US08747367B2

An injection apparatus has a barrel (50) that is adapted to receive a container (108) with injection fluid (110). It further comprises a piston rod (98), provided with a thread (100), for expelling injection fluid (110) from such a container (108), which piston rod (98) is guided relative to the barrel (50) in the axial direction (112, 114). Additionally provided is a threaded part (122) whose thread (120) is in engagement with the thread (100) of the piston rod (98), which threaded part (122) is rotatable relative to the piston rod (98) and relative to the barrel (50) in order to set an injection dose, and, during an injection operation, is prevented from rotating relative to the piston rod (98).
US08747365B2

A method and system of delivering a first medicament to a first injection depth and a second medicament to a second injection depth using a single dispense interface. An example medicated module is attachable to a drug delivery device, where the drug delivery device includes a drug reservoir holding a first medicament. The medicated module includes a needle cannula having a sidewall, at least one micro-hole in the sidewall of the needle cannula, and a flexible membrane sealably fixed to an inner surface of the needle cannula. The flexible membrane holds a second medicament between the flexible membrane and a portion of the sidewall having the at least one micro-hole. The first and second medicaments can be delivered to two, axially separate injection depths.
US08747363B2

A medical device is provided comprising a transcutaneous device unit and a process unit. The transcutaneous device unit may comprise a transcutaneous device for transporting a fluid through a skin portion of a subject, and a mounting surface adapted for application to the skin of the subject. The process unit may comprise a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid drug, the reservoir comprising an outlet means allowing the transcutaneous device to be arranged in fluid communication with an interior of the reservoir, and an expelling assembly for expelling a fluid drug out of the reservoir and through the skin of the subject via the transcutaneous device. The transcutaneous device unit and the process unit further comprise coupling means allowing the reservoir unit to be secured to the transcutaneous device unit in the situation of use. By this arrangement a two-unit system is provided which can be used in a convenient and cost-effective manner.
US08747360B2

Intravenous catheter devices are provided which may include one or more adhesive portions which are positioned and configured to temporarily maintain a position of a catheter assembly following catheterization. A release liner covering and protecting the adhesive portions may be automatically removed to reveal the adhesive upon withdrawal of an introducer needle of the catheter assembly. The adhesive may be configured such that a clinician may insert the catheter assembly into the patient, adjust the catheter adapter of the catheter assembly to a desired position, withdraw the introducer needle, thereby removing a protective, non-adhesive release liner from the adhesive of the positioned catheter assembly, thereby temporarily fixing the position of the catheter assembly at the desired position by contacting the exposed adhesive to the skin of the patient.
US08747359B2

A needle assembly 10 compromising an infusion needle 11 that includes a needle cannula 13 made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol. The needle cannula is cold-worked or heat annealed to produce a preformed bend 16 that can be straightened within passageway 21 of a coaxial outer cannula 12 for introduction into the body of a patient. Upon deployment from the outer cannula, the needle cannula substantially returns to the preformed configuration for the introduction or extraction of materials at areas lateral to the entry path of the needle assembly. The needle assembly can compromise a plurality of needle cannulae than can be variably arranged or configured for attaining a desired infusion pattern.
US08747352B1

A medical device having enhanced steerability for navigation through a patient's vasculature and for positioning the device for performing a medical procedure, such as pulmonary vein isolation. The device generally includes an elongate body, a balloon defining a proximal neck that is affixed to the distal end of the elongate body such that the neck and elongate body are coterminous, a shaft disposed at least partially within the elongate body and at least partially within the balloon, and a pull wire affixed to a distal portion of the shaft, such that pulling the pull wire will cause deflection of the balloon at a point that is immediately distal of the proximal neck of the balloon. Further, the shape of the balloon when deflected and when in a neutral configuration may be substantially the same.
US08747351B2

A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.
US08747345B2

A bypass provided by a bypass conduit disposed in a vessel which is collateral to an occluded vessel. The bypass conduit comprises a helical wire body having a plurality of connectors connecting adjacent turns of the helical body.
US08747318B2

A sample moves, either naturally (as in the case of the heart) or by application of force, and its movement is measured. A processing unit calculates first displacement related information concerning a first direction of the object to be measured (the sample) by using data in either one of an increase period and a decrease period of the force applied to the objected to be measured, from data received by a first ultrasonic probe. In addition, the processing unit calculates second displacement related information concerning a second direction of the object to be measured by using data in the same period as that used to calculate the first displacement related information, from data received by a second ultrasonic probe.
US08747304B2

An endoscopic attachment apparatus for coupling an endoscope with an endoscopic instrument includes an attachment ring having a ring body with first and second apertures respectively shaped and dimensioned for the receipt of an endoscope and an endoscopic instrument. The attachment ring includes an annular body defining the first aperture and the annular body is provided with an endoscope release mechanism for facilitating release of the endoscope from the attachment ring.
US08747293B2

A rotational pump capable of running at a rotational speed (n) having a system for direct or indirect measurement of pressure difference or flow rate across the pump, wherein a control system is designed to calculate an index of pulsatility (PI) of the pressure difference or flow rate, estimating the gradient of PI with respect to the rotational speed (dPI/dn) and regulating the dPI/dn to a pre-defined set-point or regulating the pump in a way that the dPI/dn is minimal.
US08747288B2

A robotic tool changer removably attaches a robotic tool to a robotic arm. The changer includes a tool module connected to the robotic tool, and a master module connected to the robotic arm. To attach and detach the robotic tool, the changer couples and uncouples the tool module and the master module. A master electrical signal module (ESM) affixes to the master module and a tool ESM affixes to the tool module. In accordance with design requirements, the changer applies the same power supply to both the master ESM and the tool ESM. The changer, however, selectively suppresses application of the power supply to the tool ESM, while maintaining application of the power supply to the master ESM, during the coupling or uncoupling of the master module and the tool module. In doing so, the changer enables such coupling and uncoupling, while also preventing the formation of transient electric arcs.
US08747283B2

A personal exerciser for head and neck muscle strengthening comprises at least one part, intended to be inserted in a user's mouth during exercising and another part intended to cover the area around the lips, mouth and chin to prevent wrinkle formation and choking during exercising. A multiple layered structure is used in the form of a deformable, pliable composition covered with durable, resilient, elastomeric material. This structure allows fitting the personal exerciser inside the mouth and around the lips, mouth and chin of each unique individual. Isomeric and isotonic exercising of the head and neck muscles are performed simultaneously utilizing the inherent resistance of the elastomeric material. A method of use of the personal exerciser for head and neck muscles is adaptable for use in speech therapy, smoking cessation therapy, obesity treatment and treatment of complications from cosmetic surgeries and procedures.
US08747281B2

A brake assembly (1) for a hand-held power-driven cutting device (2) is provided comprising a movably arranged lever (14), at least being movable between a first- and a second position, a brake member (16), and a brake element (20) connected to or forming one unit with a rotatable part (22) of a transmission of the cutting device (2), wherein the brake member (16) is movable between a non-activated position and an activated position, and wherein the brake member (16) is arranged to engage with the brake element (20) in the activated position to prevent rotation of the rotatable part (22). The brake assembly (1) further comprising a holding mechanism (23) arranged to hold the brake member (16) in the non-activated position when the lever (14) is in the first position, and a first resilient element (18) arranged to bias the brake member (16) towards the activated position, and wherein the brake member (16) is arranged to be released from the holding mechanism (23) as a response to the lever (14) coming into the second position, and wherein when released the brake member (16) is adapted to be forced towards the activated position by means of the first resilient element (18), and wherein the brake member (16) is arranged to engage with a structure (34) of the brake element (20) in said activated position so as to prevent rotation of the brake element (20).
US08747274B2

A transmission is disclosed having a planetary gear set with three input torque-transmitting mechanisms, such as friction clutches, to achieve torque flow through the planetary gear set to a countershaft gearing arrangement. The transmission includes an input member, an output member, a planetary gear set, an input clutch assembly having three input clutches and a countershaft gearing arrangement. The countershaft gearing arrangement is operatively connected with the planetary gear set and includes: a pair of co-planar intermeshing gears, first and second countershafts, a first intermediate shaft and a second intermediate shaft concentric with the first intermediate shaft.
US08747269B2

A continuously variable transmission includes a variator unit having a variator input shaft and a variator output shaft, and first, second and third planetary gear sets. The first and second planetary gear sets are arranged together and each includes a first member operatively connected to a common transmission input shaft and a second member operatively connected to a common output shaft, each of the first and second planetary gear sets further including a third member. The third planetary gear set has a first, second and third member. The variator input shaft is operatively connected to the third member of the second planetary gear set and the variator output shaft is operatively connected to the third member of the first planetary gear set. The first member of the third planetary gear set is operatively connected to the variator output shaft. The second member of the third planetary gear set is selectively connectable to the third member of the second planetary gear set and selectively connectable to the transmission housing. The third member of the third planetary gear set is operatively connected to a transmission output shaft. The common output shaft is selectively connectable to the transmission output shaft.
US08747268B2

A continuously variable transmission system and a method of making a continuously variable transmission system is described. The present invention includes a gear set having at least a sun gear, one or more planetary gears, and a planetary gear carrier arm on which the one or more planetary gears are mounted for rotational movement. The sun gear and the one or more planetary gears are mounted for rotational engagement and movement with respect to each other, and one of the sun gears and the planetary gear carrier arm couples to an input shaft and another portion of the gear set couples to an output shaft to receive feedback. A rotary coupling unit having an input rotationally coupled to at least one of the one of the sun gears and the planetary gear carrier arm and an output that rotationally couples to the output shaft is also provided.
US08747266B2

The present invention relates to a device for a transmission, comprising a summing planetary gear set (17) and a variator unit (13) and components that bring them into operative connection with each other and with an input shaft (1) and output shaft (3, 8) for influencing the output speed in a continuously variable manner at constant input speed. The device can be installed as a prefabricated module between an internal combustion engine and a conventional transmission of any configuration and is also suitable for splitting the drive power of an internal combustion engine among a vehicle drive and one or several power take-offs, with the speed of the vehicle drive and/or the speed of the power take-off being adjustable in a continuously variable manner by the device. The device is also suitable for retrofitting existing motor vehicles.
US08747264B2

An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.
US08747261B2

A reinforced object of the invention comprises: at least one structural layer; and at least one reinforcing rod positioned on or within the at least one structural layer, wherein the object is an elongated object, with the at least one reinforcing rod longitudinally positioned essentially parallel to a central axis thereof. A method of manufacturing the reinforced object comprises steps of: providing a mold; and positioning the at least one reinforcing rod such that it is positioned on or within the at least one structural layer in the reinforced object formed in the mold.
US08747255B2

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer having a cover inner surface, a cover outer surface, a treated cover region, and an untreated cover region, the treated cover region extending inward from the cover outer surface a depth DCTr and being treated with and comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition, the untreated cover region disposed between the cover inner surface and the treated cover region and having a depth DCUTr, the untreated cover region comprising n regions of hardness wherein n≧1 and wherein at least one of the n regions of hardness has a hardness H1 such that the hardness α is greater than the hardness H1, and wherein each of said n regions of hardness further comprise a depth DCUTn such that DCTr≦(1/n)(DUT1+DUT2+ . . . +DUTn). In another embodiment, DCTr≦(n)(DCUT1+DCUT2+ . . . +DCUTn). In yet another embodiment, DCTr≦(1/n2)(DCUT1+DCUT2+ . . . +DCUTn).
US08747248B2

A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discrete orientations between the shaft and club head.
US08747247B2

An adjustable length golf club shaft having a grip portion with an end point is disclosed. A locking element is located within the grip portion and a lower shaft having an inner surface that is in frictional contact with the locking element is also disclosed. The locking element is configured to engage the inner surface of the lower shaft. A total length of the golf club shaft is adjustable by a distance of at least one inch and a total weight of the golf club shaft in a weight zone is less than 110 g. The weight zone is defined as a region of the golf club shaft extending from the end point of the grip portion up to 11″ along a central axis of the golf club shaft toward a tip portion of the shaft.
US08747243B2

The present disclosure relates to a golf swing training device that gives real-time visual feedback for obtaining correct golf club swing mechanics. Features and implementations include: (1) a number of alignment indicators such as disks or blocks capable of lying flat on the ground or a surface; (2) a cable, string, rope, or chain that connects the alignment indicators and that the alignment indicators are spaced along; (3) a positioning guide placed on the ground or a surface that indicates proper placement of the connected alignment indicators in order to create the proper arc shape of the connected alignment indicators; and (4) alignment markers on each alignment indicator to show the proper angle the golf club face should have at different points during a swing.
US08747240B2

A slingshot bouncer has a frame. The frame is generally horizontally oriented. A rebounding bed is mounted to the frame. The frame connects to a periphery of the rebounding bed. A slingshot assembly is mounted to the frame. The slingshot assembly further includes a pouch, an elastic cord, and an upwardly extending arm. The elastic cord is mounted to the upwardly extending arm. The pouch is mounted to the elastic cord. A pouch handle is mounted to the pouch to provide grip for pulling back the pouch. The slingshot bouncer pouch handle can be formed as a loop with an opening greater than 2 cm.
US08747237B2

A sliding ball type constant velocity joint including an outer race having a track groove pair formed by a pair of track grooves on its inner surface, an inner race installed in the outer race having a track groove pair formed by a pair of track grooves on its outer surface to correspond to the track groove pair of the outer race, a plurality of balls installed in the track groove pairs formed in the outer race and the pair of track grooves formed in the inner race, for transmitting the rotational power of the outer race to the inner race, and a cage having windows for accommodating and supporting each two of the balls. The joint can minimize vehicle vibration by forming the track groove pairs on the outer and inner races to reduce a contact area between the inner race and the cage.
US08747236B2

A constant velocity joint comprising a first shaft (2) rotating about a first rotation axis (X1), a second shaft (3) rotating about a second rotation axis (X2), a triad of yokes (5) comprising a control yoke (6), a first shaft yoke (7) and a second shaft yoke (8), the first shaft yoke (7) being pivotally mounted on the first shaft (2) with the pivot axis (A1) oblique to the first rotation axis (X1), the second shaft yoke (8) being pivotally mounted on the second shaft (3) with the pivot axis (A2) oblique to the second rotation axis (X2), the three yokes of the triad of yokes (5) being pivotally mounted to each other to pivot about a common axis (C) passing from the center (4) of the joint, a set of additional pivotally mounted yokes (9) providing support to the control yoke (6) so that the transmission ratio between the first shaft (2) and the second shaft (3) of the constant velocity joint (1) remains strictly at 1:1.
US08747221B2

Methods and apparatus for servicing wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving, over a wagering game network, service information originating from a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine is configured to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include, based on the service information and a service plan associated with the wagering game machine, determining a service action. The method can also include performing the service action.
US08747216B2

An improved sportsbook room is disclosed. The sportsbook room allows an individual to place wagers on the sports competitions shown in the sportsbook room from a gaming terminal in his/her carrel and to also play other casino games on the same gaming terminal.
US08747214B2

A gaming device having a transformable wild symbol or card on a set of reels or a transformable wild card in a set of cards, wherein the transformable wild symbol or card provides a signal to a player through a wild indicator or a non-wild indicator. The wild indicator indicates that the transformable wild symbol or card is in a wild state. The non-wild indicator indicates that the transformable wild symbol or card is in a non-wild state. In a wild state, the transformable wild symbol or card acts as a wild symbol or card on a set of reels, or a wild card.
US08747213B2

A system or method providing a player to cashout half of credits accumulated during gaming. Anonymous cashing out of credit is available to a player through routes both external and internal to a gaming machine.
US08747210B2

Electronic card game devices and methods incorporate progressive jackpot operations controlled by a central server computer. If a system game device is selected by the central server computer to win a progressive jackpot award, the system game device is programmed to display secondary game outcome symbols on playing cards being displayed during game play to indicate winning of the award.
US08747209B2

A method and game server for selecting a plurality of winners of a game is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sets of player numbers from a plurality of game terminals. Each set has a predetermined number of player numbers. Each number is selected from a predetermined set. The method also comprises determining the plurality of winners of the game by conducting iterative drawing rounds until the number of winners exceeds a winner threshold. Each drawing round comprises: selecting a set of random numbers, the number of random numbers in the set of random numbers being equal to the number of player numbers in the set of player numbers; and identifying as winners any sets of player numbers in which each player number of the set corresponds to one or more of the random numbers selected in either the current drawing round or any previous drawing rounds.
US08747204B2

A system, method and device for playing SNAG-IT© on an electronic device is provided. The device includes an electronic circuit, an input device and a display. The method includes receiving a selection of the number and location of human players, the number of computer players and the number of decks for the game, a selection of the personality type and urges for each computer player; by the electronic. Next, the cards are electronically shuffled and each player is dealt a predetermined number of cards. An electronic game board is generated and displayed, and the electronic circuit provides each player a game turn in succession, until a game ending event occurs.
US08747196B2

A method and apparatus for providing force feedback to a user operating a human/computer interface device and interacting with a computer-generated simulation. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method simulates the interaction of simulated objects displayed to a user who controls one of the simulated objects manipulating a physical object of an interface device. The position of the simulated object, as provided within the simulation and as displayed, is mapped directly to the physical position of the user object. This mapping is broken under conditions that are effective to provide force feedback to the user which imparts a physical sensation corresponding to the interaction of the simulated objects. In another aspect, hand-to-hand combat is simulated wherein a user controls a simulated object by manipulating a physical object, such a sword hilt, to allow the user to utilize a wide range of physical skill and dexterity in interacting with the simulation. In another aspect, a simulation apparatus provides a display device such as one or more display screens or a projection device, and which also provides an intuitive mechanical interface device for the user to skillfully and dexterously manipulate objects within a computer-generated simulation.
US08747190B2

A grout removal tool includes a cover shaped to define a substantially enclosed interior cavity and a grinding assembly designed to simultaneously abrade grout from multiple, non-linear tile joints. The grinding assembly includes a motor-driven shaft that is rotatably coupled to the cover by a pair of ball bearings. The grinding assembly additionally includes two or more grinding elements that are axially mounted on the shaft in a spaced apart relationship, each grinding element including at least one disc-shaped grinding wheel. A vacuum attachment is externally mounted on the cover and is in communication with the interior cavity through a plurality of circular openings formed in the cover in direct alignment with the grinding elements. One end of the vacuum attachment is preferably connected to a vacuum device that forcibly withdraws and contains debris created during the grout grinding process.
US08747188B2

A method and an apparatus for smart automation of robotic surface finishing of a three-dimensional surface of a work piece is described. A three-dimensional motion path is created along the surface of the work piece. A variable contact force profile is specified along the three-dimensional motion path. The three-dimensional motion path is modified based on the specified variable contact force profile. The surface of the work piece is finished using one or more surface finishing tools along the modified three-dimensional motion path. The surface of the work piece includes at least a flat region and a curved region.
US08747186B2

Garments to support a distended abdomen are described herein. For example the garment comprises an abdominal panel displaced beneath and in a position to support a distended abdomen, said panel being formed from an anisotropic elastomeric fabric that stretches in a latitudinal direction; side panels secured to a side of said abdominal panel, each side panel extending upwards and to a rear of said abdominal panel and being formed from an isotropic elastomeric fabric having a modulus of elasticity at least 1.5 times greater than said abdominal panel; and a back panel positioned over a lumbar region attached to said side panel.
US08747179B2

A robot toy includes a body and a controller. The body includes right and left arms, legs, arm-actuating mechanisms, thrust mechanisms, and a driving unit. The arms can be extended forward and back, and are pulled back by a predetermined biasing force in a normal condition. The arm-actuating mechanisms are provided at the respective arms and allow the corresponding arms to be extended and pulled back. The thrust mechanisms are provided at the respective legs and allow the corresponding legs to move forward. The driving unit drives one of a pair of the left arm-actuating mechanism and the left thrust mechanism and a pair of the right arm-actuating mechanism and the right thrust mechanism. The driving unit simultaneously drives the arm-actuating mechanism and the thrust mechanism in the same pair.
US08747176B2

A method for forming a spark plug includes positioning an electrode center wire within an insulator and positioning at least one substance within the insulator and proximate the electrode center wire. The method further includes ultrasonically tamping the at least one substance to the electrode center wire.
US08747174B1

An amphibious protection apparatus includes wall members that define an occupancy space for accommodating one or more users, and an access region for providing access to the occupancy space. Each wall member is foldably and detachably connected to each other. Each wall member includes a thick outer layer defining an outer enclosed space and an inner inflatable member having an inner enclosed space. The outer enclosed space accommodates the inner inflatable member. A fluid injected into the inner enclosed space inflates the inner inflatable member, thereby inflating each detachably connected wall member to form a buoyant enclosure that bounces on land and floats on water. The buoyant enclosure protects the accommodated users from impacts from different directions on land and water. The amphibious protection apparatus also includes an access port having an arrangement of lenses that enables magnification and viewing of objects present in an external environment.
US08747173B1

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a flotation device suited to teach beginner swimming techniques or provide enjoyment in an aquatic environment while providing flotation to at least a portion of the swimmer's body. The flotation device for aiding a swimmer in a body of water may comprise a body formed from an extruded foam and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side rail, a second side rail, a leading lateral surface, and a trailing lateral surface, and wherein the extruded foam is a flexible cellular foam. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to methods of making the flotation device.
US08747171B2

An electric outboard motor transom clamping system with two spaced apart side plates pivotally connected by at least one main pivot bolt or pin. Each side plate includes a clamp configured to press against the transom and hold the side plate in a rearward extending fixed position. Each slide plate also includes a ratchet slot located below the main bolt and a plurality of downward oriented pin slots transversely aligned the pins slots on the opposite side plate. Each pin slot is angled upward and rearward between 5 and 25 degrees from the center axis to a line that extends from the bottom of each pin slot to the main pivot bolt. A block member with two longitudinally aligned pins extend into the two ratchet slots. The pins engage the pin slots on the two side plates and hold the block member in fixed position between the two side plates.
US08747168B2

Each housing (10) includes terminal accommodating chambers (12), a communication opening (14) formed in an outer surface and communicating with the terminal accommodating chambers (12), and projections (16) projecting from a terminal accommodating portion (11). With the housings (10) placed one above the other, the projections (16) inserted in the terminal accommodating chambers (12) through the communication opening (14) are engaged with terminal fittings (20) in the terminal accommodating chambers (12) to retain the terminal fittings (20). Receiving portions (13) are provided in each housing (10) and each projection (16) includes a lock (18) to be engaged with the corresponding receiving portion (13) to hold the housings (10) in an assembled state.
US08747154B2

A waterproof connector has a housing (2) for accommodating terminal fittings (1) connected to ends of wires (W). An engaging portion (28) is formed on the outer surface of the housing (2). A one-piece rubber plug (15) is mounted in a rear part of the housing (2) to collectively seal the wires (W). A holder (20) is fit to the rear part of the housing (2) to retain the one-piece rubber plug (15) and a cover (27) is arranged on a rear part of the holder (20). The holder (20) is formed with an opening (46) for exposing the engaging portion (28) if the holder (20) is mounted properly on the housing (2) and the cover (27) is formed with a lock (57) that can engage the exposed engaging portion (28).
US08747148B2

A diagnostic tool that includes components that allow the diagnostic tool to record data while the vehicle is driven in order to capture data for intermittent faults. The diagnostic tool can operate in harsh conditions such as high and low temperatures. The diagnostic tool includes a capacitor to power the diagnostic tool in order to prevent complete drainage of the vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool includes a support module that can couple with a socket and a plug in order to keep them mated together during use.
US08747145B2

The invention relates to a connector with a housing, with terminals, with conductors that are connected with the terminals, with a guidance element that is arranged in the housing and that guides the conductors in the housing, with an elastic element that is arranged between the conductors and the guidance element, with a retainer element that forces the conductors against the elastic element.
US08747141B2

A connector includes a body configured to latchingly connect to a complementary connector element in a latching direction and an arm projecting from the body at an angle to the axis. The arm is configured to shift from a first position with its distal end a first distance from the axis to a second position with its distal end a second distance from the axis, and the body is removable from the complementary connector element when the arm is in the second position. The connector includes a force redirection element connected to the body and an extension member in contact with the force redirection element. The force redirection element is configured such that when a force is applied to the extension member in a direction opposite the latching direction, the arm is shifted from the first position toward the second position.
US08747140B2

A plug connector set has first and second plug connector parts, an unlocking part and a plate. The first plug connector has at least one first contact element and a latching lug. The second plug connector part has at least one second contact element. An unlocking part is used to displace the latching lug out of a locking position into the unlocking position or for latching to the latching lug and locking the first and second plug connector part to each other. A plate is adjacent to the latching lug and projects away from the first plug connector part.
US08747135B2

A method for selecting power from two or more circuits made from a multiple circuit duplex module comprising a chassis having an electrical chassis receptacle providing a plurality of connection points for the selection of power from two or more different circuits; a duplex element having at least one electrical duplex receptacle thereon to deliver power from one of the two or more different circuits to an external device in electrical contact with the at least one duplex receptacle; first conductor means for electrically connecting the at least one duplex receptacle to selected connection points in the chassis receptacle; wherein the duplex element is connectable to the chassis in different orientations, the orientation of the duplex element determining which one of the two or more different circuits is electrically connected to the at least one duplex receptacle.
US08747132B1

An arrangement having a processor electrically to, and mounted on, a portion of a surface of a motherboard. A plurality of memory cards is plugged into memory board slot type connectors on a surface of the memory card printed circuit board with the surface of the memory card printed circuit board being perpendicular to the surface of the motherboard. A right angle backplane connector has a first end disposed perpendicular to, and electrically connected to the surface of a motherboard and a second end disposed on the surface of, and electrically connected to, the memory card printed circuit board. The plurality of memory cards is parallel to the surface of the motherboard. An injector/ejector mechanism is provided for removing the memory printed circuit board from an electrical connector receptacle mounted to the motherboard by camming action.
US08747129B2

A charging connector (10) is provided for connection to a vehicle-side connector provided in a vehicle to charge a battery installed in the vehicle. The charging connector (10) includes a main body (11) with a connecting portion (13) connectable to the vehicle-side connector, a protection cap (30) made of an insulating material and to be mounted on the connecting portion (13) when the connecting portion (13) is separated from the vehicle-side connector, and a cable (W) drawn out from the main body (11) for connection to a power supply. The protection cap (30) is removed from the connecting portion (13) and attached to the cable (W) when connecting the connecting portion (13) to the vehicle-side connector.
US08747126B2

An adapter is provided for electrically connecting an interior surface of a conduit and an external surface of a cable. The adapter includes a flat strip extending longitudinally from first to second ends with first and second transverse edges and composed of an electrically conductive and mechanically flexible material. The strip includes a longitudinal ribbon that forms a ring for wrapping around the cable by curling the first and second ends together in a direction transverse to the sheet, and a plurality of first and second incisions from the transverse edges towards the ribbon, the incisions being disposed at respective intervals that correspond to a longitudinally regular pattern. The first incisions form tapering tabs for bending in the direction transverse to the sheet to produce petals that extend radially inward from the ring to engage the cable. The second incisions form peripheral tabs for bending in an opposite direction transverse to the sheet to produce flanges that extend radially outward from the ring to engage the conduit.
US08747119B2

The present invention discloses a rotatable electrical plug. The rotatable electrical plug includes a housing, a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a rotator. The first conductor, the second conductor, and the third conductor are provided in a first conductive region, a second conductive region, and a third conductive region in the housing respectively, wherein the projection regions of the first conductive region and the second conductive region in the normal direction of the housing are overlapped. Both of the first conductor and the second conductor are of a tubular form formed by a single metal sheet, and the first conductor, the second conductor, and the third conductor are electrically contacted to a first contactor, a second contactor, and a third conductor in the inner side of the rotator respectively. The volume of the rotatable electrical plug is greatly reduced so as to enhance the convenience.
US08747115B2

An approach for building an ontology is provided. Based on a grammar, extracted complex triples are syntactically transformed to identify core terms. The syntactically transformed complex triples are semantically transformed into simplified triples referring to new terms that conceptualize the core adjectives, adverbs and verbs, and assigning the core terms to respective definitions and keys in a reference ontology, thereby retaining the semantics of the complex triples. Based on a meta-schema of the reference ontology, an enrichment transformation of the simplified triples is performed to create simplified and enriched triples by adding relations derived from a correspondence each term in the simplified triples has with the reference ontology and by adding representations of semantics of reference ontology definitions of the terms. The simplified and enriched triples are stored as an ontology representing knowledge in an application providing the free-form text from which the complex triples were extracted.
US08747108B2

The present invention relates to the field of burners, particularly in burners intended for household use, such as stoves. A three ring burner is described, which produces longer and more inclined flames through which a more efficient heating is accomplished; combustion ports in the rings with straight or helicoid arrangements; where the inner ring can function in conjunction with or independently from the other two flame rings, thus controlling the heating intensity and the flame by means of controlling the velocity of the gas-air current; as main parts comprising; a burner head, which contains three concentric flame rings, one inner ring, one intermediate ring and one outer ring, each flame ring containing combustion ports, the collection of combustion ports are helicoid both in their inner ring as well as the outer ring, two lids on the burner head, one inner and the other outer; one cover for the burners which forms the surface of the heating apparatus; Venturi ducts on the lower part of the burner head; a support firmly joined to the surface of the heating apparatus, in this support are lodged Venturi ducts from the burner head; a gas distributor lodged in the lower part of the support, where the gas distributor has three gas exits, two laterals and one central.
US08747087B2

In some examples, a scroll pump 10 may include two scrolls, which are co-operable for pumping fluid from an inlet to an outlet on relative orbiting motion of the scrolls. Each scroll may include a respective scroll base from which a respective scroll wall extends generally axially towards the base of the opposing scroll. At least a first portion of one or each of the respective scroll walls has formed in an axial end face thereof a plurality of pockets distributed along the first portion for disrupting leakage of fluid from a high pressure side of the scroll wall to a low pressure side of the scroll wall.
US08747085B2

A vane cell pump has a rotor mounted in a pump housing and driven by a shaft, multiple vane plates mounted in the outer circumference of this rotor, and an outer ring that surrounds the rotor and the vane plates, whereby this ring is disposed either directly in the pump housing, or in a setting ring that can be moved in the pump housing, along predetermined paths. The vane cell pump has transverse grooves disposed in the cylinder mantle surface of the rotor, between the bearing grooves of the vane plates, running over the entire rotor width, disposed parallel to the bearing grooves of the vane plates, spaced apart from the bearing grooves by a bearing crosspiece. These transverse grooves have a non-symmetrical cross-section progression, which has a low point in each cell chamber, which point is always disposed behind the cell chamber center axis, seen in the direction of rotation.
US08747078B2

