each data packet in the transaction containing a portion of the data blocks, and the multiple data packets including at least first and last packets, which respectively contain the first and last data blocks of the transaction. The processing circuitry is configured to compute a transaction signature over the data blocks while processing the data packets so that at least the first data block passes out of the network communication device through one of the interfaces before computation of the transaction signature is completed.
US08751908B2
Disclosed herein is a decoding device including: an extracting section, a storing section, an allocating section, and a decoding section. The extracting section acquires data containing plural code words and information other than the plural code words in one frame, and extracts the plural code words from the data every one code word. The storing section at least stores the one code word extracted by the extracting section. The allocating section sets time obtained by dividing time for the one frame by the number of code words contained in the one frame as time allocated to decoding of one code word. The decoding section decodes the code word within the time allocated by the allocating section.
US08751905B2
A memory device is configured to correct errors in codewords written to a memory array. Errors, if any, in a first codeword are corrected and a codeword corrector output is generated including a corrected first codeword. A data buffer receives the codeword corrector output and a first user data associated with the addressed page and generates a data buffer output including the corrected first codeword, as modified by the first user data, defined as a first codeword output. A codeword encoder receives the data buffer output and encodes the first codeword output to generate an encoded first codeword output included in a codeword encoder output. A write buffer receives the codeword encoder output and saves the same for writing to the memory array. Writing to the memory array is performed while receiving a second user data, which has a second codeword associated therewith, and correcting the second codeword.
US08751891B2
An apparatus and a method for operating an Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) in consideration of an operation state of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) in a wireless communication system. In the method, when an ARQ timer expires, operation state information of a HARQ module for controlling a HARQ is determined. Whether to delay generation of Negative ACKnowledge (NACK) information in consideration of the operation state information of the HARQ module, then determined. When determining to delay the generation of the NACK information, the generation of the NACK information is delayed for a delay time determined in consideration of the operation state information of the HARQ module.
US08751889B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, data decoding systems are disclosed that include a data decoder circuit and a decode value modification circuit.
US08751888B2
A control circuit performs a write operation to 1-page memory cells along the selected word line, by applying a write pulse voltage to a selected word line, and then performs a verify read operation of confirming whether the data write is completed. When the data write is not completed, a step-up operation is performed of raising the write pulse voltage by a certain step-up voltage. A bit scan circuit determines whether the number of memory cells determined to reach a certain threshold voltage is equal to or more than a certain number among the memory cells read at the same time, according to read data held in the sense amplifier circuit as a result of the verify read operation. The control circuit changes the amount of the step-up voltage according to the determination of the bit scan circuit.
US08751880B2
A method and a system for accurately calculating the timing margin in a clock and data recovery system (CDR) is provided that utilizes a singular path environment of hardware. The method entails adding an amount of jitter within the CDR to change the receiver phase. The amount of jitter is incrementally increased until a threshold level of bit errors occur. Based on the amount of jitter needed to cause the threshold level of bit errors, timing margin can be calculated.
US08751872B2
A system and method for handling exceptions in a multi-threaded computing environment. Information, such as that relating to an error state or pertaining to the propagation history of an exception, is stored in a separate object from the exception object itself. The separate propagation information object is accessible to the plurality of threads that are used to execute a user task. The separate object allows rich diagnostic information pertaining to the exception and its propagation through multiple threads to be presented to the developer of the software.
US08751871B2
A method for modifying a user interface (UI), comprising the steps of: listening for a UI event; determining whether the UI event is erroneous; in response to determining that the UI event is erroneous, initiating a recording comprising a user fix of the error and a state associated with the UI; storing the user fix as an alternative UI event; and in response to subsequently detecting the UI event and a matching state associated with the UI, providing the alternative UI event such that the UI is modified.
US08751870B2
The various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for providing random sequence coverage. The method comprising receiving a plurality of data packet packets carrying transaction data from a transaction database, specifying transactions in a configuration file along with the transaction data, identifying one or more fields in the packets received from the transaction database, generating an automatic random sequence based on the identification of at least one of a field among the one or more fields in the data packets, generating a coverage report for the random sequence generated automatically and determining uncovered sequences based on the coverage report generated. The system comprises a transaction database for storing transaction data during simulation, a transaction viewer for providing transactions data packets, an auto sequence generator module for generating an automatic random sequence and a report generator module for generating a coverage report for the random sequence generated.
US08751861B2
The present disclosure is a system and method for improved RAID rebuilds under host IO conditions, that greatly improves rebuild times and prevents host IO starvation. A queue in a drive that is part of the RAID is used to store rebuild and host IO requests, with rebuild IOs issued to the head of the drive queue. Rebuild requests in the drive are delayed by a delay time. This delay ensures there is no unintended side effect of this invention that may result in host IO starvation for the RAID system. Delay is computed as a heuristic function from a plurality of variables, such as disk head response times, time allotted for rebuild, number of rebuild threads, drive behavior, rebuild IO profile, host IO profile including workload and locality, and a timeline of sequenced events, which in one preferred embodiment cycles every 70 seconds.
US08751850B2
An apparatus is provided that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus. The apparatus includes a resistor network, a composite delay element, and delay-locked loops (DLLs). The resistor network is configured to provide a ratio signal that indicates an amount to delay data bit signals associated with a data group. The composite delay element is configured to equalize delay paths within a receiving device, where the delay paths correspond to a data strobe signal that is received from a transmitting device. The receiving device and resistor network are coupled to a motherboard. The ratio signal enters said receiving device through an external pin. The DLLs are coupled to the ratio signal and disposed within the receiving device, and are configured to generate delayed data bit signals, where the DLLs add the amount of delay to the data bit signals to generate the delayed data bit signals.
US08751849B2
Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a system that leverage intermediate power margins are described. One or more subsystems of the system are operated at one or more performance points. A power consumed by the one or more subsystems at each of the one or more performance points is measured. An operational power of the one or more subsystems at the one or more performance points is determined. The one or more subsystems are operated at well-known conditions at the one or more performance points. The operational power may be adjusted based on data associated with the one or more subsystems. The operational power is provided to a power lookup table. The power is distributed among the one or more subsystems based on the operational power.
US08751846B2
In the field of electronic technologies, a power supply selector and a power supply selection method are provided. The power supply selector includes: a first selection module, configured to select a power supply from multiple candidate power supplies; a control module, coupled to the first selection module, and configured to use the power supply selected by the first selection module as a power supply, and compare voltages of the multiple candidate power supplies to generate a control signal of each candidate power supply; and a second selection module, coupled to the control module, and configured to select a power supply for output in the multiple candidate power supplies under the control of the control signal of each candidate power supply. The technical solution is used to select a power supply from multiple candidate power supplies.
US08751842B2
A microcontroller includes a data input unit that receives input data and outputs a start request signal according to the input data upon receiving the input data; an oscillator that starts according to the start request signal, to generate a clock signal; a clock signal supply control unit that outputs the start request signal supplied from the data input unit to the oscillator, and supplies the clock signal supplied from the oscillator generated after the start as a first clock signal and a second clock signal that are operation clock signals of the data input unit; and a CPU that operates the second clock signal as an operation clock, and performs processing according to the input data when the second clock signal is operated.
US08751839B2
A method and electronic device for activating components based on predicted device activity. The method and device include maintaining a set of device activity information storing data collected from components in the device. The device activity information may be maintained over a predetermined time period and may include times associated with the collected component data. The device activity information may include data regarding scheduled events. Device activity and the appropriate activation state of a component on the device may be predicted based on the current time, current data collected from components in the device and data in the device activity information.
US08751836B1
A control processor manages the power budget in a drive enclosure and is within the drive enclosure which monitors in real time a redundantly configured power supply unit, drives, interposers, and temperature sensors, and determines the power settings for each drive to avoid overload and overheating in the system. The control processor dynamically adjusts the mode of operation as needed during operation through the SAS interposer. A localized monitoring and control mechanism eliminates the need for extraneous coordination of information across various entities that access the storage. Data tunneling takes place directly between the compute nodes and target drives through the SAS expander and interposer, and does not need buffering the pending IO requests in the DRAM.
US08751833B2
A data processing apparatus is provided comprising first processing circuitry, second processing circuitry and shared processing circuitry. The first processing circuitry and second processing circuitry are configured to operate in different first and second power domains respectively and the shared processing circuitry is configured to operate in a shared power domain. The data processing apparatus forms a uni-processing environment for executing a single instruction stream in which either the first processing circuitry and the shared processing circuitry operate together to execute the instruction stream or the second processing circuitry and the shared processing circuitry operate together to execute the single instruction stream. Execution flow transfer circuitry is provided for transferring at least one bit of processing-state restoration information between the two hybrid processing units.
