US08777937B2
A catheter for magnetic resonance-supported interventional procedures has an electric cable that connects a first electric component attached to one catheter end with a second electric component attached to the other catheter end, with the electric cable being coiled at least in sections thereof.
US08777926B2
Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat.
US08777913B2
An absorbent product comprises a backsheet having a first lateral end edge, a second lateral end edge, a first longitudinal side edge, and a second longitudinal side edge. The absorbent product further comprises a first longitudinal line of weakness laterally inboard of the first longitudinal side edge, a second longitudinal line of weakness laterally inboard of the second longitudinal side edge, a first lateral line of weakness longitudinally inboard of the first lateral end edge, and a second lateral line of weakness longitudinally inboard of the second lateral end edge. The absorbent product also comprises a topsheet connected with the backsheet, an absorbent article, the absorbent article having an outer perimeter defined by the first and second longitudinal lines of weakness and the first and second lateral lines of weakness, and a removable trim region.
US08777908B2
A luer connector including a housing with first end including a male luer tip and a second end. The connector further includes a rigid valve member having a first opened end and a second closed end and a retaining member configured to couple the valve member and the housing. The housing further includes a rigid conduit positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the second end of the housing, the rigid conduit adapted to engage the first opened end of the valve member. The housing defines a first internal volume when the valve member is in a first position and a second, smaller volume when the valve member is in a second position.
US08777904B2
A system for engaging heart tissue includes an engagement catheter defining a first lumen therethrough and having a suction port at or near a distal end and a vacuum port at or near a proximal end, a delivery catheter defining a delivery catheter lumen therethrough and configured for slidable insertion into the first lumen of the engagement catheter, and an implantable device capable of insertion into the delivery catheter lumen such that at least part of the implantable device extends from a delivery catheter distal end upon implantation into a patient, where the suction port is operable to removably attach to a targeted tissue on an interior wall of a heart of the patient after the engagement catheter has been advanced through a blood vessel and into the heart, thereby forming a reversible seal with the targeted tissue when a vacuum source is operatively coupled to the vacuum port.
US08777901B2
Ambulatory infusion pumps, pump assemblies, cartridges, baseplates, cannulas, insertion tools, and related components as well as combinations thereof and related methods.
US08777899B2
An injection apparatus includes a counter wheel (54) that is incremented by the dose delivery mechanism each time the device is fired. The apparatus includes a final dose disabling mechanism that prevents further usage once the final dose has been delivered. An anti-tamper feature is provided to prevent inadvertent or premature initialisation of the apparatus.
US08777897B2
A fluid delivery system includes a disposable portion and a non-disposable portion configured to communicate with each other wirelessly. The disposable portion includes electrical elements such as one or more sensors configured to be in sensing proximity of fluid, a processor, a memory and a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive radio frequency energy from a transmitter located on the non-disposable portion and power the electrical elements on the disposable portion. The non-disposable portion wirelessly controls the disposable portion during a fluid delivery session by programming operational parameters and monitoring fluid delivery measurements over the wireless communication link.
US08777896B2
A system and method for providing closed loop infusion formulation delivery which accurately calculates a delivery amount based on a sensed biological state by adjusting an algorithm's programmable control parameters. The algorithm calculates a delivery amount having proportional, derivative, and basal rate components. The control parameters may be adjusted in real time to compensate for changes in a sensed biological state that may result from daily events. Safety limits on the delivery amount may be included in the algorithm. The algorithm may be executed by a computing element within a process controller for controlling closed loop infusion formulation delivery. The biological state is sensed by a sensing device which provides a signal to the controller. The controller calculates an infusion formulation delivery amount based on the signal and sends commands to an infusion formulation delivery device which delivers an amount of infusion formulation determined by the commands.
US08777895B2
A system and method for verifying identification of an authorized person by biometrics prior to a patient controlled analgesic medication delivery to the patient and for monitoring the delivery of medication to a patient is disclosed, along with a monitoring system and method for controlling medication delivery based on at least one monitored patient condition.
US08777890B2
A method for administering a liquid medical substance in a vein. The method comprises inserting a plurality of tubular ducts into a target venous lumen, conducting a liquid medical substance via at least one of the plurality of tubular ducts (106, 215, 419, 602) for the administering thereof toward a venous wall (110, 410) at the target venous lumen in an ejection pressure, quantity and direction, and withdrawing a residue of the liquid medical substance from the target venous lumen, in a suction pressure, quantity and direction, for the conducting thereof via at least one different of the plurality of tubular ducts (130, 240, 400). A relation between the ejection pressure, quantity and direction and the suction pressure, quantity and direction limits the extent of the administering within the venous lumen to a predefined space.
US08777883B2
A surgical cast venting material comprises a waterproof, flexible substrate made of a plastics material and having first and second sides. The first side has a plurality of shallow, concave recesses distributed over the substrate and spaced-apart from one another while the second side has a plurality of protrusions distributed across the substrate. The substrate is perforated with a plurality of small holes distributed across its length and width. Also, a surgical cast venting device is disclosed for venting a bent region of a patient's limb. It has a flexible, central portion that can cover a major part of the bent region of the limb including opposite side surfaces and a front or rear surface. The device also has flexible connecting straps extending from two corners of the central portion.
US08777872B2
A diagnostic system has a diagnostic module with an integrated lancet system and a magazine module separate from the diagnostic module. The diagnostic device also has a connecting device that is used for tensioning the lancet system.
US08777851B2
An implanted device-implemented method of detecting and monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient includes performing ongoing measurements of changes in local impedance of a portion of the patient's body between at least two electrodes on the exterior of the implanted device, the changes representing ventilation of the patient, and including measuring the patient's respiratory rate and respiratory amplitude. A body-implantable device is adapted to detect and monitor congestive heart failure in a patient, and includes a circuit module coupled to plural surface electrodes of the device arranged and adapted, when the device is implanted, for contacting tissue in a portion of the patient's body generally occupied by the lungs, to monitor changes in local impedance of said body portion, and to detect the patient's EKG.
US08777844B1
An apparatus including an outer articulated tube member, the outer articulated tube member having a first tubular section and a second tubular section. The apparatus further including an inner articulated tube member positioned within the outer articulated tube member, the inner articulated tube member having a first tubular section and a second tubular section. The first tubular section and the second tubular section of at least one of the outer articulated tube member and the inner articulated tube member are movable with respect to one another in a first configuration and fixed with respect to one another in a second configuration.
US08777841B2
A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway comprising providing a visualization system comprising a tube, visualization apparatus disposed within the tube, and a deformable helical thread disposed on the exterior surface of the tube, the deformable helical thread being transformable between a first configuration wherein the deformable helical thread comprises a reduced profile and/or a reduced rigidity and a second configuration wherein the deformable helical thread comprises an expanded profile and/or increased rigidity; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized, with the deformable helical thread being in its second configuration; rotating the tube so as to induce relative movement between the passageway and the tube, whereby to move the visualization apparatus and the site which is to be visualized closer together; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the passageway.
US08777840B2
An apparatus is disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises an endoscope comprising a first distal end portion, and a tube comprising a second distal end portion, wherein the endoscope and the tube are in a side-by-side relationship and are coupled at distal end portions of the endoscope and the tube using a single coupling device.
US08777839B2
A shock-absorbing mechanism includes a shaft having a linear member wound therearound, a base having a relative position fixed to a first end of the linear member and formed with a shock-absorbing space which spreads toward the radial outside from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a passage formed in the base in communication with the shock-absorbing space and the outside of the base and causing a second end of the linear member to extend to the outside of the base.
US08777835B2
A tissue illumination system and a method for harvesting a section of a blood vessel from a patient's body for further use. The tissue illumination system includes a light catheter inserted into a lumen of the blood vessel section to illuminate the vessel section and vessel side branches with an intensity which is visible to the physician from an exterior of the vessel section and also includes a viewing element insertable into the lumen and capable of viewing the illuminated vessel section. The tissue illumination system also includes at least one tool insertable into the lumen and used to harvest the vessel section.
US08777834B2
The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to adjustable length implantable sling assemblies for providing support to anatomical locations. In certain embodiments, the sling includes at least one elastic member to aid in the placement and tensioning of the sling.
US08777829B2
Pre-stretched films may be used to increase the rate at which loads can be wrapped and to minimize the exertion required when using traditional handheld film. However, the edges of pre-stretched films are easily damaged, which may result in tearing or failure of the film during use. The present disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for folding the edges of the film, resulting in a film that is less susceptible to damage and easier to use.
US08777825B1
Methods for designing and manufacturing containers comprise determining a desired overall column data for the container; adapting the column data to have overlapping ends; selecting desired row data; selecting a desired perimeter geometry for a lid and floor of the container; adapting the row data, relative to column data, to yield the desired lid and floor perimeter geometries; and generating a folded geometry for the container.
US08777824B2
A sheet folding device for performing single-sheet folding and multi-sheet folding with a single feed path, the device including: a conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a restraining unit that stops a leading edge of the sheet; a pair of folding rollers that fold the sheet; and a guiding member that guides a bend of the sheet to a nip between the pair of folding rollers, wherein the guiding member is positioned at different sheet-guiding positions for single-sheet folding and multi-sheet folding.
US08777822B2
An exercise device for use in a doorway including resistance bands extending from slidable carriages is provided. The exercise device includes a pair of vertical rail members attachable to sides of a doorway. The vertical rail members are engageable with carriages such that the carriages are capable of being slid longitudinally along the vertical rail members. Resistance bands extend along the vertical rail members and extend out from the carriages. The tension in the resistance bands may be altered by manipulating the distance between the carriages. The resistance bands extending from the carriages are attachable at each end to an athletic accessory such as a hand grip, belt, or crossbar. A pull-up bar may also be attached to the exercise device, the pull-up bar capable of vibration for enhanced performance.
US08777810B2
A method is provided for controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in which the engine speed is limited after a cold start and a normal shift point is used for shifting to the next higher gear of the automatic transmission in the case of an average operating temperature of an engine, before the average operating temperature is reached, a cold shift point being used for shifting to the next higher gear of the automatic transmission, in the case of which upshifting is performed at a lower vehicle velocity than in the case of the normal shift point. Upshifting into the next higher gear of the automatic transmission can be made easier, since upshifting can already be performed at lower vehicle velocities and therefore lower engine speeds in the cold start phase.
US08777809B2
A method for operating a transmission of a vehicle drivetrain. A transmission ratio can be automatically changed during an operating state depending on a comparison of current operating state parameters with operating parameters stored in a control unit, and can be manually changed depending on a driver's request. Accordingly when the driver requests a change of the transmission ratio, the transmission ratio changes, and a timer starts. If the driver continues the ratio change from an actual transmission ratio value toward a larger or smaller transmission ratio value, the current operating parameters are compared with the stored operating parameters. Upon this comparison, the transmission shifts to higher ratios in comparison to the operating parameters stored in a control device at higher vehicle speeds, and/or a delay between sequential, cyclical transmission ratio changes varies depending on a vehicle deceleration and/or braking pressure in the region of a vehicle brake.
US08777807B2
A method for releasing a tooth-on-tooth position of an interlocking shift element (6) of a transmission (5) or an interlocking shift element between two transmissions, such that the tooth-on-tooth position is released by using an actuator, in particular by using a transmission brake (8) or a drive clutch (7), and when a tooth-on-tooth position to be released is recognized, then depending on a drive-side or input-side rotational speed of the interlocking shift element (6), depending on a synchronous speed of the same and as a function of the actuators (3, 7, 8) available for releasing a tooth-on-tooth position, at least one actuator is selected, by using which the drive-side or input-side speed of the interlocking shift element (6) is approximated to its synchronous speed.
US08777801B2
Described herein is a planetary gear train, comprising: a sun gear that can turn about an axis and comprises a plurality of first teeth; a fixed crown wheel comprising a plurality of second teeth; and two planetary gears, each comprising a plurality of third teeth, the planetary gears each meshing with the crown wheel and the sun gear and able to turn about second axes, which are in turn able to turn about the first axis; at least two third teeth simultaneously mesh with second teeth and further two third teeth simultaneously mesh with first teeth; the third teeth comprise a first and a second side, which have, respectively, a first and a second pressure angle different from one another; and the number of the third teeth is different from the absolute value of the semidifference between the number of the first teeth and of the second teeth.
US08777799B2
In a differential mechanism including a pinion shaft and a pair of axle shafts spaced apart from the pinion shaft along axes of the axle shafts, a spacer is positioned between the pinion shaft and each of the axle shafts for controlling axial end play of the axle shafts. A retainer separate from the spacers is mounted on the pinion shaft for securing the spacers in position.
US08777791B1
A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a crank axle, a torque combining mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The crank axle is rotatable about a first rotational axis. The torque combining mechanism is operatively coupled to the motor and the crank axle. The torque combining mechanism has a sprocket mounting portion that is configured to be operatively attached to a sprocket such that the sprocket rotates about a second rotational axis of the sprocket in a first direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the first direction. The clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between the crank axle and the sprocket. The clutch mechanism is configured to rotate the sprocket about the second rotational axis in a second direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction.
US08777782B2
A swing training method using a “flat bat” that breaks down swing motion into individual components. The flat bat has a handle connected to a flat member. The flat member has opposing flat surfaces that are beneficially color-coded to remind a user how to swing through a contact zone and follow through with a swing.
US08777748B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for communicating information regarding movement of a gaming device are presented herein. A gaming device can include at least one sensor configured to measure information associated with at least one of a position of the gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device. Further, a communications interface component can be configured to communicate the information to a controller. A method can detect, via sensors of a handheld gaming device, information related to a movement of the handheld gaming device; and transfer the information to a controller communicatively coupled to the handheld gaming device. A system can include means for receiving information related to a position of a gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device, and means for predicting an anticipated position of the gaming device based on the means for receiving the information.
US08777744B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to gaming systems and methods configured to provide a musical game associated with unlockable musical instruments. In one embodiment, the musical game is associated with a plurality of different musical instruments that are initially unlocked or locked and a plurality of different instrument playing events, each of which is associated with one or more of the musical instruments. Upon an occurrence of one of the instrument playing events, the gaming system produces at least one sound and provides an award associated with each unlocked musical instrument associated with that instrument playing event. The gaming system does not produce any sounds or provide any awards associated with any locked musical instruments associated with that instrument playing event. Upon an occurrence of an instrument unlock event, if any of the musical instruments are locked, the gaming system unlocks at least one locked musical instrument.
US08777739B2
There is provided a system and method for determining a gender and age of a player of a game. There is a method comprising capturing an image of at least one player, and determining the gender and age of the player based on the image. In this manner, the game may be customized to be more relevant or attractive to the player's gender and/or age group.
US08777733B2
In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points. For the subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system further determines the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points.
US08777727B2
An improved table game system includes a first shuffling machine for randomly selecting a first card from among a first defined set of cards. The system also includes a second shuffling machine for randomly selecting a second card from among a second defined set of cards. A first card reader is associated with the first shuffling machine for communicating with the selected card to obtain relevant information thereabout. A second card reader is associated with the second shuffling machine for communicating with the selected card to obtain information thereabout. The system includes a first display in communication with the first card reader to display the obtained information about the first card. The system also includes a second display in communication with the second card reader to display the obtained information about the second card. A computer is in communication with the first card reader to process the obtained information and communicate it to the first display. The computer is also in communication with the second card reader to process the obtained information and communicate it to the second display. The computer also resolves any wagers associated with the outcome of the first game and the second game.
US08777725B2
A transaction facilitation system is disclosed that is configured to affect substantially real-time crediting and debiting of a gaming accounts maintained within a gaming environment and structured to communicate by a private restricted communication link with an issuing financial institution of a stored value account to effect real-time crediting and debiting of the stored value account. Financial transactions using the stored value account can be and used customer relationship purposes.
US08777707B2
A spreader (100) has a hopper or bin (1) for storing a spreadable material (2), a plurality of spinners (5, 6) adapted to receive the material from the hopper or bin and to spread the material (2) on the ground, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (8) for sensing the position of the spreader (100) and providing an output signal indicative of a position of the spreader to a controller (7). The controller (7) calculates a required pattern and density of material (2) to be spread by the spinners (5, 6) based on a comparison of the actual position of the spreader (A) to a preferred position of the spreader (I), and controls the spinners (5, 6) in order to obtain the required pattern and density of spread material (2). A method of controlling the pattern and density of material spread by a spreader is also disclosed.
US08777695B2
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of cleaning tanks configured to store a cleaning liquid, an object-to-be-processed holder capable of being inserted into each cleaning tank, the object-to-be-processed holder being configured to hold an object to be processed and to immerse the object to be processed into the cleaning liquid, a vibrator disposed on each cleaning tank, a single ultrasonic oscillator configured to make each vibrator ultrasonically vibrate, an output switch interposed between the ultrasonic oscillator and the vibrator of each respective cleaning tank, the output switch being configured to switch the vibrator that is connected to the ultrasonic oscillator, and a control device configured to control the ultrasonic oscillator and the output switch, wherein the control device controls the ultrasonic oscillator and the output switch such that a timing at which the vibrator of one of the cleaning tanks is made to ultrasonically vibrate, and a timing at which the vibrator of another cleaning tank is made to ultrasonically vibrate are not overlapped with each other.
US08777693B2
A bra for compression stabilizing the breast mass against motion relative to the torso includes a closed cell foam layer having a front, back, sides, and shoulder straps in a pattern to approximately match the contours of a female user's torso. A first fabric layer adjacent to the inner surface of the cell foam layer adjacent to the user's skin, substantially matching the pattern of the closed cell foam fabric layer, provides moisture wicking and comfort. A portion of the closed cell foam fabric layer extends below the breast line and encircles the torso to add motion stabilizing support to the breasts.
US08777688B2
A toy action figure includes a cape and a spring-loaded arm. The upper torso of the toy action figure includes two pivotally coupled arms. The first pivotally coupled arm is configured to retract the cape. An actuator button may be provided on the front of the torso to actuate the cape into an extended position with the assistance of a spring. The second pivotally coupled arm may include a spring-loaded arm to launch a projective therefrom.
US08777684B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, diagnostic system and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The diagnostic system includes a at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter corresponding to the inflation system and a display configured to visually, audibly, and/or tactilely display the parameter.
US08777683B2
A concealably retractable handle is ensconced into the core or hull of a recreational or utilitarian floatation structure such as a canoe, kayak, surfboard, sailboard, paddle board or the like, where it lies below the outer surface without interfering with normal use of the structure. The handle can be conveniently extracted and secured in an operational position to facilitate handling and carrying the structure or securing it the a vehicle. The housing of the handle is bonded into the body of the floatation device through a padding sleeve which absorbs stress forces that could damage the solidity of the bond and the integrity of the whole structure. During handle retraction structures encourage agitation of water located inside the housing to facilitate water and debris evacuation.
US08777672B2
The USB female connector contains an insulating base and a shielding casing enclosing the insulating base. On the insulating base, there is mainly a ground terminal having a flat ground contact section at an end on the insulating base. From the ground contact section, the ground terminal is forked into ground extension sections. Through the forked ground extension sections, the crosstalk on the first, second, third, and fourth differential signal terminals by the first and second signal terminals is effectively resolved.
US08777667B2
An electrical connector (1) is adapted for mounting to a circuit substrate having a metallic shell (2) assembled onto an insulated housing (3). The metallic shell (2) has a base portion with two side-walls (23) and a pair of arms (24) extending from the side-walls (23). Some interferential tabs (243) are introverted on both of the arms (24) and corresponding slots (311) are formed on the insulated housing (3). When assembling, the interferential tabs (243) are engaged with corresponding slots (311) to firmly fit the metallic shell (2) and insulated housing (3) together.
US08777666B2
A plug connector module that includes a metal frame having a base portion, an insertion end and a cavity that extends from the base portion into the insertion end. The insertion end is configured to be inserted into a cavity of a corresponding receptacle connector. A substrate extends through the base portion of the frame and into the insertion end. A first plurality of external contacts is positioned in a first opening and a second plurality of contacts positioned within a second opening. One or more electronic components is coupled to the substrate, and a first encapsulant that covers and environmentally seals the one or more electronic components. A second encapsulant covers and environmentally seals a metal shield and at least a portion of a leg that extends from the shield.
US08777664B2
A connector assembly includes a cable connector and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing defining a receiving slot and a number of contacts including multiple first contacts and multiple second contacts. The second contacts include a number of differential signal contacts and ground contacts among which the differential signal contacts are paired and the ground contacts are located at opposite lateral sides of each paired differential signal contacts. The first contacts are ordinally arranged as GGVV, or VGVG, or VVGG, or GVGV, or GVVG, or VGGV, or VSSG, or GSSV. The second contacts are compatible to USB 3.0 protocol for high-speed signal transmission. As a result, it is easy to control the impedance of the whole transmission system so as to decrease signal attenuation and signal reflection.
US08777658B2
A coaxial connector including a selectively engageable radio frequency interference shield.
US08777655B2
An apparatus for retaining a plug in an outlet is provided. The apparatus includes a body and a pair of arms extending from opposite sides of the body. The body includes a retaining tab for retaining the plug in the outlet and a pair of locking tabs extending from opposite sides of the retaining tab for locking the retaining tab to the plug. Additionally, or in the alternative, each of the arms includes a safety loop for preventing the arms from being electrically connected to the outlet.
US08777651B2
There is provided a connector. A lock arm is connected at a leading end-side and a rear end-side of a housing, supported at both ends thereof along an insertion/pulling out direction with respect to an opposite connector housing, and elastically deformable with the connection parts with the housing serving as fulcrums. A locking claw is formed at the lock arm and locked into a locking hole of the opposite connector housing when inserting the housing into the opposite connector housing. The lock arm has a lock release part which releases a locked state of the locking claw to the locking hole by being pressed toward the rear end-side beyond the locking claw. A position of the fulcrum at the rear end-side is arranged at an opposite side to a protruding direction of the locking claw, compared to a position of the fulcrum at the leading end-side.
US08777648B2
A connector includes a one-piece rubber plug (30) arranged to cover a rear surface (10R) of an inner housing (10) and has seal holes (31) aligned with cavities 12. An outer housing (20) has a tubular portion (21) surrounding the inner housing (10) and a rear wall (24) covering a rear surface (30R) of the one-piece rubber plug (30). The rear wall (24) has insertion holes (25) aligned with the seal holes (31). Locking holes (26A, 26B) are open on a rear surface (24R) of the rear wall (24), and locks (17A, 17B) on the inner housing (10) engage with the locking holes (26A, 26B) to lock the housings (10, 20) in an assembled state.
US08777645B2
An accommodating device for holding a card having an engaging portion in place is illustrated. The accommodating device includes a tray, a spring member, a covering member mounted on the tray, a latching mechanism, and a depressible button. The tray includes a bottom plate and two first sidewalls protruding from opposite edges of the bottom plate, which cooperatively defines a receiving channel for insertion of the card. The spring member is positioned on the bottom plate and compressed by the card when the card is received in the receiving channel. The latching mechanism includes a first resilient strip having a first hunched portion, a second resilient strip fixed to the cover, and a latching block fixed to the first and second resilient strips. The latching block is configured for lockingly engage with the engaging portion. The depressible button is arranged above the first hunched portion of the first resilient strip.
US08777636B2
Manufacturing efficiency of a connector is greatly improved, and the manufacturing costs and the product cost can be reduced. A coaxial connector (P) for a board of the present invention is configured so that an extended portion of an outer terminal (42) and an extended portion of an inner terminal (44) are positioned so that one extended portion is not superimposed on the other extended portion when a half-cylinder portion of the outer terminal is viewed from an upper side.
US08777634B2
A magnetic connector has a receptacle and a plug. The receptacle has an electromagnet comprising an inner core, an outer core, a coil disposed around the inner core and an air gap defined by the edges of the inner and outer cores. The plug has a plug core and an anchor defined by the plug core edge. The anchor is configured to insert into the air gap as a receptacle socket electrically connects with plug pins. The coil is energized and de-energized so as to assist in the insertion or removal of the anchor from within the air gap and the corresponding connection and disconnection of the socket and pins.
US08777631B1
An elongated focus pad is a combat sport training apparatus that reduces wear and tear experienced by a trainer's body. The elongated focus pad accomplishes this by distancing the impact zone of the focus pad away from the trainer's body. The elongated focus pad incorporates a target section, a barrel, a handle, and an internally positioned flexible core. The flexible core absorbs impact forces experienced by the target section reducing the total force experienced by a trainer's body. The target section is constructed of a flexible material capable of absorbing impacts but allowing for rapid successive strikes. The barrel is attached to the target section and distances it from the handle. The handle is positioned opposite the target section on the barrel and is manipulated by the trainer. The flexible core is internally positioned with the most flexible region being found within the barrel.
US08777623B2
An apparatus for teaching defensive driving includes a hub unit removably attachable to an axle of a wheel of a vehicle, and a housing unit. The housing unit includes a swing arm member pivotally affixed therewithin, a wheel-height adjusting mechanism, and at least one wheel assembly swiveling along a vertical axis and affixed at a bottom end of the housing unit. The swing arm member includes a unit for fittingly engaging a portion of the hub unit and a height adjustable member. The height adjusting mechanism is operatingly coupled to the height adjustable member to adjust a height of the wheel relative to a surface of a road, thereby adjusting a friction level between the wheel and the road surface.
US08777620B1
A firearm training system provides a firearm body having a trigger and a trigger pull sensor circuit. When the trigger is pulled, the trigger pull sensor circuit provides trigger pull data allowing monitoring of the actual two-dimensional trigger pull path taken by the trigger during the trigger pull. The trigger pull path is graft on a predetermined map together with boundary lines representing a predetermined difference threshold from ideal trigger pull data. The system provides a way to monitor trigger pull path to determine whether the trigger has been pulled laterally and/or the firearm body has moved with respect to a longitudinal axis of the firearm body during the trigger pull. By repeatedly monitoring trigger pulls using the system, a user can train to improve trigger pull technique.
US08777607B2
The invention relates to a mold (1) for molding, in particular by injection, that comprises two half-molds (2, 3) each defined by a side surface (21, 31), a front face and a rear face. One at least of said two half-molds is to be associated with means for opening and closing the mold. The two half-molds can be brought into contact at the level of a junction plane (1) when the mold is in the closed position. The mold is characterized in that one half-mold is provided with a locking device (6) that comprises: at least one latch (7) that can be simultaneously housed in a recess (25) in each half-mold (2, 3); and at least one independent system (8) capable of bringing together or separating the latch (7) and the recesses (25, 35) in which the latch (7) is to be received, and including one or more jack(s) (8) including a chamber connected to the half-mold, a piston capable of movement in said chamber, and a rod connected to the piston and to which the latch is attached.
US08777601B2
A manufacturing device includes a material supply module, a winding machine as well as a low-temperature furnace, a tension wheel set, a microwave graphitization module and a gluing module sequentially installed between the material supply module and the winding machine, so that a carbon fiber raw material can be manufactured continuously in mass production to enhance the graphitization efficiency and lower the process cost significantly.
US08777599B2
Described herein are apparatuses and methods of creating fibers, such as microfibers and nanofibers. The methods discussed herein employ centrifugal forces to transform material into fibers. Apparatuses that may be used to create fibers are also described. Embodiments described herein relate to multilayer fiber producing devices.
US08777593B2
An electric compressor is installed in a vehicle and includes a shell. The electric compressor includes an inverter, a cover, and a conductive component. The cover covers the shell and the inverter. The conductive component is electrically connected to the inverter and arranged outside the cover. The cover includes an outer guide surface inclined relative to a forward direction of the vehicle. The outer guide surface has a normal including a forward component directed in the forward direction. The outer guide surface is arranged closer to an outer side of the vehicle than the conductive component.
US08777585B2
An electric compressor 10 includes a compression mechanism 11, an electric motor 12 driving the compression mechanism 11, and a control portion 13 controlling to drive the electric motor 12, incorporated into a single casing, and further includes a temperature detector 14 detecting a temperature of one or more components constituting one or both of the control portion 13 and the electric motor 12, and a current detector 15 detecting a current flowing through the component. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 14 is a temperature Td, the current detected by the current detector 15 is a current Id, and a current corresponding to the temperature Td at a temperature characteristic relating to the current specific to the component is a current Ia(Td), the control portion 13 stops driving the electric motor 12 on the basis of a result of comparison between Ia(Td) and Id.
US08777583B2
A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.
US08777579B2
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar (1) for a wind turbine blade. The method comprises steps of providing at least two caps (2a, 2b), each cap forming an intermediate portion (4) between two end portions (5), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion (6) along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion (7) of the spar, providing at least two webs (3a, 3b), each web being provided with web joint surface portions (8) along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The intermediate portions and the end portions are provided so that they comprise different materials.
US08777569B1
A turbine stator vane with cooling air cavities each having an impingement cooling insert secured therein, and an impingement cooling insert secured within each cavity. A leading edge impingement insert and a mid-chord impingement insert have a section on the pressure side wall with impingement holes forming a parallel flow of impingement cooling air and a section on the suction side wall with a sinusoidal shaped piece that forms a series of impingement cooling holes that produces impingement cooling on cooler surfaces of the airfoil but with less cooling air flow.
US08777562B2
An air seal for use with rotating parts includes a thermal barrier coating layer adhered to a substrate. An abradable layer is adhered to the thermal barrier coating layer. The abradable layer comprises a matrix of agglomerated hexagonal boron nitride and a metallic alloy. Another hexagonal boron nitride is interspersed with the matrix.
US08777561B2
An example compressor shroud assembly includes a shroud body extending along an axis and having a hollow bore. An enlarged flange is located at one axial end of the shroud body. The enlarged flange provides a rotating surface for a retention plate on a first side and a rotating surface for a drive ring on an opposing, second side. The enlarged flange establishes a channel that receives the retention plate. The channel has a ratio of the channel depth to the channel width that is between 0.0216 and 0.0251.
US08777559B2
A cooling system of ring segment is provided with: a collision plate that has a plurality of small holes; a cooling space that is enclosed by the collision plate and a main body of the segment body; a first cavity that arranged is the upstream end portion of the segment body in the flow direction of the combustion gas so as to be perpendicular to the axial direction of a rotating shaft; a first cooling passage that communicates from the cooling space to the first cavity; and a second cooling passage that communicates from the first cavity to a fire combustion gas d gas space in the downstream end portion of the segment body in the flow direction of the combustion gas.