A gas separator having an improved flowpath for lighter fluids having a higher concentration of gas decreases total pumping head for an ESP assembly. The ESP assembly includes a rotary primary pump, a motor coupled to the primary pump for driving the pump, a seal assembly between the primary pump and the motor, and a gas separator between the seal assembly and the primary pump. An outlet of the gas separator feeds an intake of the primary pump, and a rotating shaft operationally couples the primary pump to the motor and passes through the seal assembly and the gas separator. The gas separator contains a venting portion, and a diverter positioned within the venting portion having diverter guide vanes formed in a flowpath of the lighter fluid for aiding in a directional change of fluid momentum. A slinger is positioned within the diverter for impelling fluid through the venting port.
US08747069B2

An adjustable height pressure sensing port arrangement is provided. In some example, the pressure sensing port may be arranged on an airfoil, such as wind turbine blade. The pressure sensing port arrangement may include a pressure sensing port body and a spring arranged within the port body. The pressure sensing port arrangement may further include a pressure sensing port arranged vertically above the spring and a rotatable capture disk arranged vertically above the port. The capture disk may be rotated to adjust a height of the capture disk. Further, the spring may be arranged to force an alignment feature of the pressure sensing port into an alignment feature on the rotatable capture disk in order to secure the port and capture disk in place.
US08747057B2

A variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; the annular inlet divided into axially adjacent annular portions by at least one annular baffle which is axially spaced from the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet formations extending axially across at least two of said annular portions defined by the or each baffle so as to divide said annular inlet into at least two axially offset inlet passages; the baffle(s) and inlet formations forming part of a nozzle assembly located within said annular inlet; wherein first and second components of the nozzle assembly define complementary features which co-operate to connect together said first and second components.
US08747053B2

A method for producing a lubricant feed in an axial bearing, wherein the lubricant feed is designed as a channel guiding lubricant from a lubricant pocket of the axial bearing, includes the following steps: preparing an initial axial bearing mold, stamping a groove in the area of the initial mold in which the channel is planned; embossing and putting through material on at least one or both sides of the groove along at least one segment of the groove; stamping the material on the side of the groove toward the groove so that the material and the groove form the channel.
US08747049B2

A transferring apparatus 1 includes a revolving base 13, two hand mechanisms 13 and 14, and two hand drive mechanisms 30 and 40. The hand mechanisms 13 and 14 are provided at a revolving base 13 so as to be rotatable about rotation axes L2 and L3, respectively. The hand mechanisms 13 and 14 are configured to be individually rotatable by hand drive mechanisms 30 and 40, respectively. Each of the hand mechanisms 13 and 14 includes an arm 20, a hand 21, and an interlock mechanism 26. The arms 21 are provided at the revolving link so as to be rotatable about the rotation axes L2 and L3, respectively. The hands 20 are respectively provided at the arms 21 so as to be rotatable about the hand axes L4 and L5, respectively. The interlock mechanism 26 is configured such that a reduction ratio of the hand 21 to the arm 20 is 1.55, and the arm 20 and the hand 21 operate in conjunction with each other.
US08747040B2

A screw assembly element in a first part is provided for use when attaching the first part to a second part using a screw. The assembly element comprises a sleeve arranged in a hole in the first part, the sleeve being cylindrical. At least a portion of the first part extends into the inside of the sleeve.
US08747038B2

A packaging clip having an end tab that aids in the quick removal of the packaging clip from an end board without damaging either the clip or the end board. The packaging clip can be placed to receive a single end board or to receive adjoining end boards. Each packaging clip is capable of gripping the end board received therein in the event that the fit is too loose. Packaging clips are used for receiving and stabilizing the placement of multiple end boards on a pallet and for the alignment of the ends boards with each other.
US08747031B2

A cutting insert assembly having an insert pocket having a pocket bore, a cutting insert and a fastening member coupling the cutting insert in the insert pocket. The cutting insert having a cutting insert bore, a first surface, a second surface and a peripheral surface extending therebetween. The first and second surfaces meeting the peripheral surface at first and second peripheral edges, respectively, at least a portion of at least one of the first and second peripheral edges forming a cutting edge. The cutting insert bore having at least two portions, the smallest of which, has an oval cross section allowing a for quick replacing or indexing of the cutting insert, without having to completely remove the fastening member from the pocket bore.
US08747027B1

A reinforced silt retention material with a variable sieve capability is provided for use in soil erosion control applications. The reinforced silt retention material includes a sheet of water permeable filtering material having varying apparent opening sizes at a series of filtering zones defined along the sheet, which allows varying amounts of runoff water to pass through the sheet but resists the passage of silt and debris therethrough. The silt retention material further includes one or more reinforcing elements that provide additional support to the sheet to protect against tearing and/or undue movement of the sheet, as well as provide attachment points for fasteners used to fasten the sheet to support members for proper positioning during erosion control applications.
US08747025B2

A method for laying cable from a vessel at a near shore location in shallow water to shore. The cable on the vessel is wrapped around a modified roller quadrant on the vessel. The roller quadrant is moved from the vessel into the water. A pulling device is attached by a line to the roller quadrant. The pulling device is used to pull the roller quadrant and cable toward shore. The pulling device may be positioned in the water and moved to shore as required. The pulling device may also be initially positioned on shore. The roller quadrant may include a skid and buoyancy modules to reduce the pulling force required to move the roller quadrant and lay the cable to shore.
US08747021B1

A transport apparatus for the engagement, orientation and installation of a unit of paving blocks is comprised of a support frame having a pair of spaced-apart aligned pivot connections. Support arms are pivotally connected to each pivot connection under the support frame. Two or more spaced-apart parallel block engaging arms are displaceably secured by connecting posts to the pair or parallel support arms. A piston simultaneously displaces the parallel support arms and the block engaging arms. The block engaging arms each have two or more suction cups for releasable securement to a top face of respective ones of paving blocks in the unit of paving blocks. When the piston rod of the piston is at a first position all of the suction cups are aligned on transverse parallel axis and when at a predetermined second position they are disposed in alignment on parallel angulated axis. The method of installation is also described.
US08747020B2

A conduit for the formation of pervious pavement includes a first portion and a second portion joinable to the first portion. The first portion includes a pair of first receiving notches and a pair of third receiving notches oriented perpendicular to the first receiving notches. The second portion includes a pair of second receiving notches and a pair of fourth receiving notches oriented perpendicular to the first receiving notches. When the first and second portions are joined to one another, the pair of first receiving notches cooperates with the pair of second receiving notches to define a pair of first attachment openings for receiving a first structural member of a reinforcing mesh, and the pair of third receiving notches cooperates with the pair of fourth receiving notches to define a pair of second attachment openings for receiving a second structural member of the reinforcing mesh.
US08747019B2

An artificial flagstone for use in combination with other similar flagstones for covering a surface with a natural random look, the flagstone having a generally hexagonal body comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth consecutive vertices; a first pair of first and second sides extending radially from the first vertex; a second pair of third and fourth sides extending radially from the third vertex; a third pair of fifth and sixth sides extending radially from the fifth vertex; wherein the sides of at least one of the first, second and third pair of sides have at least one split deviation along their length and are respectively rotational images of each other, and the artificial flagstone has no rotational symmetry when rotated about a central axis.
US08747008B2

A personal dispensing system allows a user to dispense a viscous liquid, such as a disinfectant soap, waterless hand cleaner or waterless hand sanitizer containing an anti-microbial composition. The dispenser includes a mounting clip which can be worn on the belt of a user. The dispenser has a front sidewall with openings which allow the viscous liquid to be dispensed onto a user's hands. The openings on the front sidewall of the container body and the viscosity of the liquid are selected so that the viscous liquid weeps out of the openings without dripping. The container body can also have a front opening which houses a gel pad which is impregnated with the anti-microbial composition. The gel pad has openings which are again matched to the viscosity of an anti-microbial composition so that the gel weeps from the gel pad without dripping during use. The front face of the device can also house a number of roller balls for dispensing the viscous liquid.
US08747005B2

An oral care implement generates cavitation within the oral cavity. One or more cavitation cleaning elements may be located in the head area of the oral care implement. The cavitation cleaning element vibrates at a frequency that produces cavitation of fluids within the oral cavity. The oral care implement may include an elastomeric cavitation cleaning element. A cleaning element may be configured to vibratory release an oral care substance from a container; and a body for gripping the implement.
US08746999B2

Carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a boronic acid, configured to present the polymer containing a boronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle and related compositions, methods and systems.
US08746997B2

A method includes pulling out and conveying a sheet having splice portions, acquiring information relating to a position of an indentation on the sheet formed in addition to a splice portion, and performing processing on the sheet but a position corresponding to the acquired position of the indentation and its vicinity.
US08746996B2

A camera accessory is detachably mounted at a camera body that includes a first body contact point, a second body contact point, a third body contact point, a fourth body contact point and a fifth body contact point and detects disengagement of the camera accessory when the fifth body contact point sustains a signal level corresponding to a first truth value continuously over a length of time equal to or greater than a predetermined time length. In the camera accessory, the accessory-side communication control device executes control so as to ensure that the signal assuming a level corresponding to the first truth value is not continuously output from the fifth accessory contact point any longer than the predetermined time length while the operating voltage supply from the camera body is provided via the first accessory contact point.
US08746995B2

In a camera, a first cam is rotated to assume a rotational phase at which drive of a first shutter blade set with a first drive force is not hindered and a second drive force charge cam face in contact with a second charge member charges a second drive force as a rotating shaft is caused to rotate to a first rotational phase. A second drive force charge cam in contact with the second charge member sustains a second drive force charging state period in which the shaft in the first rotational phase rotates to a second rotational phase. A first drive force charge cam face in contact with the first charge member charges the first drive force and the second cam face in contact with the second charge member charges the second drive force as the shaft rotates from the first rotational phase to the second rotational phase.
US08746990B2

A universal modular connector includes a base and a transforming module. The base has a first opening thereon, and the base further has an optical component therein. The transforming module has a circuit board, a plurality of connection terminals, a first signal transforming integrated circuit (IC), and at least one fiber optic connector therein. The transforming module receives external electronic signal through the connection terminals, and transforms the received electronic signal into optical signal via the first signal transforming IC. The transforming module is connected with the base through the first opening, and the optical component of the base receives the transformed optical signal sent by the fiber optic connector of the transforming module. Therefore, the universal modular connector transmits the optical signal externally to an electronic device via the optical component.
US08746984B2

A mechanism and method for locking a bearing to a shaft includes a split sleeve and a receptive flange adapted to be fixed to the bearing. A positioning flange is coupled to the split sleeve. A screw extends through the positioning flange and threadingly engages the receptive flange. Rotation of the screw in a first direction axially drives the sleeve into engagement with the bearing to collapse the split sleeve into engagement with the shaft.
US08746982B2

A rolling bearing device includes inner races, outer races, rolling elements, a retainer, and an inner race spacer. The inner race spacer is formed of an oil reservoir member made of a sintered metal impregnated with lubricating oil, and a spacer cover fitted onto an outer periphery of the oil reservoir member. Through a centrifugal force to be applied to the oil reservoir member at the time of bearing rotation, the lubricating oil is scattered radially outward through a chamfered portion of the oil reservoir member via an oil supply passage, to thereby lubricate the interior of the bearing with oil.
US08746979B2

Bearing assemblies and apparatuses are disclosed. Such bearing assemblies may be employed in bearing apparatuses for use in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment of the present invention, a bearing apparatus includes a first bearing assembly including a first substantially continuous polycrystalline diamond bearing surface defining an annular surface, and a second bearing assembly including a second substantially continuous polycrystalline diamond bearing surface defining an annular surface. The second substantially continuous polycrystalline diamond bearing surface generally opposes the first substantially continuous polycrystalline diamond bearing surface.
US08746976B2

A sliding element, and in particular a piston ring, is provided with a DLC coating on a substrate of the sliding element. A material softer than DLC is embedded into the surface of the DLC coating with which the sliding element will come into contact with a sliding partner, against which the sliding element will slide.
US08746972B2

An apparatus for cone beam computed tomography of an extremity has a digital radiation detector and a first device to move the detector along a circular detector path extending so that the detector moves both at least partially around a first extremity of the patient and between the first extremity and a second, adjacent extremity. The detector path has radius R1 sufficient to position the extremity approximately centered in the detector path. There is a radiation source with a second device to move the source along a concentric circular source path having a radius R2 greater than radius R1, radius R2 sufficiently long to allow adequate radiation exposure of the first extremity for an image capture by the detector. A first circumferential gap in the source path allows the second extremity to be positioned in the first circumferential gap during image capture.
US08746968B2

A sensor (10; 34) for measuring and/or detecting fouling that forms directly or indirectly on a so-called front surface of the sensor, includes the following in the form of a plurality of superimposed layers: —at least one heating element (14) that is able to diffuse, on command, a homogenous, monitored heat flow whose heat output is less than 200 mW, —a heat insulator (11) located on the side opposite the front surface of the sensor to prevent dissipation of the heat flow from the opposite side, —at least one temperature measuring element (16) that is placed in the homogenous heat flow diffused by the at least one heating element and that offers a precision of temperature measurement of better than 0.1° C., and —a substrate (12; 42) on which the layers of the at least one heating element and at least one temperature measuring element are connected.
US08746966B2

A thermoanalytical instrument, and especially a differential scanning calorimeter, has first and second measurement positions, a heater and a temperature sensor associated with each of the measurement positions, and a controller. The controller, which has an associated means for setting a predetermined temperature program, controls a heating power of the first heater to cause the temperature measured at the first position to follow the temperature program. The controller also controls both heaters to eliminate any temperature difference between the measured first and second temperatures. The controller also provides a means for determining the lower of the measured first and second measured temperatures and applies additional power to the heater associated with that lower measured temperature.
US08746948B2

A light guide for guiding light from multiple point sources arranged in a first direction (Y1) on a light source board includes a supporting unit including multiple supporting pieces provided to the light source board, arranged at regular intervals in the first direction (Y1), and a light guiding body continuous with the multiple supporting pieces and disposed downstream from the multiple point sources in a light emission direction (L). The light guiding body includes an incident surface, a light emission surface, multiple support ranges in which the supporting pieces are provided, and multiple light transmission ranges adjacent to the support ranges, respectively, in the first direction (Y1), to cause the light to exit the guiding body partly, and the multiple support ranges and the multiple light transmission ranges have substantially the same length in a second direction (X) perpendicular to the first direction (Y1).
US08746941B2

A vehicle headlamp includes a light source, a reflector, a projection lens, and a shade. The shade has an upper end edge portion and a raised portion. The upper end edge portion has a projection. The reflector reflects light output from the light source in the front direction. The projection lens in front of the light source projects the light. The shade between the reflector and the projection shields a portion of the light. The upper end edge portion contributes to form the upper end line of the low beam as a cut-off line. The projection contributes to form a recession of the cut-off line recessed below a specific point in the low beam. The raised portion reflects the light having passed above the projection to illuminate an inner region of the recession.
US08746940B2

Light emitted from a light source having an S/P ratio being 2.0 or more is projected to a peripheral area in front of a vehicle body, and thereby an earlier awareness with the peripheral vision under dark environment (e.g., during nighttime driving) can be facilitated.
US08746939B2

A light assembly for motor vehicles includes a body made of a light-transmitting material. The light-transmitting material preferably includes a front light-emitting surface, and a plurality of rear surface portions that provide for inward reflection of light from a plurality of LEDs or other light sources. The reflective surface portions may be in the form of truncated parabolas having flat upper, lower, and/or side surfaces to reduce the overall height and/or width of the light assembly. The reflective surfaces can be oriented at off-axis relative to a vehicle axis to provide a specific beam intensity and direction.
US08746936B2

It is presented an optical component (5) a first side (30) and a refractive opposite side (14). The refractive side (14) presents a refractive surface (13) and has radially extending refractive structures (6) for refracting light mainly in the azimuth direction (27) of an inciding light beam. The optical component (5) can be used as an exit window in a luminaire (1) having at least one light source (4), whereby light inhomogeneity may be reduced.
US08746933B2

A lighting apparatus is configured to expose one end of a substrate in which a electrode pad is formed, and to combine a coupling unit in which a locking ledge is formed. The other end of the substrate is placed atop one end of another lighting apparatus at which an electrode pad is exposed, and the locking ledge of the lighting apparatus is locked into a locking groove of the another lighting apparatus.
US08746927B1

An LED-based light fixture that includes a light fixture housing forming a light emission aperture, one or more LEDs attached to a circuit board that is surrounded by the light fixture housing and emits light through the light emission aperture when powered. The LED-based light fixture further includes at least one flexible heat sink member that is thermally coupled with at least a portion of the circuit board and the light fixture housing.
US08746923B2

In various embodiments, a lens array comprises a plurality of aspheric lens elements each optically coupled to a light-emitting element and producing an out-of-focus image thereof. The images combine to generate a target luminous intensity distribution, e.g., providing constant illuminance on a plane.
US08746922B2

LED based illumination modules are realized that are visually color matched to light sources not based on LEDs based on visually matched color spaces. A visually matched color space is employed to both instrumentally and visually match an LED based light source with a light source not based on LEDs. In one aspect, an LED based illumination module is realized to achieve a target color point in a visually matched color space within a predetermined tolerance. In another aspect, an LED based illumination module is realized to visually match a light source not based on LEDs. A target color point in the CIE 1931 XYZ color space is derived based at least in part on the spectrum of the visually matched LED based illumination module. LED based illumination modules visually matched to light sources not based on LEDs are realized based on the derived target color point.
US08746900B2

The present invention provides a sliding lens cover mechanism for a projector, which enables enhancement in operability and prevention of noise, and the sliding lens cover mechanism includes: a front panel that allows the projection lens to be exposed from a part thereof; a lens cover that moves over said front panel, from fully-open state in which the projection lens is exposed and a fully-closed state in which said lens cover covers the projection lens; and a slide device unit that biases the lens cover to move to a fully-open state or to a fully-closed state or to an intermediate state, wherein the lens cover includes a pin that protrudes toward the front panel; and wherein the front panel includes a slide plate that abuts against the pin only in the fully open state or in the fully closed state.
US08746895B2

Disclosed is an abstracted lighting control system abstracted based on the lighting canvas rather than the mapping of the location of the luminaires or lighting fixtures.
US08746894B2

Methods and systems for displaying three-dimensional (3D) images using motion parallax are described. Images are projected onto a reflector with a rippled or faceted surface. The reflected images are viewed at a plurality of viewing locations and a different image is perceived according to the viewing location.
US08746891B2

An illumination device a first light source array a first light source. The first light source can generate a first light beam having a first spectral distribution. The first light beam can propagate primarily in a first direction along an optical axis. A second light source array can be included, having a second light source that generates a second light beam having a second spectral distribution. Also included can be a first dichroic reflector positioned partially in the first and the second light beams. The first dichroic reflector can transmit a part of the first and the second light beams. The second light beam can propagate in a second direction towards a part of the first light source array and opposite the first direction. Further, a part of the second light beam can propagate primarily in first direction after being reflected by the first dichroic reflector.
US08746889B2

An autostereoscopic display configured to display a three dimensional (3D) image of a scene. The autostereoscopic display uses a single projector to project a plurality of projected images into a mirror arrangement fixedly positioned in the projection field of the single projector to reflect the plurality of projected images onto the holographic diffuser from distinct directions such that a 3D image is perceived by a person viewing the holographic diffuser.
US08746884B2

The present invention provides an optical image acquisition apparatus, while controlling the amount of light within the range prescribed by safety standards, etc., decreasing in image acquisition time by using a simple configuration, as well as securing a high resolution of an optical image by using adaptive optics.Provided is an optical image acquisition apparatus having adaptive optics, the adaptive optics includes: a wavefront aberration detector for detecting a wavefront aberration in a reflected or backscattered beams generated when a plurality of beams are scanned on a surface, and a single wavefront aberration corrector for correcting a wavefront aberration in each of the plurality of beams, based on the wavefront aberration, and the plurality of beams enter the single wavefront aberration corrector with different incident angles and are overlapped on each other, and the wavefront aberration in each of the plurality of beams is corrected.
US08746881B2

For processing eye tissue (8) by means of femtosecond laser pulses, an ophthalmological device (1) includes a projection optical unit (2) for the focused projection of the femtosecond laser pulses into the eye tissue (8). Disposed upstream of the projection optical unit (2) is a first beam-deflecting scanner system (3) for scanning the eye tissue (8) with the femtosecond laser pulses along a processing line. A second beam-deflecting scanner system (5) is disposed upstream of the first scanner system (3) and is designed for scanning the eye tissue (8) with the femtosecond laser pulses in a scanning movement superimposed on the processing line and running in a deflection plane. The second scanner system (5) has a scanner speed that is a multiple of the scanning speed of the first scanner system (3). A rotation system is provided for aligning the deflection plane with a defined angle with respect to the processing line.
US08746877B2

Eyewear is provided that can comprise a frame, a lens, and at least one retention component that can secure the lens relative to the frame. The frame can be configured to support at least one lens in a field of view of a wearer. The retention component can be supported by the frame and/or the lens and can be movable or fixed relative to the frame and/or the lens. In some embodiments, the retention component can slidably engage an engagement portion of the frame and/or the lens for preventing the lens from separating from the frame in response to a ballistic event. In some embodiments, the eyewear can comprise a faceplate and a pair of straps that attach to the frame of the eyewear in a manner that evenly distributes compressive stresses across the surface of the faceplate.
US08746871B2

An image formation device includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto a sheet, IR heaters that dry the ink ejected on the sheet, and warm air heaters between the IR heaters. At the IR heaters, a peak wavelength of infrared rays is set to be less than or equal to 1.2 μm. By adjusting temperature of the IR heaters and temperature and wind speed of the warm air heaters, during an initial stage of drying in which a moisture content derived from ink at the sheet is greater than or equal to 4.0 g/m2, heating is carried out under a condition that a paper surface temperature of the sheet becomes less than or equal to 100° C., and, after the moisture content derived from ink at the sheet becomes lower than 4.0 g/m2, heating is carried out such that the paper surface temperature of the sheet exceeds 100° C.
US08746858B2

A recording apparatus includes a paper supply tray 31 that is provided on an upstream side of a transport direction in which recording paper P is transported, and which can feed the recording paper P from a first aperture portion 21 provided in a housing 20, a guide member 33, which is provided in the paper supply tray 31 wall surface portion 21a of the housing 20, and an ink tube 50 that passes through gap sections S1 and S2 between the guide member 33 and the wall surface portion and supplies ink from an ink accommodation portion 60 which is provided outside the housing 20 to a recording head 43 that is attached to a carriage 41.
US08746856B2

A piezoelectric element comprises a first electrode including platinum, a piezoelectric layer disposed above the first electrode, made of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing at least bismuth, and a second electrode disposed above the piezoelectric layer. An oxide containing bismuth and platinum is disposed at the interface of the piezoelectric layer with the first electrode.
US08746851B2

According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes: a nozzle plate including plural nozzles; a piezoelectric element including plural pressure chambers corresponding to the nozzles and sidewalls provided adjacent to the pressure chambers and serving as driving elements configured to press the pressure chambers to eject liquid from the nozzles; a substrate to which the piezoelectric element is bonded; and a frame member placed on the substrate to surround the piezoelectric element. Grooves are formed on the upper end, and in which an adhesive is applied to bond the upper ends of the sidewalls and the nozzle plate.
US08746844B2

A fluid ejection apparatus includes a printhead having a substrate. The substrate includes a nozzle face having a width direction and a length direction. The nozzle face includes a set of four columns of nozzles oriented in a column direction substantially along the width direction of the nozzle face, and the nozzles in each column are positioned on a straight line along the column. A spacing between two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns is different than a spacing between another two adjacent columns of the four adjacent columns. In some implementations, a controller can control timing of ejection of fluid droplets from the nozzles to deposit lines of fluid droplets on a medium, and the medium can travel relative to the nozzle face.
US08746840B2

A printer includes a fluid ejecting head having a plurality of nozzles, an ink supply channel and a maintenance device. The maintenance device includes a pressure regulating mechanism configured to reduce the pressures in the interiors of the ink supply channels at a position of pressure reduction, and a tight cap being brought into abutment with the fluid ejecting head so that the nozzle openings of the nozzles which receives a supply of ink through flow channels which are subject to relatively small pressure losses first by priority according to the magnitudes of the pressure losses in the respective flow channels extending from the position of pressure reduction to the respective nozzles.
US08746834B2

An image recording device includes a conveying part that conveys a medium along a conveying path, a first medium support part that supports a region of the medium positioned in an image recording area on the conveying path and heats the region, a second medium support part disposed in an upstream area from the image recording area on the conveying path, and supports an upstream region of the medium positioned in the upstream area and heats the upstream region, and a temperature control part that controls a temperature of the first medium support part and a temperature of the second medium support part so that the temperature of the second medium support part corresponding to the upstream region is lower than the temperature of the first medium support part corresponding to the region.
US08746833B2

A liquid jet head has a head chip including channels and nozzle holes communicating with respective ones of the channels. The channels have sidewalls each provided with a drive electrode. A temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of a liquid in the channels. A drive voltage value setting device is electrically connected to the temperature sensor for determining a magnitude of a drive voltage based on the temperature of the liquid detected by the temperature sensor. A control device performs a control operation that applies a drive voltage of the magnitude determined by the drive voltage value setting device to the drive electrodes of the head chip so as to increase a pressure in each of the channels by deformation of the side walls to thereby discharge the liquid in the channels from the respective nozzle holes.
US08746828B2

An ink jet recording apparatus determines the timing of executing discharge recovery processing based on the discharge amount of ink for each predetermined region discharged from a recording head, and controls the discharge recovery processing to be executed at the determined timing. Thereby, the discharge performance of the ink can be kept to be good, and the discharge recovery processing can be executed at the suitable timing without producing any deterioration of the image quality of a recorded image, and with the deterioration of throughput reduced.
US08746824B2

A recording apparatus includes a light irradiation unit including a light emitting element row having therein a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in the same direction as a nozzle row, and a fault detection unit that detects whether there is a fault in each of the light emitting elements. The light emitting elements apply light to a photoreactive liquid discharged onto a recording target material. The light irradiation unit includes a plurality of the light emitting element rows arranged therein. When the fault detection unit detects a fault in a light emitting element, operation enters a fault mode where the light emitting element row to which the faulty light emitting element belongs is turned off and recording is performed with the remaining light emitting element rows.
US08746821B2

A controller includes an information transferring unit in a main control unit. A mechanical controller transmits device state information at predetermined time intervals. The information transferring unit performs some processing on the device state information received from the mechanical controller as necessary and stores the information in a second storage unit. Upon receiving a device state acquisition command from a host control unit, the information transferring unit transmits device state information read out from the second storage unit to the host control unit as a response to the device state acquisition command.
US08746820B2

Disclosed is a nail print apparatus including: a photographing section which photographs a plurality of fingers and a nail section of each finger to obtain a finger image; a finger type detecting section which detects a type of each finger from the finger image; a first storage controlling section which stores the type of finger detected by the finger type detecting section corresponded with the nail image; a design specifying section which receives specification of a design image to be printed; a second storage controlling section which stores the design image specified on the design specifying section; a combined nail image generating section which combines the design image with the nail image for each type of finger to generate a combined nail image; and a print controlling section which controls printing of the combined nail image on the nail chip sheet.
US08746818B2

A storage rack configured to be removably attached to an inner refrigerator door liner to enable storage of canned and/or bottled beverages is defined by an open body formed from a peripheral frame member, a base member fixed to and extending between side portions of the peripheral frame member and an angled support member. A front segment of the angled support member and a frontal section of the peripheral frame member include a series of aligned arcuate portions. Bottles, such as soda, water, wine and the like bottles, can be stored upright in the rack, resting on the base member between the frontal section of the peripheral frame member and a rear segment of the angled support member, while beverage cans can be stored at an angle, abutting the rear segment of the angled support member while spaced side portions of the cans rest upon the aligned arcuate portions.
US08746816B2

An anti-tip lock assembly for a storage compartment includes a pair of geared actuators mounted on a base abutting against a follower. The follower and the base are configured to travel a limited distance along a vertical track installed in a storage unit. When the compartment is closed, the actuators are aligned with the track. When the compartment is opened, the actuators are moved out of alignment to block access to the moving components of the assembly. When the anti-tip lock assembly is operational, the array of like anti-tip assemblies in the track allow displacement of only one pair of actuators to occupy the limited distance at one time. A security bar array interacts with the actuators and other assemblies in the storage unit, to prevent simultaneous opening of two or more compartments. The security bar is provided with the track to lock and unlock the assembly.
US08746810B2

A brake fluid pressure control device 10 includes: a block-shaped housing 30, front and rear wheel-use flow paths, mounting holes in each side surface of the housing 30; a pair of front wheel-use switching valve bodies 1a and 2a that are mounted in a pair of mounting holes 31a and 31b that control the pressure of a brake fluid supplied to a front wheel-use wheel cylinder 103; a pair of rear wheel-use switching valve bodies 3a and 4a that are mounted in a pair of mounting holes 31c and 31d that control the pressure of the brake fluid supplied to a rear wheel-use wheel cylinder 106; a pressure sensor 13 that is inserted inside a mounting hole 31j in the first side surface 30a of the housing 30; and an electronic control unit 8 that drives and controls the front wheel-use and rear wheel-use switching valve bodies 1a to 4a.
US08746809B2

When an EPB performs a locking operation of operating a parking brake, a pressure-decreasing limit control is performed until a driving shaft contacts a piston. Accordingly, even when the time of decreasing the W/C pressure by a service brake is equal to the time of brining the driving shaft having moved by the motor driving of the EPB into contact with the piston are equal to each other, it is possible to prevent the piston, which has been urged to the driving shaft with the decreasing of the W/C pressure, from colliding with the driving shaft with a great impact, thereby preventing a large load from being applied to the driving shaft.
US08746803B2

[Object] To provide a retractor that is manufacturable at a much lower cost by making a pretensioner operate more effectively, by minimizing the length of a pipe so that a weight reduction is realized effectively, and by easing the restriction for the shape of a guide member.[Solution] A pipe 17 in which a plurality of balls as force transmitting members are provided includes an attaching portion 17c as a projection provided at one end portion 17a thereof. A guide member 18 having a guide surface 18c that guides the balls has attaching grooves 18 as recesses. The attaching portion 17c is fitted into the attaching grooves 18, whereby the pipe 17 is attached around the outer circumference thereof to the guide member 18 attached to a frame. Since the guide member 18 is provided on the outer circumference of the pipe 17, the pipe 17 can be shortened.
US08746801B2

A headrest structure is equipped with a headrest main body; a headrest stay that supports the headrest main body; and a stopper member, a first end portion of the stopper member configuring a fixing portion fixed to the bottom end portion of the headrest stay, a second end portion of the stopper member configuring a stopper portion that is inserted into a support portion and is formed with a claw portion, when the stopper portion is inserted into the support portion, the claw portion resiliently deforming, when the stopper portion has been completely inserted into the support portion, the claw portion resiliently rebounding such that the outer diameter of the claw portion exceeds the inner diameter of the support portion, and when the stopper portion moves in a direction of exiting from the support portion, the claw portion catches on an end portion of the support portion.
US08746796B2