US08751813B2
A method and apparatus for cross validation of data using multiple subsystems are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a computer comprises a first subsystem and a second subsystem; and a memory, the memory comprising a first memory region and a second memory region, the first memory region being associated with the first subsystem and a second memory region being associated with the second subsystem; upon start up of the computer, the first subsystem to validate the second memory region and the second subsystem to validate the first memory region.
US08751812B2
Method of authenticating a signature on a work document in which a remote server generates a digital work fingerprint and a representation file of the work document. The representation file and the digital work fingerprint are transmitted to a client station from the remote server via a wide area communication network, and at least one digital representation fingerprint of the representation file is generated. A file to be signed is generated containing at least the digital work and representation fingerprints. The client station generates only one client signature from the file to be signed, and a client signature file is generated containing at least the file to be signed and the client signature.
US08751806B1
A method and apparatus to authenticate limited processing-power systems (LPPS) using elliptic cryptography within a well known elliptic curve E, over a well known finite field F ((E(F)). The apparatus comprises a random number generator to choose a random value b, of a similar order of magnitude to the order of E(F). The apparatus further comprises a challenge calculator to calculate a value C=bP and send the challenge to the LPPS, where P is a point on the elliptic curve E(F) which was used as a basis for generating a private key, a, for the LPPS. The apparatus further comprising an RFID reader to receive a challenge response, R=aC=abP from the LPPS, and a crypto calculator to calculate bQ, based on a public key, Q, of the LPPS. The apparatus further comprising a comparison logic to authenticate the LPPS if bQ=aC=abP.
US08751804B1
A technique controls access to a file. The technique involves creating a file encryption key based on (i) a user input parameter (e.g., a user password) from a user of the client device and (ii) an automatically generated salt parameter (e.g., a random number). The technique further involves encrypting the file using the file encryption key to form an encrypted copy of the file, and providing the salt parameter to an external storage system to externally store the salt parameter. Access to data within the encrypted copy of the file requires the salt parameter provided to the external storage system.
US08751801B2
A method for authenticating a user based on a plurality of authentication factors includes a step of receiving a first authentication factor from a first communication device of the user. The first authentication factor includes a password. The method includes a step of receiving a second authentication factor. The second authentication factor comprises at least one of at least one device identifier of the first communication device of the user and data transmitted to or received from a second communication device of the user. The method also includes a step of authenticating the user based on at least the received plurality of authentication factors.
US08751796B2
A method and apparatus for use in a Proxy Mobile IP communications network. An anchor point function serves at least one mobile host. The anchor point function generates an IP address for use by the mobile host, the address being generated using cryptographic materials owned by the anchor point function. The anchor point function can then perform signalling on behalf of the mobile host, using the IP address generated for the mobile host and at least part of the cryptographic materials used to generate the IP address.
US08751794B2
Systems and methods for providing an expedited login process that is relatively fast and that still provides a reasonable level of security and a reasonable method for mitigating compromised login information are described. In one configuration, a web server sends an anonymous unique machine readable login identifier code to a browser display of a client computer. A server account holding user then uses his smartphone to scan the code and send a message including the login identifier code and a smartphone identifier code to the server. The server obtains the identity of the user and authenticates the user by determining possession of the smartphone using the smartphone identifier. The server then uses the login identifier code to log the user into the server and into the user account at the client computer.
US08751792B2
A method and system for entity public key acquiring, certificate validation and authentication by introducing an online credible third party is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: 1) an entity B transmits a message 1 to an entity A; 2) the entity A transmits a message 2 to a credible third party TP after receiving the message 1; 3) the credible third party TP determines the response RepTA after receiving the message 2; 4) the credible third party TP returns a message 3 to the entity A; 5) the entity A returns a message 4 to the entity B after receiving the message 3; 6) the entity B receives the message 4; 7) the entity B transmits a message 5 to the entity A; 8) the entity A receives the message 5. The present invention can achieve public key acquisition, certificate validation and authentication of the entity by integrating them in one protocol, thereby facilitate the execution efficiency and the effect of the protocol and facilitate the combination with various public key acquisition and public key certificate state enquiry protocols. The present invention suits with a “user-access point-server” access network structure to meet the authentication requirement of the access network.
US08751788B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for encrypting web session data which may include a session management module adapted to receive data from a web application module and provide a token that represents the data in encrypted form to the web application, wherein the web application is adapted to use the token to represent the data. The system may also include a tokenizer module communicably coupled to the session management module, wherein the tokenizer module is adapted to receive the data and generate the token. Further, the system may include a database communicably coupled to the session management module, wherein the database is adapted to receive the token and the data, associate the token with the data, and store the token and the data.
US08751787B2
A method and device for integrating multiple threat security services are disclosed. The method may comprise parsing an incoming packet at a current layer and analyzing the packet with respect to multiple threat security services and so that one or more threat security services needed by the packet may be determined. According to an exemplary embodiment, the current layer may be a layer in a protocol stack constructed based on the multiple threat security services. With this method, integrated multiple threat security services may filter application data and parse network packet data via a single integrated entity, and thus the efficacy of filtering application data may be improved while computation overhead may be reduced.
US08751783B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to finding a boot loader on storage. A boot process for a computing device including storage including an extensible firmware interface aware operating system is started. The storage is searched for a boot loader associated with the extensible firmware interface aware operating system.
US08751774B2
A system and method for controlling messaging between a first processor and a second processor is disclosed. The second processor controls one or more peripheral devices on behalf of a plurality of predetermined tasks being executed by the first processor. The system includes a message control module that receives an input message intended for the second processor from the first processor and maintains a message history based on the received input message and previously received input messages. The message history indicates which peripheral devices of the system are to be on and which tasks of the plurality of tasks requested the peripheral devices to be on. The message control module is further configured to generate an output message that includes output instructions for the second processor based on the message history and an output duration based on the message history. The second processor executes the output instructions.
US08751763B1
A write-data hash value corresponding to a block of write data is generated within a deduplicating data storage system. A block of lookup table entries is retrieved from a location in a lookup table stored within a block-based storage medium, the lookup table location being indicated by a first portion of the write-data hash value and each lookup table entry including a pointer to a respective stored data volume, a portion of a hash value that corresponds to the stored data volume, and a reference count indicating a quantity of references to the stored data volume. A second portion of the write-data hash value is compared to the portions of the hash values within the block of lookup table entries, and the reference count is incremented within one of the lookup table entries for which the portion of the hash value is determined to match the second portion of the write-data hash value.
US08751753B1
A coherence decoupling buffer. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a coherence decoupling buffer is for storing tag information of cache lines evicted from a plurality of cache memories. A coherence decoupling buffer may be free of value information of the plurality of cache memories. A coherence decoupling buffer may also be combined with a coherence memory.
US08751751B2
A method for minimizing cache conflict misses is disclosed. A translation table capable of facilitating the translation of a virtual address to a real address during a cache access is provided. The translation table includes multiple entries, and each entry of the translation table includes a page number field and a hash value field. A hash value is generated from a first group of bits within a virtual address, and the hash value is stored in the hash value field of an entry within the translation table. In response to a match on the entry within the translation table during a cache access, the hash value of the matched entry is retrieved from the translation table, and the hash value is concatenated with a second group of bits within the virtual address to form a set of indexing bits to index into a cache set.
US08751749B2
Data caching for use in a computer system including a lower cache memory and a higher cache memory. The higher cache memory receives a fetch request. It is then determined by the higher cache memory the state of the entry to be replaced next. If the state of the entry to be replaced next indicates that the entry is exclusively owned or modified, the state of the entry to be replaced next is changed such that a following cache access is processed at a higher speed compared to an access processed if the state would stay unchanged.
US08751747B2
A method for managing cache memory including receiving an instruction fetch for an instruction stream in a cache memory, wherein the instruction fetch includes an instruction fetch reference tag for the instruction stream and the instruction stream is at least partially included within a cache line, comparing the instruction fetch reference tag to a previous instruction fetch reference tag, maintaining a cache replacement status of the cache line if the instruction fetch reference tag is the same as the previous instruction fetch reference tag, and upgrading the cache replacement status of the cache line if the instruction fetch reference tag is different from the previous instruction fetch reference tag, whereby the cache replacement status of the cache line is upgraded if the instruction stream is independently fetched more than once. A corresponding system and computer program product.
US08751742B2
A method of extending memory card data storage capacity to a remote data store includes storing an initial data item received from a host device in a local memory cache, and wirelessly transmitting the initial data item from the local memory cache to the remote data store via a network interface that includes at least one wireless communication transceiver. The method also includes substituting a corresponding, smaller transcoded data item received from the remote data store for the initial data item in the local memory cache.
US08751739B1
Automatically allocating storage space for a storage pool includes providing at least one spares pool containing unused data devices and moving at least one the unused data devices to the storage pool in response to a write causing the available space of the storage pool to be exceeded and/or the available storage space of the storage pool exceeding a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount may be an amount of used storage space that varies according to at least one of: the size and activity level of the pool. The data devices may be logical devices. The pools may correspond to storage space in a single storage device or may correspond to storage space in multiple storage devices.
