US08841167B1
A semiconductor package method for co-packaging high-side (HS) and low-side (LS) semiconductor chips is disclosed. The HS and LS semiconductor chips are attached to two opposite sides of a lead frame, with a bottom drain electrode of the LS chip connected to a top side of the lead frame and a top source electrode of the HS chip connected to a bottom side of the lead frame through a solder ball. The stacking configuration of HS chip, lead frame and LS chip reduces the package size. A bottom metal layer covering the bottom of HS chip exposed outside of the package body provides both electrical connection and thermal conduction.
US08841165B2
A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film including a pair of first regions, a pair of second regions, and a third region; a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film; a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode provided between the pair of electrodes with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The pair of first regions overlap with the pair of electrodes, the third region overlaps with the gate electrode, and the pair of second regions are formed between the pair of first regions and the third region. The pair of second regions and the third region each contain nitrogen, phosphorus, or arsenic. The pair of second regions have a higher element concentration than the third region.
US08841146B2
A method for fabricating light emitting diode (LED) dice includes the steps of coating a transparent substrate with a wavelength conversion material, continuously evaluating a correlated color temperature (CCT) of the output electromagnetic radiation produced by the wavelength conversion material and comparing the correlated color temperature (CCT) to a target correlated color temperature (CCT), and controlling the coating step responsive to feedback from the evaluating and comparing step to adjust the correlated color temperature (CCT) to achieve the target correlated color temperature (CCT). A system for fabricating light emitting diode (LED) dice includes a coating system, a monitoring system, and a control system configured to control the coating system to adjust the correlated color temperature (CCT) of the wavelength conversion material on the transparent substrate to achieve the target correlated color temperature (CCT).
US08841142B2
A coating film (90) is formed by causing vapor deposition particles (91) discharged from a vapor deposition source opening (61) of a vapor deposition source (60) to pass through a space (82) between a plurality of limiting plates (81) of a limiting plate unit (80) and a mask opening (71) of a vapor deposition mask in this order and adhere to a substrate while the substrate is moved relative to the vapor deposition mask in a state in which the substrate (10) and the vapor deposition mask (70) are spaced apart at a fixed interval. It is determined whether or not it is necessary to correct the position of at least one of the plurality of limiting plates in the X axis direction, and in the case where it is necessary to correct the position, the position of at least one of the plurality of limiting plates in the X axis direction is corrected. Accordingly, a coating film whose edge blur is suppressed can be stably formed at a desired position on a large-sized substrate.
US08841139B2
A method of fabricating a magnetic memory according to an embodiment includes: forming a separation layer on a first substrate; sequentially forming a first ferromagnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer on the separation layer, at least one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers having a single crystal structure; forming a first conductive bonding layer on the second ferromagnetic layer; forming a second conductive bonding layer on a second substrate, on which a transistor and a wiring are formed, the second conductive bonding layer electrically connecting to the transistor; arranging the first and second substrate so that the first conductive bonding layer and the second conductive bonding layer are opposed to each other, and bonding the first and the second conductive bonding layers to each other; and separating the first substrate from the first ferromagnetic layer by using the separation layer.
US08841137B2
Disclosed is a product that includes an optical sensor; a target-responsive hydrogel matrix on a surface of the optical sensor (where the hydrogel matrix comprises one or more target-specific receptors and one or more target analogs), and one or more high refractive index nanoparticles within the hydrogel matrix, where a detectable change occurs in a refractive index of the hydrogel matrix when contacted with one or more target molecules. Sterile packages and detection devices containing the product, and methods of detecting a target molecule using the product, are also disclosed.
US08841129B2
The invention provides a method of monitoring the response of platelets to a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) inhibitor such as aspirin. The method involves collecting platelet-containing mammalian blood treated with a COX1 inhibitor; mixing the blood with a COX1-dependent platelet agonist, such as arachidonic acid, monitoring extracellular ATP in the agonist-activated blood to generate a measurement, and comparing the measurement to a standard value. Devices, systems, and kits for carrying out the method are also provided.
US08841126B2
Disclosed is a method for introducing a gene into a target cell using a retrovirus vector, which is simple and highly efficient. Specifically disclosed is a method for introducing a gene into a target cell using a retrovirus vector, which comprises the steps of (a) placing a liquor containing a retrovirus vector having a foreign gene carried thereon into a culture vessel on which a retrovirus-binding substance has been immobilized, and incubating the liquor at a temperature lower than 25° C. for 4 hours or longer, thereby producing a culture vessel having the retrovirus vector bound thereto, and (b) adding a target cell to the culture vessel that has been produced in step (a) and incubating the culture vessel. The gene introduction method is simple and highly efficient, and is useful particularly in the fields of medicine, cell technology, gene technology, embryologic technology and the like.
US08841122B2
Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for promoting the expansion of high density non-adherent cells through the use of a cell growth chamber, a mass transfer device, and a fluid circulation loop. Improved cell growth is achieved in the cell growth chamber by using a chamber having a particular orientation and shape, e.g., conical, to create a media-rich reservoir for growing cells. By placing the chamber in a vertical position, the force of media flow along the chamber walls is substantially equal and opposite to the gravitational force on the cells. The interaction of these forces maintains the non-adherent cells in suspension. The use of the cell growth chamber in conjunction with the mass transfer device and fluid circulation loop(s) creates efficiencies by relying on the cumulative and combined features of the devices.
US08841120B2
The present invention provides polypeptides having a composite amino acid sequence derived from a consensus sequence representing the capsid proteins of two or more circulating strains of a non-enveloped virus. In particular, the invention provides virus-like particles comprising at least one composite polypeptide. Such virus-like particles have antigenic epitopes of two or more circulating strains of a non-enveloped virus and produce an increase in antisera cross-reactivity to one or more circulating strains of the non-enveloped virus. Methods of making composite virus-like particles and vaccine formulations comprising composite virus-like particles are also disclosed.
US08841118B2
A detection instrument determines whether a specimen container (e.g., blood culture bottle) is positive for presence of microbial agent growth therein. When the container is deemed positive it is made available (e.g, transferred or exposed to) to an automated instrument performing identification and/or characterization of the microbial agent. The identification and/or characterization instrument removes a portion of the sample from the specimen container and places it into a disposable separation and concentration device. The microbial agent is concentrated via optional selective lysis of non-microbial agent cellular material which may be present and centrifugation. A reading module reads the concentrated microbial agent using spectroscopic methods, e.g., measurements of intrinsic fluorescence. Such interrogation may occur while the microbial agent remains concentrated in the disposable device.
US08841105B2
Disclosed is an organic-inorganic composite material obtained by chemically modifying a microorganism-derived ceramic material with an organic group, and a process for producing the organic-inorganic composite material. The process is characterized by reacting a microorganism-derived ceramic material with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of silane coupling agents represented by formula (1), silane coupling agents represented by formula (2), and titanate coupling agents represented by formula (3). The organic-inorganic complex can be used in applications for immobilized catalysts and immobilized enzyme catalysts.
US08841095B2
The invention generally relates to methods for detecting a target nucleic acid and a target protein in a single assay.
US08841091B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides comprising a carbohydrate-binding module amino acid sequence and an alpha-amylase amino acid sequence as well as to the application of such polypeptides.
US08841090B2
An L-arabinose utilizing yeast strain is provided for the production of ethanol by introducing and expressing bacterial araA, araB and araD genes. L-arabinose transporters are also introduced into the yeast to enhance the uptake of arabinose. The yeast carries additional genomic mutations enabling it to consume L-arabinose, even as the only carbon source, and to produce ethanol. A yeast strain engineered to metabolize arabinose through a novel pathway is also disclosed. Methods of producing ethanol include utilizing these modified yeast strains.
US08841087B2
The present invention relates to a novel mycobacteria culture medium, particularly for mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, that significantly reduces the culture isolation time and thus the time for diagnosing the mycobacteria, particularly those for tuberculosis. A culture medium according to the invention contains defibrinated blood, lecithin, and decomplemented fetal calf serum. The present invention also relates to a culture method and to a method for identifying mycobacteria, particularly bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The present invention also relates to a novel decontamination method through chlorhexidine treatment of biological samples in an isolation and mycobacteria culture medium, and to a method for determining by phenotype the sensitivity of mycobacteria to antibiotics by means of a solid culture medium according to the invention. Finally, the present invention also relates to a method of identification in liquid phase by mass spectrometry which reduces time for diagnosing mycobacteriosis, particularly for tuberculosis.
US08841080B2
The present invention is concerned with tools for the quality control and safety during manufacture of neurotoxins. In particular, it relates to a method for the determination of the amount of partially processed and/or unprocessed Botulinum neurotoxin A polypeptide (BoNT/A) in a solution comprising processed and partially processed and/or unprocessed BoNT/A comprising the steps of contacting a sample of the solution with a capture antibody which specifically binds to the partially processed and unprocessed BoNT/A under conditions which allow for binding of the antibody to the partially processed and unprocessed BoNT/A, whereby a complex is formed, and determining the amount of the formed complex, whereby the amount of the complex is indicative for the amount of the partially processed and/or unprocessed BoNT/A in the solution. Moreover, the present invention contemplates a device and a kit for carrying out the method.
US08841064B2
Disclosed are a positive photosensitive resin composition that includes (A) an alkali soluble resin; (B) a dissolution controlling agent including the compound represented by Chemical Formula 6; (C) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound; (D) a silane compound; and (E) a solvent, and a photosensitive resin film prepared by using the same.
US08841062B2
Disclosed herein is a photosensitive composition comprising a heterocyclic thiol compound or tautomeric form thereof and its method of use on a substrate, which may include a chalcophile substrate.
US08841056B2
A toner is provided which has toner particles and an inorganic fine powder; the toner particles being obtained by suspension polymerization using a specific polar resin. The toner is a toner in which; where, in displacement levels found in a micro-compression test in which a force is applied to a toner single particle at a loading rate of 9.8×10−6 N/sec to measure a displacement level (μm) at a point of time where the force has reached a maximum force of 4.90×10−4 N, the displacement level of the toner at a measurement temperature of 25° C. is represented by X(25) and the displacement level of the toner at a measurement temperature of 50° C. by X(50), and the number average particle diameter of the toner is represented by D (μm), the X(25), X(50) and D satisfies the relations: 0.10≦X(25)/D≦0.35 (1) 30≦[X(50)−X(25)]/X(25)×100≦150 (2).
US08841048B2
In a photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate, an optical film of material containing a transition metal and silicon, and a hard mask film, the hard mask film is a multilayer film including a first layer of a chromium-based material containing 20-60 atom % of oxygen and a second layer of a chromium-based material containing at least 50 atom % of chromium and less than 20 atom % of oxygen. The hard mask film having a thickness of 2.0 nm to less than 10 nm is resistant to fluorine dry etching.
US08841026B2
A cathode, a method of preparing the same, and a lithium battery including the cathode. The cathode includes: a current collector; a first cathode active material layer disposed on the current collector; and a second cathode active material layer disposed on the first cathode active material layer, wherein the first cathode active material layer comprises a lithium transition metal oxide having a layered structure, and the second cathode active material layer comprises a lithium transition metal oxide having a spinel structure and an average working potential of 4.5 V or more.
US08841016B2
A battery module is described. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising at least one cooling fin and a foot on at least one side of the cooling fin assemblies, the foot having a bottom and interlocking profiles on each end, the interlocking profiles on adjacent feet of the cooling fin assemblies interlocking the feet and forming a surface; and a heat sink contacting the surface of the interlocked feet. A method of cooling a battery module is also described.
US08841014B1
An electrode for a lithium ion battery includes a liquid metal having a melting point that is below the operating temperature of the battery, which transforms from a liquid to a solid during lithiation, and wherein the liquid metal transforms from a solid to a liquid during delithiation.
US08841003B2
In an organic electroluminescent element comprising an anode layer, an organic luminescent layer, an inorganic compound layer (or reductive dopant layer) and a cathode layer; the organic luminescent layer comprises an aromatic amine compound of a formula (1), and/or an aromatic amine compound of a formula (2) wherein A, B, and Ar1 to Ar6 are independently a C6-60 aromatic group which does not contain a styryl group nor an alkenyl group, at least one of A, Ar1, Ar2, or B, Ar3 to Ar6 contains at least three condensed aromatic rings, and p, q and r of a condensation number are an integer of 1 to 6. The element has significantly long half-life and high luminance even at low driving voltages.
US08840995B2
Methods are disclosed for preparing lignin from lignocellulosic biomass using rapid full or partial pressure reduction to separate and pulverize the lignin without fouling the equipment and with improved energy recovery.
US08840994B2
Methods for applying a liner-free, or liner-less label, to a substrate, particularly glass or plastic (e.g., PET) substrates are described herein. The method includes applying an adhesive composition, such as a polymeric coating, to a label face sheet, activating the adhesive composition with an activating fluid, and contacting the label to the substrate. The activating fluid is preferably a mixture of water and one or more organic solvents, such as low molecular weight alcohols. In some embodiments, the labels exhibit a percent fiber tear greater than about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95% after one, two, three, four, or five minutes. In particular embodiments, the labels exhibits a percent fiber tear greater than 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95% after two minutes.
US08840992B2
The curable resin composition of the present invention contains inorganic particles and a curable resin. The inorganic particles includes an inorganic particle (a-1) having a Mohs hardness of 7 or more and an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less, an inorganic particle (a-2) having a Mohs hardness of 4 or more to less than 7 and an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less, and an inorganic particle (a-3) having a Mohs hardness of less than 4 and an average particle diameter of 1 μm or less. The curable resin is at least one selected from a group consisting of a thermosetting resin and an active energy ray-curable resin.
US08840974B2
Disclosed is an optical film having a hard coat layer on a cellulose ester film, which contains an ester compound composed of a furanose structure or a pyranose structures and a sum of a number of the furanose structures or the pyranose structure is 1 to 12, provided that a part of hydroxy groups of the furanose structure or the pyranose structure has been esterified and a part of hydroxy groups of the furanose structure or the pyranose structure remains.
US08840971B2
A method for manufacturing coated panels of the type including at least a substrate and a top layer, provided on the substrate, with a motif, may involve providing a synthetic material layer on the substrate, and providing a relief on the surface of the synthetic material layer. The relief may show a pattern of recesses and/or protrusions. The pattern may be at least partially determined using a light-projection technique.
US08840970B2
Functionalized multilayer structures are manufactured by a process whereby a substrate material is treated with a reactive-gas plasma to form an activated layer on the surface thereof, and then by depositing a liquid functional monomer on the activated layer to form a self-assembled functional layer. Any excess liquid monomer must be allowed to re-evaporate in order to obtain optimal functionality on the surface of the resulting structure. The deposition of the liquid layer is preferably carried out with high kinetic energy to ensure complete penetration of the monomer throughout the body of the substrate. For particular applications, prior to formation of the reactive layer the substrate may be coated with a high glass-transition temperature polymer or a metallic layer.
US08840965B2
In various embodiments, provided are silicon-containing coatings; silicon-containing coatings comprising microstructures that are responsive to one or more stimuli; oxidized products of said silicon-containing coatings; bulk solids; oxidized solids and powders; methods of preparing such coatings, solids, and powders; and substrates comprising the provided coatings.
US08840955B2
A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium is disclosed, as well as a magnetic recording medium manufactured by the method. In the manufacturing method, the uneven pattern has magnetic recording elements in protruding portions formed above a substrate, and depressed portions between the recording elements are filled with a filling material. The method allows a high quality magnetic recording medium to be manufactured inexpensively by eliminating the process of removing excess filling material used to fill depressions between magnetic recording elements, because the method allows material to be filled only in the depressed portions of an uneven pattern. The method includes a technique rendering the wettability of the protruding portion surfaces and the depressed portion surfaces different prior to the process of filling with the filling material.
US08840954B2
Provided is a transparent carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode comprising a net-like (i.e., net-shaped) CNT thin film and a method for preparing the same. More specifically, a transparent CNT electrode comprises a transparent substrate and a net-shaped CNT thin film formed on the transparent substrate, and a method for preparing a transparent CNT electrode, comprising forming a thin film using particulate materials and CNTs, and then removing the particulate materials to form a net-shaped CNT thin film. The transparent CNT electrode exhibits excellent electrical conductivity while maintaining high light transmittance. Therefore, the transparent CNT electrode can be widely used to fabricate a variety of electronic devices, including image sensors, solar cells, liquid crystal displays, organic electroluminescence (EL) displays, and touch screen panels, that have need of electrodes possessing both light transmission properties and conductive properties.
US08840948B2
Provided is a concentrated coffee composition containing chlorogenic acids at a high concentration and having good taste or flavor. The concentrated coffee composition of the present invention contains the following components (A) and (B): 100 to 300 mg/g of chlorogenic acids (A) in dry solids content; and not more than 0.33 mg/g of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (B) in dry solids content, wherein the dry solids content is 10 to 100 mass %.
US08840945B2
The present invention has as an objective to provide protein particles which have strongly reduced surface activity, and can be used as an ingredient in foams and aerated food products while not interfering with stabilisers at the gas bubble interface. This invention provides a method to produce such aggregated protein particles, as well as the aggregated protein particles which have strongly reduced surface activity.
US08840936B2
The present invention relates to an herbal tea without excipient used as milk supplement. The herbal tea comprises the following medicinal materials: Raw Semen Coicis, Herba Lophatheri, Setaria Italica, Prepared Semen Coicis, Fructus Hordei Germinatus, Fructus Setariae Germinatus, Medulla Junci and Triticum Aestivum, wherein the Triticum Aestivum is used as a forming agent in the herbal tea. The method of preparing the herbal tea comprises the following steps: (a) weighing the medicinal materials according to the formula of herbal tea; (b) mixing the medicinal materials except for Triticum Aestivum together, decocting the resulting mixture with water 1-3 time(s), each time lasting for 0.5-2 hours, then combining the decoctions obtained from each time, filtering, and concentrating the resulting filtrate into a concentrated solution with relative density of 1.0-1.3 g/cm3; (c) pulverizing the weighed Triticum Aestivum into particles of 15-40 mesh size, then dispersing the concentrated solution obtained from the step (b) to the pulverized particles of Triticum Aestivum; (d) fully drying the pulverized particles of Triticum Aestivum loaded with the concentrated solution obtained from the step (c), then packing the particles in a desired product form. The herbal tea of the present invention is specially suitable for babies who have trouble with intestine heat and stomach heat resulted from their long-term intake of milk product, since long-term intake of undesired components such as sucrose or other excipients which are not beneficial for their health is avoided.
US08840935B2
The invention relates to an orally administrable mucoadhesive film which comprises one or more bioactive ingredients and, as a major film-forming polymer, at least one alginate which is capable of forming a low viscosity aqueous solution. Also provided is a process for preparing such films.
US08840932B2
Antiseptic compositions, as well as methods of making and using, wherein the compositions include: an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of iodine (I2), an iodophor, and a combination thereof, wherein the antimicrobial agent is present in an amount sufficient to provide an available iodine concentration of at least about 0.25 wt-%; a hydroxycarboxylic acid buffer in an amount of at least about 5 wt-%; water; and an optionally substantive film-forming polymer.
US08840919B2
A medicant composition is provided. The composition includes a film layer and a powder matrix layer. The powder matrix layer includes a medicant. The powder matrix layer is applied to the film layer by admixing particulate to form a powder matrix and by then applying the powder matrix to the film layer by any desired method. The composition of the powder matrix is varied to alter the dissolution rate of the medicant, the adhesion of the medicant composition, and other physical properties of the powder matrix. The powder matrix layer can be cured.
US08840901B2
The present invention relates to the use of Yersinia outer protein M (YopM), a YopM fragment, or a YopM variant, which is capable of autopenetrating the cell membrane and of integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors for delivering a cargo molecule across the membrane to the cytosol of a cell. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising YopM, a YopM fragment, or a YopM variant being capable of autopenetrating the cell membrane and of integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors for the regulation of inflammatory reactions of the immune system and the treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity of the host. The present invention further relates to a YopM fragment or variant, which is capable of autopenetrating the cell membrane and of integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirements of additional factors as well as such proteins or YopM linked to a cargo molecule.
US08840891B2
The invention provides an isolated antibody for the TSHR which is an antagonist of TSH. The invention also relates to methods of using antibodies of the invention.
US08840888B2
Provided herein is a method for assessing the risk of potential adverse effects for a human patient mediated by the administration of a CD19.times.CD3 bispecific antibody to said patient comprising determining the ratio of B cells to T cells of said patient, wherein a ratio of about 1:5 or lower is indicative for a risk of potential adverse effects for said patient.
US08840882B2
The present invention relates generally to conjugates of human ribonucleases and water-soluble polymers, compositions comprising the conjugates and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides conjugates of human ribonucleases and one or more water-soluble polymer compositions (e.g., to increase serum half-life and a pharmacokinetic profile, in vivo biological activity, stability, and/or reduce host immune response to the protein in vivo) as well as methods of using the conjugates in the therapy, treatment, and/or prevention of disease (e.g., cancer).
US08840873B2
A method of treating burns, preferably second and third degree burns, by administration of an oxidative reduction potential (ORP) water solution that is stable for at least twenty-four hours is provided.
US08840870B2
The present invention relates to hair care and personal care compositions which contain an acrylic copolymer which is polymerized in the presence of at least two different classes of crosslinking monomers. The polymer functions both as a fixative/film former and a thickening agent for hair styling and personal care compositions in which it is contained. The copolymer exhibits advantageous fixative, film forming and rheological gel properties.
US08840865B2
Complexes of heterocyclic radionuclides are prepared based upon ligands having substituted pyridyl and imidazolyl groups. The ligands are bifunctional, having amino acid residues that may act as a linker to a bioactive molecu le, and a tridentate chelator that may complex the radionuclide. The bioactive molecule may be a peptide or somatostatin.
US08840863B2
A method for the synthesis of nano-products, such as atomic titanium oxide wires. The method allows wires of anatase titanium oxide wires to be formed in a range of tunable diameters and aspect ratios in the nanometer and subnanometer size scales. The method also allows the titanium wires to be capped by oleic acid to enhance dispersing and solubility. The method allows the titanium wires to be surface doped with nitrogen species to enhance stability and functionality such as enhanced absorption in the visible wavelength region, which is useful for photodegradation of organic wastes in water by sunlight.
US08840856B2
To provide an imide salt represented by the formula wherein, R represents a halosulfonyl group (—SO2X1 where X1 is a halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine) or dihalophosphoryl group (—POX2X3 where X2 and X3 are the same or different halogens such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine), and M represents an alkali metal; with high selectivity and high efficiency by using a low-cost starting material. In the production of an imide salt, an alkali metal fluoride, a sulfuryl halide or phosphoryl halide, and ammonia or an ammonium salt are reacted. According to this method, a desired imide salt can be produced with high yield, while greatly suppressing the production of a by-product.
US08840855B2
A method for using a polymer-carbon sorbent for removing one or more of carbon dioxide, heavy metals or toxic materials from a flue gas from coal-fired power plants is described. The sorbent comprises a carbonaceous sorbent material and a cured amine-containing polymer, and sulfur. The polymer-carbon sorbents are formed by curing a curable amine-containing polymer in the presence of the carbonaceous sorbent material, sulfur, a cure accelerator and, optionally, a cure activator. A convenient carbonaceous sorbent material is an activated carbon, and a convenient curable amine-containing polymer is an allyl-containing poly(ethyleneimine), having a number average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 10,000. The polymer-carbon sorbents may contain sulfur in molar excess of an amount needed to cure the curable amine-containing polymer. Such polymer-carbon sorbents are shown to capture more mercury, in both elemental an ionic forms, compared to activated carbon and adsorb carbon dioxide.
US08840852B2
The invention relates to a sampling valve, for taking samples of fluid from a common collecting vessel in order to perform a plurality of analyses using reagents. The valve of the invention comprises two members that are movable relative to each other, comprising a sampling member having sampling loops, each intended to receiving an aliquot of fluid, and a connection member capable of assuming at least three functional positions relative to the sampling member. These three positions enable the delayed access to two separate sampling circuits in order to fill them and to dispense reagents to the loops that make them up.
US08840850B2
A flow channel structure includes a substrate having a flow channel formed therein, and plural fibrous bristles extending from the inner wall of the flow channel. The flow channel is configured to allow a solution to flow through the flow channel. The inner wall of the flow channel is made of silicon. The flow channel is configured to allow a solution to flow through the flow channel. This flow channel structure can homogenize the solution inside the flow channel.
US08840848B2
Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.
US08840843B2
An air pollution control apparatus includes at least one denitration catalyst layer for reducing the amounts of nitrogen oxides in flue gas from a boiler and oxidizing mercury with hydrogen chloride sprayed into the flue gas. Spraying pipe headers 51 are disposed in a flue gas duct 19. The spraying pipe headers 51 are inserted into the flue gas duct 19 and arranged in a direction orthogonal to the direction of a gas flow in the flue gas duct 19. At least four spray nozzles 52-1 to 52-4 are disposed at intervals on the spraying pipe header 51 to form a vertical vortex flow 53 in the gas flow direction. A swirling diffuser plate is disposed on an opening side of the spray nozzles to form the vertical vortex flow in the gas flow direction, wherein the swirling diffuser plate has a flat shape at one side parallel to the spraying pipe header and a wavy shape corresponding to the nozzle intervals on the header at the other side. The diffusion of hydrogen chloride is thereby facilitated in a rapid manner. Therefore, the number of the nozzles can be reduced, and the uniformity of the concentration of hydrogen chloride at the location of the catalyst can be ensured even when the spacing between the nozzles is increased.
US08840842B2
A system for reducing biological and/or chemical contaminants within a feed fluid stream includes in one embodiment at least one recuperator having a cold pass and a hot pass, wherein a contaminated fluid stream is introduced into the cold pass of the recuperator; optionally heating the feed fluid stream using a heater; and introducing the feed fluid stream into a compressor, and compressing the fluid stream to an elevated pressure, resulting in heating of the fluid stream to an elevated temperature, thereby producing a decontaminated fluid stream.
US08840834B2
An ultra-high strength steel sheet has a tensile strength of 1400 MPa or higher that can achieve both high strength and good formability and an advantageous method for manufacturing the steel sheet and includes a composition including, on a mass basis C: 0.12% or more and 0.50% or less; Si: 2.0% or less; Mn: 1.0% or more and 5.0% or less; P: 0.1% or less; S: 0.07% or less; Al: 1.0% or less; and N: 0.008% or less, with the balance Fe and incidental impurities. The steel microstructure includes, on an area ratio basis, 80% or more of autotempered martensite, less than 5% of ferrite, 10% or less of bainite, and 5% or less of retained austenite; and the mean number of precipitated iron-based carbide grains each having a size of 5 nm or more and 0.5 μm or less and included in the autotempered martensite is 5×104 or more per 1 mm2.
US08840816B2
Spherical particles of one or more elemental metals and carbon are prepared from a precursor in the form of a metal oleate. The metal oleate precursor is dispersed in a liquid vehicle and aerosol droplets of the dispersed precursor are formed in a stream of an inert gas. The aerosol droplets are heated in the stream to decompose the oleate ligand portion of the precursor and form spherical particles that have a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure. The open mesopores of the spherical particles provide a high surface area for contact with fluids in many applications. For example, the mesopores can be infiltrated with a hydrogen absorbing material, such as magnesium hydride, in order to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the particles.
US08840814B2
A lithium titanate product, the formula of which is in the form of LixTiyOz, and wherein y is 1, the x:y molar is 1.1-1.8, while the z:y molar ratio is 2.0-4.5. Also disclosed is a method of preparing alkali metal titanates, such as lithium titanate, at a low temperature of below 100° C., from an aqueous titanium-containing slurry and an alkali metal compound.
US08840807B2
To provide a polymerizable compound having a high solubility in a liquid crystal composition, and laterally having a ring structure; a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device using the composition; and the polymerizable compound includes a compound represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or methyl; A1 and A2 are a single bond, 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1 is a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 3 carbons, Z2 is —O—, —COO—, —OCO— or alkylene having 1 to 6 carbons, Z3 is a single bond or —O—, Z4 is a single bond or alkylene having 2 to 20 carbons; X1 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; and a is 0 or 1.
US08840799B2
A thermoelectric material that comprises a binary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of metal oxide dispersed therein, and has electrical properties of ternary doped materials. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of nanoparticles.
US08840797B2
A unique and cost-effective method for producing a multilayer ceramic structure by using a first green film that contains a ceramic material, and the multilayer ceramic structure produced thereby. The method including the steps of:(a) producing at least one porous region in the first green film, the at least one porous region extending from the surface of the first green film;(b) applying a first layer, in sections, to the surface of the first green film, wherein one section of the first layer is located above the at least one porous region produced in step (a);(c) positioning at least one additional green film on the surface of the first green film, to which the first layer has been applied;(d) laminating the first green film and the at least one additional green film to form a green film composite; and(e) sintering the green film composite.
US08840789B2
A local sewage processing unit is provided that receives sewage from a local source of sewage, extracts water from the received sewage that is suitable for re-use and includes a pump that is configured to pump sewage from a receiving section of the local sewage processing unit into a pressure sewer network, as required.
US08840784B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and devices for minimizing band spreading of compositions separated by chromatographic processes. One embodiment of the present invention features a device (11) for holding a separation column or cartridge. The device (11) includes a housing (15) having a chamber for receiving one or more columns or cartridges. The columns and cartridges have an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging fluid and a column axis corresponding generally with the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The columns and cartridges are suitable for performing separations in which a constant temperature is desirable. The housing (15) further includes a heating element for maintaining said chamber at a constant temperature. The device (11) further includes positioning means (17) for placing the column and cartridge outlet in proximity to a detector.