A disc recliner includes a fixed plate having a plurality of outer teeth and a movable plate having a plurality of inner teeth meshingly engageable with the outer teeth to allow rolling movement of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate. A pair of wedges defining an eccentric is rotatably mounted between the fixed and movable plates and rotation of the wedges causes the rolling movement of the movable plate. An anchor is disposed between the wedges for rotation therewith. A lock plate is coupled to the anchor and is movable between a locked position engaged with the fixed plate to prevent rotation of the wedges and an unlocked position disengaged with the fixed plate to permit rotation of the wedges. A cam actuates the lock plate from the locked position to the unlocked position and rotates the wedges thereby causing the rolling movement of the movable plate.
US08746792B2

An energy management load limiting vehicle seat member or construction is shown with collision energy absorbing and anti-submarining features.
US08746790B2

Subject matter described includes an apparatus that attaches to a chair to provide storage and to assist with carrying the chair. For example, the apparatus might include side panels that are attached to one another, such that the side panels contiguously extend around the chair legs when the apparatus is attached to a chair. In addition, the apparatus includes a top panel that extends from one of the side panels over the chair seat and that releasably fastens to one or more other side panels. The apparatus might also include a wrapping mechanism that attaches to a chair and that includes a releasable fastener. The releasable fastener is positioned to be fastened when the wrapping mechanism wraps around a collapsed chair.
US08746788B2

A fold-down tablet used in a chair is disclosed. The tablet includes a board, a torsion positioning mechanism, a shaft and an armrest. The torsion positioning mechanism is fixed to a side of the board for horizontally rotating and positioning the board. The shaft has a protrudent positioning bar and is fixed to the torsion positioning mechanism for making the board vertically rotatable. The armrest has a shaft hole for rotatably receiving the shaft and a slot communicating with the shaft hole. When the board is turned horizontally, the positioning bar is embedded into the slot to be restricted.
US08746785B2

An exhaust heat recovery apparatus (3) is installed below a floor supported by both side members (11, 12) of a vehicle to recover heat from exhaust gas passing through an exhaust pipe (1) of an internal combustion engine. Assistance members (15, 16), which extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, are provided between the both side members (11, 12) of the vehicle. The exhaust heat recovery apparatus (3) is installed close to one of the assistance members (15, 16).
US08746780B2

A reinforcer for installation in a structural member is disclosed. The reinforcer includes a rigid carrier having at least a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is substantially orthogonal to said second surface. Bonding material is disposed both on said first surface and said second surface. The reinforcer is configured to be installed in a structural member such that the first surface is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structural member, and the second surface is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the structural member.
US08746765B1

Extendable implements include a handle and functional end that extends or retracts therefrom through a release. The handle and functional end are configured to provide user-implement synergy or ergonomics that account for typical hand grips and extension functionality together. Synergistic or ergonomic features can include any combination of positioning the release to avoid a strong grip on an extended implement, configuring the release to require definite voluntary actuation, extension and retraction of the functional end with a single hand not contacting the functional end, a deep handle molded to a forceful open grip, a functional end dimensioned to prevent deflection or breaking during extended typical use, a functional end dimensioned and a release configured to provide reliable extension, retraction, and/or locking of functional end, etc.
US08746763B2

A multistage energy absorber device is provided that includes at least two generally tubular members. Each of the generally tubular members has a first end and a second end. The second generally tubular member is independent of the first generally tubular member and fits within the first generally tubular member. The first ends of the generally tubular members are substantially flush with each other, but the second end of the second generally tubular member protrudes sufficiently beyond the second end of the first generally tubular member to form a first deformation stage. The first and second generally tubular members extend coextensively sufficiently from the first ends of the first and second generally tubular members to the second end of the first generally tubular member to form a second deformation stage.
US08746760B2

In a handle-returning device of a cylinder lock assembly, a support base has an inner annular flange and an axial spring-retaining lug. A rotation driver has an inner tubular wall extending into the inner annular flange of the support base, and a spring driving element. A torsion spring is disposed around the inner annular flange and between the support base and the rotation driver, and has a spring leg abutting the spring-retaining lug and the spring driving element. A rotary plate abuts the support base opposite to the rotation driver, and has an engaging part engaging a tongue projecting from the rotation driver. A reinforced structure is thus provided to oppose high torsional stresses produced upon rotation of a lever handle.
US08746757B2

Methods and apparatuses provide for a security apparatus having a first anchor assembly with a first pin, wherein the first anchor assembly is to be mounted to a wall adjacent to a first side of a passageway closure such as a door or window. A second anchor assembly may include a second pin, wherein the second anchor assembly is to be mounted to the wall adjacent to a second side of the passageway closure. In addition, the security apparatus can include a longitudinal member having an open end and a closed end, wherein if the open end is coupled to the first pin and the closed end is coupled to the second pin, the apparatus inhibits opening of the passageway closure.
US08746747B2

A pipe joint for joining pipes composed of materials that are difficult to adhere. The major elements are an extrudable adhesive; a first pipe having a socket with an inside diameter, where the socket has a mouth, a self-centering bottom with a gasket, a cylindrical wall with a plurality of ports, and an inner annular channel. A second pipe has an insertion section with a squared-off end and a rolled groove. The second pipe having an outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of the socket, where the difference defines a coaxial cavity with a width. The rolled groove serves as a distribution channel while the adhesive is a liquid, and upon curing the solid adhesive functions as a retaining ring. A flanged annular ring, potentially aided by a compression apparatus, caps the cavity, centers the insertion section, and maintains compression. The adhesive includes alkyl-borane-adhesives.
US08746743B2

A seat belt locking buckle configured to allow a seat belt locking tongue to be stably and firmly latched and reduce the thickness of a seat belt locking buckle. When a tongue latch member is inserted into a seat belt locking buckle, an ejector is moved. Thus, a buckle latch member 13 becomes rotatable. Consequently, a slider moves along a plane that is parallel or substantially parallel to a plane of the motion of the tongue latch member and pushes a first latch guide portion of the buckle latch member. Thus, the buckle latch member is rotated from a non-latch position to a latch position. In this manner, the tongue latch member is latched by the buckle latch member.
US08746741B2

A mechanism protecting vehicle occupants from floor oscillation during under-vehicle explosions comprises vehicle cab sidewalls, a cab floor, cab mounts having elastomeric bodies between the cab and vehicle frame members, a shield below the cab floor, first elastomeric isolators between the shield and frame, and second elastomeric isolators between the shield and sidewalls. The second isolators collapse by an amount equal to the combined collapse of the first isolators and cab mounts. Explosive loads to the shield follow paths to different floor zones, decreasing floor oscillation. A vehicle payload area is mounted to the frame separately from the cab. The payload area and cab move independently on the frame. The payload area mounts are stiffer and smaller than the cab mounts, so explosions under the vehicle tend to accelerate the payload area before the cab.
US08746738B2

There is provided an airbag folding method for folding an airbag. The method includes in the following order: (a) folding the inner panel and the outer panel into a symmetrical substantially rectangular shape such that a groove of the concave region is located along a center line, wherein the center line passes through a center of the introduction port and symmetrically divides the inner and outer panels; (b) folding the inner and outer panels along fold lines from right and left edges thereof toward the center line, wherein the fold lines are substantially parallel to the center line; and (c) folding and rolling up the inner and outer panels from both ends of the center line toward the introduction port.
US08746731B2

The invention relates to a seat attachment for a stroller, single stroller and double strollers. Such a seat attachment may be used to reversibly convert a single stroller into a double stroller. More specifically, versions of the seat attachment relate to a seat attachment for a stroller capable of supporting a seat such as, but not limited to, a stroller seat, a baby seat, bassinet, a pram, a car seat, or a baby carrier, for example. The seat may be supported in front of a permanent seat of the stroller.
US08746719B2

A vehicle may include a CVT unit or a power source which requires ambient air. An air inlet for an air intake system coupled to the CVT unit or the power source which requires ambient air may be provided in a side of a cargo carrying portion of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a rear radius arm suspension.
US08746716B1

Skateboards methods of riding and steering a foldable skateboard with two large front wheels pivotally attached to the skateboard and a single large rear centered wheel with depressible brake. The skateboard allows for the rider with one foot on the skateboard to propel the skateboard by pushing off the ground with another foot. A stabilizer with angled bolt/pin/rod that inserts into an oblong eyelet opening with pliable bushing on the front axle can allow the rider to tilt the board with their weight to turn to the left or to the right. A folding mechanism having brackets with parallel plates and an end hingedly attached to outer ends of a front frame rear frame members. Opposite end of the brackets can have holes that align with holes in the front frame member where a removable pin locks the front and rear frame members in an unfolded position.
US08746711B1

A disc golf transport apparatus has a frame with an upper and a lower end, a disc container affixed to the frame between the upper and the lower end, at least one wheel rotatably mounted adjacent the lower and of the frame, and at least one leg pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of the frame so as to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A rack is affixed adjacent the lower end of the frame so as to extend forwardly of the wheel. A box is affixed adjacent the upper end of the frame so as to extend generally horizontally outwardly therefrom.
US08746709B2

A magnifying glass that is mounted on the shopping cart can be moved from a protected neutral position into the reading position only when no key is in the coin deposit lock, and the key can be inserted into the lock only after the magnifying glass has been placed into the protected neutral position.
US08746698B2

A casino chip organizer/pusher has a chip receiving portion and a handle secured to a lower end of the chip receiving portion. The chip-receiving portion is formed by a U-shaped fixed member affixed to the handle and an optional detachable U-shaped member that can be slidably engaged with the fixed member. When stacks of chips are positioned inside the chip receiving portion they can be transferred along the gaming table without tumbling.
US08746696B2

A second support member supports a first support member so that the first support member is movable between a predetermined first position and a second position at an upstream side of the first position in a conveying direction of a recording medium. The first support member is moved to the first position during conveyance of the recording medium by a first conveying section. The first support member is moved to the second position during non-conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveying section.
US08746688B2

An apparatus for accumulating sheet material in a sheet handling system including a first conveyance, a second conveyance, an auxiliary conveyance and a processor to control the conveyances based upon a selected operating mode. The first conveyance receives singulated sheets and conveys the sheets to an accumulator station to produce completed collations. The second conveyance is operative to dispense completed collations from the accumulator station and, receives the completed collations from the first conveyance, in one operating mode, and from the auxiliary conveyance in another operating mode when the first conveyance is inoperative. The processor is responsive to a next collation signal, to control the conveyances based upon a selected one of the operating modes.
US08746678B2

An image forming device includes: a feeding roller; a support shaft; a support portion; a drive shaft; a planetary gear unit; and a driving force transmission unit. The support portion rotatably supports the feeding roller and is pivotally movably supported to the support shaft. The drive shaft is rotatable upon receipt of a driving force from a motor. The planetary gear unit includes a sun gear rotatable integrally with the drive shaft, and a planetary gear swingably movable about the sun gear while maintaining meshing engagement therewith. The transmission unit includes an input gear meshingly engageable with the planetary gear when the drive shaft rotates. The transmission unit transmits the driving force to the feeding roller through the drive shaft, the sun gear, the planetary gear, and the input gear.
US08746663B2

A mechanically adjustable elastomer bearing based on a correspondingly arranged spring element whose spring stiffness can be adjusted or pretensioned individually by deformable elastomer bodies or elastomer layers. The deformation of the elastomer layers, and thus of the spring elements, is achieved by a pressure-generated device which is fully integrated into the spring element. The elastomer bearing are particularly suitable for use as bearings in rotor and gearbox for large wind turbines, but can also advantageously be employed in machine and vehicle construction, and in particular package clutches.
US08746659B2

A device for opening a door by staving it inwards, so that the device can exert a trust on the vertical surface of the door and stave it inwards when the device is positioned against the door on the side to which it opens by being pulled, the device comprising an actuator, an intermediate soleplate, and an upper jacking bar, the device comprising an upper jacking device fixed in a hinged manner to the upper end of the upper jacking bar, and comprising at least one wedging and locking device forming: a front flat portion, a riser portion, and a rear portion.
US08746658B2

A coaxial valve for regulating and blocking a fluid medium having a valve housing having at least one inlet opening, at least one outlet opening and a flow duct connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening; a tubular valve sleeve disposed in an axially movable manner in a portion of the flow duct and having an inflow and an outflow opening for the medium, wherein the inflow and outflow openings open into the flow duct; a closure member disposed in the valve housing and arranged coaxially with the valve sleeve and configured to close the inflow opening; and a drive configured to axially move the valve sleeve and having an electric servomotor and a transmission part coupled between the servomotor and the valve sleeve, the transmission part configured to transmit an axial movement to the valve sleeve.
US08746649B2

A system and method to control vibrations exerted on a non-vibrating structure. The system includes an adjustable variable stiffness support securely attached to both the non-vibrating structure and a vibrating structure. A driver operably associated with the variable stiffness support is configured to selectively adjust the variable stiffness support. A control system in data communication with both a sensor system and the driver includes an algorithm to determine whether adjustment of the variable stiffness support is required.
US08746648B1

A method and apparatus for supporting heavy load is developed which consists of parallel spring sets in a M×N matrix, where M is the number of Modules and N is the number of spring sets in each module. Each spring set may be comprised of a single coil or multiple coils in series. Each module is pre-compressed to the design installation load employing hydraulic jacks working in parallel by a single pump.
US08746646B2

An end clamp for fastening a framed PV module on a carrier profile includes a first and second part with respective tooth systems corresponding to each other. The first and second parts together comprise a first section which holds down a frame of the framed PV module onto a surface of the carrier profile, a second section which laterally fixes the frame, a third section with an opening to have a screw pass therethrough, and a fourth section which supports the end clamp on the surface of the carrier profile. The first and second parts slide one inside the other parallel to the first and second sections in at least one discrete position corresponding to a specific frame height provided between the surface and the first section. The first and second parts thereby have one respective remaining degree of freedom and a clearance fit in two other degrees of freedom.
US08746638B2

A stand for engaging support of a smart mobile telephone includes a base plate formed of planar thermoplastic polymer generally rectangular in shape having a midline axis and a first and second extreme edges in opposed relationship, parallel and spaced apart from the midline axis. A first and a second flex plate formed of the planar thermoplastic polymer and include an attachment region extending from an extreme edge and to a first root edge and is fused to base plate in a manner to bias the first flex plate toward the base plate. A generally rectangular limb extends beyond the root edge to a living hinge affixed to a generally rectangular first riser defining at least one first tab being configured to engage the registration slot when the first riser is rotated to an attitude perpendicular to the base plate.
US08746636B2

A mixing stand device is disclosed for holding a conventional bucket container of a viscous building material in a proper stationary position for mixing. The present mixing stand device comprises a rigid frame assembly erected and attached upon a base platform in a position that allows a worker to stand upon the platform forward of the frame assembly. The frame assembly is formed having an inwardly tapered cylindrical configuration that is fitted to receive the bucket container, the frame assembly comprising upper and lower circular band members spaced apart and coaxially disposed at the respective top and bottom of the frame assembly with a plurality of leg members each being laterally disposed at 90° to the other and extending between the upper and lower band members. Leg members disposed on opposite sides of the frame assembly are formed having an extended tab projecting above the upper band member that align with and engage a pocket formed on either side of the bucket container for the working handle to prevent rotation of the container when seated within the frame assembly.
US08746630B2

In a switch including a switch frog (1) with a movable frog point (2) and wing rails (5, 6), wherein the wing rails (5, 6) in the region of the frog point (2) each have a rail profile which is lower than that of a standard rail, the wing rails (5, 6) are designed as Vignol rails whose region configured with a lower rail profile is produced by metal-forming departing from the Vignol rail profile.
US08746629B2

A coupling for a communication conduit is disclosed for use with a train consist. The coupling may include a nipple configured for insertion within a fluid conduit, a flange configured to engage an end of the fluid conduit, a retention member configured to engage an outer surface of the fluid conduit, a first fitting extending from the flange away from the nipple, and, a retaining tab configured to retain a second fitting of another coupling in engagement with the first fitting. The coupling may further include a closure mechanism configured to close off an end of the first fitting and movable during engagement with the second fitting to open the end of the first fitting.
US08746628B2

Transceivers may be used in track circuits. A transceiver may comprise an H-bridge circuit comprising at least four switches. A control unit in communication with the H-bridge circuit may be constructed and arranged to selectively drive the at least four switches to selectively cause the H-bridge circuit to function as a transmitter or a receiver. A power supply terminal in communication with the H-bridge circuit may be constructed and arranged to connect to a power supply. A track interface terminal in communication with the H-bridge circuit may be constructed and arranged to connect to a track interface cable so that the H-bridge circuit is capable of transmitting signals to and/or receiving signals from the track interface cable.
US08746615B2

An aircraft landing gear is arranged such that in its deployed position it is configured to reduce, during the approach on landing, the noise generated by the interaction of the landing gear and the air flowing past the landing gear. Various means are described to reduce the amount of turbulent air flow generated in the region of the landing gear, including inverting and fairing the nose-gear shock-absorbing leg, providing faired twin in-line oleos and providing fairings that produce shielding air curtains.
US08746598B2

The invention relates to a method for reusing materials and/or products according to which, in a first step, a series of electrical discharges are generated between at least two electrodes in a reactor containing an ambient liquid as well as the materials and/or products to be reused, in which the series of said electric discharges produces, due to the energy, the frequency of the electric discharges as well as the voltage between the electrodes and the switching time, a mechanical shock wave which propagates across the materials and/or products to be treated in the reactor, characterized in that after a first step of embrittlement by the mechanical shock wave thus produced, the products and/or materials are exposed to a series of electric discharges in which the energy, the voltage between the electrodes that generate said discharges, the switching time and the frequency of the discharges are selected so that said discharges perform selective fragmentation of the material by the effect of an electromagnetic field. The invention also relates to a device for implementing said method.
US08746596B2

A manual spray head can be connected with a flexible hose line by means of a coupling that has a ball-and-socket joint inserted between the manual spray head and the hose line. This arrangement not only increases the mobility and flexibility between the manual spray head and the flexible hose line, but also permits twisting of the manual spray head relative to the hose line without fear of unscrewing the screw-type connection or similar coupling provided between the manual spray head and the hose line.
US08746588B2

A piezoelectric actuator and an injector for an internal combustion engine are proposed, the electromagnetic compatibility of which is significantly improved in comparison with conventional injectors. The actuator head and/or actuator foot is manufactured out of a ceramic material, thus reducing the capacitance of the electric capacitor that is formed between the electrical ground and the piezoelectric actuator. An advantage of the piezoelectric actuator according to the invention is that no additional components are required. The change from metallic materials to ceramic materials also increases the rigidity of the piezoelectric actuator since ceramic materials have a significantly higher modulus of elasticity than metals.
US08746581B2

Techniques for making electronic cards that can be displayed on a mobile phone. The techniques permit making an electronic card based on an arbitrary SMS message and making an electronic card (eCard) that corresponds to a pre-existing non-electronic privilege card such as a loyalty card. In the latter case, the system on which the card is being made obtains information about the user and the issuer and uses the information to determine whether to issue the eCard and also to make use validity information which is associated with the card and is used to determine the validity of the card as it is used.
US08746572B2

An image processing apparatus includes a candidate point detecting section configured to detect a plurality of candidate points on a boundary of a code region of a two-dimensional code in an image capturing the two-dimensional code, by scanning the image starting from an internal point of the two-dimensional code in the image, the two-dimensional code including a plurality of modules being arranged in two dimensions; a calculating section configured to calculate a first boundary line using the candidate points; a selecting section configured to select the candidate points located within a distance less than a threshold value from the first boundary line; and a boundary line detecting section configured to detect a second boundary line calculated using the selected candidate points selected by the selecting section.
US08746570B2

An imaging system which includes a housing for a radiation detector having a window disposed above and in axial alignment with the radiation detector, a variable aperture assembly which includes a base ring having a first opening and mounted on the radiation detector housing such that the first opening is in axial alignment with the window, a plate having a first aperture and adapted to engage the base ring such that the first aperture is disposed over the window, at least one aperture blade each operatively coupled to the base ring, and an aperture drive mechanism having a body and an actuator coupling member extending at an angle from the body. In addition, the imaging system includes an actuator assembly having an actuator and an actuator arm, the actuator arm disposed adjacent to the radiation detector housing in proximity to the actuator coupling member.
US08746569B2

Various improved imager-based optical code readers and associated methods are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an imager-based method reads an optical code (which may be, for example, a linear optical code such as a bar code) on an object in a viewing volume. The method comprises dividing an image plane into a plurality of strip-shaped sections, viewing the object in the viewing volume from a plurality of perspectives, forming a plurality of strip-shaped images corresponding to the plurality of perspectives, respectively, thereby creating a composite image containing data from a plurality of perspectives, and processing at least a portion of the composite image so as to ascertain the information encoded in the optical code on the object in the viewing volume. Certain embodiments can mimic the performance of a laser-based scanner without a laser or moving parts but instead utilizing an electronic imaging device such as an imager.
US08746566B2

Disclosed is an identification symbol and system and method for reading in accordance with the present invention is preferably a two-dimensional, rectangular or square bar code symbol having a solid border, a tick-mark region adjacent to the solid border, a omni-directional reading and error detection and correction capability.
US08746561B1

A system and method for disrupting at least one component of a suspect object is provided. The system has a source for passing radiation through the suspect object, a grid board positionable adjacent the suspect object (the grid board having a plurality of grid areas, the radiation from the source passing through the grid board), a screen for receiving the radiation passing through the suspect object and generating at least one image, a weapon for deploying a discharge, and a targeting unit for displaying the image of the suspect object and aiming the weapon according to a disruption point on the displayed image and deploying the discharge into the suspect object to disable the suspect object.
US08746554B2

A matrix code reader may detect a matrix code (such as a QR code), which may be displayed along with content and include information identifying the content. The matrix code reader may obtain user information associated with a social networking service and, based at least on the content information and the user information, may transmit an instruction to the social networking service to perform a social networking service function. The matrix code reader may obtain the user information and/or the instruction to perform the social networking service function from information included in the matrix code, from a non-transitory storage medium of the matrix code reader, from a user, and so on. In some implementations, the matrix code reader may determine that additional information or a confirmation to transmit the instructions is needed and may prompt a user for the additional information or confirmation.
US08746551B2

A method for predicting failure in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is provided. The method may include using a database to store information relating to the performance of a component function by an ATM component. The information may include normal performance information and fault information. The method may further include using a computational module to calculate a fault rate for the ATM component. The method may also include using a processor to compare the calculated fault rate to a threshold value associated with the component function. In the event that the fault rate exceeds the threshold value, the processor may initiate a request for service of the ATM component.
US08746549B2

A method for registering an appliance with a service provider, including receiving, by a server computer, a message from a cellular telephone, the message including a unique ID for an appliance, wherein the server computer stores billing information for the cellular telephone, wherein the appliance includes a modem, wherein the cellular telephone is separate from the appliance, and wherein the server computer is separate from the appliance and separate from the cellular telephone, further receiving, by the server computer, registration information from the appliance via the modem of the appliance, and associating, by the server computer, the billing information for the cellular telephone, with the appliance registration information.
US08746532B2

A stapling reload assembly for a circular stapling instrument includes a casing, a staple holder, a staple driver, and an anvil assembly. The staple holder is attached to the casing. The staple driver includes a driver alignment surface. The staple driver is receivable within the casing and is configured to move within the casing from a pre-fired position to a fired position. The anvil assembly includes an anvil base surface, an anvil alignment surface, and a staple forming surface. The anvil base surface is configured to move from an open position away from the casing to a closed position adjacent the casing. The anvil alignment surface is configured to mate with the driver alignment surface, to rotationally align the staple forming surface with the staple holder, when the anvil base surface is in the closed position.
US08746524B2

A vest pack includes right and left pocket regions. Each pocket region is adapted for being positioned just below the respective right and left breast of a wearer. The vest pack further includes a zipper that connects the right and left pocket regions from approximately the sternum of the wearer to approximately a belt line of the wearer, and a pair of suspenders having a strap connected proximate each second pocket and adapted to be worn over the shoulders of the wearer. The vest pack further includes a back region comprising at least one elastic strap connecting opposing back sides of the right and left pocket regions, and to the straps of the pair of suspenders.
US08746522B2

An improved carrier system is provided for easy attachment and detachment of the carrier from a wheeled conveyance such as a bicycle or motorcycle. When not attached to the conveyance, the carrier can also be used in a fashion similar to roller luggage.
US08746518B2

A spacer for spacing a spare wheel assembly from a vehicle floor of a vehicle compartment is provided. The spacer includes an annular body, an outer flange, and an inner flange. The annular body includes an upper surface for facing toward the spare wheel assembly and a lower surface for facing toward the floor and away from the spare wheel assembly. The annular body further includes a peripheral edge and an inner edge. The outer flange extends from the upper surface and is configured to contact a wheel rim of the spare wheel assembly. The inner flange is offset radially inwardly from the outer flange and extends from the upper surface. The inner flange is configured to contact the wheel rim of the spare wheel assembly offset from where the outer flange is configured to contact the wheel rim.
US08746517B2

A glove arrangement includes at least a glove and a retaining arrangement, wherein the retaining arrangement detachably retain the glove on an environment surface so that the glove is adapted to move between an in-use position and a storing position, wherein when the glove is at the in-use position, the glove is departed from the environment surface for operation by a user, wherein at the storing position, the glove is retained on the environment surface.
US08746502B2

Devices and methods for extracting fluids from within a container scaled by a cork or septum without removal of the cork or septum or the contamination of the fluid within the container by reactive gases or liquids. Embodiments can include a needle connected to a valve connected to a source of pressurized gas for displacing the fluid. Further embodiments can comprise additional components that act to force the needle to be inserted through the cork or septum along a linear path, to aid in preventing buckling of the needle, to clamp the device to the container, to prevent expulsion of the cork or septum from the container, and to guide the needle through a specified region of the cork or septum. Various valves, pressure regulators, pressure ranges, needle geometries, gas selections are also presented. This device is particularly suited for the dispensing and preservation of wine.
US08746500B2

A mounting assembly is provided including a first piece mounted in a fixed, detachable, and sealed manner, on a rigid, annular collar of a second piece having an end opening. The first piece includes an annular peripheral wall having an inner face configured to contact an outer face of the collar. The first piece includes a transverse wall that can enter the opening, and an annular wall forming a skirt, the inner face of the skirt including a larger diameter part, a smaller diameter part, and an intermediate part configured to contact with conjugated parts of the outer face by clamping. The transverse wall and the skirt form one component and are made of a highly flexible material enabling the first piece to be brought into an intermediate state in which the first piece is enlarged to be removed from the second piece, while retaining elastic deformation.
US08746498B2

A cooler has a body that includes a bottom and at least one wall forming a cavity therein. The cooler can also include a lid rotatably or otherwise removably coupled to the wall of the body. The cooler also includes a spout provided in the lid for obtaining liquid stored in the cavity of the cooler body. The cooler also include a handle assembly rotatably coupled to either the lid or the body. The handle assembly include at least one handle arm having a first end rotatably coupled to either the lid or the body and a second, distal end coupled to a handle. One or more hook features are coupled to, rotatably coupled to, slidably disposed within, or generally provided with or adjacent to the handle.
US08746492B2

A sewage tank for use with a pump such as a grinder pump to convey sewage. The sewage tank includes a container comprising a sidewall, and a plurality of members connectable and attachable around an outer surface of the sidewall of the container operable for use in providing additional ballast under high ground water conditions.
US08746491B2

An apparatus for storing articles comprises one or more vacuum-sealable storage bags and a container. The one or more vacuum-sealable storage bags are configured for storing the articles therein. The container configured for storing the one or more vacuum-sealable storage bags therein. The container has soft sides made of soft materials. In operation, when air within the one or more vacuum-sealable storage bags is evacuated, the one or more vacuum-sealable storage bags, and any articles stored therein, collapses into the container.
US08746490B2

A package film is provided for attaching to a base member to define a package. The package film construction includes a top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. A removable adhesive is provided having a defined pattern applied below the bottom surface. A polyethylene (PE) emulsion layer is provide that covers at least a portion of the adhesive pattern, with the PE emulsion layer being heat sealable to the base member.
US08746485B1

A fuel tank closure assembly includes an inner cap and an outer cover. The inner cap has a cylindrical side wall and multiple protrusions extending outward from the cylindrical side wall. The protrusions have a height less than a height of the cylindrical side wall. The outer cover has a cylindrical side wall with an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the inner cap. The cylindrical side wall has multiple openings and multiple hollows. The openings and the hollows in the outer cover each receive one of the protrusions to secure the cover to the cap and rotatably lock the cover and the cap together.
US08746479B2

A method for closing a fuel tank includes providing a base sized to be received within an interior of a fuel tank filler neck, movably mounting a closure structure on the base, and securing a biasing mechanism to the base wherein the biasing mechanism biases the closure structure into a closed position on the base.
US08746477B2

A tank is formed from panels fastened together edge to edge to form four upstanding side walls and base panels where across the base the panels extend from one side to the other. The panels are composite and formed from a honeycomb core panel with a foam material filling the tubular cells and a fibrous reinforcing cover sheets. The walls are supported by a metal frame including a base member extending along the wall at the bottom of the panels and a plurality of joining members connected to the base member and upstanding therefrom for holding the ends of the panels in end to end relationship. Cables extend along the walls adjacent the base member and connect to end posts of the walls. A series of posts stand along the walls on the outside and are connected across the tank by cables extending over the top edge of the walls.
US08746475B2

A bottle including a body portion having a dividing wall extending from a base portion to a connection region; a first chamber for holding first content; and a second chamber for holding second content; wherein a height of the dividing wall is greater than an overall height of the body portion, wherein the first chamber is configured to cooperate with a first orifice via a first surface and the second chamber is configured to cooperate with a second orifice via a second surface; and wherein one end of the first surface and one end of the second surface are configured to be adjacent to the connection region of the dividing wall to separate the first content from the second content.
US08746464B2

A fluid separator includes a casing and a tubular main body disposed in the casing and having a central axis, inlet and outlet ends spaced along the axis, inner and outer circumferential surfaces; and drain passage(s) extending radially between the inner and outer surfaces. A collection chamber is defined between the outer surface and the casing and the inner surface defines a central flow passage, such that liquid contacting the inner surface flows through the drain passage(s) and into the collection chamber. A deflector disposed within the flow passage includes a hub located on the central axis with a bore and a plurality of vanes extending radially between the hub and the main body inner surface. Each vane has a first channeling surface facing toward the body inlet and a second channeling surface facing away from the inlet. Recirculation members fluidly connect the collection chamber with the hub bore.
US08746450B2