US08751737B2
An apparatus and method for improving synchronization between threads in a multi-core processor system are provided. An apparatus includes a memory, a first processor core, and a second processor core. The memory includes a shared ring buffer for storing data units, and stores a plurality of shared variables associated with accessing the shared ring buffer. The first processor core runs a first thread and has a first cache associated therewith. The first cache stores a first set of local variables associated with the first processor core. The first thread controls insertion of data items into the shared ring buffer using at least one of the shared variables and the first set of local variables. The second processor core runs a second thread and has a second cache associated therewith. The second cache stores a second set of local variables associated with the second processor core. The second thread controls extraction of data items from the shared ring buffer using at least one of the shared variables and the second set of local variables.
US08751732B2
In one embodiment, an interface circuit is configured to couple to one or more flash memory devices and is further configured to couple to a host system. The interface circuit is configured to present at least one virtual flash memory device to the host system, wherein the interface circuit is configured to implement the virtual flash memory device using the one or more flash memory devices to which the interface circuit is coupled.
US08751726B2
A method for reading at least one page within an erase sector of a flash memory device, the method comprising computing at least one mock reading threshold; using the at least one mock reading threshold to perform at least one mock read operation of at least a portion of at least one page within the erase sector, thereby to generate a plurality of logical values; defining a set of reading thresholds based at least partly on the plurality of logical values; and reading at least one page in the erase sector using the set of reading thresholds.
US08751724B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic main memory reconfiguration in virtual memory management. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic main memory reconfiguration in virtual memory management can include receiving a memory access directive in a host computer, determining a low free space condition in a memory allocation to satisfy the memory access directive, augmenting the memory allocation with a mapping to additional memory in the host computer in lieu of page swapping in response to the low free space condition, and satisfying the memory access directive. Additionally, the method can include determining an excess free space condition in the memory allocation and removing from the memory allocation a selection of allocated memory in the host computer.
US08751719B2
This invention provides a device and method for enhancing flexibility of interface between 3G communication module and application processor. The device comprises the 3G communication module, the AP and an interface transfer module connected between them, wherein the interface transfer module is configured to perform bus transfer. A bus interface of the 3G communication module adapted to voice service data and a bus interface of the AP adapted to voice service data are directly connected. The bus transfer in the present invention is: the interface transfer module converts the bus data format of the non-voice service data adapted to the 3G communication module or the AP into the bus data format of the non-voice service data adapted to the AP or the 3G communication module. With this invention, the 3G communication module can be connected with various APs conveniently, and the generality of the 3G communication module is improved.
US08751717B2
An interrupt control apparatus and interrupt control method reduce situations in which the output of interrupt information is suspended and thus reduce stress caused in a user, without missing the appropriate output timing for interrupt information having a high priority level. A priority level setting unit raises the value of a priority level for an interrupt voice message during a period in which the interrupt voice message is being outputted, and a voice output control unit, when interrupts from two or more overlapping interrupt voice messages occurs, carries out control in accordance with priority levels set for each of the two or more interrupt voice messages so that the interrupt voice message having the higher priority level value is preferentially outputted.
US08751701B2
An input/output (I/O) device includes a memory buffer and off-loading hardware. The off-loading hardware is configured to accept from a host a scatter/gather list including one or more entries. The entries include at least a pattern-type entry that specifies a period of a periodic pattern of addresses that are to be accessed in a memory of the host. The off-loading hardware is configured to transfer data between the memory buffer of the I/O device and the memory of the host by accessing the addresses in the memory of the host in accordance with the periodic pattern at intervals indicated in the period.
US08751695B2
A hybrid storage device is provided. The hybrid storage device includes a first storage part that comprises an interface device based on a first standard, a second storage part that comprises an interface device based on a second standard, and a connector for interface devices that is shared by the first storage part and the second storage part and comprises a plurality of pins.
US08751688B2
A microbrowser such as web-enabled wireless telephones and personal digital assistants allows a user to configure types of objects to be blocked from download including object memory consumption, display area, download time, and restrictions on animated images and executable scripts. Microbrowser state conditions such as battery level and network connection mode are considered when providing said limitations such that more restrictions may be placed during low battery periods to maximize battery life. For example, during low battery conditions or analog connection mode, a user may configure an enhanced microbrowser not to download advertisements, run scripts or animated objects in order to maximize remaining battery life. In another example, a user may configure an enhanced microbrowser to block the download of objects containing audio, or which will occupy more than a certain percentage of the available display area.
US08751687B2
This document describes various techniques for efficiently sequencing structured data in a particular order to provide a sequence of data elements suitable for storage or communication. The sequence may contain values representing a number of default-value structured data elements omitted from the sequence and/or a byte length of the sequence.
US08751683B2
A technique for operating a network involves controlling the black-holing of traffic by selectively redirecting unicast traffic destined for a dual-homed customer equipment (CE) device from a first provider backbone bridge (PBB) provider edge (PE) device to a second PBB PE device in response to a service failure. Unicast traffic is selectively redirected from the first PBB PE device to the second PBB PE device for a time interval that is long enough to enable the customer source MAC address (CMAC)-to-backbone MAC address (BMAC) association of the second PBB PE device to be learned by other PBB PE devices.
US08751682B2
Systems and methods for transfer of data including establishing two separate connections, the two separate connections including a high speed connection and a high integrity connection. Blocks of data are exchanged over the high speed connection while the high integrity connection facilitates communication of descriptor data regarding data received over the high speed connection. As such, the data transfer speed of the high speed connection is utilized while communication via the high integrity connection allows for data reliability features not provided by the high speed connection.
US08751677B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a computer server includes receiving streaming media data. The streaming media data includes content fragments and a media description file, and the media description file includes metadata describing the content fragments. The method also includes storing the content fragments in a cache.
US08751671B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for communicating with a sender machine and a receiver machine, and analyzing a bitmask associated with a message to be sent from the sender machine to the receiver machine, such that the bitmask comprises one or more presence bits and one or more absence bits, such that the presence bits indicate that an associated field of the message are included in the message and the absence bits indicate that an associated field of the message are omitted in the message. The systems and methods also dynamically determine compression instructions to compress the bitmask, and provide the compression instructions to the sender machine, wherein the compression instructions reduce size of the bitmask associated with the message to be sent to the receiver machine.
US08751670B2
According to an aspect of the disclosure, novel solutions are disclosed for providing Internet access to a client device (e.g., desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer or portable electronic device) using non-privileged portions of an application programming interface (“API”) of a gateway device (e.g., smartphone or cellular phone). According to another aspect of the disclosure, novel solutions are provided for building a Wireless Internet gateway system through a Wi-Fi capable gateway device that also has Internet access provisioned by a cell phone carrier. A Wi-Fi Internet gateway system can be implemented on a device where it was originally impossible to do so, due to various access restrictions to core functionalities, such as root access restrictions.
US08751668B2
Protocols for facilitating a peer-to-peer real time network in which network state information and data processing is delegated to user nodes. A virtual space is recursively divided into a plurality of sub-regions represented by a logical tree, with responsibility for leaf nodes delegated to multiple user nodes. A distributed hash table can be used to store leaf node state and identity information. A discovery index protocol is provided for user nodes to effectively identify a user node responsible for a sub-region of interest. Further, a semantic filtering protocol limits communications primarily to other user nodes deemed relevant, so as to constrain bandwidth usage. A broadcast control protocol is provided to increase the number of simultaneous interactions for each user node. A security protocol is also provided to prevent any illegal activity by malicious nodes.
US08751662B2
A system and method for optimizing content distribution in an electronic network includes a peer-to-peer network of client devices. The client devices are initially preloaded in a distributed manner with various content segments from corresponding content items. An optimization module from a tracking server iteratively redistributes said content segments among the client devices to seek an optimal content segment configuration of said content segments for optimizing performance characteristics of content reassembly procedures. When a system user selects a particular content item on a corresponding electronic device, a download manager of the electronic device may automatically generate content segment requests to other appropriate electronic devices in the peer-to-peer network. The download manager may then download and automatically reassemble the content segments to produce the selected content item for utilization by the system user.
US08751661B1
A system and method are provided for sticky routing of a user's service requests and connections to a distributed service hosted by multiple data centers. Sticky routing data are generated when a user first connects, to include member ID, preferred data center, a user bucket associated with one data center, a generation of the bucket, a generation of the user's sticky routing data, and timing information identifying a time of issue and/or a time of expiration of the routing data. A user bucket is either online (accepts new users; their requests are routed to the associated data center), offline (not accepting new users; existing users are expelled and must join a different bucket), or closed (not accepting new users; existing users' requests continue to be routed to the associated data center). All of a user's requests, from all devices, are thus routed to one data center, based on member ID.
