US08900338B2

An accessory cap for a respiratory cartridge includes a housing having a front wall and a side wall which cooperate to define an interior cavity. The side wall includes a retaining formation configured and arranged to releasably engage and hold the housing on the respiratory cartridge. The housing includes a downwardly facing air passage configured to allow air to pass from an exterior environment to the interior cavity. The accessory cap further includes a pre-filter support web removably received within the interior cavity and spaced inwardly from the front wall. The housing and the pre-filter support web form a pre-filter cavity within the interior cavity adjacent to the front wall. The accessory cap can function as a standalone shower cap, or a pre-filter media can be optionally inserted into the pre-filter cavity so that the accessory cap functions as a combination pre-filter and a shower cap.
US08900337B2

Provided are a method for producing an alumina sintered compact satisfying the following (1) and (2), which comprises mixing and sintering an ilmenite powder and an alumina powder; the alumina sintered compact obtained according to the production method; and an abrasive grain and a grain stone. (1) The total amount of the TiO2-equivalent content of the titanium compound, the Fe2O3-equivalent content of the iron compound and the alumina content is at least 98% by mass; (2) The total amount of the TiO2-equivalent content of the titanium compound and the Fe2O3-equivalent content of the iron compound is from 5 to 13% by mass.
US08900336B2

A cutting tool in which wear resistance is improved by suppressing sudden chipping on the flank face while suppressing oxidation of the coating layer on the rake face, and thereby has a long lifespan even under cutting conditions in which deposition and edge damage easily occur. In the cutting tool, a coating layer represented by Ti1-a-b-cAlaWbMc(C1-xNx), with M selected as at least one of silicon, yttrium, and a metal belonging to group 4, 5, or 6 on the periodic table, excluding titanium and tungsten, and 0.3≦a≦0.6, 0.01≦b≦0.2, 0≦c≦0.2, and 0≦x≦1, being provided on the surface of a main cutting tool body having a flank face and a rake face, and the content ratio of tungsten on the flank face is higher than the content ratio of tungsten on the rake face.
US08900322B2

An antibiotic delivery system including an intramedullary stem that is adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone. The stem includes a body having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of liquid-borne antibiotic and a plurality of outlets disposed along the stem. A channel extends between the inlet and the plurality of outlets for delivering a fluid-borne antibiotic from the inlet to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the antibiotic along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion. A method of treating an infected joint during a two-stage re-implantation of an orthopedic implant is also disclosed.
US08900319B2

Provided are acetabular cup implant assemblies that can be used in hip replacement surgery. Example assemblies comprise a shell and a liner. The liner can be positioned within a shell. Optionally, the liner can be rotated relative to the shell until the liner is seated in the shell in a position where the liner and shell can be secured to one another. Waveform-shaped features of the shell and liner can guide the relative rotation of the liner and shell. Also provided are methods of seating a liner in shell of an acetabular cup implant assembly.
US08900316B2

Certain embodiments generally provide an improved tibial base member comprising keel portions that allow one or both cruciate ligaments to be preserved. Other embodiments provide improved lateral and/or medial inserts having a mesial lip that helps relieve and/or prevent impingement between the femoral component and the tibial eminence. Other embodiments provide improved femoral components having various chamfers to provide additional clearance with respect to the tibial eminence and posterior cruciate ligament without decreasing bone coverage.
US08900313B2

An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior endplates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of interlocking expansion members or wafers. The like-configured wafers include features on their top and bottom surfaces that interlock the wafers in multiple degrees of freedom so that the wafer stack is not disrupted when the fusion device is fully expanded. One of the interlocking features includes a plurality of prongs projecting from an upper surface of the wafers and into a recess defined in the lower surface of an adjacent previously inserted like-configured wafer. The prongs and recesses are configured to prevent retrograde movement of each new wafer in a direction opposite the direction of insertion. Other interlocking features prevent movement in the direction of insertion, transverse to the insertion direction and vertically within the stack.
US08900312B2

An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior endplates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of expansion members or wafers in interlocking engagement. The expansion members are formed to each have a generally U-shaped rearward facing opening. The superior and inferior endplates have openings through their outer surfaces in at least partial alignment and communication with the rearward facing openings of the expansion members. The inferior endplate has a fully bounded cavity for telescoping receipt of the superior endplate. The inferior endplate also has a fully bounded channel extending through the rear endwall thereof in direct communication with the rearward facing opening of at least one expansion member for the receipt of bone graft material into the device to promote fusion between opposing vertebral bodies of the spine.
US08900305B2

An intervertebral implant having an endplate that can be slidably expanded following its placement in the intervertebral space. The endplate comprises a pair of planks that are slidably received within respective recesses of a base portion of the endplate. During insertion of the implant into the intervertebral space, the planks are set in a contracted position within respective recesses of a base portion of the endplate. This provides the implant with a relatively small profile that is suitable for MIS procedures. Once the implant has been inserted, the planks are slid outward from the recesses to an expanded position that increases the footprint of the implant endplate. This expansion increases the stability of the implant.
US08900299B2

A method for prevention of migration of epithelial cells in a capsular bag of an eye of a mammal is provided. The method comprises removing the natural lens of the eye from the capsular bag; introducing an object with at least one sharp edge into the capsular bag, in such a way that said sharp edge contacts the inside of the capsular bag to form a barrier preventing migration of epithelial cells across said barrier; and injecting a lens-forming composition into the capsular bag.
US08900298B2

Fluids incorporated into intraocular lenses and their methods of use. In some embodiments the fluids are silicone oils, and in some embodiments they are used in accommodating intraocular lenses.
US08900295B2

A prosthetic valve assembly and method of implanting same is disclosed. The prosthetic valve assembly includes a prosthetic valve formed by support frame and valve leaflets, with one or more tethers each having a first end secured to the support frame and the second end attached to, or configured for attachment to, to papillary muscles or other ventricular tissue. The tether is configured and positioned so as to avoid contact or other interference with movement of the valve leaflets, while at the same time providing a tethering action between the support frame and the ventricular tissue. The valve leaflets may be flexible (e.g., so-called tissue or synthetic leaflets) or mechanical.
US08900294B2

A method of making a replacement heart valve device whereby a fragment of biocompatible tissue material is treated and soaked in one or more alcohol solutions and a solution of glutaraldehyde. The dried biocompatible tissue material is folded and rehydrated in such a way that forms a two- or three-leaflet/cusp valve without affixing of separate cusps or leaflets or cutting slits into the biocompatible tissue material to form the cusps or leaflets. After the biocompatible tissue material is folded, it is affixed at one or more points on the outer surface to the inner cavity or a stent.
US08900293B2

A magnetic delivery system for delivering a magnetizable particle to a location in a body, the device includes a magnetizable object implanted in the body, wherein the magnetizable object includes a plurality of segments distributed throughout the magnetizable object and wherein the segments are configured to provide a magnetic gradient for attracting the magnetizable particle and an external source of a magnetic field capable of (i) magnetizing the magnetizable particle and (ii) increasing a degree of magnetization of the magnetizable object and thereby creating the magnetic gradient. A drug delivery system including the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a therapeutic agent and/or a cell. A cell delivery system based on the magnetic delivery system and a magnetizable particle associated with a cell. A method of using the magnetic delivery system for delivery of a therapeutic agent and/or a cell to a targeted location in a body.
US08900288B2

This invention is a system for the treatment of body passageways; in particular, vessels with vascular disease. The system includes an endovascular graft with a low-profile delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which it conforms to the morphology of the vessel or body passageway to be treated as well as various connector members and stents. The graft is made from an inflatable graft body section and may be bifurcated. One or more inflatable cuffs may be disposed at either end of the graft body section. At least one inflatable channel is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inflatable cuffs.
US08900274B2

A fixation system, including an intramedullary fixation assembly and an instrument for coupling the intramedullary fixation assembly to bones. The intramedullary fixation assembly includes a proximal screw member positioned at a proximal end of the intramedullary fixation assembly, a distal member positioned at a distal end of the intramedullary fixation assembly, where the proximal screw member is slideably coupled to the distal member and makes a fixed angle with the distal member.
US08900269B2

A thread-fixing tool includes a first member in which a lumen opened at an end surface through which a suture thread is inserted, and a communication path having a first end opened at the end surface and a second end in communication with an intermediate portion of the lumen are formed, and a second member having a shaft portion inserted into the communication path of the first member, and a pressing portion which is formed at a distal portion of the shaft portion and which is capable of deforming outwardly in a radial direction of the shaft portion, wherein the pressing portion is guided to the intermediate portion of the lumen through the communication path, and deformed in a direction crossing an insertion direction of the suture thread to push the suture thread against an inner wall of the lumen.
US08900264B2

A valvuloplasty catheter has a dog-bone shaped balloon with semi-compliant smaller diameter waist and non-compliant larger diameter bulbous end regions. The balloon centers across the valve with the waist adjacent to the annulus. One bulbous region serves to hyperextend the valve leaflets and the other assists in stabilizing the balloon position to reduce migration. The semi-compliant waist increases in diameter as fluid enters the balloon until it comes into contact with the valve annulus. The pressure within the balloon per unit of volume delivery has a greater slope after contact with the annulus than before resulting in a change in slope for the pressure versus volume curve. The diameter of the balloon and annulus are determined at this inflection point when the balloon contacts the annulus.
US08900263B2

An introducer needle for accessing a body lumen includes an annular-shaped body having a distal end and a proximal end, a leading edge formed on the distal end, and a slot defined in the leading edge and extending proximally from the distal end. In at least one example, the slot can include a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge each extending proximally from the leading edge and being separated by a central angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 360 degrees. The first end and the second edge are in continuous communication with the leading edge.
US08900251B2

A radial deployment surgical tool having an inner shaft, an outer shaft and a function head. The radial deployment surgical tool is adapted for performing surgical procedures within narrow regions within a patient.
US08900247B2

The present invention discloses a measuring and guiding device for reconstruction surgery. The measuring and guiding device includes: a pair of rotary aims, a connector, and a pair of fixators. Each rotary arm includes: a first shaft, a first joint body and a second joint body. The pair of rotary arms is joined together by extending through each of the first joint bodies using the connector. Besides, each fixator includes: a second shaft, a third joint body and a guiding portion, and each third joint body is connected with one of the second joint bodies. With the implementation of the present invention, the measuring and guiding device is capable of measuring an operating site and guiding the operation precisely during reconstruction surgery.
US08900242B2

A stylus assembly is adapted to be attached to a surgical jig. The stylus assembly comprises a body having first and second arms with a space therebetween for receiving a portion of the surgical jig, a stylus adjustably mounted relative to the body, and a locking member in use, actuation of the locking member from an unlocked to a locked position enables locking of the body to the surgical jig and locking of the stylus relative to the body.
US08900236B2

Internal pedicle insulator implants, assemblies and related methods are provided. A representative method includes: placing an implant at least partially about an intermediate portion of the fixture, the implant having an inner surface; driving a distal end of the implant into tissue into which the fixture is inserted; and dispensing cement such that the cement is located between the inner surface of the implant and an exterior of the fixture.
US08900234B2

A minimally invasive method for drilling into bone and for providing for delivery of medical treatment is provided. The method includes use of a drilling system includes a miniature shaft, a bit, a guide tube encapsulating the shaft during drilling and a cortex adapter thereafter to prevent closure of the drilled hole, a stylet to prevent blockage of the resulting passage, and introduction for treatment following removal of the stylet. As a result, a hole, targeted towards a cancerous lesion within the bone, is possible.
US08900229B2

A medical probe includes an insertion tube, having a longitudinal axis and having a distal end. A distal tip is disposed at the distal end of the insertion tube and is configured to be brought into contact with a body tissue. A joint couples the distal tip to the distal end of the insertion tube. A joint sensor, contained within the probe, senses a position of the distal tip relative to the distal end of the insertion tube. The joint sensor includes first and second subassemblies, which are disposed within the probe on opposite, respective sides of the joint and each include one or more magnetic transducers.
US08900224B2

A kit for penetrating the cardiac septum and for implanting a transeptal lead, including a lead for the detection/stimulation of a left heart cavity. This kit includes a screw lead (16) and a radio-frequency puncture generator (32). The lead includes: a lead body with a deformable sheath (18); a proximal end having an electrical connector (20) for coupling to an implanted medical device housing; a distal end having a lead head (22) with an electrode including a projecting conductive helical screw (24) for penetrating into the septum (10) due to a screw movement applied from the proximal end of the lead, and a conductor (26) connecting the electrode to the electrical connector, the electrode including the screw. The radio-frequency puncture generator (32) is connected to the electrical connector to provide a controlled application by the helical screw of a radio-frequency energy on the septal wall and, in conjunction with the screw motion applied to the lead head, punctures through and results in the lead head crossing through the septum wall.
US08900223B2

This invention relates to medical instruments and systems for applying energy to tissue. Variations of the systems and methods described herein include ablating, sealing, and extracting tissue with high pressure flows of fluids that in part utilizes a vapor-to-liquid phase change of flow media to apply thermal energy to the tissue.
US08900212B2

A connection device includes a main holder including a syringe holder to be attached to a syringe and a cannula holder which includes a double-head cannula. The cannula holder is located at a retracted position retracted with respect to the syringe holder in the pre-use state, and is advanced to an advanced position abutting on the syringe holder in the use state. The connection device further includes a separation preventing mechanism which engages the syringe to prevent separation of the syringe from the syringe holder in the state where the cannula holder is located at the retracted position. When the cannula holder is located at the advanced position, the separation preventing mechanism releases an engagement state with the syringe to permit the separation of the syringe from the syringe holder.
US08900205B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a syringe for prefilled syringe in which the adsorption of a low-molecular medical agent or a protein for a long term is precluded. In accordance with the present invention, the above-described object is achieved by a syringe for prefilled syringe including: a plunger in which a gasket is attached to a top; and a syringe barrel in which the plunger is slidably accommodated, wherein the surface of the gasket and the inner wall of the syringe barrel are subjected to surface modification with a polymer containing zwitterion.
US08900194B2

Microneedle devices with microneedles having a truncated tapered shape are disclosed. The microneedles of microneedle devices may also have a controlled aspect ratio. Microneedle delivery apparatus are disclosed that include drivers designed to deliver microneedles at velocities that may enhance perforation of the stratum corneum while limiting the sensation of pain experienced at the delivery site.
US08900193B2

A transseptal medical device (10, 110) is provided including a dilator (12, 112), a needle (14, 114), and a needle control mechanism (22, 122). The needle (14, 114) may be disposed within the dilator (12, 112), and the needle control mechanism (22, 122) may be operably connected to a proximal end (24, 124, 16, 116) of the needle (14, 114) or the dilator (12, 112) for selective adjustment of the distal end (26, 126) of the needle (14, 114) from a first position within the dilator (12, 112) to a second position external to the dilator (12, 112). The needle control mechanism (22) may include an actuator (32) configured for rotation within the dilator in one embodiment.
US08900177B2

A self adjusting venous equalizing graft (SAVE graft) which provides a self regulating stenosis is provided herein. The SAVE graft responds to increases or decreases in blood pressure which allows a higher pressure at the graft's arterial end and a lower pressure at the graft's venous end. This is ideal in that it mimics the natural pressure of a patient's circulatory system. A dialysis machine may draw blood at the arterial end, dialyze the blood, and return the blood to the patient at the graft's venous end. The lower pressure at the venous end prevents damage to the patient's vein. The SAVE graft may comprise a deformable stenosis control diaphragm or a venous controlled pressure nozzle which may expand or contract in response to blood pressure to self regulate the stenosis provided by the SAVE graft.
US08900175B2

A collecting device for fluids for medical use may include a rigid container internally defining a first chamber having a fixed volume, an auxiliary container having a deformable portion defining internally thereof a second chamber having a variable volume as a function of a deformable portion thereof, a passage able to set the first and the second chamber in fluid communication, an inlet port connected to at least one of the containers, and an outlet port connected to at least one of the containers, as well as a bypass line for bypassing the device.
US08900173B2

A blood purification apparatus has a dialyzer (1), an arterial blood circuit (2) with a blood pump (4), a venous blood circuit (3), a dialysis fluid introduction line (L1), a dialysis fluid discharge line (L2), a dialysate infusing line (L8), and a dialysate infusing pump (13). A closed circuit is formed in the flow route of the dialysis fluid on the dialysis fluid introduction line (L1) side including a predetermined part where a collection port (11) is formed. A testing process is performed to confirm the connection of the dialysate infusing line (L8) to the collection port (11) by measuring fluid pressure within the closed circuit while driving the dialysate infusing pump (13).
US08900172B2

The present invention relates to a method for controlling or regulating an apparatus for extracorporeally treating blood in an extracorporeal blood circuit while adding citrate and calcium for the purpose of anticoagulation. The apparatus comprises a dispensing device for dispensing a calcium solution into the extracorporeal blood circuit. The method encompasses outputting a signal to the dispensing device for altering a setting of the dispensing device, in which the setting corresponds to or effects an addition of calcium, a calcium dosage, concentration, amount or rate. The method further encompasses defining or altering the signal with regard to a calcium content or a calcium concentration of a substituate solution used in extracorporeally treating the blood, and detecting the range of values of permissible or allowed settings for the calcium introduced or to be introduced into the extracorporeal blood circuit by the dispensing device, particularly its amount, concentration or dosage.
US08900170B1

A headliner is provided for controlling a temperature of a head of a patient. A cap is provided which fits securely over the head of the patient. A fluid pathway is routed through the cap with a fluid space adapted to receive heat transfer fluid therein and route the heat transfer fluid between an inlet and an outlet on the cap. The inlet and outlet are each coupled to a cooler for the heat transfer fluid and the heat transfer fluid is circulated through the cap and the cooler such that heat is drawn from the head of the patient. An air bladder is optionally provided outboard of the fluid space which is filled with pressurized gas to increase contact between the fluid space and the head of the patient. A neck brace is integrated with the cap portion of the headliner, particularly for treatment of head trauma.
US08900168B2