US08777539B2
A lower sealing valve unit for a charging system of a shaft furnace includes a housing having a pair of inlets and at least one outlet; a valve seat associated with each inlet; and a flap associated with each valve seat and adapted for, in a closed position, engaging the valve seat to sealingly close the inlet, each flap being supported by a pivotable shaft allowing displacement between the closed position and an open position off the associated valve seat, where a common structure, mounted to one side of the housing, includes a pair of drive mechanisms, each connected to one of the pivotable shafts for independent actuation thereof, the shafts passing coaxially though the housing side and being supported by the common structure.
US08777536B2
A cable lug and a method of use is provided. The cable lug has a receiving tube section for a cable, a flat piece-connecting section that is molded on and is provided with a bore, and a nut which is captively and preferably rotatably mounted on the flat piece-connecting section. The nut does not penetrate the flat piece-connecting section while being mounted by a shaped mounting material section of the flat piece-connecting section, which extends into an undercut in the nut. The mounting material section is in the undercut with an axial clearance. The mounting material section is rooted in a lowered in a step-type manner in the flat piece-connecting section. The lowered area is rotationally symmetrical and is provided with a conical section which opens outward and vertically and encompasses at least one conical area.
US08777534B2
In the case of a connection system having a housing (10) and a nut (16) which can be arranged on the housing (10), the aim is to provide a solution by means of which it is possible to prevent the nut (16) from being released inadvertently from the housing (10). This is intended to be achieved in that the nut (16) is formed from an elastic material and latching elements (24) are formed on the nut (16), which latching elements (24) can be latched to mating latching elements (26) which are formed on the housing (10).
US08777531B2
An anchor comprises first, second and third flanges. A surface of the first flange facing the second flange defines a plane. A contour of the first flange projected onto the plane extending beyond a contour of the second flange projected onto the plane. A base connecting part includes the third flange and the second flange. An accessory connecting part operatively connected to the base connecting part includes the first flange. The third flange is movable relative to at least one of the first and second flanges between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a contour of the third flange projected onto the plane is contained within the contour of the second flange projected onto the plane. In the second position, the contour of the third flange projected onto the plane extends beyond the contour of the second flange projected onto the plane.
US08777528B2
A outer diameter shaft reducer tool includes a cutter head and main body capable of assembly together through the use of a pair of set screws. The assembly can then easily be connected to a hand-held drill through a common extension thereby allowing for the provision of automated rotation of the cutting assembly. To reduce the outside diameter of a shaft, a user inserts the bar or rod into a lumen within the main body and applies pressure to cause a number of cutting teeth to engage the end portion of the bar or rod near the outer portion of the end face. As the teeth cut, the outside diameter of the shaft is thereby reduced.
US08777520B2
A piling is provided with a pipe provided with a generally cylindrical shape, a first end, and a second end. A first end fitting is located at the first end of the pipe and a second end fitting is located at the second end of the pipe. The first end fitting is provided with an out-of-round shape that transmits torque and is dimensioned so that at least a portion fits within the second end fitting, and the second end fitting is provided with an out-of-round shape that transmits torque with at least a portion that fits about a portion of the first end fitting.
US08777516B2
An improved tarp and ballast system that includes a plurality of panels attached to one another along the lengths thereof, wherein the lengths of the panels correspond to the length of the tarp. The tarp also includes chain pockets located at the sides of the tarp which run the length of the tarp and have chains secured therein. The tarp further includes a plurality of cable pockets and associated ballast anchors oriented across the width of the tarp which are adapted to secure a plurality of ballast cables to the tarp.
US08777514B2
The invention concerns a recoverable gabion for use in protecting military or civilian installations from weapons assault or from elemental forces, such as flood waters, lava flows, avalanches, soil instability, slope erosion and the like. The gabion comprises opposed side walls comprising a plurality of side wall elements connected together at spaced intervals by a plurality of partition walls such that spaces between neighboring pairs of partition walls define, together with the side walls, individual compartments of the gabion, adjacent side and partition walls being connected to one another by pivotal connections enabling the gabion to be folded between fully flattened and deployed configurations, wherein at least one of the pivotal connections is a releasable connection which when released allows a side wall element to open with respect to the gabion to allow access from the side of the gabion to any contents of the gabion compartments.
US08777512B2
A vertically stackable and retrofittable traffic cone linking system having a plurality of linking cuffs substantially conically shaped linking cuffs having four connection points, sized and configured to be removably secured to a standard traffic cone and a traffic cone linking connector removably connected to the linking cuffs. Once the traffic cone linking cuff is linked to the traffic cone linking connector, the traffic cone linking system can be can be arranged in a predetermined configuration or arrangement to alert onlookers of a particular hazard or to impede access to a given location.
US08777510B2
An end treatment array for crash attenuation includes a transition barrier module formed of side walls, end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the module walls together define an enclosed interior space. The end treatment array further includes a containment impact sled having an axially extending frame. The frame has a width sufficient to contain the transition barrier module within the frame when in an assembled configuration, and has an axial length which is at least one-half the length of the transition barrier module. The frame defines an interior volume, the purpose of which is to contain a substantial portion of the transition barrier module in the assembled configuration, and to contain debris caused by destruction of the plastic barrier modules in a vehicular impact. The containment impact sled is attached to the transition barrier module.
US08777508B2
A cutting unit mounting device includes a ball through which a yoke extends laterally. The yoke is attached to the cutting unit, and the ball is pivotably mounted in a ball housing attached to a lift arm. A releasable lock pin engages and secures the ball within the ball housing in a mowing position or a service position. The ball housing has stops to limit the pivoting of the ball and yoke with respect to the ball housing. A releasable lock pin engages notches in the ball to engage and secure the ball in the mowing position or service position with respect to the ball housing.
US08777505B2
A product dispenser for dispensing an elongate product strip includes, in one embodiment, a product container for storing the product to be dispensed, the container defining an opening through which the product can exit the container, a product flow regulator and a dispensing cover that overlies the product flow regulator. The product flow regulator is positioned proximate the container opening and comprises a flow passage that is in communication with the product container, the flow passage accommodating the product exiting the container. The product flow regulator terminates in at least one distribution aperture for allowing the product within the flow passage to exit the product flow regulator, the product flow regulator further comprising a reservoir for accommodating the product exiting the product flow regulator. The dispensing cover defines an elongate distribution slit proximate the reservoir of the product flow regulator, for allowing an elongate product strip to be dispensed.
US08777499B2
Certain embodiments provide methods for manufacturing camera module including arranging a camera module body in a first shield and forming a resin having a light shielding effect. The camera module body has: a sensor board which has a sensor unit; and an optical element which has a lens unit and a spacer. The process of arranging this camera module body in the first shield is a process of arranging the camera module body in the first shield such that a gap is formed between the camera module body and the first shield. The process of forming the resin having the light shielding effect is a process of forming the resin having the light shielding effect in the gap between the first shield and camera module body.
US08777493B2
An axle assembly having a housing, a bearing, and a bearing adjuster mechanism. The bearing adjuster mechanism may include an adjuster ring and a lock ring. The adjuster ring may have a set of teeth and exert a preload force upon the bearing. The lock ring may include a lock tab portion that extends between two teeth and engages a lock ring positioning feature disposed on the housing to inhibit rotation of the adjuster ring.
US08777491B2
A wheel bearing assembly includes a wheel hub, a knuckle member defining a bore, and a bearing arranged in the bore and configured to rotatably support the wheel hub. The bearing includes a seal member configured to cover internal workings of the bearing. The wheel bearing assembly also includes an annular slinger arranged on the wheel hub and configured to at least partially screen the seal member to minimize ingestion of contaminants by the bearing from the ambient. The wheel bearing assembly additionally includes an annular shield configured to at least partially shield the slinger from the contaminants and generate a labyrinth path from the ambient to the seal member for any of the contaminants. A vehicle employing the above described wheel bearing assembly is also disclosed.
US08777490B2
An architecture making it possible to provide sufficient absorption of shocks for a power shaft while maintaining rigidity at front bearings so as to not compromise meshing of power teeth of a drive pinion. A compressible dynamic shock absorption is provided in alignment with a downstream shock absorber of an additional meshing. An assembly for dynamically absorbing shocks for a power shaft includes upstream and downstream bearings including power rollers mounted on two casings and flanking a speed-reducing teeth meshing. The downstream bearing is coupled to at least one additional roller bearing associated with a compressible shock absorber to form a downstream shock absorber axially offset relative to the upstream bearing opposite the teeth meshing. Both downstream bearings are connectable by a flexible frame mounted on the common casing. The architecture can be used for power-transmission shafts, for example supercritical shafts in turbine engines.
US08777488B2
A motor includes a rotor having a permanent magnet; a sleeve rotatably supporting the rotor; fluid provided in a gap between the rotor and the sleeve; a stator having a electromagnet disposed opposite to the permanent magnet to rotate the rotor relative to the stator; and a boss interposed between the sleeve and the stator. In the motor, the sleeve, the stator, and the boss are provided as separate members.
US08777485B2
These various embodiments serve to facilitate improving the accuracy of a computed tomography (CT) process. This can comprise operably coupling at least one calibration phantom to a CT scan table and then, during a CT scan of an object that is disposed on the scan table, also gathering calibration information using that calibration phantom(s). By one approach, this calibration phantom can comprise one or more annular-shaped members. When using a plurality of annular-shaped members, at least some of the annular-shaped members can be disposed concentrically with one another. By one approach, in lieu of the foregoing or in combination therewith, this calibration phantom can comprise one or more pins and/or spherically-shaped members (and/or other shapes of geometric interest). If desired, such spherically-shaped members can be combined with the aforementioned pins.
US08777477B2
An inflatable cushion useable for an ice cream maker. The ice cream maker can be spherical in shape and the inflatable cushion can approximate a spherical or dodecahedron shell. The inflatable cushion can be comprised of two half-shell portions that are pivotable with respect to one other to be selectively placed in a closed or open position. The ice cream maker can be snugly inserted within the inflatable cushion.
US08777475B2
The present invention provides a back frame of flat panel display device. The back frame includes at least two primary assembling pieces and the at least two primary assembling pieces are connected through joining; the at least two primary assembling pieces includes one primary assembling piece that carries a light source thereon and the primary assembling piece that carries the light source is provided with a heat dissipation fin assembly. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a back frame of flat panel display device and a backlight system. Through above arrangement, the back frame mold is made simple in structure and can reduce the expenditure of the back frame mold, and can also save the material used for back frame so as to lower down the cost of flat panel display device, and at the same time facilitates heat dissipation from a light source.
US08777472B2
An image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an apparatus main body 2 for performing a predetermined process on a sheet, a cover 34 openable and closable relative to the apparatus main body 2, a light emitting unit 51 provided in the apparatus main body 2 and including an emission source 511 for generating light, a control board 512 for controlling the emission source 511 and causing it to generate the light and wiring 513 electrically connected to the control board 512, and a display member 52 provided in the cover 34, arranged to face the emission source 511 and including an incident portion 521 on which the light is incident, an output portion 522 for outputting the light to the outside and a light guide portion 523 for guiding the light from the incident portion 521 to the output portion 522.
US08777464B2
A rotatable illumination device includes a first casing, a light emitting module, a first fixing member and a second fixing member. The first casing has a first rotating portion and a first protruding portion is formed on the first rotating portion. The light emitting module is disposed in the first casing. A first indentation is formed on the first fixing member and the first protruding portion can pass through the first indentation. A second indentation and a second protruding portion are formed on the second fixing member and the first protruding portion can pass through the second indentation. The first and second fixing members are fixed together, and the first and second protruding portions are coplanar. The first protruding portion cooperates with the second protruding portion to limit rotating angle of the first casing.
US08777463B2
An assembly for use in a solid state directional lamp is disclosed. The assembly includes a multilayer FR4 printed circuit board and a metal heat spreader assembled with the multilayer FR4 printed circuit board. The assembly is configured to mount a plurality of solid state light emitters. The multilayer FR4 printed circuit board defines an aperture and a least a portion of the metal heat spreader is positioned in the aperture of the multilayer FR4 printed circuit board. The portion of the heat spreader positioned in the aperture of the multilayer FR4 printed circuit board is in communication with heat dissipation means.
US08777445B2
A candle cover is disclosed which includes a tubular sheath of light-filtering material with a top end, a bottom end, and an opening at each end. A hem surrounds each opening. The tubular sheath is place over a candle body such that light transmitted through the candle body from the candle light source is filtered by the tubular sheath of light-filtering material to create a decorative pattern. The light-filtering material can filter light in many different ways, including by modifying the percent of light transmitted through the material, by modifying the percent of light reflected by the material, by modifying the color of light reflected or transmitted by the material, or by light refraction or light diffraction. A method of decorating a candle is disclosed which includes the steps involved in forming a tubular sheath of light-filtering material with a hemmed opening at each end, and inserting a candle into the tubular sheath such that the tubular sheath filters light transmitted through the candle body and the tubular sheath in a decorative pattern.
US08777444B2
A streetlight having a hollow pole is provided with a lower hand-access opening closed by a hatch. The hollow pole has an internal surface and an external surface, its external surface being lined by external photovoltaic cells in an upper section thereof, and a lamp that is positioned inside the hollow pole. The upper end of the hollow pole is open and the lamp is mounted on positioning means so that the lamp can be moved, inside the hollow pole, from the lower hand-access opening until near the upper end of the hollow pole on which a tiltable screen is mounted having a side facing upward and a side facing downward, the latter being lined by a reflecting panel, the internal surface of the hollow pole being covered by internal photovoltaic cells.
US08777442B2
The present invention includes an illuminated winter sports board having a deck equipped with a plurality of light emitting devices, such as LEDs, which are mounted to the deck in a distinct ornamental pattern. The LEDs are in electrical connection with an energy source, such as a rechargeable battery in a removable battery pack. In a preferred embodiment, the rechargeable battery is mounted into the deck in a removable pack which can be charged without removing it from the deck. A microcontroller may be incorporated which provides for the selective illumination of the light emitting devices, and which may pulse, flicker, or create other aesthetically pleasing illumination patterns.
US08777433B2
A keypad lighting device includes: a keypad member formed by an arrangement of plural key tops; at least one light emitting device arranged below the key pad member; and a light guide plate member arranged below the keypad member to light the key tops with light projected from the light emitting device. The light guide plate member is formed with at least one light-incident surface, to which the light projected from the light emitting device is incident. The light-incident surface is formed by a curved surface or plural inclined surfaces, and at least one of the normal lines of the light-incident surface is arranged to pass through the light emitting surface of the light emitting device.
US08777415B2
Multifocal contact lenses and methods and uses are described. The multifocal contact lenses include an optic zone. The optic zone has an aspheric power profile that provides a near vision refractive power and a distance vision refractive power, and provides an Add power that corresponds to the difference between the near vision refractive power and the distance vision refractive power. The multifocal contact lenses can improve binocular vision of presbyopic subjects by being prescribed such that the non-dominant eye contact lens is over-corrected for distance vision, and both multifocal contact lenses are under-corrected for the Add power requirement of the subject. Batches and sets of multifocal contact lenses are also described.
US08777414B2
A method of determining an ophthalmic prescription (Rx) for a patient's eye, includes obtaining a wavefront measurement of the patient's eye; determining a first Rx for the patient's eye from the wavefront measurement, the first Rx corresponding to a maximum value of a merit function calculated from the wavefront measurement of the patient's eye for a first size of the pupil of the patient's eye; determining one or more additional Rx's of the patient's eye for one or more additional pupil sizes different from the first pupil size, wherein each additional Rx is determined for a corresponding size by calculating a value of the merit function for the previously-calculated Rx at the corresponding size and searching for an Rx at the corresponding size that provides a larger value of the merit function than the previously-calculated Rx at the corresponding size; determining a final Rx based on the first Rx and the additional Rx's; and outputting the final Rx.
US08777412B2
Some embodiments of the present inventive concept provide optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems for integration with a microscope. The OCT system includes a sample arm coupled to the imaging path of a microscope. The sample arm includes an input beam zoom assembly including at least two movable lenses configured to provide shape control for an OCT signal beam; a scan assembly including at least one scanning mirror and configured for telecentric scanning of the OCT signal beam; and a beam expander configured to set the OCT signal beam diameter incident on the microscope objective. The shape control includes separable controls for numerical aperture and focal position of the imaged OCT beam.
US08777408B2
Adjustable focus eyeglasses where the range of adjustment can be moved. That is, if a pair of adjustable focus eyeglasses have a range of 0 diopters to 2.75 diopters (to provide a 2.75 D ADD for reading for an emmetrope), this invention could, for example, permit the user to move the range from 0 D to 2.75 D to 2.00 D to 4.75 D so as to accommodate a short term change in the user's distance vision requirement. Each eye can be adjusted independently.
US08777407B2
A progressive-power lens includes an eyeball-side surface including a distance portion and a near portion having different values of dioptric power. An intermediate portion connects the distance portion and the near portion to each other. An object-side surface of the progressive-power lens includes a first region extending along a principal meridian and having a spherical shape having first curvature, a second region facing the distance portion and having a spherical shape having second curvature equal to the first curvature, and a third region located outside the first region and below the second region and having third curvature greater than the first curvature.
US08777395B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a carriage that has a head ejecting liquid cured by receiving the irradiation of light and moves in a movement direction intersecting a transportation direction of a medium; a first irradiation section; a second irradiation section; and a controller that forms the image on the medium through performing an ejection operation ejecting the liquid from the head while moving the carriage in the movement direction and a transportation operation that transports the medium in the transportation direction, and performs control of the irradiation intensity of the light of the first irradiation section at the time of the ejection operation to regulate the surface condition of the image and to change the irradiation intensity of the light of the second irradiation section according to the irradiation intensity of the light of the first irradiation section.
US08777391B2
Provided is an image forming method for forming an image on fabric including a treatment step of applying a treatment agent on fabric, an image printing step of printing an image on a treatment agent-applied area with an ink, and a heat-fixing step of heat-fixing the ink on the fabric. The treatment agent used in the treatment step includes at least one of the following component A and the following component B:Component A: a diallyldimethylammonium chloride-sulfur dioxide copolymerComponent B: a mixture of an allylamine-diallylamine copolymer and sodium chloride.
US08777384B2
This disclosure discloses an ink cartridge comprises a housing; a reservoir portion disposed so that an end portion on one side in a thickness direction contacts the housing; a detection plate that is supported with respect to the housing at a lower end portion, comes in contact with the other side of the reservoir portion in the thickness direction, and rotates in accordance with an ink volume, thereby executing a display in accordance with the ink volume by that rotational position; and a collapse prevention rib that creates a predetermined gap between an end portion on one side in the thickness direction and a left wall portion of the housing, extends above the detection plate, and causes the upper portion of the reservoir portion to be inserted through the gap, thereby suppressing the displacement of the reservoir portion to the other side in the thickness direction.
US08777382B2
Disclosed is an inkjet head that includes individual liquid chambers having liquid droplet discharging holes; an oscillation plate; piezoelectric elements formed by laminating a lower electrode, a piezoelectric material, and upper electrodes on the oscillation plate, wherein the lower electrode is a common electrode and the upper electrode is an individual electrode; a common electrode wiring connected to the lower electrode; and individual electrode wirings connected to the corresponding upper electrodes of the piezoelectric elements, wherein driving signals are individually input to the corresponding individual electrode wirings. The inkjet head further includes an upper layer insulator film; an intermediate layer insulator film; and a lower layer insulator film. The intermediate layer insulator film and the upper layer insulator film have openings for exposing the piezoelectric elements.
US08777376B2
A micro-fluid ejection head has multiple ejection chips joined adjacently to create a lengthy array across a media to-be-imaged. The chips have fluid firing elements arranged along skewed fluid vias to enable seamless stitching of fluid ejections. The firing elements are energized to eject fluid and ones are spaced according to colors or fluid types. Overlapping firing elements serve redundancy efforts during imaging for reliable print quality. Variable chips sizes and shapes are disclosed as are relationships between differently colored fluid vias. Skew angles range variously each with noted advantages. Singulating chips from larger wafers provide still further embodiments.
US08777369B2
The inkjet textile printing method includes: printing onto a first fabric with a first textile printing colored liquid using a step for ejecting a first penetrant liquid from a first nozzle onto a first surface of the first fabric and a step for ejecting the first textile printing colored liquid from a second nozzle onto the first surface; printing onto a second fabric with a second textile printing colored liquid using a step for ejecting a second penetrant liquid from the first nozzle onto a first surface of the second fabric and a step for ejecting the second textile printing colored liquid from the second nozzle onto the first surface; and discharging at least one of the first penetrant liquid and the second penetrant liquid from the second nozzle between printing with the first textile printing colored liquid and printing with the second textile printing colored liquid.
US08777367B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head which includes an ejection surface having a plurality of ejection ports which eject ink, a wiping unit which includes a wiping member which wipes the ejection surface and a reeling unit which reels the wiping member, a remaining amount obtaining unit which obtains a remaining amount of the wiping member, and a use amount estimation unit which estimates a use amount of the wiping member in accordance with recording data. The inkjet recording apparatus controls a wiping operation performed by the wiping unit in accordance with the remaining amount and the estimated use amount.
US08777361B2
An apparatus includes: a first lookup table storage device which stores a first lookup table; a second lookup table storage device which stores a second lookup table; a halftone table storage device which stores a halftone table; a third lookup table generating device which generates a third lookup table by extracting a portion of the data from the second lookup table; a third lookup table storage device which stores the third lookup table; an evaluation processing device which performs calculation for evaluating a liquid ejection volume, on the basis of the evaluation input signal, the first lookup table, the third lookup table, the halftone table and the liquid volume per dot; and an adjusting device which adjusts the ejection volume on the basis of the evaluation results, in such a manner that the liquid ejection volume does not exceed a specified value.
US08777360B2
One of the two flow passages branches from one of two ink cartridges to one of the two discharging portions and one of the two individual discharging portions. The other flow passage branches from the other ink cartridge to the other discharging portion and the other individual discharging portion. A ratio of frequency of use of each of the discharging portions, Ra, and frequency of use of each of the individual discharging portions, Rb, satisfies Ra:Rb=1:1/2.
US08777351B2
An ink jet printing apparatus, for each level, employs a plurality of density patterns to prevent cancellation of a granularity reduction effect that has been provided by an increase in resolution. Specifically, when determining an arrangement of dot-on areas in the density pattern, the dot-on areas is not located in the areas of a first row of the each of the plurality of density patterns. Thereby, whitish areas appear with the same cycle as a use cycle of the density patterns in a longitudinal direction and thus the whitish areas is not unevenly located. As a result, granularity is prevented from increasing.
US08777349B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head and a driving waveform generator. The recording head has a nozzle, a liquid chamber, and a pressure generator. The driving waveform generator is connected to the pressure generator to generate and output a driving waveform including a plurality of driving pulses per driving cycle to eject a droplet from the nozzle. A last one of the driving pulses includes a first expansion waveform element, a first retaining waveform element, a first contraction waveform element, a second retaining waveform element, a second contraction waveform element, a third retaining waveform element, and a second expansion waveform element. The first contraction waveform element has a potential difference greater than a potential difference of the first expansion waveform element. The second contraction waveform element has a time period longer than a time period of the first contraction waveform element.
US08777341B2
Sliding shelves (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b) are provided for refrigerators and freezers, which have a movement along side support guides (1) that enable the retracting, fitting and bounce of the shelves, allowing the choice of different configurations for the inner space of the household appliance, according to the area to be used to store food. This configuration enables different arrangement of shelves, including: extended shelves, retracted shelves, vertically bounced shelves, or even, in an associated form, an extended shelf and another bounced one.
US08777333B2
A brake force generator for a motor vehicle brake system, comprises a displaceable force input element connected or connectable to a brake pedal, a control valve actuable in accordance with a displacement of the force input element, a chamber arrangement disposed in a booster housing and controllable by the control valve and comprises at least one vacuum chamber and at least one working chamber, which are separated from one another by at least one movable wall connected to the control valve, and a force output element for supplying a brake force to a downstream brake system, wherein the control valve with the force output element is biased by a resetting spring into a normal position, wherein the resetting spring is supported by its one end against the control valve. In this brake force generator, for improving the assembly properties it is provided that a support ring is provided, against which the resetting spring is supported by its other end, wherein the support ring may be brought into supportive interaction with the booster housing.
US08777329B2
A wheel carrier for a motor vehicle in which the wheel carrier is typically manufactured from aluminum. The wheel carrier comprises a recess (1) for receiving an outer ring (2) of a wheel bearing (3). An inner ring (4) of the wheel bearing (3) is fixed in a hub (15) of a wheel flange (12) of a vehicle axle. An axial end of the outer ring (2) of the wheel bearing (3) abuts against a shoulder of the wheel carrier (6), and a rim section (5) of the wheel carrier (6) is at least partially deformed to abut an opposite axial end of the outer ring (2) of the wheel bearing (3).
US08777327B1
A locking wheel nut cover system for controlling access to wheel nuts used to affix a wheel to a vehicle has a wheel with a wheel rim annular channel. The system has a wheel nut located on an axle stud for securing the wheel to the vehicle. The system has a generally planar round hub cover with a hub cover aperture for positioning in front of a wheel central hub to cover the wheel nuts. The system has a plurality of generally planar elongated locking arms, each having an elongated slot, and a locking arm second end for engaging the wheel rim annular channel. The system has a generally cylindrical keyed lock for engaging the locking arms and the hub cover to secure the system into place for wheel theft protection.
US08777323B2
Various embodiments of restraint harnesses for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, for example, a restraint harness can include a first shoulder web, a second shoulder web, and a torso web. A first end portion of the torso web can include a buckle that is configured to engage a connector at a second, opposite end portion of the torso web. The restraint harness can further include first and second portions of a stiffening material attached to first and second portions of the first and second shoulder webs, respectively. The stiffening material can form the first and second shoulder webs into preformed openings with inverted U-like shapes.
US08777321B2
A stretching structure in which upholstery material can be installed in a frame body, enough deflection allowance of the upholstery material can be ensured. Upholstery material (14) is installed on the surface of a frame body (13) in a closed-loop shape, and is used as the seat or the backrest of a chair. A cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each of the sections of the frame body (13) is provided with an upholstery material receiving section (21) having an engaging groove (20) which is open to the back surface side, and a U-shape section (23) having a recessed groove (22) which is open to the surface side inward more than the engaging groove (20). The upholstery material (14) is wound from the surface of the frame body (13) to the back surface side along the outer peripheral surface, and the edge section is fitted in the engaging groove (20) and tied up, thereby installing the upholstery material (14) in such a manner as to cover the surface of the U-shape section (23).
US08777320B2
The present invention is drawn to a ventilation system for a “climate object”, in particular all components with which the user of a vehicle may come in contact in a passenger compartment such as, for example, a steering mechanism for a vehicle, a dashboard, an armrest, a door paneling, a seat cover, a heating blanket, a padding, a cover or a seat, all which include at least one air flow device to guide air through the climate object.
US08777306B2
A foldable chair, operable between a seating configuration and a rolling transport configuration, the foldable chair comprising a plurality of legs with a roller secured to the distal end of each leg and the proximal end of each leg secured to a column base. Extending from the column base is a column with a first and second end, the column first end secured to the column base and the second end of the column secured to a first platform or seat cushion. A second platform extends downwardly from the first platform for attaching a carrying case. Also included is a backrest rotatably secured to the first platform such that when the backrest is perpendicular to the first platform two roller elements are fully shrouded. When the backrest is rotated 90 degrees and disposed substantially parallel to the seat cushion the roller elements are exposed for rolling contact with the ground surface.
US08777294B2
A device for container cover support with spat, spar shaft, and spar shaft rotation lock. Rotation of the spar shaft along a non-vertical axis located along the outer surface of the container sidewall causes the spar to rotate upward and alternatively to uncover the container.
US08777293B2
A tonneau cover frame for a pickup truck bed includes a cross-car rail bracket with a predetermined gap for receiving a cross-car bow in a plurality of configurations. The cross-car bow is movable laterally within the cross-car rail bracket to allow for a single cross-car bow in a variety of locations within the tonneau cover frame.
US08777292B1
A rear roof visor is provided as an apparatus that is designed to prevent sunlight from obscuring a driver's vision through a vehicle's rear window. The rear roof visor accomplishes this by preventing sunlight from being reflected off of a surface positioned underneath the visor. The rear roof visor is constructed utilizing a durable translucent material that allows the driver to see through the visor if needed. The visor is particularly formed and shaped in order to cooperatively function with the vehicle's aerodynamic characteristic reducing disruptive airflow. The rear roof visor attaches to the vehicle through the use of mounting brackets and a mounting lip. The mounting brackets and the mounting lip are specially formed in order to fit a vehicle's particular contours. Additionally the mounting brackets and the mounting lip utilize adhesive couplers in order to securely retain the visor to said vehicle.
US08777291B2
A wind screen adapted for use with a motorcycle fairing. The windscreen may be adapted to be removed from the fairing. The windscreen may have a physical configuration adapted to reduce wind on a rider sitting in a more upright position, and to minimize flutter of the windscreen. The windscreen may be adapted to mount in a plurality of configurations.
US08777290B1
A vehicle dashboard instrument assembly includes a gauge faceplate having front and rear faces and a gauge-receiving opening extending through the gauge faceplate from the front face to the rear face, a gauge, a bracket, and a collar. The collar is applied directly against the front face of the gauge faceplate to encircle the gauge-receiving opening, a front end of the gauge is applied to the gauge-receiving opening to locate an outer rim of the gauge directly against the collar, and locate a measurement display of the gauge for viewing near the gauge-receiving opening. The gauge extends rearwardly from the rear face of the gauge faceplate to the rear end of the gauge, and the bracket is coupled between the gauge and the rear face of the gauge faceplate to clamp the collar between the outer rim of the gauge and the front face of the gauge faceplate.