US08840781B2
There is provided an additive and method for removal of calcium from crude oil or its blends containing calcium naphthenate at low pH as well as at high pH varying from 5 to 11, preferably from 6 to 11, more preferably from 7 to 11, wherein the additive is glyoxal and said pH is of the wash water for crude oil processing systems.There is also provided an additive and method for removal of calcium from crude oil or its blends containing calcium naphthenate, wherein crude oil is treated with wash water containing alkaline medium selected from the group comprising sodium hydroxide (NaOH or caustic), ammonia or amine compound, or mixture thereof, and wherein pH of the wash water or of the processing mixture in the desalter varies from 5 to 11, preferably from 6 to 11, preferably from 7 to 11, characterized in that the additive is glyoxal and the crude oil or its blend is treated with glyoxal.
US08840776B2
A method for estimation of hematocrit of a sample having an analyte includes: bringing the sample into contact with a sensor strip including a reference electrode coated with a reference layer nonreactive to the analyte, and a working electrode coated with a working layer including a biorecognition element reactive to the analyte; applying a voltage between the reference and working electrodes, and recording information of a reaction current flowing through the sample within a time period of not greater than 5 seconds from beginning of application of the voltage; and estimating the hematocrit of the sample by analyzing the recorded information using a predetermined current-hematocrit function.
US08840775B2
A gas sensor includes a housing having disposed therein a membrane electrode assembly comprising a sensing electrode, a counter electrode, and a polymer membrane disposed between the sensing electrode and the counter electrode. The polymer membrane comprises an ionic liquid retained therein. The sensor also includes a catalyst support that can be stable in a range of potentials to allow for detection mode and catalyst regeneration mode to be operative. The sensor further includes a circuitry and algorithm to implement the catalyst regeneration mechanism electrochemically. The sensor further includes a chamber for reference gas to which the counter electrode is exposed, and a chamber for test gas to which a gas to be tested is exposed. The sensor also includes a pathway for test gas to enter the chamber and a measured electrical circuit connecting the sensing electrode and the counter electrode.
US08840771B2
An electrochemical method for producing a hole extraction layer in a solar cell based on organic semiconductor materials. Conjugated polymers are used to build a hole extraction layer and a photoactive layer. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is used as a hole extraction layer and is deposited electrochemically from an aqueous solution on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. A nanofibrilar or nanogranular morphology of the PEDOT is achieved by carrying out the polymerization in the presence of a surfactant. A photoactive layer of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) can be deposited by spin-coating technique on top of the PEDOT layer.
US08840765B2
The present invention concerns an electrochemical sensor for determining oxygen dissolved in an aqueous measuring medium, a process for its production as well as a method for determining oxygen dissolved in an aqueous measuring medium using the electrochemical sensor.
US08840764B2
An electrolysis apparatus comprises an electrolysis cell to electrolyze a first fluid to generate a product fluid. The electrolysis apparatus also comprises a fuel cell to electrolyze an electrolytic fluid and to heat a second fluid. The electrolysis apparatus also includes a fluid transfer arrangement to transfer the heated second fluid from the fuel cell to the electrolysis cell to provide heat to drive the electrolysis of the first fluid in the electrolysis cell.
US08840760B2
The object of the process of the invention is to increase the retention of starch in the sheet of paper in order to reduce operating costs and increase the physical characteristics of the paper. To that end, it has been envisaged that trivalent cationic salts are added, metered into the slurry or in the process for obtaining starch in powder form or by mixing a percentage of trivalent salts in powder form with the starch in powder form, seeking the solution of said salts in the slurry, so that they dissolve during the dispersion of the slurry in the process for obtaining the sheet of paper. Organic polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyvinylamides and polydadmacs could optionally be applied in addition to said salts.
US08840746B2
An apparatus and method of manufacturing sheets with varying concentrations of particles are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises manufacturing a first sheet having a varying concentration of particles. A second sheet having a second concentration of particles and a first shape with varying thickness is provided. A third sheet having a third concentration of particles and a second shape with varying thickness is provided. The second sheet and the third sheet are merged to generate the first sheet.
US08840737B2
Aluminum alloy products having improved property combinations and method for artificially aging same
Aluminum alloy products about 4 inches thick or less that possesses the ability to achieve, when solution heat treated, quenched, and artificially aged, and in parts made from the products, an improved combination of strength, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance, the alloy consisting essentially of: about 6.8 to about 8.5 wt. % Zn, about 1.5 to about 2.00 wt. % Mg, about 1.75 to about 2.3 wt. % Cu; about 0.05 to about 0.3 wt. % Zr, less than about 0.1 wt. % Mn, less than about 0.05 wt. % Cr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities and a method for making same. The instantly disclosed alloys are useful in making structural members for commercial airplanes including, but not limited to, upper wing skins and stringers, spar caps, spar webs and ribs of either built-up or integral construction.
US08840732B2
A door for a dishwasher, in particular for a domestic dishwasher, the door serving for opening and closing the interior of the dishwasher, comprising an inner door which, when the door is closed, is oriented towards the interior and has a surround comprising a top and a bottom periphery, which run essentially horizontally when the door is closed, and two side peripheries, which run essentially vertically when the door is closed, wherein a feed device for dispensing additives is arranged on the inner door, essentially centrally between the side peripheries and in the top third, in particular in the top quarter, of the region between the top and bottom peripheries.
US08840728B2
The present invention is a template treatment apparatus forming a film of a release agent on a template having a transfer pattern formed on a front surface thereof, the template treatment apparatus including: a treatment station forming a film of a release agent on the front surface of the template; and a template carry-in/out station capable of keeping a plurality of the templates, and carrying the template into/out of the treatment station, wherein the treatment station includes: a cleaning unit cleaning the front surface of the template; a coating unit applying a release agent to the cleaned front surface of the template; a heating unit baking the applied release agent; and a carry unit carrying the template to the cleaning unit, the coating unit, and the heating unit.
US08840720B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a polycrystalline silicon thin film, including a crystallization container filled with silicon oil, crystallization electrodes spaced apart from the crystallization container, and a conductive plate positioned between the crystallization electrodes and connected with the crystallization electrodes. Because an insulating layer between the amorphous silicon thin film and the conductive plate is formed by using silicon oil filled within the crystallization container, Joule-heating induced crystallization (JIC) can be performed through a simpler manufacturing process.
US08840719B2
The invention provides a coated inorganic oxide pigment. The inventive coated inorganic oxide pigment comprises an inorganic oxide base pigment, a porous inorganic coating formed on the base pigment, and a dense inorganic coating formed on the base pigment. The porous inorganic coating and dense inorganic coating each consist essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of silica and alumina. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a coated inorganic oxide pigment. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a polymer composition comprising a base polymer, and a coated inorganic oxide pigment admixed with the base polymer.
US08840715B2
A treatment solution for ink-jet recording includes water; and a compound represented by the following general formula (1) or a salt thereof, wherein in the general formula (1), m is an integer from 2 to 6, n is an integer from 20 to 40.
US08840714B2
A wet scrubber (1) and a method of using the wet scrubber to clean a process gas containing sulphur dioxide comprising at least one spray level system (20) with atomizing nozzles (38) to which an absorption liquid is supplied for atomization by the nozzles (38). The method comprises operating the spray level system (20) in at least a first operating mode with an active nozzle density of at least 0.7 nozzles/m2, an absorption liquid flow of at least 10 m3/hour per nozzle and a Total Flow of at least 30 m3/hour/m2.
US08840711B2
A modular element having a high-temperature stable main body, including at least one metallic or ceramic plate, which has at least one through-going aperture for the insertion of a ceramic capillary membrane and at least one potting in the form of a sufficiently gas-tight and high-temperature stable joint between the metallic or ceramic plate and the ceramic capillary membrane. The through-going aperture of the metallic or ceramic plate having an extension for accommodating the sufficiently gas-tight and high-temperature stable joint on at least one side of the metallic or ceramic plate.
US08840708B1
A method for recovering methane gas from a landfill involves the use of a main absorber, a flash system, an ancillary absorber and a polishing absorber. The main absorber uses a main current of solvent for absorbing most of the carbon dioxide from raw landfill gas. The flash system removes much of the carbon dioxide from the solvent exiting the main absorber. A portion of the solvent downstream of the flash system is diverted to the ancillary absorber in which a current of air removes additional carbon dioxide from that portion of solvent. From the ancillary absorber, the diverted portion of solvent flows through the polishing absorber to remove additional carbon dioxide from the main current of solvent that was previously treated in the main absorber. To increase the energy content of the processed gas, in some examples, propane is added to the final outgoing gas stream.
US08840706B1
A composition, process and system for capturing carbon dioxide from a combustion gas stream. The composition has a particulate porous support medium that has a high volume of pores, an alkaline component distributed within the pores and on the surface of the support medium, and water adsorbed on the alkaline component, wherein the proportion of water in the composition is between about 5% and about 35% by weight of the composition. The process and system contemplates contacting the sorbent and the flowing gas stream together at a temperature and for a time such that some water remains adsorbed in the alkaline component when the contact of the sorbent with the flowing gas ceases.
US08840705B2
A method for producing ozone for use in ozonolysis reactions. Oxygen is separated from the mixture of ozone and oxygen from an ozone generation unit and is fed back to the oxygen feed to the generation unit. Nitrogen is fed to the ozone separation unit and the mixture of nitrogen and ozone is fed to the ozonation reactor where the ozone will react with organic compounds to produce desired end products.
US08840703B1
A liquid hydrocarbon slug-containing vessel for incorporation into a system integrating a low-pressure separator with a vapor recovery process system, and a method for regulating the temperature of a gas to be compressed by a two stage compressor so as to prevent liquification of the gas and to prevent over-heating of the compressor.
US08840694B2
An abrasive article includes a bonded abrasive body having abrasive particles contained within a bond material. The abrasive particles include silicon carbide and are essentially free of carbon-based and boron-based sintering aid materials. In an embodiment, the bond material can include a phenolic resin. In another embodiment, the bonded abrasive body can include an oxide phase disposed interstitially between the silicon carbide abrasive particles. In an additional embodiment, the abrasive particles can consist essentially of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide in a ratio of silicon carbide to alumina of at least about 8:1.
US08840684B2
The invention relates to a process for dyeing and/or lightening keratin fibers such as the hair, using i) at least one cationic direct dye bearing a disulfide, thiol or protected thiol function especially of formula (I) as defined in the description and ii) water vapor. The invention also relates to the use i) of at least one cationic direct dye bearing a disulfide, thiol or protected thiol function combined with ii) water vapor, for dyeing and lightening keratin fibers, and to the use of water vapor for grafting onto keratin fibers dyes bearing a disulfide, thiol or protected thiol function. The process used and the use of thiol, protected thiol or disulfide dyes combined with water vapor makes it possible especially to obtain a long-lasting coloration on keratin fibers without the use of a reducing agent and without odor.
US08840680B2
Systems and methods for controlling jointed mechanical devices are is provided, where the device is controlled based on a topographic state (300) map having one or more motion axes (D1, D2) and defining a plurality of poses and a plurality of transitions in parallel with one of the motion axes, In the map, each motion axis is associated with complementary types of motion in the device and each of the transitions associated with at least two of the poses. A method includes the steps of receiving a control signal and determining a mechanical state of the device within the topographic state map. The method further includes identifying potential transitions associated with the mechanical state based on the topographic state map. The method also includes adjusting the mechanical state based on the control signal if the control signal is associated with a type of motion associated with one of the identified transitions.
US08840678B2
Methods of treating renal cancers and other kidney-related inflammatory disorders with a bioabsorbable polymer scaffold (such as a stent) are described. The treatments are provided as alternative to complete or partial surgical removal of a diseased kidney.
US08840677B2
The present invention provides a system, device, instruments and methods for inserting and/or improving the holding strength and purchase of a bone screw, bone pin, or bone dowel in bone. Embodiments include monolithic allograft tissue forms, multi-piece allograft tissue forms, distally expandable portions, partially and fully demineralized portions, and flexible connecting portions. Advantages of the allograft tissue forms of the present invention include improved pedicle screw blackout strength and improved filling of bone voids. Methods for making and instruments and techniques for inserting the augmentation device, system and screws or pins are also disclosed.
US08840671B2
The present disclosure relates to a stemless shoulder prosthesis comprising a fixation device for fixing the prosthesis to a resected humerus bone, the fixation device comprising a base portion and anchoring means, the base portion having a distal side adapted to contact a resection plane of the bone and a proximal side for carrying a humeral head. The anchoring means are connected to the distal side of the base portion and adapted to fix the prosthesis to the bone. The anchoring means define a central axis perpendicular to the distal side of the base portion and a free central space around the central axis.
US08840668B1
A spinal fusion implant having a body dimensioned for use in the cervical spine. The body has an anterior height that is greater than the posterior height and a fusion aperture defined by an anterior wall, posterior wall and first and second lateral walls. The anterior wall includes a plurality of fastener apertures extending therethrough at oblique angles relative to the horizontal axis. The plurality of fastener apertures have an anterior diameter that is greater than the posterior diameter and include an annular groove dimensioned to retain the head of a bone fastener therein.
US08840660B2
Endoprostheses are disclosed.
US08840652B2
Polyaxial bone anchors include a retainer for holding a shank within a receiver, the retainer being in at least two discrete pieces and cooperating with a variety of inserts, some of which independently lock the polyaxial mechanism. Polyaxial and mono-axial bone anchor assemblies include pivot and/or pressure inserts or pads that cooperate with longitudinal connecting members to provide a desired degree of continued control of angulation of the longitudinal connecting member in the sagittal plane or to hold the connecting member in place. Pressure pads for deformable rods may also be made from a deformable plastic material.
US08840651B2
A stem-like bone fixation device allows for bony in-growth on its surface and across fracture fragments or between bones that are to be fused.
US08840646B2
Devices and methods for replacing one or more spinous processes of a patient include a replacement body with a lamina portion positionable anteriorly toward the spinal canal along with a spinous process portion extending posteriorly from the lamina portion to replace a removed spinous process. Connecting elements extend from opposite sides of the body for connection to the vertebral body with anchors.
US08840643B2
A segmented suture anchor for fixation of soft tissue to bone. The segmented suture anchor is formed of multiple body segments that allow the suture anchor to be inserted and passed through a curved instrument such as a curved cannulated guide. At least two of the multiple body segments are connected by a strand of material (for example, a flexible suture strand, a suture tape, nitinol strand, or high-strength suture). The strand of material may be attached to the anchor by a connecting region (for example, a bonded or knotted region). The strand of material may also form a closed loop or eyelet attached to the suture anchor, to allow additional suture strands to be loaded through the closed loop or eyelet and aid in the fixation of soft tissue.
US08840637B2
Devices, systems, and methods for delivery of therapeutics, in particular thrombolytic agents, in particular plasmin, are provided. The devices, systems, and methods also provide for occlusion of a vessel or graft distal and/or proximal to a treatment zone. Also provided are devices, systems, and methods that trap emboli.
US08840631B2
A subcutaneous fasciotomy is performed to relieve pressure due to compartment syndrome. A small incision is made in a patient's skin. A surgical instrument is advanced through the entry location, and moved between the skin and the fascia of the patient to a remote location, with a cutter of the instrument in a stowed configuration. After reaching the remote location, the cutter is deployed to pierce an initial opening in the fascia at the remote location. The fascia is maintained adjacent a blade of the cutter via a notch shape that traps the fascia. The instrument is then withdrawn back toward the entry location with the blade incising the fascia to relieve pressure in the muscle compartment. The surgical instrument is then removed through the entry incision.
US08840625B2
Systems, methods, apparatus and devices for performing improved gynecologic and urologic procedures are disclosed. An access sheath is provided with at least one lumen, and a lens attached thereto. The various embodiments enable procedures to be performed outside the hospital setting, such as in a doctor's office or clinic.
US08840620B2
An instrument of an instrument set is used to insert an implant into a disc space. The implant comprises a first cage and a second cage and the instrument comprises a distal end configured to push the cage first inserted into the disc space laterally in its proper anatomical location. Said distal end of the instrument has a tip, which is curved and has a curved inner side configured to contact an outer curved side of the first cage. The instrument set allows the insertion of two cages through a relatively small incision in the interdisc space in a simple yet safe procedure.
US08840618B2
A method for treating a vertebral bone comprises providing a bone filling material and mixing the bone filling material in a vessel to form a bone augmentation material. The method further comprises pressurizing the vessel with a pressurization source to retain a plurality of voids within the bone augmentation material. The method further includes inserting a material delivery device into the vertebral bone and injecting the bone augmentation material with the retained plurality of voids from the material delivery device and into the vertebral bone.
US08840605B2
A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing sleeve, a shape memory sleeve at least partially disposed within the housing sleeve, and an optic fiber disposed within the shape memory sleeve and within an inner bore of the handle. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber.
US08840601B2
Disrupting tissue and devices and systems for disrupting tissue. The disclosure describes ways to deliver moieties to a target tissue, where the target tissue in general is not at the point of introduction, in such a way that minimal damage is produced in the tissue at the point of introduction. In some embodiments this is accomplished by jetting fluid at high velocity into the target tissue. The disclosure further describes novel agents deliverable in such systems for use in remodeling tissues. Some of these agents comprise a liquid while others do not. Additionally, although not specifically described in detail much of the disclosure may additionally be used in the delivery of therapeutic drugs.
US08840600B2
A chassis of a diaper includes a first outer sheet defining a front waist region and a part of a crotch region, a second outer sheet defining a rear waist region and a part of the crotch region and a middle sheet connecting these sheets and defining a part of the crotch region. To the skin-facing side of the chassis, a liquid-absorbent structure is attached. The liquid-absorbent structure is provided with first and second elastic sheets overlapping front and rear ends of the liquid-absorbent structure, respectively. The first elastic sheet is attached under tension in a transverse direction and in contractible manner between a bottom surface of the liquid-absorbent structure and the first outer sheet and the second elastic sheet is located on a skin-facing surface of the liquid-absorbent structure and attached thereto under tension in the transverse direction and in contractible manner.
US08840596B2
A system and method for more efficient cleaning and sterilizing of surgical handpieces by using a removable valve assembly. The valve assembly is removable to provide access to a first suction passageway and a second suction passageway for cleaning purposes. The valve assembly has a protrusion that engages with a handpiece to secure the assembly to the handpiece. The protrusion of the valve assembly may also be retracted into the valve assembly to allow the valve assembly to disengage the handpiece thereby allowing the valve assembly to be removed from the handpiece. The first suction passageway may also be removable.
US08840595B2
Systems and methods provide for more efficient cleaning and sterilizing of surgical handpieces by using a removable valve assembly. The valve assembly is removable to provide access to a first suction passageway and a second suction passageway for cleaning purposes. The first suction passageway may also be removable.
US08840587B2
A system includes a durable portion with a durable housing and a separable disposable portion with a disposable housing that selectively engage with and disengage from each other. The disposable housing secures to a patient and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient or with an infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion to allow for disposal after a prescribed use. A reservoir for holding the infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion, and may be supported by the disposable housing. The durable portion may include other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of the infusion medium from the reservoir, and a drive device including a motor and drive linkage.
US08840582B2
This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a pump configured to deliver a fluid, an input and a controller. The controller is configured to receive via the input information related to physical activity of a user and to automatically calculate a change in insulin therapy based on an amount of carbohydrates metabolized by the physical activity.
US08840577B1
A flexible valve for a connectors is described. In one example, a flexible valve for a connector includes a head having a top section and a column section defining an axial center of the head, wherein the top section includes a top planar surface that is non-perpendicular with respect to the axial center of the column section; a primary seal portion coupled to the head; and a lower portion coupled to the primary seal portion.
US08840575B2
An orthotic fitting has a knee guide joint and two leg parts, which can be rigidly connected to a lower leg mounting part and an upper leg mounting part, respectively. The knee guide joint has a four-joint arrangement having four axially parallel joints, arranged so that, at the ends of the leg parts in each case angled lever parts are configured, each having two swivel bearings arranged at a distance from each other, and that in each case the swivel bearing of an angled lever part closer to the leg is connected to the swivel bearing of the other angled lever part further from the leg, in each case by a swivel element.
US08840569B2
Device (1) for measuring muscular capacity, comprising: removable fastening means (12) for fastening the device to the athlete or to the moved weight (3; 2); autonomous electrical power supply means (15); a display (11); a three-axis accelerometer (14) for delivering a sequence of accelerations (a(t)) along the axis of movement of the weight, said sequence comprising at least 100 measurements per second over a duration between 1 and 10 seconds; and data processing means (16) for determining, at the end of the test, on the basis of said sequence of accelerations, at least one quantity representative of the muscular capacity of the athlete and for displaying this quantity on said display (11).
US08840558B2
The present subject matter provides apparatus and methods for physically fitting a hearing assistance device, including mathematically characterizing a person's ear canal. The apparatus includes an expandable balloon for positioning in the ear canal, the balloon including a hollow interior channel. A flexible catheter extends through the interior portion of the balloon, and the flexible catheter includes a track. A platform is movably coupled to the track. An ultrasonic transducer and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor are coupled to the platform. The ultrasonic transducer scans the ear canal and the MEMS sensor senses motion and position of the transducer. According to various embodiments, a mathematical representation of the ear canal is adapted to be computed using information from the transducer and sensor.
US08840557B2
An apparatus (10) for measuring one or more labor progress parameters (25) as the dilation of the endocervical canal (8), the rotation and the position of the head (4) of the foetus (3) during the descent, the duration and the intensity of the uterine contractions, other morphological and physiological parameters, without introducing foreign objects into the body of a pregnant woman (2) and independently from the sensitivity of the operator. The apparatus (10) comprises automatic means for tracking, in a sequence of ultrasound images (11,12) that are obtained by an ultrasound probe (1), one or more regions of interest (ROI, 21), that may be both two-dimensional or three-dimensional and are centered about anatomic reference points (28) that define said parameters selected in a reference image by a displaying unit (14). The tracking means comprises: a) a means for calculating a function (f) at the pixels of the ROI of the reference image and of images preferably sampled among the images of the sequence, b) a means for calculating iteratively at the positions of the ROI in subsequent images, by a means of comparison between the values of the function (f) calculated in the pixels of the ROI of a current image and the values of the function (f) calculated in the pixels of the ROI of a subsequent ultrasound image; c) a means for comparing each position of the ROI with the position of the ROI in the reference image and for calculating the labor progress parameter responsive to said comparison. The new position of the region of interest may be defined as a domain in which a predetermined object function assumes a minimum value.
US08840555B2
An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer adapted to obtain a dynamic series of echo signals of a subject tissue at different deformation states, and an image processor for generating and displaying ultrasound images of the tissue. The processor is configured to generate dynamic images that correspond to the dynamic series of echo signals, identify a plurality of pixels within a region of interest (ROI) of a first of the generated images, evaluate local tissue mechanical behavior by tracking the displacement, deformation, and echo intensity of the identified plurality of pixels from the first image to subsequent images based on groups of pixels that correspond to each of the identified plurality of pixels, determine tissue functionality in the subject at the tracked pixel locations, and display the tissue functionality in dynamic images that corresponds to the tracked pixel locations.
US08840551B2
A capsule system comprising a first capsule (16) configured to be ingested by a subject, a second capsule (18) configured to be ingested by the subject separately from the first capsule, the first capsule having an electromagnetic element (29, 30) and a sensor (22, 23) for sensing a physiological parameter of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, the second capsule having a magnetic element (29, 30) and a sensor (22, 23) for sensing a physiological parameter of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, the first capsule and the second capsule having an active state wherein a magnetic force is selectively provided between the first and second capsules attracting the first and second capsules while the capsules are within the gastrointestinal tract of the subject and having an inactive state wherein the magnetic force is absent, and a control (26/32) configured to selectively place the capsules in the active state from the inactive state while the capsules are within the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.
US08840548B2
The information relating to physical and/or biomedical parameters of a person carrying out, in real conditions, an activity distinguished by high mechanical stresses is detected by sensors (10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 30) which are mounted on, or form part of, a garment worn while carrying out said activity. During all the stages of said activity this information is converted into data in digital format which are stored in an electronic recording device (100) or “data logger”.Advantages: the stored data may be used by other persons also far from the location where the activity is being performed and/or at a later time.
US08840545B2
An endoscope includes an insertion portion which is to be inserted into a subject, and an operation portion which is connected to a proximal end of the insertion portion, and held by a user. A light source is provided in the operation portion. A heat transmission frame is provided with the light source in the operation portion, is able to transmit heat generated by the light source, and is at least partially electrically insulated. An external heat radiation part is connected to the heat transmission frame, is at least partially exposed to the outside of the operation portion, and radiates heat transmitted to the heat transmission frame to the outside of the operation portion.
US08840542B2
A device and method for minimizing exposure of soft mucosa tissues to radiation, the device including a low-volume intracavity balloon catheter having multiple expansion portions, including an isometrically expanding portion and a substantially planar anterior portion.
US08840541B2
An implantable device monitors a pressure of fluid within an inflatable portion of a gastric band. The implantable device comprises a tube defining a lumen, and a pressure sensor positioned within at least one of the lumen or the tube. The pressure sensor is configured to sense the pressure of the fluid within the inflatable portion of the gastric band. The pressure sensor is also configured to transmit a pressure signal based on the pressure to a microcontroller, which transmits the pressure signal to a remote control device. The pressure sensor confers strain relief upon at least a portion of the tube, and the pressure sensor shields at least a portion of the tube from puncture by a needle.
US08840536B2
Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing a monitor/treatment device configured to, for example, detect hemozoin, as well as to monitor or treat a malarial infection.
US08840526B2
A method for controlling an exercise apparatus via a control interface of an exercise apparatus, including steps of controlling a touch screen to display an information field, and then monitoring the touch screen to detect whether a touch has occurred on the surface of the touch screen and whether the touch is located in an input zone which has a plurality of sensing areas in the information field. A user can use one of specific actions to move a first tag in the input zone from a first sensing area to a second sensing area. And one of the steps of the method relocates the first tag proximate to the second sensing area to have a portion of the first tag to point at the second sensing area. Then, the final step of the method operates the exercise apparatus from a first condition using a first value corresponding to the first sensing area to a second condition using a second value corresponding to the second sensing area.
US08840522B2
An apparatus for controlling a variator having at least one roller between two toroidal disks may include at least one actuator responsive to fluid pressure at separate high side and low side fluid inlets thereof to control torque applied by the at least one roller to the disks. First and second variator switching valves may each receive a first fluid at a first pressure and a second fluid at a second lesser pressure. The first and second variator switching valves supply the first fluid to the high side fluid inlet and the second fluid to the low side fluid inlet during two of four different operational states together defined by the variator switching valves, and supply the second fluid to the high side fluid inlet and the first fluid to the low side fluid inlet during each of the remaining two of the four different operational states.
US08840520B2
A method is provided for shifting a transmission having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. At least one of the torque transmitting devices is a dog clutch or a band clutch. The method includes applying a torque transmitting mechanism to interconnect a first member of a planetary gear set with another member of a planetary gear set or a stationary member. The method also includes applying the dog clutch or band clutch to interconnect a second member of a planetary gear set with another member of a planetary gear set or the stationary member, after the first torque transmitting mechanism is applied. After the dog or band clutch is applied, the torque transmitting mechanism is released.
US08840514B1
A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly for engaging secondary driven shafts in a four wheel drive vehicle. The assembly includes a differential housing with a pinion input gear rotatably disposed within it that is engaged to a drive shaft. A bi-directional overrunning clutch housing is engaged to the pinion gear. A roll cage assembly is located inside the clutch housing. A pair of hubs are positioned within the roll cage assembly and connected to the secondary driven shafts. An electromagnetic system controls indexes the roll cage in a first direction relative to the clutch housing a first indexing device for coupling the secondary drive shaft to the secondary driven axles when four wheel drive is needed, and in an opposite direction using a second indexing device when an engine braking condition is needed. A spring assembly is preferably used to bias the roll cage back to a neutral position.
US08840505B2
A system for controlling a transmission fluid circuit includes a lube circuit, a source of control pressure, a first valve for engaging and disengaging a control element whose engagement produces desired forward gears, and a control valve, responsive to control pressure, that alternately connects the lube circuit to a sump and disconnects fluid feed to the first valve, and disconnects the lube circuit from the sump and feeds fluid to the first valve.
US08840502B2
A propulsion device (2) for a vehicle including an output shaft (14) of a combustion engine (4), an input shaft (27) of a gearbox (8), an electrical machine (6) having a stator (24) and a rotor (26), and a planetary gear (10) including movable components (18, 20, 22). A locking sleeve (38) is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the engine output shaft (14) and the gearbox input shaft (27) are allowed to rotate at different speeds via the planetary gear (10). In the second position, the locking sleeve (38) firmly connects the engine output shaft (14) to the gearbox input shaft (27) via the planetary gear (10). Also a method for controlling such a propulsion device (2) is disclosed.
US08840496B2
Disclosed is a cooling air intake structure for a V-belt drive continuously variable transmission, which is disposed beside the rear wheel of a small vehicle and which does not permit muddy water and dust to enter therein. A cooling air inlet through which cooling air is taken in is formed at a position beside a transmission case and above a cooling fan side opening formed in the transmission case opposite to a drive pulley. A cooling air passage extending from the cooling air inlet to the side opening is formed so as to surround the side opening. Cooling air taken in through the cooling air inlet is guided so as to flow upward first and then flows downward along a U-shaped cooling air passage to the side opening of the transmission case beside the cooling fan.
US08840494B2
Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The dual core consists of an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition.