A body surface compression device for generating cyclical or constant compressions for medical purposes. Compression is accomplished using pneumatic actuated artificial muscle in combination with a belt placed around a body part. Both artificial muscle shortening and pneumatic expansion are used for compression. A unique useful property of this system is the length-tension characteristic similar to natural muscle which reduces applied compressive force proportionally with the level of volume compression of the body part. This property as well as a uniformly applied compression over the body part allows compression to be accomplished in a way which resembles natural muscle activation and minimizes overall abnormal stress on the body part.
US08900165B2

Provided is a balance training system for improving postural control of a user by providing visual feedback regarding the user's center of mass (CoM) to the user on a display. The balance training system includes a balance improvement module connected to the display, and a first sensor which captures information about a position of the user with respect to a platform of the balance training system on which platform the user is moving and which provides the captured information to the balance improvement module. The balance improvement module is configured to extract CoM information of the user from the captured information, to compare the extracted CoM information with a target area for the user's CoM on the platform, and to provide results of the comparison to the display for displaying the results to the user.
US08900163B2

Medical devices for navigation through anatomy, including guidewires, which may have a core wire, a slotted tubular member, or both. Embodiments may have coils, including non-circular cross-section edge-wound marker coils, extended coil tips, and soldered or glued mesial joint coils. Core wires may have a step, ridge, or taper at the joints to the tubular member, and may be flattened at the distal tip. Radiopaque material may be located inside the tubular member, and the distal tip may be heat treated to make it shapeable. Additional tubular members or coils may be used concentrically or in line and may enhance flexibility, provide radiopacity, reduce friction, or reduce material or manufacturing cost. Tubular members may be chamfered or tapered continuously or incrementally. Slots may be arranged in groups, such as groups of three, and may be equal in depth or unequal in depth to provide a steerable or compressible tip.
US08900156B2

In an electronic sphygmomanometer, a CPU inlets air into a closed space, including an air bladder in an arm band, an air tube, and another air tube up to a predetermined pressure using a pump, maintains the closed space in a closed state for a certain time, and monitors a decrease in pressure within the maintained time using a pressure sensor. A determination that the air leakage is generated in the closed space including the air bladder and the air tubes is made when the pressure is decreased lower than an allowable amount or more. Similarly, the inspection is also performed to a closed space including the other air tube. The CPU determines whether the air leakage is generated and determines whether an air leakage point exists in the space including the air bladder and the air tube or the space including the other air tube.
US08900154B2

This patent document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods for predicting an occurrence of impending thoracic fluid accumulation and in one example, invoking a responsive therapy, such as to prevent or minimize the consequences of the impending thoracic fluid accumulation. One example of the present systems, devices, and methods senses or receives at least one parameter that is statistically associated with impending thoracic fluid accumulation from a subject. Using such parameter(s), a probability of impending thoracic fluid accumulation is estimated. A list of parameters determines which values are recurrently sensed or received at various desired time intervals. Another example of the present systems, devices, and methods weights the sensed or received parameter value(s) to compute the probability estimate of impending thoracic fluid accumulation. A responsive preventive thoracic fluid accumulation therapy or other therapy is selected and activated using the probability estimate of impending thoracic fluid accumulation.
US08900150B2

A three dimensional physiological mapping system utilizing an intracardiac echo catheter capable of being located in six degrees of freedom by a visualization, navigation, or mapping system. An echocardiography image of the intracardiac echo catheter may be projected within a geometric model of the visualization, navigation, or mapping system where the location of the projected image is adjusted in response to user input identifying a structure present in the echocardiography image and the geometric model.
US08900148B2

The ultrasound probe transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in different directions and the diagnostic apparatus body combines a plurality of images captured in the different directions of transmission and reception to produce an ultrasound image. In this process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus measures the temperature of the ultrasound probe to change the ultrasound transmission and reception for producing a composite ultrasound image or makes the directions of transmission and reception in the last ultrasound image in one composite ultrasound image coincide with those in the first ultrasound image in its temporally adjacent composite ultrasound image. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus thus enables consistent ultrasound diagnosis against heat generated in the integrated circuit board of the ultrasound probe while simplifying the control of the ultrasound transmission and reception.
US08900134B2

An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope insertion section and an optical adapter that is detachably attachable to the endoscope insertion section. In the optical adapter, an LED and a resistor for connection detection are connected in parallel to two electric contacts. In the endoscope insertion section, two signal lines are connected to electric contacts, which are connectable to the two electric contacts in the optical adapter. The endoscope apparatus includes an attachment-and-detachment determining power supply that is connected to one of the signal lines through a switching circuit, and an optical-adapter-attachment-and-detachment determining section. When connection of the optical adapter is detected, the switching circuit is switched to supply an electric current for turning on the LED from an LED turn-on power supply to the one of the signal lines.
US08900133B2

Novel capsule imaging devices, systems and methods are provided for in vivo imaging applications, such as for gastrointestinal applications. A swallowable video imaging device, such as a capsule, can be used with a light filter for in vivo illumination of a target tissue that has absorbed a previously administered biological probe. The target tissue can be distinguished in images transmitted from the video imaging device. Quantification of the signal intensity of fluorescence can be used to assess how progressed the target tissue may be. The target tissue can be therapeutically treated to shrink or kill the target tissue.
US08900130B2

An otoscanner including an otoscanner body, the body comprising a hand grip, the body having mounted upon it an ear probe, a tracking illumination emitter, a plurality of tracking illumination sensors, and a display screen, the otoscanner body having mounted within it an image sensor; the image sensor coupled for data communications to a data processor, with the data processor configured to function by inferring, from a tracked position of the ear probe, previously recorded statistics describing typical ear sizes according to human demographics, and currently recorded demographic information regarding a person whose ear is scanned, the actual present position of the ear probe in relation to at least one part of the scanned ear; and providing a warning when the probe moves within a predefined distance from the part of the scanned ear.
US08900124B2

A device for displaying in vivo images picked up inside a subject in a time series. The device automatically detects lesion images contained in all in vivo images picked up over the time series. The device displays an elongated display area having a time scale assigned along a longitudinal direction thereof and an indicator which moves along the time scale to indicate a time position in the time scale which corresponds to a current in vivo image currently displayed in a main display area. In response to a detection of the lesion image, the device makes pixels located at a time position in the elongated display area which position corresponds to the lesion image to emit light in a predetermined pixel-display mode. The display mode of the indicator is controlled in response to information on a lesion that is possible to be contained in the current in vivo image.
US08900122B2

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is featured by including: an endoscope which has a connector main body; an apparatus main body to which the connector main body can be detachably mounted; a closed space which, after the connector main body is mounted to the apparatus main body, is formed in exterior housings of the apparatus main body and the connector main body by being closed by the exterior housings; a heat generating portion which is provided in the closed space; and a fan which is provided in the closed space, and performs at least one of dissipation of heat of the heat generating portion to the closed space and transfer of heat in the atmosphere in the closed space to the exterior housing.
US08900119B2

A male enhancement device with a tubular body formed of a soft and pliable material such as silicone to increase the apparent length and girth of a wearer's penis for his partner's pleasure. The device has sidewalls of variable thickness around the circumference of the body to provide a thinned portion for placement by a user over his penile frenum and protuberances on an inner sidewall of the body. During sexual activity the tubular body lengthens and shortens as the protuberance slide along the wearer's penile shaft thus exaggerating the stroke for the wearer's pleasure.
US08900114B2

There is provided a pulsatile blood pump (10) for implantation into a patient. The pulsatile blood pump comprises a substantially tubular body (12) a flexible membrane (14) and a port (16). The substantially tubular body is for replacing a resected portion of a blood vessel of the patient. The substantially tubular body has first and second ends with a blood passageway extending therebetween for the passage of blood. The flexible membrane is attached to the tubular body so as to form a fluid chamber between the flexible membrane and an inner surface of the tubular body. The flexible membrane thereby separates the fluid chamber from the blood passageway. The tubular body comprises the port. The port is arranged to allow fluid to flow into and out of the fluid chamber such that the volume of the fluid chamber increases and the volume of the blood passageway decreases when fluid flows into the fluid chamber via the port, and such that the volume of the fluid chamber decreases and the volume of the blood passageway increases when fluid flows out of the fluid chamber via the port. The blood pump is thereby enabled to pump blood along the blood passageway.
US08900113B2

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for targeting diseased tissue with a radiation beam. Functional models can be used to accurately obtain a location of specific tissue using sensors at identifiable locations of the patient's body. Using the relative distances between the identifiable sensor locations can allow a patient to be in various positions. The functional models can be prepared using accurate pre-treatment scans, which can be taken at various body positions (e.g., rotations and/or translations). The trajectory of the beam can be measured efficiently and accurately using beam sensors attached to a beam assembly, where a model maps the beam sensor locations to a trajectory of the beam. Further, a motion model can use measurements made during treatment to obtain a time-dependent functions of the movement of the specific tissue, the change of an optimal beam trajectory over time, or the change in input commands to a beam positioner.
US08900107B2

To provide a conductive rubber member which exhibits small variation in electrical resistance and a stable electrical resistance for a long period of time. The conductive rubber member include a conductive elastic layer formed of a rubber material which has been imparted with electrical conductivity, wherein the conductive elastic layer has a surface-treatment layer which has been produced through impregnating a surface portion of the conductive elastic layer with a surface-treating liquid containing an isocyanate compound and carbon black which has undergone dispersion treatment.
US08900101B2

A treadmill has an endless belt and a housing supporting movement of the endless belt along the housing. The housing has a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality vertical channels extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. Posts are vertically movable in the vertical channels. The posts are secured in a selected position in the vertical channels, with an upper portion of a selected length extending above the top surface and, if desired, a lower portion of a selected length extending below the bottom surface.
US08900096B2

A system and method for diagnosing and controlling an unusual hydraulic state of an electric variable transmission of a hybrid vehicle achieving multi modes including a first mode and a second mode, the method may include determining whether the first mode is converted into the second mode, determining whether a hydraulic pressure is generated in a clutch which is engaged and the generated hydraulic pressure is higher than a predetermined hydraulic pressure when the first mode is converted into the second mode, and determining that the hybrid vehicle is in an unusual condition if the hydraulic pressure is not generated in the clutch or the generated hydraulic pressure is higher than the predetermined hydraulic pressure.
US08900095B2

A method of commanding a synchronous gear shift begins by receiving a request to shift from a third gear to a first gear, and skipping a second gear having a gear ratio between the gear ratio of the first gear and the gear ratio of the third gear. Subsequently the method includes: reducing a torque command to a predetermined value; opening a clutch disposed on the input shaft of the transmission to decouple the transmission from the engine; transitioning the engine from a torque-control mode into a speed-control mode; commanding the engine to rotate at a speed dictated by the motion of the vehicle and the gear ratio of the first gear; closing the clutch to couple the transmission and the engine; and transitioning the engine back into the torque-control mode.
US08900090B2

A gas turbine engine includes a structural oil baffle housing which at least partially supports a set of intermediate gears. Each of the intermediate gears is mounted to a respective flexible carrier post. A spherical joint is mounted to each flexible carrier post and the structural oil baffle housing is mounted to the spherical joint mounted to each flexible carrier post.
US08900089B2

The present invention is aimed to provide a carrier assembly which can be made small in size while securing a sufficient fixing strength between a first carrier plate and a second carrier plate. The second carrier plate (8) has a plurality of connection elements (23) bent toward the first carrier plate (7) to weld and fix the outwardly projected end portions (23b) of the connection elements with the outwardly projected end portion of the first carrier plate (7) by electron beam welding. The connection elements each have a base portions (23a) formed with a notch (28). The notch (28) thus formed makes a gap S between the base portion of the connection element and the corner portion (29) of the pinion gear.
US08900076B1

The quarterback training apparatus is comprised of an array of tracks that extend laterally, diagonally, or longitudinally, and which accommodates at least one movable target thereon. Each movable target includes a track-engaging member from which a pivoting member extends vertically therefrom, and atop of which is a basket. Each basket includes a flexible net that extends from a back opening in order to collect a football that is thrown therein. The baskets may have varying diameters, and may be tilted to a multitude of orientations via the pivoting member. The track-engaging member enables the basket to be moved along the respective track while the pivoting member enables the basket to be adjusted at varying orientations. When fully constructed, an end user is able to throw a plurality of footballs at the various targets in order to practice different types of football throws.
US08900075B2

A hitting apparatus is provided, including a supporting unit, at least a linking unit, and an attaching device. The apparatus includes foldable supporting legs, an adjustable supporting rod, an adjustable hanging arm, an adjustable extension arm, connection elements, attaching elements and attaching ball. The adjustable extension arm is flexible, which can be adjusted at any direction by hand, or foreign force. The connections between connection elements are detachable and releasable upon hit by bat or other subjects. The hanging arm is engaged to the top of supporting rod, and adjustable in length and angles and easy to be detached from the support rod to become a hand held hitting training apparatus. The attaching parts of hook/loop, magnets, adhesive or rubbers holding the ball with minimum detaching releasable force required, The present invention can enhance the focus of the batter on the ball and have a clear hit on the ball.
US08900074B1

The reconfigurable sports training device includes a main base frame, a plurality of primary attachment components, a plurality of secondary attachment components, and a plurality of accessories so that one or more of the attachment components and accessories can be selectively coupled to the main base frame to form a user-defined sports training device. The main base frame includes a movable rack having a plurality of shelves for storing balls thereon and hollow corner posts. Each corner post has an attachment fixture disposed at the top to enable selective coupling of the attachment components and accessories in various combinations. When assembled, the primary and secondary attachment components form a framework to which the accessories can be mounted.
US08900073B2

Disclosed is a golf tee including a main body having an upper seat on which a golf ball is supported; an insertion pin having a lower pointed part; and a connection pin connecting the insertion pin and the main body, the connection pin including an upper integral-type head part and a body part extending from the head part and having a lower screw section on a lower end thereof and around which a spring is integrally fitted, the insertion pin having an elongated screw hole extending from an upper central portion thereof such that the screw part of the connection pin is screwed therethrough.
US08900067B2

An adjustable length golf club shaft having a grip portion with an end point is disclosed. A locking element is located within the grip portion and a lower shaft having an inner surface that is in frictional contact with the locking element is also disclosed. The locking element is configured to engage the inner surface of the lower shaft. A total length of the golf club shaft is adjustable by a distance of at least one inch and a total weight of the golf club shaft in a weight zone is less than 110 g. The weight zone is defined as a region of the golf club shaft extending from the end point of the grip portion up to 11″ along a central axis of the golf club shaft toward a tip portion of the shaft.
US08900062B2

A driveshaft for a downhole motor has a longitudinal axis and includes a first end. In addition, the driveshaft includes a second end opposite the first end. The first end has a radially outer surface including a first connection lug. The outer surface also includes a second connection lug uniformly circumferentially-spaced from the first connection lug. The first connection lug and the second connection lug each include a cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about a first pivot axis oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
US08900051B2

The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a “jackpot only” pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time playing a gaming device perceived to be in a “cold period.”
US08900047B1

A new dice-based wagering system that requires six dice and a layout indicating payout amounts when the correct totals for the six dice are rolled. When rolling six dice the lowest possible total is six (6) and the highest possible total is thirty six (36). The object of the game is to place a wager on the correct total the dice will add up to. The payout ranges from nine times your wager to forty thousand times your wager on a specific number. The game also has “outside bets”. These are wagers that are not placed on a specific number but on groups of numbers or colors of numbers. There are five outside wagers. (ODD or EVEN), (RED or BLACK), (HIGH or LOW), Horizontal Row bets and Vertical Column Bets available.
US08900040B2

The invention generally relates to ventilation systems and methods, and more particularly to selectively configurable climate control systems and methods for use in data centers and the like. A device includes a support element and a plurality of ducts connected to the support element. The device also includes a manifold in fluid communication with each one of the plurality of ducts and a plurality of valves. Each respective one of the plurality of valves is associated with a respective one of the plurality of ducts. Moreover, there is at least one actuator operatively connected to the plurality of valves, which is structured and arranged to individually actuate each one of the plurality of valves.
US08900038B2

A sanding apparatus for removing runs and drips in paint includes a base member, an oscillating member, and a connector bolt. The oscillating member is positioned within the base member where the base member and the oscillating member are movably connected to each other by the connector bolt. A sanding paper can be securely positioned with the oscillating member in order to sand down the runs and drips. The connector bolt allows users of the sanding apparatus to move the oscillating member up and down so that different size runs and drips can be removed from the paint without damaging the surrounding areas of the paint.
US08900033B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of polishing silicon wafers, capable of suppressing generation of undesired sounds from carriers and reducing the thickness variation of the wafers after polished.The method is a wafer polishing method in which wafers 20 are polished by supplying a polishing solution to surfaces 30a of a pair of polishing pads 30 positioned above and below carriers 10 each having a circular hole 11 for retaining the wafers 20, the carriers 10 being thinner than the wafers 20; and sliding the polishing pads 30 relatively to the carriers 10, thereby simultaneously polishing both surfaces of the wafers 20 retained in the carriers 10. The method is characterized in that information sourced from the carriers 10 when a difference between the thickness of the carriers 10 and the thickness of the wafers 20 reaches a predetermined value is detected to calculate the thickness of the wafers 20, thereby terminating polishing.
US08900031B2

A toy vehicle includes a vehicle body configured for moving along a support surface when disposed in a first orientation. A platform is rotatably coupled to an underside of the vehicle body, and a lever is pivotally coupled to the platform. The lever is movable between a first position disengaged from the support surface and a second position engageable with the support surface when the vehicle is disposed in its first orientation. The lever causes the vehicle to be overturned from its first orientation when the lever is moved from its first position to its second position.
US08900030B2