US08777288B2
Disclosed is a roof rack for carrying cargo items with a pickup truck. The device comprises a load bar for supporting cargo items, a pair of telescoping uprights attached to the load bar, and a pair of mounts attached at a first end to the telescoping uprights, and to the side rails of the pickup truck at a second end. The load bar, telescoping uprights, and mounts are movable from an extended position to a folded position. This allows the uprights to be extended for use when carrying cargo items, and folded down for storage. The rack permits a user to transport large items with a pickup truck without requiring use of the pickup bed.
US08777286B2
The present invention provides an unpacking device for glass substrate and which includes a bracket and a plurality of sucking heads mounted thereon. A plurality of altitude sensors is incorporated to trigger an alarm if the altitude sensors are not synchronized during the pickup operation.
US08777284B2
A gripper system which utilizes two different suction systems is disclosed. This gripper system utilizes one suction system to pick up an item, while using the second suction system to hold the item. In some embodiments, a Venturi device based suction system is used as the first suction system to pick up the item, as this type of system is proficient at picking up items without requiring initial contact to create a seal. In some embodiments, a vacuum based system is used as the second suction system, as this type of system is able to hold items cost effectively.
US08777282B1
An anti-ligative ergonomic type door-knob primarily of the institutional type, essentially serving to defeat the effort of a temporarily mentally-depressed room occupant from succeeding in committing self-hanging via contrived ensnaring by which to secure a cord like hanging-noose. Generic-variant embodiments of my anti-ligative doorknob are set forth, including both a circular and semi-circular escutcheon-plate for I-shaped V-shaped Y-shaped X-shaped fin-levers, and also a non-finned hemispherical iteration. The novel critical minimum approximate 40-degree anti-ligative principle of my LIFESTAR™ doorknobs reliably prevents a person ensnaring any heretofore problematically hazardous to portion of the door-knob assembly, while my optionally cooperating door latchbolt is formed to a matching critical minimum approximate 40-degree anti-ligative tri-beveled latchbolt as well. Further suicide-deterrence is achieved by effectively submerging the doorknob into the door escutcheon-plate, thereby leaving virtually no declivity by which a suicidal-person can secure any manner of self-inflicted hanging-cord.
US08777275B2
A connection device including a tubular male termination, a connecting means adapted to be mounted around and accommodated in a groove of the female termination, and a locking member for locking these means in the female termination to be mounted around the male termination to reversibly move these means into a locking position in the groove. The device includes means for immobilizing and releasing the locking member that are rigidly fastened to the male termination, these means being adapted to prevent the connecting means from being moved to the locking position unless the male termination occupies a predetermined insertion position in the female termination and, only if the male termination has reached that position, to release the locking member, while allowing its movement toward the female termination so that a thrust on this member moves the connecting means into the locking position.
US08777272B2
In one embodiment, a vacuum attachment for reaching smaller spaces has a gasket and narrow tubing. The gasket includes i. a cap member sized to fit over an open end of a vacuum hose, the cap member having an inner surface and a central hole to accommodate a narrow tube; ii. inner wall members extending from the central hole of the cap and gripping the narrow tube; and iii. outer wall members extending from the cap member perimeter to a distal edge and accommodating the vacuum hose, the wall members having an internal surface with ribs that extend from the distal edge of the wall members to and on the inner surface of the cap. The at least one narrow, bendable tube is fashioned to fit into the central hole of the cap member and has sufficiently thick walls to avoid collapse when a vacuum is applied thereto.
US08777265B2
A steering device for a motor vehicle has a steering wheel which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to a steering shaft which is continuously hollow and through which at least an electrical conductor is led in order to make electrical connection with steering-wheel-side equipment. The conductor, in particular flexible conductor tracks, highly flexible cables, and/or flat conductor ribbons, is guided in an axial direction through the entire steering shaft, and emerges therefrom at the two ends of the steering shaft, and is surrounded essentially by a protective device. The protective device has two protective tubes which can be changed in length in the axial direction, in particular by moving them in and out in a telescopic fashion.
US08777259B2
A gas generator includes a cylindrical ignition device chamber, a cylindrical pressurized gas chamber, a closing member having a fragile portion, a multifunctional member inside the ignition device chamber, and having a base plate portion with a first through-hole and a cylindrical wall portion with a second through-hole, an opening portion of the cylindrical wall portion abutting against the fragile portion, first and second plenum chambers, a discharge port in the ignition device chamber housing facing the second plenum chamber, and the multifunctional member movable in the axial direction to rupture the closing member. Gas passing through the first through-hole, the first plenum chamber, the second through-hole and the second plenum chamber is discharged from the gas discharge port. Gas inside the pressurized gas chamber housing entering the first plenum chamber, passes through the second through-hole and the second plenum chamber and is discharged from the gas discharge port.
US08777248B2
A motor-vehicle suspension system comprises, for each wheel, at least one transverse control arm having an outermost end articulated to a respective wheel support and an innermost end articulated to the frame of the motor vehicle. A transverse leaf spring is set centrally between the two transverse arms, and has its ends connected to the innermost ends of the transverse arms. The connection of each transverse arm to the leaf spring is such as to enable oscillations of the transverse arm in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the leaf spring and minor relative sliding between the connected ends of the arm and the leaf spring in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring.
US08777246B2
A compressed air supply assembly for operating a pneumatic assembly includes a compressed air supply; a compressed air connection to the pneumatic assembly; a purge connection to the environment; a pneumatic main line between the compressed air supply and the compressed air connection comprising an air dryer; a purge line between the compressed air connection and the purge connection; and a solenoid valve arrangement with a control valve to control a purge valve. The control valve is connected to a control valve connection in a pneumatic control line connected to a pressure control connection of the purge valve; and the purge valve is connected to a purge valve connection in the purge line. A pressure-maintaining device is connected to the pneumatic control line and maintains control pressure at the pressure control connection when the purge valve connection is open, independently of pressure in the purge line and/or the main line.
US08777244B2
A single-pivot suspension strut axle for a passenger car, includes a wheel carrier/pivot bearing carrying the wheel and a brake disk non-rotatably connected with the wheel relative to a rotational axis thereof. A suspension strut is fastened to the wheel carrier/pivot bearing and, at another end, is supported at the vehicle body. The wheel carrier/pivot bearing is guided by a supporting joint situated close to the wheel center plane by a lower control arm, representing an A-arm, and by a tie rod. A section of the control arm connected with the supporting joint projects through the ring-shaped brake disk. A leaf spring element oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle provides proportional support for the vehicle body on the wheel, and is supported, on one side, at the control arm and, on another side, directly or indirectly, at the vehicle body.
US08777242B1
A linkage mechanism for double-wheel combination of vehicle mainly includes a main frame, connecting rod, and two sway rods. With the simple assembly, the two sway rods are pivoted to the main frame and the connecting rod respectively so as to sway identically and simultaneously for better vehicle stability and mobility.
US08777239B2
A deck assembly for a scooter comprises a deck and at least one grind stripe. The deck has a front end, a rear end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the deck defines at least one longitudinal mating recess. The grind stripe has a mating protrusion, a substantially flat mating surface, and a grinding surface. The grind stripe is slidably attachable to the deck such that the mating protrusion is disposed in the longitudinal mating recess and the mating surface of the grind stripe mates with the bottom surface of the deck. A scooter deck assembly comprises a deck and an angled front plug. The deck has a front end, a rear end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The angled front plug is attached to the front end of the deck such that the front plug extends substantially beyond the front end of the deck.
US08777237B2
A creeper assembly is provided that includes a frame assembly supported on a plurality of wheels for movement along a support surface. The frame assembly includes a seat and a backrest that extends from the seat. The frame assembly is adjustable between a lowered lying position, wherein the seat and the backrest are in a horizontal position at a first height above the support surface, and a raised seated position, wherein the seat is in a horizontal position at a second height above the support surface and the backrest is inclined in an upright position relative to the seat. An actuator is provided on the frame assembly that is operable for adjusting the frame assembly between the lowered lying position and the raised seated position.
US08777231B2
A chuck for use with a driver having a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck including a body having a nose section and a tail section, the tail section being configured to rotate with the drive shaft and the nose section having an axial bore. A plurality of jaws is movably disposed with respect to the body and in communication with the axial bore. A first sleeve is rotatably mounted to the body in operative communication with the jaws so that rotation of the sleeve moves the jaws either toward a longitudinal center axis of the axial bore or away from the longitudinal center axis. A second sleeve is rotatably mounted to the body and is movable between a first position in which the second sleeve is rotatably fixed to the body and a second position in which the second sleeve is rotatable about the body. The second sleeve moves in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the axial bore when moving between the first position and the second position.
US08777230B2
A tool securing device capable of clamping a tool to a machine spindle as well as assisting in the removal of a tool from a machine spindle, all in a tool-less manner. The tool securing device includes distal means to be releasably gripped by a machine draw bar as well as means to releasably engage a tool.
US08777227B2
Systems and methods of organizing and conducting games are set forth herein. One method of organizing and conducting a game comprises steps of arranging a plurality of contestants within a predefined adventurous area, and providing a plurality of items, each item having a distinct identifying characteristic. An ultralight with a programmable ejection system launches the plurality of items into the adventurous area through the air according to a predetermined routine. The contestants are allowed to search for and collect the items launched by the ultralight within the adventurous area before the game ends. Means are provided for correlating the identifying characteristic of each item to a prize, and each contestant is allowed to retain the prize correlating to the identifying characteristic of the item that was collected by the contestant.
US08777221B2
The printing products (24) are supplied to the discharge station (16) by receiving elements (32) of the processing device (12). The discharge station has on the one hand a removal conveyor (18) and on the other hand a clamp transporter (20) arranged downstream with respect to the removal conveyor in the direction of circulation (U) of the receiving elements (32). The gripper tongs (22) of the removal conveyor (18) grip the printing products (24) at the side rim (26) and discharge the printing products from the receiving elements (32). The respectively trailing wall (36) of each receiving element (32) is provided with a guide element (50) which respectively supports the printing product (24) in question and introduces the printing product into an opened clamp (28) of the clamp transporter (20). The clamps (28) grasp the printing products (24) at the edge (30) with which the printing products (24) previously rested against the floor (42) of the receiving elements (32).
US08777219B2
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a control unit which controls the operation of a registration roller shift motor so as to perform positional deviation correction based on the detection result of a contact image sensor (CIS) configured to detect positional deviation in the width direction of a sheet. When the amount by which the registration roller shift motor moves the registration roller in the width direction exceeds an upper limit value, the control unit limits the movement amount by which the registration roller shift motor moves the registration roller in the width direction.
US08777214B2
A sheet feeder includes a feed roller for feeding a sheet and a lifting plate for lifting the sheet to be fed to a feeding height of the feed roller. This sheet feeder further includes a wire for raising the lifting plate and a winding member formed with a winding configuration section for winding the wire. This winding configuration section is provided with a high-position winding section for a high-position side in a lifting height of the lifting plate and a low-position winding section for a low-position side. The high-position winding section is larger in winding radius than the low-position winding section. Accordingly, a sheet feeder having a simple structure capable of rapidly moving down the lifting plate and preventing impact of the lifting plate and an image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet feeder can be provided.
US08777208B2
An image forming apparatus includes a feeding delay control unit to control a delay in feeding image formation media to a conveying unit and a counting unit to count a number of image formation media discharged to a discharge tray. When a count value of the counting unit reaches a threshold, the feeding delay control unit causes a feeding unit to switch a feeding mode from a small spacing mode, in which a next image formation medium is fed while a previously-fed image formation medium is on a conveying path, to a large spacing mode, in which an image formation medium is fed after a previously-fed image formation medium is discharged from the conveying path. When a number of image formation media on which images have been formed is smaller than a upper limit, the feeding mode is returned from the large spacing mode to the small spacing mode.
US08777207B2
This invention relates to a printing apparatus and control method thereof. The standard size of an envelope to be stored in each of a plurality of paper storage units configured to store an envelope to be used in printing is set. An offset amount to be used to print an image on an envelope of the set standard size is set. A paper storage unit which stores an envelope to be used in printing is selected from the plurality of paper storage units based on a standard size of an envelope that is designated by a user. The position of an image is shifted in accordance with the set offset amount, and the image is printed on an envelope fed from the selected paper storage unit.
US08777204B2
A cutting support including a first section and a second section. The first section has a top side with at least two recesses extending into the first section from the top side. A first one of the recesses has a first shape. A second one of the recesses has a different second shape. The first shape comprises a generally semi-circular section. The second shape comprises at least one generally right-angle corner. The second section is connected to the first section for connecting the cutting support to another member.
US08777203B2
A rotation jig device may include both side housings that are disposed at both sides, a reverse gear that is disposed inside both side housings, a groove portion, front and rear side connection gears that are engaged with the reverse gear in both side housings, front and rear side pinion gears that are disposed at the front/rear side connection gear to be rotated, a rack gear that penetrates both side housings to be engaged with the front and rear side pinion gears, an advanced/retreat cylinder that is connected to each rack gear of both side housings to move each rack gear backward or forward, and a clamping portion that is disposed at the reverse gear and rotates with the reverse gear to clamp the workpiece.
US08777200B2
A clamping device has a toggle lever mechanism (2) with a linearly movable actuator (1) and a pivot shaft (23) with a tensioning arm (21). A mechanism to unlock an over-center position is coupled with the toggle lever mechanism. The mechanism includes a control element (3) that is arranged on the actuator (1) and a rocker (4). The rocker (4) can be brought into adjusting contact with the control element (3). The control element (3) is in the form of a control extension in a direction facing away from the pivot shaft. The actuator (1) is arranged between the pivot shaft (23) and the rocker (4).
US08777196B2
A bush bearing wherein the spring excursion of the elastomer bearing body is limited in the radial and/or axial direction by at least one limit stop. At least one radially inwardly projecting bead operating as a radial and/or axial limit stop is formed in the outer sleeve in a region of at least one of the axial ends of the bearing ends. The radially inward apex of the bead forms a radial limit stop and/or the axially outer sidewall of the bead forms a bead or shoulder with an outer surface that is covered with the elastomer and represents an axial limit stop.
US08777192B2
A hydromount absorbs and alleviates vibration of driving components such as an engine, a power train, a transmission, and the like of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a three point supporting hydromount in which inner pipes are disposed in a horizontal direction of a vehicle frame.
US08777187B2
A domestic humidifier (10) is disclosed as including a water tank (34) for containing water, a basin (30) in a liquid communicable relationship with the tank (34), an adsorption medium (28) for breaking down water delivered to the adsorption medium (28) into water droplets floatable in air, a pump (22) for delivering water from the basin (30) to the adsorption medium (28), in which the tank (34) includes a water inlet (36) and a cover (38), and the cover (38) is movable to selectively close or open said water inlet (36).
US08777179B2
A drive mechanism for the movement of an object along an axis of motion comprises two clamping elements and a drive element disposed between the two clamping elements which enables a relative movement of the two clamping elements along the axis of motion. Each clamping element comprises a base body and two clamping jaws, wherein a piezo-actuator is disposed between the base body and at least one of the two clamping jaws, which can produce a clamping force acting on the object which is directed transversely to the axis of motion. The base bodies of the two clamping elements are connected by at least two expansible elements. The drive element comprises a further piezo-actuator, which enables the relative displacement of the two clamping elements along the axis of motion. The drive mechanism is suitable for application in a micro-valve.
US08777168B2
A support apparatus has a base having at least one portion positioned to rest on a solid surface, at least one vertical support extending upwards from the base, the vertical support having a lower fixed portion and an upper adjustable portion, at least one horizontal support extending outwards from the vertical support, the horizontal support positioned to be insertable into a protective garment while being worn by a user.
US08777152B2
A method of piloting an aircraft (1) provided with at least one rotary wing (2) and a tail rotor (10) suitable for swiveling to pass reversibly from an anti-torque mode of operation to a propulsion mode of operation, said tail rotor (10) having a plurality of second blades (12) having a second variable pitch and rotating about an axis of rotation (AX), said axis of rotation presenting a first variable salient angle (θ) relative to a first plane (P1). Thus, in the anti-torque mode of operation, said second pitch is controlled using first control means (31). Furthermore, in the propulsion mode of operation, said first salient angle (θ) is controlled using first control means (31) and said second pitch is controlled using second control means (32) for controlling thrust.
US08777148B2
The invention relates to a cord winder (1) for a window-covering device, said cord winder including: a drum (7) for winding a cord (40), said drum being rotatable around a first rotationally symmetrical axis (A-A′); and a means (12, 13b) for guiding the cord to the winding drum, the winding drum being rotatably mounted in a holder (2). Said cord winder is characterized in that it includes a rotatable roller (14) that is mounted onto the holder along a second rotationally symmetrical axis (B-B′). Said cord winder is moreover characterized in that it includes a friction area (23) wherein at least one coil of the cord, wound onto the winding drum, is in contact with the rotatable drum.
US08777145B2
A front end of a frame of a jaw crusher comprises a curved front wall for receiving crushing force. The front end comprises an inner rib structure formed to the curved front wall. A jaw crusher and a crushing plant.
US08777144B2
The installation comprises a defibration sheath with an inlet for wood chips, an outlet for fibers, and two parallel rotative screws. The screws mesh with each other via their respective threads, which have at least an upstream and a downstream series of segments, with a drive upstream zone having forward threads, and a braking downstream zone having reverse threads with notches that are smaller in the braking downstream zone of the downstream series than in the braking downstream zone of the upstream series. The number of notches per thread in each braking zone is 2 to 6, and the section-to-output ratio RSO of the sum of the sections of the notches of a thread of the braking downstream zone of the downstream series to the fiber output rate is 60 mm2/m3h−1 to 80 mm2/m3h−1.
US08777139B2
A pulverizer including a solid-gas mixer to mix a compressed gas and particles of a raw material to be pulverized to prepare a solid-gas mixture; a particle path controlling nozzle connected with the solid-gas mixer to feed the solid-gas mixture fed from the solid-gas mixer while accelerating the solid-gas mixture and controlling the particles of the raw material so as to choose different flow paths based on particle diameters of the particles of the raw material; a collision member; and an accelerating tube connected with the particle path controlling nozzle to further accelerate the solid-gas mixture fed from the particle path controlling nozzle while maintaining the flow paths of the particles and ejecting the accelerated solid-gas mixture toward the collision member to pulverize the raw material.
US08777135B2
A cooling arrangement adapted to be used in a process of preparing a fine powder, and a method for using same are described. The cooling arrangement (100) comprises: a solid particles feed ingress means, a solid particles mixing means (140), a plurality of cooling air discharging devices (130) and a solid particles egress means. The cooling arrangement is characterized in that the averaged diameter of the solid particles fed the said solid particles ingress means is essentially less than 6 mm. Preferably, the solid particles are fed to the cooling arrangement and free fall (120) onto the bottom section thereof.
US08777127B2
A scent sampler and air freshener has a wafer of an absorbent resilient material infused with a liquid containing a scent. The wafer is encapsulated in a chamber formed between two panels of sheet material with edges sealed together to form an envelope. An opening in one of the panels enables scent from the liquid to be emitted to the ambient atmosphere. The rate of emission can be increased by squeezing the panels to compress the wafer. The interior surfaces of the panels can be coated with a barrier film to prevent leakage of the liquid from contaminating the sheet material.
US08777125B2
An operator interface assembly is provided that includes a frame having a first end configured to rotatably couple to a first lateral frame tube of an agricultural vehicle, and a second end configured to transition between a raised position adjacent to a second lateral frame tube of the agricultural vehicle and a lowered position beneath the second lateral frame tube via rotation of the frame about the first end. The operator interface assembly also includes a fluid inlet coupled to the frame, and configured to provide fluid to the agricultural vehicle. In addition, the operator interface assembly includes a valve coupled to the frame, and configured to control fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the agricultural vehicle. The fluid inlet and the valve are positioned adjacent to the second end of the frame, and directed laterally outward with respect to the agricultural vehicle.
US08777122B2
A system for fixing a rail onto a foundation and a support plate intended for such a system. The system comprises a guide plate, a spring element which can be clamped against the foundation by means of a clamping element, sits on the guide plate and in the final mounted system with its free spring arm exerts a retaining force on a rail foot of the rail, and a support plate which is arranged to compensate for height differences between the guide plate and the foundation concerned. The system proposes dividing the support into two parts along a joint line which runs, starting from the one long side of the support plate aligned transverse to the rail to be fixed, at a distance from the one short side to the passage opening and from there intersecting the passage opening in the direction of the short side of the support plate.
US08777119B2
A heated air makeup unit comprising a heating chamber with a modulated furnace one or more non-modulated furnaces air temperature control and efficient furnace operation over a wide heating rate range. The utilization of indirect fired furnaces in the heated air makeup unit is disclosed. A control system is included to provide control of heated air temperature to within +/−1 F.° using continuous control of the heating rate of the modulated furnace and stepwise activation and de-activation of the non-modulated furnaces in response to heating demand. A programmed combustion air flow controller programmed to provide optimal airflow for any gas flow in a flow range of a modulating gas valve is provided to assure combustion efficiencies of at least 83%.
US08777113B2
An integrated circuit film for a smart card, such as a Micro SIM card or a Mini UICC card, is provided. The integrated circuit film includes a flexible print circuit board (FPC) and an integrated circuit chip, and the integrated circuit chip has an ATR (Answer to Reset) signal generating device. When a terminal issues a Reset signal, this Reset signal is sent to the smart card and the ATR signal generating device, respectively via circuits of the FPC, whereby the ATR signal generating device generates ATR signal and send back to the terminal.
US08777101B2
Methods and systems are disclosed of executing a financial transaction that enable enhanced usage monitoring. Funds are received from a buyer for purchase of a single-load stored-value instrument. The single-load stored-value instrument is associated with a predefined value amount. Buyer identification information that identifies the buyer is received. The buyer identification information is stored in association with the stored-value instrument. The stored-value instrument is validated for use in making purchase by drawing from value associated with the stored-value instrument.
US08777097B2
The invention relates to a set (22) of blanks for forming a packaging box, a method and a corresponding box. The set includes two corrugated board blanks, namely: a first blank (2′) including flaps connected to one another by first fold lines (9′), one side of said blank having no folds; and a second blank (12′) including panels (13′, 14′, 15′, 16′) connected to one another by third fold lines (19′), the panels of the second blank being stacked respectively on the part of the first blank having no folds. Two non-adjacent flaps (3′, 5′) of the first blank are glued to two respective facing panels (13′, 15′) of the second blank, thereby preventing the relative movement thereof during folding or during the formation of the box when the blanks are wound around a volume having pre-determined dimensions. At least two-thirds of the third fold lines (19′) of the second blank are substantially aligned in relation to the first fold lines of the first blank, the lower part (23) of one or more of said third lines including a cut or collapsed portion opposite the corresponding first fold line.
US08777091B2
A light emitting member mounting method includes: causing a friction material to contact a substrate including at least an optical waveguide member mounted on a base and to contact a light emitting member that is to be mounted to the substrate and that is equipped with a light emitting component, so as to suppress relative movement between the substrate and the light emitting member using frictional force exerted on the substrate and the light emitting member, and positionally aligning the light emitting member to the substrate by employing light emitted from the light emitting component; and bonding the substrate and the light emitting member together by melting a bonding material interposed between the substrate and the light emitting member.
US08777084B2
A system for performing anastomosis includes a plurality of staples, an annular staple support having structure for holding the staples, and a staple closing device for closing the staples to secure the canal ends together. A method for performing anastomosis and staples for performing anastomosis are also disclosed.
US08777082B2
A surgical stapling device has an elongated body and a removable loading unit and a securing structure for securing the loading unit onto the elongated body. A guiding ramp guides the movement of the loading unit as it is mounted onto the loading portion. The locking structure has a first position for locking movement of the loading unit and enabling firing rod to engage the loading unit. The locking unit has a second position for allowing the loading unit to be disengaged and removed from the device.
US08777065B2
A container for use with a handheld fluid dispenser is provided. The container may include a container body having interconnected walls that define an inside space therebetween and in which liquid contents are held. An opening may extend through the container body and permit access to the liquid contents in the container body. A cap may engage the container body and be aligned with the opening of the container body. The cap may include a rim that defines an outer portion of the cap. A neck may be arranged concentrically within the rim, the neck including a bore that extends longitudinally through the neck and is aligned with the opening of the container body. A recess that has an annular shape may be defined between the rim and the neck of the cap.
US08777064B2
A hand sanitizing apparatus for sanitizing a person's hand while operating a handle of a door opener. The apparatus includes a housing body received about the door opener and limiting access to the handle. A canister of hand sanitizer is received into the housing body, and the canister has a nozzle. The apparatus includes an actuator mounted within the housing body upon an axle for movement from a first position to a second position. The actuator has a hand-contacting portion including a palm-contacting paddle, and the actuator is operably coupled to the nozzle and to the handle. As the actuator is moved from the first to the second position, the handle opens the door as the nozzle dispenses hand sanitizer from the canister.
US08777058B2
A pouch has an upper spout portion which is heat sealed to the opening of the pouch. The upper spout portion has two curved gripping elements and a receiving assembly that projects inside the pouch. The receiving assembly is configured to connect with a bellows pump that seats into the upper spout portion and can be removed by pinching the two curved gripping elements together. This action in turn allows a user to remove the bellows pump easily as desired.
US08777052B2
The present invention relates to container and a closure for mounting on the container, the container of the type comprising a container body having a base and a side wall with a top edge defining a container opening opposite the base. The container further comprises a rim and a locking rib which projects from a free end of the rim, and the closure comprises a top wall and a skirt having a closure flange which projects from a free end of the closure wall for snap engagement under the locking rib when the closure is inserted into the container opening. The present invention ensures that a strong seal is maintained between the closure and the container so that the container can be opened and closed frequently without leakages between the container and the closure.
US08777044B1
A beverage holding device comprising a container and a removably engageable lid. The container includes a partition extending between opposing sides of the sidewall of the container to define a plurality of separated cavities. The partition includes an edge surface forming an interior seal against a lower surface of the lid upon an engagement of the lid with the container for maintaining the plurality of cavities fluidly separated. A plurality of apertures in offset elevated positions above an upper surface of the lid are provided, with each communicating with a respective one of the plurality of cavities. The elevated and offset apertures provide a respective relief area to accommodate a projecting nose of a user during an engagement of the user's mouth with a respective aperture while tipping the container.
US08777038B2
In an air relief valve structure of a pressure cooker, the pressure cooker includes a cooker body and a lid. The lid has a containing trough and an air relief valve. The air relief valve includes a middle column, an airtight column, an elastic element and a gravity valve. The middle column has a containing space and air relief and through holes formed on an outer wall of the middle column and interconnected with the containing space. In the containing space, an airtight column is installed. An end column is defined at an end of the airtight column and is disposed adjacent to an inner wall of the middle column, and the end column has a diameter equal to the diameter of the containing space of the middle column. The air relief hole allows food material to be discharged easily to reduce pressure and enhance the overall safety of the pressure cooker.
US08777035B2
A self-supporting apparatus can be placed in a pre-set opening in an existing wall substrate. A frame assembly is configured with a perimeter that corresponds to the thickness of the wall substrate. The edge of the frame thus can be in fitting contact with the substrate opening. Flanges on opposite sides of the frame extend in the planar direction of the wall substrate to be in contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the substrate to maintain the frame in position in the wall and to strengthen the structure. The frame can include appropriate mounting portions for mounting electrical boxes or low voltage devices within the wall.
US08777027B2
The present application relates to a mobile crane comprising a telescopic boom which has a hinged section and at least one telescopic section which can be telescoped out of it, or to a crawler-mounted crane. In accordance with one embodiment, as a position detection device, it has at least one transducer in the form of an inductively operating transponder, a receiver unit for the sensing of the position of the transducer, a control device for control in dependence on a signal of the receiver unit, as well as a signal transmission device in the form of a databus for the transmission of the signal data from the receiver unit to the control device.
US08777023B2
A hanger for hanging of garlands and the like around a doorway can be removably placed within a doorway, where it is secured by pressure and friction, thereby avoiding any damage to the door or door frame. The hanger includes outward extensions that extend outward of the door frame to permit hanging of garlands and the like on either side of the doorway. The hanger may also include one or more central extensions for supporting the garlands or the like centrally above the doorway so that the garland or the like does not hang downward too much, thus keeping the doorway clear. The hanger can also be a part of the decoration around the doorway. Various configurations of the hanger may fit different widths of door frames, including a wide range of door frame widths, and features of the hanger provide additional flexibility for different door configurations including sidelights.
US08777013B1
A package for pharmaceuticals such as contraceptives has a mold having a plurality of indentations arranged in a predetermined manner. The indentations are arranged in four circular patterns, each pattern being located in one of four quadrants defined by internal perforated boundaries. A lidding cover is adhered to the mold. The lidding cover has printed material that identifies the locations of the indentations and the internal perforated boundaries of the four quadrants.
US08777001B1
A leak-tight/water-proof transformer containment bag includes (i) an outer puncture-resistant liquid-barrier fabric bag with a bottom having an oil-absorbent cushioning mat; (ii) a middle tear-resistant liquid-impervious continuous-sheet bag liner secured inside the outer bag; (iii) an inner puncture-resistant liquid-barrier fabric bag secured inside the liner; the bottom of the inner bag having outer and inner cushioning oil-absorbent mats; the outer bag, middle liner and inner bag being secured together at their open ends; (iv) lifting loops secured on opposite sides at the front and back of the outer bag and extending above the top of the outer bag to enable grabbing and lifting the lifting loops from above; (v) reinforcing bands secured around the outer bag and lifting loops; and (vi) a duffel top secured openly over the open top of the bags; the duffel top having a closure for closing the duffel top and closing off the top of the bags.
US08776986B2
A singulator for use with fruit handling equipment including spaced fruit supports driven at a particular speed, the singulator causing the fruit to assume single file for transfer to the fruit supports, the singulator including a first pair of belts arranged in a V formation travelling at different speeds, wherein the first pair of belts merges into a second pair of belts arranged in a V formation and both travelling at about the speed of the fruit supports, and wherein the second pair of belts is adapted to be operated so as to transfer the fruits substantially at the same speed as the fruit supports, whereby fruit are transferred to the fruit supports in single file whilst moving at the same speed as the fruit supports.