US08840478B2
In an initial state after boot of a game apparatus, a predetermined operation image is generated and displayed on an operating device. The game apparatus makes determinations in the initial state on the basis of operation data such as to whether or not a selection instruction has been provided to select an application from among one or more applications, including a game application, which are executable by the game apparatus, and whether or not a control instruction has been provided to control a predetermined display device different from the operating device. When the selection instruction is determined to have been provided, the game apparatus executes the selected application, and outputs an image to either the operating device or the predetermined display device, or both. When the control instruction is determined to have been provided, the game apparatus controls the predetermined display device in accordance with the control instruction.
US08840473B2
A shooting equipment shooting direction control system includes a base unit including a circuit module, a transmission mechanism and a driver controllable by a first micro switch and a second micro switch of the circuit module to rotate the transmission mechanism horizontally left and right, a rotary holder shell coupled and rotatable by the transmission mechanism to move a baffle between the first micro switch and the second micro switch, and a shooting equipment including an equipment base, a power drive unit controllable by the circuit module through a third micro switch and a fourth micro switch in the rotary holder shell to rotate the equipment base vertically up and down relative to the rotary holder shell and a dogleg-shaped trigger movable with the equipment base relative to the rotary holder shell between the third micro switch and the fourth micro switch.
US08840466B2
Natural three-dimensional (xw, yw, zw, tw) gesture player interaction with a two-dimensional game application rendered on a two or three dimensional display includes mapping acquired (xw, yw, zw, tw) gesture data to virtual game-world (xv, yv, zv, tv) coordinates or vice versa, and scaling if needed. The game application is caused to render at least one image on the display responsive to the mapped and scaled (xw, yw, zw) data, where the display and game interaction is rendered from the player's perception viewpoint. The (xw, yw, zw) data preferably is acquired using spaced-apart two-dimensional cameras coupled to software to reduce the acquired images to a relatively small number of landmark points, from which player gestures may be recognized. The invention may be implemented in a handheld device such as a smart phone or tablet, which device may include a gyroscope and/or accelerometer.
US08840462B2
Various methods for administering a tournament game on a plurality of gaming machines are disclosed herein. According to one method, at least one networked gaming machine is reconfigured into a tournament mode. A gaming system then establishes one or more tournament bonus prizes. The tournament game play is initiated on the networked gaming machine. One or more tournament bonus prizes are awarded if a preselected criteria is achieved during play of the tournament game. At the conclusion of the tournament game, one or more tournament prizes are awarded to one or more winners of the tournament game.
US08840459B2
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a plurality of game cards that may be read by one or more card readers of the gaming machine. The game cards may provide a variety of enhancements for the gaming machine, including enhanced game features, enhanced rules of game play, enhanced game characters, and the like. Players may collect the game cards for use in the gaming machine in hopes of increasing their likelihood of achieving a desirable outcome or altering the characteristics of the game to offer more entertaining variations on game play. The players may also trade the game cards with one another and with the casino, thereby creating excitement and interest in the gaming machine. Special interest groups and even entire industries may be formed to facilitate the collecting and trading of the game cards.
US08840457B1
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game employing a set of randomly selected reels. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a slot game associated with a plurality of adjacently arranged reels including a plurality of symbols. Each of a plurality of the reels is associated with one of a plurality of different features and an indicator representing that feature. The gaming system begins sequentially displaying the reels and any corresponding indicators. The gaming system selects a set of two or more of the reels and stops sequentially displaying the reels such that the selected reels are displayed. The gaming system generates and displays a plurality of the symbols on the selected reels, determines whether any winning symbol combinations are displayed, determines any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations, and displays any determined awards.
US08840453B2
An apparatus on which a fan can be mounted, including a casing; a plurality of cooling fan units arranged in line on a lower portion of the casing and capable of being inserted into and removed from the casing on an individual basis; and a plurality of plate members disposed above the line in which the cooling fan units are arranged and above a gap between the cooling fan units, the plate members extending in a direction to which an upper surface of each of the cooling fan units is substantially perpendicular and in which the cooling fan unit is inserted into and removed from the casing, wherein each of the plate members is supported so as to be able to pivot about its lower end portion toward both directions.
US08840444B2
The invention concerns a method of machining the tooth flanks of substantially cylindrical, but crowning-modified gears through a diagonal generating process employing a worm-shaped tool which is modified with a crowning in the direction of its rotary axis, wherein the crowning can be positive or negative (concave crowning), wherein by matching the crowning of the tool to the diagonal ratio, a flank twist is generated by means of the tool and superimposed on the natural flank twist, such that the result of said superposition equals the flank twist required for the work piece.
US08840434B2
A plug-type connector for transmitting electric currents, having a plug-side end forming a plug connection with a mating plug, a cable-side end electrically and mechanically connected to a cable with a screen and at least two lines within the screen, a housing, and at least two internal conductor parts which are held at least partially within the housing by an insulating part and are electrically insulated from one another, wherein the internal conductor parts project beyond the housing in the axial direction at the plug-side end, wherein the internal conductor parts form contact areas at the plug-side end in the region in which they project beyond the housing, the contact areas being spaced apart from one another in the axial direction and making electrical contact with corresponding conductor parts in the mating plug.
US08840427B2
A socket with an assembling and unloading mechanism comprises: a frame, having at least one installing hole; at least one holding member for assembling and unloading the frame and having a plate member and a pair of flexible clamping members disposed on the two sides of the plate member, the plate member has an accepting hole, each of the flexible clamping members has a pressing portion and a hook disposed on the one side of the pressing portion and driven by the pressing portion, each hook buckles the peripheral of the frame adjacent to the installing hole; and at least one connecting port, connecting to the inside of the accepting hole; wherein the hook is unloaded from the frame while pressing the pressing portion, and the holding member is withdrawn from the installing hole.
US08840424B2
A shield connector comprises: a shield terminal including a shield shell unit and a shield crimping portion, the shield crimping portion being configured to be crimped on a shield sheath wire of a shielded cable; a cable holder attached to the shield shell unit, the cable holder being configured to hold a core wire of the shielded cable; and a connector housing with a pressure-contact terminal fixed thereto, and being attached to the shield shell unit to which the cable holder is attached, the pressure-contact terminal coming into pressure contact with the core wire by movement of the pressure-contact terminal when attaching the connector housing to the shield shell unit.
US08840418B2
The present invention relates to a socket structure capable of preventing plug from detaching, which comprises: a housing; a first base; a first electrode plate; a second electrode plate; a first button, one end thereof is extended with a first rod; and a second button, one end thereof is extended with a second rod; when the first button and the second button are pressed, the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are respectively abutted by the first rod and the second rod, thereby allowing a plug to be released from the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.
US08840409B2
The prevent invention provides a lever-equipped connector unit, which comprises a housing being capable of receiving a terminal; a lever rotatably coupled to the housing, and formed in a horseshoe shape; and a counter housing engageable with the housing, wherein the lever has a pair of arm plates configured to sandwich the housing and having a cam portion therein, wherein the counter housing has a peripheral wall engageable with the housing, and a pair of driven pins being slidably engageable with the cam portion and formed in the both outer surfaces of the peripheral wall, and wherein the housing engages with the counter housing as the driven pin proceeds into the cam portion, and the lever rotates from its stand-by state.
US08840406B2
A pair of terminals having a first terminal loaded in a first connector and a second terminal loaded in a second connector mated with the first connector, the terminals coming into contact with each other and being electrified, wherein the first terminal is equipped with a contact portion including a protruding contact protrusion, the second terminal is equipped with a contact portion including a contact recess engaging the contact protrusion, the contact protrusion is equipped with an oblique portion extending obliquely widthwise relative to the contact portion, the contact recess is equipped with an oblique portion extending obliquely widthwise relative to the contact portion, and the oblique portion of the first terminal and the oblique portion of the second terminal cross each other.
US08840398B2
The present invention relates to a gas lighter with a roller-rotation restraining part, extending toward a roller from one side of a top surface of a cap for surrounding a nozzle of the gas lighter so that the roller-rotation restraining part is caught by and brought in contact with the roller. Thus, a certain rotation-restraining force is added to the rotation of the roller by means of the roller-rotation restraining part which is caught by and brought in contact with the roller during the rotation of the roller for ignition to increase a finger grasp force required for the ignition of the gas lighter through the rotation of the roller, thereby being capable of preventing an accident, should the lighter get into the hands of a child.
US08840393B2
A system for fabricating a composite item from a layup may comprise a debulking device, a vacuum generator and a curing device. The debulking device may include a vacuum chamber, an envelope and a heater. The vacuum chamber may have a chamber pressure. The envelope may be contained within the vacuum chamber and may have an envelope pressure. The layup may be received within the envelope. The heater may heat the layup. The vacuum generator may be in fluid connection with the debulking device. The curing device may cure the layup.
US08840387B2
A plugging device 100 including a main body portion 10 having a depressed portion 10d and a communication path 10e opening into an inner surface 10c of the depressed portion 10d; an elastic plate 20 fixed to the main body portion 10 so as to cover the depressed portion 10d; and a pump 50 connected to the communication path 10e.
US08840384B2
At least one bypass opening is formed in a base of a scroll member, and communicates with at least one compression chamber. The bypass opening communicates with a passage leading to a suction pressure chamber within a compressor shell. A valve includes an element electrically powered to move between a first position at which it blocks flow of refrigerant from the bypass port to the passage leading to the suction pressure chamber, and a second position at which it allows flow of refrigerant between the bypass port and the passage leading to the suction pressure chamber. A portion of the valve, which is electrically powered, is mounted outside of the compressor shell.
US08840381B2
An electric compressor including a compression mechanism, an electric motor, an inverter, a compressor housing, a sealed terminal, a cluster block, and a metal brace. The sealed terminal is arranged in the compressor housing and electrically connects the inverter and the electric motor. Further, the sealed terminal includes a terminal pin, which is formed from a conductive material, a terminal holder, and an insulative body. The cluster block includes an insertion hole into which the terminal pin is inserted. The metal brace electrically connects the terminal pin to the lead wire. The cluster block includes a protrusion projecting around the insertion hole and surrounding part of the insulative body. The insertion hole has an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the terminal pin.
US08840377B2
A fluid compressor 10 comprising a stator 22, having a bore shaped first chamber 26 and an annular second chamber 30, and a piston 18 comprising a central piston rod 36 having a first piston head 44 and a concentrically arranged cylindrical piston sleeve 38 having a second piston head 48. The stator 22 and piston 18 together define a first compression chamber 12, a second compression chamber 14 provided concentrically around the first chamber 12, and a third compression chamber 16 provided concentrically around the first chamber 12 and linearly with the second chamber 14. The compression chambers 12, 14, 16 are interconnected via intercooling conduits 72, 74. A hydraulic actuator 20 is coupled to the piston 18 by a hydraulic ram 82. During left to right movement of the piston 18 fluid enters the third chamber 16 and fluid is compressed in the second chamber 14.
US08840376B2
The present invention provides a pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, including a water pump and a variable speed motor. In one example, a target volume amount of water and an operational time period is provided, and the operational time period is altered based upon a volume of water moved. In another example, operation of the motor is altered based upon the volume of water moved. In addition or alternatively, a target flow rate of water to be moved by the water pump is determined based upon the target volume amount and a time period. In addition or alternatively, a plurality of operations are performed on the water, and a total volume of water moved by the pump is determined. In addition or alternatively, an optimized flow rate value is determined based upon power consumption.
US08840368B2
An abnormal vibration detection unit which is capable of stopping a wind turbine generator when excessive vibration is detected. The vibration detection unit has first and second acceleration detectors, a calculation device, a filtering relay, and a safety system which performs an emergency stop of the wind turbine generator in accordance with an output terminal of the filtering relay. The filtering relay has a filter circuit to extract a frequency component from the second analog output signal. The calculation device generates a predicted value of the output signal of the filter circuit part, and detects a failure of the first and second acceleration detectors or the filter circuit part by comparing the predicted value of the output signal of the filter circuit part with a measured value of the output signal of the filter circuit part received from the filtering relay.
US08840366B2
A preform, for repairing an abradable seal component of a gas turbine engine, includes a multilayer stack that has a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is operative to bond the multilayer stack to a structural substrate of an abradable seal. The first layer includes structural material that corresponds to a material of the structural substrate and braze material that is compatible with the structural material. The second layer includes an abradable material. The multilayer stack is operative to bond to the structural substrate of the abradable seal component during a brazing process such that the second layer forms a replacement abradable layer of the abradable seal component.
US08840361B2
A fan blade (10) for a turbofan aero engine comprises a blade body including a root (10c) for engagement with a rotor, and a tip, wherein the tip is provided with a winglet (14).
US08840360B2
A wind powered turbine is comprised of a frame on which is horizontally and rotatably supported a rotor on a rotor shaft. The rotor is formed by three or more radial blade members which are secured to the rotor shaft. The radial blade members are equidistantly spaced from one another and each have support arms and a wind vane secured at an outer end portion of the support arms. The wind vane is shaped to capture an airflow directed thereagainst for displacement thereof to create a rotational force about the rotor shaft to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal central axis. The radial blade members are rigidly interconnected to one another at an outer end portion thereof by tension adjustable bracing tie wires. A wind channeling guide assembly accelerates and directs the airflow in an actuating airflow path to impinge upon at leas of the wind vanes positioned in the actuating airflow path.
US08840355B1
A method and apparatus for handling cargo. A cargo handling system may be positioned relative to the cargo. The cargo handling system may comprise a frame structure and an engagement system. The frame structure may be configured to change in a number of dimensions to encompass the cargo. The engagement system may be configured to engage the cargo. The number of dimensions of the frame structure may be adjusted to encompass the cargo. The cargo may be engaged with the engagement system.
US08840353B2
The vehicle mounted highway refuse collector gathers discarded refuse from roadway surfaces at normal highway speeds without slowing down. The refuse collector can gather discarded tire treads, or pieces of furniture, and even dead animals at normal speeds safely. At normal highway speeds, the impact with refuse provides centrifugal force sufficient to gather and rotate debris up and onto a storage shelf allowing the continued operation of the refuse collector until it is full. At less than highway speeds, motor assistance provides the means to gather in, and rotate debris onto the storage shelf safely for operation at slower speeds as in city streets. The cleanout when full is facilitated by pull-pins that drop down the storage shelf so as to be easily unloaded.
US08840351B2
A book binding machine includes a collating machine, a perfect binder and a transfer device disposed between the collating machine and the perfect binder. The collating machine and the perfect binder are actuated by a common control device. In each case, one transport segment is assigned to a respective book block clamp by the control device. The control device also has a program which, if a defective or missing book block clamp is detected, actuates the collating machine in such a way that no book block is collated for that book block clamp. A method for operating a book binding machine is also provided.
US08840343B2
The present invention relates to a method for coding a drilling device for an aircraft. The method comprises: placing a drilling template with at least a drilling hole on a work piece; placing a drilling bushing in the drilling hole of the drilling template; placing the drilling device in the drilling hole of the drilling template; wherein the drilling bushing comprises a coding master device, in particular a bushing edge; wherein the drilling device comprises a coding sleeve device and wherein the coding sleeve device is adapted for engaging with the coding master device.
US08840339B2
The invention provides a process for remediation of sites contaminated with metals such as former industrial sites and mines. In particular the invention provides a process for site remediation comprising the steps of: (a) adding metal-binding particles to a site containing one or more metal contaminants such that at least some of the one or metal contaminants are sequestered by the particles, and (b) populating the site with plants. The use of the particles of the present invention in association with plants, and microbiota associated with the plant roots can achieve sustainable phytostabilization of contaminated sites.
US08840336B2
A pre-fabricated pavement slab installation and replacement system is provided. The system includes a connector having an axial opening therethrough and engagement surface within the opening. The system further includes a pavement slab and an adjacent pavement slab, wherein a portion of the connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion of the connector is exposed. The adjacent pavement slab has an interconnection slot, that can cover the remaining portion of the exposed connector. The system further provides that under the condition that the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab are cut apart, the connector is cut into a first half and a second half, wherein the first half of the connector contains the first engagement component and the second half of the connector contains the second engagement component. The first half of the connector can be subsequently removed by engaging the engagement surface.
US08840331B2
The application describes a convenient portable kit for the application of topical medications. The kit can be used, for example, as a convenient system for application of cold sore medication. The kit includes a container for a quantity of fluid medication sufficient for several treatments together with a plurality of applicators for said medicine. The applicators are specially designed to apply the medicine accurately and with minimal pain.
US08840327B2
Processing time for switching discharge destinations can be reduced by providing a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a first parameter indicating a number of middle sheets included in one set of carbonless copy paper set in a sheet feed tray, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire a second parameter indicating a number of middle sheets included in one target product, and a control unit configured to, if the second parameter is greater than the first parameter, print on a top sheet and a middle sheet needed for printing a print job, discharge a bottom sheet and a top sheet and a middle sheet included in a next set that are not needed for printing the print job to a discharge destination different from a discharge destination of the target product, and to print on a middle sheet and a bottom sheet needed for printing the print job.
US08840320B2
An optical fiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle, a collar body that includes a fiber stub and a mechanical splice device, a backbone to retain the collar body within the housing, and a boot. The backbone includes a fiber jacket clamping portion to clamp a jacket portion that surrounds a portion of the terminated optical fiber upon actuation. The boot actuates the fiber jacket clamping portion of the backbone upon attachment to the backbone. The optical fiber connector can be terminated in the field without the need to use a separate termination platform or tool.
US08840315B2
A bearing cage (10) for a rolling-element bearing is split in the circumferential direction along at least one cutting line (11-1; 11-2) between a first and a second bearing cage section (12-1; 12-2). A projection (14) and a corresponding opening (15) are respectively formed on opposing bordering surfaces (13-1; 13-2) of the cutting line between the first and second bearing cage sections, and are configured to fix the bordering surfaces to each other in three directions upon meshing of the projection with the opening. A main axis (17-1; 17-2) of projection and opening extends at an angle (α) oblique to the rotational axis (16) of the bearing cage.
US08840314B2
A spherical roller bearing having a flanged disk designed as a hollow body, formed from a straight pipe section that is bent to form a ring having two ring ends that are joined. The ring is shaped into a flanged disk with a desired axial section geometry in a pressing device with a contour tool in a single pass.
US08840310B2
A rotational assembly includes a mating surface and an interlocking surface disposed in driving engagement with a cooperable interlocking member of a driving mechanism. A plurality of receptors is defined in the mating surface. A bearing element is received in each of the plurality of receptors for reducing frictional interaction between the mating surface of the rotational assembly and a complementary mating surface of an interacting component. A retainer is defined in the mating surface at each of the receptors providing rotational retention of each of the bearing elements within its corresponding receptor.
US08840304B2
A flexible, lightweight, easily maneuverable positioner for an imaging system. The positioning system in one example has a cart section with a base frame coupled to one or more wheels. There is a mast extending from the cart section and a linkage assembly coupled to a second end of the mast, wherein the mast is configured to swing about a vertical plane. There is a positioning arm coupled to the linkage assembly, wherein the positioning arm is configured to swing about at least one of a horizontal plane and the vertical plane. An imaging bracket is used to couple to the positioning arm and configured to receive an imaging unit. In one example, the positioner is coupled together by fasteners, wherein the positioner can be assembled and dis-assembled via the fasteners without tools.
US08840298B2
A mixing system may include a closed mixer having an inlet, a discharge, and an inlet/discharge. The mixing system may also include a recirculation line in fluid communication with the inlet and the inlet/discharge.
US08840293B2
A backlight assembly includes a plurality of point light sources, a light guide plate (“LGP”) and a printed circuit board (“PCB”). The LGP has a light incident face in which light is incident, a side surface extending from an edge portion of the light incident face, and a fixing groove which is formed from the side surface toward an inner portion thereof. The PCB includes a point light source disposing portion in which the point light sources are disposed along a first direction, an extending portion extending from the point light disposing portion along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a protrusion which is fixed at an end portion of the extending portion. The protrusion of the PCB is coupled with the fixing groove of the LGP.
US08840292B2
The present invention provides a backlight module and a display apparatus. The display apparatus comprises the backlight module and a display panel. The backlight module comprises a light collector, optical fibers, a fiber light-outputting substrate, a light guide plate and a light coupling device. The optical fibers are connected between the light collector and the fiber light-outputting substrate. The light guide plate is disposed at one side of the fiber light-outputting substrate. The light coupling device is disposed between the fiber light-outputting substrate and the light guide plate, wherein light diffusion recessions of the light coupling device face the light-outputting openings of the fiber light-outputting substrate. The present invention can use ambient light rays to form a backlight source.
US08840273B2
A light fixture comprises a lens frame, a lens on the lens frame and a light source. The lens and light source are movable relative to each other between a first position in which the lens and the light source are nearer each other and a second position in which the lens and light source are further away from each other, wherein light produced by the light fixture is more focused or more diffuse according to the relative positions of the lens and the light source.
US08840262B2
An LED includes a base, an LED chip, a first electrode, a second electrode, an encapsulating layer, and a reflective layer. The base forms a concave recessed from a top face thereof and a recess above the concave. The reflective layer is attached on the concave. The LED chip is received in the recess and located over the reflective layer. The LED chip has a light output face facing towards the reflective layer. The encapsulating layer is filled in the recess to cover the reflective layer and encapsulate the LED chip. The reflective layer includes a first reflective layer and a second reflective layer. The first reflective layer is located at a center of the concave. The second reflective layer surrounds and connects the first reflective layer. The first reflective layer has a curvature smaller than that of the second reflective layer.
US08840239B2
An image forming device is provided. The image forming device includes: a forming component that forms an index, at a formation position, on a recording medium that is conveyed in a first direction and passes the formation position; an acquiring component that acquires measurement results, from a measuring component, of a width, along a second direction that intersects the first direction, of the recording medium; and a formation control component that carries out control that causes the index to be formed by the forming component at a position that is at one end portion side, along the second direction, of the recording medium, and that is apart, along the second direction and by a distance corresponding to the width acquired by the acquiring component, from a formation reference position that is set at another end portion side, along the second direction, of the recording medium, is provided.
US08840237B2
The invention relates to a method for printing a substrate (7) in a printing machine, in which ink is transferred from a flexible carrier (3) to the substrate (7) in accordance with a predefined pattern by energy being introduced into the ink through the flexible carrier (3) by a device for the introduction of energy, some of the ink evaporating in the area of action of the energy and, as a result, a drop of ink (67) being thrown onto the substrate (7) to be printed, this step being repeated at least once, ink being transferred at least partly to the substrate (7) at the same positions in order to intensify the pattern produced. The substrate is transported through the printing machine (1) during the printing and, after the transfer of ink in step (a), the device for the introduction of energy is controlled in such a way that, during the repetition in step (b), the ink is transferred at the same position again as in step (a). The invention further relates to a printing machine for implementing the method.
US08840228B2
In order to provide a liquid ejection head which enables ejection of a droplet at a higher frequency, according to the invention, a piezoelectric vibrator has a multilayer structure. In the multilayer structure, an upper piezoelectric layer and a lower piezoelectric layer are laminated one on another. A drive electrode is formed at a boundary between the upper piezoelectric layer and the lower piezoelectric layer and is electrically connected to a source for supplying a drive signal. An upper common electrode is formed on the surface of the upper piezoelectric layer. A lower common electrode is formed on the surface of the lower piezoelectric layer. An inertance of a nozzle orifice and an inertance of an ink supply port are set so as to become greater than an inertance of a pressure generating portion.
US08840224B2
A printer has a pair of frame panels that support the ends of a carriage guide shaft, a carriage that carries a print head, a carriage drive motor, and first and second pulleys on which a belt connected to the carriage is mounted. The first and second pulleys limit the range of bidirectional carriage movement so that the maximum width of carriage movement is substantially equal to the width between the pair of frame panels. A tube that carries ink to the print head is disposed curving in a U-shape in the direction of the width between the pair of frame panels. The carriage drive motor is disposed in the space in which the tube is located in the space on the opposite side as the direction in which the tube curves, and the drive shaft of the carriage drive motor is perpendicular to the scanning plane of the carriage.
US08840221B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed which reads a test pattern, including a reading unit, a relative movement unit, a second detected data obtaining unit which obtains one or more second detected data sets of a reflected light which is received from a scanning position of a light by a light receiving unit while the reading unit moves relatively with respect to the recording medium before the test pattern is formed, a first detected data obtaining unit which obtains one or more first detected data sets of the reflected light which is received by the light receiving unit when the light moves over the test pattern at generally the same scanning position as the scanning position while the reading unit moves relatively with respect to the recording medium after the test pattern is formed, and a signal correction unit.
US08840217B2
A sheet supply device includes registration rollers for feeding a print sheet, a sheet supply roller for feeding a print sheet to the registration rollers, and a controller configured to control the registration rollers and the sheet supply roller. The controller is operable to start first rotation of the sheet supply roller to contact a leading edge of the print sheet to a nip between the registration rollers to form a slack of the print sheet, stop the first rotation after the slack is formed, start rotation of the registration rollers after the first rotation is stopped, start second rotation of the sheet supply roller after the rotation of the registration rollers is started, and keep a speed difference between a feed speed of the registration rollers and a feed speed of the sheet supply rollers until the slack is flattened. According to the device, noises can be reduced.
US08840213B2
An image-forming device includes an image-forming part, a conveying part, a suction part and a control part. The image-forming part is configured and arranged to form an image on a recording material that is rolled up in a recording material roll. The conveying part is configured and arranged to feed out the recording material from the recording material roll and to convey the recording material to the image-forming part. The suction part is configured and arranged to suction the recording material conveyed by the conveying part, the suction part being disposed at the image-forming part. The control part is configured to control a suction characteristic of the suction part according to a conveyance amount of the recording material after the recording material has begun to be conveyed by the conveying part.
US08840209B2
In a printing device, a first control unit prints, by a first print method, an image on a first region of a recording sheet in a first state in which a recording sheet is clamped by both an upstream and downstream clamping portions. A second control unit prints, by a second print method, an image on a second region of the recording sheet in a second state in which the recording sheet is clamped either one of the upstream and downstream clamping portions. A third control unit prints, by a combination of the first and second print methods, an image on a third region of the recording sheet between the first and second regions. When the third control unit prints the image on the third region, a state of the recording sheet is set to be changed from the first state to the second state.
US08840208B2
A printing apparatus includes: a printing section which discharges the ink to print an image; a storage section in which an image data of the image to be printed by the printing section is stored; a judgment section which judges as to whether or not a flushing condition to execute a flushing, in which the ink is discharged from the printing section irrespective of the printing of the image, is satisfied; and a controller which controls the printing section to execute the flushing in a case that the judgment section judges that the flushing condition is satisfied and that the image data is not stored in the storage section, and which controls the printing section to print the image instead of the flushing in a case that the judgment section judges that the flushing condition is satisfied and that the image data is stored in the storage section.
US08840205B2
A shelf assembly for a refrigerator appliance is provided. The shelf assembly includes a pair of brackets, a fixed shelf mounted to the pair of brackets, and a movable shelf. The shelf assembly also includes features for slidably mounting the movable shelf to said fixed shelf and for limiting movement of the movable shelf along a transverse direction.
US08840203B2
An ejecting device for a movable furniture part includes an ejector, which can be moved between a first and a second position, for ejecting the movable furniture part, a drive train having an electrical drive unit that drives the ejector and a gear mechanism arranged between the drive unit and the ejector and which has an output that acts on the ejector, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device for controlling the drive unit in an open-loop or closed-loop manner. A force accumulator is integrated in the gear mechanism between the drive unit and the output, and a monitoring device connected to the drive train can detect an unloading of the force accumulator and report the unloading to the open-loop or closed-loop control device. The open-loop or closed-loop control device activates the electrical drive unit to move the ejector back to the first position after detection of the unloading.
US08840200B2
A movable fixing structure is used for causing the first casing to be combined with or detached from the second casing along a first axial direction. The movable fixing structure includes a blocking component, a locating element and a limiting element. The blocking component is movably disposed on the first casing along a second axial direction. The blocking component is used for moving between a first position and a second position. The locating element has a first locating portion and a second locating portion. The locating element is disposed on the first casing and is used for moving between a third and a fourth position along a third axial direction. The limiting element is disposed on the second casing and is used for interfering with the second locating portion on the first axial direction.
US08840195B1
A wheel system relating to improved wire-spoke wheels. More specifically, this invention relates to providing a safer vintage Cragar-style wire-spoke wheel having increased strength and decreased clacking noise when compared to the original Cragar wire-spoke wheel.
US08840194B1
Embodiments of this invention comprise a vehicle wheel made primarily of moldable plastic. The portion of the wheel which is physically connected to the rotor is made of metal. The wheel has a plurality of openings spaced to allow air circulation sufficient to provide dissipation of the heat build up which occurs during normal vehicle operation. This improved vehicle wheel securely holds the pneumatic tire and effectively supports the vehicle during operation. Other applications which would benefit by replacing metal wheels and gears with lighter, fully functional wheels and gears are also contemplated by this invention. Another embodiment comprises a method for manufacturing this vehicle wheel.
US08840192B2
In the production of toothbrushes, the neck part and the head part are bent relative to each other from the original shape thereof by a predetermined angle (α) in the hot state of the toothbrush body. Thereafter, the force applied to the toothbrush body by the stretching device in order to bend the toothbrush body is removed so that the toothbrush body can bend back into the original shape thereof. The risk of fractures, in particular brittle fractures, can be greatly reduced by said action. The method is advantageous, in particular, if the toothbrush body was heated during processing by ultrasonic welding.