US08751659B2
A data center management system can include a data center customer profile corresponding to a data center customer, where the data center customer profile includes a service level agreement (SLA) and a data center resource usage model. A batch job quality of service (QoS) control module can determine an immediate QoS specification for a batch job of the data center customer, and a data center resource optimization module can determine a data center resource allocation for the data center customer based on the data center customer profile and the immediate QoS specification.
US08751654B2
The graphics load of a virtual desktop is estimated to determine the capacity of a virtual desktop system. In one embodiment, the graphics load of a physical desktop is measured by a remoting agent installed on the physical desktop. The graphics load can be used as an estimate of the load that would be created by a deployed virtual desktop. The remoting agent on the physical desktop mimics host operations that are necessary to direct graphics data to a remote site. The remoting agent also measures the graphics load incurred by the host operations to determine a capacity of a virtual desktop system prior to deployment of the virtual desktop system.
US08751653B2
A management system for managing a plurality of computers and a plurality of pieces of software in a computer center includes: a selection data storage part for storing data regarding allocation destination selection, the data including at least either one of operation data and temperature data, wherein the operation data represent states of execution of the pieces of software by the computers, respectively, and temperature data represent temperature distribution in the computers; an instruction generation part for extracting an overheated computer that is assumed to emit more heat as compared with the other computers, and a less-heated computer that is assumed to emit less heat as compared with the other computers, by using the data regarding allocation destination selection, and generating an instruction for relocating at least a part of a piece of software allocated to the overheated computer to the less-heated computer; and an instruction part for outputting the instruction. This makes it possible to save energy for cooling the computers.
US08751649B2
A method is provided for a port management system in which a switch is automatically provisioned with network resources. A command or set of commands are stored and automatically executed on the switch upon the occurrence of a defined network event. The command or set of commands may be associated with one or more ports on the switch. When executed, the commands cause a change to a port configuration and/or policy on the switch to control access to a network resource. The network resource may include any device or service accessible on the network. The defined network event may include any network event associated with a device or user connected to the network. The command or set of commands may reference variables, control structures, and functions to modify command execution.
US08751644B2
Monitor services deployable on device networks may be implemented using a modular approach, in which a core monitor service is mapped to one or more devices included in, or associated with, the device networks. Additional monitoring-related functionality may be provided to such devices using plug-ins, add-on services or service components, or other service modules, which interact with the core monitor service. The core monitor service(s) and any monitor service modules may be mapped, to specific ones of the devices, based on, for example, requirements of other services and/or relevant device metadata (e.g., capabilities) of the devices. In additional or alternative implementations, various protocols may be used to register new devices and deployed monitor service(s) with the distributed monitoring service(s) in a fast, secure, energy-efficient, and reliable manner, even as devices join or leave the device network(s).
US08751634B2
Targeted content may be provided to a designated set of one or more interconnected resources. Programmatic operations are executed using resources that are private to the one or more interconnected devices. The operations, when executed, cause or result in (i) monitoring activities of one or more users of the designated set; (ii) developing profile information of the one or more users, where the profile information is based at least partially on information determined from monitoring activities of the one or more users; (iii) generating, from the profile information, a set of coded data that represent selection criteria; and (iv) communicating the set of coded data to a programmatic source external to the system, where the represented selection criteria enables programmatic selection of content resources from a content library for the system.
US08751621B2
A social graph is built which includes interactions, sharing activity, and connections between the users of the open Web and can be used to improve ad targeting and content personalization. Sharing activity between two users will affect ads or content that both users will be presented while surfing the Web. This sharing activity includes sending of links, sending of videos, sending of files, cutting and pasting of content, sending text messages, and sending of e-mails.
US08751614B2
A method implemented by a network element to track IPv6 addresses of devices in a home network, wherein the network element provides DHCPv6 service to the home network and a home network router on the home network assigns IPv6 address to the devices using a prefix provided by the DHCPv6 service, the method including receiving a DHCPv6 request for a prefix delegation from a home network router, sending a DHCPv6 message including an assigned prefix to the home network router, the DHCPv6 message including a request for notification of configured IPv6 addresses, receiving a first ICMP message from the home network router, including a MAC address and corresponding IPv6 address for a configured device, and sending the home network router a second ICMP message to acknowledge recording the IPv6 address for the configured device, enabling the network element to provide services and forward traffic directly to the configured device.
US08751609B2
A destination planning method suitable for use on a vehicle comprises the following steps: a, destination editing and file transmission; b, using electronic apparatus or navigation device to receive the file; and c, using the destination file. The destination file can be automatically sent to the navigation device after it is edited by a sender, which improves the ease of use and solves the inconvenience caused manual operation.
US08751602B1
A method and apparatus of providing notifications to a mobile station user is disclosed. The method may include receiving a user registration for a notification application and storing the user registration information in a notification database. The method may also include receiving a business entity designation from the mobile station identifying at least one business entity from which the user desires to receive notifications. The method may also include transmitting a notification to the mobile station in response to the business entity designation.
US08751601B2
There is disclosed an improved user interface for a network, for example the Internet. If a user clicks on an incorrect hyperlink then the system, instead of merely informing the user that an error (e.g. “404 Not Found” error—meaning that the requested web page is not available) has occurred, provides the user with a list (503) of hyperlinks to alternative web pages. The alternative web pages are related to the context of the web page that was originally requested by the user (but was not available, due to the incorrect hyperlink, to the user). In a preferred embodiment (300), the system analyzes a web page (201) (i.e. the web page that contained the incorrect hyperlink) for context information and uses the context information to improve the relevance to the user of the list (503). The system may also analyze other web pages for context information.
US08751590B2
A social activity stream application for managing virtual actionable conversations allows participants in a conversation to request actions to be performed in various external systems. A request to perform an action in an external system is received from a conversation participant, and sent to the external system, in which the requested action may then be performed. In this manner, conversation participants may use a single application to monitor and request actions in multiple external systems.
US08751574B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of broadcasting a message to one or more servers operating in one or more domains. One example method of operation may include creating a message to be broadcasted via user input provided by a user of a computer interface. The method may also include serializing the message to a predetermined format and transmitting the message to an application programming interface (API). The method may also provide scheduling a broadcast of the message based on the user input, and transmitting the message to the at least one server responsive to the scheduled broadcast.
US08751572B1
In one embodiment, a computer network-based live chat having three or more participants is hosted. A record of the live chat is archived in a central location accessible by each participant. The archived record is provided to a requesting participant after completion of and/or during the live chat. The requesting participant may be, for example, any one of the three or more participants. The requesting participant may make the request from any remote location in communication with the central location. In another embodiment, a system for enabling access to a multi-user chat archive includes a multi-user instant messaging (IM) server, a state manager, an archive database, and an archive manager. The archive database is configured to store an archived record of the live chat in a central location. In this embodiment, the central location is accessible by each of the chat participants from any remote location in communication with the central location.
US08751570B2
A user account including a personal profile is stored by a server for subsequent use. The user is provided a list of displayable entries sortable using specified criteria in a manner that allows the user to review a selection of entries and to make a change to the selection prior to submitting a transaction for processing. Responsive to a request to log into the user account, the identity of the user is verified. Once verified, the transaction is facilitated between a vendor and the user pursuant to instructions from the user. The instructions are generated based on a shopping cart screen rendered by a client device of the user. The user is sent a confirmation message regarding the transaction while the user is logged in the server. The user can be provided an account screen allowing access to information relating to user transactions and information relating to an account balance.
US08751559B2
A question processing system routes questions among participants in a balanced and sustainable manner. Any participant can act as an inquirer (who poses questions) and an expert (who answers questions). In one illustrative case, the question processing system operates by: receiving a question from an inquirer; determining at least one expert that is appropriate to answer the question; and routing the question to the expert. The receiving, determining, and routing are repeated with respect to other inquirers and other experts to achieve a desired balance of information exchange among the plurality of participants of the electronic question processing system.
US08751548B2
As an embodiment of the present invention, a data processing apparatus stores as cache data, in a RAM, data included in a predetermined fixed length area of a stored file. The PC sends a transfer request for cache data to the data processing apparatus, and the data processing apparatus sends the cache data to the PC. The PC extracts thumbnail images and EXIF data from the received cache data. Therefore, the data processing apparatus does not need to extract thumbnail images, etc.
US08751544B2
A computer-implemented method for visualizing a multi-dimensional dataset at a client device is disclosed. The client device displays a first view of a subset of the multi-dimensional dataset, including displaying dimension data of a first reference dimension attribute and metric data of a first metric attribute that corresponds to the respective first reference dimension data along a first axis. After receiving a user request to partition the metric data of the first metric attribute by a first pivot dimension attribute, the client device requests and receives dimension data of the first pivot dimension attribute and the corresponding partitioned metric data of the first metric attribute from a server system and displays a second view of the subset of the multi-dimensional dataset, including displaying the first pivot dimension data and the corresponding partitioned metric data of the first metric attribute along the second axis.