US08776979B2
Disclosed is a parking lock apparatus which can prevent an electric actuator from being accessed from the outside of the vehicle, and thereby can prevent the function of the parking lock apparatus from being lowered as well as can reduce the production cost in comparison with the conventional parking lock apparatus. The parking lock apparatus comprises an electric actuator 11 to be activated in response to the shift operation, and a parking lock apparatus 12 capable of selectively taking a parking lock maintained state to have the stoppage state of a vehicle 1 maintained or a parking lock released state to have the stoppage state of the vehicle 1 released. The electric actuator 11 is disposed between a first housing 1H partly constituting an engine 2 for generating a power and a second housing 2H partly constituting a transaxle 3 for transmitting the power generated by the engine 2.
US08776965B2
A shock absorber that absorbs a vibration using a working fluid charged into a first chamber and a second chamber comprises a tube body, an inserted body, a tip end of which is inserted into the tube body from an end portion of the tube body, and a partition wall portion that is provided on the tip end of the inserted body to be capable of sliding within the tube body and partitions an interior of the tube body into the first chamber and the second chamber. The shock absorber comprises a connecting portion that is provided within a partition wall portion sliding region of the tube body and connects the first chamber and the second chamber when the partition wall portion passes thereby.
US08776964B2
A gas cylinder actuator with overtravel safety device, comprising a tubular jacket which is closed by a bottom provided with a gas filling valve and at the opposite end by a head portion, which is provided with a hole for the passage of a stem with a piston; the gas cylinder actuator has, on the inner face of the jacket, in the compression chamber, a region in low relief designed to interrupt the seal provided by a gasket of the piston or the head portion, which act against the inner face.
US08776955B2
A liquid cooled brake is provided having an improved housing that provides strong yet lightweight structural support. The brake includes end plates disposed about a driven shaft and axially spaced from one another. A plurality of axially extending pins connect the end plates. A friction plate is coupled to the driven shaft for rotation therewith and is axially movable relative to the driven shaft. Another friction plate defines a fluid jacket and is coupled to the pins. The friction plate is fixed against rotation, but axially movable, relative to the pins. A pressure plate is configured for selective movement towards the friction plates. Support columns are disposed radially outwardly of each pin and fixed to the end plates The support columns prevent undue strain on the pins. Ventilated guards may also be located between each pair of columns to limit access to internal working components of the brake.
US08776947B1
A tool for use in the construction and maintenance of elevators and escalators is provided. The tool includes a plurality of rails arranged in a parallel orientation, a plurality of support members connected to the plurality of rails and a plurality of treads attached to the plurality of support members. The plurality of treads is configured to provide a working surface upon which construction or maintenance personnel can stand, sit or kneel. The plurality of treads is further configured to provide a working surface upon which materials can be placed. The tool is configured to bridge gaps formed within the elevators and escalators and bridge gaps formed in building spaces in and around the elevators and escalators.
US08776942B2
An electric power steering device includes a rack bar; a pinion shaft meshing with the rack bar; a worm wheel provided on the pinion shaft; a worm shaft meshing with the worm wheel; an electric motor provided on the worm shaft; a first housing accommodating at least a part of the rack bar and the pinion shaft and includes a first bolt boss formed with a through-hole; a second housing; and a bolt. The second housing includes a worm-wheel accommodating portion accommodating the worm wheel, and a second bolt boss provided to have a shorter distance to the first housing than that of the worm-wheel accommodating portion, and formed with a female-threaded portion. The second bolt boss is opposed to the first bolt boss to cause the female-threaded portion to be continuous with the through-hole of the first bolt boss. The bolt fastens the first housing to the second housing.
US08776937B2
A front differential-integrated engine support bracket, which may be mounted on an engine to connect the engine and an engine mount may include a connecting portion formed in a front thereof and connected to the engine mount, a fixing portion formed in a rear thereof and fixed to the engine, a fastening portion formed between the fixing portion and the connecting portion, wherein the engine support bracket may be fastened together with a front differential mounted on the engine by the fastening portion.
US08776935B1
A drive arrangement comprising a power source driving a First shaft, a second shaft, and at least one double overrunning clutches mechanically connecting the first shaft to the second shaft.The double overrunning clutch is stacked in axial alignment around said first shaft and engage an interior surface of the second shaft such that torque from the first shaft can be selectively transmitted to the second shaft.
US08776932B1
The foldable electric cart has a frame supported by two rear wheels and a steerable and motor driven front wheel. A seat is mounted on the rear portion of the frame. The seat is supported by left and right rear arms and left and right front arms. The arms pivot the seat between a horizontal use position above the rear wheels and horizontal folded position on a foot support plate. A seat back rest is pivoted relative to the seat between an upright position and a horizontal position. A yoke, holding a hub motor and driven wheel, is fixed to a steering tube journaled in a housing. The housing is pivotable about a transverse horizontal axle. A steering handle base and handle is clamped to the steering tube. The housing pivots from an upright position to a storage position with steering handles to the rear of the folded horizontal seat.
US08776929B2
A hybrid power system for a vehicle which may include an internal combustion engine and a supplemental energy system for converting the mechanical energy generated by the engine to electrical energy and storing it as opportunity provides; and using the stored electrical energy to augment engine output as necessary. The supplemental energy system may include a motor-generator engaged with a flywheel.
US08776922B2
A method for reducing a driving power of a vehicle drive includes detecting a temperature difference between a temperature of at least one component of the vehicle drive and a temperature threshold value, detecting an instantaneous driving state of the vehicle drive, establishing whether or not the instantaneous driving state allows for a reduction in the driving power of the vehicle drive, and reducing the driving power of the vehicle drive for lowering the temperature of the at least one component in order to increase the temperature difference if the instantaneous driving state allows for the reduced driving power.
US08776917B2
The stair-climbing apparatus has a series of articulating wheel sets extending below the platform. All of the wheel sets are vertically adjustable to negotiate stairways and similar changes of elevation. The lead wheel set is fixed longitudinally relative to the platform, while following wheel sets are longitudinally adjustable to adjust for the pitch or slope of different stairways. The apparatus uses sensors (e.g., mechanical, infrared, ultrasonic, etc.) to detect the presence of the stair risers and their height, control of the assembly being accomplished by a control circuit on board the machine. The wheel sets are raised and lowered independently of one another by pantograph mechanisms extending between the platform and the wheel sets. The horizontally adjustable wheel sets are positioned by a longitudinally disposed rack on the platform.
US08776916B2
In an aspect, a drilling motor is provided that in one embodiment includes a stator and a rotor configured to be disposed in the stator, wherein the rotor includes a lobe member having an elastically deformable surface configured to provide an interference seal between the stator and the rotor.
US08776904B2
A firefighting apparatus on a small all-terrain utility vehicle has a U-shaped water tank closely spaced from the driver's cab. A reel for a high-pressure hose is mounted in the U of the water tank. A high-pressure engine driven pump is connected to the reel and a high-pressure hose through a water management system, which directs water from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the hose. The pump has a pressure valve which sets the engine idle when the high-pressure water nozzle is closed. A pressure unloader valve recirculates water from the pump outlet to the pump inlet when the nozzle is closed. A check valve is used between the water tank and a point where water recirculates to the pump. A prefilter is connected between the check valve and the water tank.
US08776888B2
The present invention provides a robust, durable and reliable cylindrical valve having closable, radially extending openings for use in cementing, injection, including hydraulic fracturing, and production in wells having high pressures and large pressure differences. The valve may comprise scraping rings in order to remove deposits and the like when it is to be closed after use. Magnets or other suitable means indicates whether the valve is in an open or closed position.
US08776885B2
Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed a sand control device cleaning system that can be disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation. The sand control device cleaning system can include a housing and a fluid communication structure. The housing can be coupled to a section of a tubing string of a well system. A portion of the housing or a container disposed within the housing can store a dissolving material. A dissolving fluid that can dissolve or otherwise remove particulate material can be formed from the dissolving material. The fluid communication structure can communicate the dissolving fluid from the housing to a sand control device coupled to the section of the tubing string.
US08776883B2
A process for controlling the production of loose sand particles within an underground formation through the use of magnetic forces is provided. The loose sand particles are magnetized and then subjected to a magnetic field of sufficient strength such that the operator can control the movement of the loose sand particles within the underground formation. In some instances, the present invention can provide an efficient process for keeping the loose sand particles within the formation, and thereby prolonging the useful life of the downhole equipment. In other instances, the present invention can provide an efficient process for sweeping the loose sand particles out of the underground formation in a controlled fashion. The present invention includes at least three embodiments for magnetizing the loose sand particles, including direct magnetization, contacting the sand particles with a magnetizing reagent, and contacting the sand particles with paramagnetic nanoparticles.
US08776876B2
An expandable device comprising a plurality of expandable cells. The cells may be bistable cells or other types of cells that are expanded from a contracted position towards an expanded position. Additionally, the cells may be combined with locking mechanisms to hold the structure in an expanded position.
US08776874B2
Heat exchanger tubes are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a heat exchanger tube includes a tube body having two opposed sides. A plurality of exterior flow passages is defined in the tube body adjacent one of the two opposed sides. A plurality of interior flow passages is defined in the tube body adjacent the plurality of exterior flow passages. The plurality of exterior flow passages has at least one of an average hydraulic diameter or an average width that is i) greater than at least one of an average hydraulic diameter or an average width of the interior flow passages and ii) less than twice the at least one of the average hydraulic diameter or the average width of the interior flow passages.
US08776868B2
A cooling device for cooling a computer includes: a flexible and conformal fluid heat-exchanger coupled to a surface of the computer; a liquid coolant material circulated through the fluid heat-exchanger to convey heat from the fluid to an external cooling apparatus; an enclosure defined when the fluid heat-exchanger is placed against the computer surface; and a vacuum applied to the enclosure, removably sealing the fluid heat-exchanger to the computer to provide a vapor seal for the enclosure.
US08776863B2
A molten metal pouring nozzle capable of preventing reaction with a molten metal and casting a high quality ingot continuously for a long period of time is provided. A molten metal pouring nozzle 20 arranged between a molten metal receiving portion 10 and a mold 40 of a continuous casting device 1 is equipped with a main body portion 22 having at least one molten metal passage 21 and made of a fire-resistant substance, and a sleeve 23 made of a material which does not react with the molten metal and having a heat conductivity of 10 to 30 W/(m·° C.) is fitted in the molten metal passage 21 of the main body portion 22.
US08776853B2
A tire comprising at least one carcass-type reinforcing structure and comprising a crown reinforcing structure having at least one working layer. At least one working layer is radially on the inside of at least one carcass layer, in the sidewalls, the tire comprises at least two carcass reinforcing layer portions extending over a radial distance at least equal to 50% of the radial distance between an end of a shoulder and the radially inner end of the radially innermost circumferential reinforcing element, at least in the equatorial plane, the reinforcing elements of the carcass reinforcement make an angle less than 80°, and the reinforcing elements of the working layer cross with the reinforcing elements of the carcass-type reinforcing structure by an angle greater than 40°, when the tire comprises at least two working layers radially on the inside of at least one carcass layer, the reinforcing elements of the at least two working layers being crossed by an angle of at most 5° and when the tire comprises at least one working layer radially on the outside of the carcass-type reinforcing structure, the reinforcing elements of the at least one working layer crossing with the reinforcing elements of at least one working layer radially on the inside of at least one carcass layer by an angle of at least 30°.
US08776843B2
A suction nozzle, which is configured to be interlocked with a gas filler nozzle used to supply a gas to a gas consuming device, comprises a suction port configured to suck moisture inside the gas filler nozzle when the suction nozzle is interlocked with the gas filler nozzle.
US08776842B2
A container filling arrangement and a method of operating a container filling arrangement, which container filling arrangement comprises a filling element, a closure element, a supply of cleaning and/or sterilization medium, and a control element. During a cleaning and/or sterilizing operation of the filling element, cleaning and/or sterilization medium is conducted from the supply of cleaning and/or sterilization medium to the filling element. The control element is operatively connected to the closure element and is actuatable, by fluid pressure of the cleaning and/or sterilization medium in the filling element, to increase the force of engagement of the closure element during the cleaning and/or sterilizing operation.
US08776838B1
A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing device including a dispensing valve for dispensing a beverage, an actuator for initiating the dispensing of said beverage through said valve, a display screen having a user interface being coupled to said dispensing device, wireless communication electronics coupled to said beverage dispensing system and adapted to communicate with a wireless transponder and a controller functionally connected to said at least one dispensing valve, said display screen and said wireless communication electronics.
US08776837B2
The present invention relates to an oil pipe having a lining imparting substantially reduced adhesion of asphaltenes, paraffin wax, and inorganic scale, so as to reduce plugging of said oil pipe, and impermeability to salt water so as to protect the oil pipe from corrosion.
US08776828B2
Known fluid dispensers can suffer from the disadvantage of inadvertent disconnection of a connector causing potentially hazardous spillage of fluid. The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing assembly comprising a tap and a connector body. The tap comprises a first valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through; and a first portion of an interlocking coupling, configured for rotational engagement with a second complementary interlocking coupling portion of the connector body by rotation about a first fluid dispensing assembly axis. The connector body also comprises a second valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through. By this configuration, the first and second interlocking coupling portions remain interlocked preventing disconnection of the connector body from the tap unless the first and second valves are both in the closed position.
US08776816B2
A canopy structure comprises a frame and a canopy. The frame comprises a plurality of arms and legs, where each of the arms extends outwardly from a hub to a leg, each arm and leg being joined by a leg connector. Preferably, each leg is telescopic and is lockable and the hub preferably comprises a releasable locking mechanism. The canopy structure further comprises a mechanism by which the canopy surface can be tilted to angles relative to the ground.
US08776804B2
A handheld litter disposal device for temporarily storing and containing cigarette ash, butts, and other litter. The litter disposal device includes a cap, a storage system, a pivot system adapted to permit the cap to move between the closed and open positions, and an extinguishing system containable within the storage system and adapted to extinguish the lit end of a cigarette. In the open position, ashes, butts, and unused portions of cigarettes, cigars, and/or other similar products can be transported from the outside to the inside of the litter disposal device and vice versa. In the closed position, however, cigarette ash and butts cannot enter or exit the storage system of the litter disposal device. The storage system has a rounded bottom or outer surface to prevent the litter disposal device from maintaining an upright position.
US08776800B2
A sterile drape configured for isolating a portion of a surgical device within a sterile environment, comprising: a plurality of drape interface mechanisms comprising: at least one drape/handle interface mechanism comprising a first ring defining a first opening through the sterile drape and configured for coupling with a control mechanism, the control mechanism comprising a surgical device for controlling a surgical instrument; and at least one drape/shaft interface mechanism comprising a second ring defining a second opening through the sterile drape, and configured for sealingly receiving a shaft there through as the shaft moves with a piston and is detachably coupled with the piston, wherein the piston is configured for responding to a first set of control signals sent by a first mechanical manipulation mechanism via a first connector by moving between a proximal end and a distal end of a first mechanical slave cylinder.
US08776797B2
A laryngeal mask airway device for insertion into a patient to provide an airway passage to the patient's glottic opening. The device includes an airway tube, a mask attached to the airway tube, a peripheral inflatable cuff, and an outlet for gas. The mask is attached to the airway tube for gaseous communication between the tube and an outlet. The device further includes an oesophageal drain that includes a conduit that extends from an inlet at the distal end of the mask to an outlet disposed outside the patient when the device is in place. The conduit includes a mask section and airway tube section, wherein the mask section is formed integrally in the material of the body of the mask.
US08776795B2
A gas delivery system including a gas delivery device, a control module and a gas delivery mechanism is described. An exemplary gas delivery device includes a valve assembly with a valve and circuit including a memory, a processor and a transceiver in communication with the memory. The memory may include gas data such as gas identification, gas expiration and gas concentration. The transceiver on the circuit of the valve assembly may send wireless optical line-of-sight signals to communicate the gas data to a control module. Exemplary gas delivery mechanisms include a ventilator and a breathing circuit. Methods of administering gas are also described.
US08776792B2
The systems and methods include providing a volume-targeted minimum pressure-control breath type during ventilation of a patient. The system and methods provide a novel breath type that allows an operator to input a tidal volume and receive some of the benefits of utilizing an airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) breath type in combination with some of the benefits of utilizing a volume-targeted-pressure-control (VC+) breath type.
US08776777B2
A gas heater includes a support unit, a burner unit, a venting unit and a frame guider. The burner unit includes an ignition unit, a hollow and transparent radiant unit defining a cavity in which the flame guider is positioned, a heat reflector and a burner top cover. The radiant unit comprises a bottom unit with inlet air passages through which an air flow into the radiant unit cavity is created. Then, the frame guider, which has a preset structure such as a spiral and a cone structure and a plurality of guider through-holes, is arranged for guiding and generating a flame pattern which is visible through the radiant unit. The venting unit, which is connected to the radiant unit in an air-tight manner, then provides an air exit. Accordingly, energy utilization is increased and visible flame pattern assemble to real flame can be seen.
US08776775B2
An apparatus for cooking comprising a cooking cavity for receiving a food item and a burner positioned within a bottom portion of the cooking cavity for delivering a combustion gas in the cooking cavity which will flow upwardly to heat the vertically-extending interior surface of the cooking cavity. The upward flow of combustion gas within the heating cavity is operable for heating the vertically extending interior surface in a manner such that the food item positioned in the cooking cavity will be cooked at least predominantly by infrared radiation.
US08776772B1
An accessory for an archery bow has a C-shaped forearm brace attached to the distal end of a support. The support can be supported on the bow. The brace extends arcuately around a forearm axis at least 180° in order to partially encompass a forearm. The support is mounted in an arcuate slot in the brace and extends outwardly, transverse to the forearm axis. The support can be adjusted to allow angular and linear translation of the forearm brace relative to an adjustment axis that is parallel to the forearm axis. The forearm brace is circumferentially repositionable along the support. The support may be a post with a bearing surface skewed relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This post may have on opposite sides of the bearing surface, a pair of walls that straddle a peripheral portion of the forearm brace.
US08776767B2
A clutch assembly configured for use with a supercharger includes a first shaft supported for rotation within a clutch housing. A pulley is mounted on the first shaft. A clutch rotor is also mounted on the first shaft at a location that is axially spaced from the pulley. A clutch coil is supported within the clutch housing and positioned adjacent to a first face of the clutch rotor. A second shaft is supported for rotation relative to the first shaft and is coaxially aligned with the first shaft. A clutch armature is mounted on the second shaft and positioned adjacent to a second face of the clutch rotor. A supercharger system including the clutch assembly is also provided.
US08776753B2
A starter motor arrangement comprises a battery, a first starter motor including a first pinion and a second starter motor including a second pinion. The first starter motor is connected in series to the battery and the second starter motor is connected in series to the first starter motor. Accordingly, the battery, the first starter motor, and the second starter motor are all connected in series. The first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are configured to engage an engine ring gear when electrical current flows through the first starter motor and the second starter motor.
US08776749B2
The mass production of the MultiAir/UniAir of Fiat/INA proves that the hydraulic control can reliably actuate the valves of the modern internal combustion engines, making them greener. Removing the valve springs from the valves and controlling by the cam not only the valve opening but also the valve restoring, the hydraulic system has easier work to do, the rev limit increases, the height and the cost of the engine decrease and the engine can operate according all the MultiAir strategies.Optionally, the control by high speed solenoid valves can be replaced by easier and cheaper control wherein the rotation of the oil piston is what varies the valve lift and the valve duration. If necessary, slow, cheap, low power servomotors can micro-align the angular displacement of different oil pistons to balance the load between the cylinders.
US08776745B2
A variable valve timing apparatus includes a stopper piston which has an equalizing passage in an axial direction. Even if the engaging hole is filled with the oil, the equalizing passage enables the oil flows from an engaging hole to a holding hole when the stopper piston enters into the engaging hole. It is possible to form a vane as narrow as possible, and to enlarge a variable angular range. In addition, the stopper piston has both end faces which are substantially identical in surface area. Even if pulsation arises in oil pressure, pressures acting on both end faces of the stopper piston can be substantially cancelled and position of the stopper piston can be stabilized.
US08776743B2
In a variably operated valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine and a start control apparatus of the same engine, the internal combustion engine being equipped with a crank position control mechanism by means of which a stop position of a piston is controllable at a time of an engine stop and the variably operated valve apparatus being capable of variably controlling at least a closure timing of an intake valve, the closure timing of the intake valve is placed at a first position which is more advance angle side than the stop position of the piston of one of engine cylinders in a compression stroke and which is stop controlled by means of the crank position control mechanism and one of the remaining cylinders which is in a suction stroke has its the intake valve open, at the time of the engine stop.
US08776737B2
A system for a vehicle includes a mode control module and a valve control module. The mode control module selectively sets an ignition mode for an engine to one of a spark ignition (SI) mode and a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode. In response to the ignition mode transitioning from the SI mode to the HCCI mode during a first engine cycle, the valve control module operates an exhaust valve in a high lift mode during a second engine cycle, operates an intake valve in a low lift mode during the second engine cycle, and operates the exhaust and intake valves in the low lift mode during a third engine cycle. The first engine cycle is before the second engine cycle, and the second engine cycle is before the third engine cycle.
US08776735B2
An intake-side space around intake ports and an exhaust-side lower space around exhaust ports are provided in a main cooling jacket portion. These spaces are connected to each other. In a sub cooling jacket portion, an exhaust-side upper space is provided at a level above the exhaust-side lower space. The main cooling jacket portion and the sub cooling jacket portion are connected to each other via a cylindrical-hole connecting passage extending vertically and separate from each other vertically via a wall portion in another area than the connecting passage. Accordingly, a cooling device of an engine which can restrain the exhaust gas from being cooled too much improperly is provided.
US08776728B2
An edible pet chew for pets primarily dogs has a chewy sheet of meat based material. The “meat based” chewy sheet imitates the chewy property and chewing function of known rawhide sheet and thus substitute the “meat based” chewy sheet for the known rawhide sheet to form a pet chew. In order to achieve the “chewy” property, a necessary additive is used to form the “meat based” material. The “meat based” chewy sheet is then formed to pet chews with various shapes and structures as known rawhide sheet is. A second aspect of present invention is that, wrapping another member of “edible chewable material”, preferably chicken jerky into the “meat based” chewy sheet to further enhance attraction or nutrition to dogs. A third aspect of present invention is that, instead of chewy sheet, a three-dimensional-shape chewy mass is introduced wrapping or containing another member of “edible chewable material” preferably chicken jerky in the chewy mass member.
US08776727B1
A multiple use modular apparatus for animals having a tower and a base is disclosed that is light weight, easily assembled and reconfigured, and ballast is added inside the tower and base to stabilize the apparatus. The tower is inserted into the base in a very snug interference fit, and the tower has tiers of rows of recesses around its periphery facing in different directions. Shelf pieces of different sizes and shapes and having protrusions extending from one edge are utilized. The protrusions of the shelf pieces are inserted into the recesses in the side of the tower in a snug interference fit to firmly hold the shelf pieces to the sides of the tower. The shelf pieces may be fastened to the tower in a wide variety of configurations to create steps, walkways and platforms. Pieces of carpet or other material may be fastened to the sides of the tower and to the tops of the shelves, walkways and platforms. The modular apparatus may be used by an animal for exercise, play and resting. The shelves are easily removed and reattached to different positions on the sides of the tower to create the wide variety of configurations of shelves, walkways and platforms that will keep an animal interested in exploring the apparatus. In addition, the pieces may be assembled into complex arrangements having multiple towers, interconnecting walkways and toys mounted on the shelves and platforms.
US08776722B2
A milking system includes a milking robot with a robot arm for applying teat cups to the teats of an animal, an optical detector (40) for detecting radiation emitted and/or reflected from the animal and a controller. The detector has a housing (410) with a window (420) and a detecting element (430) enclosed in the housing that is sensitive to the emitted or reflected radiation passing through the window. In order to prevent contamination from impacting on the detector window, an airflow arrangement is provided that can be connected to a source of pressurized air and has at least one aperture (411) disposed adjacent the detector window (420) for generating a curtain of air that flows parallel with the surface of the window. The controller controls the generation of the air curtain to coincide with the start of at least one further operation controlled by the controller.
US08776710B2
A watercraft immobilizing apparatus and system for a marine vessel to passively defend against an attacking engine-powered watercraft includes a towed array of entanglement lines. The entanglement lines can be provided on and administered from removable/replaceable storage cartridges mountable on and/or deployed via davits, outriggers, paravanes, and/or weighted submersible rollers to foul and immobilize propellers and engine cooling water intakes of encroaching watercraft.
US08776702B2
An agricultural row unit includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame, and a linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the linkage assembly relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the linkage assembly for urging the linkage assembly downwardly toward the soil, and an accumulator is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder for supplying pressurized gas to the hydraulic cylinder urging the linkage assembly upwardly away from the soil. A manifold is removably mounted to the hydraulic cylinder via a mounting interface, the manifold being selected from a group of different types of modular manifolds in which each manifold is removably mountable to the hydraulic cylinder, one at a time, via the same mounting interface, the manifold having two hydraulic-fluid ports including an inlet port and an outlet port.
US08776700B2
A system is described for the pyrolysation and gasification of organic substances, in particular biomasses, comprising in cascade at least one evaporation module, at least one pyrolysis reactor and at least one gassing device, such evaporation module being supplied with the organic substance, to be dried and then be transferred through first supplying means in such pyrolysis reactor to be subjected to a pyrolysis process for producing at least one pyrolysis fuel syngas and remaining organic products, the remaining organic products being then transferred through second supplying means to such gassing device to produce at least one gasification fuel syngas, further comprising first channelling means for such pyrolysis fuel syngas and such gasification fuel syngas from such pyrolysis reactor to at least one energy user, second channelling means of burnt exhaust gases produced by such energy user towards such evaporation module, and third channelling means of such gasification fuel syngas from such gassing device to such pyrolysis module. A process is further described for the pyrolysation and gasification of organic substances through such system.
US08776695B2
The present invention is for a support sleeve for a riser supporting an elevated toy vehicle trackway above a surface, the sleeve comprising a first end, a second end having an open end, one or more walls extending between the first end and second end, wherein the one or more walls define a hollow interior for supporting the riser, and one or more supports extending outwardly from the perimeter of the first end. The one or more supports form a shoulder extending outwardly from the first end, wherein the shoulder encircles the perimeter of the first end. The present invention further provides a method of stabilizing one or more toy vehicle tracks mounted on one or more track risers, comprising inserting a first track riser within a hollow support sleeve having a top end and a base end, the base end having one or more outwardly projecting supports.
US08776691B2
A launched smoke grenade has a cartridge case having a hollow interior that receives a primer and a propellant, a projectile received by the cartridge case, and the projectile including a smoke generation component and an ignition component. The smoke generation component and the ignition component may be separated by a barrier prior to admission of the ignition component. The ignition component may burn through the barrier to ignite the smoke generation component. The smoke generation component may include hexachloroethane. The propellant may be black powder or smokeless powder.
US08776687B2
The present invention provides device and method for forming a thin film pattern which can maintain an extent of wetting of a printing liquid at a proper state without time dependence. The device for forming a thin film includes a printing liquid supply unit for supplying printing liquid, a cliché having a depressed pattern and a relieved pattern for patterning the printing liquid, a printing roller for having the printing liquid supplied from the printing liquid supply unit thereto coated thereon and being rolled on the cliché and the substrate, and a solvent supply unit for supplying a solvent to the printing liquid before the printing liquid coated on the printing roller is brought into contact with the cliché.
US08776685B2
A screen printing apparatus including two screen printers, each including a substrate introduction portion by which a substrate is introduced from an upstream side of a component mounting line, a printing portion which performs a screen printing to the introduced substrate, a substrate discharge portion by which the substrate is discharged to a downstream side, and a substrate moving stage which receives the substrate to position the substrate with respect to the printing portion and to move the substrate to the substrate discharge portion. The two substrate introduction portions, the two printing portions, and the two substrate discharge portions are arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to a perpendicular symmetrical plane extending in a transportation direction of the substrate in the component mounting line, respectively. Each printing portion is provided at a position further from the perpendicular symmetrical plane than the substrate discharge portion.
US08776684B2
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. In one embodiment, the combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame to wipe excess viscous material from a bottom surface of the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on the cleaning assembly 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 movable stencil or on an independent gantry provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser.
US08776683B2
The present disclosure involves absorbent articles having customized graphics disposed inside packages labeled as containing customized articles. During the manufacturing process, customized absorbent articles are constructed with article identity graphics, and the packages to contain the customized articles are labeled with package identity graphics. A controller uses article and package identity graphics to track the manufacture of the customized articles and synchronize placement of the customized articles in the appropriately labeled packages. The methods disclosed herein provides for the manufacture of customized absorbent articles in series with the manufacture of absorbent articles having non-custom graphics. The substrates and/or components having the custom graphics in the manufacturing process are detected by a sensor that provides a feedback signal to a controller. The controller, in turn, commands a packing system to place the customized absorbent articles in packages; label the packages with a package identity graphic; and thereby create customized absorbent products.
US08776680B2
A trash compaction system includes a trash receptacle through which trash is input; a compaction chamber in which trash is compacted; and a compactor mechanism operatively coupled with the compaction chamber to compact trash in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction in which the compaction chamber receives the trash. The compaction chamber has a closeable receiving opening in communication with the trash receptacle to receive trash into the compaction chamber. The closeable receiving opening is closeable by a movable cover positioned between the trash receptacle and the compaction chamber. The compaction chamber also has a closeable ejection opening through which the compacted trash is ejected.
US08776678B2
A wrapping system for plant material utilizes a first wrapping material dispenser disposed along a first upper periphery of a compacting chamber, and a second wrapping material dispenser opposite the first dispenser, for automatically dispensing sheets of wrapping material in overlapping relation over the chamber and plant material therein. The system includes apparatus for joining the overlapping sheets together. The system is automatically operable to dispense sheets of the material in overlapping relation over the chamber and join them for receiving a flow of the plant material thereon. Before or while the plant material is received, the sheets are further dispensed to move downwardly in the chamber to receive and wrap about the plant material. The system then dispenses opposite ends of the sheets in overlapping relation over the material and joins the ends to complete the wrapper.