A wiper blade package has a mouth portion that is openable by being pressed in a lateral direction. The wiper blade package has a first panel, a second panel opposed to the first panel, and a pair of side panels. The first panel is bendable around a bend line extending in a longitudinal direction and has a lid flap at its end. The lid flap is foldable around the bend line and is pivotable around a hinge line intersecting the bend line. The second panel has an engagement flap at its end. The lid flap engages a free end of the engagement flap at its free end and thereby closes a receiving portion in which a wiper blade is received. The lid flap is pivoted from the engagement flap by pressing the side panels toward the receiving portion and thereby opens the receiving portion.
US08746449B2

Case accessories for portable electronic devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a case accessory may include a base configured to sit on a working surface, a support coupled to the base and configured to support a portable electronic device in an elevated position, a rotational mechanism coupled to the support configured to allow the holder to rotate in one or more directions relative to the support, and a holder coupled to the rotational mechanism and configured to secure the portable electronic device.
US08746448B1

Disclosed is a case for an electronic device that includes a retaining loop. The loop includes a first end, a second end, and a fastener. A recess on the interior of the case is adapted to house the fastener when the retaining loop is engaged therewith, while a pair of openings positioned over the recess allows the retaining loop to pass through. The loop is positioned so that a user can place a finger inside the loop, which in turn provides a secure grip on the case and electronic device. The fastener sits flush within the recess on the interior of the case, and can be used to detach the loop for replacement thereof as desired. The fastener and recess are positioned between the case and the phone, and includes a low profile design that prevents bulging in the case.
US08746442B2

A conveyor belt and a belt module having multiple roller sets, each roller set including a bottom roller in contact with an axially elongated two-material top roller. The periphery of the top roller has a high-friction peripheral surface separated by a central durable, low-friction peripheral surface in contact with the bottom roller. Driving the bottom roller in a first direction causes rotation of the top roller in an opposite angular direction.
US08746438B1

An apparatus and method for automatically modulating vacuum applied to a vacuum cup are described herein. More particularly an automated labeling apparatus and method for applying labels onto containers using a vacuum based transport mechanism is described herein.
US08746432B2

Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a loading chute having a ceiling or door having at least a portion configured to open and close and a floor underlying and in cooperating alignment with the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are configured to cooperate to encase a product chamber with an axially extending open channel therebetween. At least one of the floor and ceiling reciprocates in a substantially vertical direction between a first loading position corresponding to when the ceiling is open and a second operative position corresponding to when the ceiling is closed.
US08746425B2

A lock-up device includes a piston, a drive plate, a plurality of radial outer side torsion springs, a float member, a driven plate, a plurality of radial inner side torsion springs and an intermediate member. The float member is configured to rotate relative to the drive plate, to cause the first and second radial outer side elastic members to act in series. The intermediate member is configured to rotate relative to the drive plate and the driven plate, and to transmit the torque from the first and second radial outer side elastic members to the first and second radial inner side elastic members.
US08746422B2

In a combined deceleration and acceleration device for the controlled closing and opening of, for example, furniture parts, a base part consisting of a cylinder and a guide structure is provided wherein a drag element is movably supported by the guide structure, and a piston with a piston rod is connected to the drag element which has a park position remote from the cylinder and is biased by an energy storage structure toward the cylinder for moving the piston into the cylinder in a controlled decelerating manner while carrying along the drag element and a movable part engaged with the drag element.
US08746420B2

Cut-in-cut-out valves for hydraulic circuits. The hydraulic circuits include a hydraulic pump outputting a variable pressure controlled by a slaving line, an accumulation circuit, a return line to the reservoir, a cut in-cut-out valve. The hydraulic circuits also include a cut-in-cut-out valve having four orifices, a first orifice connected to the supply line, a second orifice connected to the slaving line, a third orifice connected to the return line leading to the reservoir, and a fourth orifice connected to the accumulation circuit. The cut-in-cut-out valve alternates between two positions as a function of the pressure in the accumulation circuit, a cut-in position in which the first, second and fourth orifices are connected to each other, and a cut-out position in which the first and fourth orifices are closed.
US08746419B2

A method for operating a braking system in a motor vehicle having at least two wheel brakes (54, 56), each of which can be activated by an electromechanical actuator of the self-locking type. Each wheel brake having a locking device for implementing a parking brake functionality, in which the locking device and respective electromechanical actuator is actuated and locked by the locking device when a parking brake function is carried out. A first method step is carried out in which the at least two actuators are actuated in succession and a second method step is carried out in which it is checked whether the at least two actuators have achieved respectively predefined brake application force. In the event of the at least two actuators having achieved the respectively predefined brake application force, the at least two actuators are locked in a third method step.
US08746414B2

The invention relates to a method for replacing the hoisting ropes of an elevator. By the method of the invention, the hoisting ropes (4) are replaced by first joining the old and new hoisting ropes (4a, 4b) together by their one ends by splicing the ends together around a common core strand (17), whereupon the new set (4b) of hoisting ropes is pulled into place by means of the old set (4a) of hoisting ropes.
US08746413B2

A control arrangement (100) for an elevator brake, comprises a control circuit (110) adapted to generate, according to a demand for releasing a first braking member of the elevator brake, a first actuating signal and to generate, according to a demand for releasing a second braking member of the elevator brake, a second actuating signal; a first terminal (112) for outputting the first actuating signal to a first electromagnetic actuating means (26) of the elevator brake, a second terminal for outputting the second actuating signal to a second electromagnetic actuating means (30) of the elevator brake; the control arrangement (100) being adapted to allow at least the following modes of operation: A) a normal operation mode in which the first and the second actuating signals are supplied synchronously to the first and second electromagnetic actuation means (26, 30), respectively, and B) a single braking member test operation mode, in which one of the first and second actuating signals is supplied to the respective one of the first and second electromagnetic actuating means (26, 30), and an actuating signal for permanently releasing the respective of the first and second braking members (14, 16) is supplied to the other one of the first and second electromagnetic actuating means (26, 30).
US08746405B2

A system for lubricating a differential mechanism includes a housing containing a ring gear, a pinion meshing with the ring gear, a sump containing fluid, and a reservoir that receives fluid flung from the ring gear as the ring gear rotates through the sump fluid, and an orifice restricting the flow rate of fluid from the reservoir.
US08746403B1

A mobile lift unit for accessing bulk carrier top openings for use on a variety of bulk carriers that has a safety cage which is extendable to various heights while protecting operators from potential falls during the use thereof.
US08746383B2

An in-the-wheel hub-less suspension system for use on a vehicle is disclosed. The suspension mechanism has at least two vertical guides; at least two mounting brackets to be affixed to diametrically opposing positions on the rim of the wheel to which the suspension system is to be attached; at least one shock absorber unit; and one spring for each vertical guide. Each of the vertical guides extends through one of the at least one shock absorber units, wherein the spring for each vertical guide is located underneath the at least one shock absorber unit and encloses the vertical guide; and wherein each end of each of the at least two vertical guides engages with the corresponding mounting bracket.
US08746374B2

A drill tool comprises includes a bit body, at least one bearing shaft extending from the bit body and a cone mounted for rotation on the bearing shaft. The bearing system for the tool includes a radial thrust bearing from which cone pumping pressure pulsation originates. A lubricant sealing system including an annular seal gland and a seal ring retained within the annular seal gland functions to retain lubricant in the bearing system. The tool further includes a lubricant cone pumping pressure restrictor system formed by an annular gland (separate from the annular seal gland) and a pressure restricting ring retained within the annular gland. The lubricant cone pumping pressure restrictor system is positioned between the radial thrust bearing system and the lubricant sealing system and is adapted to attenuate cone pumping lubricant pressure pulsation from acting on the seal ring retained within the annular seal gland.
US08746372B2

The method of shearing drill collars used in the drilling of oil and gas wells, comprising providing an outer sleeve of a first material for carrying structural loads, providing a second material within the outer sleeve which is lower in shear strength and is greater in unit weight than the first material, and providing a hole in the second material for the circulation of fluids.
US08746370B2

A horizontal direction drilling system comprises a power pack coupled to a source of compressed air and a water reservoir and forms a mixture of compressed air, water, and oil. The horizontal direction drilling system further comprises a steerable horizontal drill. The steerable horizontal drill includes an air powered reciprocating hammer, and a drill head. The steerable horizontal drill receives the mixture to power the reciprocating hammer. The drill head includes a drill face and the mixture exits the steerable horizontal drill through the drill face.
US08746354B2

A wet connection system suitable for use in hydrocarbon wells preferably comprises one or more elongate, small diameter conduits (50) which extend down the wellbore (2) and terminate adjacent a locating structure (11) on the production tubing (10). Equipment (70) deployed at the locating structure is connected to one or more self supporting conductors (30) which extend down the conduits from the wellhead (5). Preferably the conductors are retractable and the conduits are sealingly connected to the equipment, allowing the equipment and conductors to be deployed and recovered independently of each other and to be flushed with dielectric oil (99) pumped down the conduits after re-connection.
US08746353B2

Vibration of an electric submersible pump assembly is monitored to produce a vibration spectrum. The vibration spectrum is compared to a known vibration signature for a pump condition that precedes gas lock. The pump condition is at least one of an impeller rotating stall condition, a diffuser stall condition, a pre-surge condition, and percentage of free gas within the wellbore fluid. Operation of the pump is then adjusted in response to the similarity of the vibration spectrum to the vibration signature for the pump condition to prevent impending gas lock.
US08746342B1

A downhole tool for use in completing a well includes a plug body selectively securable to a wellbore at a desired elevation and having a flowbore. A non-dissolvable flow restrictor is operably disposed in the flowbore and operates to restrict fluid flow through the flowbore, and a time-dissolvable retainer or spacer is operably coupled to the flow restrictor to retain the flow restrictor in a first position within the flowbore. The retainer is dissolvable within a predetermined passage of time to release the flow restrictor to move between the first position and a second position within the flowbore to control the flow of fluid through the downhole tool.
US08746337B2

Disclosed are systems and methods of producing from multiple production zones with a single trip multi-zone completion system. One single trip multi-zone completion system includes an outer completion string having at least one sand screen arranged thereabout and being deployable in an open hole section of a wellbore that penetrates at least one formation zone, a production tubing arranged within the outer completion string and having at least one interval control valve disposed thereon, a control line extending external to the production tubing and being communicably coupled to the at least one interval control valve, and a surveillance line extending external to the outer completion string and interposing the at least one formation zone and the at least one sand screen.
US08746331B2

A rust resistant well perforating gun to fractionate a formation adjacent a well can include a gun carrier with recesses, threaded sections, seal bores, and a first coating to prevent rust. The rust resistant well perforating gun can have a charge loading tube for slidably engaging with the gun carrier. The charge loading tube can have charge holes, rear charge holes, end caps, and a second coating to prevent rust.
US08746327B2

The invention relates to a system for coupling two adjacently placed heat exchangers (IL,IR), which is provided with a first coupling unit (11a) connected to the heat exchangers on a first side thereof, and a second coupling unit (11b) connected to the heat exchangers on a second side thereof. In each coupling unit an inlet duct (12) is herein formed for one of the heat exchangers connected thereto and an outlet duct (13) is formed for the other heat exchanger connected thereto. The inlet and outlet ducts can here intersect in each coupling unit. The coupling units can be identical and be arranged in the coupling system oriented in opposite directions.
US08746320B2

A window covering with improved controls enhances several aspects of window covering operation. A control mechanism provides a clutch module for selective locking and unlocking of a drive shaft used to retract and extend the shade element between storage and extended positions. The clutch module includes a reciprocator element that engages a key extending from an outer surrounding housing. A locking member between the reciprocator element and a coupling element carried by the drive shaft selectively locks and unlocks rotational coupling between the reciprocator element and the coupling element, thus selectively locking and unlocking the drive shaft. In a cushioning mechanism, a unidirectional dampening or frictional deceleration is provided for the drive shaft. The cushioning mechanism includes an impeller or rotor immersed in a cushion medium that impedes rotation of the rotor, and hence the drive shaft to which the rotor is coupled. A combination of the clutch module and cushioning mechanism is also disclosed as are window coverings containing one or more of the control mechanisms.
US08746315B2

An apparatus for the production of a fuselage shell for an aircraft made of fiber composite, which is to be equipped with a plurality of stringers disposed spaced apart for reinforcement, comprising a main frame to form a supporting substructure having an outwardly curved mounting surface for positive mounting, having longitudinal mounting grooves for receiving of formed parts for deformably positioning the stringers relative to the mounting surface, wherein a plurality of short formed parts spaced apart from each other are disposed in each mounting groove, and which are adjustable relative to the corresponding mounting groove in the transverse direction (Y) by means of adjusters, and which can be raised in the vertical direction (Z) by means of lifters for guiding the stringers in the direction of a laminating adhesive bonding unit brought over the mounting surface.
US08746310B2

A microassembly method and system utilizing multiple probes. Multiple manipulation actuators can be utilized for maintaining/holding one or more probes and an assembly substrate. Multiple microscope cameras can be configured to provide three distinct workspace configurations. At the center of each manipulation actuator is a die stage, which supports the assembly substrate upon which parts are assembled. A glue dispenser can also provide glue to a part prior to placement.
US08746303B2

To improve water evacuation property while preventing uneven wear, as well as to significantly improve the on-ice/snow performances by optimizing a tread pattern.This pneumatic tire has, in at least a part of a tread portion 1, a small block group GB, the small block group including a plurality of small blocks 3 arranged close together. The small block group GB comprises at least one circumferential main groove positioned 4 including see-through groove portion which linearly extends in the tread circumferential direction and at least one rib-like land portion 6 provided adjacently to the circumferential main groove and forming a groove side face 5 of the circumferential main groove 4 and continuously extending in the circumferential direction. A number density D of the small blocks is set within a range of 0.003 to 0.04 (pieces/mm2), the number density D representing the number of the small blocks per unit of an actual ground contact area of the small block group.
US08746299B2

A hand sanitizer dispenser is attached to a fuel pump dispenser to provide a patron with the option to cleanse his hands after pumping fuel. The hand sanitizer includes a circuit configured to receive an activation signal from a computer system of the fuel pump dispenser.
US08746289B2

A spoolable pipe is disclosed, the spoolable pipe having an internal pressure barrier formed about a longitudinal axis, a reinforcing layer(s) enclosing the internal pressure barrier, and a weight layer comprising fibers. The pipe can also include an energy conductor(s) integrated with and/or located between the internal pressure barrier and/or the reinforcing layer(s).
US08746284B2

An apparatus and method for multiple symmetrical divisional gas distribution providing a mounting plate, a plurality of manifolds coupled to the mounting plate, a center purge block coupled to the mounting plate and the plurality of manifolds, a plurality of reactant distribution blocks, wherein each reactant distribution block is stacked atop each other to form a reactant distribution block stack, wherein the reactant distribution block stack sits atop the center purge block, a coupling mechanism to secure the plurality of reactant distribution blocks of the reactant distribution block stack together; and a top cap coupled to the reactant distribution block stack and the coupling mechanism.
US08746276B2

A proportional throttle valve includes a valve piston (2) displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction in a valve housing (3) having a fluid inlet (4) and a fluid outlet (5) and pretensioned by an energy accumulator, in particular in the form a pressure spring, against a stroke stop (6) defining the closure position. A pressure limiting valve (7) is integrated in the proportional throttle valve (1). The side (8) of the valve piston (2) to allow the piston to move away from the stroke stop (6) in opposition to the pretensioning force when a predefinable pressure is exceeded at the fluid inlet (4).
US08746270B2

A method is provided for controllably delivering an additive fluid into a host fluid in a target system at a desired volumetric flow rate. The method comprises: providing a binary supply injector connected in an additive fluid delivery system between a pressurized supply of the additive fluid and the target system. The binary supply injector is controllable between an ON state which permits flow of the additive fluid therethrough and an OFF state which prevents flow of the additive fluid therethrough. The method involves iteratively repeating: estimating a volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid between the pressurized supply and the target system; and if the estimated volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid is greater than the desired volumetric flow rate, controlling the supply injector to its OFF state; or if the estimated volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid is less than the desired volumetric flow rate, controlling the supply injector to its ON state. Additive fluid delivery systems are also provided.
US08746263B2

The present invention relates to a parasol which provides shade from the sun to protect the body of a user, particularly, the face of the user, and which solves the problem of having to manually fold or unfold the outer ribs of a parasol rib assembly one by one, thereby ensuring convenience of use.
US08746262B2

The invention relates to a conveyor dishwasher (2) comprising a conveyor apparatus (4) for conveying washware (6) through a final rinse zone (18), with the conveyor apparatus (4) having a large number of compartments (38) for accommodating washware (6). A washware sensor apparatus (42) is provided in order to detect empty compartments (38). In order to be able to reduce the consumption of fresh water, chemicals and energy during operation of the conveyor dishwasher (2), the invention provides a control apparatus (44) which is designed to automatically set the quantity of final rinse liquid supplied to the spray nozzles (20, 22, 24) of the final rinse zone (18) per unit time as a function of the detection of empty compartments (38). The invention also relates to a method for operating a conveyor dishwasher (2) of this type.
US08746255B2

A cigarette filter includes a filter body and flavor granules added to the filter body, wherein the flavor granules each comprise a core material and a flavor-carrying carrier adhered to the surface of the core material, and wherein the flavor granules have a grain size distribution such that granules having a grain size of 100 μm or larger make up 99% by mass or more of the flavor granules and granules having a grain size of 200 μm or larger make up 70% by mass or more of the flavor granules.
US08746250B2

A breathing mask arrangement for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a reinforcement element, a mask engaged with the reinforcement element and having a mask base body defining a mask interior and a sealing lip structured to engage a patient's face, a forehead rest including forehead padding that is structured to engage a patient's forehead, and a fixing mechanism to fix the forehead rest relative to the reinforcement element. The mask base body and the sealing lip are two pieces that are fixedly attached to one another. The forehead rest is moveably coupled to the reinforcement element to allow movement of the forehead rest relative to the reinforcement element. The forehead rest includes a pair of coupling structures structured to be coupled to an upper head band arrangement and the reinforcement element includes a pair of coupling structures structured to be coupled to a lower head band arrangement.
US08746246B2

An apparatus and method for retrieval and dispensing tubing, particularly useful for oxygen tubing.
US08746244B2

Inhaler for inhaling powdered medicaments from capsules, comprising a lower part (6), a plate (3) accommodated in the lower part (6), and a holder (18) inserted in the lower part (6), a mouthpiece (2) that can be latched to the lower part (6) on the plate (3), a cover (1) that covers the mouthpiece (2) in a closed position and latches by means of a closure element (14), the lower part (6) and the cover (1) being rotatably (4) connected to one another by a spindle (4), and an actuating member (7, 10) that can be moved from a resting position and set in motion and at the same time co-operates with at least one pin (8, 11) that can be stuck into the holder (18) and is located in a pin holder in the inner actuating member (10). In the holder (18) an exchangeable tube (22) can be inserted, as expulsion channel, which comprises a capsule chamber (21) with the capsule.
US08746237B2

This invention relates to solar engineering. The solar collector, which comprises a closed enclosure and an absorber 5 with channels for a liquid heat carrier, is designed in the form of a cylindrical portion having radius R1 and an axis coinciding with the axis of the central cylindrical portion 1 of the enclosure. The absorber 5 consists of thin-walled, interconnected modules. The modules are provided with bulges on the rear side thereof, in which channels with slots are made for arranging pipes forming heat-carrier flowing channels. In addition, the absorber can be designed in the form of a storage tank. The shape of the collector is optimized in such a way that the axes of the two lateral cylindrical portions 2 thereof are remote at distance L and the central cylindrical portion 1 is as remote as possible from a plane 3 tangential to the lateral cylindrical portions 2 at a distance H having the defined ratio of geometric parameters. The enclosure of the solar collector is made from a sheet of one- or multi-layered polymer material by placing a guiding cylinder therein, heating said polymer material to the softening point, and bending it around the cylinder in order to form the lateral cylindrical portions 2. The edges of the sheet are then drawn together and joined.
US08746233B2

The invention relates to a solar tracker with parabolic concentrator, comprising a parabolic concentrator (1) formed by a composition of mirrors (4) focused towards a Stirling engine (3), the mirrors (4) being located on a bearing structure (5), with securing by means of anchors (6) which allow a regulation in a vertical direction, in a lateral direction and in a depth direction, whereas the Stirling engine (3) is secured on the same bearing structure (5) by means of ties (10) which are attached to said Stirling engine (3) by means of two securing elements which can be adjusted in length, the bearing structure (5) being formed by parallel vertical lattices (14) comprising in their formation sheet metal boxes attached to one another by means of other intermediate sheet metal boxes.
US08746231B2

A cleaning system for a cooking range exhaust having a range hood, a backsplash, and an exhaust flue for exhausting cooking effluent is disclosed. The cleaning system can include a fluid delivery system constructed for partial placement within the cooking range exhaust. The fluid delivery system can include a hood spray conduit constructed for placement within the hood and comprising spray openings for directing a degreasing composition to the backsplash. The fluid delivery system can also include a flue spray conduit constructed for placement within or outside the exhaust flue and comprising at least one spray opening for directing the degreasing composition to an interior surface of the flue. The cleaning system can include a pump system constructed for conveying the degreasing composition from a degreasing composition source and through the fluid delivery system. A method of cleaning a cooking range exhaust and a self-cleaning exhaust system are also disclosed.
US08746224B2

An arrow rest for a bow, according to various embodiments, comprises (1) an arrow rest mount, (2) an arrow rest base that is disposed adjacent the arrow rest mount, (3) a first arrow support that is disposed adjacent a top surface of said arrow rest base and that is defined by a first base potion with a first ramped face and a first angled top portion, and (4) a second arrow support that is disposed adjacent a top surface of said arrow rest base and that is defined by a second base potion with a second ramped face and a second angled top portion. The first and second arrow supports are adapted to rotate to exert opposing lateral forces on an arrow at substantially the same time that facilitate the movement of the arrow up the first and second ramped faces and into a ready to fire position.
US08746219B2

An archery bow cable guard includes a base portion and first and second cable rollers. The base portion is configured to mount to a riser of an archery bow. The first and second cable rollers are mounted to the base portion and arranged to contact a cable of the archery bow. Each roller has an axis of rotation that is arranged perpendicular to a length dimension of the cable. The axis of rotation of the first and second cable rollers are spaced apart in a direction parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the archery bow cable guard.
US08746215B2

A vapor management system (10) includes a sense tube (47) disposed in a fuel tank (12). A differential pressure sensor (17) has one side connected to the sense tube and another side connected to a vapor cavity so that the pressure sensor can measure a differential pressure (DP) between a volume of the vapor cavity and a volume of the sense tube containing liquid fuel. A temperature sensor (26) is in the vapor cavity. A processor 1) receives DP and T measurements at certain time intervals to determine the temperature at time zero (T0), the differential pressure at time zero (DP0), the temperature at a certain time (Tt), and the differential pressure at a certain time (DPt), and 2) when (Tt−T0) is greater than a certain value, compares DPt to a certain differential pressure value.
US08746204B2

Reciprocating motion can be converted to rotary motion through a crankshaft and a connecting rod. In a joint between a connecting rod and a piston, the connecting rod rocks with respect to the piston. In some situations, the connecting rod is a pullrod always in tension or a pushrod always in compression making it difficult to lubricate the bearing surfaces. A joint is disclosed in which the bearing surfaces rock with respect to each other with no sliding between the surfaces. The connecting rod has a bearing surface that is part of a cylinder having a radius equal to a distance between a central axis of the journal to which the connecting rod is coupled and the bearing surface. The pin has a convexly- or concavely-curved bearing surface and the local radius is based on material properties and the local peak force that the rocking joint is designed to transmit.
US08746200B2

The invention relates to a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine (1) having at least one engine cylinder (2, 3) and at least one piston oscillating therein, and having at least one balancing mass (14) which is driven in an oscillating manner by a crankshaft (11) via a crank throw (15) and a compensating connecting rod (16), and which is guided in a translatory fashion by means of a linear guide (17) assigned in each case to the respective balancing mass (14). The linear guide (17) is formed by at least two guide elements (18, 19), which are spaced apart from one another, for the balancing mass (14). A bearing (23) for articulatedly connecting to the compensating connecting rod (16) is formed on the balancing mass (14) in a central portion between the two mutually spaced apart guide elements (18, 19). A mass balancing system is thereby created, which ensures as high a degree of running smoothness as possible, in particular as low a level of vibration as possible, and which at the same time can be realized in as cheap and practicable manner as possible.
US08746196B2

A laser spark plug is described for an internal combustion engine. According to the system, at least one volume Bragg grating element is situated in a beam path of the laser spark plug.
US08746192B2

In a two-stroke internal combustion engine using air for scavenging its combustion chamber (4), a scavenging passage (6) communicating with a crankcase (2) and a combustion chamber (4) is charged first with rich air-fuel mixture generated by a carburetor, next with lean air-fuel mixture, and next with air through an in-piston passage (36). The lean air-fuel mixture is generated in the in-piston passage 36 by diluting the air-fuel mixture with the air. In each scavenging stroke to scavenge the combustion chamber (4), the combustion chamber (4) is supplied first with the air (40) and next with the lean air-fuel mixture (42) from the scavenging passage (6). The use of the lean-air-fuel mixture (42) next to the air (40) contributes to reduce acceleration failure or engine stop caused by sudden acceleration.
US08746172B2

The present invention refers to an apparatus for the plasma treatment of hollow bodies, comprising a vacuum treatment chamber and means for generating the plasma, which apparatus is characterized in that the means for generating the plasma comprise an electrode of a substantially U-shaped cross-section, which is arranged in the vacuum treatment chamber, the hollow bodies immersing at least in part into the U-shaped electrode when the plasma treatment is carried out, and being moved at least temporarily relative to the U-shaped electrode. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a method for the plasma treatment of hollow bodies, in which the hollow bodies are moved into a vacuum treatment chamber in which the plasma treatment is carried out and the plasma is generated by an electromagnetic field, which method is characterized in that the hollow bodies immerse at least in part into the electromagnetic field when the plasma treatment is carried out, and that the hollow bodies are moved at least temporarily relative to the electromagnetic field.
US08746161B2

A sewing machine includes a transfer device that is adapted to move a work cloth, a sewing device that moves a needle bar up and down, a first operation device that outputs a first output signal in accordance with an operation state of the first operation device, a second operation device that outputs a second output signal in accordance with an operation state of the second operation device, a sewing data generation device that generates sewing data in accordance with the first output signal and the second output signal, a transfer control device that causes the work cloth to be moved by driving the transfer device in accordance with the sewing data, and a sewing control device that causes the unit stitch to be sewn on the work cloth by driving the sewing device in accordance with the sewing data.
US08746158B2

An agricultural implement system is provided including a fluid conduit configured to provide product to a ground engaging tool. The ground engaging tool is configured to deposit the product into soil. The agricultural implement system also includes an air source fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and configured to provide an air flow through the fluid conduit in a downstream direction toward the ground engaging tool. The agricultural implement system further includes a product delivery system fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit, and configured to transfer the product into the air flow. In addition, the agricultural implement system includes a product flow measurement system configured to determine a mass flow rate of the product based on a pressure drop between an upstream portion of the fluid conduit and a downstream portion of the fluid conduit, a flow rate of the air flow, and a velocity of the air flow.
US08746157B2

A bottom ash discharging device for a coal-fired boiler including: a clinker case, installed between a bottom ash hopper outlet of the coal-fired boiler and a bottom ash conveyer, an impact bar including a plurality of heat-resistant metal rods supporting inside the clinker case, a clinker crusher, installed above the impact bar for crushing the clinker, and a guiding device, installed between the bottom ash hopper outlet and the clinker crusher for limiting the clinker to drop into the clinker crushing area of the clinker crusher. The bottom ash discharging device ensures that the clinkers drop from the bottom ash hopper outlet to the rear area of the clinker crusher, and that the impact bar can be replaced and repaired without stopping the coal-fired boiler.
US08746156B2

Portable workstation or desk apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, a portable workstation is comprised of a plurality of components including a work surface or upper element, a stem or support element, and an anchor or base element. In one variant, the work surface element (and/or the base element) can be mounted to the stem element in first and second configurations. The various configurations provides a substantially level work surface (relative to the base) or a substantially inclined work surface, and/or varying degrees of offset relative to the base.
US08746154B2

A concealed 180° hinge for the movable connection of two parts between a collapsed state and a fully opened-out state of the parts has at least two U-shaped pivoting brackets. The hinge, which has the highest possible strength and also allows the two parts to be moved in relation to one another without any risk of collision, includes rotary pins of the two pivoting brackets on the one hinge part that are arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the part, which can be connected to this one hinge part. The rotary pins of the two pivoting brackets on the second hinge part are disposed in a plane located substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the part, which can be connected to this second hinge part.
US08746145B2

A munition is described including a reactive fragment having an energetic material dispersed in a metallic binder material. A method is also described including forming a energetic material; combining the energetic material with a metallic binder material to form a mixture; and shaping the mixture to form a reactive fragment. The munition may be in the form of a warhead, and the reactive fragment may be contained within a casing of the warhead.
US08746139B2

A combination stencil printer and dispenser includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head coupled to the frame to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on an independent gantry to dispense viscous material on the substrate when the substrate is in the print position. In other embodiments, the dispenser can be mounted on a stencil wiper assembly or a movable stencil provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser.
US08746126B2

An annular piston system for a firearm comprises a barrel, a gas block assembly, a piston, and a spring. The barrel has multiple sections lengthwise, one of the sections having at least one gas port hole to vent gas from the barrel. The gas block assembly is disposed annularly around the barrel and is adjustable to control an amount of gas flowing out of the barrel through the at least one gas port hole. The piston is disposed annularly around the barrel and can move longitudinally along the barrel in response to being pushed by the gas flowing out of the barrel. The spring is disposed annularly around the third section of the barrel and coupled to the piston. The spring limits a distance that the piston can move longitudinally along the barrel when the piston is pushed to move by the gas flowing out of the barrel.
US08746124B2

Reactive armor that includes a casing having a plurality of walls, a back, and a cavity formed therebetween; a cover that closes the cavity and forms a strike face; a filler placed within the cavity, the filler comprising a disruptive material; and an explosive. To defeat projectile or projectile related threats, the reactive armor substantially, but not necessarily wholly, implements laterally oriented force mechanisms, erosion mechanisms, and bulking mechanisms, e.g., explosive forces, with respect to the strike face.
US08746123B2

Described embodiments include a system, device and method. A described device includes a first material configured to reflect a substantial portion of a specified incident air blast wave energy. The first material includes a first reflective-region having a first acoustic impedance substantially mismatched to air's acoustic impedance. The first material includes a second reflective-region having a second acoustic impedance substantially less than the first acoustic impedance. The device includes a second material configured to attenuate the specified incident air blast wave energy utilizing an inelastic response. The second material is configured for wearing proximate to a human body. At least a portion of a back surface of the first material is proximate to a front surface of the second material.
US08746120B1