US08751538B1
A mechanism for providing panel-based management of data. In accordance with instructions on a machine-readable medium, a computing system receives data objects from various sources such as various user devices and application servers. Further, the computing system causes a device to display a graphical user interface through which a user can define panels that will be associated with various received data objects, so as to define a record, by time or subject matter, of relevant data objects. Further, the computing system allows a user to readily switch from display of one panel to display of another panel, so as to assist the user with multi-tasking and associated context switching.
US08751526B1
In one embodiment, a union of the bounding boxes is computed of entities in a relational database indexed by a spatial index, filtered according to some criteria. For each of a set of targets to be considered, a bounding box of the target is tested against a current range union result. If the bounding box is completely contained in the current range union result, the target is excluded from further consideration. Otherwise, the target is processed. When the target is an entity, it is determined whether the entity meets the entity filtering criteria. If so a union is computed and the current range union result updated. When each of the targets to be considered in the spatial index has been subject to test or excluded, the current range union result is returned as a final range union result.
US08751516B1
Systems and methods for providing content are disclosed. In an embodiment, information encoding at least one keyword that is associated with first content accessed by a user is received. A search query based at least in part on at least one keyword is executed to identify items. In response to a request from the user to access second content, a response is generated to the request that includes item information associated with at least a subset of the identified items. The response is provided to the user.
US08751514B2
A system and method for updating a filtering system which controls access to a website/page between a local area network (LAN) and an Internet. The LAN includes an Internet gateway system coupled to a workstation and configured to receive a URL request. The system controls access to the website/page associated with the URL based on one or more categories that are associated with the URL. The Internet gateway system can determine the category that is associated with the URL by referencing a master database or requesting the category from a database factory. The database factory can receive URLs from multiple Internet gateway systems. The database factory determines whether the identifier was previously categorized by the database factory and provides the category to the Internet gateway system. Once the Internet gateway system has the category, it applies rules associated with the category and user to filter access to the requested website/page.
US08751512B2
A method and a device for managing information in an aircraft, including at least one device for outputting information for the crew and a plurality of equipment items adapted to transmit information items capable of being outputted on the output device. After a plurality of information items from the plurality of equipment items has been acquired and a context has been determined according to a predetermined model, the plurality of information items is filtered according to at least one rule, the at least one rule being associated with the context for selection of at least one information item. At least one selected information item is then outputted on the output device.
US08751495B2
A method, including receiving a data source selection from a user or software application, the data source including medical information of a plurality of patients, receiving, from the user or software application, a data pattern that is related to a concept to be explored in the data source, querying the data source to find information that approximately matches the data pattern; and receiving the information from the data source, wherein the information includes unstructured data, assigning a classification to individual parts of the information based on the part's relationship to the data pattern, and outputting the classified information to the user or software application.
US08751493B2
Techniques are described for associating file types with application in a network storage service. User environment manager at storage service receives file identifier for specific requested file from user operating computing device and obtains file format type identifier associated with file identifier from data store for file. User environment manager determines default application to open specific requested file in response to matching application ID (app ID) from default “Open with” list contained in user preferences store with list of app IDs for installed applications that support file format type. Once determined, user environment manager opens specific requested file from data store utilizing the default application. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08751491B2
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for recommended commands to a designer of a graphics design application. Each time a command is executed within the graphics design application, a resource module receives command use information associated with the executed command. In response, the resource module generates and transmits one or more recommendation lists to the designer, where each recommendation list includes a list of recommended commands that may be executed by the designer next. The resource module generates the recommendation lists based on frequency information associated with the recommended commands stored within a local frequency store. The frequency information is received by the resource module from a central server that processes command use information associated with different designers in the community to produce the frequency information.
US08751488B2
A computer implemented method and system for identifying one or more part numbers stored in a digital memory comprises parsing of each part number into its primary and secondary components and assigning a relevance score to each; parsing a query part number into one or more primary and secondary components and assigning a relevance score to each query component; identifying each stored part number that has at least one component that matches a query component; calculating for each identified part number a first sum equal to the sum of the relevance scores of the query components that match a component of the identified stored part number; and a second sum equal to the sum of the relevance scores of the components of the identified stored part number that match a query component; and sorting the identified stored part numbers as a function of said first and second sums.
US08751478B1
A computer-implemented method to associate a brand with search queries that produce search results with malicious websites is described. A plurality of search queries entered into a search engine is received from a plurality of devices. commonalities among the plurality of search queries received from the plurality of devices are identified. The commonalities from the search queries are associated with a brand. A notification regarding the association of the commonalities from the search queries with the brand is generated.
US08751474B2
A user-customized card includes a tailored intergenerational historic snapshot message which informs a younger person about the world an older person lived in when they were young. The older person's age and the younger person's age may be used to identify a historic time period in which the older person was the same age as the younger person. A circumstance which occurred in the historic time period may be selected from a database or web search result. The message may be tailored to the ages of the people involved. The message may also be tailored to recite circumstances specific to a topic area or a geographic location. The message may be used in the text generally, and in photo captions specifically, for example. The card may be a greeting card, birthday card, gift card, or other card. Items other than cards may also be customized with such a message.
US08751467B2
A method, device, and system are provided for accessing metadata in a data storage system. More specifically, a requesting application requests a cache application to allocate a cache page to retrieve metadata from a storage device. After metadata is written to the cache page, the cache page is locked by the requesting application. The cache page is maintained in a locked state by the requesting application. This allows the data stored within the cache page to be quickly accessed and updated by the requesting application without waiting for the cache page to be written back to the storage device after every update to the cache page occurs.
US08751462B2
Delta compression after identity deduplication is disclosed. A first data segment is determined to be identical to a first previous data segment. A second data segment, not determined to be identical to a second previous data segment, is then determined to be similar to a third previous data segment.
US08751460B1
An elastic parallel database system where metadata is specified out-of-band during database operations via a set of augmentation rules. The rules are used to augment or modify commands received, and indicate whether they are to be used for specific connections on which they are received, for all client connections, or some other scope.
US08751454B1
Virtual defragmentation in a deduplication vault. In one example embodiment, a method of virtual defragmentation in a deduplication vault includes a virtual defragmentation phase. The virtual defragmentation phase includes accessing file system metadata (FSM) blocks included in a backup of allocated blocks of a source storage and reordering block references in the FSM blocks to match the order of the corresponding blocks as stored in a deduplication vault storage.
US08751441B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for replicating a table in a source database to a target database. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a subscription to the table is defined and a query is executed on the source database. The query is then normalized, and it is determined whether the query would cause semantically appropriate changes to the target database. If so, the normalized query is sent to the target database for execution, in accordance with an additional embodiment of the present invention.
US08751438B2
A device receives instructions for extracting, transforming, and loading data; identifies a plurality of data processing activities based on the instructions; and determines a processing sequence for performing the plurality of data processing activities. The device further creates a plurality of processing objects corresponding to the plurality of data processing activities. Each one of the plurality of processing objects including a discrete data structure that is produced by performing a corresponding one of the plurality of data processing activities. The device performs the plurality of data processing activities in accordance with the processing sequence and by using the plurality of processing objects.
US08751436B2
Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for analyzing data quality are presented. Transaction information may be received from a database, and the transaction information may describe various aspects of a plurality of transactions handled by an organization. Subsequently, a forecast may be calculated based on the transaction information, and the forecast may predict the future value of a metric. An upper control limit and a lower control limit for the metric may be determined based on the transaction information. Thereafter, the latest actual value of the metric may be computed. A normalized quality score for the metric then may be calculated based on the latest actual value of the metric, the forecast, the upper control limit, and the lower control limit. Optionally, a chart may be generated to evaluate data quality for a plurality of metrics, and metrics that exceed a control limit may be added to an issue log.
US08751433B2
A semantic reasoning engine is described for performing probabilistic reasoning over a semantic graph in a time-efficient and viable manner. The semantic reasoning engine includes a data store that provides the semantic graph, where the semantic graph is formed by a plurality of concepts connected together via probabilistic assertions. The semantic reasoning engine operates by providing an answer to a query by recursively collapsing the semantic graph based on at least one collapsing rule.
US08751432B2
An automated facilities management system has the ability to predict occupant behavior by identifying recurring patterns in the way that people use buildings and comparing them with environmental characteristics. This technology is not limited to human behavior patterns, but extends to any mechanical systems or data points that tend to vary in recurring patterns. The data processing is carried out by rules engines triggered by relational database modifications.
US08751430B2
A method and system for filtering irrelevant items using machine-readable emotional codes from a plurality of database entities is disclosed. The entity can be a human user, a product, or a service. The emotional codes are category labels out of a plurality of categories and the plurality of categories are generated by categorizing user responses. After understanding the sending parties' emotional profile, the receiving party can filter irrelevant items to achieve more optimum results.