US08776669B2
Disclosed are an anti-abrasion device and a reciprocating compressor having the same, whereby a sleeve is fabricated with an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a connecting rod to be non-press-fitted, thereby facilitating an assembly of the sleeve, and also the deformation of an inner diameter of the sleeve is prevented during the assembly of the sleeve, thereby preventing beforehand an increase in an input load of a motor unit due to the deformation of the sleeve and an abrasion of a pin of a crankshaft.
US08776667B2
A fluid-dynamic actuator having a detection system for determining the position of a piston along its path of travel within a cylinder. The piston includes a head and rod extending therefrom. First grooves are machined on respective sections of the rod. Projections of the first grooves onto a first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod define segments arranged obliquely with respect to the axis. Second grooves extend along the axis for predetermined lengths such that a respective number of second grooves run across each section. Optical sensors detect the presence of second grooves through a second plane transverse to the axis and a displacement of segments along a line coplanar with the second plane due to movement of the piston. A processor counts detected second grooves to determine the position of the piston as a function of the count of second grooves and the displacement of segments.
US08776666B2
A motor capacity change-over actuator 10 varies a capacity of a hydraulic motor 1 in accordance with the inflow/outflow of a working fluid into/out of a drive pressure chamber 72. A motor capacity change-over valve 20 supplies the working fluid to the drive pressure chamber 72 in a supply position H and discharges the working fluid from the drive pressure chamber 72 in a discharge position L. A flow control valve 15 is interposed between the drive pressure chamber 72 and the motor capacity change-over valve 20, and therefore a shock generated upon deceleration of the hydraulic motor 1 can be alleviated without being affected by leakage of the working fluid in the motor capacity change-over valve 20.
US08776663B1
The present invention is directed to new and improved armor protection that can replace the existing crew cabin with a field replaceable armored crew compartment to be attached to the existing body of an HMMWV military vehicle to protect the military personnel within from explosive blasts, roll-over or collisions. In accordance with the concepts of the present invention, in order to provide additional protection to personnel in the HMMWV crew compartment, a sacrificial V shaped hull is designed to be attached onto the underside of the crew compartment over the HMMWV frame rails. In the event of an explosion underneath the HMMWV, the V shaped hull will shield the personnel inside the cabin.
US08776655B2
A worktable for a circular saw includes a rotatable table defining a cutting groove, two movable fences arranged on the rotatable table at two opposed sides relative to the cutting groove, and a connection member connected between the two movable fences. The connection member has an arc-shaped locating groove and is adapted for engagement with a guide member of the rotatable table so that when the rotatable table is rotated, the guide member engages and applies a force to the wall of the arc-shaped locating groove, causing the two movable fences to be moved relative to the cutting groove, and therefore the two movable fences are maintained spaced away from the cutting groove at a distance without interfering with the operation of the saw blade.
US08776644B2
Disclosed are various embodiments and a corresponding method for an adapter configured to attach an electronic identification device to an inventory item having a universal attachment fitting. A first end of the adapter body is configured to permanently attach to the universal attachment fitting. A second end of the adapter body is configured to attach to a tool configured to attach to the universal attachment fitting. An electronic identification device is attached to the adapter body.
US08776639B2
In a gear transmission, pairs of spur drive gears provided with a helical cut spline on the inner diameter of the spur drive gears are mounted on a drive shaft provided with helical cut splines on the outer diameter of the drive shaft. The pairs of spur drive gears engage pairs of spur driven gears provided with a helical cut spline on the inner diameter of the spur driven gears mounted on a driven shaft provided with helical cut splines on the outer diameter of the driven shaft. In operation, there is equal load sharing among spur drive gears engaging the spur driven gears.
US08776628B2
A motorcycle having a transmission which includes a counter shaft to which a rotation of a crankshaft disposed in an engine is transmitted and a drive shaft to which a rotation of the counter shaft is transmitted. A pair of drive gears mounted on the counter shaft so as to be rotated integrally with the counter shaft, and a pair of driven gears mounted on the drive shaft so as to be meshed with the pair of drive gears, respectively, to be rotatable therewith, and a friction ring is interposed between the pair of driven gears.
US08776626B2
The present invention is a pneumatically driven oscillatory motor. It features fan gear with an eccentrically mounted hub which imparts a wobbling motion on a bearing and associated collar. This wobbling motion then translated in to a vertical oscillatory motion of a collar arm extending radially from said collar. Additional structures to direct flow of expelled air are also provided. The collar arm may be removable from the collar. The motor has many applications where oscillatory motion is required, such as in tattoo needles.
US08776620B2
Disclosed is a fluid sampling device comprising a plurality of inlet channels, each of which is arranged to receive an airflow from an associated direction, such that a sampling medium associated with a particular inlet channel is exposed to airflow from the associated direction.
US08776615B2
This disclosure describes techniques for using a “low-profile” load cell to sense a force exerted by a load upon a target object in one or more of a first, second, and third directions relative to the target object. The techniques include using a plurality of sensing beams disposed between a sensing node and a base of the load cell, where each sensing beam is configured for sensing the force exerted by the load upon the sensing node in one or more of two directions relative to the load cell. For example, each sensing beam may include a first section configured to deform in response to a component of the force that corresponds to one of the first, second, and third directions, and a second section configured to deform in response to a component of the force that corresponds to another one of the first, second, and third directions.
US08776599B2
A micro gyroscope determine three-dimensional rotational movements is mounted on a substrate on which a plurality of masses tangentially oscillate about the z axis perpendicular to the substrate. The oscillating masses are fastened to the substrate by springs and bolts. Driving elements maintain oscillating tangential vibrations of the masses about the z axis. Upon rotation of the substrate about any spatial axis, the masses are subjected to deflections caused by Corolis forces that are detected by sensor elements. Certain masses oscillating about the z axis are tiltable about the x axis, while some others are tiltable about the y axis. At least one other mass is configured to deflect radially to the z axis in a x-y plane parallel to the plane of the substrate. This mass is assigned a sensor element that can deflect radially with respect to the axis but cannot oscillate about the z axis.
US08776597B2
A capacitive type humidity sensor is provided, where a sensor chip substrate, with a sensor section where electrostatic capacitance changes in accordance with humidity, a reference section where electrostatic capacitance does not change, and a plurality of pads which are output terminals of each section, and an IC substrate, which is electrically connected to the pads and which outputs the difference in capacitance between the sections as a voltage, are fixed to the same support substrate, where a protective member, which forms a sealed region surrounding the sensor section and which covers the reference section, is provided on the sensor chip substrate, the support substrate is covered by a sealing resin except for the region which is covered by the protective member, the sensor section is exposed to air at the region which is surrounded by the protective member, and the other constituent elements are covered by the sealing resin.
US08776582B2
A sensor device and a related method for measuring the flow of a fluid and/or for detecting the presence of a substance have such respective structural and functional features as to allow reliable measurements at very reduced costs. The sensor device includes at least a temperature difference sensor based on the Seebeck thermoelectric effect and integrated in a sensor device support, together with a heating element also integrated in this support. A method for measuring the flow of a fluid and/or the presence or the level of a substance uses the sensor device.
US08776581B2
A blood collection module includes a blood collection container that is coupled with a blood alcohol concentration detection device including an alcohol detection sensor having a detection probe that inhales an alcohol gas, and on one surface of which an inserting portion that is inserted by a detection probe of a blood alcohol concentration detection device is formed and on an outer surface of which blood inlet holes through which blood flows in are formed; and an absorption member that is provided in the blood collection container, to thus absorb examinee's blood that is introduced through the blood inlet holes, in which an alcohol gas generated from the blood absorbed by the absorption member is introduced into the alcohol detection sensor through the detection probe.
US08776579B2
A substance detection sensor includes an insulating layer; two electrodes spaced in opposed relation to each other on the insulating layer; and conductive layers formed between the two electrodes on the insulating layer so as to electrically connect the two electrodes, and of which a swelling ratio varies depending on the type and/or amount of a specific gas. The conductive layers are formed by dividing into plural layers between the two electrodes.
US08776577B2
According to one embodiment, a generated gas collecting method collects a generated gas after exposing the interior of a chamber to an organic gas having a boiling point higher than that of the generated gas.
US08776562B2
A system allows the remote entry of pin data to manufacture a customized lock cylinder assembly. A remote computer communicates with a cylinder manufacturing system (or website) to upload user-selected pin data. The pin data may be stored for future reorders or additional orders. A pinning machine receives the pin data and automatically selects pins to manufacture a customized lock cylinder assembly. The lock cylinder assembly may be completed in seconds and shipped to the user thereby eliminating the need for manual lock customization. In addition, key code data may be provided to a key manufacturing system to automatically manufacture keys corresponding to the customized lock cylinder assembly.
US08776560B2
A bicycle link having one or more openings that can be π-shaped and having a slider that closes a portion of the one or more openings is disclosed. The slider can be secured in place in relation to the bicycle link with a padlock or the like being placed in aligned holes in the slide and it the portion of the bicycle link containing the slider. Cables, chains and the like are placed in the openings and secured to immovable objects. When the slider is locked in place to close a portion of the openings, this arrangement secures the bicycle.
US08776548B2
Systems, methods, apparatus and products relate to drawing and blowing of ultra thin glass substrates, such as flexible display glass sheets, for example, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and/or other flexible substrate applications, such as lighting, and/or other technologies, such as electro-wetting (EW), electro-phoretic display applications, etc. A localized heat source centripetally heats a vertical glass pre-form, while a pressurized air source blows the heated glass to expansion. An air bearing may centripetally blow air against the expanding pre-form to limit expansion and prevent contact of the pre-form with the localized heat source. Meanwhile, the pre-form is pulled vertically to draw the heated glass. The pre-form may float in a floatation mechanism to compensate for gravity when the pre-form is pulled upward. The blown and drawn pre-form may be cooled, coated with a polymer layer, and cut into a ribbon by in-line devices as it exits the air bearing. For example, a laser may helicoidally cut a polymer-coated blown and drawn pre-form into a ribbon, which may be rolled for collection.
US08776546B2
An air distillation unit comprises an air distillation column (10) suitable for producing a nominal flow of gaseous nitrogen, the top of said column being connected to a liquid nitrogen source (8), and operates by carrying out the following steps: a flow of compressed, cooled and purified air is sent to an exchanger (11) and then to the column, a flow of gaseous nitrogen is withdrawn from the column, the level of liquid at the bottom of the column is controlled; and injection liquid (20), sent from the source to the column, is no longer sent if the required production reduces to at most the nominal production. Application to the separation of air by cryogenic distillation.
US08776544B2
Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above zero degrees Centigrade. A freezer compartment is disposed at an elevation vertically below the fresh food compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below zero degrees Centigrade. The refrigeration appliance also includes one or more of a hand-removable insulated cover, a cool air duct for introducing cooled air adjacent an ice bin, and a rearward-sloped catch pan positioned to catch dripping water in said ice maker and direct the dripping water into a drain.
US08776542B2
A cooling system that cools a wafer in a vacuum chamber of a sputtering apparatus, includes a wafer cooling stage for cooling the wafer, a cooling mechanism for cooling the wafer cooling stage, cooling gas supply units which introduces a cooling gas to the wafer cooling stage, a wafer rotating mechanism which holds the wafer in a state separated from the wafer cooling stage by a predetermined gap, and is rotated while holding the wafer, and a driving mechanism which rotates the wafer rotating mechanism at a predetermined rotational speed.
US08776540B2
A supercooling apparatus of the present invention is capable of regulating a supercooled state for an item at temperatures below a phase transition temperature and adjusting temperature of the item in the supercooled state, wherein the supercooling apparatus comprises a storage space for receiving liquid or a stored item containing liquid; a cooling means for cooling the liquid, the stored item, or the storage space to a temperature below zero; and a temperature regulating means for applying a controlled amount of energy to the liquid, to surface of the stored item, or to gas above the surface, thereby regulating a temperature of the liquid or the stored item below a maximum ice crystal formation temperature zone of the liquid or the stored item. Therefore, the supercooling apparatus can control a supercooling temperature that has the biggest influence on ecological preservation of liquid or a stored item.
US08776537B2
Systems, methods, and devices are described for implementing and/or utilizing a vector component within an air-conditioning (a/c) system. In one embodiment, the vector component may be situated between a compressor and a condenser of the a/c system. Moreover, the vector component may receive a superheated vapor from the compressor and route the superheated vapor into one or more capillary tubes. The superheated vapor may be cooled to a liquid by exposing the superheated vapor to a sub-cooled liquid. The liquid may then be transferred to the condenser. Additionally, at least a portion of the sub-cooled liquid may be heated to a saturated vapor and routed back to the compressor, where the above process may be repeated.
US08776528B2
The disclosure relates to a method for operating a gas turbine plant which is supplied with a fuel gas via a compressor station. The compressor station includes a compressor which compresses the fuel gas which is fed via a gas feed line and delivers it via at least one control valve to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine plant. A bypass system is arranged in parallel to the compressor via which fuel gas can be directed in a switchable manner past the compressor to the at least one control valve. An energy-saving operation can be achieved in a simple manner by continuously measuring the fuel gas pressure at the outlet of the at least one control valve. A minimum fuel gas pressure, which is desired (e.g., necessary) for operation of the gas turbine, at the inlet of the at least one control valve is determined from the measured pressure values in each case. The compressor station can be switched over to bypass operation when the fuel gas pressure which reaches the inlet of the at least one control valve via the bypass system is greater than or equal to the minimum fuel gas pressure.
US08776526B2
The present invention provides a motor including a combustion chamber, an oxidizer injector, a vortex generators and a nozzle. The combustion chamber can be used to dispose a solid fuel, and the oxidizer injector is used to control the flow rate of an oxidizer and to inject the oxidizer into the combustion chamber. The vortex generators is disposed on the inner wall of the combustion chamber for generating eddies to enhance the mixing of the fuel and the oxidizer. Additionally, the nozzle is connected with the combustion chamber for exhausting the gas generated by the combustion of the propellants.
US08776523B2
A steam-driven power plant includes a steam source providing steam at a desired pressure and a steam turbine operably connected to the steam source. The steam turbine includes a low pressure section and an intermediate pressure section. A low pressure admission conduit is configured to convey steam from the steam source to an entrance of the low pressure section and an intermediate pressure admission conduit is configured to convey steam from the steam source to a mid-steampath point of the intermediate pressure section. One or more valves are located between the steam source and the steam turbine to control a flow of steam from the steam source through the low pressure admission conduit and/or the intermediate pressure admission conduit.
US08776515B2
A pumping assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first movable element selectively movable within a first pump housing and an actuator including an active material. The active material is configured to undergo a change in attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material is operatively connected to the first movable element such that the change in attribute causes the first movable element to move within the first pump housing. In one example, the active material is a shape memory alloy material having a crystallographic phase that is changeable between Austenite and Martensite in response to the activation signal.
US08776511B2
A swing energy recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The swing energy recovery system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a motor driven by a flow of pressurized fluid from the pump, and an energy recovery arrangement configured to receive pressurized fluid discharged from the motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the motor. The swing energy recovery system may also have a pressure relief valve associated with the motor, and a controller in communication with the energy recovery arrangement and the pressure relief valve. The controller may be configured to selectively adjust a setting of the pressure relief valve based on an operating condition of the energy recovery arrangement.
US08776503B2
Method and apparatus for monitoring a reductant injection system in an exhaust aftertreatment system
A reductant injector is configured to dispense a reductant into an exhaust gas feedstream of an internal combustion engine upstream of a selective catalytic reduction device. The reductant injector of a reductant injection system is monitored by generating injector pulsewidth commands corresponding to a prescribed reductant flowrate, monitoring the injector pulsewidth commands, verifying the prescribed reductant flowrate corresponds to the injector pulsewidth commands, monitoring a fluidic pressure in the reductant injection system, estimating a first injected quantity of the reductant corresponding to the injector pulsewidth commands, estimating a second injected quantity of the reductant corresponding to the fluidic pressure in the reductant injection system, and comparing the first and second injected quantities of reductant.
US08776492B2
An adjustable link for a bracelet, including first and second half links longitudinally moveable via cooperation of a guide and a complementary guide, and captived by cooperation of a stopping mechanism and a complementary stopping mechanism. The first half link includes a longitudinal finger with a locking mechanism including a radial elastic return moveable between folded and unfolded positions, and the second half link includes a longitudinal channel allowing the finger to pass in only one of the folded or unfolded positions, and, in proximity to the channel, a complementary locking mechanism cooperating, in at least one locking position, with the locking mechanism in the other of the folded or unfolded positions, the locking mechanism and complementary locking mechanism together defining at least two of the longitudinally separate locking positions.
US08776491B2
There is provided a lifting engagement chain unit that autonomously erects a pair of engagement chains, ensures engagement accuracy between link plates and improves buckling strength. A plurality of buckling restricting attachment plates is arrayed along an outer surface of the engagement chains in a chain longitudinal direction.
US08776487B2
A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.
US08776475B2
A window surround molding is secured on a vehicle door flange with a retainer clip. The molding extends in a longitudinal direction and has a cross-section including first and second channels separated by a Dutch bend. The flange is disposed in the second channel on one side of the Dutch bend. The clip is disposed in the first channel on an opposite side of the Dutch bend. An arm extends in the longitudinal direction away from first and second ends of the clip and engages the molding to secure the clip within the first channel. The clip also includes a lower edge that engages the Dutch bend. A flex tab protrudes from a front face of the clip and engages the flange to secure the molding on the flange and to prevent rotation of the molding relative to the flange.
US08776472B1
An insulated panel arrangement includes hook assemblies and pin assemblies to secure two panels together. The skin of at least one panel extends beyond the end face of the panel and is received in a recess in the skin of the adjacent panel so the two panels can be welded together to form a flat, continuous planar skin.
US08776466B2
The present invention provides a lath furring strip having a height not exceeding 0.365 inches which has improved waterproofing capabilities by incorporating the lath furring strip into other architectural structures such as reveals, expansion joints and window flange coverings. By integrating these structures with a lath furring strip having water proofing features, there is increased water proofing of the entire architectural structure. One or more moisture barriers can easily be applied to the wall or furring strips that prevents seepage of moisture from the stucco on the lath to a wall or framing.
US08776465B2
Described herein are security systems for both preventing intrusion by an unwanted party and detecting or locating where the attempted intrusion has occurred. The security systems in a broad aspect comprise a wall, at least one elongated coupling member attachable to the wall, at least one partitioning member that is at least partially transparent, at least one proximity sensor system associated with at least one of the elongated coupling member or at least one partitioning member; and at least one light associated with the proximity sensor system that is activatable by the proximity sensor system.
US08776464B2
A protective cover for covering an end of a reinforcing bar is provided. In some aspects, the protective cover includes a collar having a first end, a second end, and an impact absorbing portion disposed therebetween. The first end of the collar is configured to receive the end of the reinforcing bar. The impact absorbing portion of the collar is configured to withstand an impact without penetration of the reinforcement bar through the protective cover and is further configured to absorb at least a portion of the impact. The impact absorbing portion resides solely within the collar. The protective cover further includes a cap disposed at the second end of the collar. The cap has a surface area of about sixteen square inches.
US08776463B2
A vibration isolator of a wind turbine system installed between a wind tower and a concrete foundation includes a plurality of bearing units arranged along the periphery of a flange of the wind tower, each bearing unit having elastic material layers and rigid material layers stacked alternately.
US08776459B1
A window frame system having a window frame and cavity frame formed to frictionally fit within the window frame. An opening is cut in a wall based on measurements of the cavity frame, and the ends of the cavity frame are trimmed based upon the opening cut in the wall. Jack screws are inserted through holes in the window frame to center and level the system by pushing the cavity frame away from the window frame to engage the edges of the opening.
US08776458B2
A skylight to be integrated in a covering structure made of insulated sheets comprises at least one top fretted panel (20) extruded in plastic material and at least one bottom alveolar panel (30) extruded in plastic material, firmly integrally joined by interposing a continuous or discontinuous layer, of adhesive material (40), wherein the layer of adhesive material (40) is prearranged on at least one of the top (20) and bottom (30) panels on a surface facing the opposite panel. A method for producing the skylight to be integrated in a covering structure with insulated panels is also part of the invention.
US08776452B1
A floor panel assembly (used as replacement floor panel or in a new installation) includes universal quick-attach corners that mates with support stands and stringers of an existing raised floor system to provide leveling. The panel assembly includes a top plate (apertured or not) with corner structures including a post retainer and interconnected down flanges that support the top plate inboard of its perimeter. In one form, the universal quick corners each includes an arrow-shaped extension plate attached to the post retainer and extending toward the top plate's perimeter, and includes a body with multiple thickness pads selectable to support the extension plate at selected height. Thus, the quick corner holds an upper surface of the top plate level with an upper surface of adjacent existing floor panels of the existing raised floor system. In another aspect, only the body is used at each corner (without the extension plate).
US08776449B1
Housing for emergencies or for those in need could be a short-term solution or may be set up as a longer-term shelter. The shelter may be flexible to grow and change enough to accommodate the individual, the family and the community. The shelter is more substantial than a tent and easier to assemble and transport as compared to conventional shelters. The smaller of shelters can be transported in a standard size truck bed (for example, 8 feet by 12 feet) and erected by two individuals in a minimal amount of time, typically less than an hour. The shelter may include various features, including shelving, bathing facilities, sinks, beds, lighting, and the like. The design of the shelter is to be connected to external electric and water supplies. Optionally, the shelters may be designed as stand-alone, “off-the-grid” units. The ceiling of the shelter may include one or more solar panels to provide power for the shelter. The shelter's container provides the essentials needed to sustain life. This takes away the need for standing in multiple lines and gives the much-needed immediate help.
US08776434B2
A side sliding door apparatus for a vehicle includes one of two sliding doors driven by an actuator, and the other moves in conjunction with the one sliding door via a direction converting mechanism. When the sliding door is in a closed condition, a latch rod is inserted into a lock hole to lock the sliding doors in the closed condition. A roller is pushed up on a cam surface when the sliding doors are opened, which releases the locking. An upper level surface of the cam surface forms an inclined surface with a downward gradient, which prevents the roller from unexpectedly going beyond the starting end of the upper level surface and dropping due to vibration or the like being applied to the slider in the unlocked condition, and prevents the locking with the locking mechanism in response to the next sliding door closing command.
US08776426B1
A magazine release assist tool is described comprising of a generally U-shaped clip having an integrated arm extension. The tool is used to assist in the release of a magazine from a firearm that is equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism. The clip is removably secured to the lower receiver of a firearm and the arm extension is provided to form a resilient flat spring having a pivot at its proximate end and a push pin at its distal end. When attached to the firearm, a user can depress the flat spring such that the push pin will engage the magazine release button of the firearm allowing quick removal of the magazine.
US08776422B2
A firearm used in military applications may have a plurality of accessories that can be attached to the weapon, with each accessory having a need for electric power. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of batteries used to power these power-consuming accessories, a Powered Rail provides a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories with a common power source. The Weapon Accessory Control System is provided to enable the user to control the activation of a power-consuming accessory as well as enable communications between the user and the power-consuming accessory and among power-consuming accessories.
US08776420B2
A method of making a hand guard for a semi-automatic or automatic rifle is provided. The method including the steps of: forming a first portion of the hand guard from a first material; inserting the formed first portion into a mold; and molding a second portion of the hand guard about the first portion, the second portion being a second material, the second material being different from the first material, wherein a first section of the first portion is completely encased by the second portion and a second section of the first portion is not encased by the second portion.
US08776419B2
Double stack magazines have a tubular body defining an elongated passage and a lower and upper end, a floor plate element connected to the lower end, an elongated separator element within the passage, a follower defining an aperture receiving the separator element and movable within the elongated passage, a spring within the passage having a first end contacting the floor plate, and having an opposed second end contacting and biasing the follower toward the upper end of the body. The separator may be a rod spaced apart from the body surfaces. The spring may be spaced apart from the separator element. The spring may be a coil spring having multiple winds, each encompassing the separator element. The separator element may be medially located in the body. The separator element may be positioned to define first and second stack passages between the left and right side walls and the separator element.
US08776414B2
A media display assembly comprises a support and a sign holder. The support defines a substantially vertical section, a substantially horizontal section, and a bent transition section extending between the substantially vertical section and the substantially horizontal section. The support is formed in a substantially L-shape. The sign holder includes a first panel and a second panel sized substantially identically to the first panel. The first panel and the second panel are coupled to one another along a closed edge of the sign holder and define a slot therebetween them for receiving a sign. The second panel of the sign holder is coupled to the substantially vertical section of the support on a side of the substantially vertical section opposite the substantially horizontal section. The second panel of the sign holder extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal section of the support.
US08776409B2
A wrinkle removing apparatus for fabric articles is provided. The apparatus includes a casing defining a volume therein and a reservoir received in the casing and containing a liquid for providing treatment to the fabric article. A platen is carried by the casing and defines a plurality of openings for allowing flow-through of liquid. A heater may be proximal the platen for heating the platen to a treatment temperature. A transducer extends into the reservoir and is configured for atomizing the liquid into a vapor.
US08776403B2
An article of footwear including a sole structure with multiple cleat systems is disclosed. A first cleat system has a first cleat design and one or more cleat member sets that are tuned to provide different levels of traction and flexibility to different regions of the sole structure. A second cleat system has a second cleat design and is disposed on the sole structure in a location to provide maximum traction for various playing surfaces. The sizes, material properties and arrangement of each cleat system are varied.
US08776399B2
A shoe insole includes a soft elastomer formed in a shape of an inner bottom surface of a shoe, wherein the soft elastomer includes a front metatarsal section, a mid foot section and a rear heel section, and wherein the rear heel section has a recessed area, and an inner arch concave surface and an outer arch concave surface are respectively defined in two opposite sides of the recessed area; and a hard elastomer combined with the mid foot section and the rear heel section of the soft elastomer, wherein a rear heel section of the hard elastomer has a through-hole, and a portion of material of the soft elastomer is filled in the through-hole, and an inner arch concave surface and an outer arch concave surface are respectively defined in two opposite outer sides of the rear heel section of the hard elastomer.
US08776396B2
Footwear is provided including an upper, a porous insole, a midsole, and a solid outsole. The insole has pores that permit sand to fall through the insole. The midsole includes a top surface with a plurality of grooves extending lengthwise between openings on the rear surface of the midsole and openings on the front surface of the midsole.
US08776395B2
A washer or dryer including a body with a loading port covered by a door having a convex transparent face that extends from the loading port inwards towards the interior of the body; and a detachable convex carrier having a depth and diameter greater than the convex transparent face that is stored on the convex transparent face that extends from the loading port inwards towards the interior of the body.
US08776389B2
A tape-measure device having elements for measuring and/or marking/cutting an object, includes a tape, a shell (3) with a reel, an opening (5) enabling the tape (2) to pass through the shell wall, an end piece (6) attached to the distal end of the tape, a stop button (7) for the reel for blocking the tape or for enabling the rolling/unrolling of the tape. The elements include a guide shoulder (8) formed on the shell, a guide opening (9) at the end piece for the removable insertion of the end of a marking/cutting tool, and a sliding surface (60) for the end piece for translatably engaging the surface of the object to mark/cut the object using one of the surfaces thereof when the guide shoulder is simultaneously slid along an edge of the object and the end piece of the tape against the surface of the object to be marked/cut.
US08776387B1
A bottle nipple size selection system for more accurately matching a bottle nipple to the individual anatomy of the mother. The bottle nipple size selection system generally includes a flat, rectangular member having a plurality of sizing apertures extending from its first end to its second end. Each of the apertures has a different diameter, wherein each of the aperture sizes are generally offset by at least 4 mm. By utilizing the apertures on the template, the mother may more accurately locate a bottle nipple which will match the size and contour of the mother's nipple to prevent the mother's baby from refusing breastfeeding due to becoming accustomed to a differently-sized bottle nipple.
US08776378B2
In a razor having a handle and a blade cartridge containing one or more blades, a system is provided for selectively heating the blades to a controlled temperature range. The blade heating system includes an electric circuit with a battery power source for controlled direction of current flow through the one or more blades in order to heat the blades. The electric circuit further includes an on/off switch, a visual indicator for indicating on/off status, a heat controller for selectively adjusting the temperature of the blades, and an automatic turn off switch for opening the circuit after an elapsed period or some action or non-action of physical movement of the razor for preserving battery life. In a preferred embodiment, all of the components of the electric circuit are housed on the blade cartridge, with the battery power source, switches and heat controller contained within a waterproof casing.
US08776376B2
A method of forming paneled corners including the step of providing first and second components. The first components can each have a pair of first legs forming an exterior angle of greater than 180 degrees, and can have a first connector. The second components can each have a pair of second legs forming an interior angle of less than 180, and can have a second connector. The method can further include the steps of choosing an outside corner from an outside corner and an inside corner, selecting one of the first components, placing the one first component over the outside corner, securing the one first component, placing panels on the first legs, selecting one of the second components, pushing the one second component onto the one first selected component to engage their respective second and first connectors, thereby capturing the edges of the two panels.
US08776373B2
A disc roll includes a plurality of annular disc members each defining a hole and having a peripheral surface; and a rotary shaft fitted into the holes of the annular disc members by insertion, whereby the peripheral surfaces of the disc members serve as a conveying surface of the disc roll. The disc members include an inorganic fiber, mica and a clay having a content of particle components that have a particle size of 5 μm or larger of not higher than 30% by weight based on the weight of the clay.
US08776369B2
There is provided a through-hole manufacturing method for a cylindrical body wall that enables the operation of forming a through-hole without leaving a machining burr on the wall of a cylindrical member to be easily and reliably carried out without depending on experts. A through-hole manufacturing method for a cylindrical body wall in which a machining burr is not formed on inner walls of through holes formed by a tool piercing the wall of a cylindrical body, the method including a hole forming step of forming one pair or a plurality of pairs of the through-holes in the cylindrical body wall by the tool piercing the cylindrical body from the outside orthogonally or substantially orthogonally to a cylindrical body axis of the cylindrical body; and a welding step of sealing the through-hole formed by the tool piercing the cylindrical body from the outer wall to the inner wall by welding using a welding jig made of a material having better heat conductivity than the cylindrical body, wherein the through-hole formed by the tool piercing the cylindrical body from the inner wall to the outer wall is left as a nozzle hole.