A method that provides a virtual presentation includes associating a toy with a registration code and receiving the registration code from a user computer over a communication network. A computer system validates the registration code entered on a website and provides a virtual replica of the toy on the website. An appearance of the virtual replica is animated during participation in at least one activity on the website. The virtual presentation allows for adopting and caring for the virtual replica. Adopting and caring includes maintaining at least one of a health and happiness of the virtual replica via at least one maintenance activity, which includes taking the virtual replica to a virtual health and welfare facility at the direction of a user and at a time chosen by the user. The maintenance activity cannot be carried out without the validating of the registration code.
US08900027B2

A lamp including a first and second lamp substrate with a first and second external electrode, respectively, and a first and second internal phosphor coating, respectively, wherein the first phosphor coating is a phosphor monolayer. A method of manufacturing a lamp, including screen-printing a phosphor monolayer on a first lamp substrate; screen-printing a phosphor layer on a second lamp substrate; joining the phosphor-coated faces of the first and second lamp substrates together with a seal; and joining a first and second electrode to the uncoupled exterior faces of the first and second lamp substrates, respectively.
US08900024B2

Pants have top and bottom and intermediate extents, a front and a rear, and left and right sides. The top extent has a small torus and a large torus. Left and right fasteners are in the large torus. First and second bladders are in the large torus adjacent to the left side. Third and fourth bladders are in the large torus adjacent to the right side. A left tube is operatively coupled the first and second bladder. A right tube is operatively coupled to the third and fourth bladder.
US08900020B2

The upper surface panel 15 and the lower surface 14 of the electric wire connection portion of the crimping terminal 10 are formed in such a cross-sectional shape that when placed and joined together an internal space is formed therein to house the end portion of an electric wire W and also such that when the interior is compressed and sealed by receiving crimping force from an vertical direction the end portion of the electrical connection is crimped thereby. Further, an electric wire insertion aperture 17 is provided in the junction 16 between the lower surface panel 14 and the upper surface panel 15 to allow the end portion of the electric wire W to be inserted therebetween.
US08900016B2

A USB connector structure, configured with a combination structure of a base, a main structure, a plural of pins and a fixing structure, to enable said plural pins to be configured on the conducting pads without soldering process and to provide a convenient assembly by firmly hooking and fastening both the main structure and the fixing structure over the base. And, the present invention can be applied in various USB connectors or similar connecting structure.
US08900014B2

A plug includes a connection part to be connected to a board, a contact, and a conductor part that connects the contact and the connection part. The connection part and the contact are perpendicular to each other. The contact is turned 45 degrees relative to the conductor part about a direction in which the contact extends from the conductor part.
US08900012B2

An improved Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the USB connector apparatus comprises a top wall; a bottom wall having one or two openings; two side walls; an internal cavity with a rectangular cross section enclosed by the top wall, the bottom wall and the two side walls; a gasket disposed within the internal cavity; and a first connecting piece made of a conductive material and positioned at the one or more openings of the bottom wall and at least partially covering the one or more openings of the bottom wall, wherein the top wall, bottom wall, two side walls, internal cavity and gasket are configured to comply with a USB interface standard. The USB connector apparatus ensures that a bottom wall elastic sheet of the USB socket effectively contacts with the bottom wall of the USB connector, thereby providing higher grounding performance. Further, it improves on the conventional USB connector without much additional cost.
US08899987B2

Medicament delivery devices and simulated medicament delivery devices are described herein. An apparatus includes a simulated medicament injector. The simulated medicament injector includes a battery isolation member and an electronic circuit system having a processor. The battery isolation member is configured to selectively decouple a battery from the processor.
US08899983B2

A dental impression tray assembly includes an upper tray and a lower tray operable with the upper tray, and the lower tray includes a first piece configured to measure jaw relations of a patient's mouth and a pair of second pieces detachably attachable to the first piece. The first piece of the lower tray is inserted into the patient's mouth independently of the pair of second pieces of the lower tray to measure the jaw relations and to obtain a bite registration. After the first piece is connected to the pair of second pieces, the assembly allows a final gum impression of the patient's lower gum to be obtained.
US08899969B2

A method and apparatus for combustion in which a pressurized preheated liquid fuel is atomized and a portion thereof flash vaporized, creating a mixture of fuel vapor and liquid droplets. The mixture is mixed with primary combustion oxidant, producing a fuel/primary oxidant mixture which is then injected into a primary combustion chamber in which the fuel/primary oxidant mixture is partially combusted, producing a secondary gaseous fuel containing hydrogen and carbon oxides. The secondary gaseous fuel is mixed with a secondary combustion oxidant and injected into the second combustion chamber wherein complete combustion of the secondary gaseous fuel is carried out. The resulting second stage flue gas containing very low amounts of NOx is then vented from the second combustion chamber.
US08899961B2

A mold-tool assembly, comprising: a heater being configured to heat (in use), at least a portion of a component, the heater having a resistive element being encased, at least in part, in aluminum nitride.
US08899953B2

An extrusion die head for the extrusion of hollow or center-filled shapes as well as apparatus comprising the extrusion die head and methods employing the die head. The extrusion die head (10) is for the preparation of a plurality of center-filled products (34) of varying composition wherein each product comprises a first (filling) material and a second (outer) material. The die head comprises at least one tube (22) such that a first material may be extruded through the tube or tubes and a second material may be extruded around the tube or tubes. The location and the number of the tubes may be customized to vary the location and amount of the first material relative to the second material and thereby vary the composition of the center-filled product. The extrusion die head apparatus comprises a sleeve (40) enclosing the die head. In one embodiment a first material is conveyed from one or more first apertures (18) via one or more tubes (22) to one or more second apertures (20) where it is extruded. Simultaneously, a second material is supplied directly to the remaining second apertures (20) where it is extruded.
US08899945B2

One aspect of the invention provides a centrifugal compressor unit (1) comprising a first motor (3), at least one compressor (2) comprising a drive shaft (9) driven by the rotor (12) of the first motor (3) and a set of impellers (5, 6, 7, 8) mounted on the drive shaft (9). The first motor (3) and the compressor (2) are mounted in a gas-tight common housing (26) operated by the compressor unit (1). The rotor (12) of the first motor (3) and the drive shaft (9) are connected by a flexible coupling (24) placed in the housing (26). The compressor unit includes a second motor (4) that is placed in the housing and of which the rotor (13) is connected to the drive shaft (9) by a second flexible coupling (25).
US08899943B2

A double-headed piston type swash plate compressor is provided with a front housing including a suction chamber, a rear housing, a cylinder block, a rotation shaft, and double-headed pistons. The cylinder block includes cylinder bores, a rotation shaft accommodation bore, a communication conduit that communicates the suction chamber with the rotation shaft accommodation bore, and suction passages communicating the rotation shaft accommodation bore to front compression chambers. The rotation shaft includes a groove passage that communicates with the suction passages. Further, the rotation shaft includes an annular groove that communicates the communication conduit with the groove passage. The annular groove includes a front side surface, which is spaced toward the rear housing from an opening of the rotary shaft accommodation bore that faces the front housing.
US08899940B2

A fluid flow stabilizing method and a pump having a stabilized fluid flow passage where a process fluid contains suspended solid particles and is subject to pressure oscillations. The method comprises positioning an expandable membrane along the lower transverse surface, inflating the membrane with a compressible fluid, and alternatingly expanding and contracting the membrane to dampen the pressure oscillations and inhibit settling of the solid particles at the lower transverse surface. The pump comprises a stabilizer comprising a compressible fluid in an expandable membrane elongated along the lower transverse surface of a manifold in fluid communication with the fluid end. Another method comprises reciprocating a plunger in the pump to pass a slurry through the manifold, and alternatingly expanding and contracting a stabilizer in the manifold.
US08899936B2

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine blade. The method includes providing at least two caps, each cap forming an intermediate portion between two end portions, where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion of the spar, providing at least two webs, each web being provided with web joint surface portions along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The caps are provided so that the end portions extend transversely to the intermediate portion and the caps are arranged relative to each other so that the end portions of one cap extend from the intermediate portion towards the end portions of another cap.
US08899932B2

According to one embodiment, a molten metal impeller is provided. It includes a generally cylindrical graphite body having a plurality of passages extending from a top surface to a side wall. A hub is formed in the center of the graphite body. A ceramic cap member is secured to the top surface of the graphite body. The cap member is comprised of a ring forming a central passage shaped cooperatively to overlap the hub and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the ring to an outer rim. The rim has a height between adjacent vanes which increases in the direction of intended impeller rotation. The rim further has a height which decreases from its radially outer most edge to an inner most edge.
US08899930B2

A fan, for a ventilation assembly has blades extending from a cup-shaped central hub. The hub has an annular side wall and a bottom wall defining a receptacle for an electric motor. The hub has internal ribs for ventilation of the motor. Each rib has a longitudinal portion which extends along the side wall, a radial portion which extends along the bottom wall and an intermediate portion having an arcuate, transversely protruding profile. The longitudinal portion has a profile whose spacing from the side wall of the hub increases, from a minimum value remote from the bottom wall to a maximum value adjacent the bottom wall.
US08899918B2

A pump for a dishwasher has an impeller for conveying fluid, wherein it is formed as a centrifugal pump with the fluid to be conveyed being sucked-in in a central axial manner and flowing out in a radial manner. The impeller extends on a bottom surface above a pump base, wherein several fixed flow directing blades are arranged radially outside the impeller, said flow directing blades extending in a helicoidal manner with the pitch extending in the rotational direction of the impeller away from the pump base. At least one flow directing blade extends as far as up to the bottom surface of the impeller for picking up a circulating funnel or tube produced of fluid with air bubbles therein.
US08899912B2

A turbomachine is disclosed that has a main fluid flowpath extending axially along the turbomachine with a rotating shaft partly enclosed in a casing, wherein the rotating shaft and casing are moveable relative to each other and define a clearance opening about the rotating shaft, whereby the main fluid flowpath fluidly communicates with an outside region, and an annular seal body defining a fluid passage having a primary fluid inlet configured to receive a pressurized fluid, a fluid outlet disposed proximate to the clearance opening, and a convergent chamber interposed therebetween, wherein the convergent chamber is configured to accelerate the pressurized fluid out of the fluid outlet so as to create a local reduced pressure at the clearance opening.
US08899903B1

A system to load and unload material from a vehicle comprises a vehicle base station and an assembly to autonomously load and unload material from the vehicle.
US08899897B2

An ice screw comprises an elongated shaft with an external thread, and a bit with teeth. Each tooth has a cutting edge, and the bit is provided at a longitudinal end of the shaft. A notch is formed in bit at the base of each cutting edge in order to delimit a sharpening reserve of the associated tooth.
US08899893B2

A rail system for retaining cargo payload has a longitudinal inboard rail and an opposing longitudinal outboard rail. The inboard rail has a recess extending longitudinally for sliding receipt of a lip on a payload. A latch plate extends at least partially into the recess for engagement with the payload. The latch plate is pivotable from an engaged position retaining the payload in a fore-and-aft position to a disengaged position releasing the fore-and-aft retention optionally by a lever system.
US08899891B2

A damping tool holder, such as a boring head, a chuck, or a milling cutting arbor, integrates a damping device (2), in the form of an elongated body. The damping device (2) is housed in a mounting body (3), connected by one end to the tool-holder body (1) and having at its other end an end fitting (4) for mounting a tool, whereby the mounting body (3) is equipped with at least one lubricant feed pipe (32), emptying at its front end into the end fitting (4) for mounting a tool and connected at its other end to a circular groove (102) for distributing lubricant that is provided on the front surface of the tool holder (1).
US08899883B2

A mine roof support system includes an elongated anchor rod or tendon having a rigid non-deformable distalmost anchoring end portion, and one or more axially deformable portions which are configured to deform in the event load forces exceed a threshold force approximating the forces during a rock burst or rock dilation event. The rigid anchoring portion is provided with primary anchor members such as ribs, grooves, studs and the like. The primary anchor members are configured to reduce bar plasticity, and fixedly secure and retain the rigid portion in place in a drill hole. In the event rock forces exceed the threshold force, the plastically deformable portions elongate with the dilating rock to accommodate and absorb the rock forces.
US08899882B2

A jacket assembly guide for assembling a jacket structure is provided. The jacket structure includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of connecting braces and a plurality of node elements arranged on the legs for connecting the braces to the legs. The assembly guide includes a plurality of supporting towers for supporting the plurality of legs such that a supported leg is held in a position corresponding to the position of that leg in the assembled state of the jacket structure. The assembly guide further includes a plurality of connecting devices for releasably connecting one of the legs to one of the supporting towers.
US08899876B2

The present invention relates to a semi-buried facility for storing dangerous materials packaged into containers (10), including: at least one cell (2) defined by buried vertical firewalls (3a) forming a pit containing said containers; and each cell being surrounded by a chamber including vertical firewalls (7a) extending above the ground; and at least one container (10) depositing and receiving area (6; 25), such as a roadway (6) for trucks (6a), and/or an area (25) for handling containers (10) from or to a railway transport line (22); and a corridor-shaped depositing area (5) inside each of said chambers between each of said buried cells and a longitudinal chamber wall (7a); and a motor-driven container handling gantry crane (8) capable of moving one of said containers (8c) that has been suspended to a height greater than that of said chamber walls (7a).
US08899874B2

Embodiments disclosed here include a containment system which may include a segmented buoyant rim. Certain embodiments also include an inflatable rim with at least one inflation/deflation valve in the rim segments and ballast in the rim segments. Additionally, certain embodiments include material connected to the rim segments, to enclose a void created in the rim and to hang below the buoyant rim.
US08899870B1

A surface preparation system, such as for surface milling, may comprise a degradation drum comprising a plurality of picks disposed on a vehicle to degrade a surface. A jet system may clean the surface with fluid after degradation. A roller comprising an absorbent material may then absorb fluid left on the surface.
US08899868B2

A miter coupling and method for using the miter coupling to join a pair of square metal tubes at a desired angle using a welding process. The miter coupling, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a single piece of metal formed into a shape that is adapted to receive the ends of two square metal tubes at a desired angle. The miter coupling is shaped to form a pair of parallel elbow members, where the elbow members are formed into a desired angle, and the elbow members are interconnected by a cross support.
US08899862B2

An applicator has reservoir for fluid and a supply passage. A valve in the passage has a seat and a member movable between closed and open positions. A spring biases the member toward its closed position. An elongated nib is mounted in the supply passage and has an end extending from the passage, the nib engaging the member so that the member moves to its open position. An adapter has a portion for holding a pad that has at least one dimension elongated transversely to the nib. The adapter includes an engagement portion with a cavity for detachably receiving an end of the reservoir, the cavity having a depth so that it engages the nib when the end of the reservoir is detachably received in the cavity to apply pressure on the nib to move the member to its open position.
US08899861B2

A toothbrush for dispensing toothpaste from a main body or removable cartridge to one or more openings proximate bristles on the toothpaste head. The toothbrush includes a main body which is adapted to receive a disposable cartridge, a brush head, a neck, and a pumping system. The neck and an adapter connect the head to the main body. The pumping system comprises a spring-loaded pump system for forcing toothpaste stored in the housing or disposable cartridge through a fluid passage way to the head. A piercing tube or straw is used to pierce the tight plastic seal of the disposable cartridge.
US08899848B2

The invention relates to a device for splicing fiber optic lines having a first and second holder for direct or indirect receiving of at least one fiber optic line each, an alignment means for aligning the ends of the fiber optic lines received in the first and in the second holder to one another and electrodes in the region of the ends of the fiber optic lines aligned to one another for creating a slice connection. The two holders on one side and the alignment means and preferably the electrodes on the other side can move relative to one another between a splicing position and a release position such that the splice connection is released in the release position.
US08899845B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a fiber optic connector and methods of assembly thereof. In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector of the present invention is designed to help decrease the stress placed on an optical fiber during the mating of a connector with a receptacle. In another embodiment, the connector of the present invention terminates onto a polymer coated optical fiber. Other embodiments of the present invention may provide means for simplifying termination of an optical fiber connector onto a fiber and for simplifying disengagement of a fiber optic connector from a corresponding receptacle.
US08899840B2

A roller inscribed circle R1 diameter of tapered rollers fitted in pockets of a bearing retainer is such that a circle R1 portion protruding radially outwardly of an inner race small flange radially outer surface when the rollers are at radially outermost positions in pockets with an outer race unmounted, and when the circle R1 is offset from a raceway circle center of an inner race raceway end at the flange so as to point contact the raceway circle. The circle R1 portion which does not radially outwardly protrude from the flange outer surface has a central angle >180° and ≦240°. Flange thickness is such that when the roller inscribed circle is offset from the raceway circle center to point contact the raceway circle, and swung about the contact point toward the flange, the flange does not interfere with the arcuate locus of the roller inscribed circle swing end.
US08899839B2

A bearing ring for a roller bearing includes a raceway for at least one roller that includes an at least partially spherically formed roller end surface having a first curvature. A flange for transferring axial forces extends from an end of the raceway and has a flange surface that faces towards the roller end surface. A spherical flange surface section having a second curvature is defined on the flange surface. The first curvature differs from the second curvature such that a first gap (d1) exists between the spherically formed roller end surface and the spherical flange surface section. The flange surface also includes an opening flange surface section having a third curvature, which is less than the second curvature, such that a second gap (d2) exists between the roller end side and the opening flange surface section. The second gap is larger than the first gap.
US08899837B2