A device and method which combine electromagnetic acceleration with acceleration by high-pressure gases derived from chemical energy to achieve high slug speeds. In one embodiment the device includes a cylindrical metal tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and a central channel; at least one conductive coil surrounding the metal tube; a metal slug disposed within the central channel; a conducting central electrode, having a centrally formed cavity; a conducting rod having at least one cavity including a propellant, wherein a first portion of the conducting rod is attached to the metal slug at a connection point, a second portion of the conducting rod extends between the metal slug and the central electrode, and a third portion of the conducting rod extends within the cavity of the central electrode such that a space is formed between the end of the third portion and the back of the cavity within the central electrode; and an insulator disposed within the central channel and surrounding the conducting central electrode and the second portion of the conducting rod except at the connection point. When a current is applied to the metal tube, the central electrode, and the at least one conductive coil causes the conducting rod to break with resultant generation of a plasma which ignites the propellant such that the energy from the propellant and electromagnetic forces accelerate the slug to speeds greater than are achievable by the propellant alone.
US08746113B2

A universal joint includes first and second parts interconnected by a coupling element, and a coupling mechanism for detachably engaging tool attachments such as sockets. The disclosed coupling mechanisms include an engaging element and an actuating element. The engaging element can include a pin, and the pin can be oriented either obliquely or longitudinally in the drive stud of the universal joint. The actuating element can include a collar and a central portion that crosses the central longitudinal axis of the drive stud. The central portion can be offset along the longitudinal axis toward the coupling element, and the actuating element can be configured to extend into an aperture formed by the coupling element and the second part of the universal joint.
US08746111B2

A wrench assembly is mounted on a drill rig so as to have some freedom of movement in three axes. The wrench assembly includes a wrench subassembly having an upper wrench and a lower wrench. Both the upper wrench and the lower wrench are provided with jaw assemblies that are adapted to grip a pipe section or to release it. One of the upper wrench and lower wrench is pivotally moveable with respect to the other to apply a twisting force to a pipe section gripped by one of the upper and lower wrenches with respect to an adjacent pipe section gripped by the other of the upper and lower wrenches. The wrench assembly also includes a generally planar support table. The wrench subassembly is attached to the support table in such a manner as to allow the wrench subassembly to pivot about an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the support table, and in such a manner as to allow the wrench subassembly to tilt with respect to the plane of the support table.
US08746101B2

A drive unit for driving a ring gear includes a motor, a transmission and a drive shaft, on which a pinion is arranged for driving the ring gear, wherein the drive unit includes a mechanical overload protection. In accordance with the invention the overload protection is arranged between the transmission and the pinion.
US08746090B2

An arrangement for fastening at least one sensor to a face of a subject to acquire a signal indicative of one or more patient physiological parameter is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes a sensor holder for placing the sensor and having at least one fixing point. The arrangement also includes at least one ribbon being stretching for fastening the sensor holder by means of the at least one fixing point to an ear of the subject. Also a measuring assembly is disclosed herein.
US08746088B2

A cycle life testing machine includes a controller, a clamping device, a driver, and a cycle device. The cycle device includes a servo motor, an actuator, a shaft, and a swing rod. The controller sends a signal to control the driver to trigger working of the servo motor, and the servo motor drives the actuator and the shaft rotate to swing the swing rod in a cycle procedure specified by the controller.
US08746087B2

A system for sampling a bale of fibrous material is provided including a transportation mechanism for moving the bale from a first point to a second point and a first gripper for obtaining a sample from the bale when the bale is at a position between the first point and the second point. The gripper includes a movable finger for gripping the sample from the bale. An actuator comprising an actuating rod is provided for pushing the sample away from the movable finger.
US08746076B2

Shape of a multi-core optical fiber is determined by positioning the fiber in an arbitrary initial shape and measuring strain over the fiber's length using strain sensors. A three-coordinate p-vector is defined for each core as a function of the distance of the corresponding cores from a center point of the fiber and a bending angle of the cores. The method includes calculating, via a controller, an applied strain value of the fiber using the p-vector and the measured strain for each core, and calculating strain due to bending as a function of the measured and the applied strain values. Additionally, an apparent local curvature vector is defined for each core as a function of the calculated strain due to bending. Curvature and bend direction are calculated using the apparent local curvature vector, and fiber shape is determined via the controller using the calculated curvature and bend direction.
US08746070B2

A method and apparatus for phased array ultrasound testing of piping that complies with present-day codes but allows more thorough flaw detection capability. A tapered wedge with a concave face is calibrated by submerging the wedge under sonic coupling fluid, thereby allowing sonic coupling of the concave wedge face to a flat reference plate with minimal error. The flaw detector is configured to display A-scan and S-scan data concurrently and to sweep between 30-70 degrees. A-scan data corresponding with conventional preferred inspection incidence angle is selected, and reject levels are set to 0% to meet current inspection standards. S-scan data allows for detection of flaws that might otherwise be undetectable using only A-scan data. A palette adjustment feature remaps the colors assigned to lower intensity return values so that they are not displayed on the S-scan, thereby de-cluttering sectorial data without filtering A-scan data.
US08746068B2

A lubrication dispensing apparatus for lubricating a device with moving parts includes a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant dispenser for dispensing lubricant from the lubricant reservoir, an ultrasonic detection module which detects the amplitude of ultrasonic energy emitted by said device when its parts are moving and produces an signal related thereto, and a control module which analyzes the amplitude of the signal from the ultrasonic detection module and, in response to a lubricate signal, causes the lubricant dispenser to automatically dispense lubricant onto the moving parts of the device until the signal from the ultrasonic detector indicates that the ultrasonic energy produced by the device has decreased to a particular level. The control module includes a programmed processor and a storage memory. The memory stores as a base value the value of the detected amplitude of ultrasonic energy when the device is operating properly. After receiving a signal to lubricate the device, the processor causes the dispenser to start the flow of lubricant to the device, compares the signal from the ultrasonic detection module when the parts are moving to the base value, and causes the dispenser to cease the flow of lubricant when the signal substantially decreases.
US08746067B2

A tunneling accelerometer includes a proof mass that moves laterally with respect to a cap wafer. Either the proof mass or the cap wafer includes a plurality of tunneling tips such that the remaining one of proof mass and the cap wafer includes a corresponding plurality of counter electrodes. The tunneling current flowing between the tunneling tips and the counter electrodes will thus vary as the proof mass laterally displaces in response to an applied acceleration.
US08746061B2

The change in a contact over time is stabilized by lowering intense wear of the contact in the initial sliding stage and imparting stabilized wear characteristics from the initial sliding stage. The contacts (33, 34) of a sliding body (30) have flat tops which contact conductive segments (23) and come into surface contact with the top portions of the conductive segments (23) when the contacts slidingly contact onto the conductive segments (23).
US08746058B2

Its object is to allow measurement of the volume of fuel (2) using optic fiber cables (3); it is characterized in that, adhered to one or more of the inner faces of the tank (1) there is at least one sheet (4) in which a plurality of optic fiber cables (3) with different lengths are included, located between the inner face of the tank and the sheet (4). One set of the ends (10) of the optic fiber cables (3) are disposed so that they are in contact with the fuel (2) when it reaches their level, thereby allowing measurement of the fuel level at all times.The preferred embodiment distributes the optic fiber cables (3) on two opposing lateral faces of the tank (1) so that they cross over one another and in opposite directions to measure any fuel level.It is applied in aeronautics.
US08746053B2

A method of optimizing performance of a wind turbine electric generator (WTG) comprises the steps of measuring the performance of a wind turbine electric generator, defining an area on a blade of the WTG, placing stall flags within said defined area, monitoring the behavior of the stall flags when the WTG is operating, determining a stall line based upon the stall flags during operation, installing vortex generators on the blade adjacent to and upwind of said stall line, monitoring the behavior of said stall flags during operation with vortex generators installed on all blades, and measuring the performance of the WTG to detect improved performance. If there is little or no improvement, repeating the steps on a second WTG using different placement within the defined area for the vortex generators.
US08746046B2

A method for the estimation of oil viscosity in an internal combustion engine, the engine subjected to fuel post injections to activate Particulate Filter regeneration processes and to fuel hydrocarbons (HC) evaporation events affecting said oil viscosity. The method includes, but is not limited to determining if the particulate filter is subjected to a regeneration process and, in the affirmative case, calculating an oil viscosity decrease during said Particulate Filter regeneration process as a function of an oil dilution rate, and calculating an oil viscosity increase after said regeneration process as a function of an Hydrocarbon (HC) evaporation rate and of a time during which fuel Hydrocarbon evaporation takes place, where said evaporation time is determined as a function of a time spent in evaporating fuel Hydrocarbon from engine oil in a previous fuel hydrocarbons evaporation event.
US08746039B2

The invention provides a liquid cell for an atomic force microscope. The liquid cell includes a liquid cell housing with an internal cavity to contain a fluid, a plurality of conductive feedthroughs traversing the liquid cell housing between the internal cavity and a dry side of the liquid cell, a cantilevered probe coupled to the liquid cell housing, and a piezoelectric drive element disposed on the cantilevered probe. The cantilevered probe is actuated when a drive voltage is applied to the piezoelectric drive element through at least one of the conductive feedthroughs. A method of imaging an object in a liquid medium and a method of sensing a target species with the liquid cell are also disclosed.
US08746034B2

An inertial sensor includes an oscillator, a drive unit for oscillating the oscillator, a sensor for sensing the amount of inertia applied to the oscillator, and a failure diagnosis unit disposed between the oscillator and the drive unit. The drive unit includes a reference potential supply unit for supplying a reference potential to the oscillator, and a drive signal supply unit for supplying a drive signal to the oscillator based on a monitor signal received from the oscillator. The failure diagnosis unit includes a diagnosis unit for diagnosing a failure based on the value of a current supplied by the reference potential supply unit to the oscillator. The inertial sensor having this structure can detect a failure in the drive unit or the oscillator.
US08746024B2

A rebound locking mechanism (10) is taught that consists of a spring loaded shaft (28) having an activating flat (34) thereon, a spring loaded latch (78) interfacing with the shaft activating flat and a rebound plate (40) attached to the shaft. An inertia flywheel (56) having an offset protruding striker (58) is in alignment beneath said rebound plate, with an electric motor (60) rotating the flywheel. In operation when the motor rotates the flywheel in a counter clockwise direction, the striker hits a top surface of the rebound plate and bounces the flywheel clockwise until the striker hits beneath the rebound plate causing the shaft to rotate realigning the flat permitting the latch to rotate under spring urging and thereby repositioning the catch from a locked position into an unlocked position.
US08746022B2

A pull-up latch mechanism includes a stator (2) with an inner open channel (20), a cap (10) attached to a cylinder (1) lodged into the open channel (20) of the stator (2), a shaft (8) provided with a latching pawl, and a control system connecting the shaft (8) to the cylinder. The control system is adapted for generating a first movement of rotation of the cylinder, a movement of the shaft (8) away from the cylinder in the direction of the longitudinal axis, for generating a second movement of rotation of the cylinder, and a movement of the shaft towards the cylinder in the direction of a central axis.
US08746015B2

A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.
US08745993B2

Disclosed herein are a refrigerating apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The method includes lowering a temperature in a storage chamber to a freezing point temperature zone by adjusting cold air supplied to the storage chamber, and lowering the temperature in the storage chamber to a temperature below a freezing point by increasing an amount of the cold air supplied to the storage chamber, when it is determined that a temperature of articles stored in the storage chamber is stabilized in the freezing point temperature zone by the cold air. When the surface temperature and the center temperature of the stored articles are cooled close to the freezing point and are then cooled again to the freezing temperature below the freezing point, super-cooling of the stored articles is carried out for a short time, the surfaces and the centers of the stored articles start to freeze simultaneously.
US08745984B2

A multi-stage solar power device includes a light-permeable base plate, a plurality of light-condensing plates, a heat-conducting tube, at least one gas turbine, a gas inlet tube and a gas outlet tube. The light-condensing plates include a plurality of arcs with different length. The light-condensing plates are spaced from each other and arranged under the light-permeable base plate to define a plurality of light-reflecting chambers. The heat-conducting tube has first and second ends and extends through the light-reflecting chambers. At least one gas turbine is disposed in the heat-conducting tube. The gas inlet tube has first and second sections. The first section protrudes from the light-permeable base plate, and the second section extends through the light-permeable base plate. The gas outlet tube has one end protruding from the light-permeable base plate, as well as an other end extending through the light-permeable base plate.
US08745976B2

A device for cooling an exhaust gas stream, having an exhaust gas pipe receiving the exhaust gas stream, the exhaust gas pipe being surrounded at least in places by a heat shield arranged spaced therefrom, which together with the outside of the exhaust gas pipe forms a convection region for air supplied from the surrounding environment. A mouth region of the exhaust gas pipe extended relative to the heat shield projects in such a way into an open end of an adjoining outlet port that a reduced pressure relative to the surrounding environment may be produced in a suction region between the mouth region of the exhaust gas pipe and the outlet port as the air heated in the convection region due to the exhaust gas stream rises.
US08745971B2

A system includes an internal combustion ignition engine with an exhaust gas flow, a particulate filter in the exhaust gas flow, a NOx reduction catalyst in the exhaust gas flow downstream of the particulate filter, a first oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust gas flow downstream of the NOx reduction catalyst, and a second oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust gas flow between the particulate filter and the NOx reduction catalyst. A controller includes an exhaust conditions module that interprets a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor and a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor and a combustion control module that commands a high engine-out air-fuel ratio when the first oxygen signal indicates a low oxygen content and commands a low engine-out air-fuel ratio when the first oxygen signal indicates a high oxygen content.
US08745968B2

An abnormality detection apparatus for a particulate filter that is provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and traps particulate matter in exhaust gas. The abnormality detection apparatus includes: a sensor that is provided downstream of the particulate filter and detects the particulate matter; a removal device that removes the particulate matter trapped in the particulate filter based on an output of the sensor; and a determination device that determines whether the particulate filter is in an abnormal state based on a first stabilization time that has elapsed until the output of the sensor becomes stable after completion of removal of the particulate matter performed by the removal device.
US08745954B2

A floating, nondestructably disconnectable, discontinuous, full-moment nodal connection between the end of a beam and the side of a column including (a) a column having a side, (b) a column-mount node structure joined to that column side, (c) an elongate beam having an end, and (d) a beam-mount node structure joined to that beam end. The column-mount and beam-mount structures are floatingly, nondestructably disconnectably, and discontinuity-gravity-seated relative to one another, and as so seated, form an operative full-moment connection, via the node structures, between the column and beam, this connection being characterized by the fact that there is no uninterrupted material-occupying path or structure which flows structurally from the beam to the column through the node structures.
US08745952B2

The invention relates to a floor panel; in particular a laminated floor panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled floor panels according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for mutually coupling two floor panels, in particular laminated floor panels, according to the invention.
US08745949B1

An apparatus for flooring including a first connecting piece, a first floor plank, a second connecting piece, and a second floor plank. The first connecting piece may be permanently connected to the first floor plank. The second connecting piece may be permanently connected to the second floor plank. The first floor plank may be temporarily connected to the second floor plank. The first connecting piece may be L-shaped, having a first section and a second section, with the first section of the first connecting piece substantially perpendicular to the second section of the first connecting piece. The second connecting piece may be L-shaped, having a first section and a second section, with the first section of the second connecting piece substantially perpendicular to the second section of the second connecting piece.
US08745946B2

A ceiling tile suspension system comprising a clip member, a suspension track releasably securable to the clip member and a ceiling tile suspension rail releasably securable to the suspension track. The clip member is securable to a structural component of a ceiling and has an upper surface and a pair of downwardly depending sides. The suspension track is releasably securable to the clip member and has a pair of upwardly extending legs. At least the sides of the clip member or the legs of the suspension track are horizontally resiliently displaceable to releasably secure the suspension track to the clip member.
US08745945B2

A furring strip fastening member comprises a furring strip receiving plate having a through-hole and a female thread section latching section, a rear face plate having a through-hole, a spring section and a female thread section. The spring section connects the furring strip receiving plate and the rear face plate. The female thread section has a through-hole having a thread formed in the inner periphery thereof, and is latched by the female thread section latching sections. In the construction structure for a building, the furring strip fastening member is connected to skeleton wall of building that is formed of concrete wall and a heat insulating material disposed outside the latter, in a state where the female thread section is screwed to the bolt. The furring strip receiving plate presses against the furring strip and the rear face plate presses against the heat insulating material.
US08745942B2

The present invention relates to a tower foundation system (30) comprising a foundation (32) for a bottom section (36) of a tower, which bottom section (36) is to be connected to the upper part of the foundation (32), wherein the bottom section (36) is cast into the foundation (32) with an ultra high performance grout (42).
US08745938B2

A skylight with a light transmission passage bounded by reflective surface. Centrally facing, curved mirror reflective surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the passage. The curved reflective surfaces have a curvature slope that becomes progressively greater, with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the axis, as the surfaces progress from the upper end to the lower end of the passage. The curved mirror surfaces are also curved inward at their upper end. Preferably, the curved mirror surfaces are parabolic and most preferably are formed as a compound parabolic concentrator that is mounted in an inverted orientation. The skylight of the invention also has reflective surfaces that are orthogonal to these reflective surfaces. The orthogonal reflective surfaces can alternatively be either formed with the same curvature and orientation or can be planar.
US08745928B2

A lining comprising at least two profiled frame elements extending in a longitudinal direction along the surface to be covered in spaced relationship to each other and at least one membrane element having a face side and a reverse side remote from the face side and disposed between the profiled frame elements and connected to the profiled frame elements, at least partially, by means of rearwardly engaging attachment means, wherein the membrane element, when in a loose state, is capable of moving freely in the longitudinal direction and, in particular, is free to move into and out of an space between the profiled frame elements. The lining further comprises means adapted to one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally taughten the membrane element in the transverse and longitudinal directions between the profiled frame elements.
US08745923B2

The present invention is directed toward a security cover for a door viewer such as a peephole. The security cover includes a housing having a forward opening configured to align with the peephole, a rearward viewing port, and an eyecup. The security cover further includes a shutter mechanism that is manually repositionable from a closed position to an opened position via engagement of an actuator. In operation, the security cover is coupled to a door such that it covers the door viewer.
US08745921B2

A tray has a plurality of receptacles. A receptacle is enabled to receive a container with a locking device. The container contains a potted plant. The locking device contains a protrusion, the protrusion being a protrusion on a wall of the container when the locking device is in a neutral position. The protrusion can move inwards and outwards from the neutral position relative to the wall when an inward or outward force is applied. The container is in a secured position in the receptacle when the protrusion mates with an opening in the receptacle. The protrusion has a slanted side allowing the protrusion to be lifted from the opening by rotating the container around a vertical axis.
US08745920B1

Disclosed is a plant protection device that combines the functionality of a solid walled style plant protector that is good for the establishment of a new plant/seedling and perforated style plant protector that is good for an established plant. The wall of a tree/plant protector and growth device has thin areas inherent in the wall that degrade faster than other parts of the same device wall. This occurs based on the weather conditions (wind/rain/cold), UV degradation, biodegradation, and other factors. Over time these areas open up, allowing air, sun light and other environmental elements to reach the plant/tree within the protector. Strategically placing the thinner areas allows for designs for different plant/tree species and applications. Applications for climatic regions—northern, aired, wetlands, etc. Other applications examples are reforestation, vineyards, windbreaks, etc. The degradation of the thin areas can be controlled by using different materials, UV stabilizer levels and other methods.
US08745918B2

A garden planting aid including a biodegradable ground cover having a plurality of grid spaces formed by spaced horizontal and vertical lines. A first measure tape having a plurality of first indicia;a second measure tape having a plurality of second indicia.The first indicia are associated with columns of grid spaces and the second indicia are associated with rows of grid spaces such that each grid space has a unique designation that includes a first and second indicia. The aid includes a plan designating garden objects that can be placed at the unique designation.
US08745917B2

Disclosed herein is an improved ant trap. The ant trap includes a base having a central opening and the opening is suitable for storing liquid. A bait trap is located centrally within the central opening to maximize the number of ants in the central opening at any point in time. The ant trap, in an exemplary embodiment, includes an electromechanically operated platform, which is movable with respect to the central opening. In a first position the platform forms an ant path from the base to the bait trap. In a second position the platform is moved into the central opening. The central opening is filed with a liquid toxic to ants, but safe to mammals and the environment, generally. For example, a solution of sweet boric acid and water is used to fill the central opening. Upon moving, the platform is immersed in the liquid, thereby exterminating ants found thereon.
US08745913B2

A versatile shooting rest has a base with an adjustable riser on its nose. A clamp mechanism holds a riser in place so that a rest on the riser's end can be situated at desired heights. The base affixes to a tripod or other stand and preferably uses a ball stem that allows for rotation. The base supports the butt, handle, or rear portion of the weapon, while the rest on the riser's upper end supports the forearm, barrel, or front portion of the weapon. An insert can attach in this rest so the rest and insert can accommodate various types of weapons. The versatile shooting rest can be adjusted to accommodate a number of weapons used for hunting, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, long rifles, AR style rifles, and crossbows.
US08745906B2

A dose tracking method is supported by a multi-flag label construction that label-links a primary container to at least one secondary container. The dose tracking methodology comprises a series of steps including: printing information associated with a source container upon a parent label and a series of child labels, the parent and child labels forming a portion of a multi-layered, multi-flag label; adhesively attaching a transparent end of the multi-flag label to the source container, the transparent end overlying the information associated with the source container; drawing a dose from the source container into a dose container; removing a select child label from the multi-flag label; adhesively attaching the removed select child label to the dose container; and inputting the printed information from the select child label into a dose tracking mechanism.
US08745904B2

A heating appliance including a metal substrate, at least a part of which is covered with a self-cleaning coating including at least one oxidation catalyst selected from the platinoid oxides, and at least one dopant of said oxidation catalyst selected from the rare-earth oxides. The self-cleaning coating is a bilayer coating including: an inner layer at least partially covering the metal substrate and including the dopant; and an outer layer in contact with the ambient air and including the oxidation catalyst. Also provided is a method for producing such a heating appliance.
US08745895B2

An article of footwear may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.
US08745884B2

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with three-dimensional laser position systems are described. In one embodiment, a system includes first and second vertical laser plane transmitters and a horizontal laser plane transmitter. The first and second vertical laser plane transmitters are configured to emit first and second vertical laser planes, respectively, that are each rotatable about rotational axes. The horizontal laser plane transmitter has a fixed position relative to the rotational axis of the second vertical laser plane transmitter and emits a horizontal laser plane that is rotatable to position the horizontal laser plane at a pitch angle. The system is configured to translate between a three dimensional coordinate and positions of the first and second vertical laser transmitters and the horizontal laser transmitter, respectively, that will cause the first and second vertical laser planes and the horizontal laser plane to intersect at a the three dimensional coordinate.
US08745878B2

A folding knife locking mechanism is provided which maintains the open and closed positions associated with the folding knife. A carrier assembly for the locking mechanism for changing the folding knife from the closed to the open position is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the folding knife comprises a carrier assembly for positioning a spherical locking mechanism against the tang of the knife, without the need for scales or other retaining elements typical in prior art knives.
US08745876B2

A safety razor includes a handle assembly elongated along a longitudinal axis, a blade head assembly pivotably connected to the handle assembly and having a first blade set thereon, the first blade set extending generally in parallel with the longitudinal axis. The blade head assembly can be releasably connected to the handle assembly to facilitate replacement. The blade head assembly can include a second blade set, the second blade set extending generally in parallel with the longitudinal axis, the first and second blade sets arranged facing away from each other such that the shaving direction of the blade head assembly can be altered by rotating the safety razor about the longitudinal axis. The safety razor can further include a biasing element for resisting pivotal motion of the blade assembly about the longitudinal axis and a control mechanism operable to selectively limit the pivotal motion of the blade head assembly.
US08745869B2

A screwed pipe connection for connecting a pipeline including a connection end having a formed wall region. The screwed pipe connection includes a connection part and a union joint part. Proceeding from the end face of the connection end of the pipeline, an outside cross-section of the pipeline increases and is larger than the nominal outside cross-section, then decreases again. Proceeding from the end face, a clear inside cross-section of the connection end is larger than the nominal inside cross-section and decreases to the nominal inside cross-section. The wall thickness on the end face is smaller than the nominal wall thickness, and wherein an inner material difference, resulting from the deviation of the inside cross-section from the nominal inside cross-section, and an outer material difference, resulting from the deviation of the outside cross-section from the nominal outside cross-section, deviate from one another by a maximum of 30 percent.
US08745849B2

A method is disclosed for making a template for a superconducting coil on a former (25) from a sheet (23) of flexible biaxially-textured material having at least two joining edges, the surface texture of the sheet being defined by a plurality of grains, and the former having a substantially curved surface. The method comprises the steps of shaping the sheet so that each joining edge lies adjacent to another joining edge on application of the sheet to the former, each joining edge and its adjacent edge being a pair of edges, and so that the sheet is dimensioned to cover a part of the surface of the former and substantially to fit that part of the former; positioning the sheet on the former so that regions of the sheet either side of the pair of edges have substantially aligned grains; and forming a join between the pair of edges, the template thereby having a substantially continuous textured surface across the join.
US08745836B2

A process for placing a tube spout fitment within a flexible pouch container is provided. The process can include providing a front panel and a back panel, each panel having a top edge, a side edge, and a bottom edge. In addition, the front panel can also have an aperture. A fitment having a fitment base and a spout extending from the fitment base is provided and placed through the aperture using a plate with a channel and a channel stop.
US08745824B2

A hinge device has a first part and a second part, which are intended to be attached to a door frame and a door, respectively. The first part and the second part are rigidly connected to each other and have each a tubular housing, whose center axis defines a first hinge axis and which accommodates two balls, an axially displaceable locking member arranged axially inwardly of each ball, a compression spring arranged between and cooperating with each ball and the associated locking member, and an eccentric located between the two locking members and cooperating therewith. Each eccentric is rotatably carried about a transverse axis in the respective housing and rotatable between an initial position, in which the two associated locking members are located in an axially inner position and the two associated balls are located in a position slightly projecting from the housing, in which position they are held biased by the respective compression spring, and an active position, in which the two associated locking members are located in an axially outer position, in which they abut against the respective ball axially locking it in the projecting position.
US08745820B2

A rotary hinge assembly includes a hinge housing including at least one interior chamber. A spring disposed within the hinge housing provides a torque on an attached door while in an opened and closed position. A rotor rotatably disposed within the at least one interior chamber includes at least one rotor vane that moves in relation to a stationarily mounted stator having at least one stator vane. A fill plug includes a plurality of entrance and exit holes disposed in relation to the stator and rotor vanes to define a fluidic damper assembly. A valve disposed within the fill plug permits selective adjustment of the fluidic damper by restricting or opening the entrance and exit holes of the fill plug.
US08745807B2

An apparatus and method that efficiently scrubs and massages a surface without the need for a washcloth and effectively inhibits growth of mold and bacteria. The apparatus is designed to fit within a human hand to facilitate ease in use. The material that the apparatus is made from can be quick drying and antibacterial. The apparatus can be used on both humans and animals for grooming.
US08745804B2

A toothbrush comprising at one of its ends, a handle, and at its other end, a head carrying bristles on one of its sides. A stainless steel cladding covers the head and the handle. As a variation, the head and handle can be made of stainless steel with a plastic plate attached to the head and carrying bristles. As an option, a tongue scraper can be incorporated at the tail end of the handle. As yet another variation the handle can carry a thermochromic material to provide a measure of temperature or to display an image or a text message.
US08745799B1

An apparatus that provides selectively deployable worker access with fall protection to at least a portion of the top of a container has a gangway that is configured to be retrofitted to an elevated platform from which the gangway and a fall protection cage is selectively deployable over the top of the container. The fall protection cage is connected to the gangway via a fixed stanchion and an abutment that is adjustably disposed outboard of the fixed stanchion and connected thereto via at least one selectively length adjustable screw member.
US08745797B2

The objective of the present invention is to provide a mattress including a plurality of cells provided on a body pressure working surface of a substrate that supports a human body, and a pressure control means that changes a setting of a height of each cell by adjusting a pressure in a fluid chamber formed within the cell. An elastic cushion layer is provided on a body pressure working surface of the cells, and a constricted portion is formed in a middle in the height of the each cell so that the body pressure working surface of the cell is allowed to tilt following deformation of the cushion layer as a result of the cells' precession-deformation at the constricted portion.
US08745796B2

A sensing device is configured for placing in an air cushion bed below air bladders thereof to detect an exact state of the bed in use, and includes a first and a second sheet connected together to define an air chamber therebetween. The air bladders and the air chamber are communicable with one another via inflation valves on the first sheet and are synchronously and identically inflated. First and second sensing elements are disposed outside and inside the air chamber, respectively. The first sensing element has deformation and acceleration sensors arranged thereon for monitoring how the bed reacts to a patient lying thereon and the manner in which the bed is being used. The second sensing element includes upper and lower conductive sensing sheets and an electrical connection state therebetween is used to detect whether the air bladders are sufficiently inflated. Thus, the air cushion bed is safer for use.
US08745793B2

A mattress system includes a core mattress and a mattress cover. The core is made from a resilient material with a top surface that may be inclined with respect to the bottom surface. The removable mattress sheet covers the core and includes a breathable material that forms a hammock over a depression in the top surface. The subject rests at least partially on the hammock. One or more sidewalls of the mattress depression may have one or more openings to facilitate air circulation within the depression. The external ends of the openings may connect to an air or aerosol source to inject air or aerosols into the depression cavity. The core may be coated with a fire retardant, impermeable water-proofing or gas impermeable layer. A ventilator may be adapted within the mattress.
US08745788B2

A patient support (10, 14) includes a source of pressurized air (64), a bladder (30), a valve (66) in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air (64) and to the bladder (30), a pressure sensor (28) in fluid communication with the bladder (30), and a controller (26) responsive to a pressure signal from the pressure sensor (28). The controller (26) may determine a rate of change of pressure within the bladder (30) and may store historical pressure data.
US08745787B1

A sheet anchoring system is provided to restrain the periphery of a fitted sheet on a bed, where the sheet anchoring system includes a plurality of pivotable clips each having a first end and a second end with engaging friction surfaces to grasp between the surfaces a portion of the periphery of the sheet without the need for a spring or other force-biasing mechanism. The second end also has engaging surfaces forced into engagement by the weight of the mattress on top of the second end when the second end is placed between the mattress and a box spring below the mattress.
US08745786B2

A siderail assembly includes a guide, a support frame coupled to the frame and movable between first and second positions, and a barrier coupled to the support frame and movable therewith. The siderail assembly further includes a handle coupled to the barrier to move between a first position and a second position relative to the barrier. The siderail assembly may include electronic controls to change the position or limit movement of various portions of a patient support apparatus on which the siderail assembly may be coupled.
US08745772B2