US08751429B2
A personal taste assessment system receives a person's ratings for various rated items, such as wines or other beverages, and it develops a preference model for the person based on the received ratings. When developing the preference model, the system accesses a database of candidate items, wherein each candidate item is associated with at least one trait value. The system retrieves from the database a value for at least one trait for each of the rated items, identifies at least one pattern of dependency between at least one of the retrieved trait values and at least one of the received ratings, and determines a preference model based on the at least one pattern of dependency. The system may use the preference model to develop a preference profile for the person, make recommendations, and/or make predictions as to items that the person and/or a group that includes the person may enjoy.
US08751423B2
A turbine performance diagnostic system creates a performance report for one or more turbines and includes an assessment module that receives operating data from at least one turbine and produces a performance report from the operating data. The assessment module includes a change detection module configured to determine when at least one parameter has changed beyond an associated threshold and generate an alarm and a root cause analyzer coupled to the change detection module that predicts a root cause of the alarm utilizing a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). The performance report includes an indication of the predicted root cause.
US08751419B2
A system, method and computer-readable medium for providing a harmonized classification code for a good based on input including a database adapted to store content including a harmonized tariff classification code module for storing a data structure representing a harmonized classification code tree, the harmonized classification code tree having one or more harmonized classification codes in which the good can be classified, a keywords module for associating and storing keyword data related to the good with one of the harmonized classification codes; and a learning module for learning keywords from the input and associating the learned key words with the one harmonized classification code for the good.
US08751407B1
The invention relates to a system and method for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users based on a determination of whether an ad hoc social networking forum associated with the cohort exists. Responsive to receiving a request from a user of the cohort to join a social networking forum associated with the cohort, a determination may be made as to whether a social networking forum associated with the cohort has already been created. A social networking forum associated with the cohort may be created responsive to a determination that a forum associated with the cohort has not yet been created. The user may be added as a member of the newly created forum.
US08751405B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for managing transactions in which an order is specified online and payment is received at a point of sale (POS). Methods are disclosed for managing payment for such transactions at a POS, including transactions involving payment for both in-store purchases and online orders. Methods are also disclosed for managing inventory and price changes for such transactions where payment can occur at any time in a pay period following order creation. Also disclosed are methods for processing refunds for online orders for which payment was made at a POS. Finally, methods for preventing fraud and abuse as well as restricting the availability of this payment method for certain items are disclosed.
US08751398B2
An approach for preventing unauthorized card transactions is presented. An authorization record including an authorized geographic location and an authorized period of time is received from a travel reservation system (TRS) and stored to dynamically update a profile table that stores other authorization records. The authorization record identifies an itinerary specified by travel booking(s) purchased via the TRS using a debit or credit card. The itinerary specifies that the cardholder is scheduled to be in the authorized geographic location for the authorized period of time. In response to receiving a request for an authorization of a card transaction, a location and date associated with the card transaction are retrieved from the request. The card transaction is rejected based on a determination that the retrieved location is not within authorized geographic locations included in the stored authorization records that have authorized time periods that include the retrieved date.
US08751385B1
A user interface hosted by a financial institution. The user interface is accessible via a communication network by a first user using a client device and includes at least one first screen for managing financial transactions of the first user. The user interface further includes a second screen for conducting email communication between the first user and at least one party other than the financial institution.
US08751382B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method of paying a trustee, including providing debtor information to a database, initiating at least one electronic fund transfer, transmitting the debtor information to a plurality of networks via a communications network, and delivering a payment to a trustee. The debtor information generally corresponds to a Chapter 13 bankruptcy debtor and the method further includes verifying the debtor information against a public database. The present disclosure is further directed to a system for paying a trustee, including a computer storage device to store debtor information and a processing device to initiate at least one electronic fund transfer, transmit the debtor information to a plurality of networks via a communications network, and deliver a payment to a trustee.
US08751378B2
A strategic default score is determined for an entity that characterizes a likelihood of the entity voluntarily electing to default on a loan. Data characterizing credit data and valuation data of an asset owned by the entity is received. Using the received data, the strategic default score is generated which characterizes a likelihood of the entity to voluntarily elect to default on the loan when the entity is capable of paying-off the loan. Provision (e.g., display, transmission, storage, etc.) of the strategic default score is then initiated. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US08751376B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide for methods and systems for providing a financial instrument that possesses both credit features (secured and unsecured) and prepaid features. When a purchase is made using a financial instrument linked to an account, funds are first drawn from a line of credit until a credit limit is reached. Any additional funds required to make the purchase are then drawn from a secured account, such as a prepaid cash balance. In some embodiments, the additional funds are automatically drawn form the prepaid cash balance while in other embodiments an account holder manually transfers funds from the prepaid cash balance to the credit balance.
US08751369B2
A system and method for fee-based order priority level modification in an electronic trading environment are described. When an order reaches an exchange, a priority level of the order may be changed to a higher priority level, and the priority level of the order initially at the higher priority level may be changed to a lower priority level of the received order. In one embodiment, a trader who is gaining a higher priority level will be preferably charged a fee for having his order moved to the higher priority level, and at least a portion of that fee may be paid to a trader who is giving up his high priority level.
US08751359B2
A system and method for conducting security transactions provides a system with a client device with a client interface, an inventory account and a trading engine. The trading engine processes a client buy, sell, sell short or buy to cover order. The trading engine enables a trading of fraction shares in real time as well as reduces a frequency of orders sent to market by executing principal trades against the inventory account.
US08751357B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for evaluating risk adjusted performance of an investment portfolio. This invention may be applied to any asset which has a value. The invention evaluates risk adjusted performance of an investment portfolio by first determining at least one positive utility concept and at least one negative utility concept describing an asset. Then, the invention normalizes the at least one negative utility concept to an equivalent negative utility concept describing or deriving from a group of assets. Finally, the invention may relate at least one positive utility concept and at least one normalized negative utility concept to determine a performance measure. In this way, the invention normalized negative asset returns such that better investor utility ratings are not falsely provided.
US08751354B2
An instrument and system for consistent and objective comparison of stock exchange listed stocks, regardless of geographical market, business activity and trading currency is provided. The instrument is configured to compare stocks current trading prices, by producing iso-prices and iso-values. Two stocks' iso-prices have equal premiums and discounts, in relation to their respective long-term price trends. Iso-values, on the other hand, represent prices that correspond to the same compounding rate of stockholder return.
US08751351B1
Systems and methods for providing a marketplace of goods subject to distressed financial obligations
Systems and methods for a financial institution to compile information regarding customer loans and items/assets securing the loans to create an environment in which troubled debtors may place an asset into a pool of assets for resale/exchange and to be released of obligations to repay the loan associated with the asset. In some implementations, a customer may replace the asset with another asset in the pool, where the replacement asset imposes a reduced (or no) obligation on the debtor. The pool of assets may include real estate, automobiles, major electronics, major appliances, artwork, etc. In some implementations, the financial services provider may be able to place an asset into the pool of goods before it becomes damaged, destroyed or goes missing by modeling customer behavior and anticipating a pending default on a loan.
US08751350B2
A method of liquidating defaulted positions associated with centrally cleared financial product is disclosed. The method includes identifying a defaulted position associated with a centrally cleared financial product, calculating a value differential between the defaulted position and a standard position, offering the value differential and the standard position to a party such that the value differential and the standard position represent a converted position, and settling the converted position upon acceptance of the offer by the party.
US08751344B2
Processes and products according to embodiments of the invention include video games with the possibility to obtain funding, such as through venture capital or the issuance of private shares among player characters.
US08751343B2
In an embodiment, apparatus and methods for video games permit obtaining funding for developing game environments. A variety of possible funding sources are possible, such as venture capital, the issuance of private shares, transforming the game environment into a public company through an initial public offering, or through a follow on offering such as the issuance of common stock, preferred stock, or treasury stock.
US08751340B2
A method for check destruction tracking and reconstruction relates to tracking the destruction of financial institution items, such as paper checks. The method includes transferring the financial institution items to a bin for transporting the items to be destroyed. The bin is associated with a bin identifier. The items which are in the bin are identified and the bin is transported for destruction. If the items are safely transported and safely destroyed, a notification of destruction of the items in the bin is sent. If the items are either not safely transported or not safely destroyed, a notification of an incident is sent. Appropriate action may be taken in response to receiving such notification.
US08751330B2
The invention relates to a system for ordering a product and forecasting consumer interest, including a computer, software executing on the computer for listing a plurality of products for purchase, software executing on the computer for determining when a user views a product of the plurality of products, software executing on the computer for determining when a user orders a product of the plurality of products, software executing on the computer for tolling the views of each product and for tolling the orders of each product, software executing on the computer for identifying a first customer based on the tolled views, and software executing on the computer for identifying a second customer based on the tolled orders.