A halved sliding bearing (1) has a recess (7) formed in a circumferential direction from an outer peripheral edge of a mating surface (5) of a semi-cylindrical bearing main body (3). To prevent formation of a burr to an inside of the recess (7) during formation of the mating surface (5), an entirety of at least one edge segment of a peripheral edge of the recess (7) opening on a circumferential end surface of a semi-cylindrical member (23) as an unprocessed body of the bearing main body (3), the at least one edge segment intersecting with an axial direction of the member (23), is chamfered. The mating surface is formed by cutting the circumferential end surface such that a cutting blade (31) firstly reaches the chamfered edge in the peripheral edge of the recess (7). Thus, the bearing main body is produced.
US08899821B2

A device and a process for mixing a liquid sample in an automated analysis instrument comprises a support arm, a holder for a liquid container, a flexible intermediate element, arranged between the support arm and the holder for the liquid container, a shaking apparatus, and a coupling apparatus arranged on the holder for the liquid container, wherein the coupling apparatus can establish a detachable connection between the shaking apparatus and the holder for the liquid container.
US08899816B2

A backlight module includes a light guide plate and a light emitting unit. The light guide plate has a first side surface, a second side surface, and a third side surface. The first side surface is located opposite to the second side surface. A height of the first side surface is greater than a height of the second side surface. The third side surface is located between the first side surface and the second side surface and has a light entrance surface and a light exit surface. The light entrance surface is connected to the first side surface and the light exit surface. The light exit surface is connected to the second side surface. An included angle is formed between the light entrance surface and the light exit surface. The light emitting unit is disposed on the light entrance surface.
US08899812B2

A front bezel assembly is adapted to cover a display panel and a backlight module of a non-self-luminous display device. The backlight module includes an optical module. The front bezel assembly includes a front bezel. The front bezel assembly includes a front wall disposed in front of the display panel and formed with a bezel opening to expose the same, and a sidewall extending rearward from the front wall into the optical module. A backlight source is mounted to the sidewall such that light emitted from the backlight source irradiates toward the display panel through the optical module.
US08899811B2

Disclosed is a light emitting device module, which includes a circuit board having at least two cavities, a reflective layer formed on a surface of each cavity, and a light emitting device package disposed in each cavity. The light emitting device package includes a package body and a light emitting device disposed on the package body, the light emitting device being electrically connected to a first lead frame and a second lead frame.
US08899810B2

Disclosed is a display device. In detail, a liquid micro-shutter display device includes a light source emitting light, a transparent lower substrate positioned in an light path of the light source, an optical conversion unit performing at least one of a function of converting light from the light source into light having a different wavelength band corresponding to a sub-pixel and a function of reflecting ambient light corresponding to a sub-pixel, a transparent upper substrate positioned in an light path of light output from the optical conversion unit, and a liquid micro-shutter positioned between the transparent lower substrate and the transparent upper substrate and opening and closing the path of light or adjusting an open area.
US08899804B2

An LED headlamp for motor vehicle includes a condenser frame (1), a condenser (2) located in front of the condenser frame (1), and an LED holder (3) located in back of the condenser frame (1). A plurality of LEDs are located inside the LED holder (3) and at one side of the condenser focal plane (8) which is far away the condenser (2). The curve lighting, the low beam lighting and the high beam lighting can be achieved in a same device. The present invention has small occupied space and low cost.
US08899803B2

A headlamp assembly having a mechanism for reducing water based contamination is disclosed. A headlamp assembly includes a lens affixed to a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, a wire heating element embedded within the inner surface of the lens, wherein the wire heating element is electrically coupled to a circuit board. An encapsulation layer is disposed over the wire heating element and a thermistor is affixed to the lens for sensing when the lens reaches a predetermined condition. The thermistor is electrically coupled to the circuit board and a micro-controller is provided for activating or deactivating the wire heating element based on the predetermined condition sensed by the thermistor.
US08899796B2

A lighting module may be provided that includes a light emitting device module including at least one light emitting diode; a heat sink radiating heat generated from the light emitting device module and including at least one partition wall formed on a base; and a cover accommodating the light emitting device module disposed therein and including a connector which is formed in one side of the cover and is connected to a power supplier for driving the light emitting device module, wherein the connector comprises a depression allowing the terminal of the power supplier to be directly inserted into the connector.
US08899794B2

A pear-shaped light-emitting diode (LED) light bulb housing is provided with a plurality of light-dispersing thickness variations in the bulb envelope. Dimples, bumps, or v-shaped grooves are provided in a middle portion of the bulb envelope in order to uniformly disperse light from LEDs as the light passes through the bulb envelope.
US08899784B2

A lighting system comprising a system housing, a plurality of lighting units and first and second conductors electrically connected to said plurality of lighting units. The lighting units comprising a housing including a top portion and a bottom portion, a plurality of light emitting elements on a printed circuit board (PCB) within said housing. The top portion and bottom portion adapted to be coupled together to form the housing and form a seal to protect the components within the housing. The top portion further configured to comprise light altering characteristics so as to direct and shape emitted light from the plurality of light emitting elements.
US08899782B2

A lighting system is disclosed which includes a light source unit and a projection system for producing a desired light distribution pattern in a target area, especially for use in an automotive head lighting, studio and theater lighting, indoor spots with adjustable beam width or direction, architectural dynamic lighting, disco lighting and other. The lighting system is especially suitable for a light source unit having one or more Lambertian light sources, especially a plurality of LEDs. For generating a desired light distribution pattern in the target area, the light source unit may include a plurality of collimators that are configured especially such that the curved focal plane (P) of the projection system intersects with or tangentially touches the exit apertures of the collimators.
US08899779B2

An illuminator (1) an elongate inner housing (10) having a substrate (20) on which there is a linear array of light emitting diodes (24), wherein the diodes have sufficient power for illuminating objects at a distance of at least 1.5 m. A drive circuit (30, 31) is mounted in an upper compartment of an outer housing (2) at least partly surrounding the inner housing (10). There is a diffuser (22) over the diodes. There is a pair of side reflectors extending substantially parallel to an axis of the illuminator, being side walls (26) of the inner housing. The inner housing (10) is coupled to the outer housing (2) in a modular manner so that it is interchangeable. There is a series of reflector baffles (23) extending from a plane of the diodes at intervals along the length of the inner housing. The baffles (23) have textured surfaces and have a dimension normal to the substrate sufficient to act as visors to limit glare in the longitudinal direction.
US08899773B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a menu vision aid. In one embodiment, a menu vision aid comprises a frame, a lens disposed within the frame adapted to enhance the visibility of a menu page, a light source attached to the frame adapted to provide light to a menu page; and an attachment member attached to at least one of the frame and the light source, the attachment member adapted to attach the menu vision aid to a menu page.
US08899769B2

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a light-guiding body, a light source, a wavelength selection transmission layer, and a light control layer. The light-guiding body has a first major surface, a second major surface opposite to the first major surface, and a side face connecting the first major surface and the second major surface. The wavelength selection transmission layer is provided on the second major surface. The first major surface has a plurality of concave portions having inclined faces inclined relative to the first major surface. A ratio of a total area of the plurality of the concave portions projected on the first major surface, relative to an area of the first major surface is 8% to 25%. The plurality of the concave portions is evenly provided in the first major surface.
US08899760B2

A light projection apparatus that projects light onto an arbitrary space and an object set in the space, comprising: projection light data generating means for generating projection light data for specifying the projection light; projection range setting means for setting a projection range onto which the light is projected and a non-projection range onto which the light is not projected in accordance with an operation of a user; projection data correcting means for correcting the projection light data so as to project the light onto the projection range set by the projection range setting means; projection light correction data drawing means for performing drawing processing for projection light correction data obtained by correcting the projection light data by the projection data correcting means; and light projecting means for projecting the light by using projection light drawing data generated by the projection light data drawing means. Accordingly, by a simple operation, the light can be projected with the shape desired by the user.
US08899754B2

There is provided a projection-type image display apparatus which is capable of solving the problem in which the reduction ratio of speckles is small. Light source emits a light beam that is modulated according to a video signal. Projector projects the light beam emitted from light source to display an image. Changer changes a polarized state of the light beam emitted from the light source to projector or changes a polarized state of the light beam projected by the projector. Controller repeatedly selects a plurality of predetermined particular polarized states according to a predetermined sequence. Controller switches the polarized state changed by the changer to the selected particular polarized states.
US08899742B2

An image recording device may include corrugate mechanisms to prevent undesired bending and jamming of a recording sheet. In some examples, the image recording device may include a first corrugate mechanism, a second corrugate mechanism and a third corrugate mechanism. The first, second and third corrugate mechanisms may be configured to create a corrugated shape in a recording sheet. The second and third corrugate mechanisms, in one or more arrangements, may be located downstream of the first corrugate mechanism and an ink nozzle. The third corrugate mechanism may further be configured such that no upper contact portion thereof may be disposed at a same position, with respect to the width direction, as endmost upper contact portions of the first corrugate mechanism with respect to the width direction. In yet other examples, the third corrugate mechanism may be located downstream of a reverse sheet conveying path.
US08899741B2

A printer includes a print engine to print on print media within a print zone, a print media path including a print path portion to direct the print media through the print zone in a first direction, a duplex media path including a duplexing path portion to redirect the print media to the print media path in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a media tray to hold a quantity of the print media.
US08899740B2

A print medium conveyance device 40 has a tractor 44, conveyance roller 55, and clutch mechanism 83. The tractor 44 sequentially engages engagement holes formed in a line in the medium and conveys the print medium in a specific conveyance direction X. The conveyance roller 55 is disposed downstream from the tractor 44 in the conveyance direction X, and has a friction layer 59 containing an inorganic particle dispersion formed on the surface. the clutch mechanism 83 is between the conveyance motor 72 and tractor 44, and interrupts transfer of drive power from the conveyance motor 72 to the tractor 44 at least in part under a specific condition. The print medium can therefore be conveyed with high precision while damage to the print medium by excessive tension can be prevented.
US08899739B2

A printing method and a printing system are provided in which a fast printing speed is achieved, a variety of ultraviolet curable inks can be used, and excellent transfer properties to a printing object can be achieved. First, print processing is performed, thereby printing an image on a transfer pad, next, provisional curing processing is performed, thereby provisionally curing an ultraviolet curable ink applied to the transfer pad, next, transfer processing is performed, thereby transferring the ultraviolet curable ink landed on the transfer pad to a printing object, and next, final curing processing is performed, thereby performing final curing of the ultraviolet curable ink transferred to the printing object. In this way, transfer printing of an image to the printing object can be performed by a single transfer. In addition, if the transfer printing is finished, cleaning processing is performed, thereby cleaning the transfer pad.
US08899732B2

A print head comprises a pressure chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle and an actuator structure in operative communication with the pressure chamber for generating a pressure wave in the pressure chamber. The actuator structure comprises a membrane, wherein a first surface of the membrane forms a flexible wall of the pressure chamber and a piezo actuator, wherein the piezo actuator is arranged on a second surface of the membrane, the second surface being opposite of the first surface, such that the membrane is deformed at the position of the piezo actuator upon actuation of the piezo actuator. In the print head, the membrane is pivotably clamped between a first structure layer and a second structure layer such that the membrane pivots at the location of clamping upon deformation of the membrane due to actuation of the piezo actuator.
US08899729B2

A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration plate which is joined to a flow passage unit to cover a pressure chamber formed in the flow passage unit, a piezoelectric layer arranged on the vibration plate, a first electrode arranged on the piezoelectric layer to face the pressure chamber, a second electrode arranged on the piezoelectric layer while being opposed to the first electrode, and a third area arranged in the remaining area of the piezoelectric layer opposed to the pressure chamber. A first portion of the piezoelectric layer interposed by the first and second electrodes is polarized in parallel to the thickness direction. A second portion of the piezoelectric layer disposed between the first and third electrodes in the plane direction, is polarized in parallel to the plane direction. Accordingly, there are provided the piezoelectric actuator having a high driving efficiency.
US08899726B2

A liquid droplet ejecting head is disclosed. The liquid droplet ejecting head includes an electromechanical transducer element; a first substrate which includes a first wiring member; a reinforcing member which is mounted on the first substrate; and a second substrate which includes a second wiring member and which is mounted on the reinforcing member, wherein liquid droplets are ejected when driving power is supplied to the electromechanical transducer element via the first wiring member and the second wiring member.
US08899717B2

A printing system including a print mechanism to print on a print medium; and a control unit coupled to the print mechanism. The control unit is to determine a page speed for the print medium based on a power budget value of a power supply and to cause the print mechanism to move the print medium through the printing system at the determined page speed.
US08899711B2

An inkjet recording method is performed using an inkjet recording device including a recording head provided with a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a pressure generator and a driving signal generator, the method satisfying the following requirements (1) and (2): (1) it is required to use aqueous ink having a dynamic surface tension larger by 10 mN/m or more than a static surface tension when the surface life measured at 25° C. by a maximum foaming pressure method is 15 ms and a dynamic surface tension larger by 5 mN/m or more than a static surface tension when the surface life measured by a maximum foaming pressure method is 1500 ms and (2) it is required that the signals have a drawing pulse in one print period and a meniscus of the aqueous ink is drawn into the nozzle in two stages by the drawing pulse.
US08899704B2

A shelf is defined by a tempered glass panel bonded to opposing flanges of a pair of metal shelf brackets carrying hooks for connection to and adjustment along vertical trackways in refrigerator compartments. Adhesive constitutes the sole means for maintaining the shelf substantially rigidly united. Each shelf bracket includes at least one abutment surface for engaging an edge of the shelf panel or a handgrip member carried thereby to assure perfect alignment between the components during curing of the adhesive. Each shelf bracket is defined by a shelf arm and a flange with the flanges having pockets housing the adhesive. The shelf arms may additionally include uppermost projections for engaging side edges of the shelf panel and/or at least one additional flange, such that side edge portions of the shelf panel can be housed between the pair of vertically spaced longitudinally offset flanges of each shelf bracket.
US08899703B2

A pressing-type unlocking track comprising: a track component with a main slide channel at its up lateral side on which an arresting return passage and a lateral return passage are arranged next to its front end; a driving component with a guide column held in the main slide channel; a linkage component backward pivoted to the driving component and comprising a track rib situated at its one side and held in the main slide channel; a positioning component backward pivoted to the linkage component and comprising a protruded guide column situated at its one side and held in the main slide channel; a spring connected between the track component and the linkage component as one component applying pulling force on the linkage component. As such, three main components such as driving component, linkage component and positioning component can be pivoted to a triple subassembly.
US08899696B2

A controllable brake booster and a method and a device for controlling the brake booster are disclosed. The pedal force that a driver must apply in order to convey an input element of the brake booster into an actuating position or to retain the element in an actuating position is adjusted by operating the brake booster.
US08899683B2

A seat adjustment device adjusts the pivoting angle formed by a first seat member and a second seat member. A hinge shaft connects at a first connection point, the first seat member, and the second seat member. An arm section and a connection mechanism are connected at a second connection point. The positions of the axes of the first connection point, the second connection point, and a pivoting section are set in such a manner that, when a load is applied to the front end of either the first seat member or the second seat member, the distance from the second connection point to the axis of the pivoting section is less than the distance from the first connection point to the second connection point with respect to the direction perpendicular to the line of action of a load applied to the second connection point.
US08899679B2

A seat assembly having a seat back and a fold assist mechanism. The fold assist mechanism may have a drive plate and a spring. The spring may bias the seat back from a first position toward the second position when the spring engages a drive plate flange.
US08899678B2

A child seat assembly has a base to rest on a vehicle seat, a seat shell, and a recline mechanism that selectively permits adjustment of the seat shell between first and second recline positions and includes a recline positioner, pin, biasing element, and handle. The recline positioner has first and second portions defining the first and second recline positions, respectively. The pin is movable between a released position and an engaged position in which the pin is configured to engage the first or second portion to retain the seat shell in the corresponding first or second recline position. The biasing element is coupled to the pin and configured to bias the pin to the engaged position. The handle is operable to move the pin from the engaged position to the released position in which the seat shell is movable between the first and second recline positions.
US08899653B2

A saddle-type vehicle includes: a water-cooled engine supported on a vehicle body frame; a radiator attached to the vehicle body frame and configured to cool the engine; an outer cowl provided at a lateral side of the vehicle body frame and radiator; and a layer cowl having a front portion disposed inward of a rear portion of the outer cowl in a vehicle width direction. In the saddle-type vehicle, the outer cowl has a slit portion extending upward from a rear lower edge of the outer cowl and the layer cowl has fixing portions which fix portions of the outer cowl in front of and behind the slit portion to improve the airflow exhaust performance while securing the function of the outer cowls as a windscreen and a rider's thermal comfort.
US08899629B2

A connection between a drill pipe (1) made of carbon- or glass fiber-reinforced plastic and a tubular, preferably metal connector (2) that is partially held in one end (3) of the drill pipe (1) and is cemented to it is characterized in that a thrust element (8) that is positively connected to the connector (2) in the region of the end (3) of the drill pipe (1), in which the connector (2) is held, presses on the outside of the end (3) of the drill pipe (1).
US08899626B2

In an assembly comprising a belt height adjuster (104) and a belt feeder for feeding a belt webbing (110) the belt feeder includes an arm (112) which is adapted to be moved, especially pivoted from a home position into a feeding position by means of a drive. The arm (112) is arranged at the belt height adjuster (104).
US08899624B2

A method of forming metal castings, including positioning a first end of a structural member in a first mold cavity and a second end of the structural member in a second mold cavity. The first and second mold cavities being fluidly coupled to a reservoir of molten metal. Applying a main pressure to the molten metal in the reservoir to force the molten metal into the first mold cavity and the second mold cavity. Then, applying a first auxiliary pressure to the first mold cavity and a second auxiliary pressure to the second mold cavity to densify the casting formed in the first mold cavity and the second mold cavity. Also, a method for casting including maintaining a main pressure at or less than an initial, mold-filling pressure after first and second mold cavities have been filled. Additionally, a method for detecting whether a first mold cavity is sufficiently filled with molten metal by monitoring a moveable element.
US08899622B2