A discharge valve apparatus has control cylinder members for controlling the flow of rinse water flowing out from a reservoir tank discharge port, on which opening portions are formed, and flow-adjusting members attached to these control cylinder members are capable of adjusting the opening surface area of opening portions in the control cylinder member. Female engaging portions in the control cylinder member are arrayed approximately vertically, and are furnished with registration indentations for registering the attachment positions of adjusting members relative to the control cylinder members. Intervals within the registration indentations are set to be smaller than a width of an installer's finger to prevent release of engagement by an installer when the adjusting member male engaging portions are in a state of engagement with the female engaging portions of the control cylinder members.
US08745769B2

An athletic garment including a panel designed to reduce frictional and pressure drag around an appendage of an athlete competing in a high-speed event, such as running and cycling. The panel is positioned to encircle the appendage, and is provided with regions having different surface texture roughnesses. The leading edge of the panel includes texture designed to enhance the laminar boundary layer, while the adjacent portion of the panel includes texture intended to trip the boundary layer to turbulent flow. The drag-reducing panel may be the cuff of a sock, a sleeve, wristband, a headband, or the like.
US08745764B2

A sweatband for use on the hand and wrist is provided. The sweatband provides a surface on the back of a user's hand which may be utilized by a person to wipe sweat or perspiration. Thus, the back of the hand (opisthenar or dorsal surface of the hand) is used when wiping perspiration. The sweatband is constructed such that a first band portion wraps around a user's wrist and a second band portion wraps around the palm and back portion of a user's hand. In one embodiment the sweatband may be constructed of an elongated piece of material that is looped to form the first and second band portions. In one embodiment, a sweatband is interchangeable for use with the left or right hand. In one embodiment the sweatband is reversible.
US08752210B2

A method and circuit for implementing data theft prevention, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A polymeric resin containing microcapsules surrounds a security card. Each microcapsule contains a conductive material. The conductive material of the microcapsule provides shorting on the security card responsive to the polymer resin and the microcapsule being breached, and a data theft prevention function using the shorting by the conductive material to prevent data theft.
US08752209B2

An information processing apparatus (100) is provided with a memory unit (130) for storing digital broadcast content for which a number of copies that can be made is set, a writing unit (160, 162) for writing the content on external recording medium, an IC medium reader/writer (150) for reading an IC medium (300) and recording the number of copies that can be made of the content on the IC medium (300) in association with an identifier of the content, and a control unit (170) for determining whether an identifier of the content is recorded on the IC medium (300) when the content is copied to the external recording medium and, when it is determined that the identifier is recorded, controlling the writing unit (160, 162) to write the content on external recording medium (210, 220) as well as controlling the IC medium reader/writer (150) to update the number of copies that can be made of the content.
US08752207B2

The present invention provides a system and method for encoding and decoding security labels utilizable in a computing system. The method for encoding includes, in part, ascribing an integer value to each one of a set of characteristics. Thereafter, to encode a particular security label, the integer values for each of the set of characteristics that describe the label are combined to arrive at a single integer value.
US08752205B2

Provided is an apparatus and method for managing Digital Rights Management (DRM) contents in a portable terminal. The method includes when a license of the DRM content is consumed, changing license information, which is stored in an external memory, on the DRM content; storing information relating to changed data of the external memory into an internal memory; determining whether the changed license information stored in the external memory has changed by using the information stored in the internal memory when the DRM content is used; and determining whether the DRM content is available according to whether the changed license information has changed.
US08752202B2

A technique for distributing media data in a secured fashion that mitigates unwanted or illegal copying/distribution of such data. An initial, degraded version of the media data is sent to one or more recipient(s). After confirming identity of a recipient at a receiving system, a supplemental version of the media data is sent to the receiving system which augments the degraded version such that it can then be played by the recipient(s). The degraded version of the media data has a reduced quality that is obtained by removing portions of the data and filling in the removed portions with dummy data. During a subsequent rebuilding of the media data, a supplemental version of the media data is sent to the receiving data processing system where it is merged/combined with the degraded version to form a copy that corresponds to the original, high-quality version of the media data.
US08752199B2

A method for use in playing content that is made up of data includes establishing in a device a physical media storing a first portion of the data making up the content, receiving a streamed second portion of the data making up the content, wherein the second portion of the data includes essential information for reconstructing the content from the first portion of the data, and playing the content by combining the first portion of the data with the second portion of the data to correctly reconstruct the content. A method for use in enhancing security of content that is made up of data includes removing information from the data making up the content that is essential for playing the content.
US08752197B2

The system and method obscures descriptive image information about one or more images. The system comprises a selector for selecting the descriptive image information from one or more of the images, a transformer that transforms the descriptive information into a transformed state, and an authorizer that provides authorization criteria with the image. In a preferred embodiment, the transformed state is the respective image encoded with the descriptive information. The descriptive information can be obscured so that the descriptive information in the transformed state can be decoded only if one or more authorization inputs satisfy the authorization criteria.
US08752195B2

An information processing apparatus and method make it possible for persons at remote places to enjoy simultaneous playback of contents while promoting copyright and privacy protection. A copyright authentication section decides, based on a copyright restriction added to a content and license information stored in a license storage section, whether utilization of the content is permitted. An accounting processing section, in response to a result of the decision, cooperates with an authentication sever to perform accounting. A privacy authentication section decides, based on the privacy restriction and privacy information, whether utilization of the content is permitted. A permission request processing section, in response to a result of the decision, performs a communication process with a communication apparatus, which has a privacy management right in the content.
US08752183B1

Various embodiments presented herein relate to scanning for and detecting web page vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS). Some embodiments are configured to scan for and detect vulnerabilities of a target web page using a client-based approach, which may employ a remotely-controlled web browser application capable of generating a document object model (DOM) for the target web page as it is accessed. Some embodiments may scan for and detect web page vulnerabilities by monitoring the DOM associated with a targeted web page as one or more attack vectors are applied to the target web page. Certain embodiments are capable of detecting web page vulnerabilities independent of the complexity or presence of an event model, or obfuscation of the malicious code (e.g., XSS code). Target web pages that are scanned may include those associated with an application coded in a web browser-supported language, such a Rich Internet Application (RIA).
US08752180B2

A client device hosts a behavioral engine. Using the behavioral engine, the client device analyzes behavior of a client application with respect to confidential information. The client device assigns a rating indicative of risk to the client application based on the behavior of the client application. The client device performs an action to mitigate risk of data loss if the rating exceeds a threshold.
US08752179B2

Removing malware from a computer system. An inspection module obtains an inspection log representing operational history of the operating system and the application programs of the computer system. The inspection log is analyzed to detect a presence of any malware on the computer system. A treatment scenario is generated that defines a plurality of actions to be executed for removing any malware present on the computer system, as detected in the analyzing. The treatment scenario is generated based on the information contained in the inspection log and on a knowledge base of malware removal rules. The generated treatment scenario is evaluated to assess the actions defined in the generated treatment scenario that are associated with a risk of damaging the operating system or the application programs of the computer system. A modified treatment scenario can be created to reduce the risk in response to an assessment of the risk.
US08752176B2

A system and method for preventing malware, spyware and other undesirable applications from affecting mobile communication devices uses a server to assist in identifying and removing undesirable applications. When scanning an application, a device transmits information about the application to a server for analysis. The server receives the information, produces a characterization assessment and can also provide a characterization re-assessment for the application, or data object, and transmits the assessment to the device. By performing analysis on a server, the invention allows a device to reduce the battery and performance cost of protecting against undesirable applications. The server transmits notifications to devices that have installed applications that are discovered to be undesirable. The server can accumulate this data and then perform a characterization re-assessment of a data object it has previously assessed to provide an assessment based upon one of trust, distribution and ratings information.
US08752166B2

Various methods and systems include exemplary implementations for a security-activated operational component. Possible embodiments include but are not limited to obtaining access to an object data file configured to implement various functional operation regarding one or more objects; verifying validity of an authorization code associated with the object data file; and controlling operation of the operational component to enable or prevent its activation pursuant to the authorization code in accordance with one or more predetermined conditions.
US08752165B2

A method and apparatus for generating provisioning data to provision a device are described. A provisioning bundle is validated according to a relationship between a configuration and a bundle sequence number identifying the provisioning bundle. A provisioning request includes a device hardware identifier identifying the device. An authorization for the provisioning request is determined for generating provisioning data including the provisioning bundle personalized by the device hardware identifier for the device.
US08752164B2

The present invention prevents illegitimate access to a user computing machine. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: setting an authentication routine in the user computing machine; generating a virtual keyboard on the user computing machine; entering a user identification through the virtual keyboard, the user identification being entered according to a virtual keyboard form factor; comparing the entered user identification with a secure user identification previously stored in the user computing machine; and validating the user access to the user computing machine if a match occurs, otherwise denying access.
US08752163B2

A method for authorizing a program sequence provides, despite centralization and the associated high latency and optionally faulty communication, an undisturbed program sequence accompanied by protection of base functionalities. Data of the program sequence may be maintained in various provided states, and at least one instruction of the program sequence which accesses the data is maintained in different, functionally equivalent implementations. The set of the state indices of the provided states and the multiset form a directed acyclic (multi)graph, wherein the provided states form the nodes, and the implementations of the instruction form the edges and/or multiple edges, of the graph.
US08752161B1

Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with securing and authenticating multiple devices behind a network address translation (NAT) device are described. One example method includes controlling a phone proxy to provide security credential information to an Internet Protocol (IP) phone located behind the NAT device. The credentials may be selectively provided in response to receiving a certificate request from the IP phone. The certificate request includes IP phone identifying addresses. The method may also include controlling the phone proxy to update an entry in a secure IP phone data store to relate together the IP phone identifying addresses, a source port associated with the IP phone, and the fact that credential information was provided to the IP phone. This entry can mark the IP phone as an authorized phone. The entry may be addressable as a function of a least a portion of the IP phone identifying addresses.
US08752154B2

According to one embodiment, a system including a memory and a processor is provided. The memory may be operable to store a plurality of accounts. Each account may be associated with a user and with a mobile device. The processor may be coupled to the memory and operable to receive user credentials, sent by a requesting user and originating from a requesting device, in conjunction with a request for authentication. The user credentials may include an account identifier. The processor may be further operable to retrieve, from the plurality of accounts, the account associated with the account identifier that matches the account identifier included in the user credentials. The processor may compare information included within the user credentials with information associated the account. If the information included within the user credentials matches the information associated with the account, the processor may send an authentication-confirmation message to a second device.
US08752140B1

A method of performing a trusted dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCPT). The method comprises receiving a trusted dynamic host configuration protocol request message, wherein the request message was created in and transmitted from a trusted security zone of a computing device, and wherein the request message requests an internet protocol (IP) address and routing information for the computing device, allocating an internet protocol address and determining routing information for the computing device, wherein the allocating and determining are performed by a dynamic host configuration protocol server while executing in a trusted security zone of the server, and transmitting the internet protocol address and routing information to the computing device over a trusted end-to-end communication link.
US08752138B1

A system and machine-implemented method for providing access to one or more shared objects to a user participating in a collaboration session, including receiving a request from a user to receive access to one of one or more shared objects within a collaboration session, each shared object having a corresponding access control list including one or more authorized users having access to the shared object, determining whether the user has access to the one of the one or more shared objects by referencing the access control list in response to receiving the request and adding the user as an authorized user within the access control list for each of the one or more shared objects when it is determined that the user does not have access to the one of the one or more shared objects, such that the user is provided access to the one or more shared objects.
US08752122B2

A television receiving device includes an operating mode determining unit and a power supply control unit. The operating mode determining unit is configured to determine an operating mode of the television receiving device. The power supply control unit is configured to automatically turn off the television receiving device when a default time elapses. The power supply control unit is further configured to change the default time to a modified time that is shorter than the default time based on the operating mode determined by the operating mode determining unit.
US08752121B2

A remote control device comprising a display, a receiver module, and a detection module. The receiver module is configured to receive, from a set-top box device, information about content currently displayed on a screen connected to the set-top box device, and configured to display the information on the display. The detection module is in communication with the display. The detection module is configured to determine a button that is pressed on the remote control device, and configured to display an output on the display corresponding to the button and indicating that the button has been pressed.
US08752113B1

Systems and methods of inserting overlays into a stream are disclosed. A media server may receive a stream. The media server may selectively add one or more images (e.g., graphics and/or text) to the stream prior to scaling the stream to produce one or more scaled streams. The media server may also selectively add one or more images to the scaled streams. The scaled streams may be encoded for adaptive streaming to a computing device.
US08752111B2

An exemplary system includes a content delivery subsystem configured to receive media content from a content provider and transmit the media content over a network to a content processing subsystem configured to process and provide the media content for presentation to an end user. The content delivery subsystem is further configured to maintain resource data associated with at least one of the media content and the content provider, make at least a subset of the resource data available to the content processing subsystem for inclusion in an end user interface, provide a content customization portal for access by the content provider, authenticate the content provider accessing the content customization portal, receive custom content from the authenticated content provider via the content customization portal, validate the custom content, and provide the custom content to the content processing subsystem for inclusion in the end user interface.
US08752108B2

A system and method for detecting and geo-locating signal ingress interferences in a cable distribution network comprising a head station for transmitting content to subscribers at frequencies within a network bandwidth. The system comprises a vehicle mounted geo-locating device for generating geo-location data indicating the geographical position of a vehicle, and a vehicle mounted transmitter for transmitting a radio-frequency signal comprising said geo-location data at a frequency within the network bandwidth as the vehicle travels within the geographical area of the network. If an ingress exists in the network, the ingress signal sent from onboard the vehicle would leak into the network to be received and detected by a receiver at the head station of the cable distribution network. A server is used to process the data extracted by the receiver to produces reports and maps reflecting ingress points in a geographical area.
US08752100B2

A method of receiving content includes joining an in-progress multicast stream to receive a first portion of a content. The method further includes sending a request to a peer for a catch-up portion of the content, the request including a deadline for delivery of the content, and receiving the catch-up portion of the content from the peer prior to the deadline.
US08752099B2

Methods and apparatus for providing content to users of a network that can be selectively recorded via the user's equipment. In an exemplary embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network, and on-demand (OD) sessions are used to provide high-speed download of the requested content to the users. The user's equipment (e.g., set-top box) is equipped with a high-density recording device which can both record the content onto a selected medium (e.g., DVD) and optionally provide copyright protection via one or more means such as limiting the number of copies that can be made, and/or digital watermarking. The network operator can also restrict the establishment of the on-demand sessions and/or release of the content to subscribers based on parameters including prior purchase of the content by the user, and the timing of the release of the same content via other distribution channels such as rental and retail.
US08752098B2

A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes a reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, an extractor for extracting transmission parameter channel signaling information and fast information channel signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, an acquirer for acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble by using the extracted fast information channel signaling information, the ensemble being a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, a detector for detecting a descriptor defining Internet access information corresponding to the mobile service data by using the acquired program table, and a controller for controlling such that the Internet access information of the detected descriptor and the mobile service data are displayed.
US08752088B1

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08752084B1

The present invention discloses systems for monitoring advertisements. A system for monitoring advertisements in a broadcast television channel in accordance with the present invention comprises a sound level monitor for monitoring an audio level of a first broadcast television channel, a data tagger, coupled to the sound level monitor, for tagging a start and an end of an advertisement segment within the first broadcast television channel, and a receiver, wherein when the receiver is first tuned to the first broadcast channel and then tuned to a second broadcast channel, an on-screen display is displayed on a monitor displaying the second broadcast channel, the OSD being displayed when the end of the advertisement segment within the first broadcast channel occurs.
US08752082B2

A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08752078B1

Provided is an objective lens driving unit that includes a moving structure including an objective lens and a driving coil, a yoke and a fixed portion extending from the yoke, and a wire holder that has a first surface and a second surface that is adjacent to the first surface. The fixed portion of the yoke is integrally bonded to the first surface, and a terminal unit comprising a plurality of interconnection layers is embedded on the second surface. The objective lens driving unit also includes a plurality of suspension wires that connect the driving coil to the terminal unit of the wire holder.
US08752074B2

A computer-implemented method processes a simple object access protocol (SOAP) command. The method includes interpreting an XML script to perform a function contained in the XML script, the XML script containing the SOAP command, parsing the SOAP command from the XML script, and passing the SOAP command to a SOAP interpreter for execution.
US08752064B2

Provided herein is a method for optimizing communication for system calls. The method includes storing a system call for each work item in a wavefront and transmitting said stored system calls to a processor for execution. The method also includes receiving a result to each work item in the wavefront responsive to said transmitting.
US08752043B2

A computer receives information from a user, which includes the identity of and installation preferences for the software to be installed on a second computer. Information about the environment of the second computer is gathered by the computer. The computer defines a set of search parameters based on the information received and the environment of the second computer. The computer searches for data stored on storage devices and the Internet. The computer retrieves the data, associated to a second installation of the software on a third computer, which relates to the installation of software on the second computer. The computer generates guidance for installation of the software on the second computer, based on the identity of the software to be installed, installation preferences for the software to be installed, the environment of the second computer, and the data associated to an installation of the software on a third computer.
US08752024B2

Inserting, at debuggee source code lines, a breakpoint and executing. For each breakpoint encounter until exiting: encountering and removing the breakpoint, incrementing a first counter value, and resuming execution. Exiting includes saving the first counter value, a state of the call stack, and an exit location. In a second debug session, preparing the debuggee to resume from the exit location. Inserting, at the debuggee source code lines, a breakpoint and executing the debuggee. For each breakpoint encounter until a second counter value matches the first: encountering and removing the breakpoint, incrementing the second counter value, and resuming execution. When the first and second counter values match: inserting an exit location breakpoint at the exit location, executing the debuggee until encountering the exit location breakpoint, and providing the user control to resume debugging from the exit location only if the present state of the call stack matches the saved state.
US08752018B2

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for emitting coherent output from multiple threads for the printf( ) function. Additionally, parallel (not divergent) execution of the threads for the printf( ) function is maintained when possible to improve run-time performance. Processing of the printf( ) function is separated into two tasks, gathering of the per thread data and formatting the gathered data according to the formatting codes for display. The threads emit a coherent stream of contiguous segments, where each segment includes the format string for the printf( ) function and the gathered data for a thread. The coherent stream is written by the threads and read by a display processor. The display processor executes a single thread to format the gathered data according to the format string for display.
US08752008B2

A sampling based DBR framework which leverages a separate core for program analysis. The framework includes a hardware performance monitor, a DBR service that executes as a separate process and a lightweight DBR agent that executes within a client process. The DBR service aggregates samples from the hardware performance monitor, performs region selection by deducing the program structure around hot samples, performs transformations on the selected regions (e.g. optimization), and generates replacement code. The DBR agent then patches the client process to use the replacement code.
US08752004B2

A method for generating a domain-specific software solution may include receiving a request for a solution model to accomplish one or more tasks. A domain model may be selected in response to the request for the solution model. The solution model may be configured based on the selected domain model. The solution model may be configured by selecting a set of candidate technical assets for each task of the solution model. The solution model may also be configured by determining for each candidate technical asset if the one or more requirements of the task of the solution model are satisfiable by the candidate technical asset. The solution model may be further configured by selecting a technical asset for each task to be included in a solution implementation.
US08751998B2

Disclosed is a method of simulating partial reconfiguration of a programmable logic device (PLD). A wrapper module is incorporated into a logic description that may be implemented in a PLD. The wrapper module represents a first logic design. In response to receiving a parameter, the wrapper module changes to represent a second logic design. According to various embodiments, the logic description is a simulatable source file. The simulatable source file is a source file that is used by a simulation program to simulate partial reconfiguration of the logic design. The wrapper module of the simulatable source file receives a run-time parameter. In various embodiments, the logic description is a synthesizable source file. The synthesizable source file is a source file that is used by a synthesis tool to compile the source file into hardware. The wrapper module of the synthesizable source receives a compile-time parameter.
US08751986B2

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that automatically generate relative placement rules. Constructs at the register transfer language-level result in relative placement rules specified at the register transfer language-level.
US08751968B2

A system and method for accessing multimedia items using an electronic device determines a set of first level categories based on multimedia items associated with the electronic device. The system determines second level category graphics and first level category graphics corresponding to the set of first level categories. The first level category graphics are generated based on one or more second level category graphics associated with the first level category. The system displays a first view that comprises some or all of the first level category graphics. In response to a user input selecting a particular first level category graphic, the system shows a second view that simultaneously displays first level category graphics and second level category graphics associated with the selected first level category. In response to a user input selecting a second level category, the system displays accesses a multimedia item associated with the selected second level category.
US08751966B2

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to display of filtered data via ordered values. One embodiment provides for filtering a collection of items via a range of ordered values associated with a rule user interface object. Upon receiving an adjustment to the rule interface object which changes the range, the collection is filtered to display selected items corresponding to that updated range. Further, based on a comparison between the updated range and a threshold, display of the rule may be updated to display values associated with a different granularity level.
US08751964B2

A method of updating item information of a specific site on an information providing site is provided. The method includes displaying the specific item information of the specific site, receiving user input for selecting one item among the displayed specific items, and when the selected item information displayed on the information providing site is not the same as the information about the selected item provided on the specific site, updating the selected item information into the information provided on the specific site and displaying the updated information.
US08751960B2

A user interface for providing information regarding a subject company to a user. The user interface may comprise a company tile, which may have an indicator of the subject company. A state of the company tile, such as, for example, its color, may indicate a property of the subject company. The user interface may also comprise a financial information module displaying financial information regarding the subject company, and a subject individual module displaying information regarding a subject individual related to the subject company. According to various embodiments, the user interface may also include a navigation toolbar including a second company tile comprising an indicator of a second company. Selecting the second company tile may cause the second company to become a new subject company.
US08751956B2

Embodiments of a variable rate scrollbar are described. In various embodiments, media items, such as email messages, text messages, digital photos, or song selections are grouped by a page, a day, a week, or a month that corresponds to a date associated with a media item. A list of the media items is displayed from one of the groups, and the media items that are displayed are selectable from the list. A variable rate scrollbar is displayed and configured for selection to navigate the media items at variable rates according to the groups of the media items.
US08751954B2

Displaying information in a column of a user interface (UI) on a display screen is enhanced by a column scroll control that displays information that is otherwise truncated from display in the space allocated to the column. The control is sensitive to a threshold limited scrolling input from a user to activate the display of the information ticker style. The display of the remainder of the user interface may be maintained while the column is scrolled. The controls are advantageous for trackball and similar pointing devices especially those used with handheld wireless communication devices (cellular phones, PDAs, smart phones, etc.) where one handed operation is desirable and where display screen sizes and resolutions often require truncation of information in a particular column entry or entries.
US08751950B2

A software program for use in designing interior and exterior spaces receives user input that is associated with one or more attributes. Subsequent user input, having other attributes, is resolved in light of the first input attributes to create a real-world depiction of design choices in real-time. For example, design choices that conflict with prior design choices are resolved (or modified as necessary) to ensure that each of the prior and present user input choices are represented in an appropriate way. The resolution by the design software is also used to create an accurate parts (and/or price) list so that when the user has completed the design of an exterior or interior space, the design can be submitted directly as an order to be fulfilled. Generally, continual resolution ensures that the user's design intent is captured in an accurate and efficient way in a user interface.
US08751942B2

Methods, systems and processor-readable media for supporting bidirectional communications and data sharing. One or more wireless hand held devices can be registered with one or more controllers associated with one or more multimedia displays. One or more profile icons can be selected for use as a cursor(s) during interaction of the wireless hand held device(s) with one or more multimedia display(s) during rendering of an event as data on the multimedia display(s). Supplemental data can be provided from the multimedia display(s) and/or a remote database to the wireless hand held device(s) based on a selection of the data rendered on the multimedia display(s) marked by the cursor utilizing the wireless hand held device(s).
US08751939B2

Systems and methods for displaying tab elements representing viewable page elements. A set of one or more main tabs are displayed on a first portion of a display, each main tab defining a link to a database object stored in a database. A user selection of a first one of the main tabs is received (e.g., to determine which tab provides default display), and two or more side tabs are displayed in a first, default order on a second portion of the display, each said side tab defining a link to an element or portion of a first object. In certain aspects, a user selection of a new order for the two or more side tabs is received, and thereafter the two or more side tabs are displayed in the new order, and the new order is stored to the database, wherein upon later access of the first object by the user, the two or more side tabs are automatically displayed in the new order.
US08751931B2

A method includes receiving user input indicating a selection of a first multimedia channel from a set of multimedia channels for display. The method further includes determining a first user-selected audio indicator associated with the first multimedia channel. The method additionally includes providing the first audio indicator for audible output in response to receiving the user input indicating the selection of the first multimedia channel. Another method includes providing a user interface to facilitate an association of one or more audio indicators with one or more corresponding channel selection actions.
US08751913B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is disclosed that includes a data encoder circuit. The data encoder circuit is operable to apply an encoding algorithm to an input data set in accordance with a multi-layer code structure including a first row and a last row to yield an encoded data set. The last row of the multi-layer code structure represented in the encoded data set conforms to an identity matrix.
US08751912B1

Apparatuses and methods associated with instant syndrome computation in a layered LDPC decoder are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of hardware layers, where a hardware layer is configured to compute a syndrome value from one or more bit values in the codeword. The apparatus includes a plurality of physical memories configured to store a plurality of syndrome values, where a physical memory is configured to store syndrome values computed by one or more hardware layers. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to simultaneously store a syndrome value computed by a hardware layer in physical memories associated with a bit in the codeword. The apparatus includes a decode logic configured to signal successful decoding of the codeword based, at least in part, on determining that a set of syndromes are satisfied based on values stored in the plurality of physical memories.
US08751901B2

A memory system includes a controlling unit that configured to control data transfer between the first and the second memory. The controlling unit executes copy processing for, after reading out data stored in a first page of the second memory to the first memory, writing the data in a second page of the second memory, determines, when executing the copy processing, whether the error correction processing for the data read out from the first page is successful, stores, when the error correction processing is successful, corrected data in the first memory and writes the corrected data in the second page, and reads out, when the error correction processing is unsuccessful, the data from the first page to the first memory and writes the data not subjected to the error correction processing in the second page.
US08751899B2

Handling burst error events with interleaved Reed-Solomon (RS) codes. A received signal, that has undergone convolutional interleaving sometime before, is received from a burst noise affected communication channel. The signal undergoes convolutional deinterleaving and the codewords generated there from undergo appropriate successive cyclic shifting to arrange burst noise affected symbols of various codewords into at least some common symbol locations. For example, at least two codewords have burst noise affected symbols in common symbol locations. An ensemble decoder jointly decodes multiple codewords during a same time period (i.e., processes multiple codewords simultaneously). By processing multiple codewords simultaneously, the ensemble decoder has greater error correction capability than a decoder that processes a single codeword at a time.
US08751896B2

A semiconductor storage device, a method of controlling the same, and an error correction system allow reduction in power consumption and circuit scale without detriment to error correction capability. An error correction code (ECC) circuit of a solid state drive (SSD) performs first error correction on read data using a first error correction code (Hamming code), and further performs second error correction on the result of the first error correction using a second error correction code (BHC code). Furthermore, the ECC circuit performs third error correction on the result of the second error correction using a third error correction code (RS code).
US08751892B2

A communication terminal is provided comprising a transceiver configured to transmit data in accordance with a plurality of transmission processes wherein each transmission process may be activated or deactivated, a receiver configured to receive a message including a message field which specifies a number of transmission processes to which a request for transmission process activation or deactivation is to be applied and a controller configured to activate or deactivate the number of transmission processes in accordance with the request.
US08751886B2

A test architecture accesses IP core test wrappers within an IC using a Link Instruction Register (LIR). An IEEE P1500 standard is in development for providing test access to these individual cores via a test structure called a wrapper. The wrapper resides at the boundary of the core and provides a way to test the core and the interconnections between cores. The test architecture enables each of the plural wrappers in the IC, including wrappers in cores embedded within other cores, with separate enable signals.
US08751884B2

An integrated circuit comprises scan test circuitry and additional circuitry subject to testing utilizing the scan test circuitry. The scan test circuitry comprises at least one scan chain having scan cells. The scan test circuitry further comprises transition launch mode selection circuitry configured to provide independent selection between multiple transition launch modes for each of a plurality of clock domains of the integrated circuit. The multiple transition launch modes may include, for example, at least a launch-on-shift mode and a launch-on-capture mode. These transition launch modes provide different manners of launching a given signal transition via at least one of the scan cells in a corresponding one of the clock domains. The transition launch mode selection circuitry may be configured to generate from a common shift enable signal multiple independently controllable shift enable signals for respective ones of the clock domains of the integrated circuit.
US08751883B2

An integrated circuit can have plural core circuits, each having a test access port that is defined in IEEE standard 1149.1. Access to and control of these ports is though a test linking module. The test access ports on an integrated circuit can be arranged in a hierarchy with one test linking module controlling access to plural secondary test linking modules and test access ports. Each secondary test linking module in turn can also control access to tertiary test linking modules and test access ports. The test linking modules can also be used for emulation.
US08751868B2

A control sever electronically connects a test server via network interfaces. The test server includes multiple storage mediums that store multiple test programs for testing the test server. The control server includes a switching control unit. The switching control unit selects one storage medium from the storage mediums as a startup device of the test server, and sends a control command to run one or more test programs stored in the startup device. In response to receiving a test result from the test server, the switching control unit selects a next storage medium from the storage mediums as a new startup device, and runs one or more test programs stored in the new staring device until all the storage mediums have been selected as startup devices one by one.
US08751867B2

An approach to root cause determination in a complex systems based on monitoring and event data is disclosed. It includes a historical analysis of events with their probabilistic correlations. Applying information measures between the random variables which embody those events one can detect origins of problems and generate real-time recommendations for their locations in a hierarchical system. Estimation of system bottlenecks, as well as the risk of “black swan”-type events are also computed. The processes are based on a statistical processing of a virtual directed graph produced from historical events.
US08751862B2

A fast rebuild mechanism that includes a background initialization mechanism. The fast rebuild mechanism allows a RAID controller to be made aware of what blocks are actually in use so that only those blocks are rebuilt after a disk drive failure. The fast rebuild mechanism also includes functionality for an IO controller (such as storage controller) to detect whether a block has stored data to indicate that the block has valid data when the block is accessed.
US08751855B2

A method and memory device for generating a time estimate are provided. In one embodiment, a memory device generates a time estimate from time stamps in file system metadata for a plurality of files stored in the memory device and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. In another embodiment, a memory device generates a time estimate from time stamps stored in a plurality of files stored in the memory device and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. In yet another embodiment, a memory device obtains a plurality of time stamps, selects one or more of the plurality of time stamps based on validity rankings, generates a time estimate from the selected time stamp(s), and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device.
US08751854B2