US08840181B2
A monitoring and/or entertainment system, especially for a child seat, having at least one electronic assembly for displaying/recording images, films or film sequences, and having a moulded body in which the at least one electronic assembly is mounted and held. In order that the monitoring/entertainment system can be used for a child seat when the seat shell of the child seat is aligned in the direction opposite to the direction of travel, the moulded body has at least one fixing element which is arranged to form a force-based connection to the base frame of the child seat, wherein when the moulded body is in the state in which it is fixed to the base frame of the child seat the front side of the moulded body and the electronic assembly mounted in the moulded body face towards the seat shell of the child seat.
US08840178B2
A seatback for a vehicle seat, the seatback including: a frame to which a pad is mounted, the frame including, a pair of side frames extending along respective side parts of the seatback, and an extension bar extending between the side frames; and a cover that is rotatably attached to the extension bar along an outer surface of the extension bar.
US08840173B2
A cover member for a wiper drive assembly has a body portion configured to extend across and obscure the wiper drive assembly from a plan view with the body portion defining first and second pivot apertures. First and second grommets are each positioned within a respective one of the first and second pivot apertures and configured to receive and sealingly engage a pivot holder of the wiper drive assembly. A mounting structure is configured to attach the body portion to a structural member of the wiper drive assembly.
US08840171B2
In one embodiment, an energy management system can comprise: a vehicle energy management system comprises: a support structure selected from a bumper beam, a body in white, a body in black, a front-end module, a radiator support beam, a bumper support bracket, a component projecting from the body in white, a component projecting from the body in black, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; a covering; and a coil energy absorber made of plastic. The coil energy absorber has an initial height and is located between the support structure and the covering. The coil energy absorber absorbs energy upon impact such that, after the impact, the coil energy absorber has a final height that is less than or equal to 90% of the initial height.
US08840170B2
A one-piece inner garnish assembly module system (MS) joins an inner garnish molding (IG), primary seal (PS), glass run (GR), and inner beltline weatherstrip (IB) into a single component prior to installation of the module system on a vehicle. The garnish is secured to the glass run along the A and B pillars, and the interconnecting header portion of a vehicle door. In addition, the primary seal is operatively associated or secured to the garnish, and may be pin-mounted to the door, or mechanically connected, and/or adhesively secured to the door.
US08840167B2
Motor vehicle with a seat bench which comprises a seat surface which is approximately horizontal in a normal position and a backrest which is approximately vertical in the normal position, wherein the backrest comprises at least one transparent region which is designed in such a manner that the view from a region in front of the backrest in the direction of travel into a region behind the backrest in the direction of travel is made possible.
US08840152B2
Thin-walled pipe joints can include a first pipe and a second pipe. The first pipe includes a hollow pin member positioned at about an end of the first pipe. The second pipe includes a hollow box member positioned at about an end of the second pipe. The hollow box member is further configured to at least partially surround the pin member of the first pipe. The joint also includes a first ring placed adjacent an end of the hollow pin member and a second ring engaged with the box member. The second ring substantially axially abuts against the first ring and the first ring substantially axially abuts the box member. The second ring further generally extends from the first ring in a direction opposite to the end of the pin member adjacent to the box member.
US08840151B2
A screw-threaded pipe joint comprising a pin having at one end a male screw-threaded portion and a box having at one end a female portion having a complementary screw-thread. The pin and box inter-engage along the threaded portions with the male thread extending to a male stop shoulder adjacent a complementary stop shoulder on the other portion. The complementary stop shoulder comprises a recess in the form of a cone receiver having a radial surface adjacent a corresponding radial surface on the complementary stop shoulder. A curved sealing surface on the pin sealingly engages a corresponding curved sealing surface on the complementary stop shoulder of the box, each curved sealing surface lying on the arc of the circumference of a separate circle, and wherein the curvature of the box sealing surface is greater than on the sealing surface on the pin.
US08840150B2
A male fitting has a body that defines a fluid passage that extends through the body from a first end to a second end. The body may include a first portion adjacent to the first end, a second portion adjacent to the second end and a middle portion separating the first and second portions. The body may further define a slot between the middle portion and the second end. The slot extends at least partially circumferentially around the body. An actuating member may extend at least partially around the body. The actuating member may have at least one stop feature that engages with the body, and a retaining feature that is at least partially aligned with the slot. A spring disposed between the body and the actuating member may exert a force on the actuating member so as to position the retaining feature radially outward from the slot.
US08840145B2
A tongue member comprising a structural member including a latch plate configured to detachably engage the buckle mechanism and a side wall including an opening; a lock bar configured to move along the opening between a first position and a second position relative to the structural member; and a lock member configured to secure the lock bar in the second position; wherein when the lock bar is in the first position, the tongue member is allowed to move freely along the seat belt, and wherein when the lock bar is in the second position, a clamping surface of the lock bar secures a section of the seat belt to a clamping surface of the structural member to fix the relative position of the tongue member along the seat belt.
US08840143B2
A novelty vehicle side step accessory kit is provided that offers users an interactive and aesthetically pleasing means of customizing their vehicle. The device has one or more pressure plates disposed on a vehicle side rail. Two end portions are disposed on opposing ends of the side rail. These end portions are thematically decorated to resemble an animal, vehicle, plane, or other object. A sound emitter is disposed within the front end portion and a motion generator is disposed within the rear end portion. Both elements are electrically connected to the pressure sensitive plate. When a user steps on the pressure plate the sound emitter and motion generator are activated, creating audible and tactile feedback.
US08840139B1
An airbag can include a base panel and a cushioning panel that cooperate to define an inflatable chamber. A deflector can be positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel. The deflector can be attached to the base panel so as to define a lower inflation aperture that directs inflation gas toward a bottom end of the base panel. In some arrangements, the airbag can include a tether that extends through the lower inflation aperture.
US08840132B2
A buggy for transporting children has a frame (3a, 3b, 5) and wheels (9) that are rotatably mounted relative to the frame to support the frame above a ground surface. A primary seat (8) is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a first child. A secondary seat (17) is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a second child. The buggy is convertible between an in use configuration for transporting children and a folded storage configuration, whether or not the secondary seat is attached. The secondary seat may be detachable. The secondary seat may be positioned at least partly behind and at least partly below the primary seat.
US08840125B2
A rollator includes a support frame assembly, a handgrip unit pivotable relative to the support frame assembly between depressed and non-depressed positions, at least three wheels mounted pivotally to a bottom portion of the support frame assembly, and at least one braking device including a brake wire unit connected to the handgrip unit, and a brake fixed to the support frame assembly at a location proximate to one of the wheels and connected to the brake wire unit. The brake includes a casing, a stop member, and a gear connected coaxially to one of the wheels. The stop member is movable between free and braking positions where the stop member is spaced apart from and is engaged with the gear, respectively.
US08840122B1
An improved refuse collection device having a compartment for refuse collection and having various holding components for storing items such as replacement toilet paper and hand towels, for holding rolls of trash bags, and for holding cleaning items, such as, for example, mops and brooms.
US08840120B2
A sled includes a hull and a strap extending transversely across the hull. The strap extends across the hull at a first longitudinal position selected such that it extends across the calves of a kneeling rider. This enables the rider to kneel erect when riding the sled.
US08840116B2
[Object] To provide a seal mechanism that reduces a maintenance frequency for replenishment of a lubricating material and has small friction resistance, and a treatment apparatus equipped with the seal mechanism.[Solving Means] A lip seal (12) of a seal mechanism (100) is arranged so as to surround a drive shaft (25), and a lip portion (12b) thereof includes a seal portion (12c) that comes into contact with the drive shaft (25). A wall member (15) is attached to the drive shaft (25) so as to close a lower opening of a mounting member (30) and face the lip seal (12). By at least the mounting member (30) and the wall member (15), a container capable of accommodating a lubricating material (16) is formed. A gap (17) set such that the lubricating material (16) does not pass therethrough is provided between the wall member (15) and a holding base body (60). With such a structure, a space for accommodating the lubricating material (16) can be secured and the seal mechanism (100) and the drive shaft (25) are allowed to be in contact with each other only at the seal portion (12c) of the lip seal (12).
US08840114B2
An assembly, for example in a gas turbine engine, includes a rotatable component supported by a bearing in a support structure. A sealing arrangement includes a non-rotating sealing ring which makes sealing contact with sealing features on the rotatable component. The non-rotating sealing ring is radially displaceable with respect to the support structure by means of ribs which engage axially facing support faces of the support structure. The non-rotating sealing ring is radially located by an outer, non-rotating, race of the bearing, by means of a locating surface on a locating body of the non-rotating sealing ring. As a result of this arrangement, the running clearance at the sealing arrangement can be maintained, despite radial displacement of the rotatable component with respect to the support structure, and despite thermal and mechanical deflections of the support structure.
US08840103B2
A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.
US08840095B2
A spring for ejecting a storage device module from a chassis is provided. The spring includes a first end, where the first end is held captive when the spring is installed in the chassis. The spring includes a second end, opposite the first end, and a body between the first and second ends. The body is formed with serpentine bends proceeding linearly between the first and second ends and in a common plane with the first end. The second end is oriented orthogonal to the common plane. The spring is in expansion when the storage device module is inserted into the chassis. The storage device module pushes against the second end when the storage device module is fully inserted into the chassis. The spring exerts force outward from the chassis when expanded.
US08840092B2
An inline carbonation apparatus includes a fluid tube having an inner diameter. A water flow control module is connected to a water source. At least one water orifice is linked to the water flow control module and is attached at one end of the fluid tube. The water orifice includes a plurality of holes atomizing water passing therethrough. A carbon dioxide source is connected to a carbon dioxide valve. The carbon dioxide solenoid valve is connected to a carbon dioxide regulator that is coupled to a carbon dioxide orifice and attached to the fluid tube in a spaced relationship from the water orifice. The atomized water has a pressure less than the carbon dioxide such that carbon dioxide is absorbed into the water forming carbonated water having a specified volume of carbonation. The water control module regulates a water flow rate into the inline carbonation apparatus.
US08840091B1
An apparatus comprising a bracket, and a device for connecting to the bracket. The bracket may be one of a plurality of brackets for placing a plant box on. The device may have a first portion having an opening through which a fastener can be inserted to connect the device to the bracket. The device may have a second portion connected at an angle to the first portion. The device may be sized so that when connected to the bracket by inserting the fastener through the opening, the second portion of the device fits snugly within opposing sections of the bracket, such that the second portion has a length which is slightly less than a distance between the opposing sections of the bracket. The apparatus may further include a railing situated so that a cross section of the railing sits in between a space between the device and the bracket.
US08840087B2
A lifting device with a telescopic pole that has a lower module and an upper module which is mounted in vertical sliding relation with respect to the lower module and which is movable along the pole by a crank handle through a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism. A non-return locking device is automatically implemented by friction coupling mechanism with a drive pinion of the drive mechanism driven by rotating the crank handle for more than one complete turn.
US08840084B2
An irrigation control device comprises a coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of irrigation equipment. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the coil to receive control signals from an irrigation control unit and to control the flux at the coil. A spacer is configured to maintain the coil at a predetermined position relative to the control circuitry.
US08840080B1
A system can be used to hang an object, such as a piece of artwork or a photo, on a wall. The system is configured to easily center the object on a wall and to identify a location on the wall where a nail, hook, or other hanging device can be positioned on the wall to properly center the object.
US08840054B2
A fishing reel housing for attachment to a rod along a longitudinal rod axis. The housing has a shaft for accepting a central bore of a line dispensing spool and an adjustment mechanism for selectively adjusting the shaft in position transversely away from the rod axis while maintaining its position along the rod axis. A fishing reel comprises the reel housing with a spool with a central bore mounted thereon. A fishing apparatus comprises at least one rod having a mount to support a fishing reel thereon with the reel mounted on thereon. A kit comprises the reel housing and at least one line dispensing spool having a central bore for mounting on the shaft of the fishing reel housing and may comprise one or more rods, lines and/or lures.
US08840049B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus having a storage portion (20) for storing a treatment liquid, a slit-shaped opening portion (41) for ejecting the treatment liquid, and a connecting passage (42) that has a slit-shaped cross-section and connects the storage portion (20) to the slit-shaped opening portion (41) includes: a valve body portion (50) that is provided in the storage portion (20) to cover the connecting passage (42), and forms a gap (22) together with a lower wall (43) of the storage portion (20) so that the treatment liquid is caused to flow into the connecting passage (42) through the gap (22); a first curved surface portion (44a) that smoothly connects a surface of the lower wall (43) of the storage portion (20) to an inner wall surface (42a) of the connecting passage (42); and a second curved surface portion (51a) that is provided on the valve body portion (50) so as to project to an identical side to the first curved surface portion (44a). With this constitution, air bubbles can be prevented from intermixing with the treatment liquid ejected from the slit-shaped opening portion (41).
US08840047B2
A shower head with an auto-locking cover includes a body unit, a rotation support seat, a seal seat and a cover unit. The seal seat is fixedly connected to an underside of the body unit. The rotation support seat is secured through the body unit and the seal seat. The rotation support seat is formed with an insertion hole and an engaging step. The cover unit is formed with a hook corresponding to the insertion hole and the engaging step. The cover unit is mounted to an underside of the rotation support seat. The rotation support seat is further formed with an elastic piece. The cover unit is formed with an engaging recess corresponding to the elastic piece. By turning the rotation support seat, the elastic piece is engaged in the engaging recess so that the cover unit is connected to the underside of the rotation support seat.
US08840045B2
A fluid dispensing device is disclosed that is capable of producing two distinct spray patterns. The device may include a rotatable hub having a first barrel for producing a first spray pattern and a second barrel for producing a second spray pattern. The barrels may be oriented in different directions with a predetermined angle between directions, such as approximately 180 degrees. A shell may be coupled to and rotatable with the hub. The shell may include a first portion having a first structural feature corresponding to a characteristic of the first spray pattern and a second portion may having a second structural feature corresponding to a characteristic of the second spray pattern. The structural features inform the user of a characteristic of the spray pattern that will be discharged by the device by the associated barrels, thereby permitting the user to intuitively select the desired spray pattern.
US08840041B2
A combined showerhead and tankless water heater. A control panel permits a user to adjust the temperature level of the water that is heated. In one embodiment, the water flowing through the tankless water heater portion can be heated up about an additional eighteen (18) degrees.
US08840040B2
A fluid spray dispenser (2) having a fluid reservoir (20) for holding a fluid to be dispensed, a spray head (23) for dispensing the fluid and a porous medium (24) through which the fluid passes from the reservoir (20) to the spray head (23). The porous medium (24) has a pathway (25) or pathways located substantially adjacent the spray head (23) for the removal of air ingested into the porous medium (24) during spraying.
US08840026B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a communication unit for transmitting a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency and making noncontact communication with an information processing terminal, a 2-dimensional code reader unit for reading a 2-dimensional code recording therein processing information on processings to be executed by the information processing terminal, a 2-dimensional code analysis unit for analyzing the 2-dimensional code reader in the 2-dimensional code reader unit and acquiring the processing information from the 2-dimensional code, and a processing unit for generating processing execution information for causing the information processing terminal to execute a predetermined processing based on an analysis result by the 2-dimensional code analysis unit and causing the communication unit to transmit the processing execution information to the information processing terminal.
US08840023B2
An antenna extender configured to be coupled electromagnetically to an RFID read/write station. The extender includes a first circuit oscillating at variable frequency and a second oscillating circuit coupled to the first oscillating circuit, and a processing unit which is powered by energy supplied by the second oscillating circuit when the extender is placed close to the read/write station. The processing unit includes a mechanism to measure voltage at terminals of the second oscillating circuit and a controller that can be used to vary resonance frequency of the first oscillating circuit as a function of the value of the measured voltage to optimize frequency tuning between the extender and the read/write station.
US08840020B2
Biometric terminals are disclosed that include a biometric reader, an input device, and a processor coupled with the biometric reader and the input device. The processor has instructions to read a biometric measure from a user with the biometric reader. It also has instructions to receive an encoded signal from a handheld device with the input device, the encoded signal including an instruction to update a biometric access system. Instructions are included to decode the encoded signal and to modify biometric access by the user to the biometric access system in accordance with the instruction to update the biometric access system. Update of the biometric access system is acknowledged.
US08840017B2
A power management circuitry for a peripheral electronic device includes a power regeneration circuitry, a power selector, a power switch and an audio signal detection circuitry. The power regeneration circuitry receives a continuous periodic sound wave from an audio device and converts the continuous periodic sound wave into an amplified DC electrical signal. The power source selector receives the amplified DC electrical signal and input from a primary power source and provides a power signal output. The audio signal detection circuitry receives the amplified DC electrical signal and transmits a wake-up signal to the power switch circuitry. The power switch circuitry is turned on by the wake-up signal and connects the power source selector to the peripheral electronic device main circuitry and transfers the power signal output to the peripheral electronic device main circuitry.
US08839998B1
A rack replaceably attached only to a pair of side walls of a cargo bay of either a pickup truck or an off-road utility vehicle, and carries at least one chainsaw without having to conceal the at least one chainsaw. A base is replaceably attached only to the pair of side walls of the cargo bay of either the pickup truck or the off-road utility vehicle. A pair of end carriers are disposed at ends of the base, respectively, and replaceably carry a non-working end of each of the at least one chainsaw, respectively, without having to conceal the at least one chainsaw. A central carrier is disposed midway between the ends of the base, and replaceably carries a working end of each of the at least one chainsaw without having to conceal the at least one chainsaw.
US08839997B2
The present invention relates to a load carrier foot (1) for mounting at least a part of a load carrier to a first surface (2) of a vehicle. The load carrier foot (1) comprising a support member (3), arranged to abut the first surface (2), a gripping member (5) having a first part (16) arranged to abut the vehicle at a distance from the support member (3), an intermediate member (9) between the support member (3) and a second part (17) of the gripping member (5), and an adjustment member (7) acting on the intermediate member (9) to adjust a clamping force between the support member (3) and the first part (16) of the gripping member (5). The intermediate member (9) cooperates with the second part (17) of the gripping member (5) at a first working point (10) and the intermediate member cooperates with the support member (3) at a second working point (11) located at a distance (D) from the first working point (10). The distance (D) between the first and the second working points (10, 11) can be changed by moving at least a part of the intermediate member (9) via the adjustment member (7), to thereby vary the clamping force between the first part (16) of the gripping member (5) and the support member (3). The present invention provides for a space saving arrangement and an arrangement which has improved safety aspects.
US08839991B2
The dispensing bottle includes a dispensing head with an air inlet allowing ambient air to enter an opening of a reservoir portion of the bottle, and a filter member that fits over and seals the opening of the reservoir portion of the bottle for filtering the ambient air entering the bottle to prevent contaminants from entering the reservoir portion of the bottle along with ambient air.
US08839989B2
A method and computer program product for defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential. The PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly. At least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal are pulse width modulated to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal. The second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly.
US08839986B2
A disposal device insertable into a paper roll is disclosed. The disposal device includes a cylindrical shell receptacle, a cap cover, and a clearing mechanism, adapted for removing objects from the receptacle. The clearing mechanism includes a lateral member, adapted to collect objects from the receptacle and a longitudinal member, implemented for conveying a physical force for the translation of the lateral member or serves as an actuator for the commencement of the translation.
US08839981B2
Egg cartons comprising an egg-opening apparatus coupled to the egg carton are provided. The egg-opening apparatus includes any shape and/or form that is capable of opening and/or cracking an egg when the egg is struck on the egg-opening apparatus. Furthermore, the egg-opening apparatus includes any material having a hardness that is capable of opening and/or cracking an egg when the egg is struck on the egg-opening apparatus.
US08839968B2
A crane for mounting on a truck includes a base. The base includes a cargo bed welded or fastened to a frame and the frame for fastening to a chassis of a truck. The crane further includes a boom rotatable relative to the base between a vertical position and a horizontal position; a boom hoist operable to raise and lower the boom between the positions; and a load hoist operable to hoist cargo located proximate to a rear end of the truck when the boom is in the vertical position and operable to carry the cargo toward a cab of the truck as the boom is lowered to the horizontal position, thereby loading the cargo onto the cargo bed.
US08839965B2
An insertable, semi-flexible shelf apparatus suspended and attached in a horizontal relationship within a compartment and anchored to anchor elements bonded to the inside wall surface of a portable cooler or drop-in horizontal freezer or portable storage bin container for better visibility, access, organization, and protection of food and food containers; fishing bait; and other items to retain and protect these items from damage due to wetness, frost and combination with other items.
US08839962B2
The present invention concerns a method for separation of the antifungal cyclic hexapeptides Pneumocandin B0 from Pneumocandin C0 using a hydrophilic stationary phase and a hydrophobic mobile phase.
US08839958B2
A method and a device for screening aggregates and/or soils with a screening deck, where each point of the screening deck revolves continuously in the same rotating direction along a circular path. This movement is effected by the fastening frame of the screening deck being bearing-mounted upon at least two eccentric shafts, where each eccentric shaft is in turn bearing-mounted on a device body with bearings, through the midpoints of which extends a rotation axis of the eccentric shaft. Additionally, a throw axis spaced from the rotation axis of the eccentric shaft extends through the midpoints of bearings present between each eccentric shaft and the fastening frame, so that when the device is in operation, the throw axis revolves around the rotation axis along a circular path continuously in the same direction. All mass forces of movable structural components have been balanced with respect to rotation axes.
US08839947B2
A system for conveying biomass is disclosed. The system is configured to convey biomass for collection, transport, or processing. The system comprises a housing comprising an opening configured for the entry of biomass, at least one shoe skid configured to offset the housing in a vertical orientation, an apparatus at least partially within the housing comprising at least one rotating blade assembly, and a conduit configured to discharge biomass from the housing so that biomass entering into the housing can be projected by the apparatus through the conduit for collection or transport. The system may comprise conduit that is extendable and has articulation segments for vertical movement. The system may comprise a housing that comprises a member to dislodge the biomass from a pile to flow into the opening. The system may comprise at least one shoe skid that comprises a large surface area and projects forward of the housing.
US08839932B2
An apparatus for reducing transmission shock of an automatic transmission may include a piston operated by a control pressure, a clutch performing a clutching operation by an operation of the piston, and a cushion spring arranged between the piston and the clutch which varies by stages in stiffness of the spring with an operating position of the piston. The cushion spring may be formed with one or more sets of a plurality of curved-surface springs bent in an operating direction of the clutch and connected with each other, each set of the plurality of curved-surface springs having a different bending height.
US08839929B2
A hydraulic clutch includes a clutch drum with an outer cylinder that slidably holds a plurality of clutch plates, an inner cylinder that axially extends from an inner circumference of a sidewall, and a sleeve fitted inside the inner cylinder. A clutch piston presses the clutch plates. A plate and the clutch piston define an oil chamber that cancels centrifugal hydraulic pressure. An oil passage that communicates with the oil chamber is on an inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder. One surface of the sleeve contacts a step formed on the inner cylinder. The sleeve includes a passage in communication with the oil passage and formed on an outer periphery of the sleeve to axially extend toward the end surface, and a second passage formed more axially recessed than an end surface and radially extending to provide communication between the first passage and an inner portion of the sleeve.
US08839925B2
In a fluid transmitting device with a lock-up clutch, each second transmitting claw is formed of: a base portion having a long side arranged in a peripheral direction of a turbine impeller and a short side arranged axially of the turbine impeller; and a claw portion protruding from an intermediate portion of one of long-side portions of the base portion and being inserted between adjacent damper springs, and each short-side portion of the base portion is fixed to the turbine impeller through a weld. A long-side portion of the base portion not welded to the turbine impeller includes a cutout, facilitating bend of the long-side portion when transmitting torque through the second transmitting claw, at opposite sides of the claw portion. This improves engine output performance by relaxing stress concentration at spots where the second claws are welded to a turbine impeller without increasing the thicknesses of the claws.
US08839924B2
A compact fluid transmission apparatus that is able to effectively damp vibrations transmitted to an input member with a dynamic damper and a centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber. The apparatus includes a pump impeller that is connected to an input member coupled to a motor, and a turbine runner that is rotatable together with the pump impeller. The elastic body of the damper mechanism and the elastic body of the dynamic damper overlap each other with respect to an axial direction of the fluid transmission apparatus when viewed in a radial direction of the fluid transmission apparatus, and are arranged between the turbine runner and the centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber when viewed in the radial direction.
US08839918B2
A braking actuator for a brake of an aircraft, the actuator comprising: an electric motor; a pusher actuated by the motor; and a position sensor for sensing the position of the movable portion of the motor and provided with transmitter and receiver members. The motor has first and second exciters adapted to move the movable portion of the motor and adapted to be powered independently from each other. The transmitter member of the position sensor comprises first and second transmitters adapted to be powered independently, and the receiver member generates the signal representative of position on being excited by at least one of the transmitters.
US08839915B2
In combination with a railway car hand brake, there is an apparatus for sensing the hand brake release comprising a housing and a mounting mechanism for attaching the housing to a cover of such hand brake. An actuating mechanism is disposed in the housing. A sleeve member is disposed on the actuating mechanism and includes a flange. A flexible connecting mechanism engages the sleeve member and a winding gear portion of the hand brake. A sensing mechanism is disposed in the housing and aligned with the actuating mechanism. A securement mechanism is disposed on the sensing mechanism and mounted on the cover of the hand brake. A compression member is disposed in the housing and engages the flange of the sleeve member, whereby an electrical or magnetic signal will be received from the actuating mechanism by the sensing mechanism.
US08839908B2
A ladder safety apparatus and methods of using the same are disclosed. An example ladder safety apparatus includes a stabilizer bar for a top portion of a ladder, the stabilizer bar configured to rest on a roof top. The example ladder safety apparatus also includes a balance rail for the top portion of the ladder to provide substantially upright handles for a user to grasp when the ladder is positioned on the roof top. Further, the safety apparatus may be engaged to a ladder using one or more engagement rods.
US08839905B2
A tire cavity noise absorber has a body of sound absorbing material and a support. The absorber is arranged such that, when installed in a tire cavity and the tire is stationary, the support supports the body of sound absorbing material in a position spaced from the inside circumferential wall of the tire. The support may be flexible and allow the body of sound absorbing material to expand towards and contact the inside of the tire when the tire rotates.
US08839895B2
There is provided a battery support structure for a vehicle. The battery support structure for a vehicle includes: a battery pack formed by housing a secondary battery in a case and disposed in a lower part of a vehicle body; and a deformable bracket that supports one end portion of the battery pack in a vehicle width direction. The deformable bracket deforms in response to an input from one end of the battery pack in the vehicle width direction so as to cause the other end of the battery pack to move in an input direction and descend relative to the vehicle body.
US08839893B1
An off-road vehicle has a frame, a cockpit area, a roll cage, driver and passenger seats disposed side-by-side, an engine, a CVT, four wheels, and a steering device. A throttle pedal is disposed forwardly of the driver seat below the steering device. A throttle pedal position sensor senses a position of the pedal, is connected to a control unit for sending a throttle pedal position signal to the control unit and is disposed forward of the CVT. A throttle body, having a valve, is fluidly connected to an air intake conduit that is fluidly connected to the engine. An electric motor is operatively connected to the valve for positioning the valve. The control unit controls an operation of the electric motor based at least in part on the throttle pedal position signal.
US08839890B2
The invention presents a dual-mode hybrid high occupancy capacity vehicle (HHOCV) with a novel electrical energy and power storage application, electrical energy and power source and charging system in conjunction with additional methods to maximize the energy and rate of use such that the overall system is far superior to multiple personal transportation vehicles and roadway based catenary mass transit systems, including, but not limited to petroleum-only fueled high occupancy capacity vehicles. The HHOCV exhibits a novel battery charging system by taking advantage of existing track/trolley/catenary facilities for electrically charging its electrical storage media at a high energy rate so as to minimize disruption of such charging services, and is not confined by physical boundaries or limitations and may travel off the power source to the existing common roadways returning only to be recharged. The design incorporates software controllers and other devices to maintain the energy transfer rate and is of such physical size that the overall invention may either be retrofitted to existing buses or designed within new high occupancy vehicles.
US08839883B2
A piston tractor system can include at least two piston assemblies which sealingly engage a wellbore, and a pump which transfers fluid between an annulus isolated between the piston assemblies, and another annulus. A method of operating a piston tractor system can include sealingly engaging at least two piston assemblies with a wellbore, grippingly engaging one piston assembly with the wellbore, and then pumping a fluid from an annulus formed between the piston assemblies, while the other piston assembly is secured to a tubular string, thereby biasing the tubular string to displace through the first piston assembly. A method of advancing a tubular string through a wellbore can include sealingly engaging piston assemblies with the wellbore, each of the piston assemblies including a gripping device which selectively grips the wellbore, and one piston assembly including another gripping device which selectively grips the tubular string.
US08839872B2
A plug for sealing a conduit. The plug comprises a housing, a setting member, at least one anchor and at least one seal element. Rotation of the setting member with respect to the housing in a setting direction sets the at least one anchor and the at least one seal element.
US08839867B2
A fracturing system can include an integral fracturing manifold. More particularly, a fracturing system can include a plurality of fracturing trees and an integral fracturing manifold may be directly coupled to each of the plurality of fracturing trees. The integral fracturing manifold may accommodate spacing and elevation differences between the fracturing trees.
US08839862B2
A method of stabilizing a blasthole prior to detonation which comprises the step of coating the inner wall of the blasthole with a stabilizing composition. In one embodiment, the invention comprises coating the blast hole with a movable spraying application. The invention further relates to the use of a silicate-containing resin but is also suitable for use with a thermoset resin system. The method can be used to apply the stabilizing composition to both dry and wet blastholes.
US08839851B2
A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail.