A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load. A plastically deformable energy absorption device is adapted to be carried least partially by the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and is fixed in place relative to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position. The energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during impact after the telescoping motor subassembly starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a fixed position.
US08899619B2

A vehicle seat includes a projected member that is accommodated in a seat back, and that is projected and deployed above the seat back when inflated by a gas supply; a lateral deployment member whose upper end side is connected to the projected member, whose lower end side is connected to a front end side of a seat cushion, and that is accommodated in a lateral side of the seat cushion and a lateral side of the seat back; and a tension support member whose one end side is supported by the seat back in a portion separated from the lateral deployment member in a seat width direction and whose other end side is connected to an upper end side of the lateral deployment member or the projected member.
US08899618B2

A gasbag arrangement for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle is provided. The gasbag arrangement includes a gasbag which can be inflated for protecting a vehicle occupant. The gasbag, when inflated and mounted in the vehicle, includes an indentation in a portion that points towards the vehicle floor in the straight-ahead position of the steering wheel for reducing the expansion of a gasbag in the direction of a body region extending below the thorax region of the vehicle occupant such that a load on that body region during an impact of the vehicle occupant on the gasbag is minimized. According to another aspect a gasbag arrangement includes a gasbag which, when inflated and mounted in the vehicle, includes a side facing towards the vehicle floor and extending essentially parallel to a plane spanned by the longitudinal vehicle direction and the transverse vehicle direction.
US08899617B2

A curtain airbag device comprising: a main deploying portion that, at a time when at least one of a small overlap impact or an oblique impact arises, receives a supply of gas and expands, and is deployed in a shape of a curtain along a side window glass; an outer side deploying portion that is formed integrally with a front end side, in a vehicle front-rear direction, of the main deploying portion, and that receives a supply of gas from the main deploying portion and is expanded and deployed; and an inner side deploying portion that is formed integrally with the front end side, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the main deploying portion, and that receives a supply of gas from the main deploying portion and expands, and is deployed overlappingly at a vehicle width direction inner side with respect to the outer side deploying portion.
US08899616B2

An airbag deployment control system for use in a vehicle seat having a trim cover. The airbag deployment control system includes an upper outer liner member having a first end for coupling to an airbag module and a second end for coupling to the trim cover, and a lower outer liner member having a first end for coupling to the airbag module and a second end for coupling to the trim cover. The trim cover is for covering at least a portion of the vehicle seat and the airbag module. The trim cover includes a burst seam for the airbag member to deploy through the trim cover by rupturing at the burst seam upon inflation of the airbag member. The upper outer liner member and the lower outer liner member control deployment of the inflatable airbag member at least two locations.
US08899606B2

A bicycle frame with removable dropouts includes a bicycle frame having a left seat stay and a left chain stay joined at a left junction, and a right seat stay and a right chain stay joined at a right junction. A left dropout is removably connected to the bicycle frame at the left junction, the left dropout including a body defining an opening for receiving a rear wheel. A right dropout is removably connected to the bicycle frame at the right junction, the right dropout including a body defining an opening for receiving the rear wheel.
US08899602B2

A vehicle suspension support structure including a lower arm (17) formed by, for example, a lower arm 17 rotatably supporting a knuckle for a front wheel, and a shock absorber attenuating vibration of the lower arm (17), wherein a lower end of the shock absorber is rotatably supported by a support bracket 32 that is welded to an upper face of the lower arm (17) formed by, for example, the lower arm 17, and wherein in the upper face of the lower arm (17), a bulged portion 40 is formed where a weld target portion to which an end of the support bracket 32 is welded is formed to bulge upwards as compared to the periphery thereof.
US08899599B2

This patent is for a clamping mechanism for a two wheel panel dolly which is operated by turning a handle attached to the wheel axle. A threaded section of the axle is engaged with a threaded base clamp so that axle rotation drives the clamp along the axle to firmly grip a panel between the driven clamp and a the face of second clamp. Clamps are configured with different spacing between faces on opposite sides of the axle so that a wide range of panel widths can be accommodated with a relatively short clamping travel distance.
US08899589B2

A paddleball toy having a paddle, a bounceable play ball, and an elastic tethering means. The paddle has an impact surface and an elongate handle with a handle longitudinal axis. The paddle has a front side and a back side. The handle connects to the impact surface at a lower end of the impact surface. The impact surface has a direction-switch slot extending from a slot bottom at an interior point of the impact surface to an exterior edge of the impact surface. The elastic tethering means tethers the play ball at a first end of the tethering means to a tether spot on the impact surface adjacent the slot bottom of the direction-switch slot so as to permit the tethering means to pass through the direction-switch slot as the play ball passes the impact surface from front side to back side, or back side to front side.
US08899587B2

A multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.
US08899584B2

A sheet reversing device including a first conveyance unit, second conveyance unit, third conveyance unit, and sheet pressing member. The first conveyance unit includes a first holder, and a support surface that supports the sheet, and conveys the sheet with an edge held by the first holder, and its entire surface supported by the support surface. The second conveyance unit includes second holders, which convey the sheet. The third conveyance unit is supported to be swingable between a reception position at which the third conveyance unit receives the sheet, and a transfer position at which the third conveyance unit transfers the sheet to the second conveyance unit. The third conveyance unit includes a third holder, and conveys the sheet held by the third holder. The sheet pressing member presses the sheet, transferred from the third conveyance unit to the first conveyance unit, against the first conveyance unit support surface.
US08899582B2

A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections. In addition, the connection linear section is constituted by a first linear section which connects ends on one side of the pair of the intersections and a second linear section which connects ends on the other side of the pair of the intersections and formed shorter than the first linear section. In addition, a distance between the pair of the ends of the center portion is longer than a distance between the pair of the ends of the second linear section.
US08899576B2

A sheet feeder includes a recording media storage device. The recording media storage device stores recording media and is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a feeding mechanism to pick up and convey one of the recording media at a time. The lock member disables the recording media storage device to be detached. The overflow restriction member is disposed in the main body and changes between a restriction position closer to an uppermost part of the recording media and a withdrawal position farther from the uppermost part of the recording media. The position change mechanism is disposed in the main body and changes the overflow restriction member into the restriction position when the lock member changes into a free state in which the recording media storage device is attachable and detachable.
US08899571B2

A sheet-through document reading apparatus including: a document tray for containing a plurality of documents; a determination unit that determines a length of a document on the document tray; a feed unit that separates and feeds a document on the document tray; a resist convey unit that performs consistency processing on the document fed by the feed unit; a first drive unit that rotationally drives the resist convey unit; a read convey unit that feeds the document subjected to consistency processing by the resist convey unit; a second drive unit that rotationally drives the read convey unit; a reading unit that reads, at a fixed reading position, the document conveyed by the read convey unit; and a control unit for changing a relative conveying velocity between the resist convey unit and the read convey unit on the basis of a result of the determination by the determination unit.
US08899568B2

A sheet processing apparatus includes a stacking channel to stack multiple sheets into a sheet bundle, and a binding device to bind together the sheet bundle, the binding device including multiple clamping portions to clamp the sheet bundle to create multiple clamping marks on the sheet bundle. When the binding device binds a corner area of the sheet bundle, a longitudinal direction of each of the multiple clamping marks forms an angle within a range from 30 degrees to 60 degrees with a side of the corner area of the sheet bundle.
US08899565B2

A sputtering device includes a chamber; and a substrate transferring unit for loading a substrate into, or unloading the substrate from the chamber, the substrate transferring unit including a gas injection assembly forming a gas cushion between the substrate and an upper surface of the substrate transferring unit.
US08899553B2

A power door opener including an actuator having a housing with an electrically powered actuator shaft that can be extended from a closed to an extended position. In one embodiment, a movable push plate is affixed to the actuator shaft and a fixed push plate is fixed in its position with respect to the housing. In the closed position of the actuator shaft, the fixed and movable push plates are aligned to form a combined edge for insertion into the space between a door and door jamb. The actuator shaft extends to move the movable push plate apart from the fixed push plate to spread the space and release the door from the door jamb. Alternatively, a double ended power door opener is located between opposite door jambs and the extending of the actuator shaft forces the door jambs apart to release the door from the door jamb.
US08899549B2

A drain valve base includes an upper connection seat and a lower connection seat which are integrally formed. The upper connection seat is connected with the lower connection seat by connection arms which are provided at intervals, and hollow portions are provided between every two connection arms. A through drain outlet is formed in the center portion of the lower connection seat, and an annular surface is formed on the top of the lower connection seat. A water-seal convex ring is formed on a side part of the annular surface which is adjacent to the inwall of the drain outlet. A water-seal surface is formed on the top of the water-seal convex ring, and blocking devices which can stop water flow are provided on the inner side and the outer side of the water-seal convex ring.
US08899543B2

A support structure includes a base, a pair of stands, a top hinge, and a pair of holding arms. The stands are rotatably connected to one end of the base to support the base. The top hinge is rotatably connected to the other end of the base opposite to the stands. The rotation plane of the top hinge is perpendicular to the rotation plane of the stands. The holding arms are rotatably connected to the top hinge for holding an object at any desired angle.
US08899537B2

A supporting device for an electronic device includes a supporting base, a guiding element, an adjusting element, and a latching assembly. The supporting base includes a sleeve portion. The adjusting element includes a first body and an adjusting portion. The adjusting portion is mounted on the sleeve portion. The adjusting portion defines a plurality of adjusting holes. The guiding element defines two latching grooves and is sleeved on the adjusting portion. The latching assembly includes a button, an adjusting rod, and a biasing element. The button is inserted into the coupling portion. The adjusting rod includes a fixing portion and a latching portion. The fixing portion is fixed with the button. The latching portion is latched with the adjusting holes. The biasing element resists the button and the sleeve portion. The button is capable of driving the adjusting rod to move.
US08899533B2

A hydraulic brake hose assembly includes a suspension component, a brake hose connected to the suspension component, and a support bracket connected to the brake hose and the suspension component. The support bracket includes a base having a forward edge portion, a rear edge portion and opposite side edge portions. A forward wall extends upwardly from the forward edge portion. A sidewall extends upwardly from one of the side edge portions. A single mounting opening is located on the base. An anti-rotation tab extends downwardly from the base. The suspension component includes a portion having a mounting aperture and a recess respectively corresponding with the single mounting opening and the anti-rotation tab of the support bracket. The support bracket prevents rotation of the brake hose relative to the support bracket as the support bracket is secured to the portion of the suspension component via a single fastener.
US08899528B2

A blade seal comprises a flexible member having a relatively thick edge opposite a relatively thin edge, and an actuator at least partially embedded in the flexible member for actively deflecting the thin edge with respect to the thick edge upon activation of the actuator. The blade seal may be fixed to an aerodynamic trailing edge of either a fixed aerofoil portion or a flight control surface of an aerofoil for sealing between the fixed aerofoil portion and the flight control surface. Also, a method of sealing an aerofoil using the blade seal.
US08899524B2

Disclosed is an aircraft door including a handle-activated pressure relief system that avoids potentially dangerous pressure differences between the cabin and the atmosphere outside the aircraft. A flow path is created between the inboard and outboard handles on the door. A pressure vent door is located in the flow path. The vent door being is opened when either of the inboard and outboard handle assemblies are activated. Once either handle is rotated beyond a particular point, a spring in the supporting mechanics becomes over-center. At the same time, the vent door comes under the influence of a magnet, snapping the vent open. After the door has been opened, it can be relatched by operating the handles in the reverse direction. The magnet and spring hold the vent door open until the aircraft door is fully latched, sealed, and secured. Only then does the vent door sealingly close.
US08899521B2

An aircraft floor portion includes crossmembers. Each crossmember comprises a top partial crossmember and a bottom crossmember, with at least one gap being left between the top partial crossmember and the bottom partial crossmember of each crossmember.
US08899519B2

The disclosure provides in one embodiment a method of insulating a structural frame member of a transport vehicle. The method comprises providing at least one flexible insulation member. The method further comprises providing at least two self-retaining foam insulation members. The method further comprises wrapping the flexible insulation member over a first end of a structural frame member of a transport vehicle and over at least portions of two sides of the structural frame member. The method further comprises positioning one self-retaining foam insulation member on each side of the wrapped structural frame member and in compression fit between each side of the wrapped structural frame member and adjacent structural frame members, such that the self-retaining foam insulation members impart one or more compression forces on the flexible insulation member to secure the flexible insulation member in place without use of any fastener device.
US08899501B2

A spray paint gun having a disposable cartridge inserted therein such that paint can flow through the cartridge in the spray gun without touching the spray gun. Since no part of the spray gun has paint touching it, there is no cleaning of the spray gun or its components. The cartridges can be easily inserted into the spray gun and easily removed such that different color paints can be used in the spray gun in quick succession without down time for cleaning. There is no use of solvents for cleaning, making the cartridge spray gun environmentally friendly. The disposable cartridges eliminate expensive time consuming cleaning. The cartridges can be breach loaded into the front portion of a spray gun and front portion containing the cartridge can quickly snapped into place and ready for use by a hinged connection to the rear portion or by other connection means. The cartridge may include an integrally formed or otherwise attached gasket member to perfect an airtight seal at a joint in the air passage leading from the gun's handle portion to its spray nozzle.
US08899500B2

A gas fuel injection valve is provided in which a single nozzle member (11) is fixedly provided in a front end part of a valve housing (2), and this nozzle member (11) has formed therein a valve seat (13), a valve hole (45) extending through a central part of the valve seat (13), a throttle hole (46) having a smaller diameter than that of the valve hole (45) and communicating with an outlet of the valve hole (45), and a nozzle hole (48) having a larger diameter than that of the throttle hole (46) and communicating with an outlet of the throttle hole (46), wherein when an internal diameter of the throttle hole (46) is D1, a length of the hole (46) is L1, an internal diameter of the nozzle hole (48) is D2, and a length of the nozzle hole (48) is L2, L1/D1>1  (1) 1
US08899488B2

An RFID tag system includes a housing that includes an enclosed sidewall and forms a recess with a housing base surface, where the housing is configured and arranged to be mounted to a mounting surface. An RFID tag is located within the housing, and the RFID tag comprises an integrated circuit, an antenna and a metal backplane, where the housing base surface separates the antenna and the metal backplane. A metal surface is secured to a top surface of the sidewall to cover the recess, where the metal surface and a transmission path from the integrated circuit to the antenna are electromagnetically coupled and tuned to operate across a wide band frequency range. The metal surface may include a name plate of a data plate for a gas turbine engine, or a component thereof.
US08899483B2

A system, method and apparatus designed to activate and trigger a mobile commerce related application, interface and or menu of option and or to affect a process related to mobile commerce by using an activation device located at the Point of Sale (POS) which contains a magnetic or electromagnetic activator and a mobile device with one or more magnetic reed switches, reed relay switches or a Resonant Inductive Coupling Sensor (electrodynamic induction receiver coils).
US08899481B2

A checkout system for electro-optically reading targets includes a host, a workstation reader, and an auxiliary reader operatively connected to the workstation reader. The workstation reader captures data associated with the targets, and communicates its captured data with the host over a predetermined communications protocol. The auxiliary reader also captures data associated with the targets independently of the workstation reader. The workstation reader automatically integrates the auxiliary reader in the system by automatically detecting the protocol of the auxiliary reader, and by automatically configuring the detected protocol of the auxiliary reader to conform to the predetermined communications protocol of the workstation reader, thereby enabling the auxiliary reader to communicate its captured data with the host.
US08899477B2

Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users. The apparatus may further emit a time varying signal to enhance security.
US08899474B2

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems for providing an interactive document reader.
US08899467B1

A welding head assembly has a work piece disposed between its containment plates' opposing surfaces with the work piece being maintained in a plastic state thereof at least in a vicinity of the welding head assembly's stir rod as the rod is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The welding head assembly and the work piece experience relative movement therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the rod's longitudinal axis as the work piece is subjected to a compressive force applied by the containment plates. A first source coupled to the first containment plate applies a first ultrasonic wave thereto such that the first ultrasonic wave propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement. A second source coupled to the second containment plate applies a second ultrasonic wave thereto such that the second ultrasonic wave propagates parallel to the direction of relative movement.
US08899466B2

Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise cover members that are applied over a stapling head portion of the circular stapler. In some embodiments, the cover members are fabricated from a flexible stretchable material and have a bumper portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal face of the stapling head. The staples may be fired through the cover member and the balance of the cover member is withdrawn from the patient with the stapling head. Other cover embodiments are selectively movable from a position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is covered and other positions wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed.
US08899465B2

A surgical staple cartridge comprising a first, a second and a third row of staple pockets located on a first side of a cartridge housing having staples therein. The first, the second and the third row of staple pockets are aligned parallel to a knife channel. A first staple driver is oriented to drive at least four staples from the staple pockets simultaneously. A second staple driver configured to eject a staple from the staple pockets and is positioned proximally with respect to the first staple driver. The second staple driver is configured to elect a different quantity of staples than the first staple driver.
US08899462B2

An electromechanical surgical system comprises a hand-held surgical instrument including an instrument housing defining a connecting portion for selectively connecting with a shaft assembly, the surgical instrument having at least one rotatable drive member, and an end effector configured to perform at least one function. The shaft assembly selectively interconnects the end effector and the surgical device. The shaft assembly includes a transmission housing and a force transmitting assembly for interconnecting the rotatable drive member and a rotation receiving member supported in the end effector.
US08899458B1

A holder for carrying cell phones and other small items is arranged to attach to a belt or other strap, or to a belt loop. The holder is of simple construction, including an elongated backing member and a cover that is attached to the bottom region of the backing member to form a pocket or holster that is open at the top. The backing member is divided near its upper end by a fold to form a first flap and a generally rectangular opening through the backing member, sized and shaped to accommodate a belt loop, is placed adjacent to and below the fold. A second flap is attached to the backing member at a location adjacent to and below the opening and is arranged to fold upwardly to cover the opening and to form a channel for a belt or other strap. The second flap is secured in that position by folding down the first flap and securing it to the second flap.
US08899452B2