Techniques described herein generally relate to multi-core processors including two or more processor cores. Example embodiments may set forth devices, methods, and computer programs related to calculating a clock rate for one or more of the processor cores in the multi-core processor. One example method may include determining a first estimated workload for a first processor core and a second estimated workload for a second processor core within a scheduling interval in a periodic scheduling environment. In addition, a first clock rate for the first processor core may be calculated based on one or more of the first estimated workload, a maximum clock rate supported by the multi-core processor and/or the scheduling interval. Similarly, a second clock rate for the second processor core may also be calculated based on one or more of the second estimated workload, the maximum clock rate, and/or the scheduling interval.
US08751853B2

A Quad-Data Rate (QDR) controller and an implementation method thereof are disclosed in the present invention. The controller includes: an arbiter, a control state machine, a read data sampling clock generating module, a read data path module and a read data path calibrating module. The arbiter arbitrates commands and data according to the state of the control state machine; the read data sampling clock generating module generates read data sampling clocks with the same source and same frequency and different phases; the read data path calibrating module determines, among the generated read data sampling clocks, sampling clocks of positive edge data and negative edge data for the read data path module to read data by reading training words when the control state machine is in “read data path calibrating state”; the read data path module synchronizes the positive edge read data and negative edge data in a non-system clock domain to the system clock domain according to the determined sampling clocks. The present invention has a shorter delay and does not need any programmable delay element, and is easy to implement.
US08751837B2

A low power subsystem for a portable computer is described. In one example, the portable computer includes a computer system and low power multimedia center. The computer system includes a central processing unit, a system memory, a mass storage device, and a user interface, the computer system having a low-power mode in which the CPU, system memory, and user interface are inactive. The low-power multimedia center includes a low power processor coupled to the mass storage device, a low power memory coupled to the low power processor, a miniature display to display multimedia from the mass storage device, and an external user interface coupled to the processor, independent of the computer system to control the displaying of multimedia.
US08751830B2

A method and circuit arrangement selectively stream data to an encryption or compression engine based upon encryption and/or compression-related page attributes stored in a memory address translation data structure such as an Effective To Real Translation (ERAT) or Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB). A memory address translation data structure may be accessed, for example, in connection with a memory access request for data in a memory page, such that attributes associated with the memory page in the data structure may be used to control whether data is encrypted/decrypted and/or compressed/decompressed in association with handling the memory access request.
US08751827B1

A method of securely operating a computerized system includes forming a connection to a user-removable physical security device (PSD) which is uniquely paired with the computerized system and which stories cryptographically secured data required for performing a protected function on the computerized system. The PSD may be realized as a USB or similar peripheral device containing security-related data and potentially security processing capability as well. The protected function could be decrypting of encrypted data encryption keys used to encrypt/decrypt user data for example. A user who has an established association with the PSD (e.g. by some preceding registration process) is authenticated, resulting in activation of the PSD on the computerized system. Upon such activation of the PSD, the computerized system engages in a security operation using the cryptographically secured data from the PSD to enable the protected function to be performed under control of the user on the computerized system.
US08751823B2

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for obfuscating branches in computer code. A compiler or a post-compilation tool can obfuscate branches by receiving source code, and compiling the source code to yield computer-executable code. The compiler identifies branches in the computer-executable code, and determines a return address and a destination value for each branch. Then, based on the return address and the destination value for each branch, the compiler constructs a binary tree with nodes and leaf nodes, each node storing a balanced value, and each leaf node storing a destination value. The non-leaf nodes are arranged such that searching the binary tree by return address leads to a corresponding destination value. Then the compiler inserts the binary tree in the computer-executable code and replaces each branch with instructions in the computer-executable code for performing a branching operation based on the binary tree.
US08751822B2

A method and apparatus 20 for securing executable code embodying a cipher 12 using a metamorphic algorithm 24. The metamorphic algorithm 24 dynamically executes polymorphic primitives 43, each of which implements a functional component 41 of the cryptographic algorithm 12. When a halting condition is met, the output of the cryptographic algorithm 12 occurs.
US08751821B2

A method and system for securing a read write storage (RWS) device, the method comprising, providing the RWS device, the RWS device comprising a controller comprising a processor and a bit bucket storing data, and employing the controller to corrupt at least a portion of the data.
US08751817B2

A data processing apparatus includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) having a validity verification program stored therein, an auxiliary storage device including a plurality of storage areas having a plurality of target verification data stored therein, an execution unit configured to perform a validity verification process on the plural target verification data in accordance with the validity verification program. An order of priority is assigned to the plural target verification data. The plural storage areas have addresses that is recognizable by the execution unit. The execution unit is configured to determine validity of each of the plural target verification data based on the order of priority until one of the plural target verification data is determined to be valid.
US08751808B2

A method and system for sharing trusted contact information between trusted, known and unknown parties, without revealing the contact information itself, thus protecting the party defined in the contact from possible unsolicited messages known as “Spam”. Addresses of trusted senders are encrypted using a one-way encryption and stored in a whitelist repository that can be shared by different users. When a message is received, its senders address is extracted, encrypted using the same encryption method, and compared if it is found in the whitelist repository.
US08751805B2

The disclosure discloses a service providing client, a wireless terminal and a method for implementing binding. The service providing client comprises a transmission module, which is configured to transmit authentication information to the wireless terminal (701); a judgment module, which is configured to judge whether the wireless terminal is a legal binding object according to a response of the wireless terminal for the authentication information (702); and a processing module, which is configured to provide service to the wireless terminal (703) if the wireless terminal is a legal binding object, otherwise, restrict the service provided to the wireless terminal.
US08751795B2

A protected memory source device including removable non-volatile memory durably stores a signature such as a serial number or identifier, which is used to mark protected multimedia content legally stored on the protected memory device. The protected multimedia content is moved from the source device to another device, such as a target device used to aggregated protected content in a library. Moving the protected multimedia content involves replacing a source-specific header, comprising digital rights management metadata and/or other security metadata allowing only a device having the source device signature access to the content, with a target-specific header comprising digital rights management metadata and/or other security metadata allowing only a device having the target device signature access to the content. The transfer is done using one of a variety of transfer methods with either a trusted or un-trusted host system connecting the source device to the target device.
US08751776B2

A branch target address table is provided for each branch instruction having a plurality of branch targets. Each branch target address table stores a history of a plurality of branch target addresses determined in the past by executing a corresponding branch instruction. A branch target prediction unit predicts a predicted branch target address with respect to a branch instruction with reference to the history of branch target addresses stored in the branch target address table corresponding to the branch instruction. The predicted branch target address obtained as a result of the prediction is stored, for example, in a predicted branch target address storage unit in association with the branch instruction, and is referenced by an instruction fetch control unit at the time of prefetching a branch target instruction.
US08751775B2

A non-quiescing key setting facility is provided that enables manipulation of storage keys to be performed without quiescing operations of other processors of a multiprocessor system. With this facility, a storage key, which is accessible by a plurality of processors of the multiprocessor system, is updated absent a quiesce of operations of the plurality of processors. Since the storage key is updated absent quiescing of other operations, the storage key may be observed by a processor as having one value at the start of an operation performed by the processor and a second value at the end of the operation. A mechanism is provided to enable the operation to continue, avoiding a fatal exception.
US08751768B2

Storage systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, a storage reclamation method comprises performing a potential reclamation identification process, wherein the potential reclamation identification process includes determining if there is the potential for reclaiming storage resources; performing a reclamation process, wherein reclamation is performed on storage resources identified by the potential reclamation identification process as being eligible for reclamation, and wherein the storage resources correspond to free space associated with a data file; and performing a valid free space indication process, wherein a valid free space indication process includes forwarding a valid free space indication recognizable to an application as a valid free space indication when the application attempts to direct a read to the storage spaces reclaimed by the reclamation process.
US08751766B2

A storage system including: a plurality of storage devices; a volatile memory which temporarily stores data; a nonvolatile memory; a battery saving power; a cache control unit which sets, according to battery charging rate of the battery, a part of the data stored in the volatile memory as save target data which are to be saved to the nonvolatile memory when power interruption occurs, and saves the part of the data, which is set as the save target data, to the nonvolatile memory by using power of the battery when power interruption occurs.
US08751762B2

A primary storage controller is configured to communicate with a secondary storage controller via a system data mover. In response to receiving a command to perform a point in time copy of a source volume of the primary storage controller to a target volume of the primary storage controller, a determination is made as to whether the target volume of the primary storage controller is a source for an asynchronous data replication operation, initiated by the system data mover, between the primary storage controller and the secondary storage controller. In response to determining that the target volume of the primary storage controller is the source for the asynchronous data replication operation, initiated by the system data mover, the point in time copy of the source volume of the primary storage controller to the target volume of the primary storage controller is performed.
US08751752B2

One embodiment of the present invention is a technique to invalidate entries in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). A TLB in a processor has a plurality of TLB entries. Each TLB entry is associated with a virtual machine extension (VMX) tag word indicating if the associated TLB entry is invalidated according to a processor mode when an invalidation operation is performed. The processor mode is one of execution in a virtual machine (VM) and execution not in a virtual machine. The invalidation operation belongs to a non-empty set of invalidation operations composed of a union of (1) a possibly empty set of operations that invalidate a variable number of TLB entries, (2) a possibly empty set of operations that invalidate exactly one TLB entry, (3) a possibly empty set of operations that invalidate the plurality of TLB entries, (4) a possibly empty set of operations that enable and disable use of virtual memory, and (5) a possibly empty set of operations that configure physical address size, page size or other virtual memory system behavior in a manner that changes the manner in which a physical machine interprets the TLB entries.
US08751748B2

In a parallel processing system with speculative execution, conflict checking occurs in a directory lookup of a cache memory that is shared by all processors. In each case, the same physical memory address will map to the same set of that cache, no matter which processor originated that access. The directory includes a dynamic reader set encoding, indicating what speculative threads have read a particular line. This reader set encoding is used in conflict checking. A bitset encoding is used to specify particular threads that have read the line.
US08751744B2

An integrated circuit comprises trace logic for operably coupling to at least one memory element and for providing trace information for a signal processing system. The trace logic comprises trigger detection logic for detecting at least one trace trigger, memory access logic arranged to perform, upon detection of the at least one trace trigger, at least one read operation for at least one memory location of the at least one memory element associated with the at least one detected trigger, memory content message generation logic arranged to generate at least one memory content message comprising information relating to a result of the at least one read operation performed by the memory access logic, and output logic for outputting the at least one memory content message.
US08751741B2

Methods and system are provided for exposing logical volumes to host systems and storage controllers in a consistent manner across a clustered storage system. One embodiment is a storage controller. The storage controller is operable to communicate with other storage controllers within the clustered storage system. The storage controller is further operable to generate a proposed Logical Unit Number (LUN) for a logical volume provisioned at the storage devices, and to communicate with each of the other storage controllers within the clustered storage system requesting that the other storage controllers determine if the proposed LUN is in use. If the proposed LUN is not in use, then storage controller assigns the proposed LUN to the logical volume. If the LUN is in use, then the storage controller generates a new proposed LUN and re-tries communication with the other storage controllers until a unique LUN is found.
US08751736B2

Systems and methods for providing additional instructions for supporting efficient memory corruption detection in a processor. A physical memory may be a DRAM with a spare bank of memory reserved for a hardware failover mechanism. Version numbers associated with data structures allocated in the memory may be generated so that version numbers of adjacent data structures are different. A processor determines that a fetched instruction is a memory access instruction corresponding to a first data structure within the memory. For instructions that are not a version update instruction, the processor compares the first version number and second version number stored in a location in the memory indicated by the generated address and flags an error if there is a mismatch. For version update instructions, the processor performs a memory access operation on the second version number with no comparison check.
US08751735B2

A system including a controller in communication with a memory. The memory includes memory cells arranged in memory blocks. Each memory cell is capable of storing a plurality of bits. Each memory block defines a plurality of pages. A page in a memory block includes one of the plurality of bits of a plurality of memory cells in the memory block. The controller is configured to write data to selected pages in one or more memory blocks. The system includes circuitry configured to write data from a predetermined number of pages of the selected pages to a memory block other than the one or more memory blocks in response to the predetermined number of pages being full of data. The predetermined number is based on one or more of a number of pages in each memory block and a number of bits in the plurality of bits.
US08751733B2

Methods and apparatus for managing data storage in hybrid memory devices utilizing single level and multi-level memory cells. Logical addresses can be distributed between single level and multilevel memory cells based on a frequency of write operations performed. Initial storage of data corresponding to a logical address in memory can be determined by various methods including initially writing all data to single level memory or initially writing all data to multilevel memory. Other methods permit a host to direct logical address writes to single level or multilevel memory cells based on anticipated usage.
US08751731B2

The present disclosure includes methods and devices for memory block selection. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes control circuitry coupled to one or more memory devices having multiple Groups of planes associated therewith, each Group including at least two planes of physical blocks organized into Super Blocks, with each Super Block including a physical block from each of the at least two planes. The control circuitry is configured to receive a first unassigned logical block address (LBA) associated with a write operation and determine a particular free Super Block within a selected one of the multiple Groups to receive data associated with the write operation.
US08751728B1

Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for reducing bus transfers for a storage device. In particular, these systems and methods reduce bus transfers by modifying an interface transfer protocol which designates the size of a multiple block read or write command is transmitted in a separate block transfer size command. Separate block transfer size commands can be omitted where the storage device maintains a record of a previously used block transfer size and reuses the size for subsequent multiple block read or write commands.
US08751727B2

A storage apparatus includes: a memory allowing an operation to be carried out in order to additionally write new write data into a storage area already used for storing previous write data so as to store the new data in the storage area along with the previous write data; an input/output section configured to receive write data in a write access; and a control section configured to write the write data into the memory on the basis of the write access, wherein, in internal processing based on the write access, the control section carries out an additional-write operation for a storage area already used for storing the previous write data in the internal processing.
US08751725B1

Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for storing data within a hybrid storage aggregate comprising a solid state storage tier and a non-solid state storage tier. In particular, frequently accessed data and/or randomly accessed data may be identified and stored within the solid state storage tier to mitigate mechanical latency that may arise from accessing such data from the non-solid state storage tier. Infrequently accessed data and/or sequentially accessed data may be identified and stored within the non-solid state storage tier to utilize cost effective storage space while mitigating undesirable mechanical latency associated with accessing such data.
US08751720B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a computationally-networked unified data bus for a multi-processing domain architecture. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, a unified data bus is provided. A first data bus adapter (e.g., a node) is coupled to the unified data bus (e.g., a link), and a first processing domain is coupled to the first data bus adapter. In general, the first data bus adapter encapsulates, translates, and interprets data communicated between the unified data bus and the first processing domain. In addition, a second data bus adapter (e.g., a node) is coupled to the unified data bus and a second processing domain is coupled to the second data bus adapter. Similar to the first data bus adapter, the second data bus adapter encapsulates, translates, and interprets data communicated between the unified data bus and the second processing domain. Under these embodiments, the first processing domain and the second processing domain can each comprise at least one element selected from a group consisting of: memory input/outputs (I/Os), cache, heterogeneous data buses, and processors. Moreover, the first processing domain and the second processing domain can be selected from a group consisting of a heterogeneous processing domain and a hybrid processing domain.
US08751709B2

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a hybrid interface for serial and parallel communication. An embodiment of a method includes initializing a first apparatus for transmission of data to or reception of data from a second apparatus, switching an interface for the first apparatus to a first mode for a parallel interface, the parallel interface including a first plurality of pins, and transmitting or receiving parallel data in the first mode via the first plurality of pins. The method further includes switching the interface of the first apparatus to a second mode for a serial interface, the serial interface including a second plurality of pins, the first plurality of pins and the second plurality of pins both including an overlapping set of pins, and transmitting or receiving serial data in the second mode via the second plurality of pins.
US08751704B2

A method for operating a fieldbus interface (FI) connected to a fieldbus of process automation technology. The method includes the following: tapping data traffic on the fieldbus by the fieldbus interface; and registering tapped configuration information relative to cyclic data traffic on the fieldbus by the fieldbus interface.
US08751702B2

A communication processing device includes a communication data processing circuit that (i) issues an access request for a buffer specified by a descriptor, among a plurality of buffers in a first memory, and (ii) outputs a predetermined switching permission signal at a time when a data access for one of the plurality of buffers is completed. The communication processing device also includes a second memory and a transmission destination switching circuit. The second memory includes a plurality of alternative buffers corresponding to the plurality of buffers. The transmission destination switching circuit switches a transmission destination of the access request from one of the plurality of buffers in the first memory to one of the plurality of alternative buffers in the second memory, based on the switching permission signal.
US08751697B2

A network system enables monitoring the status of peripheral devices from computers without concentrating a load on the network. A specific device driver that runs on a specific computer connected to the network has an initialization command transmission unit that sends a first initialization command to the specific printer when a process command is sent to a specific printer, and an operating status monitoring unit that, after initialization based on the first initialization command is completed, monitors the operating status of the specific printer until the printer power turns off. Because the specific computer does not initialize and does not monitor the operating status of the specific printer until the computer sends a process command, concentrating a load on the network is avoided when the network system starts up.
US08751692B2

A data transfer apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first list indicating arrangement information of transfer source data, a second list indicating arrangement information of transfer destination data, a third list indicating arrangement information of data to be inserted, and a fourth list which includes a deletion offset address indicating a deletion start position and a data size of data to be deleted; a control unit configured to select a necessary list from the first to fourth lists, and generate data to be transferred from a transfer source to a transfer destination; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the data to the transfer destination.
US08751691B1

Methods and apparatus for remapping IP addresses of a network to endpoints within a different network. A provider network may allocate IP addresses and resources to a customer. The provider network may allow the customer to map an IP address to remap an IP address to an endpoint on the customer's network. When a packet is received from a client addressed to the IP address, the provider network may determine that the IP address has been remapped to the endpoint. The provider network may translate the source and destination addresses of the packet and modify the source address of the packet to indicate the endpoint as the destination, and send the modified packet to the endpoint via the Internetan intermediate network. Response traffic may be routed to the client through the provider network, or may be directly routed to the client by the customer network.
US08751690B2

Where multiple client devices are synchronized to multiple, asynchronous instances of a time-based media presentation such as live and time-shifted views of a television broadcast, interactive content can be delivered to each one of the various devices at a particular time (or “time offset”) within the presentation independent of when each instance of the time-based media presentation is viewed.
US08751685B2

A domain name registering entity (such as a domain registry, registrar, or reseller) or an independent proxy registration service may offer a domain name hijack protection to their actual or potential customers. When a domain name transfer request or notice is received in a proxy email address listed in the domain name's WHOIS records, the domain name registering entity or the proxy registration service may ignore or decline it. Customers may be given an ability to turn the domain name hijack protection service on and off, as well as an ability to adjust a variety of settings associated with the service.
US08751679B2

An adaptive streaming server and a method are described herein for determining if a congestion level within a network exceeds a predetermined threshold and when this occurs then one or more lower bit rate segments of a content stream will be transmitted to a client.
US08751678B2

The present invention concerns a method of generating a syndication web feed (10) composed of entries (12) corresponding to content elements, and an associated system.The method comprises the steps consisting of: determining (E110, E221, E300) at least one activity parameter (A) representing a frequency of obtaining content elements to be published; calculating (E620, E770) at least one similarity value (SI) between a content element (IT) to be published in the web stream (10) and at least one entry (E) in said web stream; selecting (E130, E640) an entry (EP) in said web stream according to the at least one calculated similarity value (SI) and the at least one determined activity parameter (A); adding (E140) said content element to be published (IT) to said selected entry.
US08751673B2

An apparatus for authenticating a request includes a receiving unit, an acquiring unit, a determining unit, and a permitting unit. The receiving unit receives a request for a service-related process from a service user via a communication device. The request contains process request information indicating the contents of the requested process and connection identification information unique to the communication device. The acquiring unit acquires the connection identification information contained in the received request. The determining unit determines whether the connection identification information acquired by the acquiring unit exactly corresponds to connection identification information of a communication device that has established an authorized connection. When the two pieces of the connection identification information are determined to exactly correspond to each other, the permitting unit permits performing a process that corresponds to the process request information, which is contained in the request received by the receiving unit.
US08751669B2

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement to maintain a TCP connection (230) between two hosts (140, 250) in a multi-hop network (110,120). If the connection (230) is inactive (no IP packets sent or received) during a certain period of time, it may happen that the connection (230) is released by certain intermediate network entities such as a Network Address Translation NAT function (130). The current invention overcomes this problem by sending keep-alive packets (210) from one of the hosts (250) towards the other (140) at regular intervals. Said packets (210) prevent the NAT (130) from releasing the connection (230). In order to not disturb the other host (140) e.g. a mobile terminal in a sleeping mode, the keep-alive packets (210) are adapted in such way that they are sent far enough to reach the NAT (130) but not all way to the other host (140).
US08751664B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating custodian-based routing. During operation, the system receives, at a computing device, a request for a piece of content from a user, and determines whether the content is available locally. In response to the content not being available locally, the system identifies a remote custodian device that stores the content. The custodian device is not identified by its physical address. The system then identifies a communication endpoint associated with the identified custodian device, and maps a physical address corresponding to the identified communication endpoint. The system establishes a connection to the communication endpoint using the mapped physical address to obtain the requested content.
US08751658B2

An allocating method is executed by a computer. The allocating method includes transmitting to any one given apparatus among multiple apparatuses capable of executing an identical process and respectively having a different processing performance, a command for the process; duplicating the command and transmitting resulting duplicated commands to an apparatus group that is not executing the process and among the apparatuses; measuring for the given apparatus and each apparatus of the apparatus group, a utilization rate acquired when the command is executed; identifying based on the utilization rate for the given apparatus, an apparatus to be switched among the apparatus group; and switching a transmission destination of the command, from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched.
US08751656B2

A machine manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. The machine manager is configured to manually/automatically deploy farms, upgrade farms, add machines, remove machines, start machines, stop machines, and the like. The machine manager keeps track of the locations of the machines, the roles of the machines within the networks, as well as other characteristics relating to the machines (e.g. health of the machines). Instead of upgrading software on the machines in a farm that are currently handling requests, one or more machines are configured in a new farm with the selected disk images and then the requests are moved from the old farm to the new farm.
US08751652B2

A communication method manages the allocation of Quality of Service using a communication network having an application server providing services and user equipment operated by subscriber The method also includes prioritizing a subscriber according to their subscription details for each service provided. The method also includes allocating Quality of Service for a service provided to user equipment according to the priority of a subscriber operating the respective user equipment.
US08751643B2

A system and computer program product for correlating business events in a complex business system. A flow diagram containing a collection of nodes (representing processes) and links (representing the transport connections) between these nodes is generated. An instance of an event stream from a node that is to be connected to an instance of an event stream from a neighboring node is identified when a node transports a transaction across a link. The metadata associated with the utilized link that was used to transport the transaction between the nodes is obtained. The instances of the event streams are then correlated using the obtained metadata. Further, each instance of the event streams is assigned an identification. In this manner, business events are correlated without the requirement of users providing a common key as well as without the requirement of monitoring each user of the system throughout the entire transaction.
US08751640B2

A system is configured to provide a suite of network-based services to users with high availability. The suite of network-based services may include browser-based collaboration functions, process management functions, index functions, search functions, help search functions, document-management functions, and/or other functions. The suite of network-based services may correspond to services provided by a server application such as Microsoft® SharePoint™ being executed on one or more processors of one or more servers. As used herein, the term “high availability” may refer a system design protocol that ensures a certain degree of operational continuity during a given measurement period.
US08751635B2

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for monitoring sensors for systems management. Embodiments include establishing, by a server, an entity identification for a component of the server; establishing, by the server, for a plurality of sensors a single virtual sensor number; establishing, by the server, for each sensor having the single virtual sensor number a unique instance identification representing the sensor; receiving, from a system management node, by the server, a request for a sensor reading, the request including the entity identification, the single virtual sensor number, and the unique instance identification; based on the entity identification, the single virtual sensor number, and the unique instance identification, retrieving, by the server, a sensor reading; and transmitting to the system management node, by the server, the sensor reading.
US08751626B2

Embodiments provide an architecture to enable composite, autonomous composite applications and services to be built and deployed. In addition, an infrastructure is provided to enable communication between and amongst distributed applications and services. In one or more embodiments, an example architecture includes or otherwise leverages five logical modules including connectivity services, process services, identity services, lifecycle services and tools.
US08751625B2

A notification apparatus includes a notification unit configured to notify a connected network of routing information, and a restriction unit configured to restrict notification of the routing information when a connected network is not a registered network.
US08751624B1

A system and method processes messages related to nodes in a network and provides reports according to those messages to allow analysis of the network.
US08751620B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for validating deployment patterns/topologies (e.g., prior to being deployed) against existing patterns that have already been determined to be compliant (e.g., against a set of policies/standards). In a typical embodiment, individual components of a proposed deployment pattern are identified and then evaluated against previously approved deployment patterns (e.g., based on standards and/or policies). Components of the proposed deployment patterns that are deemed non-compliant are identified, and corrective action(s) may be determined to address any non-compliance (e.g., to put the non-compliant components into compliance, to remove the non-compliant components, etc.).
US08751615B2

A method of discovering a device in a communication network having multiple interconnected nodes includes continuously monitoring, by a device to be discovered, any IP packets sent by a discoverer. The method further includes transmitting, by the discoverer, an IP packet destined for a downstream device and receiving, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet. The method further includes determining, by the device to be discovered, whether the IP packet is intended for the device to be discovered. If the IP packet is not intended for the device to be discovered, retransmitting, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet to the downstream device via an egress port of the device to be discovered.
US08751603B2

Provided are techniques related generally to computer communication and, more specifically, to techniques that provide legacy applications with access to a cluster infrastructure. A pseudo interface layer provides applications with internet protocol (IP) family sockets access to cluster awareness protocols in a manner that may be transparent to both the application and the cluster awareness layer of a kernel.
US08751596B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for managing electronic communications and, specifically, monitoring electronic communications received from numerous communications sources associated with a user, identifying that certain ones of the communications are priority communications and communicating notice of the priority communications to the user. The priority communication may be identified by user defined criteria, such key words, phrases, key topics, key names and the like; timeframe of the communication; user-defined priority rules; business performance indicators/metrics and the like. Communication of the notice may provide for communicating a priority communication alert to the user or communicating the notice to a network-accessible communication monitoring portal.
US08751583B2

A method for processing electronic communications is described. The method includes receiving electronic communications from a plurality of sources and processing the communications for delivery to intended addressees. The processing includes ensuring validity of sender, verifying operation of exchange mailbox corresponding to said addressee and routing the communication along a particular path based on the validation and verification.
US08751579B1

A system for maintaining consistent workflow is disclosed. The system includes a browser, a local application, a server application, and protocol logic configured to coordinate interactions between the local application and the server application and control the browser. Upon detecting the local application becoming active, the protocol logic freezes the browser until an event with respect to the local application is detected. The protocol logic is further configured to utilize a plurality of browser network parameters shared with a number of other protocols in order to ensure that the protocol logic is compatible with different network security devices.
US08751577B2

Methods and systems for managing ordering of media items for play is provided. The method includes establishing a session between two or more connected devices, and receiving a request from one of the connected device to create a shared media playlist. The shared media playlist accepting addition of a plurality of media items from at least one of the connected devices. Then, collecting vote input from one or more of the connected devices. The vote input is applied to selected ones of the plurality of media items in the shared media playlist. The method processes the collected vote input to set a score for at least one of the plurality of media items. The method orders the plurality of media items in the shared media playlist, such that playing of the plurality of media items during the session follow the ordering.
US08751561B2

In accordance with some embodiments, of the systems and methods described here a data storage system that may include data de-duplication may receive a stream of data and parse the stream of data into a block at a local client node. Additionally, in some embodiments, a code that represents the block of data might be determined at the local client node. This code, representing the block of data, may be sent to a server. In accordance with various embodiments, the server may determine if a block is unique, for example, based on the code received at the server. In various embodiments, the server might write a unique block to a file at the local client node; and update metadata.
US08751556B2

A multiprocessor system and method for performing matrix operations includes multiple processors cooperatively performing a sparse matrix operation. Distributed among the processors are non-zero matrix elements of first and second sparse matrices. Mapped across the processors are the matrix elements of a results matrix. Each processor receives, from the other processors, non-zero matrix elements of the first matrix that had been distributed to those other processors and generates partial results based on the received non-zero matrix elements of the first matrix and on the non-zero matrix elements of the second matrix distributed to that processor. Each processor receives those partial results generated by other processors and associated with the matrix elements of the results matrix mapped to that processor. Each processor generates a final value for each matrix element of the results matrix mapped to that processor based on the partial results generated by that processor and on the partial results received from the other processors associated with that matrix element of the results matrix.
US08751554B2

Systems and methods are provided for an adjustable filter engine. In particular, an electronic system is provided that can include a focus module, memory, and control circuitry. In some embodiments, the focus module can include an adjustable filter engine and a motor. By using the adjustable filter engine to generate a filter with a large number of filter coefficients, the control circuitry can accommodate a variety of system characteristics. For example, by generating a set of cumulative coefficients and re-arranging the order of the cumulative coefficients, the control circuitry can reduce the bit-width requirements of the adjustable filter engine hardware. For instance, the control circuitry can reduce the number of multipliers required to perform a convolution between an updated filter and one or more input signals. In some embodiments, the updated filter can be generated to reduce oscillations of the motor movement due to a new position request.
US08751551B2

Digital signal processing (“DSP”) circuit blocks are provided that can more easily work together to perform larger (e.g., more complex and/or more arithmetically precise) DSP operations if desired. These DSP blocks may also include redundancy circuitry that facilitates stitching together multiple such blocks despite an inability to use some block (e.g., because of a circuit defect). Systolic registers may be included at various points in the DSP blocks to facilitate use of the blocks to implement systolic form, finite-impulse-response (“FIR”), digital filters.
US08751547B2

A multiple file system and/or multi-host single instance store technique includes receiving one or more commands and one or more parameters to create a single instance store, a plurality of volumes and one or more file systems. Information creating the plurality of volumes, including creating a plurality of thin volumes on top of a single instance store solution, are stored in a volume manager configuration file. Information creating the one or more file systems, wherein each file system is created on top of the plurality of volumes including the plurality of thin volumes, are stored in a file system configuration file.
US08751542B2

The present disclosure includes techniques for storing indexed values that may increase computing performance. In one example, a method includes receiving a request to store an input value in a data structure. The method also includes determining the input value is not represented by an index value of the first group of index values, generating an index value that represents the input value, and determining the generated index value is not included in the first group of representations. The method also includes generating a second group of index values wherein a first size of index values of the first group is different than a second size of index values of the second group. The method also includes modifying a storage capacity of the data structure to store the index values of the second group of the second size and storing the second group of index values in the data structure.
US08751540B2