US08839850B2
An installation system and method configured to install a lower completion section is provided. The installation system may comprise an installation drill pipe configured to releasably couple with a lower completion section. The installation system may comprise an electrical wet connect. The electrical wet connect may be coupled with a connector configured to establish a communication pathway between the electrical wet connect and components of the lower completion section. The lower completion section may be run in hole. Communications between a surface location and the lower completion components may be established via the electrical wet connect. The lower completion components may be tested prior to setting a lower completion section packer.
US08839849B2
A method for producing fluid from a subterranean formation includes configuring a body to at least partially fill with a selected fluid; and actuating a flow restriction element using the body. The selected fluid may be water. An apparatus for controlling flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular may include a selectively buoyant body, and a flow restriction element responsive to a movement of the selectively buoyant body. The selectively buoyant body includes a membrane configured to block a flow of hydrocarbons into the selectively buoyant body. The flow restriction element may include a flapper, a sliding sleeve, and a poppet valve. The body may be at least partially filled with a permeable material, which includes, but is not limited to, open-cell foam, reticulated metal foam, shaped sintered powder and capillary tubes.
US08839833B2
A tire having two beads and a carcass reinforcement with a main part wrapped within each bead around a bead wire core to form a turned-back portion. Each bead has an additional reinforcement and a filler profiled element extending the bead wire core radially outwards. This filler profiled element has, in any meridian plane, a three exterior sides including a radially inner side, axially inner side and axially outer side, with the axially inner and outer sides converging at a radially outermost point, and is formed of a stack in the radial direction of at least three polymer materials in contact along a contact surface that intersects any meridian plane along a meridian line.
US08839831B2
A method for winterizing boat engines and a system with components designed for performing the method comprising an air-pressure-supply means that can be used to pressurize the system and thereby force water out the inlet port, an anti-freeze supply means that will supply anti-freeze liquid into the system when the component that is to be winterized is operated to draw water, and means for coupling these components to the water system.
US08839830B2
A method and device for recovering puncture repair liquid without cutting out a tire valve. The method uses a device including a tube and either a pipe member or a drainage device. The tube reaches a tire inner surface when inserted into the tire from a tire valve mounted to a wheel, and the pipe member or drainage device connects between the tire valve and a pressurized air source. A valve core is detached from a tire valve of the wheel. The tube is inserted into the tire via the valve, the pipe member or drainage device is connected between the valve and air source, the tire is filled with air from the air source, and the puncture repair liquid in the tire is recovered through an end portion of the pipe member or drainage port due to air escaping from the tire.
US08839824B2
A weaving apparatus is provided herein for simultaneously weaving fine denier panels and coarse denier panels. The weaving apparatus includes a first warp beam that holds in tension a first number of small denier warp threads and a second warp beam that holds in tension a second number of large denier warp threads. The first number of small denier warp threads is greater than the second number of large denier warp threads.
US08839815B2
A gas valve assembly may include an electronic valve controller secured relative to a valve body. The electronic controller may be configured to count each operational cycle of the gas valve and maintain a cumulative count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the gas valve in a memory, such as a non-volatile memory. In some cases, the non-volatile memory may also store one or more operational cycle threshold values that may be retrieved and compared to the cumulative count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the gas valve. In some instances, where the cumulative count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the gas valve meets and/or exceeds the threshold number of operational cycles, the gas valve may be prevented from opening.
US08839800B2
A tobacco product produced by wrapping cut tobacco with a pouch or a cigarette paper, wherein the pouch or the cigarette paper has an inner layer and an outer layer, and a paper of the outer layer has an air permeability higher than that of a paper of the inner layer.
US08839788B2
Respirator attachment components are described and include a polymeric rigid respirator attachment body portion having a first surface and a second surface and a silicone sealing element chemically bonded to the first or second surface.
US08839783B2
The present invention provides for a hybrid solar radiation collection and distribution system comprising both passive solar and active solar components, generating electric potential, generating heat, and distributing visible light to numerous endpoints.
US08839771B2
An air gun includes a gun body; a stock extending rearward from the gun body; a trigger extending downward from the gun body; a gas cartridge containing pressurized gas disposed in the stock; a magazine releasably secured to the gun body; an actuator including a spring biased sliding bar including an external handle, a protrusion projecting downward from the sliding bar, a spring biased sliding rod disposed under the sliding bar, and a sliding block engaging the sliding rod and including a protuberance facing the gas cartridge; and a safety mechanism disposed adjacent to a trigger and including a safety lever, a cam disposed at one end of the safety lever and being co-rotatable with the safety lever, the cam having an annular shoulder, a spring biased rod aligned with the safety lever and spaced from the cam in an inoperative position.
US08839766B2
A variety of methods and arrangements for managing transitions between operating states for an engine are described. In one aspect, an engine is operated in a particular operating state. A transition is made to another operating state. During that transition, the engine is operated in a skip fire manner.
US08839764B2
In a fuel supply system for heavy oil common-rail injection systems for internal combustion engines, including a tank (1), a primary feed pump (3) for delivering heavy oil from the tank (1) to a high-pressure pump (5), wherein the high-pressure pump (5), via at least one high-pressure line (12), is connected to a high-pressure accumulator (rail) (6) feeding at least one injector (8), and, furthermore, a purge valve (9), which is connected to the high-pressure accumulator via a separate high-pressure line (15) for directing at least a portion of the heavy oil back into the tank (1) via a return line, the purge valve (9) includes a valve member (28) which is movable between an opened and a closed position, a high-pressure connection for a high-pressure line (15) communicating with a heavy oil high-pressure accumulator (rail) (6), a low-pressure connection for a return line, and actuating means for actuating the valve member (28), wherein the valve seat (29) of the valve member (28) is designed as a sliding seat.
US08839761B2
A rotary engine includes a first rotary unit operable to provides a first phase of compression to a fresh air charge drawn in through an inlet port to the first rotary unit. A second rotary unit in communication with the first rotary unit through a first passage, the second rotary unit operable to provide a second phase of compression to the first phase of compression, a combustion phase and a first phase of expansion, the second rotary unit in communication with the first rotary unit through a second passage such that the first rotary unit provides a second phase of expansion to the first phase of expansion and an exhaust phase that exhausts the first rotary unit via an exhaust port. A first fuel injector is in communication with the second rotary unit operable to initiate the combustion phase and a second fuel injector is in communication with the first rotary unit operable to selectively initiate augmented operation.
US08839758B2
An internal combustion engine having a connecting assembly for a cylinder head (2) includes at least one air- or gas-conducting part (4) that connects to at least one flow opening (3a) of the cylinder (2), in particular an exhaust manifold (5) or an intake manifold, and a sealing element (9) disposed between the air- or gas-conducting part (4) and the cylinder head (2). In order to reduce the assembly complexity and save installation space, at least one fastening means (7) for the air- or gas-conducting part (4) is disposed spatially separate from the sealing element (9).
US08839744B1
A mobile telephone adapts to use as a gundog training tool by interfacing with a dog collar using a wireless communication device, such as a WWAN text or IP interface, a WLAN interface or a radio transceiver that couples to the mobile telephone and is accessible to a training application running on the mobile telephone. The dog collar includes a GPS receiver to provide position information to the mobile telephone and a shock device to provide training stimulus to the dog. A wireless headset interfaces with the mobile telephone to provide audible indications of position to an end user, such as a dog point and tone indicators of directions to the dog. A wireless handset interfaces with the mobile telephone to accept inputs for application to the collar, such as training stimulus.
US08839743B2
A cart for transporting livestock equipment having a first and a second stall dividers and two dollies. The first dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. The second dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. To form a cart, an outer support member of the first dolly is received in one of the vertical members of the first stall divider, and the other outer support member of the first dolly is received in the opening of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider. An outer support member of the second dolly is received in the first stall divider and the outer support member of the second dolly is received in the opening of the second stall divider.
US08839740B2
A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for applying an aluminide coating constituted by two or more extrinsic metal components on a jet engine component. The aluminide coating is capable of forming a protective complex oxide upon subsequent heating in an oxidizing environment. At least one of the extrinsic metals in the aluminide coating is provided as a first vapor phase reactant from a receptacle coupled by a closed communication path with the reaction chamber of the CVD system and free of a carrier gas. The aluminide coating is formed by the chemical combination of the first vapor phase reactant with a second vapor phase reactant either created in situ in the reaction chamber or supplied by a carrier gas to the reaction chamber from a precursor source.
US08839738B2
An apparatus and method for thermal spraying a metal coating on a substrate is accomplished with a modified pulsejet and optionally an ejector to assist in preventing oxidation. Metal such as Aluminum or Magnesium may be used. A pulsejet is first initiated by applying fuel, air, and a spark. Metal is inserted continuously in a high volume of metal into a combustion chamber of the pulsejet. The combustion is thereafter controlled resonantly at high frequency and the metal is heated to a molten state. The metal is then transported from the combustion chamber into a tailpipe of said pulsejet and is expelled therefrom at high velocity and deposited on a target substrate.
US08839736B2
A flag made with a space inside for illuminating with light from an illuminated flagpole and made to capture the light to prevent light pollution, thus creating a highly visible night-time flag.
US08839733B2
The present invention relates to a method for transporting a blade for a wind turbine, comprising the steps of lowering said wind turbine blade into water, whereby it floats, and transporting said blade in the water. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade with its holes sealed, making the blade transportable by floating, and a blade comprising a keel, propeller and a rudder.
US08839732B2
A portable water level-responsive mooring device has a mooring strap with a ring capable of engaging the mooring device around a dock piling. The mooring strap has a suitable length of cord having a clip or ring on each end capable of releasably attaching to a fender, spacing tubes, and rollers. The spacing tubes and rollers have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the spacing tubes and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cord. The cord is positioned within an arrangement of the spacing tubes and rollers, the length of cord being sufficient to wrap around a dock piling.
US08839731B2
A fender for boats provides a rolled profile with an open section, consisting of an external shell connected at its ends to two straight parallel supporting and containing strips which converge towards the center of the shell without meeting and are capable of bearing against the side of the boat, the rolled profile being filled internally with a core of PVC.
US08839724B2
A modular medical instrument table and method of using the same is provided. The modular medical instrument table includes a base and at least one support structure rising from the base, the support structure having a substantially vertical axis. At least one arm is removably affixed to the support structure, the arm having a first end proximate to the support structure and a second end distal from the support structure, wherein the second end of the arm is rotatable about the support structure. A shelf is attachable to the second end of the arm.
US08839723B2
Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for positioning an electronic display. The apparatus can be combined with an existing work surface to provide a multi-position workstation. In some cases the apparatus includes a mounting portion configured to support an electronic display and a keyboard. The mounting portion may be movable with respect to the work surface between multiple positions, including for example, a sitting position and a standing position. Methods for positioning an electronic display and a keyboard are also included.
US08839720B2
Blasting apparatuses are disclosed that include enhanced security features, including biometric analysis of specific biological features of a candidate blast operator, thereby to generate a biometric signature. Other corresponding methods relate to cross-referencing of biometric signatures between components of the blasting system. Additional security features of the blasting apparatuses, and corresponding methods of blasting employing the blasting apparatuses, are also disclosed.
US08839709B1
A rail mountable shotgun employs a bullpup configuration and a revolver type cylinder with a plurality of chambers. A trigger is connected through the cylinder to a firing mechanism contained in a housing behind the cylinder to fire a shotgun shell contained in the chamber when the chamber is aligned with the barrel of the shogun.
US08839706B1
A projectile launcher includes a receiver and a dual cylindrical-shaped magazine (“DCM”) wherein the receiver contains a propelling mechanism and an ammunition receiving port. The propelling mechanism is used for launching a projectile. The ammunition receiving port, which may be situated at bottom of the receiver, is able to receive projectiles. It should be noted that the projectile launcher can also be a gun or firearm. The DCM includes two canisters and an ammunition supply port which is situated between the two canisters. The DCM carries multiple projectiles in such a way that a first portion of projectiles moves toward the receiver against gravity for supplying projectiles from the ammunition supply port to the ammunition receiving port while a second portion of projectiles move in a direction parallel to the receiver for replenishing projectiles from the second portion of projectiles to the first portion of projectiles.
US08839703B2
A window covering cutting device is disclosed that has a support table, a slot, and a blade. The support table has a support surface on which at least a portion of a window covering can be placed. The clamp has a slot and is positioned near the support surface so there is a plane that passes through the slot. The clamp is moveable from a first open position to at least one clamping position. The blade is positioned for movement from a first position to a second position so that a portion of the blade will be within the slot of the clamp when the blade is in the second position and the clamp is in one of its clamping positions.
US08839701B2
A method and apparatus for cutting a vertical window covering are disclosed. One method of operating a window covering cutting machine comprises retaining a window covering in a package such that a first end of the window covering is located at a known first position relative to the package. An engagement element is provided on the package that is located at a known second position on the package. The engagement element is moved a distance from a saw to obtain a final dimension of the window covering where the distance is calculated using the first position and the second position.
US08839695B2
A device for removing an insulation jacket from a wire core of an insulated wire or cable is provided for encouraging recycling. The device employs cutting blades engaged to a first roller to cut a slice along the length of an inserted insulated wire or cable. A frictional engagement between the distal edge of the blade and an opposing recess surface provides for translation of the length of wire through the device during rotation of one or both of the blade and recess surface. Translational movement of the blades and a biasing force can enhance the frictional engagement and provide a distance of travel to prevent cutting of the insulated wire or cable.
US08839691B2
A parking brake for a motor vehicle is provided. The parking brake includes a brake actuation lever which is arranged pivotably on a lever holder, a coupling unit for coupling the brake actuation lever to a brake cable, a locking device which comprises a toothing arranged on the lever holder and a locking catch engaging in the toothing, a catch spring for prestressing the locking catch in the direction of the toothing, a release device which comprises a push rod which can be displaced between an inoperative position and a release position along the brake actuation lever, and a triggering element, wherein the push rod has an aperture, a guide element for guiding the push rod and a spring element for prestressing the push rod.
US08839683B2
The present invention provides a microscale pressure sensor that exhibits high sensitivity in a small form factor. The sensor is a bridged device in which a photonic crystal waveguide, surrounded by a photonic crystal slab, is suspended over a dielectric substrate. Under applied pressure, the photonic crystal waveguide is deflected toward the substrate, causing a decrease in optical transmission across the waveguide due to the coupling of the evanescent field of the guided mode to the dielectric substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the waveguide is coupled to a photonic crystal microcavity, which increases evanescent coupling.
US08839681B2
A system and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates in a liquid-flow distribution system, such as that which is used in agricultural liquid application equipment. This may include blockages or punctures in a liquid line. The system generally includes a plurality of gauges for monitoring the supply line flow rate in a liquid application system which are monitored by a number of sensors. Immediate feedback is presented to the operator of the vehicle inside the cab. The system alerts the operator when a blockage, loss, or increase of flow rate has occurred in one of the liquid lines. The system may merely indicate that one of the lines is blocked, or the system may be more sophisticated such that it can indicate which line is blocked and adjust the flow in that line in an attempt to clear the blockage.
US08839679B2
A method of determining material constants of a hardened metal object being exerted to load cycles, and a method of indicating fatigue damage rate of a hardened metal object in relation to load cycles, N, exerted on the hardened metal object, wherein material dependent constants of the hardened metal object are determined according to the method of determining material dependent constants of the hardened metal object. Methods for indicating fatigue and predicting life of a metal object are disclosed.
US08839676B2
The invention relates to a structural element for an orthopedic device, comprising at least one sensor (2) disposed in or on the structural element (1) and connected by means of conductors (13) for transferring energy and/or sensor signals, wherein the conductors (13) are integrated in the structural element (1), extend along an end area (A) of the structural element (1), and open into the end area (A), forming contact surfaces (3) there.
US08839675B2
An apparatus for lifting an aircraft may include a plurality of lifting mechanisms mounted on a supporting surface. Each lifting mechanism may be configured to impart an upward force on a component of the aircraft for lifting the aircraft off the supporting surface. The apparatus may include a beam structure configured to be mounted to the lifting mechanisms. The apparatus may also include a lifting beam suspended from the beam structure. A measurement device may be mounted to the lifting beam and may be configured to engage a jack point associated with the component to determine a weight of the aircraft when the aircraft is lifted off the supporting surface.
US08839670B2
Described herein is an accelerometer that can be sensitive to acceleration, but not anchor motion due to sources other than acceleration. The accelerometer can employ a set of electrodes and/or transducers that can register motion of the proof mass and support structure and employ and output-cancelling mechanism so that the accelerometer can distinguish between acceleration and anchor motion due to sources other than acceleration. For example, the effects of anchor motion can be cancelled from an output signal of the accelerometer so that the accelerometer exhibits sensitivity to only acceleration.
US08839668B2
A formation tester places an isolation device, preferably a probe, in fluid communication with a formation to determine formation pressures. The tester's controller uses a pressure pre-test process to autonomously control operation. The controller measures drawdown pressure and interval as the tester draws down pressure in flowline coupled to the probe. If the drawdown pressure indicates a dry test has occurred, the process is aborted. Otherwise, the controller measures buildup pressure and interval by allowing buildup of pressure of the flowline. The controller permits this to continue until the interval is longer than the drawdown interval and/or until a rate of the buildup falls below a predetermined rate. If the buildup pressure is too tight relative to the drawdown pressure, the controller aborts the test. Eventually, the controller measures a final buildup pressure when the buildup terminates. A new drawdown rate and volume can be determined for subsequent formation tests.
US08839667B2
An electronic unit includes an inflation valve (2) designed to be attached to a wheel rim (J) and an electronic module (1) assembled with the inflation valve. The inflation valve includes a rigid tube (12) extending in the extension of the valve, on the periphery of which is formed at least one transversal detent (20, 21), and the electronic module is attached to a ring (15) slideably mounted around the rigid tube. A latch plate (22) having a locking tooth (24) for insertion into a transversal detent, is mounted on the electronic module with a capacity to travel between a locking position and an unlocking position, the latch plate being associated with elastic elements designed, in the absence of stresses, to exert a force maintaining the latch plate in its locking position, and, upon an action exerted on these elastic elements, to displace this latch plate to its unlocking position.
US08839664B2
Monitoring of transient operation of a turbine includes identifying a start condition and a stop condition for the transient operation and defining a path from the start condition to the stop condition wherein the path comprises a plurality of sequentially arranged sub-segments. Also, a respective value is obtained of each of a plurality of operating parameters for each respective sub-segment of the path and, then, for each of the respective sub-segments, a determination is made if the respective value of each of the plurality of operating parameters matches a respective predetermined allowable value for that particular operating parameter.
US08839662B2
A station probe employed in a gas turbine engine includes a rake portion having a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions in the gas turbine engine. An environmental container attached to the rake portion includes signal conditioning circuitry that locally analyzes sensor signals received from the plurality of sensors to generate measured values, and a communication module for communicating the measured values to a control room.
US08839647B2
One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a vertical axis washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet having a top portion with a lid and side portions extending downwardly from the top portion. A tub is positioned within the cabinet with a basket rotatably supported within the tub. The washing machine also includes a heater, a water level sensor, and a fan. The water level sensor controls the volume of water that enters the tub such that the fan is not submerged in such volume of water and the heater generates steam from such volume of water. The fan rotates and circulates air inside the tub so that the steam is distributed throughout the tub.
US08839645B2
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber base material includes: forming a porous glass base material by depositing glass particles; providing a synthetic quartz glass vessel at least partly made of quartz glass which contains aluminum equal to or less than 0.01 ppm; introducing dehydration reaction gas and inert gas into the vessel; heating a portion made of quartz glass which contains aluminum equal to or less than 0.01 ppm in the vessel that contains the dehydration reaction gas and the inert gas; and inserting the porous glass base material into the heated vessel to dehydrate and sinter the porous glass base material.
US08839641B1
A method for providing a flow control system for an aircraft. A compressor is removed from an existing air cycle machine, along with compressor ducting that is connected to a primary stage outlet of the heat exchanger and a secondary stage inlet of the heat exchanger in the existing air cycle machine. A first connector duct is provided and connected to the primary stage outlet of the heat exchanger and the secondary stage inlet of the heat exchanger. The turbine is removed from the existing air cycle machine, and a second connector duct is provided and connected to the upstream turbine duct directly and the downstream turbine duct.
US08839639B2
Methods and devices that use an engine load condition of a vehicle, for example, the vehicle's engine intake manifold or plenum vacuum, to promote the efficiency of the engine. The methods and devices are operable to control the compressor of the vehicle's air-conditioning system, enabling the compressor to be shut off when the vehicle is under relatively high loads. The methods and devices operate by sensing a parameter indicative of an engine load condition of the vehicle, determining a difference between a reading of the parameter and an average based on multiple readings of the parameter, and then engaging and disengaging the compressor clutch depending on whether the reading of the parameter is above or below the average of the parameter. The compressor clutch is engaged if the engine operates under a high load for a duration that is dependent on the average of the parameter.
US08839629B2
An assembly is designed to attach hangers from which an aircraft propulsion unit is suspended. The propulsion unit is intended to be suspended from a structural element of the aircraft. The propulsion unit includes a turbojet engine having a longitudinal axis and the attachment assembly having a clevis mount for attaching the hangers to a casing of the propulsion unit. The clevis mount is fixed to the casing by means designed to form a connection between the clevis mount and the casing at the external periphery of the casing.
US08839627B2
An annular combustor includes an annular outer shell that includes a first flange that defines an inner diameter IDOS and an annular inner shell that includes a second flange that defines an outer diameter ODIS. An annular hood includes a radially outer hood flange and a radially inner hood flange. A bulkhead includes a radially outer bulkhead flange that defines an outer diameter ODB and a radially inner bulkhead flange that defines an inner diameter IDB. The first flange is secured at a radially outer joint between the radially outer hood flange and the radially outer bulkhead flange. The second flange is secured at a radially inner joint between the radially inner hood flange and the radially inner bulkhead flange. The IDOS and the ODB define a ratio R1 of IDOS/ODB that is 0.998622-1.001129, and the IDB and the ODIS define a ratio R2 of IDB/ODIS that is 0.998812-1.001388.
US08839626B2
A gas turbine combustor comprising a fuel nozzle for injecting mixed gas of fuel and air, a cylindrical liner for burning and reacting the mixed gas of fuel and air in a combustion chamber, a transition piece which is a flow path for leading combustion gas generated in the liner to turbine blades, and a transition piece flow sleeve for wrapping an outside surface of the transition piece, wherein a plurality of air introduction holes for introducing air into the transition piece flow sleeve are formed in regions of the transition piece flow sleeve excluding regions which are corner portions of the transition piece flow sleeve in a sectional direction thereof.
US08839623B2
A rotary heat engine having a cylinder and a rotor having a rotating shaft rotatably placed in the cylinder. The cylinder has a heat receiving section for supplying heat to the inside of the cylinder and a heat radiating section for radiating heat from the inside. The engine also has an engine section body and an operation liquid storage section. A vaporized gas supply channel and a gas recovery channel communicating with the inside of the cylinder are provided, respectively, on the heat receiving section side and heat radiating section side of the cylinder in the engine section body. The operation liquid storage section is between the vaporized gas supply channel and the gas collection channel in order to aggregate and liquefy recovered gas and is installed such that both channels fluidly communicate with each other. Also, the operation liquid storage section has a heat insulation dam provided with a through hole for preventing backflow of fluid flowing inside.
US08839621B2
A hybrid power plant is described in which a pressurized water nuclear reactor or a biomass-fueled power plant, which have a relatively low operating temperature, such as, is combined with a coal or other fossil fuel power plant having a higher operating temperature. Steam from the first plant is superheated in the second power plant to provide a hybrid plant with improved efficiencies and lower emissions.
US08839616B1
An integrated wind and hydro power generation system includes at least one wind turbine generator device configured to generate output power from a common cavity being occupied by water and air. The hydro generator device is powered by water flow, while the wind generator is primarily powered by the vacuum occurring with the water's exit from the cavity.
US08839614B2
A thermoelectric generator for a vehicle is mounted at an exhaust pipe and produces electricity using a temperature difference between the exhaust gas and coolant. The generator includes: a housing; thermoelectric modules mounted at an outer circumferential surface of the housing; a plurality of coolant tubes mounted so as to closely attach the thermoelectric module to the housing; first coolant containers mounted at both ends of the coolant tubes, respectively; and second coolant containers mounted at both ends of the coolant tubes, respectively. The coolant tubes are assembled to the first and second coolant containers as a modularized type, and thus assemblability may be improved and partial replacement of components in case of breakdown may be easily performed. In the coolant tube of the present invention, heat exchange is concentratedly performed at a portion in contact with the thermoelectric module, and thus generation efficiency may be more improved.
US08839611B2
An internal combustion engine is coupled to an electric power generator. An exhaust manifold for the engine includes an exhaust gas conduit. A housing includes a catalyst in fluid communication with the conduit to receive exhaust produced by the engine. The catalyst is operable to reduce one or more constituents of the exhaust.
US08839608B2
A method of controlling an internal combustion engine that includes an exhaust line fitted with a particulate filter, the method including: a) acquiring a charge parameter relating to a fill level of the particulate filter, b) comparing the charge parameter with at least one determined threshold, and c) bringing the internal combustion engine to a set operating point determined as a function of various criteria of differing levels of importance. Prior to c) and with one of the criteria being the mass flow rate of particles entering the particulate filter, a constraint level coefficient is determined as a function of the result of the comparing b) and applied to the particulate mass flow rate to weight importance of this criterion in determining the engine operating point. Thus, the engine is controlled taking account of the fill level of the particulate filter, making it possible to optimize a compromise between constraint on the particulate flow rate through the exhaust line and other engine control constraints.
US08839604B2
In a method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine, a lambda control is carried out, in which a trim regulation is provided, which operates with a P regulator component and an I regulator component. To prevent overshooting when the trim regulation is carried out, operation takes place in a first mode with compulsory adjustment and in a following second mode with increased regulator amplification factors.
US08839602B2
A method of assessing non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) conversion efficiency in a diesel after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) arranged upstream of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) includes regenerating the AT system. Additionally, the method monitors DOC inlet and outlet temperatures during the regeneration. The method also assesses whether the DOC is operating at or above threshold efficiency by determining a DOC inlet/outlet temperature difference and comparing the determined inlet/outlet temperature difference with a threshold inlet/outlet temperature difference. The method also monitors DPF outlet temperature if the DOC is operating at or above the threshold efficiency and determines a DOC temperature/DPF outlet temperature difference. The method additionally assesses whether NMHC conversion efficiency of the DPF is at or above a threshold value by comparing the determined DOC temperature/DPF outlet temperature difference with a threshold DOC temperature/DPF outlet temperature difference. A system and a vehicle are also disclosed.
US08839600B2
An igniter for a rocket engine or motor comprising a combustion chamber with a solid fuel, an inlet for supplying an oxidizer to the combustion chamber to ignite the solid fuel and an outlet for discharging exhaust gas, wherein the igniter is arranged to discharge exhaust gas to the rocket engine for igniting the rocket engine. The igniter can be used for multiple ignitions and can also be re-used after re-filling.
US08839599B1
An axially aligned combustion engine with a rotationally fixed housing and rotationally disposed rotor is presented. Particularly, the rotor includes an engine assembly and one or more air compressor assemblies axially aligned about an axis within the housing. The engine assembly includes a plurality of radially disposed combustion chambers extending from a closed interior edge outward toward an at least partially open access port disposed at an outer peripheral edge of the engine assembly. As the engine assembly rotates within the housing, the radially disposed combustion chambers are successively aligned with or communicatively disposed with an air manifold to receive compressed air, actuator(s) to receive fuel and ignite the fuel, and an exhaust manifold to expel the combusted gases.
US08839595B2
A filling device and associated method for filling viscous filling material, in particular sealants, into a tubular casing material. The filling device comprises: a shutoff valve, a filling tube disposed downstream from the shutoff valve in the direction of flow of the filling material, a clip placement and clip closing device disposed downstream from the filling tube in the direction of flow of the filling material and a supply of tubular casing material disposed at least partially on the filling tube. At least one sensor is also provided for directly or indirectly measuring the length of casing material drawn from the supply of casing material, the output signal of the sensor being able to control at least the closing of the shutoff valve through which the pressurized filling material can be fed to the filling tube.
US08839594B2
A concrete exclusion structure is formed by a housing having a shell, end walls, and one or more score lines of reduced wall thickness. The housing defines an interior void that is dimensioned to enclose a coupler assembly. Knockouts in the end walls or knockout cones allow passage of tubes associated with the coupler assembly. The exclusion structure prevents uncured concrete from contacting the coupler assembly. The structure can fracture after the concrete has cured thereby allowing portions of the coupler assembly to move relative to each other. Such fracture is typically about one of the score lines.
US08839592B2
A panelized, reusable barrier system allowing for containment of construction areas in hospitals and other clean room environments. Panels are adjustable in height from 92″ to 120″. Panels are available in 12″, 24″, 36″ and 48″ widths. Door panels consist of a 44″ wide door mounted in a 48″ wide panel. Custom clips secure the top of the panels to suspended ceiling grid. Custom camlock fasteners fasten the panels to each other. Hinged corner posts allow for wall transitions ranging from 10° to 90°. Porting options are available to allow for HEPA filtered air discharge and for monitoring differential air pressure between the work area and the public area.
US08839585B2
Deployable support structures include a six-bar linkage structure as a lateral facet of a truncated pyramid. The six-bar linkage structure comprises six articulated struts, each coupled to two others by a revolute joint to form a closed loop. The six-bar linkage structure is convertible from a deployed state into a folded state and vice versa. In the deployed state of one embodiment, the six-bar linkage structure forms a trapezoid with two opposing first and second parallel sides formed by two struts arranged in series and coupled by a revolute joint at the center of the parallel sides. In the folded state, the two struts of each parallel side are pivoted around the joint so that opposing end portions of the struts are located side by side. Scalable and modular deployable structures can be made for space applications as well as civil constructions such as domes, roofs, housing, tents, and bridges.