US08751329B2
A content server enables one user to purchase licensed content for another user and, in response to the purchase, automatically delivers the content to the other user's device. The content server further configures the other user's device to receive and utilize the licensed content, thus enabling the other user to consume the content.
US08751328B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for determining privileges pertaining to a customer relationship management (CRM) application and granting the privileges in a secure and traceable manner to individual companies and users to effect a differential cost assessment scheme based on resource usage.
US08751325B2
A first user, second user, and third user are registered. Names of a first, second, and third item are stored a website for the first, second, and third users. The items can be tangible items or intangible items. The first user requests the second item. A first credit is removed from the first user and a second credit is stored for the second user when the first user receives the second item. The second user requests the third item. The second credit is removed from the second user and a third credit is stored for the third user when the second user receives the third item. The first credit, the second credit, and the third credit each represents a right to request a future swappable tangible or intangible item for the equivalent value of at least one previously swapped tangible or intangible item.
US08751323B2
A web-enabled user interface is provided to enable the carriers of private networks to interact and to offer services to one another. The web-enabled user interface is integrated to a switch fabric configured to provide interconnection services for the carriers. The web-enabled user interface is configured to enable the carriers to assign different roles to different representatives. Each of the representatives is granted certain rights and permissions by an administrator representative based on the representative's role. The web-enabled user interface is configured to present to each representative a unique interface based on their roles thus providing each representative a unique experience.
US08751318B2
A method for managing and controlling a store and a system for the same are disclosed. The system includes a digital display shelf being provided with a recognition unit configured to recognize a product displayed on the shelf and an output unit configured to output information on the recognized product, a digital signage display configured to output data respective to the recognized product, and a managing system configured to communicate with the digital display shelf and the digital signage display so as to transmit control data and to receive processing data. Herein, the data respective to the recognized product may include at least one of audio data, video data, and text data configured to advertise and promote the corresponding product. And, the managing system may include a database related to the data respective to the recognized product.
US08751316B1
A method to purchase a product by a user in a retail store. The method steps include obtaining a reference of the retail store using a mobile device of the user, accessing a product database for the retail store based on the reference of the retail store, obtaining, in the retail store, a product identifier of the product using the mobile device, retrieving product information from the product database based on the product identifier, and displaying the product information on the mobile device.
US08751309B2
Techniques for distributing messages to consumers on behalf of promoters. In some embodiments, once a message is provided to a message distribution system to be distributed to consumers on behalf of promoters, the message distribution system may determine the consumers to which to distribute the message based on the personal interest identifiers for the consumers that identify personal interests of the consumers. In particular, in some embodiments, a message distribution system may determine a topic for a message and personal interest identifiers for the message that correspond to personal interest identifiers input by consumers. Once the set of personal interest identifiers for the message has been identified, a set of consumers who have input one or more of those personal interest identifiers is identified. The message may then be made available to the identified set of consumers.
US08751302B2
Presented are embodiments of methods and systems that provide for Internet advertisement pricing and placement to be variably based on the advertisement's performance within a given category of Internet media, while at the same time achieving predictable delivery and pricing for both advertisers and publishers. Techniques are presented where an advertiser's online campaign will be pre-empted only for underperformance on its own merits, and not for its relative performance or price versus other advertisers. Further, techniques are presented for allowing publishers of advertisements to realize increased revenue from their high value media while using tag passbacks to secure a minimum reserve pricing of their choice.
US08751297B2
A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.
US08751291B2
A method and a system for analyzing infrastructure are provided. In one embodiment, a system for analyzing infrastructure is provided. The system includes a grid intelligence quotient as a service (GIQAAS) system. The GIQAAS system includes an infrastructure data gathering system having a first input form configured to collect an economic data related to an infrastructure. The GIQAAS system further includes an economic modeling system configured to import the economic data and to derive an economic analysis based on the economic data. The GIQAAS system is configured to provide the infrastructure data gathering system to a first user for collection of the economic data, and to provide the economic modeling system to a second user for derivation of the economic analysis.
US08751289B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with scalable regression for retail panel are described. In one embodiment, a method includes performing a regression that estimates elasticity of demand for a retail item, wherein the regression is performed on a transformation of a demand model that does not include variables associated with base demand or seasonality. In a subsequent processing step, the method includes estimating a base demand and seasonality for the retail item based, at least in part, on the estimated elasticity of demand. The method may be performed in a database that stores retail panel data for the retail item and other retail items.
US08751288B2
A computer implemented method of providing feedback to a sales representative for a sales opportunity to a customer, comprising: determining, in dependence on information received from the sales representative, a probability that the sales opportunity will result in a sale by the sales representative; determining, in dependence on information received from the sales representative, a location on a sales cycle time line for the sales opportunity; assigning a priority to the sales opportunity in dependence on the location on the sales cycle time line and the probability that the sales opportunity will result in a sale; and rendering on a display a visual representation of the probability and the priority.
US08751281B2
According to one general aspect, a method may include acquiring, by a session manager, a list of active sessions. In various embodiments, each session may include a grouped plurality of sub-tasks that are configured to be sequentially performed in order to accomplish a business management task. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving a selection of one of the sessions to supervise. In one embodiment, the method may include retrieving a list of the at least one event listener(s) from a session context associated with the selected session. In another embodiment, the method may include receiving events generated by the session.
US08751279B2
A system and method for preventing the lapse of a recurring event includes an electronic calendar program having the capability of establishing a recurring event with a predetermined end date. A processor is operative for notifying an organizer of the event at a predetermined time of the end date for the recurring event and permitting the organizer to modify the end date of the recurring event if the event is to continue. The electronic calendar program and processor is operative in a mobile wireless communications device that includes a housing and radio frequency (RF) transceiver contained within the housing such that notifications of the new end date can be transmitted to and received by attendees of the event, including any changed meeting information.
US08751276B2
The disclosure provides a system and method for identifying a set of ERP tasks performed by the ERP system when it is functional and for identifying a set of Interim Business Processes (IBPs) associated with ERP tasks. The method includes creating a set of IBP data capture tools Another step is assigning an IBP data capture tool to each IBP optionally using an IBP data main coordinating tool. Another step is identifying a set of responsibility centers in the business entity. Another step is providing an access link to each responsibility center to the IBP data capture tool and sending a notice to each responsibility center to begin capturing data at a predetermined time. Another step is receiving the IBP data from the IBP data capture tools optionally using the IBP data main coordinating tool, and storing the IBP data received optionally using the IBP data main coordinating tool.
US08751270B1
Aspects of the invention are directed to methods and systems for efficiently communicating data between an insurer and a non-referral repair shop, e.g., vehicle repair shops that are normally not preapproved by the insurer to perform the estimating and repair work. The methods and systems described herein are particularly useful for insurers utilizing non-referral repair shops for servicing vehicles involved in insurance claims. According to aspects of this invention, the insured may be able to select a non-referral repair shop, not delegated or preapproved by the insurer, thereby generally allowing the insured to select any available vehicle repair shop.
US08751260B2
A computer-based system for automating administrative procedures in an office is described. According to an embodiment, the system may include a control module in communication with a management tracker module, a provider tracker module and an administrative tracker module, as well as a database accessible by the management tracker module, a provider tracker module and an administrative tracker module.
US08751252B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for validating clinical data including receiving a consistency requirement, receiving a data claim associated with clinical data, and evaluating the data claim based at least in part on the consistency requirement. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a clinical data validation system including a consistency requirement input component adapted to receive a consistency requirement, a data claim input component adapted to receive a data claim, and a validation component adapted to evaluate the data claim based at least in part on the consistency requirement. The data claim is associated with clinical data.
US08751237B2
A sound control section (114) selects and outputs a text-to-speech item from items included in program information multiplexed with a broadcast signal; and starts or stops outputting the text-to-speech item, based on request from a remote controller control section (113). A sound generation section (115) converts the text-to-speech item to a sound signal. A speaker (109) reproduces the sound signal. The sound control section (114) compares each item of information about a program currently selected by user's operation of the remote controller, with each item of information about the previous program selected just before the user's operation. If an item of the currently selected program information is the same as the corresponding item of the operation-prior program information, and text-to-speech processing has been already completed for the item after the last change in the item, the sound control section (114) stops outputting the item to the sound generation section (115).
US08751232B2
A system and method of targeted tuning of a speech recognition system are disclosed. A particular method includes detecting that a frequency of occurrence of a particular type of utterance satisfies a threshold. The method further includes tuning a speech recognition system with respect to the particular type of utterance.
US08751230B2
A method and a device (1) for automatically generating vocabulary entry from input acoustic data (3), comprising a vocabulary entry type-specific acoustic phonetic transcription module (2; T) and a classifier module (6; 6′) for the classification of vocabulary entry types on the basis of the phonetic structure, wherein the classification of vocabulary entries is carried out in accordance with a number of predetermined types; and vocabulary entry type-specific phoneme-to-grapheme conversion means (28), to derive the respective vocabulary entries comprising a pair of a phonetic transcription and its grapheme form.