A method includes storing a plurality of users, assigned with at least one nonhierarchical dependency, for defining a dynamic organization structure; storing assessment data objects, each having dependencies, for defining a dynamic assessment data object structure; and determining an assessment need in the dynamic organization structure. The method further includes defining a dynamic assessment account, in response to the assessment need, associating an administrator user, a response user and assessment data; defining needed assessment data objects for the assessment data, associated with at least one response user; and determining available information relating to the needed assessment data objects from a dynamic database. The method further includes providing a request relating to the needed assessment data objects to at least one response user; receiving a response relating to the request for the needed assessment data objects, from the at least one response user; and updating assessment data objects of the dynamic assessment data object structure based on the received response and the dependencies.
US08751534B2

A method for managing a file includes: acquiring at least one personal ID for identifying a person associated with the right to access a file; setting a file operation method depending on whether or not a combination of the acquired personal ID satisfies a condition set for each type of operation for the file; and controlling a file operation based on the set file operation method.
US08751533B1

A method and system are provided for transparently migrating a storage object (aggregate) between nodes by one of the nodes (source), automatically verifying another node (destination) is configured to service the aggregate, and changing ownership of the aggregate based on the verifying to enable servicing of the aggregate at the destination. A cluster manager receives an aggregate migration request and provides the request to the source owning the aggregate. The source verifies the destination is configured according to a predetermined configuration for servicing the aggregate. Based on the verifying, the source offlines the aggregate and updates ownership information of the aggregate, thereafter allowing the destination to online the aggregate. The cluster manager provides the updated ownership information to all nodes in the cluster, so an access request intended for the aggregate may be received by any node and forwarded to the destination using the updated ownership information.
US08751532B2

A method of managing a central data repository including updating the central data repository from a disconnected nomadic device by receiving a request from a first nomadic device for access at the central data repository, authorizing the first nomadic device and sending a check out template to the first nomadic device. The server receives a checkout selection from the first nomadic device, authenticates the first nomadic device, and presents a list of authorized items to the first nomadic device; receives a request for selected items from the list and check out the selected items to the first nomadic device. This prohibits other nomadic devices from checking out the selected items checked out to the first selected nomadic device. The first nomadic device is disconnected and the checked out selected items are updated. After updating, a check in request is received at the central data repository from the first nomadic device for the updated checked out selected items The device is and authenticated and authorized, and the updated checked out selected items are returned to the central data repository.
US08751528B2

Accident information aggregation and management methods are disclosed. The Accident information aggregation and management method includes receiving an accident information from a first server, wherein the accident information includes a time information and a position information for an accident; searching whether any event data that is nearby the time information and the position information can be found in a database; if so, obtaining at least one witness information and evidence data source according to the found issue data; and providing the at least one witness information and evidence data source to the first server such that the first server can use the at least one witness information and evidence data source for further accident investigation.
US08751518B1

A set of search requests may be analyzed to detect fixed phrases suitable for inclusion in a search index. Sets of candidate phrases may be identified among the search requests. Fixed phrases may be detected among the candidate phrases using statistical techniques, for example, by identifying phrases having a relatively high pointwise mutual information (PMI) with respect to component keywords. Fixed phrase detection may include keyword and/or phrase clustering. Clusters may correspond to topics defined using a latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) procedure. Fixed phrase detection may include identifying phrases having relatively high PMI within particular clusters.
US08751511B2

An information retrieval system is described herein that monitors a microblog data stream that includes microblog posts to discover and index fresh resources for searching by a search engine. The information retrieval system also uses data from the microblog data stream as well as data obtained from a microblog subscription system to compute novel and effective features for ranking fresh resources which would otherwise have impoverished representations. An embodiment of the present invention advantageously enables a search engine to produce a fresher set of resources and to rank such resources for both relevancy and freshness in a more accurate manner.
US08751508B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for the contextual indexing of applications using an application analyzer. In one embodiment, the application analyzer identifies at least one used element present in an application. The application analyzer computes a weight for the at least one used element, then provides the at least one used element and the respective weight to a contextual index service.
US08751506B2

A method and apparatus for detecting pre-selected data stored on a personal computing device is described. In one embodiment, contents of data storage media of a personal computing device are searched for pre-selected sensitive data. In one embodiment, if at least a portion of the pre-selected sensitive data is detected, a notification of the detection of the pre-selected data is sent to a system via a network. In another embodiment, if at least a portion of pre-selected sensitive data is detected, the access to this data is blocked.
US08751504B2

For providing procedures, a synchronize module stores a plurality of procedures in a procedure database. Each procedure is indexed to a reference code. The synchronize module synchronizes the plurality of procedures to a mobile device. A retrieval module receives a first reference code at the mobile device and retrieves a first procedure indexed to the first reference code.
US08751502B2

When executed, a computer program product generates a graphical user interface that renders results that are responsive to a search query of a rich media file. The graphical user interface includes a chronological representation of the rich media file, one or more occurrence markers along the chronological representation corresponding to actual occurrences of a desired term at an indicated chronological location in the rich media file, and an execution icon configured to launch a rich media application that renders a relevant portion that is responsive to the search query.
US08751501B2

A system and method for keeping, organizing and managing electronic records, comprising generating a first instance of data objects comprising data elements during a first encounter, the elements comprising a first instance identifier and temporal identifiers; linking a data object to a summarization reference with a pointer; creating an additional instance of data objects also comprising data elements comprising an additional instance identifier and temporal identifiers during a later encounter; and providing continuity for the first instance data objects over time. Continuity may be provided by tracking a relationship between the first instance data object and an additional instance data object and repointing the pointer to point between the summarization reference and the additional instance data object. The additional instance data object may be a revision of the first instance data object, and tracking may occur by back-linking the revision to the first instance data object.
US08751500B2

A method can include receiving, by a notification module operable by a computing device, an instruction to generate a contextual notification and notification information associated with the instruction. The method also cam include generating, by the notification module and in response to receiving the instruction, a notification object. In some examples, the method can include assigning, by the notification module and based on the notification information, the notification object to at least one notification class from a plurality of notification classes. The example method can also include generating, by the computing device and based at least in part on the at least one notification class to which the notification object is assigned, the contextual notification by populating the notification object with the notification information; and outputting the contextual notification in a manner based at least in part on the at least one notification class.
US08751494B2

A method and a system are provided for constructing album data using discrete track data from multiple sources. In one example, the system identifies one or more set of tracks having a similar album title, wherein the one or more set of tracks are obtained from one or more client devices. The system then searches across the one or more set of tracks for tracks having a matching fingerprint and a matching album title. The system groups tracks that match according to an original album title in metadata to obtain grouped tracks. The system mines across the grouped tracks to generate a juxtaposition of track data from the one or more client devices. The system then generates album data for one or more albums based on the juxtaposition of track data.
US08751492B1

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for selecting an event category based on a category score for use in providing content. In use, category score is determined for each of a plurality of categories of events, the category score based on a time period since an occurrence of at least one of the events. Further, at least one of the categories is selected based on the category score, for use in providing content associated with the selected at least one category.
US08751489B2

Systems and methods are described for identifying item attributes that are likely to be useful to users in refining searches for items. In one embodiment, when a user submits a search query to search for items, all or a portion of the search query is used to look-up a previously-generated list of item attributes (and optionally associated attribute values) that are associated with the search query and are useful for refining the search. These item attributes, and any associated attribute values, are then presented to the user in a selectable form such that the user can interactively narrow the search.
US08751481B2

Preferred embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for selecting content from a plurality of channels in response to a received query are described. The invention embodiments include systems and methods that optimize content selection based on received queries and an identification of the user together with analysis of historical data. Embodiments of the invention also include methods for storing historical data including a plurality of queries and user data from a plurality of user databases, analyzing the stored historical data to classify the relevancy of a channel to each of the plurality of queries and user data, storing the classification, and displaying content to user based on such factors as user habits, queries, timing of searches, and content preferences.
US08751466B1

Methods of computing answer results to user-submitted queries, using a plug-in executor, a user database, a plug-in database, content recognizers, answer generators and a controller. Controller submits content recognizer specifications and sets of answer generator specifications to the plug-in executor, combines content recognition results, combines answer generator answer results, determines the subset of answer generators to execute using an answer generator set determinator, looks up the specifications for each answer generator in the subset of answer generators, and responds to the client program with a list of answer results. Users customize how answer engines respond to queries, answers are generated by answer generator plug-ins created by other users, content recognizers are implemented by content recognizer plug-ins created by other users, and answer generators utilize content recognizers even if the content recognizers are not created by a single author and content recognition execution resources are bounded.
US08751461B2

Several ways of identifying users and collecting demographic information and market information are disclosed, including branding a browser with a unique identification in each user request, identifying a user by his key strokes or mouse clicks, gathering demographic information using multiple data sets and by monitoring network traffic. Additionally, user requested content is distinguished from other, non-user content, and the performance of a server can be monitor and analyzed from a client a client perspective. Further, an Internet user's Internet data is routed to a known domain on the Internet, from which it is routed on to the intended recipient. The domain includes proxy servers which proxy the user's data requests to the domain, and database servers, which filter and build a database of the user's Internet usage. Particular data concerning certain behaviors of interest, such as purchasing data, is filtered into the database, and can form the basis for numerous market measures.
US08751452B2

A re-configurable logic device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) can be used to deploy a data processing pipeline, the pipeline comprising a plurality of pipelined data processing engines, the plurality of pipelined data processing engines including a data reduction engine, the plurality of pipelined data processing engines being configured to perform processing operations, wherein the pipeline comprises a multi-functional pipeline, and wherein the re-configurable logic device is further configured to controllably activate or deactivate each of the pipelined data processing engines in the pipeline in response to control instructions and thereby define a function for the pipeline, each pipeline function being the combined functionality of each activated pipelined data processing engine in the pipeline.
US08751451B2

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided to facilitate seamless switching between source and target devices. Relative to the source device, a user interface state of the source device is provided to the target device and database replication is initiated in response to an indication of a switch between the source and target devices. The target device is permitted to access a database of the source device while the source database is replicated to the target device. Relative to the target device and in response to a switch from the source device to the target device, the state is received from the source device in conjunction with an initiation of database replication. The user interface is configured in accordance with the state received from the source device. The target device also directs access to a database of the source device while the source database is replicated.
US08751450B1

Methods and system for securely capturing workloads at a live network for replaying at a test network. The disclosed system captures file system states and workloads of a live server at the live network. In one embodiment the captured data is anonymized to protect confidentiality of the data. A file system of a test server at the test network is mirrored from a captured state of the live server. An anonymized version of the captured workloads is replayed as a request to the test server. A lost or incomplete command is recreated from the states of the live server. An order of the commands during replay can be based on an order in the captured workload, or based on a causal relationship. Performance characteristics of the live network are determined based on the response to the replayed command.
US08751444B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for synchronizing database changes among multiple devices. In one aspect, a method includes determining one or more primary differences between a primary database and a local synchronization database; receiving, from a secondary device, one or more secondary differences associated with a secondary database; merging the primary differences and the secondary differences to generate a set of merged differences; providing the set of merged differences to the secondary device; receiving, from the secondary device, an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the set of merged differences; and updating the primary database in accordance with the set of merged differences after receipt of the acknowledgment. Further, at least one conflict can be detected between the primary differences and the secondary differences, and can be resolved prior to generating the set of merged differences.
US08751439B2

An apparatus and a method for preserving privacy in natural language databases are provided. Natural language input may be received. At least one of sanitizing or anonymizing the natural language input may be performed to form a clean output. The clean output may be stored.
US08751437B2

Business objects can be implemented in a single persistence scenario that supports both online transaction processing (OLTP) and online analytical processing (OLAP). A consumption-centric approach can use a same business object attribute data format model for consumption and persistence. Also, a singular model can be implemented in different layers of a system processing business objects. Extra software layers can be avoided. A business-objects-based system can take advantage of the technologies to provide greater flexibility, ease of extensibility, and performance improvements.
US08751427B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for location centric user profiling and services. In one aspect, a method includes accessing historical location data specifying physical locations at which user devices were detected; accessing network data for each of the users of the user devices, the network data for each user indicative of subjective preferences of the user; for each of the users, determining physical locations specified by the location data, determining entities from the physical locations and visited by the user, determining for each entity a satisfaction measure that is indicative of a satisfaction of the user with the entity, and generating a user profile for the user specifying topics that are of interest to the user, the entities having been determined to have been visited by the user, and the satisfaction measures of the entities.
US08751426B2

A context-aware information obtaining method and apparatus uses local service information. A communication apparatus may receive local service information associated with a location of the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus may interpret the local service information to generate context-aware information of the communication apparatus.
US08751418B1

Method and system for assessing the suitability of an entity using a proxy. A description of a behavior associated with a desirable audience is received. A proxy behavior estimated to be characteristic of the desirable audience is selected. The proxy behavior comprises the performance of proxy events related to the consumption of media received by an entity over a network, which can be found in an entity's consumption history. An entity can be assessed for inclusion in a proxy audience, by examining the entity's consumption history for proxy behaviors. A behavioral model is built using a training set comprising the proxy audience. By applying the behavioral model to the consumption history of a specified entity, the specified entity's suitability for selection can be determined. Advantageously, in an embodiment, the invention enables the use of behavioral modeling techniques even when the complete behavior of the desirable audience is not available.
US08751410B2

In order to charge a proper amount of money to the transmitting source and the destination, an MFP accepts transmitting source specifying information for identifying a transmitting user, destination specifying information for specifying a data destination, specifying of the data, and a processing procedure defining processing executed with respect to the specified data. The MFP acquires apparatus identification information for identifying a destination apparatus corresponding to the destination and capacity information defining processing executable by the destination apparatus. The MFP then compares the processing procedure with acquired restriction information. When the processing defined by the capacity information does not include part of the processing defined by the processing procedure, the MFP charges a processing charge for the data in a divided manner to the transmitting user and the destination user.
US08751402B2

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for integrating a private branch exchange (PBX)-equipped client and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for integrating a PBX-equipped client and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments with additional infrastructure at the client that is better equipped to leverage the on-demand database service. The ability of embodiments to provide such client side infrastructure can enable additional enhanced services in conjunction with telephone calls, etc.
US08751400B2

Devices and methods for signature authentication of a bearer of a payment processing device during financial transactions are provided. The payment processing device is provided with a signature input panel configured to receive user input signature information for the purpose of authenticating the signature. After the bearer of the payment processing device writes her signature into the signature input panel, the input signature information is compared to a pre-stored signature profile stored in the payment processing device for authentication.
US08751399B2

Electronic payment card money laundering detection includes receiving real-time payment card transaction data from ingress channels and an egress channels of at least one payment card system through a first API; generating transactional profiles for each of at least payment cards, the ingress channel, the egress channels, and funding sources of the payment cards; in response to receiving transaction data for a current payment card transaction, evaluating the transaction data using a predictive algorithm that compares the transaction data to the transactional profiles to calculate a probabilistic money laundering score for the current transaction; evaluating the probabilistic money laundering score and current transaction data based on a set of rules to generate a suspicious activity report that recommends whether to approve or report the current transaction; and transmitting the suspicious activity report back to the payment card system and transmitting the suspicious activity report to an identified regulatory body.
US08751391B2

The invention relates to a method and process by which an existing and large network of devices can be used by consumers to authenticate themselves, and permits each consumer to apply any of the various payments mechanisms available to him. The existing broadly distributed network is active and passive radio frequency identification (“RFID”) devices held by consumers. Various types of accounts are linked to devices and allow users to perform various purchase transactions, as well as non-financial transactions.
US08751386B2

A method and system are disclosed for enabling a subscriber to a service provider to purchase goods or make donations to a third-party unaffiliated with the service provider. The system generates an electronic bill for a service provided to the user, where the electronic bill includes at least one selection for a purchase from or a donation to the third-party. The selection for purchase or donation from the user is received accompanied by an immediate or subsequent receipt of an indication of payment from the user. The payment indication includes payment for the service and the purchase or donation. The user has up until payment is actually made to revoke the purchase or donation selection. The transaction is completed by the service provider with the third-party to effectuate the purchase or donation.
US08751373B2

This invention provides novel and improved account management system, account management method and account management program, capable of summing up the deposit/withdraw according to the item of expenditure in real-time and automatically with regard to any accounts of user's. More specifically, when a client of a banking agency is registered as the user of a system 10, a system account corresponding respectively to the user's banking account opened at the banking agency is opened in the system 10. The user requests for the openings of one or more virtual accounts related to each of the system account by accessing the system 10 from a user terminal A22a or a user terminal B22b through the Internet 21. Preferably, the virtual account is opened according to an item of expenditure.
US08751372B1

A method and system for detecting potentially manipulative order patterns and assisting compliance professionals with analyzing and determining whether remedial actions are required with respect to such patterns to comply with governing regulations. The method includes receiving market-wide data from different sources of marketplace data, receiving local order data and accounts corresponding to local trading activity, applying a compliance event detection module to the local order data and market-wide data, integrating a portion of the market-wide and the local order data into a combined stream, comparing the state of one account's local order book to the state of the market-wide order book, identifying a concentration of the local order book on one side, identifying a compliance-related event, generating a score associated with a compliance-related event, and providing a user-interactive interface that displays the state of the local market order book, the market-wide order book, and a compliance related event.
US08751370B2

The disclosed embodiments provide tools for multi-broker order routing based on net position at a broker. The net position of a user at a broker to receive a portion of a trade order is considered when allocating the quantity for the trade order to multiple brokers.
US08751363B2

A computer implemented method and system for executing block trades for a security includes steps or devices for receiving a block trade request, at a computer system. The block request includes data representing a quantity of shares of the security to be traded over a period of time. The computer system divides the period of time into a plurality of time bins. A computer system, for the received block trade request, computes, for each time bin, a number of shares to be traded as a trading target based on at least historical trading volumes using predictive analysis. For a first time bin, a computer system generates executable trade orders for a number of shares to be traded that is substantially equal to the trading target for the first time bin. A computer system executes at least a portion of the executable trade orders in a trade forum within each time bin in the future.
US08751358B2

Orders are automatically sent to the market when certain user defined conditions are met. In particular, a trader can configure the trading application to automatically send orders for preset quantities at price levels with queues falling below a user defined threshold. The length of queues may be measured in several ways, for example, the queue length could be measured by quantity at a given price level or the queue length could be measured by the number of orders at a given price level, or the queue length could be measured by a combination of quantity and orders. The present embodiments can more quickly recognize opportunities and send an order to take advantage of it than a trader can do manually. Other advantages and features are described herein.
US08751346B2

Discussed herein is an evaluation and scoring system that may be used to quickly assess and guide financial decisions, facilitate or create communities of interest, and assist in accessing markets and/or consumers that may not have been sufficiently considered before.
US08751345B1

A method for distributing retirement assets includes providing a processor and receiving an after-tax cash flow target value for a period for an individual. The method also includes receiving a plurality of retirement money sources and income values associated with the plurality of retirement money sources available to the individual for the period and classifying the plurality of retirement money sources into a plurality of money classes, each having disparate tax treatment. The method further includes calculating, via the processor, a funds distribution schedule for funding the after-tax cash flow target value for the period that maximizes a projected portfolio value of the money classes over a selected time period, the funds distribution schedule including a recommended sum to withdraw from each of the plurality of money classes for the period and providing the funds distribution schedule.
US08751338B2

Described herein are systems, methods and computer program product of integrated payroll solutions enabling low cost on-demand intra-cycle payment of accrued employee wages, to meet critical cash flow needs.
US08751336B2

A method and program product comprising collecting from the network sales data for at least one product from a plurality of entities in the supply chain management system over a period of time; maintaining an electronic database of products, with each product having associated therewith in the database one or more items of equipment used to produce the product; if a criteria is met, performing a calculation to obtain usage data at a particular entity for an item of equipment of a particular type; accessing at least one equipment supplier electronic catalogue that contains the particular type of equipment represented by the item of equipment, selecting at least one of the items of equipment in the catalogue based on the usage data for the item of equipment and a characteristic; and displaying the selected one of the catalogue items of equipment.
US08751321B2

This specification describes technologies relating to user interfaces for mobile devices. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a touch input to access an application management interface on a mobile device; presenting an application management interface; receiving one or more inputs within the application management interface including an input to install a particular application; installing the selected application; and presenting the installed application.
US08751317B2

A mobile payment system authorizes payment by sending a Short Message Service (SMS) text message or secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) request to a customer's mobile phone or mobile device requiring customer to respond by SMS or HTTPS. A SMS payment software-plugin is installed on a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal. When a customer requests to pay by SMS, the plugin is activated and the customer's mobile phone number and zip code or POS PIN are entered on the POS terminal. The POS terminal sends a request to a SMS payment system, which sends the SMS text message to the customer's mobile device. When the customer replies to the SMS message with an approval code, the SMS payment system uses payment information for the customer to create a transaction request to a bank authorization network. When the SMS payment system receives authorization, it notifies the POS terminal to complete the purchase transaction.
US08751311B2

A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating a notification of an initial offer; identifying a consumer's vacillation to the initial offer; and generating a second notification of the supplemental incentive offer based on the consumer's vacillation for displaying on a device.
US08751307B2

A system and method for implementing electronic advertising which provides content to users based on observing behavior of certain trendsetters within a member population. The trendsetters are determined by studying historical adoption behavior of individuals within the member population, or by reference to known indicia.
US08751300B2

Detecting click fraud that includes a processing device that receives data related to a cursor movement towards an advertisement displayed on a web page. The processing device analyzes the cursor movement data and determines a confidence level useable in the determination of click fraud, the confidence level responsive to the analysis of the cursor movement. The received data includes data that the cursor on the web page has transited at least one pixel cluster on the web page prior to a clicking the advertisement. In one embodiment, a click fraud is detected when the click occurred without the cursor crossing a pixel cluster, and no click fraud occurring when the click occurred after the cursor crossed a pixel cluster.
US08751294B2

Techniques are provided for allowing a merchant to process third party closed-loop instruments (such as gift cards) as if the closed-loop instruments were open-loop instruments. A customer provides card data of a third party gift card to a merchant, e.g., online or in a merchant store, for the purchase of one or more items provided by the merchant. The merchant sends the gift card data to an intermediary that deducts at least a portion of the balance of the gift card. The intermediary sends an offer for the gift card to the customer. If the customer accepts the offer, then the merchant applies the offer towards the total purchase price of the one or more items.
US08751293B2

Systems and methods are provided for delivering contextual advertising to a vehicle. An example system may include a profiler module executed by an onboard computing device of the vehicle, and configured to aggregate vehicle event data from a plurality of vehicle-based event sources, and to develop user profile data based on the vehicle event data. A communication agent may also be executed by the onboard computing device, and configured to transmit the user profile data to an advertising service executed on an advertising server via a communication network. The communication agent may also be configured to retrieve an advertisement from the advertising service. The advertisement may be selected based on content of the user profile data. The system may also include an interface module executed by the onboard computing device, and configured to present the advertisement via a display, and/or speaker associated with the onboard computing device.
US08751287B1

Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer readable mediums for generating item purchase recommendations. To provide such a recommendation, first data is accessed using a server, the first data comprising an interaction history of an entity with respect to at least one network site. Also, second data is accessed using the server, the second data comprising a record of use of media by the entity on at least one media device remote to the server. An item recommendation is generated in the server for the entity based on the first and second data.
US08751278B2

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing commitments information relative to a turf. According to embodiments, a method for providing commitments information relative to a turf is provided. According to the method, a time frame for each of a plurality of turfs is determined. The time frame indicates when a work order of a given category is to be completed. A numeric indicator indicating the time frame in which the work order of the given category is to be completed is displayed.
US08751277B2

A production management system is configured to dynamically control inventory of a semiconductor product to prevent overstock and stockout. The production management system includes a production planning module including components containing data of demand forecast, and customer order. The production management system further includes a dynamic inventory control module including a dynamic inventory control simulation module and an inventory management system, wherein the inventory management system is configured to record real inventory data, and wherein the dynamic inventory control simulation module includes simulators for target inventory, future inventory, future shipment and semiconductor product production.
US08751268B1

A smart placement module determines components of received medial data, such as medical reports and image montages, to forward to one or more secondary location, such as an EMR system, based on smart placement rules that are established by a user that receives the medical data, such as a referring doctor. Thus, the smart placement module decreases or removes the need for the receiving user to manually select and transfer certain medical data for storage at the EMR system. Accordingly, the receiving user, and other authorized EMR system users, may have prompt access to the medical data via their respective connections to the EMR system. In one embodiment, the smart placement module transmits a patient identification file that is usable by the receiving EMR system to allow the EMR system to associate received medical data with other data regarding a respective patient.
US08751266B2

A method and system for providing information for facilitating health care and clinical decisions. The method includes receiving input data specifying patient information, comparing that data with one or more predetermined sets of reference data, and determining and displaying the output data. The output data can be displayed graphically, such as using bubbles of different color and size, to indicate risk factors and their contribution to potential health problems. After displaying the data, a second set of input data can be entered, and this data is compared to the first set of data and to one or more sets of reference data. A second set of output data is generatable and displayable alongside the first set of output data.
US08751265B2

An apparatus for management of information for use in mitigating an emergency includes a data storage element configured to store registrant information obtained from members of a population residing in a particular geographic area and a set of survey questions, and a data storage system, the data storage system being programmed to implement a survey editor for enabling an emergency management official to create a survey for soliciting information from the members for inclusion in the registrant information, the survey editor providing, to the emergency management official, an interface for selecting a subset of questions from the set of questions, the subset of questions being selected from the set of questions based at least in part on the particular geographic area, and a survey portal for receiving, from the member, a response to the survey for integration into the reference data.
US08751264B2

A consumer identification system includes a first controller positioned at a facility and a second controller positioned at an information collection center and adapted to be in communication with the first controller. The first controller may transmit a first signal to the second controller responsive to an occurrence of an event. The second controller may initiate contact with a photograph or biometric scan database via a network interface in response to the first signal received from the first controller, and an official photograph or biometric scan associated with the consumer name may be identified. The second controller may transmit the official photograph or biometric scan to the first controller so that the official photograph or biometric scan is viewable on a user interface at the facility. A consumer identity may be verified by performing a comparison of a consumer with the official photograph or biometric scan of the consumer.
US08751262B2

Methods and systems for accessing information stored in an electronic patient record are disclosed. A memory stores a set of medical logic instructions which code for retrieval of multiple items of information stored in the electronic patient record for a given patient. Optionally, the instructions code for a rules-based interpretation of information stored in the electronic patient record, such as instructions that apply criteria in a quality scoring system and generate a score. The medical logic instructions are associated with an “intelligent token”, i.e., a character string such as |DIABETES|, |ASTHMA| or |PROGRESS|. The invoking of the intelligent token triggers execution of the medical logic instructions and retrieval of the information from the database. The intelligent tokens can be embedded into document templates, or selected or entered by the user as part of a document creation process.
US08751258B2

An inspection room decision support system for providing support in deciding one inspection room in which a requested endoscopic inspection will be conducted, plural inspection rooms, the system includes: an input unit that inputs information; a registration unit that registers at least information about each of the inspection rooms, information about a number of persons waiting for inspection in each of the inspection rooms and information about an endoscope used in each of the inspection rooms into a database in accordance with the information inputted by the input unit; and a control unit which reads at least the information about each of the inspection rooms, the information about the number of persons waiting for inspection in each of the inspection rooms and the information about the endoscope in each of the inspection rooms from the database, and makes a display device display these pieces of information associated with each other.
US08751256B2

Methods and systems for accessing information stored in an electronic patient record are disclosed. A memory stores a set of medical logic instructions which code for retrieval of multiple items of information stored in the electronic patient record for a given patient. Optionally, the instructions code for a rules-based interpretation of information stored in the electronic patient record, such as instructions that apply criteria in a quality scoring system and generate a score. The medical logic instructions are associated with an “intelligent token”, i.e., a character string such as |DIABETES|, |ASTHMA| or |PROGRESS|. The invoking of the intelligent token triggers execution of the medical logic instructions and retrieval of the information from the database. The intelligent tokens can be embedded into document templates, or selected or entered by the user as part of a document creation process.
US08751255B2

A system which contains real-time specialist on-call data is disclosed. The system allows for the input and searching of specialist on-call data for various health care locations. The system is configured to allow a patient in need of the medical care of a specialist not currently available at the patient's location to search for the nearest health care location(s) with a physician of the desired specialization presently or soon to be on call. Methods of the same are also disclosed.
US08751249B2

A system and related techniques generate and maintain a set of compliance-qualified data schemas or templates for deployment in a hospital or other clinical setting. According to conventional implementations, the clinical data required by regulatory reporting bodies such as CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) or other government or private bodies may not be systematically captured or track, so that compliance officers and other managers are left to reconstruct compliance data after the face, for instance from patient accounting systems or other platforms not designed to filter or store regulatory data. Platforms and methods according to the invention, in contrast, may access regulatory or compliance criteria and generate a data capture or documented care template, according to which various clinical measures and other information which are required by compliance bodies are automatically captured, at the point of care. Thus patient labs, tests, outcomes and other clinically related data may be conditioned to include that information demanded by regulatory standards, including lab ratios and others, and that data may be automatically recorded, stored, and in embodiments, transmitted to regulatory bodies or agencies, electronically. The regulatory data store that results may likewise in embodiments be accessed by analytic tools to model various compliance and clinical scenarios.
US08751248B2

A master control file enables application software to be ported between disparate operating systems of a computer without being updated by interfacing to portability enabling software, which interfaces with the disparate operating systems. Moreover, the application software includes medical software ported to a pocket device using the portability enabling software and the master control file.
US08751244B2

A method and apparatus for low complexity combinatorial coding and decoding of signals is described herein. During operation, an encoder and a decoder will utilize a first function in determining a codeword or vector when the size of the function is small. The encoder and the decoder will also utilize a second function in determining the codeword or vector when the size of the function is large.
US08751235B2

A system that outputs phonemes and accents of texts. The system has a storage section storing a first corpus in which spellings, phonemes, and accents of a text input beforehand are recorded separately for individual segmentations of the words that are contained in the text. A text for which phonemes and accents are to be output is acquired and the first corpus is searched to retrieve at least one set of spellings that match the spellings in the text from among sets of contiguous spellings. Then, the combination of a phoneme and an accent that has a higher probability of occurrence in the first corpus than a predetermined reference probability is selected as the phonemes and accent of the text.
US08751227B2

Parameters of a first variation model, a second variation model and an environment-independent acoustic model are estimated in such a way that an integrated degree of fitness obtained by integrating a degree of fitness of the first variation model to the sample speech data, a degree of fitness of the second variation model to the sample speech data, and a degree of fitness of the environment-independent acoustic model to the sample speech data becomes the maximum. Therefore, when constructing an acoustic model by using sample speech data affected by a plurality of acoustic environments; the effect on a speech which is caused by each of the acoustic environments can be extracted with high accuracy.
US08751217B2

A computer-implemented input-method editor process includes receiving a request from a user for an application-independent input method editor having written and spoken input capabilities, identifying that the user is about to provide spoken input to the application-independent input method editor, and receiving a spoken input from the user. The spoken input corresponds to input to an application and is converted to text that represents the spoken input. The text is provided as input to the application.
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