US08776367B2
A method of making a nonfluoropolymer electret film is provided. The method may include: providing a polymer-containing solution, the polymer-containing solution comprising at least one polymer material, at least one solvent, and at least one surfactant, spreading the polymer-containing solution to provide a wetting polymer film, removing at least a portion of the solvent in the wetting polymer film to provide a polymer film, and conducting a Corona charging to the polymer film to form the electret film.
US08776362B2
An auxiliary fitting jig includes first and second jig bodies configured to hold a connector from both sides of the connector, a first interval adjustment mechanism configured to interval-adjustably connect the first and second jig bodies, first and second lever bodies pivotally supported by the first and second jig bodies respectively, a second interval adjustment mechanism configured to interval-adjustably connect the first and second lever bodies in accordance with an interval between the first and second jig bodies adjusted by the first interval adjustment mechanism.
US08776355B2
The invention relates to a method and device for fixing a faucet to a mounting (1), such as a worktop or a sinktop. A fixing collar (2) is fastened to the top surface of a mounting by turning from above one or more set screws (3) extending from the fixing collar (2) over a distance below a bottom surface of the worktop. Turning of the screw is used for raising a clamping claw (4), which is in engagement with the threading of said set screw and which is steered by means of a guide (5) extending downward from the fixing collar and used for disallowing a rotation of the clamping claw (4) along with the set screw (3). The bottom end of a faucet body (10) or its extension is fastened around the fixing collar (2) by expanding the fixing collar (2) by an actuation means, such as a screw (8).
US08776354B2
A device and a method for automatically connecting two workpieces via fasteners has a magazine for receiving the fasteners. A fastener nest is provided whose lower side can be coupled to the upper side of the magazine, the fastener nest including openings for inserting the fasteners and the openings being blockable and unblockable at their lower ends.
US08776348B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of an exterior door handle (100) for a motor vehicle, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) injection molding (10) of at least one first mold part (150) and one second mold part (151) using a plastic mass; (b) building (20) the exterior door handle (100) from the at least two mold parts (150, 151); c) painting (30) a surface of the exterior door handle (100); (d) disassembling (40) the exterior door handle (100) into the at least two mold parts (150, 151); (e) installing (50) an electronic unit in at least one of the two mold parts (150, 151); (f) assembling (60) the at least two mold parts (150, 151) and the electronic unit to form the exterior door handle (100).
US08776343B2
During implementing a composite metal part by compaction of an insert having reinforcing fibers in a metal body or container, gas used for compaction may enter the cavity formed in the container for receiving the insert between a lid covering the insert and the container, which can prevent or degrade compaction and diffusion welding of fiber sheaths of the insert therebetween and/or with walls of the cavity. To solve this problem, the present method includes initiating isostatic compaction by a phase including raising and maintaining temperature, followed by a phase including hot-feeding pressurized gas, and machining an assembly to obtain the part. The temperature raising phase includes a diffusion pre-welding of material rigidly connecting the pressure-adjusted walls of the lid and the container. The method can be used for designing parts having a tensile and compression resistance, such as parts for aircraft landing gear.
US08776341B2
Hardfacing is applied on gage surfaces of bit blades, the leading and trailing edges of bit blades, and on carbide inserts. The gage surfaces contains natural diamonds, synthetic diamonds, thermally stable polycrystalline (TSP) diamonds and carbide inserts, and the hardfacing is applied over at least a portion of them. As primary cutters on the bit blades are worn down during drilling, the gage surfaces of the bit blades are also worn down. A hardfacing is applied to the worn gage surfaces of the bit blades, thereby allowing the drill bit to drill deeper and longer without requiring replacement.
US08776330B2
There is provided an end stop for a slide fastener, in which the attachment strength can be ensured irrespective of the size of the end stop, and a core can be firmly set to a setting position with respect to the end stop. The end stop has a base and a pair of legs which extend from the base, and the end stop is formed with a receptacle which is surrounded by the base and the pair of legs. The pair of legs have a pair of opening-side ends which are provided opposite to the base, and a pair of protrusions which are provided in the receptacle adjacent to the opening-side ends, the pair of protrusions protruding inward further than opposing surfaces of the pair of opening-side ends.
US08776327B2
Kits enabling one or more items to be attached or detached using an assembly with a magnet for providing a magnetic attraction strong enough to movably hold the magnet adjacent a first outer plate for a quick connecting and disconnecting of an item.
US08776326B2
A connection assembly incorporating a striker of elongated configuration including a base platform and an elongated pin segment projecting away from one side of the base platform. A housing holding the striker includes a plurality of internal snap arms normally extending in inwardly angled relation. The elongated pin segment extends along an axial passageway such that the distal ball head and at least a portion of the striker shaft project outwardly away from the housing with the internal snap arms behind the base platform. A striker catch engages the distal ball head upon insertion into the striker catch.
US08776322B2
A twist tie device having an elongated piece of shape-retaining deformable material. A cover covers the shape-retaining deformable material along the length of the elongated piece. The cover has a bond between the elongated piece and the cover. The bond between the cover and the elongated piece is along the entire interior surface of the cover. An outer cover may be bonded to the cover. The outer cover may have a gripping surface and a non-gripping surface. The gripping surface will provide more grip for the twist tie device when it is wrapped around itself and the gripping surface will provide more grip when it is wrapped around objects. A nongripping surface being generally smoother than the gripping surface is suitable for containing indicia.
US08776321B2
A hand grip for use on a handle of an assistive mobility device or a bicycle has a body and an integral fin. Both are designed to damp vibration and reduce the force experienced by a user's hand. This is accomplished by using different thicknesses of an elastomeric material in the structural layer of the hand grip and by designing the fin to flex. The grip is covered with a soft elastomeric outer layer that provides additional cushioning.
US08776319B1
The present invention relates to a pin locking dual shaft hinge, including a connecting support, a first core shaft and a second core shaft parallel to each other, a first engaging cam, a second engaging cam and an insertion pin. The connecting support includes a main body and a first connecting member disposed between an upper and a lower end thereof, the first connecting member is penetrated with a penetrated hole. The first core shaft and the second core shaft are respectively pivoted at the upper and lower end of the main body. The first engaging cam is sleeved and engaged on the first core shaft, the periphery of the first engaging cam is formed with at least a first engaging part. The second engaging cam is sleeved and engaged on the second core shaft, the periphery of second engaging cam is formed with at least a second engaging part.
US08776318B2
A slide/tilt mechanism is provided to include a base plate; a slide plate which is slid between a closed position and an open position with respect to the base plate; a guide plate which supports the slide plate to make the slide plate movable; a tilt mechanism which tilts the slide plate with respect to the base plate by inclining the guide plate with respect to the base plate; an elastic member which actuates the slide plate in a slide direction and a tilt direction; and a tilt restriction member which engages the tilt mechanism to restrict the inclination of the guide plate when the slide plate is slid from the closed position to the open position, and disengages the tilt mechanism to permit the inclination of the guide plate when the slide plate reaches the open position.
US08776313B2
A stationery tool has a body and a rubber holding device. The body has a holding end and a holding recess defined in the holding end. The rubber holding device is detachably or securely mounted in the holding recess for holding a rubber to adjust an extension length of the rubber relative to the body and has a clamping segment and a guiding segment. The clamping segment has multiple clamping protrusions for pressing against the rubber. The guiding segment extends outwardly and makes an opening of the rubber holding device have a distance from the clamping segment. Accordingly, the stationery tool has capabilities of adjusting an extension length of the rubber and conveniently replacing a used rubber.
US08776311B2
A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner houses a hollow brush bar mounted for rotation about an axis. This brush bar is driven by a motor housed inside the hollow brush bar, the motor forming part of a drive assembly supported at one end of the cleaner head. The brush bar is arranged for removal from the cleaner head by sliding the brush bar along the axis and out through an opening at the opposite end of the cleaner head and the brush bar is rotatably supported in clearance around the drive assembly by a first bearing, which bearing engages the brush bar in a corresponding axial-sliding fit to allow said sliding removal of the brush bar.
US08776310B2
A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner has a dirty-air inlet provided in a main suction chamber of the cleaner head, an outlet duct extending from the main suction chamber for connection to a suction source, and a rotating brush bar housed inside the main suction chamber for agitating a floor surface contacted through the dirty-air inlet. The brush bar is driven by an air-cooled motor housed inside a hollow section of the brush bar, the motor having an air intake and an air exhaust fluidly connected to one another to form an air cooling path through the inside of the motor. The air intake is connected to a clean air inlet on the cleaner head and the air exhaust is fluidly connected to the outlet duct by an exhaust duct which bypasses the main suction chamber.
US08776301B2
A lint and fuzz ball removing device is disclosed comprising at least one blade attached to an easily grasped and maneuvered body allowing for the quick removal and or detangling of lint, hair and pill balls. The blade surface is entirely covered with particle removing hooks or finger-like projections, including a plurality of flat surfaces, and edges of the blade, allowing for the quick and easy removal of lint, hair, fuzz and pill balls of any shape and size, across broad surfaces or hard to reach areas of clothing and fabric.
US08776297B2
A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the tub for receiving laundry, a gasket provided between the cabinet and the tub, a plurality of spray nozzles provided at a lower part of the gasket for spraying wash water upward into the drum, and a pump for pumping wash water to the spray nozzles.
US08776296B2
A controlling method of a washing machine is disclosed. The controlling method of a washing machine includes washing laundry accommodated in a drum provided in the washing machine, primarily rinsing the washed laundry and an inside of the drum, using clean wash water, primarily dewatering the rinsed laundry and secondarily rinsing the dewatered laundry, using clean wash water.
US08776294B1
A bracket, which is adapted for retaining a mattress, includes two hinge bases for being mounted on a bed frame, two rotating members and a connector. Each of the rotating members has a pivot and a first coupling portion extending from the pivot and being substantially perpendicular to the pivot. The pivots are respectively connected with the hinge bases rotatably. The connector has a transverse portion and two second coupling portions respectively provided at two ends of the transverse portion and coupled with the first coupling portions. As a result, the connector can be easily dismounted from and mounted to the rotating members. When the connector is dismounted from the rotating members, the bed frame is conveniently wrapped and transported.
US08776284B2
A bed moveable from a lowered position to a raised position includes two pairs of guides. In each pair, one guide is oriented so as to be substantially vertical and the other guide is disposed at an angle to the first guide. A lift assembly is located in each guide. A support including a frame is coupled to the lift assemblies. A drive system moves the lift assemblies in two directions, thereby lowering and raising the support. As the support is raised, it moves from a substantially horizontal orientation to a non-horizontal orientation.
US08776279B2
A toilet training system comprises a seat (10) and a complemental base (12). The seat has a central seat member (34) with a curved surface defining a cavity shaped to accommodate a child, with an aperture (36) in its lower surface. The base comprises a cylindrical outer side wall (42) and a partition member extending transversely relative to the side wall to define a receptacle. The partition member has a central portion (50) with a surface which is inclined or curved complementally to the curved surface of the seat member. The seat can be mounted on the base in first and second configurations of the system. In the first configuration, the central portion of the partition member is located relatively close to the seat member, preferably touching it. This corresponds to a training or familiarising mode of use of the system. In the second configuration the partition member is spaced relatively further apart from the seat member, in which mode the system can be used as a potty. In a third mode of use, the seat can be mounted directly on the rim of a toilet.
US08776277B2
The present invention relates to improved toilet dispensing devices for use in conjunction with a sanitary appliance, particularly a toilet.
US08776275B2
This invention concerns protective shoulder pads (2) having a release mechanism (7). The shoulder pads (2) protect an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads (2) against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm. Release mechanism (7) allows the protective shoulder pads (2) to be more safely and easily removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads (2) while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads (2) is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads (2).
US08776268B2
A hand covering comprising a main body having a reception cavity dimensioned for receipt of a hand of a user, a pocket covering that defines a reception region and is secured to said main body along a peripheral edge perimeter of the pocket covering. The pocket covering having a first panel with a free edge and a second panel with a free edge; and the free edges being arranged as to provide an access opening that is positioned inward relative to the edge perimeter and which access opening defines a sheet material insertion or removal location relative to the reception region.
US08776265B2
A swaddling system and method for use when swaddling the upper and lower torso of an infant separately. The system is equipped with fasteners that allow the upper and lower torso portions to be secured separately, and to allow for the changing of diapers without unwrapping the upper torso. In addition, the system allows for the partial swaddling of an infant while in a car or stroller seat.
US08776264B2
A garment for wearing during monitoring of muscle activity of a subject includes a torso portion defining an interior space configured and adapted to accommodate and cover at least a portion of the subject's torso. The torso portion defines an exterior space external to the interior space. A plurality of access fittings are defined in the torso portion. Each access fitting is configured and adapted to accommodate access to skin of the subject adjacent a muscle group to be monitored by a sensor unit external to the torso portion, such that at least a portion of the sensor unit remains external to the torso portion with the sensor unit accessing the skin via the access fitting.
US08782800B2
A security system provides a defense from known and unknown viruses, worms, spyware, hackers, and social engineering attacks. The system can implement centralized policies that allow an administrator to approve, block, quarantine, or log file activities. The system can provide and update a security value that causes host computers to change security levels for a number of different policies. The policies are grouped into a master set of policies and options which are propagated to the hosts from a centralized server. The security value is stored on the hosts and the server, and changes of the value on the server are propagated to the hosts.
US08782798B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for protecting data using a virtual environment, which creates a safe virtual environment that supports the execution of application programs being operated on a computer and which enables important data to be inputted or outputted only within the virtual environment, such that access to the important data is prevented in a general local environment. According to the present invention, data leakage is initially prevented to protect data, and convenience is provided in that a user may use the computer in a general manner while performing desired work.
US08782797B2
Systems and methods to manage same-origin-policy (SOP) failures that occur in a computing environment are provided. In an illustrative implementation, an exemplary computing environment comprises a lockbox module, and an instruction set comprising at least one instruction directing the lockbox module to process data and/or computing application execution commands representative of and a request for a selected operation/feature according to a selected SOP management paradigm. In the illustrative implementation, the SOP management paradigm comprises one or more instructions to deploy a “lockbox” computing application element allowing for the management, monitoring, and control of computing application features/operations operable under a same origin policy.
US08782795B1
Information technology infrastructure comprises a computing environment shared by multiple tenants of a service provider, and a secure assessment environment separate from the shared computing environment. An evidence collection module associated with the shared computing environment collects compliance evidence from the shared computing environment for storage in the secure assessment environment. A tenant assessment interface to the secure assessment environment is provided, through which the tenants can access the compliance evidence as stored in the secure assessment environment in a manner that does not undermine security of the shared computing environment. The compliance evidence may include, for example, information sufficient to allow a tenant to verify that the shared computing environment is configured in accordance with a specified security policy. In an illustrative embodiment, the information technology infrastructure comprises cloud infrastructure of a cloud service provider and the shared computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.
US08782792B1
A computer-implemented method for detecting malware on mobile platforms may include (1) identifying an application on a mobile computing platform subject to a malware evaluation, (2) transmitting the application to a security server, (3) providing emulation information to the security server, the emulation information relating to emulating the mobile computing platform, (4) receiving a result of the malware evaluation as performed by the security server, the malware evaluation including the security server using the emulation information to execute the application within an emulation of the mobile computing platform, and (5) performing a security action based on the result of the malware evaluation. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08782791B2
Systems and methods for computer virus detection are presented. In one embodiment; an computer virus detection method includes: receiving an indication of a change to a file; performing a virus analysis process, including executing the changes to the file in a virtual machine and examining results of the executing the changes; and handling the file based upon the virus analysis. The virus analysis can be performed in a system in which the change to the file occurs. Handling the file can include treating the file as potentially infected with a virus based upon the virus analysis. In one exemplary implementation, examining the results includes comparing the results of executing the changes to the file to other results from executing changes to another file, wherein the file is identified as potentially infected with a virus if the examining results indicates the results of executing the changes to the file are similar to results from executing changes to another file. Examining results includes examining behavior resulting from executing the file (e.g., examining system calls, etc.). Outcome of the examining results can be forwarded for utilization in developing virus data sets.
US08782772B2
A method of communicating data over a network is provided. A secure tunnel may be implemented through the network between two computers. Performance limitations of the secure tunnel with a single session can be alleviated by establishing multiple sessions for the tunnel.
US08782771B2
Providing for employing a real time firewall to secure components of an automation control network from unauthorized communication to or from such components is disclosed herein. A monitoring component can inspect at least a portion of an instance of communication directed toward or originating from a component of the automation control network. Such inspection can, e.g., be a deep packet inspection based on information received from a communication request and/or response protocol. A filtering component can selectively admit or deny propagation of the instance of communication based on the inspection and a predetermined security criterion. In such a manner, the subject innovation can provide for limited access to network components from office network machines and for securing components of an automation control network from influence by unauthorized entities.
US08782755B2
The present invention provides a system and method for dynamically selecting an authentication virtual server from a plurality of authentication virtual servers. A traffic management virtual server may determine from a request received from a client to access content of a server that the client has not been authenticated. The traffic management virtual server can identify a policy for selecting an authentication virtual server to provide authentication of the client. Responsive to the identification, the traffic management virtual server can select, via the policy, an authentication virtual server of the plurality of authentication virtual servers to authenticate the client. Responsive to the request, the traffic management virtual server may transmit a response to the client The response includes an instruction to redirect to the selected authentication virtual server.
US08782751B2
Systems and methods of authenticating user access based on an access point to a secure data network include a secure data network having a plurality of a network access points serving as entry points for a user to access the secure data network using a user device. The user is associated with a user identity, each network access point with a network access point identity. The user uses a user device to send an access request, requesting access to the secure data network, to the network access point, which then sends an authentication request to an identity server. The identity server processes the authentication request, by validating the combination of the user identity and the network access point identity, and responds with an authentication response, granting or denying access, as communicated to the user device via an access response.
US08782725B2
A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, storing contents being downloaded through a FLUTE or an internet in a storage medium, based upon the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content, and displaying a list of recordings including the contents stored in the storage medium.
US08782723B2
A method and apparatus for saving power in a receiver includes a power savings mode selector for enabling a user input power savings mode or an automatic power savings mode based on detected battery life. When in power savings mode, a lower resolution time-advanced stream is selected and processed. The normal stream (generally at a higher resolution) is not decoded thereby requiring less power at the receiver decoder.
US08782720B2
A synchronization apparatus and method for synchronizing playback time of a media provided to multiple devices during service transfer and replication process are provided. The content synchronization system for providing a receiving terminal with content of a sending terminal, the content synchronization system includes the sending terminal; the receiving terminal; and a server configured to provide content to the sending terminal and the receiving terminal and to comprise a communication unit configured to communicate the sending terminal and the receiving terminal and to transmit a message and information about time point at which the message is sent, and a content playback time point calculating unit configured to calculate a first content playback start time point of the receiving terminal in an effort to provide the content of the sending terminal that is synchronized with the receiving terminal.
US08782719B2
Methods and apparatuses for selectively displaying a video program are disclosed. A system for selectively displaying a video program in accordance with the present invention comprises a transmission station, including a server for attaching information to the video program, a plurality of satellites receiving at least an uplink signal which includes the information and the video program from the transmission station and producing a downlink signal based on the uplink signal, an antenna, the antenna receiving the downlink signal, and at least one receiver, coupled to the antenna, for receiving the downlink signal and interpreting the information in the downlink signal, wherein the at least one receiver selectively displays the video program based on at least the interpreted information.
US08782717B2
An AV session restoration method and a control point for performing the same are provided. The method includes collecting AV session information, and restoring the AV session based on the collected AV session information when an error occurs in the AV session.
US08782712B2
An approach is provided for the creation of a media playlist for managing and scheduling content from a variety of media sources including broadcast and online sources. The playlist creation process facilitates efficient resolution of media scheduling conflicts by automatically identifying conflicts and generating alternate playlists to overcome them. The approach also enables a user to share the media playlist seamlessly with other devices and users.
US08782707B2
An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08782706B2
The present invention relates an interactive media guidance application that provides channel groups. Channel groups may include media channels, such as television channels, radio stations, Internet web sites, etc. Channel groups may be organized around a common characteristic, by utilizing user profile information, and by human editorial selection (e.g., by a service provider or by a user). The guidance application provides information on the channel groups, including media listings, reminders, pending and completed recordings, purchased programs, and previously accessed programs for the channel group. The guidance application enables the user to focus a guidance application function on the channel group. In response to a user initiation to execute the function on the channel group, the function may be executed on all the media channels belonging to the channel group. Information on the channel group and access to functions that are executable on the channel group may be concentrated in a channel group portal screen of the guidance application.
US08782700B2
A method controls one or more attributes of a secondary video stream for display in combination with a primary video stream. The method comprises: identifying a primary video stream; identifying a secondary video stream; assigning one or more settings for one or more attributes of said secondary video stream to a predetermined set of one or more user identifiers; identifying the user identifier associated with a given video processing module; determining the one or more attribute settings assigned to the user identifier; and processing the secondary video stream for display in combination with the primary video stream in accordance with the one or more attribute settings for the user identifier.
US08782698B2
A computer-implemented method includes receiving an identification of a media program from a broadcast channel on an electronic program guide for inclusion in a personalized channel, adding the identified program to a personalized channel at a first time, and adding one or more additional programs to the personalized channel at times other than the first time.
US08782695B2
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.
US08782692B2
A method, system, and computer program product provide the ability to recommend, to a first viewer, alternative programming during playback of a first media program. The first media program is played. A second media program of potential interest to the user is identified. During an advertising break, an interface is presented to the user that identifies the second media program. An indication of interest in the second media program is received from the user. If the indication indicates that the user is interested in the second media program, a reference to the second media program is saved as a viewer recommendation for later playback. If not interested, additional input may be received from the user indicating why the user is not interested.
US08782689B2
A method and apparatus are provided for broadcasting at least one complementary element corresponding to a content broadcast to a terminal. The method includes: applying, to at least one portion of the content, at least one index detection function, stored in a database, the detection function delivering an information cue regarding the presence or absence of the index, providing at least one complementary element associated with the index, if a presence cue is emitted; and combining the content and the at least one complementary element, thereby delivering a complete content.
US08782682B2
A method of detecting periodic activity patterns associated with the viewing of audio video content is described. The method includes: recording activity data in an activity log; suppressing the activity log one or more times to suppress non-relevant activity data thereby producing one or more sets of suppressed activity data; passing the one or more sets of suppressed activity data through a signal processing function to convert the one or more sets of suppressed activity data to one or more frequency responses; and analyzing the one or more frequency responses to detect the periodic activity patterns. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08782678B2
There is provided a disk clamping mechanism that supports a disk on a turntable unit under pressure by an attractive force produced between a clamping magnet and a damper constituted in a rotor unit, wherein the clamping magnet is directly fixed at the upper surface of a rotor frame including the turntable unit, and further, the upper surface of the clamping magnet is covered with a centering member for centering the disk.
US08782673B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling users to write scripting code in a first scripting language, and then use a second scripting language to call language constructs written in that first scripting language. Functions, Class Definitions, Class Instances, Modules and other language constructs are treated as first-class objects that can be shared across the different scripting languages. The techniques disclosed herein are also applicable to domain-specific languages. As part of the methodology, a respective underlying representation of each of these object types is designed as an interface and then that interface is implemented in each scripting language. In addition, code is written in each scripting language implementation to allow the latter to use the interface to represent a Function, Class, or other language construct.
US08782668B1
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for processing events using existing computer event capture modules. In a particular embodiment, a method provides a primary event module communicating with an operating system to detect application events generated by user input and processing the application events to determine if a primary event has occurred. The method further provides a secondary event module communicating with the primary event module to obtain an indication of the application events detected by the primary event module and processing the application events to determine if a secondary event has occurred.
US08782665B1
An architecture for a multi-stage manycore processor shared dynamically among a set of software applications, with capabilities for destination task defined intra-application prioritization of inter-task communications (ITC), for architecture-based ITC performance isolation between the applications, as well as for prioritizing application task instances for execution on cores of manycore processors based at least in part on which of the task instances have available for them the input data, such as ITC data, that they need for executing.
US08782648B2
An information processing system includes a first electronic device, a second electronic device and a processing module. The first electronic device processes a first task. The second electronic device processes a second task. The processing module, controls, without utilizing an operating system, the second electronic device to process the second task for a first specific time period during which the first electronic device does not process the first task which was being processed before the first specific time period.
US08782647B2
Method for issuing and monitoring a remote batch job, method for processing a batch job, and system for processing a remote batch job. The method for issuing and monitoring a remote batch job includes formatting a command to be sent to a remote server to include a sequence identification composed of an issuing server identification and a time stamp, forwarding the command from the issuing server to the remote server for processing, and determining success or failure of the processing of the command at the remote server. When the failure of the processing of the command at the remote server is determined, the method further includes instructing the remote server to retry the command processing.
US08782639B2
A computer-readable recording medium stores therein a scheduling program that causes a computer to execute a process. The process includes executing multiple virtual computing machines that operate an OS; receiving a change in the number of activations of completely activated software from the OS; updating when the change in the number of activations has been received, a first table that stores software completely activated in the OS; selecting from a second table that stores combinations of a completely activated software group, a combination according to a software group stored in the first table; extracting from the second table and according to the selected combination, priorities of software stored for each of the combinations; and updating the priorities of the software stored in the first table to the extracted priorities.
US08782635B2
A method and apparatus for installing an application on a computer are disclosed. Following receipt of a request to install an application, a software state, comprising the new application and several of the applications installed on the computer, is derived. Then, the method determines whether the software state can be implemented on the computer. If the software state cannot be implemented on the computer, then the method derives another software state. This is repeated until the derived software state can be implemented on the computer system, or until determining that no software state exists which can be implemented on the computer system.
US08782631B2
Structural information of a process is stored as an instance hierarchy (e.g. parent-child relation) between occurrence nodes comprising occurrence identifications (IDs) and links to objects of an object pool. Efficient management of process versions (e.g. design, build, test, productive, archive) is accomplished by handling occurrences and corresponding linked objects so that a minimum set of data is physically copied. An algorithm governing the physical copying of process data, is described.
US08782629B2
Software performance may be improved by collecting and correlating performance counter events and program execution state information. On each successive callback of performance counter data, a statistical exponential moving average association matrix may be updated until particular performance counter events and program execution states may be correlated.
US08782628B2
Techniques for partitioning an operator flow graph are provided. The techniques include receiving source code for a stream processing application, wherein the source code comprises an operator flow graph, wherein the operator flow graph comprises a plurality of operators, receiving profiling data associated with the plurality of operators and one or more processing requirements of the operators, defining a candidate partition as a coalescing of one or more of the operators into one or more sets of processing elements (PEs), using the profiling data to create one or more candidate partitions of the processing elements, using the one or more candidate partitions to choose a desired partitioning of the operator flow graph, and compiling the source code into an executable code based on the desired partitioning.
US08782627B2
Mechanism that employs code cloning and specialized code execution for barriers to minimize runtime overhead. This is facilitated by duplicating code and inserting specializations of the barriers in the code copies. The mechanism is effective for garbage collection when the garbage collection executes through different phases, and the barrier behavior and overheads depend on these phases. The duplicated and specialized code enables the program to run efficiently by reducing the dynamic count of a phase check when the phase is well-known and phase checks can be avoided.
US08782620B2
A system processes a reified generic. The system includes a memory device to store programming code in a first language, the programming code including a definition and an invocation of an interface method. The system also includes a processor to translate the programming code from the first language to a second language, generate a definition of a general dispatch method, generate definitions of special dispatch methods, each of the special dispatch methods corresponding to each primitive return type of the interface method, and generate an invocation of either the general dispatch method or one of the special dispatch methods based on a return type of the interface method.
US08782601B2
A computer-implemented method includes executing instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server hosting a strongly-typed object-oriented application programming interface (API), a single API call to request data from the strongly-typed object-oriented API, where the single API call includes a tuple having multiple object types, obtaining the requested data and returning the requested data.
US08782594B2
A method is disclosed for structuring a function plan into function plan sections. The function plan includes function modules. Individual function modules are connected to at least one other function module of at least one function module connection. If the function plan exceeds the predefined area of the function plan section, a first determination of the arising function module external connections in an assignment of the individual function modules to the individual function plan sections occurs for each function plan variant, and the individual function modules are assigned to the function plan sections according to the function plan variant having the least possible number of function module external connections.
US08782589B1
A netlist for an integrated circuit design is constrained by virtual or “soft” pins to control or stabilize the placement of logic such as an architectural logic path. One soft pin is inserted at a fixed location proximate an input net of the path and is interconnected with the input net, and another is inserted at a fixed location proximate the output net and is interconnected with the output net. Cell placement is then optimized while maintaining the virtual pins at their fixed locations. More than two virtual pins may be inserted to bound a cluster of logic. The virtual pins may lie along the input/output nets. Pseudo-net weights are assigned to pseudo-nets formed between a cell and the virtual pins, and the pseudo-net weight can be increased for each placement iteration.
US08782587B2
Provided are systems and methods for generating a higher level description of a circuit design comprising a plurality of interface instances. One or more buckets for each source instance with respect to each destination instance included in the circuit design are generated, and then the one or more buckets are sorted based on a number of bucket entries in each bucket. One or more interface instances are generated based on the sorted buckets. The higher level description of the circuit design is generated based on the one or more interface instances.
US08782586B2
Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and program product for routing an electronic design using double patterning that is correct by construction. The layout that has been routed will by construction be designed to allow successful manufacturing with double patterning, since the router will not allow a routing configuration in the layout that cannot be successfully manufactured with double patterning.
US08782576B1
A library of cells for designing an integrated circuit, the library comprises continuous diffusion compatible (CDC) cells. A CDC cell includes a p-doped diffusion region electrically connected to a supply rail and continuous from the left edge to the right edge of the CDC cell; a first polysilicon gate disposed above the p-doped diffusion region and electrically connected to the p-doped diffusion region; an n-doped diffusion region electrically connected to a ground rail and continuous from the left edge to the right edge; a second polysilicon gate disposed above the n-doped diffusion region and electrically connected to the n-doped diffusion region; a left floating polysilicon gate disposed over the p-doped and n-doped diffusion regions and proximal to the left edge; and a right floating polysilicon gate disposed over the p-doped and n-doped diffusion regions and proximal to the right edge.