US08839583B2
An L-shaped adapter that secures a single cross beam to a main beam, in a suspended ceiling.The adapter is applied to a prior art connection designed to connect opposing cross beams to each other and to a main beam.
US08839578B2
A panel with multiple openings and brackets can be used to flush-mount multiple components in a wallboard. The panel is installed flush with the wallboard and the junction between the panel and the wallboard is plastered or drywalled to create a uniform appearance. Wall-mounted components can then be installed into the brackets into openings that have been pre-measured and cut to ensure that the components are aligned with precision relative to one another before installation even begins.
US08839575B1
Disclosed is a tile roof equipment-mounting device for mounting solar panels and other equipment to tile roofs. The tile roof mount includes a base and an angled bracket. The base can include a base portion channel projecting upward from the base, with stepped grooves, as well as first and second slots running along opposing sides of the base portion channel in a direction parallel to the base. The angled bracket can include complementary stepped grooves that engage the base portion channel. The angled bracket can include a third slot that is perpendicular to the vertex between angled portions of the angled bracket. A threaded fastener can adjustably engage first, second, and third slots. This combination allows the tile roof mount so that the height is vertically discreetly adjustable and horizontally continuously adjustable.
US08839562B2
A mortise lock comprising: a case having opposite inner and outer sides which are horizontally spaced when the mortise lock is mounted on a door; a latchbolt supported by the case for movement between extended and retracted positions, the latchbolt extending from the outer side of the case; an element configured to be operably connected to a latch adjacent a top or a bottom of the door, the element being movably supported by the case and partially extending from the inner side of the case; and a latchbolt bar movably supported by the case, the latchbolt bar having an outer end operably connected to the latchbolt for moving the latchbolt between the extended and retracted positions, and the latchbolt bar having an inner end operably connected to the element for moving the element when the latchbolt bar moves the latchbolt.
US08839549B2
A hose holder for a boat, or for another object upon which contact with a hose is undesirable, is a shaped rigid rod provided with a means for suspending the rod close to its midpoint, the shape created by bending each end of the rod into a helix. The rod is smaller in diameter than a common garden hose. The helices have a common, horizontal axis with an inner diameter larger than such a hose. The means for suspending the rod is above the outer diameter of the helices. Other embodiments utilize non-helical rod shapes to support the hose.
US08839537B2
A support component comprises a tab configured to be coupled to a bar (as comprises a part of an item to be suspended), the tab including a plurality of openings disposed therethrough and configured to receive an overhead support interface (such as a corresponding flexible link) to thereby provide overhead support to the bar. These openings can be laterally offset from one another to facilitate selecting a particular pitch orientation for the bar. The tab can have a non-circular hole disposed therethrough sized and configured to receive the bar. This hole can include a surface that is configured to key with respect to a corresponding bar surface to thereby prevent the bar from rotating.
US08839529B1
The invention provides sandals having straps that can be reconfigured by the user into a variety of styles and arrangements, so as to obtain a desired appearance, fit, and/or degree of comfort. The straps can also be configured to hold the sandals to the calves, thighs, or arms, so that the sandals can be carried in a hands-free manner. In certain embodiments, the sandals have a sufficiently low density and a high enough volume to provide a useful amount of buoyancy when the wearer is floating or swimming.
US08839513B2
A method of manufacturing a concave connector substrate includes: a step of preparing a guide substrate having a guide/holding region that guides a plate-shaped connector to a connection position and a cut portion; a step of arranging and aligning two wiring substrates, each having wiring lines and through hole connection portions that are electrically connected to the wiring lines, with both surfaces of the guide substrate, and applying an adhesive to a predetermined region of the guide substrate to bond the wiring substrates to the guide substrate; a step of bending a portion of the wiring substrate toward the inside of the cut portion of the guide substrate and bringing the wiring lines disposed in the bent portion into pressure contact with the inside of the cut portion; and a step of removing a section inside the cut portion to form the guide/holding region.
US08839511B2
A plug-in overhead light is shown with an overhead female type, twist lock, electrical plug. The plug-in overhead light has a male type, twist lock, electrical plug. Upon plugging in the overhead light and twisting to lock, additional structural support for the overhead light is provided. Other than just the twist lock, electrical plug, the junction box is anchored to a ceiling joist and supports the overhead light projecting there below. A decorative cover extends over the junction box and may be used to hold the light globe in position. The male type, twist lock, electrical plug has a bulb socket on the end opposite the electrical plug.
US08839510B2
A production method for an electronic chip component includes the steps of forming a first paste layer by applying paste onto a first end surface of an electronic component body with a second end surface being stuck onto a substrate having an adhesive surface and drying the paste, turning the electronic component body 180 degrees so as to stick the first end surface of the electronic component body onto the substrate by sliding a slider relative to the substrate in a state in which the slider is in contact with the first end surface of the electronic component body, forming a second paste layer by applying the paste onto the second end surface of the electronic component body and drying the paste, and firing the first and second paste layers.
US08839509B2
Multiple high-voltage side and low-voltage side electric conductors are formed from one sheet of a conductive plate in such a way that the multiple electric conductors are arranged in parallel to one another across an initial gap between the high-voltage side and the low-voltage side electric conductors. The multiple electric conductors are connected to one another via connecting portions. An intermediate portion of the connecting portion is deformed so as to reduce the initial gap to a smaller adjusted gap. Portions of the electric conductors as well as switching devices mounted to the electric conductors are sealed by sealing material. The connecting portions are cut away so that the electric conductors are finally separated from one another.
US08839507B2
A vehicle body positioning and locking devices for use in assembling a vehicle body positioned on a movable vehicle support positioned at a vehicle build station. The locking device includes a remote vehicle locking device for selectively securing and locking a vehicle body to a support pallet. The support pallet is accurately and precisely positioned at a build station through alignment and inserting engagement of locating pads in at least one four-way and at least one two way receiver mounted to a build station foundation. A compliant body clamp design is included to provide a desired clamping force between the pallet and a vehicle body across a range of motion of the body clamp to accommodate vehicle build variances.
US08839502B2
A production method of an electronic component includes: forming a sheet having a resin layer and a metal layer formed under the resin layer; bonding the sheet to a substrate so that the metal layer is arranged on a functional portion of an acoustic wave element formed on the substrate, a frame portion surrounding the functional portion is formed between the metal layer and the substrate, a cavity is formed on the functional portion by the metal layer and the frame portion, and the resin layer covers the metal layer and the frame portion.
US08839496B2
A fire blocking non-woven textile containing a first carded web of char-forming fibers containing aramid or melamine/formaldehyde fiber and a second carded web of oxygen-depleting fibers comprising a blend of polyacrylonitrile copolymer with a halogen comonomer and a polyester polymer. The webs may be needled-punched or thermally bonded and remain as separate layers separating the action of the char forming and oxygen depleting layers to optimize char strength, provide a light weight product, which may satisfy 16 CFR 1633 at thicknesses of up to 3.0 mm.
US08839489B2
A height adjustment device for a transit shaft and arm assembly that enables height adjustments without significant disassembly of a transit door. An additional advantage is that the device does not require the use of shims, spacers or adjustment rings to adjust the height of the shaft and arm assemblies. Rotation of a nut threaded on the shaft allows for the adjustment of how much of the shaft hangs below a support member and a bearing. A surface of the nut bears on the bearing and the attached shaft and arm assembly hangs from the bearing and the support member the bearing is attached to. This arrangement allows the arm assembly to pivot along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This arrangement also allows the height of the shaft and arm assembly to change with changes in position of the nut by threading the nut along the shaft.
US08839483B2
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) having a support composed of a plurality of support components (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) that are joined to one another by welding, gluing, or the like and have at least one longitudinal channel (34) incorporating a pre-curved elastic support element (36) and two parallel retaining rails (28) separated by a longitudinal gap (32), for a wiper strip (38), wherein a connecting element (50) is arranged in the center region of the wiper blade (10) for the articulated connection to a wiper arm. It is proposed that at least two support elements in the form of spring bars (36) having a round cross-section are provided in corresponding separate longitudinal channels (34), between which the retaining rails (28) are arranged.
US08839472B2
A combination sleeve/glove pillow allows extra comfort for arm sleepers and in situations like workbreaks or unusual sleeping quarters. A padded cylindrical pillow material between 1 and 3 cm thick and between 20 to 30 cm long is covered with cloth, allowing an arm to slide through. The cylindrical section is then attach to an upper and lower hand portion, each of which include pillow material covered with cloth, and attached to each other. The pillow provides comfort under multiple scenarios while allow the user free hand movement.
US08839471B2
A patient support system includes independently adjustable columns supporting a hinged bending or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for upwardly breaking and downwardly breaking orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions.
US08839469B1
A bunk bed system including a head board and a foot board assembled with corner posts and interconnecting slats including a modified mortise and tenon joint which includes a dado on a lateral face of the tenon in alignment with a vertical post channel and longitudinal pin channel which lock and fixedly holding the joint together. The vertical channel member cooperatively engages the dado to both fixedly hold the tenon within the mortise and to also hold the tenon perpendicular to the mortise.
US08839467B2
A standalone hair washing sink includes a body coupled to a ground surface of a building and extending upwardly from the ground surface. The body defines a water channel extending between an upper portion of the body and a lower portion of the body at the ground surface and the water channel is in fluid communication with a drain at the ground surface and is sized to accommodate and provide access to long hair during a hair-washing process. An opening extends upwardly from the lower portion of the body toward the upper portion of the body and exposes a lower portion of the water channel. A receiving area at the upper portion of the body is shaped to comfortably receive and support a head or neck of a user.
US08839465B2
A toilet cleaning system, using a bifurcated communicating pipe which provides cleansing material to a toilet bowl. The system is provided as a component of a water closet, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and is capable of delivering a limited amount of cleanser to the toilet, while preventing accidental flushing of the cleanser unit into the toilet bowl. The bifurcated communicating pipe has an angled branch and allows a portion of the cleanser unit seated in the angled branch to project into the central channel of the communicating pipe for contacting the flush water, to provide cleansing action. The flush water passing through the communicating pipe dissolves or disperses a certain amount of the cleanser and therefore provides cleansing of the flush water. Optionally, a removable cap is present for sealing the angled branch, to prevent the flush water from exiting the angled branch. Anchoring means are provided for anchoring a cleanser unit within the angled branch.
US08844050B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing personnel communications management within an enterprise or group of related enterprises during crisis situations. In particular, the systems and methods provide event management, shared situational awareness, personnel status tracking, and unified crisis notification management to multiple users.
US08844049B2
A method for coupling protected digital data object, for example an application program, and a specified computer, which allows for, if desired, individual components of the computer to be modified. A cryptographic key is generated on the basis of current components of a computer in order to decrypt an encrypted, computer-specific authorization code for executing a protected digital data object on the computer. The computer-specific authorization code is encrypted with a key based on original components of the computer. The key can be determined from the current components of the computer even if they are different from the original components of the computer.
US08844040B2
The present invention provides a system and method of managing traffic traversing an intermediary based on a result of end point auditing. An authentication virtual server of an intermediary may determine a result of an end point analysis scan of a client. Responsive to the determination, the traffic management virtual server can obtain the result from the authentication virtual server. Further, the traffic management virtual server may apply the result in one or more traffic management policies to manage network traffic of a connection of the client traversing the intermediary. In some embodiments, the authentication virtual server may receive one or more expressions evaluated by the client. The one or more expressions identifies one or more attributes of the client. The traffic management virtual server can also determine a type of compression or encryption for the connection based on applying the one or more traffic management policies using the result.
US08844032B2
A method and system for application-based monitoring and enforcement of security, privacy, performance and/or other policies on a mobile device includes incorporating monitoring and policy enforcement code into a previously un-monitored software application package that is installable on a mobile device, and executing the monitoring and policy enforcement code during normal use of the software application by a user of the mobile device.
US08844031B1
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing event information and payment information associated with an event listing on an event management system, and calculating a spam risk score for the event listing.
US08844030B2
An anti-virus protection system and method including receiving an address of a data server from a user, writing and transmitting a request message including the address received from the user, receiving the data from the data server, and determining whether the data contains malignant virus. Thus, a malignant web site is scanned/filtered by minimally using a restrictive memory and central process unit (CPU) resource of a mobile device, and a user uses a mobile device whose security is ensured even through a user moves to another country.
US08844025B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to a storage device. The storage device may include a mechanism that monitors for receipt of cached authentication data from a host computing device upon resuming operation from a standby mode of the host computing device. The storage device may further include a mechanism that unlocks the storage device in response to receipt of the cached authentication data from the host computing device. In addition, the storage device may include a mechanism that monitors for receipt of re-authentication data and a mechanism that locks the storage device when a predetermined period of time has passed since resuming operation from the standby mode without receipt of the re-authentication data. Related computing devices, methods, and machine-readable storage media are also disclosed.
US08844024B1
Computer-implemented methods and systems for using tiered signing certificates to manage the behavior of executables are disclosed. In one example, a method for performing such a task may include: 1) identifying an executable file, 2) identifying a signing certificate associated with the executable file, 3) identifying, within the signing certificate, a privilege level associated with the executable file, and then 4) managing behavior of the executable file in accordance with the privilege level associated with the executable file. Corresponding methods and systems for generating tiered signing certificates for executable files are also disclosed.
US08844018B2
Example methods and apparatus to enhance security in residential networks and residential gateways are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a transceiver to receive an Internet protocol (IP) packet, a first packet processing module associated with a protected IP address, the first packet processing module to be communicatively coupled to a first network device, a second packet processing module associated with a public IP address, the second packet processing module to be communicatively coupled to a second network device, and a packet diverter to route the received IP packet to the first packet processing module when the IP packet contains the protected IP address and to route the IP packet to the second packet processing module when the IP packet does not contain the protected IP address.
US08843997B1
A Resilient Trust Network (RTN) is a set of servers that provide: an application integration platform for developing and publishing services and user interface for services, building derived services, subscribing to services, and embedding services into host applications, and building composite applications composed from multiple diverse services. The RST can also provide a platform for defining security requirements and accessing shared trust services that implement those requirements for services regardless of where or how those services are used.
US08843996B2
An authentication method of a storage device includes requesting an EID (Encoded IDentifer) to the storage device by an authentication device for authenticating the storage device, receiving the EID by the authentication device, restoring original ID information by decoding the received EID, and verifying individual ID information corresponding to use of the storage device included in ID information by using ID authentication information received from the storage device, wherein the ID information includes multiple pieces of individual ID information corresponding to the use of the storage device.
US08843992B2
The present invention faces the problem of network scenarios where there is no user differentiation, and where sessions established through an IP Multimedia Subsystem always proceed in the same way regardless user categories and regardless whether a user has accessed through a fixed or a mobile network. To this end, the present invention provides for a new method for dynamically configuring a Proxy Call Session Control Function of the IP Multimedia Subsystem from a Policy Control Rules server responsible for installing control rules to authorize media flows at an entity in the bearer layer. This entity in the bearer layer may be a Policy and Charging Enforcement Point of a PCC architecture, whereas the Policy Control Rules server may be a Policy and Charging Control Rules of the PCC architecture.
US08843986B2
Transport stream, data processing device and digital television for intermittently updating firmware
A transport stream (TS) includes a plurality of first download data blocks (DDBs), a plurality of second download data blocks, and a download information indication (DII). Each download data block includes a first processing method tag and a first content data. The first processing method tag is for indicating a first data processing method, and the first content data forms a part of a firmware after having been processed according to the first data processing method. Each second DDB includes a second processing method tag and a second content data. The second processing method tag is for indicating a second data processing method different from the first data processing method, and the second content data forms another part of the firmware after having been processed according to the second data processing method. The DII includes information for controlling the first DDBs and the second DDBs.
US08843977B2
An exemplary method includes receiving, by a media content delivery subsystem from an end-user media content processing device via a network, a request to record a live transmission of a media content instance, recording, by the media content delivery subsystem, the live transmission of the media content instance, and transmitting, by the media content delivery subsystem, data representative of the recorded live transmission of the media content instance to the end-user media content processing device via the network for local storage by the end-user media content processing device. In certain embodiments, the recording includes generating at least one media data file containing the data representative of the recorded live transmission of the media content instance, and the transmitting includes transferring the at least one media data file from the media content delivery subsystem to the end-user media content processing device via the network.
US08843969B2
An in-flight entertainment system includes a server and a server/client interface. The server/client interface interfaces with the server and a display unit to retrieve a specified data block requested by the display unit, where the server/client interface sends a command to a storage device controller of the server to retrieve the specified data block from a storage device under the control of the server. The server/client interface operating based on its own control logic.
US08843966B2
A system and method is presented of personalizing the organization of a product set, automating the organizing and displaying of content.
US08843963B2
An interactive television system with programming-related links is provided. The system may include user television equipment on which interactive program guide and non-program-guide applications may be implemented. Information that is displayed in a display screen for a non-program-guide application may be related to programming. A display screen or overlay for programming that is related to the information may be displayed when a user selects the displayed information. The display or overlay for the programming may include advertisements, video, graphics, options, or programming descriptions. The display screen or overlay may have been displayed by the program guide application.
US08843950B2
A television includes an image capturing unit to capture images in front of the television. Faces in the captured images are recognized to generate a face recognition result. When a condition for switching television programs is determined to be met according to the face recognition result, one or more program tables are searched to find a currently aired television program that is suitable for the current audience. The television is switched to a channel playing the found television program.
US08843949B2
An information processing apparatus includes: importance calculation means configured to calculate an experience importance degree of content for a user based the basis of a relationship among a reaction analysis result obtained by performing predetermined analysis on a reaction (attitude) of the user to the content at the time when the user experiences the content, an environment analysis result obtained by performing predetermined analysis on an external environment of the user at the time when the user experiences the content, a signal analysis result obtained by performing predetermined analysis on a video signal or voice signal of the content, and a language analysis result obtained by performing predetermined language analysis on language information described about the content; and determination means configured to, if the experience importance degree of the content calculated by the importance calculation means is high, determine the content as recommendation content to be recommended to the user.
US08843948B2
Methods and apparatus to detect carrying of a portable audience measurement device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a housing; a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data; an attachment mechanism coupled to the housing to secure the housing to a person; and a sensor to detect a status of the attachment mechanism to enable determination of whether the device is being carried by the person.
US08843944B2
Determining a class of an object is disclosed. A pointer of the object is obtained. One or more bits that are not implemented as address bits are extracted from the pointer. The one or more bits are interpreted as an identifier of the class of the object. The class of the object is determined to correspond to the identifier.
US08843922B2
A virtual-machine generating apparatus includes a configuration-information storage unit that stores hardware resources and hardware configuration information in association with unique information of virtual machines. When accepting resources as many as the number of virtual machines to be newly introduced, the apparatus determines whether the resources identical to the accepted resources are stored in the configuration-information storage unit. When it is determined that the identical hardware resources are stored, the apparatus performs a process of copying an OS of the virtual machines having the identical resources, as many times as the number of those having the resources determined as being stored in the configuration-information storage unit.
US08843919B1
Method and system are disclosed for restoring multiple instances of a software application to a predetermined baseline state. The method/system of the invention creates a baseline template from a single correct or “golden” installation of the software application. The baseline template may then be deployed to restore previously used instances of the software application to a baseline state.
US08843918B2
A deployable template structure is described. In an embodiment, the deployable template structure includes sections for virtual machines deployable, filters, and component configuration settings. A deployable template may provide multiple instance definitions for a single system.
US08843914B1
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate the updating of target host computing devices based on versioning information. A set of host computing devices are provisioned with a local computing device management component. Each local computing device management component periodically transmits a request to a host computing device management component to determine whether version information associated with the respective host computing device corresponds to version filter information. Based on a processing of the version filter information with the current version information of the host computing device, the host computing device management component can facilitate the implementation of updates to the requesting host computing device.
US08843911B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods for a compiler are described. One such compiler generates machine code corresponding to a set of elements including a general purpose element and a special purpose element. The compiler identifies a portion in an arrangement of relationally connected operators that corresponds to a special purpose element. The compiler also determines whether the portion meets a condition to be mapped to the special purpose element. The compiler also converts the arrangement into an automaton comprising a plurality of states, wherein the portion is converted using a special purpose state that corresponds to the special purpose element if the portion meets the condition. The compiler also converts the automaton into machine code. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08843909B2
A method for transforming a procedural program having procedural language code into an object-oriented distributed software program is provided. A procedural program is transformed into intermediate client-server code. The intermediate client-server code is partitioned into an N-tier application program.
US08843905B2
The present invention transmits upgrade information as appropriate from a server apparatus to one or more manufacturing apparatuses for performing a predetermined semiconductor process on processing target substrates. A server apparatus is provided with an upgrade information receiving portion that receives upgrade information, which is information for upgrading an execution software program for controlling the manufacturing apparatus; a state information storage portion in which state information, which is information relating to a state of the manufacturing apparatus, is stored; a transmission judging portion that judges whether or not to transmit the upgrade information to the manufacturing apparatus, using the state information; and a transmitting portion that transmits the upgrade information to the manufacturing apparatus to which the transmission judging portion has judged to transmit the upgrade information.
US08843903B1
The inventions relate generally to layered computing systems that provide public access to the content of the layers. Also disclosed herein are prioritization schemes usable in a layered computing system, including prioritization by layer type, by assigned priority weights, by access type, by sub-layers and by read-write indicators. Processes may further be associated to layers from which they originate, and priority given to associated layers thereby. Association may also be provided for installer services, thereby depositing an applications updates into its layer. Layers may also contain file reference information including exclusion or inclusion entries indicating what files may be written thereto. Paths recorded in layers may also embed variables to true paths on a layered system. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
US08843897B2
A system and method can support compliance tests with annotation based standards using an expectation library. The expectation library can convert one or more descriptive assertions into a structured data model, wherein the one or more descriptive assertions describe one or more annotations. Furthermore, the expectation library can parse a source file that contains the one or more annotations based on the structured data model. Additionally, the expectation library can obtain information related to the one or more annotations of the source file from the structured data model.
US08843896B2
Using metamodels during context-sensitive analyzes of reusable components of computer software applications, including identifying entry and exit paths into and from a reusable component within a metamodel of a computer application development environment, determining during a static analysis of a computer software application that navigation will proceeds along a path corresponding in the metamodel to such an entry or exit path, retaining, if an entry path, an identifier of an invoking node along the path within the computer software application, and, if an exit path, for each terminal node along each of a plurality of paths from the reusable component within the computer software application, comparing an identifier of an invoking node preceding the terminal node with the retained invoking node identifier, and determining, if the invoking node identifiers match, that the path among the plurality of paths is a correct path for a current context of the static analysis.
US08843883B2
A system, method, and framework resulting therefrom, for a model-driven dashboard for business performance management, which includes capturing business dashboard model requirements at a business model level by providing at least one user-customizable model for capturing functionality of a dashboard, and after the user defines the functionality of the dashboard using the at least one user-customizable model, automatically generating code for a deployable dashboard application.
US08843881B2
A set of importers accept a variety of formats of 2D and 3D content (source asset) for computer games in the format created by the artists' authoring tool. The source asset is standardized and normalized and is stored as a strongly typed object in a content object model. An object from the content object model can be deserialized to a file for debugging. The object can be converted to a managed object to which game code can be written. An executable object is generated from the object created during game development automatically.
US08843862B2
Methods and apparatuses for designing logic are described. In one embodiment, a directive which specifies a numeric format for data in a data processing operation in a logic design is determined. The directive is used as a minimum format, rather than an exact or required format to create or change at least a portion of a representation of logic in the logic design to perform the data processing operation. Other methods are disclosed, and systems and machine readable media are also disclosed.
US08843861B2
The application is directed towards facilitating the debugging of suspected errors in a proprietary component when the proprietary component is incorporated into a larger electronic design. Various implementations provide for the generation of a reference model for an integrated circuit design, where the reference model includes the proprietary component and sufficient information about the rest of the design to allow for the debugging of the proprietary component over a period of verification where the error in the proprietary component is suspected.
US08843854B2
A method for executing a menu in a mobile terminal is disclosed, wherein the method includes displaying a first icon on a touch screen of the mobile terminal, receiving a first multi touch gesture pattern on the first icon, and displaying at least one second icon upon recognition of the first multi-gesture pattern, the at least one second icon a sub icon of the first icon.
US08843851B1
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for providing online support to a user of a client application. The method includes: initiating a wizard including dialogs for completing a task; displaying a dialog to the user; enabling, based on a network connection being available, a help threshold associated with the dialog; determining, by a computer processor, that the help threshold is exceeded after enabling the help threshold; sending, in response to the help threshold being exceeded, an availability request to an external support server; receiving, after sending the availability request, a confirmation of an available support specialist; displaying an indication to the user that support is available; receiving a support request from the user; opening a chat dialog in response to receiving the support request; and initiating, using the chat dialog, a chat session between the user and the available support specialist.
US08843850B2
A display control and information management system seamlessly integrates layered and slotted formatted data from local and remote sources to provide a highly versatile information display. The system permits selective control of display and display features so that complex data and data flows can be seamlessly accessed with enhanced cognition of salient information by a user.
US08843825B1
A media sharing and display application and system comprising a method of sharing and persistently displaying photographs and short video clips, shared between close friends and family members or any group of people is described. The system, in one embodiment, is composed of desktop software, mobile device applications, an integrated server-based online service, and a website where online services are accessed. The system creates a user experience for both sharing and persistently displaying digital photos and videos on another person's computer or mobile device.
US08843819B2
A document analysis, commenting, and reporting system provides tools that automate quality assurance analysis tailored to specific document types. As one example, the system may implement state machines that evaluate document structure instances to determine whether the document structure instances conform to pre-defined syntaxes. The state machines may include error states and final states, and messages may be associated with the error states for display when a state machine reaches the error state.
US08843814B2
A computer implemented system and method in a client-server environment, is provided for document research, aggregation, and compilation. The system and method includes a server having a search module configured to generate a search interface displayable to a client communicably coupled to the server, and responsive to instructions received via the search interface, to search and sort selections of interest within a plurality of source documents. A customized report module is configured to generate a custom report interface displayable to the client, and responsive to user selection instructions received via the custom report interface, to extract and aggregate the selections of interest into a customized report. Format modules are configured to respectively enable source documents in mutually distinct formats such as the PDF, PPT, and XLS formats, to be searched, sorted, and aggregated by the search module and customized report module. A service tracking module is configured to automatically track client requests and service provider activity to facilitate billing for services rendered.
US08843808B2
An apparatus comprising an array controller and a frame buffer. The array controller may be configured to read/write data to/from a drive array in response to one or more input/output requests. The frame buffer may be implemented within the array controller and may be configured to perform (i) a first data integrity check to determine a first type of data error and (ii) a second data integrity check to determine a second type of data error. The frame buffer may log occurrences of the first type of error and the second type of error in a field transmitted with the data. The field may be used to determine a source of possible corruption of the data.
US08843805B1
In general, techniques are described for efficiently and transparently partitioning a physical address space of a DRAM part lacking dedicated error protection circuitry to supply addressable error protection bytes for use in detecting and/or correcting bit errors elsewhere present in the physical address space. In one example, a network device includes a DRAM and a memory controller that receives a write command to write data to the DRAM. An address translation module of the memory controller logically partitions the DRAM to define a plurality of physically addressable sections that includes an error protection section for storing error protection bits and one or more data storage sections. The memory controller defines a contiguous logical address space representing the data storage sections. A DRAM controller of the network device communicates with the DRAM to store the data to one of the data storage sections in accordance with the contiguous logical address space.
US08843804B2
A method begins by a processing module storing data files utilizing a dispersed storage error coding function that includes a pillar width parameter and a decode threshold parameter. The method continues with the processing module determining whether to adjust the pillar width parameter based one or more memory performance characteristics. When the pillar width parameter is to be decreased, the method continues with the processing module identifying one or more pillars within a memory to delete to produce one or more identified pillars, identifying encoded data slices of one or more of the data files stored in the one or more identified pillars to produce identified encoded data slices, and deleting the identified encoded data slices.
US08843799B2
A serial processing method and a parallel processing method of bit rate matching and apparatuses thereof are disclosed in the present invention. The serial processing method includes: receiving a system bit data stream, a check 1 data stream and a check 2 data stream, performing interleaving processing on the system bit data in the received system bit data stream, and caching in a first buffer cache of a storage; simultaneously performing interleaving processing on the corresponding data in the received check 1 data stream and the received check 2 data stream, and caching the data on which the performing interleaving processing is performed in a second buffer of the storage; and reading valid data from the storage and implementing the rate matching.
US08843792B2
A control channel may be used to transmit control information, such as Downlink Control Information (DCI), to a mobile device from a network component, such as a base station or a base node. The mobile device may use a blind decoding scheme to detect DCIs. A DCI may be falsely detected by the mobile device. According to some embodiments, data that has been decoded by a blind decoder, from buffer data for a candidate control channel, is re-encoded. The re-encoded data is compared to buffer data for the control channel. The decoded data is treated as control information dependent on the comparison of the re-encoded data with the buffer data. In some embodiments, comparing the re-encoded data to the buffer data includes generating a metric as a function of a degree of similarity between the re-encoded data and the buffer data. The metric may be compared to a threshold.