A plug structure is provided that can be installed on a container in which the thread of a container inlet for installing a cap is an outer thread, and furthermore, bubbles are not produced at the fluid surface inside the container even during fluid circulation. In a plug structure that is used in a container in which the thread of the container inlet for attaching the cap is an external thread, that is installed on the container inlet, that is capable of removing a fluid inside the container by using the siphon hose method, and that is capable of circulating the fluid that is inside the container, a fluid circulation path is provided that causes a fluid that is returning into the container during fluid circulation to fall along an external wall of a siphon hose during fluid removal.
US08899446B2

An injector for co-axial-type dispensers for multiple flowable components is provided. The dispenser has a multi-chamber cartridge with a first outlet for a first flowable component arranged within a second outlet for a second flowable component. The injector includes an inner sleeve for fitting engagement with an inner wall of the first outlet of the dispenser, wherein an interior of the inner sleeve defines a first passage for the first flowable component; and an outer sleeve for fitting engagement with an outer wall of the first outlet of the dispenser.
US08899443B2

A storage container assembly comprises, a storage receptacle, a removable lid, and a seal. The storage receptacle has a base and a continuous sidewall connected to the base. The sidewall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The lid has a main body that covers at least a portion of the storage receptacle. The lid has a first and a second receiving channel. The seal has a securing member and a blade portion. The securing member goes into the first receiving channel of the lid to connect the seal to the lid. The blade portion of the seal contacts the interior surface of the sidewall. The exterior surface of the sidewall contacts the second receiving channel. The sidewall of the storage receptacle is within the second receiving channel. The blade portion forms a generally fluid tight seal with the sidewall while the sidewall contacts the second receiving channel.
US08899440B2

A beverage lid comprising a lid body having an aperture for dispensing a beverage. The beverage lid has a top portion having an aperture for dispensing a beverage mounted to the lid body, a slideable arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the slideable arm mounted between the lid body and the top portion, a rotatable plate having at least one aperture for dispensing a beverage mounted between the body and the top portion, and a rotatable plate actuating mechanism communicating the slideable arm with the rotatable plate.
US08899435B1

A large cup and small cup are provided which are attachable together. With an upright attachment the large cup nests within a reservoir of the small cup. With an inverted attachment, the small cup has a base which can friction fit against a lower end of the large cup. The small cup includes structures such as a skirt and shelf which can exhibit a friction fit with a foot on the lower end of the large cup to facilitate the inverted attachment of the small cup to the large cup. A recess in the base of the small cup exhibits a friction fit with the foot to facilitate upright attachment when the large cup is nested into the small cup. In an alternative embodiment a fastener is provided including posts and slots in the small cup and large cup to couple the cups together when nested together.
US08899431B1

An extendable electrical box comprises an electrical box having two open ends to an internal box space having a first depth. The electrical box comprises a mounting structure attached to at least one wall of the electrical box. The mounting structure is configured to mount the electrical box to a vertical wall structure such that the open end faces substantially parallel to the vertical wall structure. At least two extendable first rings each continuously surround one of the two open ends of the electrical box. The at least two extendable first rings are each slidably coupled with the electrical box via the sliding mechanical cooperation of one or more guides with one or more tracks, such that sliding either of the at least two extendable first rings in relation to the open ends of the electrical box expands the electrical box from the first depth to a larger second depth.
US08899429B2

A closing arrangement includes a neck having an end closed by a wall and an associated cap. The end of the neck is provided with a weakening line that surrounds the neck. The cap is provided with an opening promoting device arranged for engaging with a further opening promoting device of the wall to separate at least a part of the wall of the neck along the weakening line.
US08899427B2

A baby bottle including a nipple and separable compartments for holding powdered formula and water. By sliding or rotating a knob to a pre-selected mix position, apertures in the separable compartments are aligned thereby allowing mixture of the powdered formula from an upper compartment into a lower compartment containing the water. The bottle is shaken to thoroughly mix the formula and the water, after which, the bottle and formula mix are ready to use.
US08899425B1

In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a tool caddy is removably mountable to a fixed portion of an automobile lift. The tool caddy is generally rigid, having a conical section and a cantilevered section. A U-shaped mounting bracket is adapted to be placed atop and/or around any fixed rectangular/square section of the lift. The conical section is shaped to accommodate an impact gun or other similarly sized and/or shaped tool. The cantilevered section has several portals disposed in a surface thereof for holding smaller tools. The tool caddy will secure in place, when it is A) wedged at least partially through the triangular opening of a truss, B) rested atop a rectangular portion of a beam of a truss, or C) slid along a beam until the top plate of the mounting bracket is wedged into a portion of the truss where the triangular section meets the beam.
US08899424B2

A cable management assembly, and method related thereto, including a panel having an interface portion. The interface portion having a plurality of discrete openings, including first and second shaped apertures. The assembly further including cable management devices having securing structure including a flexible tab and a locating element. The securing structure being configured to mount the cable management devices at selected vertical and horizontal locations on the panel. The cable management assembly being configured to mount between two adjacent telecommunication racks or to an end of a telecommunication rack.
US08899422B2

A method for separating a mixture of solid materials can includes a sorting step based on differences in X-Ray transmission of different materials and a density sorting step at an elevated density. The mixture of solid materials can be a plastic-rich mixture recovered from waste electrical and electronic equipment. The mixture of solid materials can include plastics that contain brominated flame retardants. In some cases, a XRT or DEXRT sorter is used to remove the majority of plastics that contain brominated flame retardants from the mixture.
US08899418B2

A plurality of small packages, each for approximately a day's supply of tampons, are provided in an outer carrier box. The tampons in the small packages may be provided in a single row, and may be individually adhered to the bottom of the package. Each small package may be tapered to facilitate insertion of the individual package into a small space, such as a pocket, for discrete storage or carrying. The individual package may be formed with an inner box covered by an outer sleeve movable, like a flap, from the inner box to permit ready access to the contents of the inner box. A closure is provided that is resistant to inadvertent opening. The closure may be specifically configured for a tapered end of a tapered package. The closure may conceal the engaging elements thereof from view to inhibit inadvertent opening of the closure. If desired, a feedback feature, such as an auditory or tactile cue, may be provided by the closure to cue the user that the closure is securely closing the package.
US08899402B2

A positioning jig has a circular part with a diameter that is identical with a diameter of a semiconductor wafer and knock-pins for connecting a periphery of base plate around an opening in a base plate of a conveying tool for a semiconductor wafer. These knock-pins are respectively provided in four blades protruded from predetermined positions of the circular portion at least three directions. When adjusting the projection positions of supporting plates, the knock-pins are fitted into the opening of the base plate of the conveying tool for the semiconductor wafer. The supporting plates moves so that the knock-pins come into contact with an outer edge of the circular part of the prepared positioning jig. The adjusted supporting plates are then fixed on the base plate. The semiconductor wafer is mounted on the adjusted and fixed supporting plates so that the semiconductor wafer is positioned.
US08899390B2

A damping mechanism that includes a housing with an inner circumferential surface defined by an assembly outer race, an axle shaft that is rotatable with respect to the housing, and a transmission assembly operatively associated with the axle shaft and disposed within the housing. The transmission assembly includes an assembly intermediate race. A fluid space that includes fluid therein is defined between the assembly intermediate race and the inner circumferential surface of the assembly outer race. A vane is disposed between the assembly intermediate race and the inner circumferential surface of the assembly outer race. The vane includes a restriction space defined therein. When the axle shaft rotates in the first direction, the transmission assembly transmits rotation from the axle shaft to the vane, and when the axle shaft rotates in the second direction, the transmission assembly transmits less rotation to the first vane than when the axle shaft rotates in the first direction.
US08899382B2

The present invention discloses an oil supply valve assembly of a linear compressor including a shell, the oil being stored at the lower portion of the shell, a cylinder disposed in the shell, a piston disposed in the cylinder, a main body frame to which the cylinder is fixed, and a linear motor connected to the piston, for driving the piston, comprising: a passage formed in the main body frame, for supplying the oil to a gap between the cylinder and the piston; an oil valve being coupled to the main body frame to communicate with the passage, and including an oil suction valve and an oil discharge valve; and an oil cover coupled to overlap with the oil valve and communicate with the passage of the main body frame. By this configuration, the manufacturing process of the oil supply valve assembly is simplified and mis-assembly of the components is prevented by reducing the number of the components.
US08899374B2

A speaker unit mounting structure includes a provisionally fastening mechanism for fastening a speaker unit to a ceiling with a cabinet section of the speaker unit inserted in a mounting hole of the ceiling. The provisionally fastening mechanism includes a provisionally fastening tab formed of resilient metal, fixed to the outer peripheral side surface of the cabinet section and having a stepped engaging section engageable with the inner peripheral edge portion of the mounting hole. Engagement of the engaging section with the inner peripheral edge portion of the mounting hole can be canceled by a human operator pressing, from the face side of the ceiling, an operating section of the tab, exposed to a gap between the front side and a flange portion of the speaker unit, to thereby resiliently deform the operating section.
US08899373B2

In a power steering system, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a servo-motor, which drives an axially displaceable component by way of a steering nut that is mounted rotatably, but axially non-displaceably in a gear housing, the steering nut is mounted in the gear housing in a radial bearing comprising an inner ring and an outer ring. A heat-insulating intermediate element is disposed between the outer ring of the radial bearing and the gear housing, or a cover of the gear housing, and/or between the inner ring of the radial bearing and the steering nut for the purpose of thermal decoupling.
US08899369B2

A straddle-type electric vehicle (e.g., electric motorcycle 1) comprising a driving motor and an electric power control unit for controlling electric power supplied from batteries to the driving motor, a case of the electric power control unit is mounted from a location outward of the battery box, and electrode terminals protruding outward from the case are inserted into insertion holes of the battery box. The electrode terminals protruding into inside of the battery box are connected to electrodes of the batteries via electric conductors such as bus bars. In this structure, electric connecting work between the batteries and the electric power control unit can be easily carried out, high-voltage lines can be minimized in length, and the high-voltage lines are not exposed to the outside.
US08899366B2

An electromechanical control system of an electric bike integrating a smart mobile device and cloud services therewith enables a controller of the electric bike to independently monitor and control operation of an electric motor, is integrated with an external smart mobile device with a communication interface thereof, configures cycling control parameters of the controller with the externally available cycling control parameters through an user interface provided by the smart mobile device to adapt to cyclists' physical strength. Cycling information and bike information can be displayed on the smart mobile device or make them openly available through the online function of the smart mobile device for cyclists to easily record or manage related information during bike cycling.
US08899357B2

Various downhole drilling tools designed and manufactured at least in part on evaluating respective forces acting on respective groups and sets of cutting elements during simulated engagement with the downhole end of a wellbore and drilling from a first downhole formation into a second downhole formation. Simulating forces acting on each cutting element as the cutting element contacts a downhole formation may be used to force balance downhole drilling tools during transition drilling or non-uniform downhole drilling conditions. Multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools may be designed using five respective simulations, cutter group level, neighbor cutter group level, cutter set level, group of N (N=3 or N=4) consecutive cutters level and all cutters level. Various cutter layout procedures and algorithms may also be used to design multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools which may drill faster with higher lateral stability, especially during downhole transiting drilling conditions.
US08899344B2

A garden tool includes multiple of the following features: fishtail weeder/nail remover, trowel, nail remover, machete, saw, serrated blade, small-toothed saw, ergonomic handle, safety stop and attachment means for an elongated handle or cane. A rake attachment may also be attached to the elongated handle. The all-in-one tool: (i) saves space and money; (ii) is lightweight; (iii) minimizes the number of necessary tools; and (iv) is adjustable to accommodate user limitations (i.e., disabilities).
US08899337B2

An apparatus for securing and using hydrajetting tools within a borehole includes a housing that defines an inner bore. A flow limiting member may be disposed within the inner bore. The flow limiting member may include a first a first jet in fluid communication with the top of the housing, a first chamber positioned below and in fluid communication with the first jet, and a first cavity aligned with the first jet and in fluid communication with the chamber. A groove may be disposed on an outer surface of the housing, with an anchor assembly that is disposed around the housing and axially slidable and securable within the groove.
US08899333B2

The invention discloses a subsea device comprising a can, a string of risers, a blowout preventer and a string of tie-back pipes. The blowout preventer is installed on the can. The top of risers is connected to a rig and its bottom is mounted on the blowout preventer. The upper of tie-back pipes is fixed to the can. The lower of tie-back pipes is mounted to a wellhead in the seabed by a subsea wellhead apparatus and connected to the casings for collecting oil/gas stored in formations by the subsea wellhead apparatus. A passage communicating the blowout preventer with tie-back pipe is jointed on the can. A pipeline, transporting oil/gas, mud and cuttings in drilling process, is divided into two sections, both tie-back pipes and casings, by the wellhead apparatus settled on seabed, thereby ensuring security of the rig in the drilling process and stronger operability of entire production system.
US08899322B2

Autonomous control of a wellbore tool is provided by programming a memory module of a processor with a database having data relating to a selected parameter of interest; conveying a sensor and the processor along the wellbore; and activating the wellbore tool if the processor determines that a measurement provided by the sensor correlates with the database data. The processor may correlate the sensor measurements with a predetermined pattern associated with the data, a preset value, and/or a preset range of values. Well tool activation may occur when the processor finds: a substantial match between a predetermined pattern and at least one measured value; a present value and at least one measured value, and/or a preset range of values and at least one measured range of values. Also, activating the well tool may occur only if a measurement from a second sensor meets a preset criteria.
US08899321B2

Described are methods of distributing a viscosity reducing solvent to a set of wells terminating in an underground oil reservoir where the variation in the net solvent injection rate is minimized. The net solvent injection rate is the difference between the total solvent injection rate and the total solvent production rate from the set of wells, for example on an instantaneous or daily rate basis. Minimizing this variation can reduce costs associated with surface solvent storage, subsurface solvent storage, and solvent supply, since solvent supply often is least expensive when supplied at near a fixed rate. One option is to operate well pairs and to inject solvent into one well of the pair while producing oil and solvent from the other well of the pair. These methods are particularly useful in solvent-dominated, cyclic or non-cyclic, viscous oil recovery processes.
US08899318B1

Herein disclosed is a method of applying at least one aggregate to a tubular, comprising attaching the at least one aggregate to a flexible sheet; wrapping the flexible sheet around the tubular with the at least one aggregate between the sheet and tubular. Herein also disclosed is an assembly comprising a tubular, at least one aggregate, and a flexible sheet wrapped around the tubular with the at least one aggregate between the tubular and the sheet. In an embodiment, the at least one aggregate is adhered to the sheet by a first adhesive and the at least one aggregate is adhered to the tubular by a second adhesive, wherein the second adhesive has a higher adhering strength than the first adhesive. In an embodiment, the flexible sheet is removed and the at least one aggregate remains attached to the tubular. The use of such an assembly is discussed.
US08899317B2

A plug for isolating a wellbore. The plug can include a body having a first end and a second end, at least one malleable element disposed about the body, at least one slip disposed about the body, at least one conical member disposed about the body, and an insert secured to an inner surface of the body proximate the second end of the body. The insert can be adapted to receive a setting tool that enters the body through the first end thereof. The insert can include a passageway extending therethrough. The insert can be adapted to release the setting tool when exposed to a predetermined axial force, thereby providing a flow passage through the insert and the body. At least one of the body and the insert can be adapted to receive an impediment that restricts fluid flow in at least one direction through the body, wherein the impediment comprises one or more decomposable materials.
US08899315B2

A wellhead system includes a bypass sleeve for temporarily isolating portions of a wellhead assembly from pressurized fracing fluid. The bypass sleeve may include a generally tubular body having a tool interface, a lock ring disposed at least partially around the body, and an anti-rotation device coupled to the body. The anti-rotation device includes a resilient member disposed in a cavity in the body, and an anti-rotation member biased away from the body by the resilient member. The anti-rotation member extends radially outward from the body.
US08899306B2

A flaskless molding equipment for molding a mold that provides support for quickly restoring the stopped equipment to a normal operation. The control circuit monitors the movements of the movable members, the cylinders, and the mechanisms for driving a cylinder, and if the period of the operation of each step of the flaskless molding equipment for molding a mold from the start of the operation to the point where the operation of the flaskless molding equipment for molding a mold reaches the predetermined position exceeds the predetermined period that is set to be abnormal, then the control circuit provides support for restoring the stopped equipment to a normal operation, following the instructions displayed on the screen and following the operator's input by means of an input switch.
US08899301B2

A privacy curtain system is described that includes a curtain having a plurality of curtain release mechanisms attached thereto, the curtain release mechanisms each having a rod engaging member extending therefrom. The system also includes a plurality of rods each comprising a lower hooking member configured to engage one of the rod engaging members. The curtain release mechanisms are operable to cause a portion of each rod engaging member to release from the respective curtain release mechanism.
US08899299B2

Leading end assemblies for movable partitions may include a movable trolley, a leading structure coupled to the movable trolley, a diagonal member comprising at least one movable feature enabling the leading structure to move from an initial position to a displaced position, and at least one sensor for sensing movement of the leading structure. Movable partition systems may include a leading structure suspended from a trolley and a sensor configured to sense rotation of the leading structure relative to the trolley. Methods of operating a movable partition may include moving at least a portion of a movable partition along a path from a retracted position to an extended position, rotating a leading structure of the movable partition about a coupling, using a sensor to sense rotation of the leading structure, and ceasing movement of the movable partition in response to a signal generated by the sensor.
US08899296B2