US08751226B2
A speech processing apparatus 101 includes a recognition feature extracting unit 12 that extracts recognition feature information which is a characteristic of a speech recognition result 15 obtained by performing a speech recognition process on an inputted speech from the speech recognition result 15; a language feature extracting unit 11 that extracts language feature information which is a characteristic of a pre-registered language resource 14 from the language resource 14; and a model learning unit 13 that obtains a verification model 16 by a learning process based on the extracted recognition feature information and language feature information.
US08751220B2
Various embodiments of multiple microphone based pitch detection are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a primary signal and a secondary signal associated with multiple microphones. A pitch value is determined based at least in part upon a level difference between the primary and secondary signals. In another embodiment, a system includes a plurality of microphones configured to provide a primary signal and a secondary signal. A level difference detector is configured to determine a level difference between the primary and secondary signals and a pitch identifier is configured to clip the primary and secondary signals based at least in part upon the level difference. In another embodiment, a method determines the presence of voice activity based upon a pitch prediction gain variation that is determined based at least in part upon a pitch lag.
US08751208B2
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluid, such as crude oil and/or natural gas, through a well or well cluster of which the trajectory is at least partly defined and iteratively optimized by an well trajectory optimization algorithm that is coupled to a finite difference reservoir simulation program that represents a hydrocarbon fluid containing reservoir as a set of grid cells with a specified permeability and fluid content, wherein the algorithm: provides a virtual well with a series of virtual well branches that extend into cells in the vicinity of inflow points of the virtual well; and subsequently iteratively moves the inflow points of the virtual well or well cluster through the reservoir in order to optimize a reservoir depletion strategy that provides an optimized life cycle value of the well and/or well cluster and/or optimized Net Present Value (NPV) of the produced crude oil and/or natural gas.
US08751207B1
A computer-implemented method for simulating a granular material includes removing, from a layer of granular material in a virtual domain defined by a data structure stored in a computer readable storage medium, a portion of the granular material in a closed region where the portion and a part of an object impacting the granular material are defined as occupying a same space. The method includes determining a value for a size aspect of the portion based on applying a numerical solver along an entirety of a boundary of the closed region. The method includes placing additional granular material along the boundary to create a shape resulting from the impact of the object. The method includes generating an image using the data structure, the image reflecting the impact of the object on the granular material in the virtual domain.
US08751193B2
A positioning device includes a computer including a stored design file, such as a CAD file, for positioning a selected portion of the design on a workpiece. In a first embodiment, a base unit houses an extensible cable including a free end for placement by a user at a design point on the workpiece. A turn carriage freely rotates about a turn axis to follow cable movement. In output mode, the user is directed to move the cable free end toward the portion of the design and a cable tensioning motor adjusts the tension in the cable sufficiently to indicate when cable free end is at a distance to the portion of the design. Other embodiments include: a turn carriage servoed motor for rotating the turn carriage to follow the cable; and a pitch carriage and servoed motor for rotating the pitch carriage for following the cable.
US08751186B2
The invention comprises a system for calculating a value for the effective thermal mass of a building. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system. One or more processors receive measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than the control system and compare the temperature measurements from the first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements obtained by said HVAC control system and said outside temperature measurements. The processors then calculate one or more rates of change in temperature at said first location.
US08751184B2
A method for creating workload model to test performance of a critical application in a data processing network (112) is disclosed. The method includes receiving (202), at one of the plurality of data processing units (114a), an activity log with a plurality of entities from the data processing network (112). The method further includes creating (204) a transaction log of all transactions conducted using the activity log. Further the method determines (206) a plurality of transaction metrics using the transaction log, wherein the plurality of transaction metrics comprises an average transaction response time, a transaction throughput etc. The method further creates a workload model to test the critical performance of an application in the data processing network (112) based on the plurality of transaction metrics and provide effective performance test strategies.
US08751180B2
Performance of mass flow controller may be vulnerable to pressure transients in a flow path to which the controller is coupled for the purpose of controlling the fluid flow. A system and method are provided for reducing or eliminate performance degradations, instabilities, and/or inaccuracies of a mass flow controller caused by changes in the pressure environment. In particular, a method and system are provided for compensating for pressure transients in the pressure environment of a flow path and mass flow controller.
US08751168B2
The present invention provides, inter alia, methods of characterizing a small molecule organic material, e.g., a drug or a drug product. This method includes subjecting the solid small molecule organic material to x-ray total scattering analysis at a short wavelength, collecting data generated thereby, and mathematically transforming the data to provide a refined set of data.
US08751167B2
A method and apparatus is provided for concentration determination of at least one component in an acid catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion containing an unknown concentration of an acid, an acid-soluble-oil (ASO), and water. An instrument configured for measuring a property of the acid catalyst, has responsivities to concentrations of one of the acid, ASO, and water, substantially independent of the concentrations of the others of the acid catalyst, ASO, and water. A temperature detector is configured to generate temperature data for the acid catalyst. A processor is configured to capture data generated by the temperature detector and the instrument, and to use the data in combination with a model to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the one of the acid, the ASO, and the water. Optionally, one or more other instruments configured for measuring other properties of the liquid mixture may also be used.
US08751162B1
A prediction method that estimates the real-time position of a mobile device based on previously observed data is provided. The present invention can be used in real-time navigation, including providing real-time alerts of an upcoming destination and notifications of emergency events in close geographic proximity. The prediction method utilizes neural networks and/or functions generated using genetic algorithms in estimating the mobile device's real-time position. The prediction method provides reliable Location-Based Services (LBS) in events where traditional positioning technologies become unreliable. It is also seamless, as the user remains unaware of any interruption in accessing the positioning technology.
US08751159B2
Geographic gaming via a scalable, wireless geographic broadcast protocol enables multiplayer gaming between communication devices without relying on traditional network elements. Games can be fully distributed over an ad hoc network of mobile communications devices. The scalable nature of the wireless geographic broadcast protocol enables multiplayer games to function equally well in both remote areas with no or little network service and in crowded areas containing both game players and other users of mobile communications devices. Wireless geographic broadcast messages distributed among multiplayer game participants can be used to control gameplay features and/or game elements of multiplayer games. Embodiments include simulated artillery battles, simulated throw and catch games, and simulated reconnaissance elements.
US08751153B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for identifying a serviceable address that is associated with a street network connection point and a parcel drop-off point. For example, in one embodiment, the serviceable address may be associated with a street network connection point that is part of a digital map. The serviceable address may also be associated with a parcel drop-off point that includes parcel drop-off point information, such as a parcel drop-off point geo coordinate associated with the parcel drop-off point and street network connection point geo coordinate associated with the street network connection point.
US08751145B2
A voice recognition method that is used for finding a street uses a database including information about a plurality of streets. The streets are characterized by respective street names and street types. A user provides a voice input for the street that the user tries to find. The voice input includes a street name and a street type. The street type is recognized by processing the voice input. Streets having the recognized street type are then selected from the database and a street name of at least one of the streets selected from the database is recognized by processing the voice input.
US08751141B2
A method is provided for estimating the height of the gravity center of a vehicle having at least a front axle and a rear axle each carrying at least two wheels. The method includes determining a first braking period and a second braking period occurring along road portions having substantially the same slope, but where the first and second braking periods result in different vehicle decelerations, and during both braking periods, estimating at least the following variables: vehicle acceleration; the wheel slippage rate for the front and rear axles; the braking forces or braking torque at each of the front and rear axles, or a ratio thereof; and the slope of the corresponding road portion. The method also includes estimating, using only the foregoing estimations made during both periods, the vehicle center of gravity height.
US08751135B2
A method is provided to diagnose a fault in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to commanding an injection pulse for injecting a test quantity of fuel into an engine cylinder, determining the torque released to an engine crankshaft due to the injection pulse, calculating the difference between this released torque and an expected value for the torque, and of detecting a fault in the fuel injection system if the difference exceeds a threshold.
US08751134B2
For regulating the speed of a motor vehicle, a control apparatus is equipped with an object detection system, and the reference speed is determined as a function of at least one preceding vehicle in the evaluation region of the object detection system, such that upon recognition of an imminent lane change by the regulated vehicle, vehicles in the adjacent destination lane are additionally taken into consideration for calculation of the reference speed by expanding the evaluation region in the direction of the destination lane, and consideration is given only to vehicles in the destination lane whose distance from the regulated vehicle is less than a predetermined distance value.
US08751133B2
A speed limiter method and system that automatically limits the maximum speed of a motor vehicle based on the segment of the road the vehicle is travelling on and on the user or driver of the vehicle, by modifying an actual throttle sensor signal from the throttle position sensor of the vehicle transmitted to the engine control unit.