US08843785B2
Mechanisms, in a processor chip, are provided for obtaining debug data from on-chip logic of the processor chip while the processor chip is in a secure mode of operation. The processor chip is placed into a secure mode of operation in which access to internal logic of the processor chip to control the internal logic of the processor chip, by mechanisms external to the processor chip, is disabled on a debug interface of the processor chip. A triggering condition of the processor chip is detected that is a trigger for initiated debug data collection from the on-chip logic. Debug data collection is performed from the on-chip logic to generate debug data. Data is output, by the processor chip to an external mechanism, on the debug interface based on the debug data.
US08843784B2
A method for handling media errors during a read operation on a data storage device. The method comprises detecting that a first file and a second file are duplicates, wherein the first file is stored on a first storage device. Metadata is written to the first storage device in association with the first file, wherein the metadata identifies the location of the second file that is a duplicate of the first file. Later, an application program requests a first read operation to read the first file. In response to a media error that results from the first read operation, the method reads the metadata associated with the first file to identify the location of the second file, performs a second read operation to read the second file instead of the first file, and provides the second file to the application program in satisfaction of the requested first read operation.
US08843783B2
Handling failure of a primary group at a first data center that is part of plurality of data centers providing triangular asynchronous replication, includes creating a data mirroring relationship between at least one storage volume at a second data center having a synchronous backup group that is part of the plurality of data centers and at least one storage volume at a third data center having an asynchronous backup group that is part of the plurality of data centers and resuming work at the second data center. Handling failure of a primary group at a first data center may also include synchronizing the at least one storage volume at the second data center with the at least one storage volume at the third data center prior to resuming work at the second data center.
US08843781B1
A method and system is used in managing drive error information. An error is detected in connection with a drive. Error data associated with the drive error is collected in response to detecting the error. The error data is stored on the drive. The error data being sufficiently complete to allow a comprehensive evaluation of the error.
US08843779B1
A disk drive including a disk surface including a first backup location, and a second backup location, a head actuated radially over the disk surface to write data to the disk surface, a memory configured to store a signature, and control circuitry coupled to the head. The control circuitry can be configured to receive a command to write data to the disk surface, insert the signature into the data, write the data to the disk surface, and alternately writing a spare copy of the data to the first backup location and to the second backup location based on a value of the signature.
US08843772B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that may be implemented to dynamically allocate relative power consumption between a group of multiple information handling system nodes that share a common (e.g., capacity-limited) power supply or source of power. The relative power consumption of the multiple information handling system nodes may be adjusted based on real time power consumption of each of the individual information handling system nodes, as well as the need for additional power by one or more of the individual information handling system nodes. A group of multiple information handling system nodes may dynamically communicate power usage characteristics in a distributed manner between themselves to implement a peer-to-peer acknowledgement architecture, or alternatively may communicate power usage characteristics to a centralized power manager.
US08843767B2
A method for providing security for plaintext data being transferred between units in a computer system includes steps of dividing a memory into a series of addressable locations, each of the addressable locations having an address at which can be stored version information, a data authentication tag, and ciphertext corresponding to the plaintext. The system retrieves the ciphertext, the version information, and the data authentication tag, and generates encryption keys for decrypting the information stored at the address. If the data authentication tag indicates the plaintext data are valid, then the system provides the decrypted plaintext to the requestor, or encrypts new plaintext data and stores the corresponding ciphertext with new authentication and version information at the first address.
US08843765B2
A device generates a content key that depends upon device security state information. For example, the device may retrieve a first content key and a security state, and then derive a content key using the first content key and the security state. Accordingly, if the security state is incorrect, then the generated content key is incorrect, and the device cannot decrypt content provided to the device.
US08843749B2
Described are a system and method for presenting security information about a current site or communications session. Briefly stated, a browsing software is configured to receive a certificate during a negotiation of a secure session between a local device and a remote device. The certificate includes security information about a site maintained at the remote device. The security information is displayed to a user of the browsing software in a meaningful fashion to allow the user to make a trust determination about the site. Displaying the security information may include presenting a certificate summary that includes the most relevant information about the certificate, such as the name of the owner of the site and the name of the certificating authority of the certificate.
US08843740B2
A first device with a changing identity establishes a secure connection with a second device in a network by acting as its own certificate authority. The first device issues itself a self-signed root certificate that binds an identity of the first device to a long-term public key of the first device. The root certificate is digitally signed using a long-term private key, where the long-term public key and the long-term private key form a public/private key pair. The first device provides its root certificate to the second device in any trusted manner. The first device can then create a certificate for one or more short-term identities acquired by the first device and sign the newly-created certificate using the long-term private key. The first device can authenticate itself to the second device by sending the newly-created certificate to the second device.
US08843735B2
An apparatus for providing link layer security in a Physical Layer Transceiver (PHY) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise analog circuitry configured to interface with a data transmission medium, digital circuitry configured to interface with a Media Access Controller (MAC); and a crypto engine coupled to the digital circuitry. Single interface and multiple interface schemes are provided to control both PHY and crypto functions. Embodiments are disclosed where the PHY controls the crypto device, and where the crypto device controls the PHY.
US08843732B2
Memory channel training parameters are function of electrical characteristics of memory devices, processor(s) and memory channel(s). Training steps can be skipped if the BIOS can determine that the memory devices, motherboard and processor have not changed since the last boot. Memory devices contain a serial number for tracking purposes and most motherboards contain a serial number. Many processors do not provide a mechanism by which the BIOS can track the processor. Described herein are techniques that allow the BIOS to track a processor and detect a swap without violating privacy/security requirements.
US08843695B2
A serial memory device having a non-volatile memory array including a plurality of memory blocks, one or more said plurality of blocks being capable of being placed in a locked or an unlocked state upon receiving designated lock or unlock signal sequences is provided. The unlock signal sequences comprises at least two sequential signal sequences: a first unlock sequence, which has 1 to 7 signal bits, is applied to one of address input pins or a logic low enabled write-protection input pin and a second unlock sequence follows the first unlock signal sequence and is applied to a serial data access pin. The memory device further comprising a control logic circuit block coupled to a write-protection circuit block to provide means to identify the designated lock and unlock signal sequences and to set a protection state in a security area.
US08843694B2
Systems and methods are provided for using page buffers of memory devices connected to a memory controller through a common bus. A page buffer of a memory device is used as a temporary cache for data which is written to the memory cells of the memory device. This can allow the memory controller to use memory devices as temporary caches so that the memory controller can free up space in its own memory.
US08843690B2
An apparatus having a memory and circuit is disclosed. The memory may (i) assert a first signal in response to detecting a conflict between at least two addresses requesting access to a block at a first time, (ii) generate a second signal in response to a cache miss caused by an address requesting access to the block at a second time and (iii) store a line fetched in response to the cache miss in another block by adjusting the first address by an offset. The second time is generally after the first time. The circuit may (i) generate the offset in response to the assertion of the first signal and (ii) present the offset in a third signal to the memory in response to the assertion of the second signal corresponding to reception of the first address at the second time. The offset is generally associated with the first address.
US08843679B2
To enable signal transmission at a high data rate while securing backward compatibility.A source device 110 and a sink device 120 are connected by an HDMI cable 200. The source device 110 is compatible with both current HDMI and new HDMI. The number of differential signal channels for transmitting digital signals such as video data is three in the current HDMI, but is six in the new HDMI, for example. In a case where the cable 200 is compatible with the new HDMI, and the sink device 120 is compatible with the new HDMI, a control unit 113 of the source device 110 controls a data transmitting unit 112 to operate in a new HDMI operating mode. In a case where the control unit 113 determines that at least the sink device 120 is compatible only with the current HDMI, or at least the cable 200 is compatible with the current HDMI, the control unit 113 controls the data transmitting unit 112 to operate in a current HDMI operating mode.
US08843670B2
Methods and apparatus that enable a community of devices having differing underlying protocols to stream media data such as video or audio data. In one exemplary embodiment, this invention enables IEEE 1394-compliant (“FireWire” enabled) devices to communicate across an Ethernet infrastructure, such as one enabled by the Ethernet AVB Standard(s). This enhances connectivity, and also supports obviating one or more physical ports within the device(s). In another embodiment, or more wireless transports are utilized.
US08843669B2
An invention is disclosed for offloading operations, such data transfers, of a guest partition to a host partition. A guest operating system is presented with virtualized resources rather than physical resources—e.g. a guest virtualized processor, guest virtualized memory space, and a guest virtualized direct memory access (DMA) controller. The guest partition can detect the guest operation system attempt to initiate a data transfer, and can instruct the host partition to perform the data transfer. The guest partition need not perform the data transfer using the guest virtual resources. The host partition can perform the data transfer to a remote computing as instructed by the guest partition without copying the data to the host virtualized memory space. The host partition can provide a message to the guest partition indicative of a status of the data transfer.
US08843659B2
This invention permits all FCoE (Fiber Channel over Ethernet) frames to be transferred from one FCoE network adapter to another without having to traverse through a Fiber Channel Forwarder (FCF) device. After the FCF is determined not to be present, a logical End-To-End connection is established between Peer FCoE Adapters. This invention permits an FCoE message originating at an FCoE network adapter to be sent to an FCoE receiving adapter across “Ethernet” links and switches, or via a single “Ethernet” link (Point-To-Point) but without having to pass through FCF devices.
US08843658B2
Disclosed is a method, a communication system, and a communication device for transmitting data to a first subscriber, within the framework of a connection signaling from a first primary service communication device of the first subscriber to a second primary service communication device, a primary address information message associated with the first primary service communication device and a secondary address information message associated with a first secondary service communication device of the first subscriber is transmitted to the second primary service communication device. The transmitted address information messages are identified and stored via the primary service communication device. For the transmission of data to be transmitted to the first subscriber, the stored secondary address information message is transferred from the second primary service communication device to a second secondary service communication device, and is transmitted based on the transferred secondary address information message during transmission to the first secondary service communication device.
US08843649B2
A communication device establishes a trusted relationship with one or more remote communication devices by capturing ambient information with both communication devices, which is sent to a comparison system that compares them. The ambient information is used as authorization information. Upon a satisfactory comparison of the ambient information captured by the communication devices, the communication device is notified and a trusted relationship may be established between it and the remote communication device. Once the trusted relationship has been established, a personal area network can be established between the communication devices.
US08843645B2
Described herein is a method and system for preventing Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. An intermediary device is deployed between clients and servers. The device receives a first packet of an application layer transaction via a transport layer connection between the device and client. The device records a last activity time for the transport layer connection based upon the timestamp of the first packet. The device receives subsequent data packets and determines whether the data in the packets completes a protocol data structure of the application layer protocol. If the device determines that the subsequent packet completes the protocol data structure, the last activity time is updated. If the device determines that the application layer protocol remains incomplete, the device retains the last activity time and determines that the duration of inactivity for the transport layer connection exceeds a predetermined threshold. The device may subsequently drop the connection.
US08843642B2
Described is a technology by which a gesture made with a source device (e.g., a cellular telephone), such as a throwing or pointing motion, is used to automatically set up a connection with another device to which the gesture is directed. Audio signals output during the gesture, e.g., such as at the start and end of the gesture, are detected by candidate (listening) devices. The device having the least time difference between detection of the start and end signals is the device that is generally best aligned with the throwing or pointing motion, and thus may be selected as the target device. Once selected, a connection such as a network connection may be set up between the source device and the target device for further communication, such as for application data exchange.
US08843640B2
A search for another information processing apparatus and a predetermined access point is automatically performed. When a result of the search is the other portable information processing apparatus, a process of automatically performing data communication with the other information processing apparatus is performed. On the other hand, when the result of the search is the access point, a process of automatically performing data communication via the access point is performed.
US08843629B2
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments of the invention are disclosed for response criteria employable, for example, in connection with device discovery within wireless networks. In an example embodiment of the invention, a device receives a request that conveys one or more registered unique identifiers that indicate device capabilities. The request conveys response criteria referencing the registered unique identifiers. The device determines recognition of one or more of the referenced registered unique identifiers. The device determines possession of device capabilities indicated by the recognized registered unique identifiers. And, the device determines to dispatch a response to the request that is contingent upon the recognition and the possession.
US08843623B2
Methods, apparatuses, computer program products and other means are provided for systems that are configured to use remote connections to, for example, provide proactive support monitoring by running scripts (such as, e.g., diagnostic tests) and/or collecting data (such as diagnostic test result data) from one or more customer machines. The collected data can be received at a centralized location. The collected data can be analyzed by one or more other machines, used by a support team, sold to clients, and/or used in any other manner. For example, technical problems discovered from diagnostic test results data may be fixed by a support team before the symptoms of the problems are experienced by at least some of the customer's machines. Some embodiments may also be configured to perform fact based decision making.
US08843621B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an approach for using electronic feeds (e.g., online news feeds, social media resources/websites, etc.) to predict potentially harmful events and take preemptive measures/actions to minimize and/or avoid loss. In a typical embodiment, a set of electronic feeds (e.g., news feeds and/or social networking website feeds) is accessed. A query is then issued against the set of feeds based on a set of search criteria pertaining to a possible event having a potential to adversely affect the networked computing environment. A set of results is received in a computer memory medium of the networked computing environment. It may then be determined whether at least one property of the set of results (e.g., a quantity of ‘hits’) meets one or more predetermined event criteria (e.g., a predetermined threshold).
US08843618B2
In some embodiments, the invention involves collecting service health information from a plurality of cloud service provider associated with a customer. Once the service health information is collected, aggregating information from multiple providers, when necessary, and providing a service health report to the customer. The customer has agreements with both the service providers and information collector to receive a level of service health information regarding services provided. The information collector may have agreements with the service providers to retrieve or receive the requested service health information for the customers via a pre-agreed upon protocol. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08843611B2
A method for transmitting a WS message and an apparatus for processing a WS message, the method includes providing data in the form of a WS message, addressing the WS message to a plurality of receiving nodes, and transmitting the addressed WS message to the plurality of receiving nodes.
US08843606B2
A method, apparatus, and system for managing load in a server are provided. The server performs events for a plurality of electronic communication devices, each of the devices enabled to transmit to the server, at a respective given time and at a respective given frequency, a request to perform a respective event. The server receives the requests and determines that its load is above a threshold load value during a given time period when the requests arrive. In response, for a subset of the devices, the server transmits a delay time to each electronic communication device in the subset. The delay time causes each device in the subset to change the respective given time to a respective new time comprising the delay time added to the respective given time such that a next request is transmitted from each device in the subset to the server at the respective new time.
US08843593B2
There is provided a communication apparatus including an identification data generation portion to generate identification data, an identification data storage portion to store the identification data generated by the identification data generation portion, a basic data reception portion to receive basic data from an information processing server through a given communication path, the basic data containing prescribed first data specifying service data generated in the distribution server and containing data to be used in an IC chip capable of con tactless communication with a reader/writer, and prescribed identification data, and a data acquisition portion to acquire the service data generated based on the basic data in the distribution server from the distribution server if the prescribed identification data matches with the identification data stored in the identification data storage portion.
US08843592B2
In a distributed network, there are different data rates on different connections between a central computer system and remote terminal. The central system comprises one or more supersets of data to be distributed to the remote terminals by extracting subsets of data from the superset/s of data. The subsets of data are distributed to selected groups of remote terminals based on an infrastructure load. In this way, data is adaptively distributed.
US08843590B2
An application program interface (API) is operably associated with application programs executing on an electronic device and enables the application programs to retrieve, store, and display content. The API enables application programs to communicate with other application programs and to send/retrieve content to/from other application programs. In addition, the API is configured to perform various event accounting functions. A gateway communicates with an electronic device application program via the API and is configured to retrieve content from a content server in response to receiving requests from the application programs. The gateway is configured to serve content retrieved from the content server to the electronic device, as well as to other servers and/or devices. Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for dynamically selecting advertisements for use within user-requested content wherein the advertisements are stored locally within a user client device.
US08843588B2
A method and related apparatus determine, at a serving entity, whether a memory resource of the serving entity is insufficient for storing service provision-related information required for service provision from the serving entity to a served entity. Then the serving entity transmits, after the determination, the service provision-related information to the served entity based on a result of the determination; and a method (and related apparatus) provides for receiving, at a served entity, the service provision-related information, holding the received service provision-related information, and transmitting, from the served entity to the serving entity, the held service provision-related information.
US08843587B2
An application retrieves a published calendar from an online calendar application. The application formats the published calendar according to user status states such as “free” or “busy.” The application can also alternatively assign user status information from the published calendar to users status state levels such as “free,” “tentative,” “out of office,” “busy,” and “remotely available.” The application matches calendar owner information to a contact from a contact list of the application in order to link the formatted calendar to the contact. The application presents the linked calendar for scheduling.
US08843584B2
Content information is received from a first client. The content information is derived from a video stream being played on the first client device. The content information is matched to a content fingerprint. A set of instructions associated with the matched content fingerprint is determined. The determined set of instructions is sent to a second client device that is associated with a user of the fist client device for execution.
US08843581B2
A live object pattern is described that enables a distributed cache to store live objects as data entries thereon. A live object is a data entry stored in the distributed cache which represents a particular function or responsibility. When a live object arrives to the cache on a particular cluster server, a set of interfaces are called back which inform the live object that it has arrived at that server and that it should initiate to perform its functions. A live object is thus different from “dead” data entries because a live object performs a set of function, can be started/stopped and can interact with other live objects in the distributed cache. Because live objects are backed up across the cluster just like normal data entries, the functional components of the system are more highly available and are easily transferred to another server's cache in case of failures.
US08843565B2
Electronic messaging communications, including Instant Messaging messages, are organized into particular categories, as selected by the users providing the messages. This enables messages of a particular category to be displayed at a recipient of the messages, while other messages are masked from view. It also facilitates the capturing of certain related messages to the exclusion of others.
US08843564B2
A system and method for automatically determining whether or not original message text should be included in a reply electronic message is provided. In one broad aspect, the original message text is included in the reply electronic message as a function of the original message. In a first example, the original message text is included as a function of a domain name of an originating address. In a second example, the original message text is included as a function of maintained information used for determining if original message text should be included in reply electronic messages. In a third example, the original message text is included as a function of an indicative encoding inside the original electronic message. In a fourth example, the original message text is included as a function of maintained information used for detecting address aliases. In another broad aspect, the original electronic message is encoded with an indicative encoding as to whether or not a reply electronic message should include the original message text.
US08843561B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a common cluster model for configuring, managing, and operating different clustering technologies in a data center. The common cluster model supports peer cluster domains and management server cluster domains. Each cluster domain may have one or more cluster nodes. For each cluster domains, one or more cluster resources may be defined. These resources may depend on one another and may be grouped into a resource group. A set of cluster domain and cluster resources logical device operations are provided to configure, manage, and operate cluster domains and its associated resources.
US08843550B2
A system for controlling multiple multipoint control units (MCUs) with a single apparatus is disclosed. The system utilizes a Virtual MCU (VMCU) to communicate with a plurality of MCUs. A user initiates a reserve conference command with the VMCU. If sufficient resources are available, the reservation is made and connection numbers are assigned. When the time for the conference arises, an MCU is assigned to the conference. The participants are then connected to the conference. By using a single VMCU to schedule and coordinate multiple MCUs, the system is able to efficiently schedule a large number of conferences. This greater efficiency in scheduling may allow users to schedule conferences without the advance notice that is usually required.
US08843544B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for aggregating Internet addresses (e.g., Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)) in a networked computing environment. In a typical embodiment, a set of URLs is received (e.g., by a system/engine). Upon receipt, a composite URL comprising at least portions of each received URL is generated and associated with a newly generated web page. The received set of URLs are displayed on the web page in a list, or the like, that may be sorted according to a set of criteria.
US08843540B2
A circuit and a method for implementing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)/Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) are provided. The method includes: determining the number m of iterations, depth d1 of the first and second Random Access Memories (RAMs), depth d2 of a Read Only Memory (ROM); storing the first and second n/2 parts of the input data to be Transformed into the second and first RAMs respectively; performing the iterative butterfly operations m times; in the first iteration, reading the first and second RAMs in a reverse bit order, writing the results of the even-numbered butterfly operations into the first RAM, writing the results of the odd-numbered butterfly operations into the second RAM; during the second to the (m−1)th iterations, reading the first and second RAMs in a normal bit order, wherein the way to write back to the RAM is the same as that of the first time; in the m-th iteration, reading the first and second RAMs in a normal bit order, wherein the location in the RAM to be written back is the same as the location for reading.
US08843512B2
Concepts and technologies are described herein for presenting results with visual cues. A differencing tool is executed by a client or a server computer. The differencing tool is configured to generate or receive queries for querying data, and to obtain results satisfying the queries. The differencing tool further is configured to generate views for presenting the results. The views can include representations of data corresponding to the results. The differencing tool also can store history files including data that indicates values associated with one or more iterations of the results.
US08843504B2
Updating images in an image database includes determining an updated image that is among a plurality of images in the image database, extracting a plurality of image features of the updated image and storing a plurality of image feature values that correspond to the plurality of image features, and associating the plurality of image features of the updated image with a search engine, including adding an array comprising the plurality of image feature values to an index of the search engine.
US08843497B2
The present disclosure is directed to a computer system and method performed by a selectively programmed data processor for providing data to a Web page such that items are presented to the user in a way that imitates a real world shopping experience. Various aspects of the disclosed technology also relate to systems and methods for calculating product or category associations using associative relation extraction. Additional aspects of the disclosed technology relate to automatic topic discovery, and event and category matching.
US08843496B2
A method in one example implementation includes obtaining a plurality of host file inventories corresponding respectively to a plurality of hosts, calculating input data using the plurality of host file inventories, and then providing the input data to a clustering procedure to group the plurality of hosts into one or more clusters of hosts. The method further includes each cluster of hosts being grouped using predetermined similarity criteria. In more specific embodiments, each of the host file inventories includes a set of one or more file identifiers with each file identifier representing a different executable software file on a corresponding one of the plurality of hosts. In other more specific embodiments, calculating the input data includes transforming the host file inventories into a matrix of keyword vectors in Euclidean space. In further embodiments, calculating the input data includes transforming the host file inventories into a similarity matrix.
US08843482B2
A method for providing selected content items to a user. The selection of content items is based on metadata pre-assigned to content items, typically authored content metadata, and on metadata generated and associated afterwards, called derived content metadata. Additionally, the selection of content items can be based also on context metadata, particularly derived context metadata. Derived metadata are automatically generated on the basis of derivation rules corresponding to algorithms to be applied to, e.g., the content of content items, authored content metadata and context metadata. User profiles can be used for improving the selection quality. A method is also disclosed for building and maintaining user profiles based on machine learning techniques.
US08843467B2
A method and system for providing information to a user of a device on a local network is provided. This involves obtaining information about current user activity on the local network, obtaining contextual information about current user activity on the local network and obtaining additional information interrelated to the contextual information and the user activity information. Then correlations are identified between the additional information, the contextual information and the user activity information. The correlations are used in forming a query to search for information related to the current user activity, to provide to the user.
US08843463B2
A method of providing content (130) associated with a weight-value, the content (130) previously provided to a current computer associated with a current user (116) that is represented by a first node (106) in a social network (101). The method comprises the steps of: i) enabling the current computer (216) to display the content (130), in dependence of the weight-value, ii) obtaining an input of the current user (116), iii) updating the weight-value of the content (130), in dependence of the input of the current user (116), iv) determining a receiving computer associated with a second node (107) in the social network (101), and v) providing the content (130) to the receiving computer. Corresponding computers, computer program and computer readable medium are also described.
US08843462B2
The present principles provide systems and methods for displaying associations between data files and logical assets including the data files. Upon user-selection of a representation of a logical asset, a method in accordance with an aspect of the present principles includes determining associations between data files and the logical asset and displaying a listing of data files associated with the logical asset. Conversely, the method may also include presenting a listing of logical assets associated with a user-selected data file upon determination of logical assets associated with the data file. Moreover, another aspect of the present principles permits bi-directional navigation capability between a logical asset associations view and a physical asset associations view.
US08843461B2
An encrypted file storage solution consists of a cluster of processing nodes, external data storage, and a software agent (the “File System Watcher”), which is installed on the application servers. Cluster sizes of one node up to many hundreds of nodes are possible. There are also remote “Key Servers” which provide various services to one or more clusters. The preceding describes a preferred embodiment, though in some cases it may be desirable to “collapse” some of the functionality into a smaller number of hardware devices, typically trading off cost versus security and fault-tolerance.
US08843455B2
A request for a font file including a first font table and a second font table is received. A first entropy encoder is selected, based on characteristics of the first font table, front among a plurality of entropy encoders. A second entropy encoder is selected, based on characteristics of the second font table, front among the plurality of entropy encoders. The first entropy encoder is applied to the first font table. The second entropy encoder is applied to the second font table. Compressed data corresponding to the first and second font tables are combined to generate a compressed font file. The compressed font file is transmitted.
US08843451B2
For block level backup, a full image level backup is created of a file system from production storage at a production server to random access storage at a backup server. A mounted image is created from the full image that exposes a block level representation of the file system of the production server for read operations in a file level format. File enumeration is performed on the mounted image for files. Block level read operations are monitored while the files are being enumerated. During monitoring, blocks that are read for the read operations are marked as meta-data blocks. Blocks that are not marked as meta-data blocks are identified as data blocks. The data blocks are migrated to sequential storage, while leaving the meta-data blocks on the random access storage, wherein the data blocks form a backup image.
US08843450B1
A method for restoring associated with a collaborative software application is disclosed. A virtual file system exposing backup data of a collaborative software application stored in a backup data storage is created. A selection of a portion of the backup data to be restored to the collaborative software application is received via an interface associated with the virtual file system. The selected portion of the backup data is caused to be granularly restored to the collaborative management system without restoring one or more unselected portions of the backup data. A write capability of the virtual file system is used to modify a portion of the restored data in response to a write operation by the collaborative software application.
US08843447B2
A resilient distributed replicated data storage system is described herein. The storage system includes zones that are independent, and autonomous from each other. The zones include nodes that are independent and autonomous. The nodes include storage devices. When a data item is stored, it is partitioned into a plurality of data objects and a plurality of parity objects are calculated. Reassembly instructions are created for the data item. The data objects, parity objects and reassembly instructions are spread across nodes and zones in the storage system according to a policy for the data item. When a zone is inaccessible, a virtual zone is created and used until the intended zone is available. When a read request is received, the data item is prepared from the lowest latency nodes according to the reassembly instructions, and a virtual zone is accessed in place of a real zone when the real zone is inaccessible.
US08843446B2
A data center for data backup and replication, including a pool of multiple storage units for storing a journal of I/O write commands issued at respective times, wherein the journal spans a history window of a pre-specified time length, and a journal manager for dynamically allocating more storage units for storing the journal as the journal size increases, and for dynamically releasing storage units as the journal size decreases.
US08843442B2
Systems and methods for publishing datasets are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods for publishing datasets may include receiving a request to publish a dataset to at least one of an internal environment located within a secured zone and an external environment located outside the secured zone, the request comprising at least one selection criteria, selecting the dataset based upon the at least one selection criteria, the dataset being selected from an index of collected datasets, and responsive to the request, publishing the dataset to at least one of the internal environment and the external environment.
US08843432B2
A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a program that causes a computer, which has a memory device storing a set of measured values that included a set of positive case measured values and a set of negative case measured values, to execute a process. The process includes extracting randomly, a positive case measured value group and a negative case measured value group from the set of measured values; generating based on the positive case measured value group and the negative case measured value group, a prediction equation that predicts the objective variable for a prediction algorithm; first calculating a first predicted value group; second calculating a second predicted value group; first identifying a first coincident-case count of predicted values; second identifying a second coincident-case count of predicted values; computing a weighted correct answer percentage; and outputting a computation result obtained at the computing.
US08843431B2
Traditional methods of prediction of the likelihood of churning in a given market such as wireless telecommunications are improved by inclusion of social network analysis to predict churning by members of a population in response to churning by any given individual member of that population. A sphere of influence of individual members of the population on other members of the population are modeled and analyzed through a plurality of degrees of separation and quantitatively evaluated by a number of relational algebraic joins in which at least one such join includes weights to assert a diminishing influence with number of degrees of separation.
US08843430B2
In one aspect, a recommendation system offers item recommendations to users based on one or more items known to be liked by the users. An item may be recommended to a user if a similarity indicator for the item, established by determining how much more likely than expected the user will like the item based on the user liking another item, exceeds a predetermined threshold. Multiple items may be recommended to a user based on relative similarity indicators.
US08843415B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of performing a secure transaction in a software system, such as a software service system, for example. Embodiments of the invention include encoding symmetric keys for securing transactions between a service consumer and service provider. Asymmetric keys are also used for providing additional security during transactions. In one embodiment, license tokens and capability tokens are encoded and passed between a service consumer and service provider for allowing a consumer secure access to authorized services.
US08843414B2
Techniques for managing media objects are provided. The techniques include providing an algorithm configured to generate an identifier (ID) based on content of a first media object. The ID is then generated for the first media object. The ID allows the first device to identify the first media object to a second device. The second device is configured to use the ID to determine if a second media object associated with the ID is accessible to the second device. Also, the determination is made notwithstanding source information for the first and second media objects or digital rights restrictions imposed on the first and second media objects, where the first media object and second media object include substantially identical content.
US08843410B2
Systems and methods for providing supply chain financing that include receiving a request to finance an asset of a borrower, where the asset is associated with goods provided by a supplier to a buyer under the control of a supply chain/logistics entity. Attributes of a trade ecosystem of the supplier and/or the buyer are evaluated to determine whether to finance the asset. Financing of the asset is then established based upon the analyzed attributes of the trade ecosystem, where the terms of the financing permit control over movement of goods before and/or after default of the terms of the financing. Information associated with movement of the goods is monitored and analyzed to determine adjustments to at least one of the financing terms based on the information associated with movement of the goods.