US08782572B1
A method of optical proximity correction (OPC) includes the following steps. First, a layout pattern is provided to a computer system. Subsequently, the layout pattern is classified into a first sub-layout pattern and a second sub-layout pattern. Then, an OPC calculation based on a first OPC model is performed on the first sub-layout pattern so as to form a corrected first sub-layout pattern and an OPC calculation based on a second OPC model is performed on the second sub-layout pattern so as to form a corrected second sub-layout pattern. Afterward, the corrected first sub-layout pattern and the corrected second sub-layout pattern are output from the computer system into a photomask.
US08782562B2
A navigation system which provides: a navigation front end which provides tiles that are easily identifiable and content-driven vs. context-driven; a navigation system that includes an expanded view/tile paradigm; and a navigation system that allows users to interact with the native operating system environment of the information handling system.
US08782554B2
A computer implemented method is represented for providing to a user a context menu with entries representing relationships. The relationships are applicable to relate objects selected from a set of objects. The method comprises following method operations: receiving a first identification of a first selected object from the set of objects, receiving a second identification of a second selected object from the set of objects, identifying object types of the selected objects in a plurality of object types, determining one or more relationship types of which one or more relationships are applicable to the selected objects by using the identified object types, and generating for the context menu an entry representing a relationship of the one or more relationship types, wherein the relationship is selectable by the user to be created between the selected objects.
US08782552B2
The present invention is directed in general to imaging technologies and more particularly to medical imaging and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) having an image display wherein system features and functions are provided to a user via active overlays located over displayed images. A system and method are provided to imbed an ability to interact with an image by activating traditional annotations that are displayed in conjunction with an image in a PACS. Users are able to access program functionalities in an improved, quicker, accurate and more intuitive means. More specifically, the present invention relates to providing the capability to customize multiple context menus, and flatten the command hierarchy of an imaging system. The present invention also provides the ability to “overload” current text and graphic annotations that are already displayed within an image of interest.
US08782550B1
In one example, a method includes outputting, for display at a presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface including a text display region and a graphical keyboard. The method further includes receiving an indication of a first gesture detected at a location within the text display region, and selecting, based at least in part on the location within the text display region, at least a portion of a character string included in the text display region. The method further includes receiving, while the first gesture is detected at the presence-sensitive display, an indication of at least a portion of a second gesture to select at least one key of the graphical keyboard, and outputting, responsive to receiving an indication of a termination of at least the second gesture, a replacement character string for display within the text display region to replace the portion of the character string.
US08782545B2
A clip book system communicates with an operating system which controls temporal buffering of each clip item in a buffer. It requests the operating system to notify when a clip item of data is placed into the buffer and receives notifications from the operating system. When a notification is received, a data entry controller copies each clip item of data from the buffer into a selected section of a local memory. An information adder adds item information to the copied clip item of data.
US08782541B2
A system and method for capturing screen events, and processing these events to form data in a data format which is susceptible to analysis. Preferably, the method also comprises analyzing the data in order to extract useful information about the user of the screen and computational device which generated these screen events. More preferably, the method of the present invention is able to assess the quality of the performance of the user whose interaction with the computational device caused the screen events to be generated.
US08782527B2
A collaborative phone-based file exchange technique that wirelessly synchronizes a user's work context with his or her mobile phone and makes this context readily available and sharable in collaborative situations. When the user is away from their desk, collaboration with others is possible by sharing/downloading between the mobile phone and a paired PC, which may be a colleague's computer or a meeting room workstation/computer. When the user returns to their office, any recently downloaded files are automatically synchronized back to their office PC.
US08782526B2
A method and a device for processing network element object information in a three-dimensional (3D) topology view are provided. The method includes: in response to a user's operation of selecting a first network element object in the 3D topology view displayed in a window, sending a first instruction to a back-end server; receiving position coordinates and size information of the first network element object from the back-end server; and adjusting position coordinates of the first network element object in the window according to a size of the window and the position coordinates of the first network element object, multiplying the size information of the first network element object by a preset zoom factor to zoom the first network element object, and redisplaying the zoomed first network element object at the adjusted position coordinates in the window. Thus the user can identify the network element object quickly in the window.
US08782519B1
A computer-implemented method for archiving and displaying lengthy documents based on content priority levels may include (1) identifying a document that is to be archived, (2) identifying at least one section of content within the document, (3) identifying a priority level associated with the section of content within the document that prioritizes access to the section of content relative to at least one other section of content within the document, (4) archiving the document based at least in part on the priority level associated with the section of content, and (5) providing prioritized access to content within the archived document in accordance with the priority level associated with the section of content in order to allow a user to access a portion of the archived document without having to access the entire archived document. Various additional methods, systems, and encoded computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08782511B2
Lines drawn on a touch screen with an inputting window opened are recognized as ruled lines which are parallel with a row or column of a spreadsheet, and a square formed by the ruled lines is set to a cell in the spreadsheet when the square is formed. Consequently, it is possible to create the spreadsheet when a user of a computer simply draws a line with a fingertip or the like over the touch screen, and furthermore, it is also possible to input a value to the cell by specifying the square part drawn with the lines to carry out an operation for inputting data. Thus, there is provided a spreadsheet creating interface which makes the most of a visibility and an operability of the touch screen.
US08782499B2
An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless communication is provided. The method includes determining a number of zero-padding bits, determining a number (Npad) of bit groups in which all bits are padded with zeros, padding the all bits within 0th to (Npad−1)th bit groups indicated by a shortening pattern with zeros, mapping information bits to bit positions which are not padded in Bose Chaudhuri Hocquenghem (BCH) information bits, BCH encoding the BCH information bits to generate Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) information bits, and LDPC encoding the LDPC information bits to generate a zero-padded codeword, wherein the shortening pattern is defined as an order of bit groups defined as 6, 5, 4, 9, 3, 2, 1, 8, 0, 7, 10 and 11.
US08782496B2
A memory controller including a buffer configured to perform decoding frame-unit data decoded by an LDPC decoder through partial parallel processing based on a check matrix made up of a block of a unit matrix and a plurality of blocks in which each row of the unit matrix is sequentially shifted and store threshold decision information of the data read from a memory section, an LLR conversion section configured to convert the threshold decision information to an LLR, an LMEM configured to store probability information β calculated during iteration processing that repeatedly performs column processing and row processing based on the LLR in an iteration unit equal to or smaller than a size of the block, and a CPU core configured to transfer the probability information β stored in the LMEM to the buffer every time the iteration processing in the iteration unit is completed.
US08782483B2
Embodiments related to retransmission in a communication system are described and depicted. In one embodiment, a retransmission entity repeats a transmission of a data transfer unit by the device after a predetermined number of other transmitted data transfer units has been transmitted. The retransmission entity may also determine whether a measure for a time period since the first transmission of the data transfer unit by the device has exceeded a predetermined threshold and to provide a final transmission of the data transfer unit based on the determining that the measure for the time period has exceeded the predetermined threshold.
US08782481B2
A receiving terminal is provided that prevents a load on a network near a receiving terminal from increasing when a retransmission request is made to a plurality of other terminals, and enables the probability of being able to compensate for a lost packet by means of a retransmission packet to be increased. In a receiving terminal that transmits a retransmission request for compensating for a lost packet lost in a network, a measurement section measures a time period corresponding to a distance in the network between the receiving terminal and a plurality of receiving terminals, a calculation section calculates for each of the receiving terminals a float (spare time period) found by subtracting the current time and a time period measured by the measurement section from a playback time at which a retransmitted packet is played back, and a decision section decides retransmission request transmission timing and a retransmission request transmission destination for each of the receiving terminals based on the calculated floats.
US08782476B2
A test method for a memory having first and second cell arrays, first compressed data obtained by compressing output data of the first cell array and output data of the second cell array is outputted. When the first compressed data represents that a fail exists, output data of one of the first and second cell arrays is locked as normal data, and second compressed data obtained by compressing the normal data and output data of the other of the first and second cell arrays is outputted.
US08782469B2
One processor core of a plurality of processor cores that are included in a multi-core processor that processes a request from an external device detects a prescribed event, specifies a sub resource that is assigned to the one processor core based on the resource management information that indicates a sub resource of a plurality of sub resources that are included in a physical resource and a processor core that is assigned to the sub resource, and executes a reboot based on the specified sub resource.
US08782467B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a lowest total cost maintenance plan. The method comprises receiving a sequence of maintenance actions in an order of a waiting time for each maintenance action, wherein one of the maintenance actions is likely to repair the failure mode. Each maintenance action has an associated cost equal to a waiting time cost, an execution time cost and a material cost, wherein the waiting time of each maintenance action is the time required to requisition and receive material required to perform the maintenance action. The method also constructs a maintenance plan comprising a primary requisition and a secondary requisition by assigning each of the sequence of maintenance actions to one of the primary and secondary requisition.
US08782464B2
A standby server, a first main server, and a second main server to control shared input/output (I/O) adapters in a storage system are provided. The standby server is in communication with the first main server and the second main server, and the storage system is configured to operate as a dual node active system. The standby server is activated in response to receiving a communication from the first main server of a fail mode of the second main server. Systems and physical computer storage media are also provided.
US08782461B2
A method and system of error recovery of a device attached to a platform without requiring a system reset. In one embodiment of the invention, a platform detects an error(s) of an attached device and shuts down the communication link with the attached device. The platform corrects the error(s) and automatically re-trains the communication link with the attached device. In this way, no reset of the platform is required to correct the detected error(s) in one embodiment of the invention.
US08782459B2
An apparatus is provided that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus. The apparatus includes a resistor network, a core clocks generator, and a synchronous strobe driver. The resistor network is configured to provide a ratio signal that indicates an amount to advance a synchronous data strobe associated with a data group. The core clocks generator is coupled to the ratio signal, and is configured to advance a data strobe clock by the amount. The synchronous strobe driver is configured to receive the data strobe clock, and is configured to employ the data strobe clock to generate the synchronous data strobe, where the synchronous data strobe, when enabled, is advanced also by the amount.
US08782455B2
An image processing apparatus, which is capable of preventing increase in power consumption and operating normally in a first electric power mode even when returning to the first electric power mode from a second electric power mode by an unknown return factor. A storage unit stores a destination setting of the image processing apparatus. A shift unit shifts the apparatus from the second electric power mode to the first electric power mode, when a shift factor is detected in the second electric power mode. A set unit sets a re-shift time for re-shifting the apparatus from the first electric power mode to the second electric power mode, according to the destination setting. A re-shift unit re-shifts the apparatus from the first electric power mode to the second electric power mode, when a predetermined event does not occur in the re-shift time in the first electric power mode.
US08782452B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a memory subsystem comprising a memory controller, multiple memory modules interconnected with the memory controller by one or more communications media, each memory module comprising a substrate to which multiple memory chips are mounted and electronically connected to the communications media, and a power-supply signal routed to two or more voltage regulators within the memory subsystem from a system power supply, the voltage regulators outputting two or more internal power signals, each power signal providing a different, regulated voltage, which are routed to each of the memory chips. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a memory module comprising a substrate to which multiple memory chips are mounted and two or more voltage regulators mounted to, or fabricated within, the substrate.
US08782449B2
A power supply system includes a plurality of power supply units that each includes an output terminal connected each other in parallel to other output terminals each included in other power supply units and connected to a plurality of load units, a power supply section that inputs an input voltage and outputs a first output voltage from the output terminal to the plurality of load units, and a shut-off control section that shuts off the output of the first output voltage from the output terminal based on an inputted stand-by signal, and a management control unit that inputs a configuration information representing a configuration of each of the plurality of load units in which the first voltage is inputted, and outputs the stand-by signal to any of the plurality of power supply units based on the configuration information.
US08782439B2
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module encrypting a data segment utilizing an encryption key to produce an encrypted data segment and performing a deterministic function on the encrypted data to produce a transformed representation of the encrypted data. The method continues with the DS processing module masking the encryption key utilizing the transformed representation of the encrypted data to produce a masked key, partitioning the masked key into a plurality masked key partitions, partitioning the encrypted data segment into a plurality of encrypted data segment partitions, and combining the plurality of masked key partitions with the plurality of encrypted data segment partitions to produce a plurality of combined partitions. For a combined partition of the plurality of combined partitions, the method continues with the DS processing module encoding the combined partition using a dispersed storage error coding function to produce a set of encoded data slices.
US08782438B2
A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving program material for subsequent replay is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving a data stream comprising the program material encrypted according to a first (CW) encryption key, decrypting the program material; re-encrypting the program material according to a second encryption key, and storing the re-encrypted material in a media storage device. The program material is played back by retrieving the re-encrypted material from the media storage device and decrypting the re-encrypted program material. In one embodiment, the media storage device also stores the second encryption key which has been further encrypted by a key that is unique to the device used to receive the program material.
US08782436B2
A method and system for encrypting a plaintext logical data object for storage in a storage device operable with at least one storage protocol, creating, reading, writing, optimization and restoring thereof. Encrypting the plaintext logical data object comprises creating in the storage device an encrypted logical data object comprising a header and one or more allocated encrypted sections with predefined size; encrypting one or more sequentially obtained chunks of plaintext data corresponding to the plaintext logical data object thus giving rise to the encrypted data chunks; and sequentially accommodating the processed data chunks into said encrypted sections in accordance with an order said chunks received, wherein said encrypted sections serve as atomic elements of encryption/decryption operations during input/output transactions on the logical data object.
US08782434B1
A pipelined processor comprising a cache memory system, fetching instructions for execution from a portion of said cache memory system, an instruction commencing processing before a digital signature of the cache line that contained the instruction is verified against a reference signature of the cache line, the verification being done at the point of decoding, dispatching, or committing execution of the instruction, the reference signature being stored in an encrypted form in the processor's memory, and the key for decrypting the said reference signature being stored in a secure storage location. The instruction processing proceeds when the two signatures exactly match and, where further instruction processing is suspended or processing modified on a mismatch of the two said signatures.
US08782431B2
The present invention includes a system and process for generating secured, marked digital files. A cryptographic token is inertly embedded in markup language tags of digital files.
US08782430B2
A system securely buffers hard disk drive data using a host side eXlusive OR (XOR) encryption engine. A host communicates with an encryption interface interposed between the host and a client. Communicatively coupled to the encryption interface is an external buffer for the collection and processing of data. A host side XOR encryption engine, using a random seed, encrypts data originating from the host and places it on the external buffer. Once collected at the buffer and ready for transmittal to the client, the encrypted data is retrieved by the encryption interface and decrypted using the same random seed. The clear data is then encrypted once again using a robust encryption means such as Advance Encryption Standard (AES) encryption by a client side device for conveyance to the client.
US08782424B2
A system and method for sharing data is provided. A request is received from a mobile device to transfer a set of data to a recipient. The set of data is stored by a server and controlled by a user of the mobile device. The request is authenticated, and the data is encrypted. The set of data is transmitted to a recipient specified by the user via the mobile device.
US08782422B2
A data processing system for distributing and authenticating documents from a plurality of parties to a recipient data processing apparatus is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of document distribution devices each configured to generate an original hash value from the content of a file containing a document to be distributed. A recipient data processing apparatus is configured to generate an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values, and to distribute the original super hash value to each of the document distribution devices. The system provides assurance that distributed documents have not been tampered with during communication, by an unscrupulous distributing party, or by an unscrupulous recipient by only submitting a hash value of the document to be distributed. The hash value provides for assurance at the eventual recipient of the document that no changes to the document have been made.
US08782421B2
A system and method for storing identifying information and telephone numbers associated with individuals, and cross-referencing said information so as to link a first individual to other referee individuals capable of identifying the first individual as a result of a telephone conversation. When a relying party wishes to confirm the identity of a contracting party, the system is contacted and, using identifying information pertaining to said contracting party, identifies the set of referee individuals capable of identifying said contracting party, contacts a referee selected at random from the set, and places the contracting party in telephonic communication with the referee. At the conclusion of said telephonic communication, said system invites the referee to state the name of the first individual; by comparing the voice sample with a stored voice sample, the apparatus then provides identity confirmation to said relying party.
US08782412B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method to access privileges of Virtual Mobile Management (VMM) client in mobile device. A disclosed example method contains an assigning embedded stub to raise the access privilege of the tool on a mobile device, the embedded stub is integrated by an operating system of the mobile device with “root” privilege, determining via a secured key exchange algorithm that the VMM client and tools is authorized to be installed on the mobile device then, the VMM client and tools of a mobile device are authorized to access a network interface of the Communication Endpoint Gateway (CEG) server, configuring the embedded stub to install the key exchange procedure for the shared certification between the embedded stub, VMM client and the session mediation server, enabling the embedded stub to communicate through a secure link via VMM client.
US08782407B2
An information processing device includes: a memory having a protected area which is a data recording area in which access restriction is set; and a data processing unit that determines accessibility in response to a request for accessing the protected area from an access requesting device, wherein the data processing unit verifies a device certificate received from the access requesting device and determines accessibility to the protected area based on access control information recorded in the device certificate.
US08782406B2
There is disclosed a method in a communications system for enabling authentication of a sender device and a receiver device in the communication system, wherein the sender device is associated with a self-generated first identity and a first master device, the receiver device is associated with a self-generated second identity and a second master device and wherein the authentication is enabled by utilizing the first master device and the second master device for the sender device and the receiver device to verify the identities of each other. In one embodiment, both the sender device and the receiver device are also associated with a third device ant the third device is used in addition to the master devices for verifying said identities. There is also disclosed a method In a sender device, a method in a receiver device, a method in a third device, a sender device, a receiver device, a third device, and a computer program product for the same.
US08782402B2
Encryption of electronic messages may be automatically processed by a messaging system based on keywords or other attributes of the messages. In one example, if the message includes a predefined keyword, the messaging system may automatically encrypt the message for all recipients outside of a private network. In another example, the messaging system may automatically encrypt messages based on recipient address. Thus, if a recipient is on a list of addresses to which encryption applies, the message being sent to that particular recipient may be encrypted while a copy of the message being sent to other recipients not on the list might remain unencrypted.
US08782400B2
A new trapdoor one-way function is provided. In a general sense, some quadratic algebraic integer z is used. One then finds a curve E and a rational map defining [z] on E. The rational map [z] is the trapdoor one-way function. A judicious selection of z will ensure that [z] can be efficiently computed, that it is difficult to invert, that determination of [z] from the rational functions defined by [z] is difficult, and knowledge of z allows one to invert [z] on a certain set of elliptic curve points.
US08782391B2
Systems and methods for service activation using algorithmically defined keys are disclosed. A consumer who has a relationship with a first party may wish to enroll in a service provided by a third party. The first party can maintain control of such enrollments through the use of algorithmically defined keys. The algorithmically defined keys also allow the third party service provider to verify data provided by the consumer as matching data stored by the first party. The verification provides for data synchronization without requiring the third party to have access to the first parties data systems.
US08782390B2
Diverse requirements of fluidic applications for very different communication environments are satisfied with a control unit for fluidic systems, which can be configured in an extremely flexible manner. A universal computing module is used as a unitary stock item, which includes a programmable logic module, a clock generator, a volatile fast working memory, and a persistent memory, and which is constructed with few peripheral components on a circuit board. The unitary computing module is equipped with all of the required hardware components for the respective application by configuration file, including the functionality for the respective communication environment. Moreover, a dynamic configuration by identification of communication modules connected to the circuit board is also possible. Similarly, reconfiguration in adaptation to a varied environment can be effected.
US08782387B2
A secure boot is provided for a breakout system having multiple subsystems at the edge of a mobile data network. The secure boot utilizes two trusted platform modules (TPM) to secure multiple subsystems. Further described is utilizing a first TPM to boot a service processor and then utilizing a second TPM to secure boot two additional subsystems. Booting of the final subsystem is accomplished in a two step process which first loads a boot loader and verifies the boot loader, and then second loads an operating system load image and verifies the operating system code.
US08782386B2
This document describes techniques for detecting state loss on a device. These techniques permit a computer connected to a device to forgo, in many cases, reinitializing the device when returning to a normal-power mode.
US08782375B2
Managing storage identifiers in a pool is facilitated by providing a hashing-based management protocol in association with a stack which accommodates storage identifiers of the pool. The hashing-based management protocol includes: based on a request, popping a storage identifier from the stack without evaluating for update of a hash link associated with the stack, potentially allowing the hash link to become inconsistent with storage identifiers remaining in the stack; and based on return of a freed storage identifier to the stack, hashing the freed storage identifier and identifying whether there is an inconsistency in the hash link related to return of the freed storage identifier, and based on identifying the inconsistency, one of updating the hash link to remove the inconsistency, or indicating, where ascertained, that the freed storage identifier is a duplicate storage identifier.
US08782363B2
The present invention concerns one of the plurality of first storage apparatuses, prior to a file migration to the second storage apparatus, notifies to the second storage apparatus of file migration information being information relating to the file migration, the second storage apparatus calculates an increment of a load on the second storage apparatus that is generated by the file migration based on information written in the file migration information, the second storage apparatus determines whether the file migration is allowable based on a current load on the second storage apparatus itself and the increment, the second storage apparatus notifies the determination result to the one of the plurality of first storage apparatuses that has notified the file migration information, and the one of the plurality of first storage apparatuses determines whether to migrate the file to the second storage apparatus based on the determination result.
US08782360B2
A method, system and computer-program product for re-initializing a storage volume with an previously created volume map being preserved to allow access to previously stored data sets. The invention includes creating a new volume map in an unused volume area where the new volume map has pointers to new data sets. One of the new data sets contains the previously created volume map that points to previously created data sets. Each volume map is referenced by a volume label and includes a VTOC and an optional VTOC index. The pointers in the VTOC are data set control block (DSCB) records.
US08782356B2
Auto-ordering of strongly ordered, device, and exclusive transactions across multiple memory regions
Efficient techniques are described for controlling ordered accesses in a weakly ordered storage system. A stream of memory requests is split into two or more streams of memory requests and a memory access counter is incremented for each memory request. A memory request requiring ordered memory accesses is identified in one of the two or more streams of memory requests. The memory request requiring ordered memory accesses is stalled upon determining a previous memory request from a different stream of memory requests is pending. The memory access counter is decremented for each memory request guaranteed to complete. A count value in the memory access counter that is different from an initialized state of the memory access counter indicates there are pending memory requests. The memory request requiring ordered memory accesses is processed upon determining there are no further pending memory requests.
US08782343B2
A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are operable to optimize data remanence over hybrid disk clusters using various storage technologies, determine one or more data storage technologies accessible by a file system, and determine secure delete rules for each of the one or more storage technologies accessible by the file system. The secure delete rules include a number of overwrites required for data to be securely deleted from each of the one or more storage technologies. The programming instructions are further operable to provide the secure delete rules to the file system upon a request for deletion of data for each of the one or more storage technologies a specific amount of times germane to secure delete data from the one or more storage technologies.
US08782340B2
Method and apparatus for managing data in a multi-device data storage array. In accordance with various embodiments, a storage array of independent data storage devices are arranged to form a fast pool and a slow pool of said devices. A controller is adapted to migrate a distributed data set stored across a first plurality of said devices in the slow pool to a second plurality of said devices in the fast pool. The migration is carried out responsive to a return on investment (ROI) determination by the controller that an estimated cost of said migration will be outweighed by an overall improved data transfer capacity of the storage array over a predetermined minimum payback period of time. In some embodiments, the fast pool is formed from a plurality of solid-state drives (SSDs) and the slow pool is formed from a plurality of hard disc drives (HDD).
US08782333B2
A data storage system comprising a plurality of buffers configured to store data, a read pointer to indicate a particular one of the plurality of buffers from which data should be read, and a write pointer to indicate a particular one of the plurality of buffers to which data should be written. The write pointer points at least one buffer ahead of the buffer to which the read pointer is pointing. An electronic system and a telecommunications system are further disclosed.
US08782332B2
A DRAM controller including a judging module, a determination module, and a transmission module is provided. The judging module judges an address content difference between a first command and a third command. The determination module determines a plurality of buffering address contents, associated with at least one second command, according to the address content difference. The transmission module then sequentially transmits the first command, the at least one second command, and the third command to the DRAM.
US08782320B2
In one embodiment, a multistage interconnection network (MIN) has two or more configurable stages, each stage having a plurality of switches. The network has one or more unused input terminals, each mapped using fixed switch connections to an unused output terminal. The network also has a set of used input terminals that are selectively mapped to a set of used output terminals based on values of control signals supplied to the stages. Each stage receives a different control signal, and each control signal is generated by cyclically shifting a control seed by a corresponding cyclic-shift value. Fixing the mappings of the unused terminals ensures that the used input terminals are not mapped to any unused output terminals. By storing only the control seed, memory requirements are reduced over networks that explicitly store individual control signals for all of the stages.
US08782319B2
An expandable hybrid storage device for a computer system includes a first storage unit, an expanded storage device including a disk controller and a second storage coupled to the disk controller via a second data transmission interface, and a selection unit coupled to the first storage unit via a first data transmission interface for selectively connecting the first storage unit to a south bridge circuit of the computer system or the expanded storage device, wherein when the expanded storage device connects to the computer system, the selection unit switches the first storage unit to the expanded storage device so that the disk controller is capable of controlling access to the first storage unit or the second storage unit.
US08782304B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for enabling a virtual processing unit to access a peripheral unit, the virtual processing unit being implemented by a physical processing unit connected to the peripheral unit, the method comprising a step of transmitting to the peripheral unit a request sent by the virtual processing unit to access a service provided by the peripheral unit, the access request comprising at least one parameter and an identifier of the virtual unit, the method comprising steps, executed by the peripheral unit after receiving an access request, of allocating a set of registers to the virtual unit identifier received, storing the parameter received in the register set allocated, and when the peripheral unit is available for processing a request, selecting one of the register sets, and triggering a process in the peripheral unit from the parameters stored in the selected register set.
US08782298B2
A method to adjust physical links of serial attached small computer system interface (SAS) expanders of a computing device. The SAS expanders include a first SAS expander and one or more second SAS expanders. When data flow of the physical links of the first SAS expander for transmitting data to a second SAS expander is saturated, the method determines whether the first SAS expander has reserved physical links that can be adjusted. If the first SAS expander has reserved physical links that can be adjusted, the method generates a new firmware, and adjusts the adjusted physical link to the second SAS expander by writing the new firmware to the first SAS expander. The method also adjusts the adjusted physical link to the second SAS expander on hardware circuit.
US08782293B1
A processor and execution units providing intra-processor operation control. In one embodiment, a processor includes a processor core and a peripheral device. The processor core includes a first execution unit and a second execution unit. The second execution unit is coupled to the first execution unit and the peripheral device. The second execution unit is configured to execute a complex instruction, and includes a status register and execution control logic. The status register includes an execution control information field configured to store execution control information. The execution control information specifies operational parameters of the peripheral device. The execution control logic is configured to apply the execution control information to generate execution control signals, and to control operation of the peripheral device via the execution control signals.
US08782287B2
A packet processing system comprises first processing circuitry for performing a first function, and first memory circuitry coupled to the first processing circuitry for storing received packets, wherein at least a portion of the packets stored by the first memory circuitry are usable by the first processing circuitry in accordance with the first function. The packet processing system further comprises at least second processing circuitry for performing a second function, and at least second memory circuitry coupled to the second processing circuitry for storing at least a portion of the same packets stored in the first memory circuitry, wherein at least a portion of the packets stored in the second memory circuitry are usable by the second processing circuitry in accordance with the second function. In an illustrative embodiment, the first processing circuitry and the second processing circuitry operate in a packet switching device such as a router. In such case, the first processing circuitry and the second processing circuitry operate between a packet network interface and a switch fabric of the packet switching device.
US08782285B1
A method of managing resources dedicated to a content object in a content delivery network includes transcoding and storing the content object in one or more of a plurality of delivery formats, and associating a transcoding profile with the content object, the transcoding profile including records of the content object with respect to delivery of the content object to end users across the plurality of delivery formats. The method also includes periodically executing a process that determines, utilizing the transcoding profile, an elapsed time since a most recent delivery of the content object in a particular delivery format to one of the end users, and deletes a copy of the content object in the particular delivery format when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold.
US08782284B2
An extensible deployment system is disclosed that provides for flexible deployment and centralized management of a scalable communication system. The scalable communication system may be segmented into multiple groups of services, e.g. multiple solutions, that may be deployed across one or more servers. The groups of services may each access separate databases in a single database instance that may allow for the groups of services to be deployed and upgraded independently. A management interface may be provided that allows for centralized management, and deployment, of all of the groups of services, irrespective of the independent upgrade paths of the groups of services. The management interface may include a local authentication system and may also be interoperable with one or more external authentication systems, such that users may use login credentials of an external authentication system to access the management interface.
US08782281B2
A multimedia content distribution method including a) storing an item of a multimedia content, b) firstly transcoding the content for playback on a first multimedia device, c) generating a content ID of the firstly transcoded content, d) storing the content ID of the firstly transcoded content in association with the stored content, e) accessing the stored content using the content ID of the firstly transcoded content, and f) secondly transcoding the stored content for playback on a second multimedia device.
US08782275B2
Mechanisms are provided to manage media stream transmissions at a content server. A content server detects that a user on a device such as a mobile device has stopped playing a live media stream. The content server maintains information associating the user with the media stream and time information. When the content server detects that a user wishes to resume playing a media stream, the user can continue viewing the media stream from where stoppage occurred. In many instances, the content server stores many hours of live media stream data and allows a user to select a particular starting point.
US08782274B2
The progressive transmission of a voice message from server hop to hop across the network enables one or more recipients to review the voice message in real-time. A synchronization element is provided to synchronize in real-time the stored copies of the voice message at each server. A first server and any intermediate server hops between the first server and the one or more second servers are each configured (i) store a copy of the voice message, (ii) ascertain the next server hop or hops on the network to deliver the voice message from the sender to the one or more second servers and (iii) progressively transmit only a single copy of the voice message to the ascertained next server hop or hops on the network regardless if the voice message is to be delivered to more than one recipient through any of the ascertained next server hop or hops.