Apparatus including a wheel balancing device and a tire changing device, comprising a spindle shaft for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel or rim, unbalance measuring means operatively connected to the spindle shaft and having a spatial unbalance measuring area in which unbalance forces of the wheel or rim are detected, tire changer tools for assembling a tire onto a rim, spindle supporting means supporting the spindle shaft in a force acting range in which forces are created between the tire changer tools and the tire during the assembling or disassembling of the tire, tool supporting means supporting the tire changer tools within the force acting range which is arranged outside of the spatial unbalance measuring area, and drive means driving the spindle shaft with a rotational speed and torque adapted for assembling and disassembling the tire or for measuring unbalance forces of the wheel or rim.
US08899288B2

A coupling capable of adjustably cantilever-mounting a machine such as a labeling machine to a mounting structure, wherein the attitude or inclination of the machine to other machinery such as a conveyor can be precisely adjusted. Also, there is a method a mounting a machine to mounting structure with the capability to adjust the inclination of the machine that requires only one person.
US08899286B2

Pneumatic tire tread which reduces tread pattern noise while suppressing air column resonance from circumferential grooves is provided with a number of sets of resonators and at least two types of branch groove shapes; the length of the first branch grooves at least 40% of the length of the contact surface, and groove width between 10% and 25% of the circumferential groove width; the length of the second branch grooves between 40% and 90% of the length of the first branch grooves, and the groove width no less than the first branch groove width; first openings and second openings alternately present on same circumferential groove; length between openings in first branch grooves is no more than 50% of the length of the contact surface; difference between the minimum cross-sectional void ratio in the ribs where the branch grooves are provided and the maximum cross-sectional void ratio is no greater than 10%.
US08899284B2

Described herein are several embodiments and implementations of a fluid receiver with a removable sleeve. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for receiving a fluid from a fluid source includes a base having an inlet and an outlet. The base defines an interior cavity through which fluid is flowable from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also includes a valve that is movable relative to the base between a closed and open position. In the closed position, the valve is in sealing engagement with the base to prevent fluid flow through the inlet. In the open position, the valve allows fluid flow through the inlet. The apparatus further includes a removable sleeve that is removably securable about a portion of the base. The valve remains in the closed position as the removable sleeve is removed from and secured about the base.
US08899280B2

Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to providing audio and/or visual feedback to users during the dispensing of a selected beverage. Audio and video files are stored electronically within the dispenser. In response to the selection of a beverage, audio and video files corresponding to the beverage are selected and presented to a user during the dispensing of the beverage. The sound file may correspond to the type of beverage being dispensed and the video may show a fill state of a beverage container.
US08899274B1

An elongated pipe, having first and second ends, with each of the first and second ends thereof having an outwardly tapered portion. A tapered split collet embraces the outwardly tapered portion at the first end of the pipe and a tapered split collet embraces the outwardly tapered portion at the second end of the pipe. A pipe flange with a tapered central opening embraces the tapered split collet at the first end of the pipe. A pipe flange with a tapered central opening embraces the tapered split collet at the second end of the pipe. An adhesive material secures the pipe flanges and collets to the outwardly tapered portions at the first and second ends of the pipe.
US08899256B2

A male and female set of hydraulic coupler cartridges mate such that one part of the coupler can be left in place, e.g. the female coupler, with the other portion of the coupler, e.g. the male coupler, being removably connected or disconnected. Valves within each cartridge comprise an actuator and springs within each cartridge urge the valves into a closed, sealing position. When the cartridges mate, spring and/or fluid pressure within the cartridges operates to either allow or disallow fluid flow. Once the cartridges are mated, their respective springs are partially compressed and movement of one of the valves operates to compress one spring and correspondingly decompress the other. The cartridges can therefore be mated and unmated, e.g. subsea, while fluid flow is prevented through them during the mating and unmating.
US08899245B2

Machine (10) and method for treating containers (12) of liquids comprising in succession at least a loading station (15), into which the containers (12) to be treated are loaded, and all disposed according to a determinate first orientation, and a washing station (17), in which the containers (12) are subjected at least to washing and are disposed in a second orientation able to promote the fall due to gravity of the dirt and/or washing liquid present in the containers (12). The machine (10) comprises, downstream of the washing station (17) and outside it, a manipulator device (41) which automatically rotates the containers (12) exiting form the washing station (17) so as to reposition the containers (12) according to the first determinate orientation.
US08899243B2

The present invention generally is an adjustable applicator employed for application of a cosmetic or a care product such as for application of mascara, coloring strands of hair, for dental flossing or for applying pharmaceuticals or cleaning agents. The invention discloses an adjustable applicator comprising an applicator element having a bore, a filament wherein the filament is housed inside the bore of the applicator element and a clasping means wherein the applicator element angularly deforms when a force is applied on the clasping means. Also disclosed is a device for packaging and dispensing a substance comprising said adjustable applicator.
US08899239B2

An electronic cigarette comprises nicotine without harmful tar. The cigarette includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, control circuit, and an electro-thermal vaporization nozzle installed in the air suction end of the shell. The advantages of the present invention are smoking without tar, reducing the risk of cancer, the user still gets a smoking experience, the cigarette is not lit, and there is no fire danger.
US08899237B2

A mouth tray includes a wire-like element onto which two bite elements are attached. The element is formed of two U-shaped bows, the arms of which are connected to each other. The bite elements are each attached on the arm-side transitions between the two bows.
US08899236B2

The various embodiments of the present inventions provide stabilization devices and methods for use of the stabilization devices with minimally invasive gynecological procedures such as methods of preventing pregnancy by inserting intrafallopian contraceptive devices into the fallopian tubes.
US08899232B2

A low-cost CPAP apparatus in which, upon detection of the transition from inhalation to exhalation, the blower motor is de-energized to allow it to freewheel. When the pressure in the patient mask (or whatever interface is utilized) reaches a minimum pressure level during exhalation, the motor is re-energized and its speed is controlled so to maintain the pressure at a level suitable for exhalation. Upon detection of the transition from exhalation to inhalation, the motor speed is increased to provide higher pressures in the patient mask suitable for inhalation.
US08899229B2

A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a substance supply unit for supplying a dose of substance to be delivered to the nasal cavity of the subject, the substance supply unit including an inlet and an outlet; a nosepiece unit including a nosepiece for fitting to a nasal cavity of the subject and being in fluid communication with the outlet of the substance supply unit; and a mouthpiece unit including a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the inlet of the substance supply unit and through which the subject in use exhales such as to entrain substance from the container chamber and deliver the same through the nosepiece, and at least one temperature modifier for reducing a temperature of the exhaled air flow such as to reduce the absolute humidity thereof.
US08899225B2

A device for dilating an opening through the tracheal wall of a patient includes a loading dilator. A balloon catheter is received in the lumen of the dilator such that the balloon extends distal to the loading dilator distal end. The balloon is configured to radially dilate a portion of the tracheal wall upon inflation. The balloon includes retention structure along its outer surface such that upon inflation, the retention structure inhibits dislodgement of the balloon when the balloon is positioned across the tracheal wall. The retention structure may comprise a pair of spaced elements radially projecting from the outer surface of the balloon, and spaced along the outer surface such that each of the elements is disposed at an opposite side of the tracheal wall when the balloon is positioned along the tracheal wall opening.
US08899221B2

An apparatus for crossbows. The crossbow has a stock attached to a bow and the bolt has an arrowhead attached to a shaft. The apparatus includes an arrowhead bracket attached to the stock, the arrowhead bracket having a first arm containing a first receptacle and a second arm containing a second receptacle. The apparatus may include a hood operatively attached to a cap, the hood being operatively configured to receive the arrowhead. The hood may be engagable with the first or second receptacle. The apparatus may contain a brace positioned on one side of the stock and having a first leg pivotally attached to a second leg and wherein said first leg is configured to engage the shaft of the bolt. The apparatus may also include a selective attachment member that will selectively attach the first and second leg together when the legs are pivoted together.
US08899215B2

An EGR valve includes an aluminum valve body, an outer metal ring, an inner resin ring, a butterfly valve, and a seal ring. The valve body includes a gas passage therein. The gas passage is part of an EGR passage, through which EGR gas is returned from an exhaust passage to intake passage of an engine. The outer ring has a cylindrical shape, and is fixed and disposed on an inner wall of the gas passage. The inner ring has a cylindrical shape, and is disposed on an inner peripheral wall of the outer ring. The butterfly valve opens or closes an inside of the inner ring, and includes a seal fitting groove at an outer peripheral edge of the butterfly valve. The seal ring is fitted into the groove, and seals a clearance between the butterfly valve and the inner ring when the butterfly valve is closed.
US08899214B2

A recirculation device includes an air intake duct (3) which is followed by a manifold (6), means for introducing recycled exhaust gases, for mixing same with the fresh air let in. This device is designed to inject the exhaust gases by forming two counter-rotating adjacent vortices (14, 15), owing to a twin tubular mixer nozzle (10, 11) in communication with a common exhaust gas supply duct, positioned tangentially with respect to the two nozzles, placed side by side. The two vortices (14, 15) are self-sustaining to the outlets (7) of the manifold (6). Such a recirculation device is applied, in particular, to an air intake duct (3) of oblong cross section and/or to a manifold (6) with a flattened inlet (5) and/or a flattened plenum (8), in particular for a motor vehicle engine.
US08899211B2

An internal combustion engine is started by performing fuel supply into part of a plurality of cylinders included in the internal combustion engine. After the magnitude of the negative pressure produced in intake piping of the internal combustion engine exceeds a predetermined reference value, fuel supply into the remaining cylinder(s) is started.
US08899209B2

Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are moved between fuel injections in response to combustion phase. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons and/or carbonaceous particulate matter may be reduced when cetane of combusted fuel changes.
US08899206B2

A balancing device for an engine includes a crankshaft for converting reciprocal motion of a piston of the engine to a rotary motion, at least one electromagnetic force generator mounted apart from the crankshaft by a predetermined distance and generating an electromagnetic force, and a control portion controlling the electromagnetic force generator to generate an electromagnetic force offsetting an unbalanced force occurring according to a rotational position of the crankshaft.
US08899204B2

The total length of starter harness 7 for exclusive use for connecting a starter for an engine and plus-side terminal 4a of in-vehicle battery 4 is increased by providing a surplus redundant segment 21 to increase resistance in harness 7 beyond length required for laying the harness in an engine room. Redundant segment 21 is collected in a form of rod by forming a two-fold portion by folding a portion of the single continuous harness 7, and further folding the two-fold portion twice, and fixed through harness holder 23 to bracket 22 of battery tray 25. Without using a resistor receiving limitation of the heat resistance, it is possible to suppress a voltage drop at the time of restart, problematical in a vehicle having an idle-stop function. A required resistance is obtained by increasing the length redundantly, so that a temperature increase of harness 7 is small.
US08899200B2

Oxide film formed on a spring-retaining flange by heat treatment gets unlikely to peel off, thereby improving wear resistance of a contact surface of the spring-retaining flange with a valve spring. The oxide film 15 of the part of the spring-retaining flange 3 with the valve spring 7 is at least partially removed to make thickness of the oxide film to 0.00 to 0.02 μm.
US08899195B2

An electro-hydraulic variable valve lift apparatus may include an hydraulic pump body installed in an engine, a piston provided to reciprocate within the hydraulic pump body and forming an hydraulic pump chamber together with the hydraulic pump body, an hydraulic pump cam disposed to be in contact with the piston and enabling the piston to reciprocate according to a rotation thereof, a retainer provided to be slidable along the piston between the piston and the engine and forming a retainer chamber with the engine, a retainer spring elastically supporting the retainer, an oil control valve allowing the hydraulic pump chamber and the retainer chamber to selectively communicate with each other, a valve opening and closing unit communicating with the hydraulic pump chamber and opened or closed according to oil pressure supplied from the hydraulic pump chamber.
US08899191B2

A cooling apparatus of an engine includes a cooling fan, a fan housing, and a shroud guiding cooling air from the fan housing to the outer circumferential surface of an engine body portion. Further, a cooling air passage passing throughout in a cylinder head from one side surface of the cylinder head to the other side surface thereof is formed in the cylinder head, and a narrowed or throttle guide portion which guides the cooling air from the interior of the fan housing to an inlet opening of the one side surface of the cooling air passage is formed in the shroud.
US08899188B1

The present general inventive concept relates generally to an animal lift, and more particularly to a portable, lightweight ramp device with collapsible side panels to eliminate the visual cliff perceived by a user animal.
US08899180B2

A tray for presenting food to a pet or animal. The tray includes a top side, an underside and a peripheral side extending between the top side and the underside. The topside is moreover partly formed as a number of up-turned grooves and interconnected grooves. When a pet is retrieving food from the tray, the animal will not only he self-engaged and fed during retrieval of the food, but the tray will also ensure that the natural needs of the animal are meet with respect to the use of brain, olfactory sense and feeding. The animal will hereby be more relaxed and behave in a balanced manner.
US08899177B2

Provided is a method for the hatching of hatchery eggs including: (a) treating the egg shell surface with a coating composition including a coating agent, to form a coating on the surface of the egg's shell; and (b) incubating the egg under conditions to cause hatching to occur; wherein the yield of hatching of the hatchery eggs is improved as compared to control eggs not treated as defined in (a). Further provided is a composition for the treating of hatchery eggs prior to incubation, where the composition includes a coating agent, and where the composition improves the hatching yield of the hatchery eggs.
US08899174B2

A device for manufacturing a display device includes a deposition source; a deposition thickness calculator for calculating a deposition thickness of a deposition material deposited on a substrate; and a controller for controlling a power of a heater which heats the deposition source by comparing the deposition thickness calculated with a reference thickness. The controller controls the power of the heater either at least one time for each substrate on which the thin film is to be deposited or at regular intervals while the deposition material is deposited. Influence of measurement noise that is included in a quartz crystal sensor for measuring a deposition speed may be minimized, and distribution of deposition thickness of an organic light emitting material may be reduced, thereby increasing the yield of the deposition process and producing quality display devices.
US08899172B2

A substrate treatment apparatus includes: a substrate holding unit which horizontally holds a substrate; a substrate rotating unit which rotates the substrate held by the substrate holding unit about a vertical axis; a treatment liquid supplying unit which supplies a treatment liquid to an upper surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit; an opposing member to be located in opposed spaced relation to the upper surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit in contact with a film of the treatment liquid formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to receive a lift force from the liquid film; a support member which supports the opposing member; and an opposing member holding mechanism which causes the support member to hold the opposing member in a vertically relatively movable manner.
US08899167B2

The problem of penetrating through nets and other objects is solved by cutting the object using a linear cutting assembly having a linear cutter arm that moves in an arc and pivots about an attachment point. The object is cut by a severing action caused by a moveable blade of the linear cutting arm moving back and forth across a stationary blade of the linear cutter arm. An underwater vehicle modified to incorporate an embodiment of the linear cutting assembly can cut a sufficiently large opening in the object to allow the vehicle to pass through.
US08899166B2

A gyrostabilizer control system and method for stabilizing marine vessel motion based on precession information only. The control system employs an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) precession controller (60). This system operates with a gain factor that is always being gradually minimized so as to let the gyro flywheel (12) develop as much precession as possible—the higher the precession, the higher the roll stabilizing moment. This continuous gain change provides adaptation to changes in sea state and sailing conditions. The system effectively predicts the likelihood of maximum precession being reached. Should this event be detected, then the gain is rapidly increased so as to provide a breaking precession torque. Once the event has passed, the system again attempts to gradually decrease the gain.
US08899162B2

The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having top and bottom surfaces. The shelf includes at least one support rail that is secured to the bottom surface of the shelf and runs parallel to one side of said shelf. The support rail also has a tab slot, which is located in a side and adjacent to an end thereof. The shelf assembly also comprises a shelf bracket having a lip and a skirt that extends perpendicular from said lip. The lip and the skirt extend along a length of the shelf bracket, and the shelf bracket has a first tab, which is located in the lip and configured to be removably received in the tab slot. The shelf bracket also has anchoring tabs that are located on an end thereof and configured to be received in a shelving support frame.
US08899156B1

A stun grenade is provided with a housing; al receptacle including a bottom hole and a hollow externally threaded member; an air canister in the receptacle; an internally threaded cap including a top opening and a top bifurcation including two opposite through holes in an intermediate portion, and two opposite first pivot holes in a rear portion; a striker unit including a striker and a spring loaded hinge pivotably fastened between the first pivot holes; a needle inserted through the hollow externally threaded member to have one end engaged with the air canister and an other end projecting out of the top opening; a lever having a front end pivotably secured to a front end of the bifurcation and including two opposite second pivot holes at an intermediate portion; and a safety pin inserted through the second pivot holes and the through holes to anchor the needle below.
US08899154B2

An auxiliary cartridge for use in rock breaking is disclosed which comprises an elongate body, an end closure at each end of the body and a charge of combustible material in the space defined by the body and the end closures. One of the end closures includes a frangible membrane which closes off a charge of combustible chemicals. On being subjected to the pressure of an external ignition of fast burning combustible material, the membrane fails and permits flame to flash through it from externally of the auxiliary cartridge to internally thereof thereby to ignite said charge.
US08899146B2

An apparatus for cooking ground beef hamburgers by reflecting and trapping thermal energy and simultaneous accelerated bun cooking. The apparatus comprised of a plate that is hinged to the sidewall of the griddle for the simultaneous cooking of both sides of ground beef and buns on both sides. Once meat is placed in a first cooking area, the plates on the hinge are rotated down and come to rest on the meat, applying slight pressure to the meat. Plates are attached to the side wall and to the rear wall. Modified plates are used to facilitate the rotation of a large wire frame that contains a metal chain mail fabric into a second cooking area. When buns are placed in the second cooking area, the chain mail frame is brought down onto the outer sides of the buns, putting weight on the buns and accelerating their cooking time.
US08899138B2