US08843403B2
Methods and computer systems are provided managing and valuating inventory. In one embodiment, a computer system may assign every item of goods which is entering a working process to an identifier. The computer system may then track the goods in the working process. Further, the computer system may update a given identifier when the goods assigned to this identifier enter another stage in the working process, assign at least one price to each stage in the working process, determine the content of one or more identifiers, and calculate a price for goods in the working process.
US08843401B2
Improved methods, systems, graphical user interfaces and computer program code for presenting representations or information concerning digital products are disclosed. The representations of digital products can serve to promote certain digital products at an online digital product distribution site. Information concerning a particular digital product can be rapidly accessible from a displayed page at an online digital product distribution site referencing a plurality of different digital products. According to one aspect, digital product information can be presented in an overlay window that can be initiated by a user and present relevant information concerning a digital product. Advantageously, digital product information can be quickly presented to a user without having to navigate to a new page of an online distribution site.
US08843398B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for transferring digital receipt data to mobile devices. A point-of-sale (“POS”) system generates digital receipt data as part of a sales transaction. The point-of-sale (“POS”) system and a mobile device, possibly also along with a receipt data server, interoperate with one another to transfer digital receipt data generated to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the point-of-sale (“POS”) system transfers digital receipt data for a sales transaction to the receipt data server. An identifier, such as, for example, an application identifier or transaction identifier, is stored along with the digital receipt data to match the digital receipt data with the mobile device. The mobile device subsequently uses the identifier to access the digital receipt data from the receipt data server. In other embodiments, the point-of-sale (“POS”) system transfers digital receipt data directly to the mobile device.
US08843393B2
A method and system for displaying targeted advertisements. The method includes executing a monitoring application on a mobile device, the mobile device configured with a sensor. The method includes detecting a start of a user purchase decision making process via a sensor reading, wherein the sensor reading includes at least one of: a search query, a user command for the mobile device, a user geographical location, a local time, a user phone call, a user local environment, and a user behavior history. The method includes selecting a relevant ad based on the start of the user purchase decision making process and the sensor reading. The method includes displaying the selected ad to the user during the user purchase decision making process.
US08843386B2
A data processing system may be implemented as a program product embodied on a processing system readable medium for implementing a method for using mobile code for implementing a service in a global ecosystem of interrelated services in an enterprise. The enterprise may include a group of network domains, where each of the network domains further includes a group of servers; at least one service container running on each of the servers; and a group of interrelated services, where each of the interrelated services may run on any of the at least one service container. The program product may include instructions for loading mobile service code for implementing a service on a code server, where the code server is accessible to at least some of the servers in the enterprise; instructions for determining information related to the service, where the information related to the service includes configuration information and a proxy reference for the service, the proxy reference including a codebase containing an address for a code server holding the mobile service code of a proxy for the service; and instructions for launching the service in a network domain.
US08843383B2
A shipping insurance service application has an electronic marketplace platform interface, a shipping insurance module, and an insurance provider module. The electronic marketplace platform interface communicates with at least one electronic marketplace application. The shipping insurance module provides a shipping insurance policy to a seller of the corresponding electronic marketplace application and processes a claim from the seller of the corresponding electronic marketplace application based on the shipping insurance policy. The carrier module obtains the shipping insurance policy from an insurance provider among a plurality of insurance providers.
US08843376B2
Speech-enabled web content searching using a multimodal browser implemented with one or more grammars in an automatic speech recognition (‘ASR’) engine, with the multimodal browser operating on a multimodal device supporting multiple modes of interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the multimodal browser operatively coupled to the ASR engine, includes: rendering, by the multimodal browser, web content; searching, by the multimodal browser, the web content for a search phrase, including yielding a matched search result, the search phrase specified by a first voice utterance received from a user and a search grammar; and performing, by the multimodal browser, an action in dependence upon the matched search result, the action specified by a second voice utterance received from the user and an action grammar.
US08843375B1
Methods, systems and apparatus for editing audio clips. A computer-implemented method includes displaying in a user interface, a first audio clip including a first plurality of time instants and a second audio clip including a second plurality of time instants; displaying a first transition point identifier associated with the first audio clip to designate a portion from a beginning of the first audio clip to the first transition point identifier that is playable; displaying a second transition point identifier associated with the second audio clip to designate a portion from the second transition point identifier to an end of the second audio clip that is playable; and generating a combined audio clip comprising the portion from the beginning of the first audio clip to the first transition point identifier and the portion from the second transition point identifier to the end of the second audio clip.
US08843373B1
The present invention provides a communication monitoring and analysis method and system. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for analyzing problems within a communication network and further identifying sources of such problems based on voice sample substitutions. The voice sample substitutions used may correspond to canned speech samples used to highlight possible communication network problems.
US08843371B2
The instant application includes computationally-implemented systems and methods that include managing adaptation data, the adaptation data is at least partly based on at least one speech interaction of a particular party, facilitating transmission of the adaptation data to a target device when there is an indication of a speech-facilitated transaction between the target device and the particular party, such that the adaptation data is to be applied to the target device to assist in execution of the speech-facilitated transaction, and facilitating acquisition of adaptation result data that is based on at least one aspect of the speech-facilitated transaction and to be used in determining whether to modify the adaptation data. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
US08843370B2
Adjusting model parameters is described for a speech recognition system that combines recognition outputs from multiple speech recognition processes. Discriminative adjustments are made to model parameters of at least one acoustic model based on a joint discriminative criterion over multiple complementary acoustic models to lower recognition word error rate in the system.
US08843357B2
An electrical connection defect simulation test method is provided. The electrical connection state simulation test method includes the steps as follows. A device under test is provided, wherein the device under test includes a plurality of pin groups each having a plurality of signal pins. A zero-frequency signal is transmitted from a signal-feeding device to each of the signal pins to simulate an open condition. An open test is performed on each of the signal pins. The signal pins of the device under test are connected to a relay matrix. The relay matrix is controlled to make any two of the signal pins in one of the pin groups electrically connected to simulate a short condition. A short test is performed on any two of the electrically connected signal pins. An electrical connection state simulation test system is disclosed herein as well.
US08843353B2
Embodiments of the present technology integrate seismic data and geologic concepts into earth model building. More specifically, exemplary embodiments provide new ways to build an earth model based on information in the seismic data and geologic concepts to use as a context to interpret the seismic data and/or to add to the earth model in regions where the seismic data is missing (e.g., either no data or no data resolvability). In some embodiments, a deterministic framework is generated for an earth models through deterministic identification of discrete geobodies. A hybrid deterministic-geostatistical earth model is generated by filling stratigraphic gaps in a deterministic framework using geostatistical information and/or seismic inversion, in accordance with some embodiments.
US08843345B2
Described herein are systems and methods that can employ a motion detection algorithm to determine whether a sensor has experienced a motion event or a no motion event. The sensor can be any sensor that can be used to identify and/or characterize motion. Upon receiving a signal from the sensor, moments of the signal can be calculated. Then, the moments can be compared to determine whether the signal is Gaussian. If the signal is a Gaussian signal, the algorithm determines that the signal is due to a no motion event. If the signal is a non-Gaussian signal, the algorithm determines that the signal is due to a motion event.
US08843342B2
A continuous scanning method employs one or more moveable sensors and one or more reference sensors deployed in the environment around a test subject. Each sensor is configured to sense an attribute of the test subject (e.g., sound energy, infrared energy, etc.) while continuously moving along a path and recording the sensed attribute, the position, and the orientation of each of the moveable sensors and each of the reference sensors. The system then constructs a set of transfer functions corresponding to points in space between the moveable sensors, wherein each of the transfer functions relates the test data of the moveable sensors to the test data of the reference sensors. In this way, a graphical representation of the attribute in the vicinity of test subject can be produced.
US08843340B2
Track information generating devices, methods, and programs acquire a self-contained navigation track of a vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of self-contained navigation information, and acquire a GPS track of the vehicle indicated by time-series pieces of GPS information. The devices, methods, and programs compare the self-contained navigation track with the GPS track to correct the self-contained navigation information so as to reduce a difference between the self-contained navigation track and the GPS track.
US08843326B1
A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium are provided for defining a load envelope, such as a three-dimensional load envelope, that envelopes a plurality of load cases. In the context of a system, the system includes a coordinate system redefinition module configured to define three mutually orthogonal axes in a space representative of at least three load components and a surface facet definition module configured to identify load cases on a surface of the load envelope and to define a plurality of surface facets, such as surface triangles, that collectively define the load envelope. Each surface facet includes a plurality of vertices that are formed by load cases identified to be on the surface of the load envelope.
US08843324B2
The present invention provides a method to calibrate a NIR analyzer to measure monomer concentrations at one or more locations in a reactor system. The regression coefficients for the NIR analyzer are transferable between reactors using the same process (solution polymerization to solution polymerization) and may be used to control the reaction, or calibrate flow meters on line.
US08843317B1
A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer readable storage medium, in one embodiment, associating at least one wireless device and at least one user, requesting audio information from at least one remote source by said at least one wireless device, receiving said audio information from said remote source, broadcasting an audio identifier to said at least one wireless device, using said audio information, authenticating said association between said at least one wireless device and at least one transport, based on said audio information, determining at least one characteristic of said at least one user based on at least one of at least one user search history and at least one user preference selection and determining at least one probable route of said at least one transport based on said at least one characteristic and at least one of at least one route history and at least one input destination.
US08843315B1
This present invention is a spatial data processing system and method that allows the automatic, rapid, scalable analysis and transformation of large amounts of travel behavior data (e.g., tracking data points) into individual “points-of-interest” and discrete trips stored in a spatial database. Each trip has a point-of-interest as a starting and ending location, and contains multiple positions (e.g. latitude and longitudes) which define the travel path of the user/device during that time period.
US08843310B2
This invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising: a processor (210) for generating, from map data, a digital map for display to a user; a store (230) for said map data and data defining the location of points of interest on said digital map; and a display (240) for displaying said digital map to said user; characterised in that the navigation device (200) further comprises: a short-range radio transceiver (265) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to computer systems that are each associated with a respective point of interest; and a wireless network control module (490) that is configured to energise said short-range radio transceiver (265) for the exchange of signals if a determined current location of said navigation device (200) is within wireless communications range of a point of interest. A method is also disclosed.
US08843306B1
A method and apparatus for displaying an aircraft fix. A fix for an aircraft is identified, wherein the fix is a location of the aircraft. A fix identifier is displayed in a plan view display, wherein the fix identifier indicates a location of the fix on a map background in the plan view display. A fix formation identifier is displayed in the plan view display, wherein the fix formation identifier indicates a direction from a navigational aid to the fix.
US08843298B2
An engine control system which may be used in automotive vehicles includes first correlation data representing correlations between performance parameters associated with different types of performances of a combustion engine and uncorrelated common factors existing among the performance parameters and second correlation data representing correlations between the common factors and combustion parameters associated with combustion states of fuel in the combustion engine. The engine control system determines target values of the common factors using the first correlation data and also determines target values of the combustion parameters using the second correlation data. The engine control system determines command values as a function of the target values of the combustion parameter and outputs them to actuators which control combustion states of fuel in the engine for achieving desired levels of the performances of the combustion engine. This enables the performance parameters to be controlled independently of each other without any interference.
US08843290B2
Apparatus and methods for calibrating dynamic parameters of a vehicle navigation system are presented. One method may include determining whether reference position data of a vehicle is available, and measuring composite accelerations of the vehicle. The method may further include generating distance and turn angle data based upon a wheel speed sensors data, computing distance and turn angle errors based upon the independent position data, and associating the distance and turn angle errors with composite accelerations. A second method presented includes calibrating an inertial navigation sensor within a vehicle navigation system. The second method may include determining reference position data and Inertial Navigation System (INS) data, aligning an IMU with the vehicle, and aligning the IMU with an Earth fixed coordinate system. The second method may further include computing the vehicle alignment with respect to a horizontal plane, and determining calibration parameters for distance sensors associated with the vehicle.
US08843284B2
A method for controlling a manual transmission of a vehicle includes providing a manual transmission comprising a shift fork actuator and a shifter assembly comprising a shift lever, a shift knob disposed on the shifter lever, a shift lever position sensor and a shifter tactile sensor. The tactile sensor may be used to determine when pressure is applied to the shift knob of the shifter assembly and, when pressure is applied to the shift knob, vehicle operating parameters are monitored. A predicted gear selection is determined based on the monitored vehicle operating parameters. An operator gear selection is then determined based on the shift lever position sensor when the shift lever is moved. The operator gear selection is compared to the predicted gear selection and, when the predicted gear selection is the same as the operator gear selection, the manual transmission is shifted to the predicted gear selection.
US08843268B2
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, the motor vehicle including a first display, integrated into the steering wheel, for the variable representation of information; a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands; a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and separated spatially from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands.
US08843266B2
The complex movements performed by the various components carrying a bucket that performs earth moving work are monitored by means of ultrasound devices relating lengths and angles obtained during a calibration step and instant measurements in a processing unit in order to output either a visual indication of the position of the bucket or signals for automatic control of a digging or other earth-moving operation.
US08843263B2
The present invention provides an onboard system for determining vehicle emissions. The emissions are determined in real-time and may be transmitted to a remote terminal for storage and/or analysis. Data is supplied solely to an emissions unit from a vehicle diagnostic system: the vehicle diagnostic system receives vehicle data from vehicle systems and sub-systems.
US08843249B2
A device for verifying guidance orders includes a passivation device for implementing comparisons between guidance orders from at least three different equipments in order to generate a passivated guidance order. For example, one of the guidance orders may be an auxiliary guidance order used to compare to the other two primary guidance orders so that the primary guidance order that is closest to the auxiliary guidance order is selected as the passivated guidance order. The passivated (e.g., validated) guidance order is transmitted to a flight control system of the aircraft.
US08843239B2
A thermostat management system facilitates an automatic pairing of a thermostat with a thermostat communication account. The thermostat management system receives a public network address associated with a computer device on a private network accessing the thermostat management account. The system retrieves the thermostat metadata including a public network address associated with a registration of the thermostat with the thermostat management system. The public network address registered with the thermostat metadata is provided by a router on the private network and therefore should match the public network address used by computer devices on the private network. The thermostat management account is paired with the thermostat if the thermostat has the same public network address as the computer device accessing the thermostat management account. Pairing the thermostat management account to the thermostat allows the thermostat management account to communicate with the thermostat over the public network through the thermostat management system.
US08843238B2
Systems and methods for limiting power consumption by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) subsystem of a building are shown and described. A feedback controller is used to generate a manipulated variable based on an energy use setpoint and a measured energy use. The manipulated variable may be used for adjusting the operation of an HVAC device.
US08843217B1
Apparatus and method for triggering nerve-action potentials (NAPs) in each of a plurality of cochlear neurons in a cochlea of a person and in each one of a plurality of vestibular neurons in a vestibular organ of the person in order to provide auditory and balance sensations for the person, the method including generating a first plurality of light signals that stimulate a NAP in the selected cochlear neuron; delivering the first plurality of light signals to the selected cochlear neuron from within the cochlea; generating a second plurality of light signals that stimulate a NAP in the selected vestibular neuron; delivering the second plurality of light signals to the selected vestibular neuron from within the vestibular organ; and selectively controlling the first and second plurality of light signals to optically stimulate the selected cochlear and vestibular neuron in order to trigger NAPs of the selected cochlear and vestibular neuron.
US08843205B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining an amplitude of one or more stimulation signals corresponding to a subject signal for use by a stimulating medical device having a first group of stimulation channels mapping to a second group of electrodes, respectively. Such a method, for example, includes: obtaining the subject signal; filtering the subject signal with a first plurality of band-pass filters (BPFs) having substantially contiguous pass-bands, respectively, to obtain a first set of one or more signals; selecting at least one of the stimulation channels based on the first set; filtering the subject signal with a second plurality of BPFs having significantly overlapping pass-bands, respectively, to obtain a second set of one or more signals; and determining at least one stimulation amplitude for the at least one selected stimulation channel, respectively, based on the second set of signals.
US08843203B2
An implantable medical device delivers neurostimulation therapy to a patient according to a parameter set. A parameter set may consist of a number of programs that are delivered substantially simultaneously. When programming the implantable medical device for the patient, a clinician programmer may maintain a session log for the patient that includes a listing of programs delivered to the patient and rating information provided by a clinician and the patient for programs of the list. The listing may be ordered according to the rating information in order to facilitate the selection of programs for a parameter set. A program library that may include particularly effective programs organized according to a directory structure may be stored in a memory. One or both of the implantable medical device and a patient programmer may store usage information that provides an objective assessment of therapy use by the patient, and allows a clinician to later improve the therapy based on the usage information.
US08843197B2
A method for trending heart failure measures cardiogenic impedance (CI) and obtains signals representing estimates for or direct measurements of at least one of cardiac volume and pressure of the heart when the CI measurements were obtained. The method identifies correction factors based on the signals and applies the correction factors to the contractility estimates. A system for trending heart failure includes a contractility module to determine contractility estimates from CI measurements taken along at least a first vector through a heart, and a collection module to receive signals representing estimates for or direct measurements of at least one of cardiac volume and pressure of the heart when the CI measurements were obtained. The system further includes a factor module to identify correction factors based on the signals and a correction module to apply the correction factors to the contractility estimates.
US08843191B2
Disclosed are a method for measuring temperature distribution, which measures temperature distribution not only in fat tissue but also in mixed tissue containing high-water content tissue and fat tissue, and a method for imaging temperature distribution. In the disclosed method, a water signal, which is dependent on the water components of the tissue to be measured, and a fat signal, which is dependent on the fat components of the tissue to be measured, are acquired by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Fatty acid signals are acquired by separating out the fat signal into various fatty acid components. The temperature of high-water content tissue is measured on the basis of the correlation between the water signal and the water temperature, and the temperature of fat tissue is measured on the basis of the correlation between each of the various fatty acid signals and the fat temperature.
US08843190B2
Surface selective photoacoustic (PA) medical imaging is introduced. Surface selective PA imaging is responsive to surface features and does not image sub-surface features, in contrast to conventional PA imaging. The surface PA signal can be considerably larger than the bulk PA signal, for an air-coupled (or gas-coupled) acoustic transducer. Distinguishing these two signals based on time of arrival at the transducer can further distinguish the two signals. This approach provides numerous advantages. Non-contact imaging simplifies and expedites imaging, and can serve as a replacement for visual inspection by physicians. Applications include skin screening and endoscopy.
US08843187B2
Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08843181B2
Methods and apparatus are directed to mobile devices utilizing motion and/or position sensors for improving operating performance and/or power efficiency. In one example, a method for reducing power consumption in a mobile device includes receiving movement information, establishing movement data based on the movement information, determining if the mobile device is stationary using the movement data; and reducing the frequency of searching for a base station when the mobile device is stationary. In another example, a mobile device which reduces power consumption based upon movement data includes an RF front end, a receiver coupled to the RF front end, a data demodulator coupled to the receiver, a searcher, coupled to the RF front end and the receiver, which searches for base stations, and a processing unit coupled to the searcher, wherein the processing unit controls the searcher based upon the stationarity of the mobile device.
US08843176B2
This private branch exchange includes a first communication portion acquiring connection target specifying information related to a connection target from a portable terminal, a second communication portion allowing telephone communication between a fixed telephone corresponding to the portable terminal and the connection target, and a control portion making a call to the connection target on the basis of the connection target specifying information and ringing the fixed telephone corresponding to the portable terminal from which the connection target specifying information has been acquired.
US08843173B2
A portable device and a method for providing a voice recognition service are disclosed. The portable device includes a mechanical vibration sensor configured to sense vibrations having a magnitude equal to or larger than a threshold and generate an electrical signal, a motion sensor configured to sense a motion of the portable device, an audio sensor configured to receive a voice command, a sensor hub configured to control a plurality of sensors including the motion sensor and the audio sensor, and a main processor configured to execute an application and control the portable device. When the portable device is placed in standby mode, upon receipt of the electrical signal from the mechanical vibration sensor, the sensor hub is configured to switch from inactive state to active state and activate the motion sensor.
US08843146B2
A method of controlling a communications channel, comprising: receiving a real time digital signal; processing the real time digital signal to provide a control signal; and controlling the base station in response to the control signal. Where the processing comprises in succeeding time slots determining whether predefined signal content is present in the real time digital signal, increasing or decreasing a first value when predefined signal content is present and, respectively, decreasing or increasing the first value when predefined signal content is not present, and changing the control signal when the first value reaches a first target value. The method also relates to controlling a base station for a headset, where the base station and headset communicates via a wireless connection and where the base station communicates with a PC via a wired interface e.g. a USB interface.
US08843145B2
Provided are a method and a device for data transmission in a multiple carrier wave system. With respect to a carrier wave that includes a first guard band, a data band, and a second guard band on a frequency domain, at least one guard physical resource unit (guard PRU) is allocated to at least one of said first guard band and said second guard band, said guard PRU is mapped to a contiguous resource unit (CRU), and data are transmitted via the CRU to which said guard PRU is mapped. The CRU to which said guard PRU has been mapped is mapped to a contiguous logical resource unit (CLRU). The index of the CRU to which said guard PRU has been mapped and the index of the CRU to which the PRU of said data band has been mapped may be continuous.
US08843138B2
A method and an apparatus for controlling transmission power in a femto base station is provided. The method includes: predicting femto base station interference to be given from an adjacent femto base station to a terminal; predicting macro base station interference to be given from a macro base station to the terminal; determining transmission power for the terminal; and transmitting a downlink signal to the terminal on the basis of the transmission power, wherein the femto base station interference is predicted on the basis of a distance between serving femto base station and the adjacent femto base station and the transmission power of the adjacent femto base station, and the macro base station interference is predicted on the basis of a distance between serving femto base station and the macro base station and the transmission power of the macro base station.
US08843134B2
A method for reducing a delay in a wireless communications system resulting from a handoff while mitigating a risk of premature termination of wireless communications, the method includes comparing data indicative of actual use of the wireless communications systems to at least one predetermined criteria. If the comparing determines a sector pairing in the wireless communications system to be statistically significant for purposes of recommending at least one search window setting, at least one value related with a distance associated with the sector pairing may be used to automatically determine a corresponding signal delay. If the corresponding signal delay exceeds a prior determined signal delay, a recommended search window setting may be determined using the corresponding signal delay.
US08843132B2
Systems, methods, computer software for providing access to wireless communication services are provided. The invention, in one embodiment, can involve storing a network address on a mobile device and sending a request for network operator data from the mobile device to a mobile virtual network operator server associated with the network address. In response, network operator data is received, and, based on the received network operator data, a network operator is selected. Communications are thereafter conducted using the selected network operator. In some situations, bids are received from multiple network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained. Preferences among the network operators are identified using the received bids, and the preferences are used to select the network operator for the mobile device to use in conducting communications.
US08843129B2
A subscriber station can efficiently determine an accessible base station by scanning a subset of base stations based on an optimized list received from a serving base station. The subscriber station includes a white list that contains information regarding a number of closed subscriber group (CSG) base stations to which the subscriber station is subscribed. The subscriber station can transmit a request message that includes one or more of: indication of whether the detected identifier of the femto base station is in the whitelist or not; and its location information. In response, the base station can send a message that includes the nearby femtocells and whether the femtocell is accessible or inaccessible to the subscriber station. The femto base station can be designed to be in transmission off mode when none of its subscribers is in its coverage. The serving base station can select a set of the accessible femtocells to the subscriber station, and request the selected femtocells to monitor an uplink signaling of the subscriber station so that the femtocell can be awaken when the femtocell is in transmission off mode or be aware that the subscriber station is in proximity, if the uplink signaling is detected.
US08843127B2
An approach is provided for providing optimized privacy in cognitive radio information sharing. A cognitive radio privacy optimization platform determines cognitive radio connectivity information provided by at least one device. The cognitive radio privacy optimization platform also processes and/or facilitates a processing of the cognitive radio connectivity information to determine a quality, an amount, or a combination thereof of the cognitive radio connectivity information. The cognitive radio privacy optimization platform further determines at least one service class for providing cognitive radio connectivity to the at least one device based, at least in part, on the quality, the amount, or a combination thereof of the cognitive radio information.
US08843126B1
A programmable device generates a test signal indicative of a RF signal and receives a processed test signal indicative of the test signal after processing thereof by one of a RF transmission system and a RF receiving system. The programmable device performs a comparison between the processed test signal and calibration data, and generates a report based on the comparison. A hardwire signal router provides the test signal to one of the RF transmission system and the RF receiving system, and provides the processed test signal to the programmable device. The router includes a first switching mechanism and a second switching mechanism operating in a coordinated fashion to define one of a first state for testing the RF transmission system and a second state for testing the RF receiving system.
US08843121B2
Various methods and apparatuses associated with the serving of data from a wireless mobile phone, including a wireless mobile phone, are described herein.
US08843120B2
A method and apparatus for a computer and telecommunication network which can receive, send and manage information from or to a subscriber of the network, based on the subscriber's configuration. The network is made up of at least one cluster containing voice servers which allow for telephony, speech recognition, text-to-speech and conferencing functions, and is accessible by the subscriber through standard telephone connections or through internet connections. The network also utilizes a database and file server allowing the subscriber to maintain and manage certain contact lists and administrative information. A web server is also connected to the cluster thereby allowing access to all functions through internet connections.
US08843115B2
Method and apparatus for managing system information modification in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate improved management of a system information modification in a wireless communication environment. Various techniques can be utilized as described herein to provide respective users with information indicative of changes to specific blocks or elements within a set of system information, thereby simplifying and accelerating acquisition of new system information after a modification. In a first example, a bitmap is generated and transmitted upon a system information modification that indicates which blocks(s) and/or element(s) of the system information changed in the modification, thereby allowing an associated user to abstain from reading or processing unchanged system information. In a second example, respective block(s) and/or element(s) of the system information can include an internal value tag that indicates to a receiving entity whether the corresponding block(s) or element(s) have changed, thereby allowing a user to discard unchanged block(s) or element(s) without performing further processing.
US08843113B2
There is provided a wireless communication device including a transmission control unit configured to transmit an establishment request for establishment of connection right for wireless connection with a predetermined network, to an information processing device performing a control for establishment of the connection right, wirelessly; and a control unit configured to perform a control for the establishment of the connection right, based on establishment information transmitted from the information processing unit, on the condition that the establishment request has been authenticated by a first authentication device performing a first authentication process related to the wireless communication device, and the establishment request has been authenticated by a second authentication device performing a second authentication process related to the establishment of the connection right.
US08843105B2
A centralized rescue network system can receive an emergency alert message from a mobile device and use data from the message and from other sources to determine an appropriate response resource allocation. The centralized rescue network system may also request and receive additional data from the sending mobile device, other mobile devices, and/or other systems. A response message may be sent to the sending mobile device, other devices and/or systems. The centralized rescue network system can send requests to emergency services providers based on its analysis and processing of the emergency alert message and any other data so that the most efficient use is made of emergency resources.
US08843098B2
The present invention provides a filter that may be used as a reconstruction filter with a built-in balun. One embodiment of the filter includes first and second input nodes for receiving balanced radiofrequency signals and an inductive-capacitive (LC) circuit coupled between the first and second input nodes and first and second intermediate nodes. This embodiment of the filter also includes a coupling circuit that couples the first and second intermediate nodes to an output node. Balanced signals within a filter bandwidth are transmitted from the first and second input nodes to the output node and balanced signals outside the filter bandwidth are substantially shorted to ground.
US08843090B2
A transceiver arrangement includes a first receive path including a first connection and a first receive amplifier, and a second receive path including a second connection, a second receive amplifier, and a frequency conversion device. The transceiver also includes a controllable coupling device configured to couple an output of the first receive amplifier to an input of the frequency conversion device on the second signal path, and a control circuit configured to provide a control signal to the coupling device for selectively combining signals delivered by the first and second receive amplifiers in the correct phase based on a parameter which is derived from a signal present at the first connection or second connection, or both. The parameter derived from the received signal represents whether a signal strength of the received signal or a signal quality of the received signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold.
US08843089B2
Coefficients of a pre-distorter are determined for distortion correction of a signal amplified by a radio frequency amplifier by sampling the signal at the pre-distorter input to generate a plurality of input samples and sampling the signal at the amplifier output to generate a plurality of output samples, each of the output samples corresponding to one of the input samples, calculating a figure of merit for one or more of the input samples on the basis of the one or more input samples, selectively updating a previously selected set of input samples with the one or more input samples on the basis of the calculated figure of merit, whereby to generate an updated selected set and determining the coefficients of the pre-distorter on the basis of the input samples in the updated selected set and the corresponding output samples.
US08843088B2
Included is a radio transmission system comprising a plurality of power amplifiers (PAs); a plurality of Volterra Engine (VE) linearizers corresponding to the PAs; a plurality of feedback loops corresponding to the PAs; at least one digital hybrid matrix (DHM) coupled to the VE linearizers; and an analog hybrid matrix (AHM) coupled to the PAs, wherein the feedback loops are connected to the AHM and the VE linearizers but not to the PAs to reduce the number of feedback loops. Also included is a radio system comprising a plurality of PAs; a Volterra DHM (VDHM) coupled to the PAs; a plurality of feedback loops corresponding to the PAs; and an AHM coupled to the PAs, wherein the feedback loops are connected to the AHM but not to the PAs to reduce the number of feedback loops.
US08843086B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, that facilitates communication of data in a radio communication system that utilizes a slotted communication scheme. Multiple successive time slots are allocable upon which to communicate data to a receiving communication station. At selected intervals, a controller causes the mode of operation of the receiving communication station to be changed to pause operation in a receive mode and, during the pause, to cause operation of the receiving communication station to transmit data, such as control acknowledgments or other responses.