US08782267B2
A system and method for improving media delivery and display. By utilizing a memory buffer in a DVR or similar device, and broadcasting linear content at a rate other than 1×, services like video on demand or regular broadcasters can be more versatile. For example viewers can start over without launching a separate VOD session. If part of the linear content requested is not in the buffer, a switched multicast stream can be sent to with the proper section of content. Other receivers on the network may also receive the stream and buffer the content if the content is related to what a viewer is viewing.
US08782254B2
A method, system and article of manufacture for providing differentiated quality of service in an application server may include receiving a request and accessing pre-determined policy data in a server system. The pre-determined policy data may depend upon the particular client sending the request. A request may include identity, role, requested service, and/or time constraint information. Based upon the request and policy data, a quality of service context may be established, possibly including service class, priority, and/or deadline attributes. The quality of service context may be propagated in the server system with the request.
US08782246B2
Disclosed are systems, methods, computer readable media, and compute environments for establishing a schedule for processing a job in a distributed compute environment. The method embodiment comprises converting a topology of a compute environment to a plurality of endpoint-to-endpoint paths, based on the plurality of endpoint-to-endpoint paths, mapping each replica resource of a plurality of resources to one or more endpoints where each respective resource is available, iteratively identifying schedule costs associated with a relationship between endpoints and resources, and committing a selected schedule cost from the identified schedule costs for processing a job in the compute environment.
US08782245B1
This invention is a system and method for managing provisioning of resources for one or more data storage networks using a new architecture.
US08782238B2
A device may provision two or more servers, each of the servers including a first network interface. In addition, the device may enable a second network interface in each of the provisioned servers, create a shared volume, assign the shared volume to each of the provisioned servers, and enable a clustering application on each of the provisioned servers to form a cluster comprising the provisioned servers, the cluster having a heartbeat via the second network interfaces.
US08782230B1
An XML accessible network device is capable of performing functions in response to an XML encoded request transmitted over a network. It includes a network data transfer service, coupled to a network, that is capable of receiving XML encoded requests from a client also connected to the network. A service engine is capable of understanding and parsing the XML encoded requests according to a corresponding DTD. The service engine further instantiates a service using parameters provided in the XML encoded request and launches the service for execution on the network device in accordance with a command design parameter. A set of device APIs interacts with hardware and software on the network device for executing the requested service on the network device. If necessary, a response is further collected from the device and provided to the client in a response message.
US08782224B2
Systems, methods, and media for method for managing requests for computing resources. Methods may include dynamically throttling requests for computing resources generated by one or more tenants within a multi-tenant system, such as a cloud. In some embodiments, the present technology may dynamically throttle I/O operations for a physical storage media that is accessible by the tenants of the cloud. The present technology may dynamically throttle I/O operations to ensure fair access to the physical storage media for each tenant within the cloud.
US08782212B2
A method and apparatus for identifying operating hybrid solutions is provided. An operating hybrid solution includes a combination of hardware and software components operating together for a particular purpose, such as to provide particular functionality. In various embodiments, mappings are stored to associate operating hybrid solutions with operating criteria that describe devices when the devices are operating according to the operating hybrid solutions. During operation of a device, a monitoring process uses the mappings to determine whether the device is operating as part of an operating hybrid solution. The monitoring process stores an indication of whether the device is operating as part of the operating hybrid solution, and the indication may be provided in response to a request for operating hybrid solution information associated with the device.
US08782189B2
A method for dynamically updating a service level agreement, performed by a cloud computing server, includes storing a preference for service selection, acquiring an actual usage level of a first service provided to a user during a predetermined time period in accordance with a first service level agreement, determining a second service level agreement different from the first service level agreement based on the actual usage level acquired during the predetermined time period, and selecting a second service that satisfies the second service level agreement.
US08782188B2
A method performed by a device includes detecting a first condition to generate a report record associated with the device; generating the report record associated with the device, in response to detecting the first condition, where generating the report record includes recording environment conditions associated with the device, recording device conditions associated with the device, and recording signal conditions associated with the device; detecting a second condition to send the generated report record to a server device; and sending the generated report record to the server device, in response to detecting the second condition.
US08782187B2
A method for monitoring communication in a wind farm network. A server is attached to one or more network nodes in a wind farm network. The server determines whether it is capable of communicating with each of the network nodes and reports the results as a network state. A graphical representation of the network state may be displayed to a user.
US08782185B2
A technique includes network booting a physical machine coupled to a network by a link aggregation group. The technique includes selectively disabling ports of the physical machine associated with the link aggregation group in connection with the network booting until a driver of an operating system to group the ports together is installed on the physical machine.
US08782184B2
A system and method for automatically adapting digital message traffic flow evaluates message delivery disposition, latency and performance metrics such that the system operates more optimally in terms of both overall throughput as well as with respect to system sending reputation. Reputation is in the context of maintaining message flow within limits that are acceptable for a given destination, such that the sender behavior avoids being flagged as abusive or otherwise undesirable.
US08782183B2
An autoconfiguring data router is connected to a communications network subnet having a second network data router. The autoconfiguring data router includes a configuration determination module that determines configuration attributes for operably connecting the autoconfiguring data router to the subnet, and an autoconfiguration module that configures the autoconfiguring data router according to the configuration attributes so that the autoconfiguring data router is operably connected to the subnet.
US08782165B2
Methods and transcoding proxies for transcoding media streams are described. In one embodiment, a method for transcoding a media stream that is delivered to an end-user device over a communications network involves selecting a transcoding technique for the media stream, transcoding a portion of the media stream using the selected transcoding technique, streaming the transcoded portion of the media stream to the end-user device, while the transcoded portion of the media stream is being streamed to the end-user device, detecting a change in a condition of the communications network, selecting a different transcoding technique in response to the change in the condition of the communications network, transcoding a subsequent portion of the media stream using the different transcoding technique, and streaming the transcoded subsequent portion of the media stream to the end-user device. Other embodiments are also described.
US08782159B2
A handwritten or handdrawing messaging system employs a handwriting messaging component operable with a messaging client of a mobile device connected to the data transmission network to set up a handwriting data capture area in the messaging client into which the user can enter handwritten or handdrawn input through a suitable manual input device, and then operates to capture the handwritten or handdrawn input and send it as a handwritten electronic message to the intended recipient. It also sets up a graphical data viewing area within the messaging client for viewing handwritten electronic messages sent to the user. Preferably, it is a small-footprint software module installed with the messaging client of the mobile device. The mobile device can be any type of wired or wirelessly-connected portable device operating on a computing platform, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, game console or player device, or other mobile messaging device. The manual input device can be a touch-sensitive screen, tablet with pen input, stylus pad with stylus input, or an attached drawing pad. The system is particularly useful for messaging via mobile game player devices, so that people all over the world can send handwritten messages, chat, and play handdrawn games with each other.
US08782158B2
Methods and systems are used to share data as authorized by a provider for review by a recipient. As the recipient reviews information, information relating to the amount reviewed is tracked, and the provider is notified of whether or not the recipient has accessed the shared information and/or the extent to which the shared information was reviewed. The shared information may, in some contexts, be video data. Video may be captured and automatically uploaded to a network-accessible location. The uploaded video may then be shared with a recipient. As the recipient reviews the uploaded video, the amount viewed by the recipient can be tracked, and the provider notified of the amount viewed.
US08782157B1
A distributed comment moderation service is arranged to help mediate the moderation of blog comments using a (for example) centralized moderation queue. The centralized moderation queue can be used to automatically (including semi-automatically) outsource blog comment moderation to third party resource providers. The distributed comment moderation service is optionally arranged to provide an indication of an assessment of the quality of the third party resource providers.
US08782154B2
A server transmits a message from a sender to a destination address. During transmission, the server and the destination address have a dialog constituting an attachment, via a particular one of SMTP and ESMTP protocols, concerning the message, the server and the destination address. The message passes through servers between the server and the destination address. This passage is included in the attachment. Verifiers are provided for the message and for the attachments. The verifiers may constitute encrypted hashes of the message and of the attachment. The sender receives the message, the attachments and the verifications from the server before authentication and transmits the message, the attachments and the verifiers to the server to obtain authentication by the server. The server operates on the message and the message verifier to authenticate the message and operates on the attachments and the attachments' verifier to verify the attachments.
US08782153B2
In general, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for migrating social networking connections in a social network from one profile to another profile. A first incoming connection from a third profile in a social network to a first profile in the social network may be determined. A first outgoing connection to a fourth profile in the social network from the first profile in the social network may be determined. A second incoming connection from the third profile to a second profile may be created based at least in part on the first incoming connection. A second outgoing connection to the fourth profile from the second profile may be created based at least in part on the first outgoing connection.
US08782150B2
A method and device is provided for platform independent device communication by detecting a request at a processor-based device to perform a function, determining an external device corresponding to the request, retrieving a tag for the external device for performing a function corresponding to the request and generating a message implemented in XMPP, having embedded therein the tag, wherein the tag is essential at the external device for performing the function corresponding to the request. Receiving the message at a device, determining whether the message comprises a device message, retrieving a tag included in the message, wherein the tag corresponds to an executable command to perform a function and executing the tag to perform the function.
US08782147B2
An apparatus and a method for processing messages. A transport protocol stack receives messages from senders. The transport protocol stack comprises a concurrent stack having an out of band thread pool and a non-out of band thread pool. A channel is formed with a thread from the non-out of band thread pool of the concurrent stack for each sender. Non-out of band messages are processed in parallel for each scope of an application with a non-out of band thread. Non-out of band messages pertains to processes of the application from a same sender. Processes from a scope of the application are unrelated to processes from another scope of the application. Non-out of band messages within a same scope are processed in a predefined order.
US08782136B1
A system and method for providing access to data objects based on proximity. The system and method allow sharing of data objects by identifying one or more client devices proximate to the sharing device. The user of the sharing device may then select one or more of the identified devices with which to share the data object. Aspects of the invention include the ability to enable a “sharing mode” on the client devices to opt-in and allow communication with other similarly configured devices in the area. Access to the data object may be managed via an access control list present on a remote server, with the remote server hosting the data object.
US08782120B2
Disclosed are systems, methods and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for managing resources between a web server and an on-demand compute environment. A system configured to practice the method receives, at the on-demand compute environment, an indication that web traffic directed to a web server should at least be partially served via the on-demand compute environment, provisions compute resources within the on-demand compute environment to respond to web traffic for the web server based on the indication to yield a provisioned on-demand compute environment. The system serves web traffic at the provisioned on-demand compute environment based on an established routing of the web traffic from the web server to the provisioned on-demand compute environment such that the use of the provisioned on-demand compute environment for the web traffic is transparent. After serving the web traffic via the provisioned resources, the system can release the provisioned compute resources for other uses.
US08782118B2
A management method of network printers and a network system using the same, which are capable of easily allowing a network manager to collect management information by allowing the network printers manufactured by different companies to be compatible with each other. When connections between object identifications of the network printers and object identifications of the other network printers are previously set by a user, the network manager can easily collect the management information of the network printers using the same object identification.
US08782115B1
A matrix decomposition circuit is described. In one implementation, the matrix decomposition circuit includes a processing element to process a plurality of processing cells and a scheduler coupled to the processing element, where the scheduler instructs the processing element to process only required processing cells of the plurality of processing cells. In one specific implementation, the required processing cells are processing cells with non-zero inputs. Also, in one specific implementation, the matrix decomposition circuit includes an internal memory that has a rotation angles memory that stores rotation angle values calculated by the processing element, where the rotation angles memory is a first-in first-out (FIFO) memory; a systolic cell internal input values memory that stores systolic cell internal input values, where the systolic cell internal input values memory is a FIFO memory; and a systolic cell values memory that stores systolic cell values, where the systolic cell values memory is an addressable memory. In one specific implementation, where a group of Mtotal input matrices are to be decomposed to Mtotal output matrices, where Mtotal is an integer greater than one, M input matrices are fed into a decomposition circuit to decompose in parallel, where M is an integer less than or equal to Mtotal and is a minimum number required to ensure that processing element latency is hidden.
US08782111B2
A digital filter has a plurality of filters, wherein each filter performs coefficient multiplication and delay processing for an input signal and an output signal, obtains the output signal from the input signal, and includes a plurality of coefficient multipliers for multiplying a signal by a predetermined coefficient. The digital filter also includes a plurality of delay circuits for delaying a signal, and an adder for adding a plurality of signals. A first RAM stores a plurality of sets of coefficient data for a plurality of coefficient multipliers of the first filter and stores delay data for the delay circuit of the second filter. A second RAM stores a plurality of sets of coefficient data for a plurality of coefficient multipliers of the second filter and stores delay data for the delay circuit of the first filter.
US08782109B2
Methods for sample rate conversion are provided that use a polynomial interpolator with minimax stopband attenuation. A method for sample rate conversion of an input signal is provided that uses a time-varying polyphase filter having a discrete polyphase index m. Another method for sample rate conversion of an input signal is provided that uses a time-varying polyphase filter having a continuous polyphase index τ. In these methods, an output time index is mapped to an input sample index and the polyphase index, the polynomial coefficients of a polyphase filter are computed using the polyphase index, and the polyphase filter is applied to an input sample at the input sample index to generate the output sample at the output time index.
US08782102B2
A system is described for creating compact aggregation working areas for efficient grouping and aggregation using multi-core CPUs. The system implements operations including computing a running aggregate for a group within a business intelligence (BI) query, and identifying a location to store running aggregate information within an aggregation working area of a cache. The aggregation working area includes first and second data structures. The first data structure stores running aggregate information that is associated with a group that is accessed frequently relative to a threshold. The second data structure stores running aggregate information that is associated with a group that is accessed infrequently relative to the threshold. The operations also include storing the running aggregate information in either the first or second data structure of the aggregation working area based on a characterization of the group as a frequently or infrequently accessed group.
US08782095B2
A method and system for Dynamic Business Application with a run-time development environment uses Application Intelligence to reduce programming efforts and avoid the “compile-execute” cycle. The approach may be especially useful in the context of an ERP solution platform working with various database engines and multiple, including right-to-left, languages.
US08782090B2
A method of aiding report construction based on inference of implicit application level relationships is provided herein. The method may include the following steps: analyzing a model of a software application to yield data elements associated with base objects of the software application and relationships between the data elements; generating a list of reportable objects comprising the base objects and objects associated with the data elements and their relationships; ordering the reportable objects based on at least one of: content and usage of the reportable objects, to yield an ordered list; and presenting the ordered list in a form usable for building a report on the software application, wherein at least one of: the analyzing, the generating, the ordering, and the presenting, is carried out by at least one processor.
US08782089B2
A process that ensures the virtual destruction of data files a user wishes to erase from a storage medium, such as a hard drive, flash drive, or removable disk. This approach is appropriate for managing custom distributions from a large file sets as it is roughly linear in compute complexity to the number of files erased but is capped when many files are batch erased.
US08782081B2
A database query template and metadata mapping provide an end-user to generate customized database reports via a user interface. The parameters and data available to the end-user can be modified by editing the database query template and metadata mapping without modifications of the underlying system. A database query template includes query language keywords, variables, and template-tokens and defines the metrics, dimensions, data comparisons, filters, and aggregations available to an end-user. Template tokens include restriction tokens for comparing and filtering data, options-section-tokens for defining and omitting sections of the query template, and descriptor tokens for identifying dimensions and metrics of the database. The database query template is transformed into a database query based on values input by a user. The metadata mapping associates the variables of the database query template to the database data model and can include data constraints for validation of user input.
US08782069B2
A system and method of providing information to improve efficiency of human searchers obtaining information on behalf of users is described. A first responder to a request is provided with specialized tools for responding to a request. An initial evaluation of a query may be used to determine the responder and the type of tools which will be provided initially. A toolset which allows rapid responses based on data resources, common queries, and contextual information of a user, a request, partially matching queries and previous responses to previous queries is used to improve the probability that a first responder may provide a suitable response to a query.
US08782060B2
Content ingest can comprise the storage of content and the logging of the descriptive and technical metadata necessary to identify and locate the content. The methods and systems provided herein relate to content ingest utilizing multiple phase processing to account for both standard and non-standard metadata.
US08782059B2
Systems and methods are provided for selecting and importing objects. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for selecting objects for importation. Each object includes data and related processes. In the method, a search query is received including an object type. The object type identifies two or more key fields that uniquely identify the object type specified in the search query. A filter selection is received, which includes one or more values of characteristics or key figures of the specified object type. A database is searched and objects of the specified object type that meet the filter selection are identified. A result is returned to a user indicating the identified objects.
US08782058B2
Various embodiments are described herein that generally relate to systems and methods for generating context specific terms and performing various actions based on the context specific terms. One example embodiment includes a computer-implemented method for generating context specific terms comprising obtaining a collection of terms from at least one electronic file associated with a given context; comparing the collection of terms with a collection of expected terms to generate candidate terms that are not in the collection of expected terms; determining a relevance for each of the candidate terms; and determining whether to add a given candidate term to a collection of context specific terms for the given context if the relevance for the given candidate term is above a threshold.
US08782055B2
A geospatial object property assessment apparatus comprises a processing resource (102) arranged to support a geospatial object property processor (206) comprising a subject data source input (212) capable of receiving a first metadata associated with 10 quality of current source information content used to define a property (408) of a geospatial object; a resource data source input (214) capable of receiving a second metadata associated with quality of candidate resource information content for updating the definition of the property (408) of the geospatial object. The apparatus also comprises an assessment processor (208) operably coupled to the inputs (212, 214), the 15 assessment processor (208) being arranged to use the first metadata and the second metadata in accordance with a predetermined ruleset in order to determine whether the candidate resource information content constitutes a qualitatively better resource to define the property of the geospatial object than the current source information content.
US08782044B2
A file management apparatus includes a storage unit to store a binder to bind one or more files, and a controller to provide a file management window including a binder display field, and to support a function of searching for the stored binder using the file management window. Therefore, files are bound through the binder display field to manage and search for files. Accordingly, utility of binders may increase.
US08782042B1
Some embodiments provide a program that identifies an entity having an entity attribute. The program receives, from each method of several methods, a set of candidate identity attributes that are each for identifying a particular entity having the entity attribute specified in the document. Each method of the several methods generates the corresponding set of candidate identity attributes based on the entity attribute specified in a document. The program calculates a score for each candidate identity attribute in the sets of candidate identity attributes. The program identifies, based on the sets of scores, an identity attribute from the sets of candidate identity attributes that identifies the entity having the entity attribute specified in the document.
US08782040B2
Generating ranked search results includes receiving a plurality of matching information items that match a search request, ranking at least some of the plurality of matching information items using a linear ranking model that linearly combines a first plurality of feature values to obtain a first set of ranked results, ranking at least some of the first set of ranked results using a nonlinear ranking model that nonlinearly combines a second plurality of feature values to obtain a second set of ranked results, and provide a search response based on the second set of ranked results.
US08782035B2
Apparatus for syndicated data stream content provisioning, the apparatus comprising: an interaction tracker, configured to track at least one interaction of a user with at least one content object of a respective one of a group consisting of at least one syndicated data stream received on a computer device, the interaction being implicitly indicative of a preference of the user, a ranking function calculator, in communication with the interaction tracker, configured to calculate a ranking function based on the tracked interaction, and a content ranker, in communication with the ranking function calculator, configured to rank a plurality of content objects of the syndicated data streams of the group, in an order based on the calculated ranking function.
US08782034B1
A system and machine-implemented method for recommending a point of interest includes the steps of obtaining interest information indicating an interest of each of multiple users for a multiple points of interest, obtaining attributes for constraining a search of the multiple points of interest, identifying a point of interest that satisfies the attributes and has the least similarity to the interest information for a first user, and providing information about the identified point of interest for display to the first user.
US08782013B1
Systems, methods, apparatus and software can utilize a markup language to import and export data that is archived using a backup and restore system. An export utility extracts data produced or processed by an application program, converts it into a markup language format, and provides it to a backup and restore system. An import utility extracts data in a markup language format, converts it to another format, and provides the data for use by the application program. In one example, the application program is a database management system.
US08782007B1
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing information are disclosed. In some embodiments, this includes collecting information about a database, determining a first disk to read from based on the collected information, determining a second disk to write to based on the collected information, and performing a write operation on the second disk. In some embodiments, a read operation may be performed on the first disk contemporaneously with the write operation on the second disk, and the read operation may be the only operation performed on the first disk at a time.
US08782006B1
Method and apparatus for file sharing between continuous and scheduled backups is described. One example relates to backing up source data stored by a computer system. A first portion of the source data is backed up at points in time in response to a backup schedule to produce a plurality of partial backups. A second portion of the source data is backed up continuously in response to changes of the second portion to maintain a replica of the second portion. The replica of the second portion is linked to the plurality of partial backups to produce a respective plurality of full backups of the source data.
US08782005B2
Pruning previously-allocated free blocks from a synthetic backup. In one example embodiment, a method of pruning previously-allocated free blocks from a synthetic backup includes identifying multiple sequential backups to be included in a synthetic backup, accessing a copy of a file system block allocation map (FSBAM) of the most recent of the multiple sequential backups that was stored with the most recent backup, identifying a set of blocks that includes the most recent block for each unique block position contained within the multiple sequential backups, pruning the set of blocks to exclude all blocks that are identified as being free in the FSBAM, storing the pruned set of blocks in the synthetic backup, and storing a copy of the FSBAM with the synthetic backup.
US08782002B2
Metadata placeholders are used for distributed processing. The metadata placeholders are added to digital objects. The placeholders are filled with requests to perform certain downstream processing on the objects. The placeholders are at least partially empty so they can be filled in by nodes that perform the downstream processing.
US08782001B2
The disclosed technology enables assistance to software developers by identifying the software application code that needs to be changed or behaves differently, as a consequence of a database schema change. The disclosed technology also enables a provision of automatic transformations, or at least hints for the transformation of the code, to accommodate the database schema change.
US08782000B2
A management device includes a storage unit which stores both an attribute value before correction and an attribute value after correction concerning a configuration item as a management target and type information of the configuration item or relationship information between the configuration item and another configuration item; a determination unit which, when an attribute value input for a new configuration item coincides with the attribute value before correction stored in the storage unit, determines a degree of coincidence between type information or relationship information input for the new configuration item and the type information stored in the storage unit or the relationship information stored in the storage unit; and an output unit which outputs the attribute value after correction based on the determination result of the determination unit.
US08781996B2
Systems, methods and computer-readable media process a series of media files into a searchable format. The method includes generating a media database by processing each of a plurality of programs. The steps of the method include extracting a subtitle track from each of the programs, retrieving at least one frame associated with the subtitle track, adding metadata to the extracted subtitle track and at least one frame, processing the subtitle track, program statistics and at least one frame in a media database. Another aspect includes receiving a user query associated with dialog in a program, searching the media database and presenting a listing of results, receiving a user selection or program from their listing and transmitting at least one frame, a portion of associated subtitle track and prompts for ordering the program.
US08781993B2
Nearly orthogonal latin hypercubes are used in optimization algorithms for creating an expanded and synthetically-generated data set to improve an initial optimization algorithm.
US08781991B2
An emotion recognition apparatus and method are provided. The emotion recognition apparatus acquires a first emotion factor and a second emotion factor of an emotion model. An emotional state of a user is estimated based on the first emotion factor and the second emotion factor. The emotion recognition apparatus may also acquire a third emotion factor of the emotion model.
US08781979B2
Disclosed is a prediction method for monitoring performance of power plant instruments. The prediction method extracts a principal component of an instrument signal, obtains an optimized constant of a SVR model through a response surface methodology using data for optimization, and trains a model using training data. Therefore, compared to an existing Kernel regression method, accuracy for calculating a prediction value can be improved.
US08781966B2
Systems and methods for performing money transfer transactions via a wireless communication device, such as a cellular phone, are provided. The wireless communication device may be associated with, or automatically linked to, at least one payment source account. The wireless communication device may be associated with at least one pre-paid payment source account. In one example, the wireless communication device is a pre-paid cellular phone and/or is associated with a pre-paid money transfer account. The wireless communication device may access a pre-directed phone number, e.g., *55, to access a money transfer service provider. Once connected to a money transfer service provider, a user may initiate a money transfer via the wireless device, which is optionally paid to a payee in-person at a money transfer service provider location.
US08781960B2
A system and method is provided to accept and settle transaction payments for a consumer. The consumer initiates a transaction with a merchant, and the merchant transmits transaction information to a central processing unit using an initiating processing unit. The central processing unit generates a unique transaction identifier. The system may provide the merchant and consumer the nearest payment processing unit. At the payment processing unit, the consumer presents the unique transaction identifier, which is transmitted to the central processing unit for validation. The consumer makes payment at the payment processing unit, and the payment information is transmitted to the central processing unit. The system remits the payment to the merchant.
US08781958B2
A method for monitoring, managing, and facilitating transactions involving a vehicle includes: accessing information including one or more inputs and/or parameters for a transaction involving a vehicle, at least one of the inputs and/or parameters identifying the vehicle or being associated with or established in association with the vehicle; and facilitating or initiating a process of charging an account depending upon the one or more inputs and/or parameters.
US08781953B2
A method of registering a credit card user's credit card information by a credit card management organization. A card user accesses the card management computer system in a computer network. The method provides a user interface whereby the user grants authorization to the card management organization to obtain the card user's credit report from a credit reporting bureau. The method further transmits a request for the user's credit report to a credit reporting bureau and automatically downloads the user's credit report when received. The method further parses the credit report to determine a card issuer for each card on the credit report using a database of card issuer aliases. The method then fully or partially automatically registers each card with the user's account in the card management association and then presents the opportunity to the user to review and edit each card.
US08781952B1
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system related to pooled credit risk. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method related to pooled credit risk. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to computer software related to pooled credit risk. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a financial instrument allocation optimization algorithm. In one example, the financial instrument allocation optimization algorithm may relate to a maximum matching algorithm. In another example, the financial instrument allocation optimization algorithm may relate to a maximum dispersion algorithm.
US08781947B2
Processing and charting security exchange trading and market information shows security traders if current transactions originated as buy orders or sell orders, and simultaneously indicates traded quantity. Security exchange trading information is received that includes the price, volume and time of each trade. In addition, security exchange market information is received from buyers, specifying bide prices and quantities, and from sellers, specifying asking prices and quantities. The security exchange trading and market information is processed simultaneously and displayed as a continuously updated real-time chart depicting the exchange auction process whereby buyers and sellers agree to trade at specified prices, including details of individual transactions. The chart is formed by plotting each trade at the price traded, and for each plot point shows a distinctive icon indication whether the transaction was initiated by a buyer or seller.
US08781944B2
Matching orders on an electronic trading system is disclosed. Information is broadcasted regarding the current order status of an order book of the electronic trading system The order status includes a queue of orders. An order is received to trade that selects or indicates an order in the order book having queue number two or higher. If the received order has one or more properties matching the selected order, the received order is matched with the selected order.
US08781940B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating category selection by a user in a computerized auction. A category field is provided, containing a plurality of category entries used to categorize an item in the auction. One category entry is selected in the category field and at least one subcategory field is provided, containing a plurality of subcategory entries also used to categorize the item in the auction, the subcategory entries corresponding to the one selected category entry of the plurality of category entries. At least one subcategory entry corresponding to the one selected category entry is further selected in the at least one subcategory field for further processing.
US08781939B1
A computer-implemented method including, retrieving information indicative of aggregate income that is attributable to a plurality of collegiate sports teams and income that is attributable to a particular collegiate sports team in the plurality, and for the particular collegiate sports team, determining an athlete residual value that is at least partly based on the aggregate income that is attributable to the plurality of collegiate sports teams and the income that is attributable to the particular collegiate sports team in the plurality, determining, based on the athlete residual value, a portion of the aggregate income that is revenue shared with a particular athlete who is a member of the particular collegiate sports team, and causing the determined portion of the aggregate income to be placed in a student athlete retirement trust for the particular athlete.
US08781933B2
Commercial size of spending wallet (“SoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“SoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. Commercial SoW is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new account evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. Company financial statements are utilized to identify and calculate total business spend of a company that could be transacted using a commercial credit card. A spend-like regression model may then be developed to estimate annual commercial SoSW value for customers and prospects within a credit network.
US08781929B2
A system and method for providing a user with a plurality of guaranteed minimum retirement income payments is disclosed. The system comprises a variable immediate annuity module to receive an income generating payment and to output a guaranteed minimum retirement income payment amount wherein the periodic retirement income payment amount is greater than, equal to, or less than a guaranteed minimum periodic retirement income payment amount if the income generating payments received are received according to a predetermined payment schedule, and wherein the predetermined guaranteed minimum periodic retirement income payment amount is defined by the user. The system also includes an adjustment module for comparing the periodic retirement income payment amount and the guaranteed minimum periodic retirement income payment amount, and for outputting to the user at least the guaranteed minimum periodic retirement income payment amount, the adjustment module storing a balance in an adjustment account if the periodic retirement income payment amount is less than the guaranteed minimum periodic retirement income payment amount.
US08781920B2
Methods, systems, and products track equipment used during surgical procedures. An allowable zone associated with a surgical procedure is identified. The allowable zone determines where surgical items may be used during the procedure. A location of a surgical item is determined. When the location is outside the allowable zone, an alarm is triggered to indicate the surgical item is moving outside the allowable zone towards an area in which the surgical item may not be used.
US08781919B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive a designation of multiple rows to supply data to a single user defined function, which is made available in a structured query language SELECT statement. Further activities may include retrieving the data from at least one storage medium, packing each of the multiple rows having a common key into a single row, and transforming the data from a first state into a second state by applying the single function to the data using a single access module processor. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08781910B2
A system and method for providing ready access to information about a vehicle offered for sale. A linking element is physically located on the vehicle. The linking element can assume many forms, with one example being a printed QR code on a “buyers guide” sticker or a separate sticker. A prospective purchaser uses a smart phone or other portable device to retrieve information based on the linking element. The smart phone then transmits this information over a communication link to a database containing information on many vehicles. The smart phone then receives the information back from the database on the specific vehicle queried where it may be reviewed by the user.