A firearm includes a receiver defining a receiver bore and a bolt carrier disposed in the receiver bore. The bolt carrier is moveable relative to the receiver along a longitudinal axis between a firing position and a rearward position. A hand guard is coupled to the receiver and an elongated member is fixed relative to the bolt carrier in the hand guard. A handle assembly is slideably engaged with the elongated member in the hand guard and the handle assembly is moveable toward the receiver to define a charging motion. The bolt carrier presents a first surface and the handle assembly terminates at a terminal surface aligned with the first surface along the longitudinal axis. The terminal surface of the handle assembly abuts the first surface of the bolt carrier when the handle assembly is moved in the charging motion.
US08899136B2

A punching device includes a base, a linkage assembly, a carrying assembly, a punch and a pressure arm. The linkage assembly includes a pair of linkage members, a rotating member, a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod and a third connecting rod. The rotating member is rotatably mounted on the supporting member, the pair of linkage members is movably mounted on the rotating member, the first, the second and the third connecting rods connects in turn. The carrying assembly is rotatably connected to the third connecting rod and movably supported by the loading member. The punch is mounted on an end of the rotating member. The pressure arm is rotatably connected to the supporting member and the pair of linkage members to drives the carrying assembly to position a workpiece and the punch to punch the workpiece.
US08899131B2

A driveline product including first and second inputs having input rotational axes, first and second outputs having output rotational axes, a transfer coupling between at least one of the input rotational axes and at least one of the output rotational axes, and at least two selective couplings operatively coupled between the inputs and the outputs for operation selective between at least two drives powered by at least one of two prime movers.
US08899129B2

A tilt-up mechanism for tilting up an upper column of a steering column from a drive position to a tilt-up position is configured independently from a tilt angle adjusting mechanism and a column length adjusting mechanism. When an operator who is to get on/off an operator's seat steps on and operates a pedal of the tilt-up mechanism, an engaged state of a lock pin with respect to a tilt-up member is disengaged. The tilt-up member is rotated around a support shaft, by a spring force of a tilt-up spring, whereby the upper column is tilted up together with a steering wheel in a direction (A) away from the operator's seat. At this time, the tilt angle and the column length can be held at positions adjusted in advance.
US08899109B2

In the case of a device for ascertaining a fill level of a medium inside a collection container, having at least one measuring chamber, in which an ultrasonic sensor is arranged, connected to conduct media to the collection chamber, and having at least one antechamber connected upstream from the measuring chamber, which has at least one inlet opening for the medium from the collection chamber, at least one flow damper for the medium, according to the invention, is arranged in at least one subarea of the antechamber. Thereby multiple antechambers, which are connected in series one behind another to conduct media, are connected upstream from the measuring chamber.
US08899103B2

A thermal air flow meter comprises: a bridge circuit unit that incorporates a bridge circuit including a heating resistor and supplies a current to the heating resistor so that the temperature of the resistor is always set higher by a predetermined temperature than the temperature of intake air detected by an intake-air temperature detection resistor, and outputs an output signal Vm based on the current value supplied to the heating resistor, in accordance with a flow rate of the intake air; a differential amplifier unit that amplifies a voltage dependent on difference in temperature between an upstream heating resistor and downstream heating resistor; and a subtraction processor that subtracts from the output signal Vm a constant times an output voltage Vd1 from the differential amplifier unit, and outputs a correction output signal Vout.
US08899099B2

In order to determine leakage on a device, which contains gas that can be condensed, an adsorbent is used through which ambient gas of the object is conducted. The adsorbed gas is desorbed by means of actuating an excitation device and fed to a gas sensor containing a mass spectrometer. In this way, minute amounts of leaking gas can be determined by means of accumulation. The method is in particular suited for use in the serial production of refrigeration machines.
US08899097B2

Systems and methods for detection of airborne impurities in confined spaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, a detection system to detect impurities in a confined chamber comprises an emitter to emit radiation, at least one channel positioned proximate the emitter to receive radiation from the emitter at a first end of the channel, and a receiver positioned proximate a second end of the channel to receive radiation from the emitter, and generate a first signal in response to the radiation received from the emitter. Other embodiments may be described.
US08899095B2

An olfactometer is disclosed. Such an olfactometer may include a control unit, an odor box, and a nose piece in communication with the odor box. The control unit may include a reservoir, and a compressor for supplying pressurized air to the reservoir. The odor box may include at least one compressed air actuated valve, and at least one odor canister in communication with the valve. A compressed air flow and a breathable air flow are both released from the reservoir and directed to the valve. The compressed air flow actuates the valve to thereby direct the breathable air to the odor canister to odorize the breathable air. The odorized breathable air is then directed to the nose piece.
US08899086B2

A pre-rounding element (14) is used in a rounding apparatus (4) for rounding can body blanks from sheet metal blanks. The lower element part (22) of the pre-rounding element (14) is displaceable by an actuation element (23). This allows the adjustment of the pre-rounding element even during operation of the rounding apparatus. Preferably a measurement of sheet metal blank properties takes place. The measurement may include a thickness measurement and/or a strength measurement of blanks. The pre-rounding element is controlled in dependency of the measurement result. This allows a constant rounding result even with varying sheet metal properties.
US08899081B2

An electromechanical lock, and its operation method are disclosed. The method includes: generating electric power from mechanical power by an electric generator; reading data from an external source with the electric power; matching the data against a predetermined criterion with the electric power; powering the electric generator by the electric power; and setting the lock mechanically from a locked state to a mechanically openable state by the electric generator, provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion.
US08899075B2

A method and apparatus for separating air in which an argon refining column of a distillation column system is reboiled with a liquid air stream. The argon refining column further refines crude argon produced by a crude argon column connected to a lower pressure column of the distillation column system. At least one intermediate reflux stream is formed, at least indirectly, from at least part of the liquid air stream, and is introduced into the lower pressure column at a level thereof above where a crude liquid oxygen column bottoms of a higher pressure column of such system is further refined to increase a liquid to vapor ratio below said level and therefore, argon recovery from the argon refining column.
US08899065B2

A refrigerator includes a main body that includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a door that selectively shields the refrigerating chamber, and an ice making unit that produces ice. An ice storage unit is provided at the door and stores ice produced in the ice making unit. The ice storage unit includes a housing, a storage basket that is removably coupled to the housing and that stores ice removed from the ice making unit to the ice storage unit, and a sensing apparatus that is provided at the housing and senses attachment or detachment of the storage basket. A controller controls transfer of ice produced by the ice making unit to the storage basket based on output from the sensing apparatus that indicates attachment or detachment of the storage basket.
US08899059B2

The present invention relates generally to an external condenser and light assembly and, more particularly, to an improved external air conditioning condenser and housing that is designed to additionally serve as a light assembly for an emergency vehicle. The condenser housing is mounted to the exterior of the emergency vehicle, which improves the performance of the emergency vehicle's air-conditioning system. The design of the condenser housing also allows it to serve as a light assembly on which emergency vehicle lights are mounted. The condenser housing and light assembly structure thereby provides for proper air conditioning functionality without occupying space on the exterior of the vehicle that would more preferably be occupied by emergency lighting.
US08899054B2

Cooling devices for use with electric submersible pump motors include a refrigerator attached to the end of the electric submersible pump motor with the evaporator heat exchanger accepting all or a portion of the heat load from the motor. The cooling device can be a self-contained bolt-on unit, so that minimal design changes to existing motors are required.
US08899051B2

The disclosure is directed to a unique apparatus having a gas turbine engine flange assembly. Also disclosed is a unique system having a gas turbine engine flange assembly in which a fluid flow circuit is provided. Also disclosed are apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engine flange assemblies, in which a fluid flow circuit extends between flanges or from a cavity within a turbine engine case to an interior portion of a flange assembly.
US08899048B2

A combustion system for a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a pressure vessel. A master injector is mounted to the housing for injecting fuel along a central axis defined through the pressure vessel. A plurality of slave injectors is included. Each slave injector is disposed radially outward of and substantially parallel to the master injector for injecting fuel and air in an injection plume radially outward of fuel injected through the master injector. The master injector and slave injectors are configured and adapted so the injection plume of the master injector intersects with the injection plumes of the slave injectors. The slave injectors can be staged for reduced power operation.
US08899041B2

A fresh gas supply device for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas turbocharger includes a charge air inlet for letting in compressed charge air from the exhaust gas turbocharger; an outlet connected to the charge air inlet, wherein the connection is closable via at least one backflow flap pivotable about a rotational flap axis; a compressed air inlet for letting compressed air into the outlet; an adjusting unit for adjusting the at least one backflow flap; at least one additional turbocharging unit having an air turbine and a compressor coupled thereto. The air turbine is disposed upstream of the compressed air inlet in the flow direction of the compressed air and compressed air can flow through the air turbine. The compressor is designed to take in and compress additional charge air from the charge air inlet and deliver compressed additional charge air to the outlet.
US08899034B2

A system has a variable displacement pump that supplies pressurized fluid to power a plurality of hydraulic functions. Each hydraulic function has a control valve with a variable source orifice controlling fluid flow between the pump and a flow summation node, and a variable metering orifice controlling fluid flow between the flow summation node and a hydraulic actuator. Variable bypass orifices in the control valves are connected in series between the flow summation node and a tank. As the metering orifice in a control valve enlarges, the source orifice enlarges and the bypass orifice shrinks. This alters pressure at the flow summation node, which is used to control the output of the pump. Components are provided to give selected hydraulic functions different levels of priority with respect to consuming fluid flow from the pump.
US08899028B2

Aggregation of particulate matter is facilitated. Provision is made for an electrode that is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine with a voltage to be applied thereto being able to be changed, a detection device that detects an electric current passing through the electrode, a determination device that determines whether a pulse current has been generated in the electric current detected by the detection device, and a control device that reduces the voltage to be applied more than that at this time in cases where a determination has been made by the determination device that a pulse current has been generated.
US08899021B2

A method of dosing a reagent into an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine having an SCR catalyst, the method comprising injecting reagent from a reagent tank into the exhaust gas stream at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst using a reagent injector in accordance with a first dosing schedule in order to remediate a predetermined proportion of NOx in the exhaust gas stream, the first dosing schedule being associated with a first range of engine operating conditions; and injecting reagent from the reagent tank into the exhaust gas stream at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst using a reagent injector in accordance with a second dosing schedule in order to enable heat transfer between the reagent injector and said injected reagent, the second dosing schedule being associated with a second range of engine operating conditions.
US08899012B1

A method to enhance efficiency of a propellant heat exchanger is described. The method includes spacing a plurality of propellant tubes of the propellant heat exchanger within defined flux bins, the flux bins defined as a function of total beam energy to be received by the propellant tubes, the propellant tube spacing resulting in each defined flux bin operable to receive a substantially equal amount of beam energy, and configuring each flux bin such that any beam energy that impinges the flux bin is directed to the propellant tube therein.
US08899010B2

A pulse detonation combustor including a plurality of nozzles engaged with one another via mating surfaces to support a gas discharge annulus in a circumferential direction. The pulse detonation combustor also including multiple pulse detonation tubes extending for the nozzles and a plurality of thermal expansion control joints coupled to the plurality of pulse detonation tubes. Each of the plurality of thermal expansion control joints is configured to facilitate independent thermal growth of each of the plurality of pulse detonation tubes. The thermal expansion control joints may be configured as a bellows expansion joint or a sliding expansion joint.
US08899007B2

A steel cord (10) adapted for the reinforcement of rubber products, comprises a core strand (12) and six peripheral strands (14) concentrically surrounding the core strand (12). Each of the core and peripheral strands (12, 14) comprises a center of two or more center filaments (16) and two layers of filaments surrounding the center. The core strand (12) has a diameter D1 which is greater than the diameter D2 of the peripheral strands (14). All the filaments (18, 20) of each layer have substantially the same diameter and a radially outer layer has a twist angle which is greater than a twist angle of a radially inner layer of the same strand. Each of the strands (12, 14) in the cord is composed of no more than twenty-six filaments (16, 18, 20) being twisted together.
US08899004B2

A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected plates for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and at least one supplemental locking mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The hingedly connected plates include apertures for receiving a portion of the rotatable displacing element therethrough, the apertures defining at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the rotatable displacing element. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.
US08899001B2

With a random incoming axial stream of pallets of articles, there is a stack of blanks, an axial stream synchronized with pallets is formed, all of the pallets are transferred from the axial stream synchronized with pallets to constitute an axial stream that is synchronized with lots, lots are separated by empty spaces having length of one or more article lengths, whereby the spacing is thus variable and adapted to lot length, blanks are unstacked upon demand based on the pallets to constitute a synchronized stream of blanks corresponding to the stream synchronized with lots. Blanks are separated by empty spaces with length of one or more article lengths, starting from the stream synchronized with lots and the stream synchronized with blanks; each lot of articles is made to work with each blank before the blank is folded around the lot of articles and made into a single unit.
US08899000B2

An architectural membrane assembly including an interior membrane layer having a first inner surface, an exterior membrane layer having a second inner surface, an aerogel material disposed between the interior membrane layer and the exterior membrane layer, wherein the first and second inner surfaces are adjacent to the aerogel material and a vapor barrier deposited on one of the first and second inner surfaces.
US08898991B2

A tower base ring assembly is provided for securing a wind turbine tower to a foundation. A top ring is configured for securing to a wind turbine tower. A bottom ring has an open center and a plurality of radially oriented troughs spaced circumferentially about the open center, with each trough having an outer end. The top ring and the bottom ring are detachable from one another, and the tower base ring assembly is connectable to the foundation.
US08898990B2

A modular building block assembly comprises a modular building block having a first load-bearing surface with a key. There is a recess in the key. The recess has a shoulder disposed therein and side walls extending from the shoulder to a mouth thereof. A reinforcement rod extends into the recess and a coupling for connecting vertically aligned reinforcement rods is disposed in the recess. The vertically aligned reinforcement rods each threadedly engage the coupling. A locking plate engages the coupling to prevent the coupling from rotating relative to the locking plate. The locking plate sits within the recess and rotation of the locking plate within the recess is prevented by the side walls of the recess.
US08898978B2

A roof tile installation assembly having a plurality of battens, each having a front end portion and a back end portion, and defining a channel between the front end portion and the back end portion, and at least one roof tile having a front end and a back end, the back end having a downwardly protruding flange. In use, the plurality of battens are preferably arranged parallel to one another on a rooftop so that the front end portion of each batten is toward the eave of the rooftop and the back end portion of each batten is toward the peak of the rooftop, and each roof tile flange is preferably arranged to be received by a batten channel so that the roof tile is substantially constrained from moving forward or backward relative to the batten so that the front end of each roof tile is arranged to be supported by the next adjacent batten.
US08898969B2

Curtain walls according to embodiments of the present disclosure integrate a variety of energy producing and/or energy saving features and may be used to clad buildings to achieve net zero energy or low energy ratings. A curtain wall may comprise: a support frame; a grid assembly attached to the support frame; and, panels and cassettes each comprising a prefabricated unit attached to a frame; wherein the assembly is configured for ease of attachment of the frames carrying the prefabricated units. A wide range of different panels and cassettes with different functions can be integrated into the curtain wall, such as glazing, electrochromic, solar, photovoltaic (PV) and aluminum.
US08898965B1

An integrated railroad signal bungalow assembly where a railroad signal bungalow is surrounded by an external frame, which supports a walkway structure assembly. The walkway structure assembly, in turn, supports one or more solar panels and a wind turbine. The solar panels and wind turbine supply power to equipment in the railroad signal bungalow.
US08898962B2

The invention relates to a roof structure which can be formed from a reduced number of components with respect to a conventional structure. The structure is typically pitched or sloped and comprises a series of spaced apart trusses which are spanned by roof panels which form the external face of the roof. The panels are interlinked or engaged and may in one embodiment be provided with an inner face of insulating material. In one embodiment the panels and/or other components, such as the trusses, may be formed from plastics material.
US08898954B2

A combined greenhouse has a foundation bed, an outer wall assembly, a temperature control assembly, a roof and a plant bed. The foundation bed has multiple stands and a reinforcing device. The outer wall assembly is mounted on the foundation bed and has four walls and an outer frame. Each wall has a base frame and a transparent device. The outer frame is mounted outside the wall that is mounted on the front stand of the foundation bed. The temperature control assembly is mounted in the foundation bed and has a ventilating device, a water-wall device and an air-sucking device. The roof is mounted on the outer wall assembly and has multiple roof mounts. The plant bed is mounted on the reinforcing device and each has two end frames, at least one linking frame, a baseboard, a plant net and multiple resisting boards.
US08898952B2

An animal trap for restraining animals, such as raccoons. The trap includes a hollow body having an entrance opening, an external and an internal grip member spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the body, and a biased restraint member adapted to move towards the grip members when released to engage an extremity of an animal inserted through the entrance opening. A trigger assembly is adapted to restrain the restraint member until proper engagement with a respective trigger member. The trigger assembly releases the restraint member via a first directional force or an opposite second directional force applied to a trigger member. A ground stake having jagged teeth and a swivel chain may be used for anchoring the trap.
US08898945B2

A system and method for hanging a picture frame on a wall, comprising the steps of providing a picture frame with a hanger, for receiving a nail therein and a marking device temporarily secured to the picture frame and disposed near the void for receiving the nail; pressing the picture frame with the marking device protruding out from the picture frame, so that the marking device makes a perceivable mark on the wall, then removing the marking device; inserting a nail, screw or a length adjustable wall auger into the wall at the mark; and hanging the picture with the hanger so that the nail, screw or a length adjustable wall auger occupies some of the space earlier occupied by the marking device.
US08898942B2

A configurable large-depth panel display uses a number of frame members and a number of corner brackets coupled to one another to create an flexible and easily customized display device. The frame members relatively uniform, having a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration which is easily coupled to the frame members. The corner brackets can be configured in a number of different ways to produce a display product with a desired configuration. More specifically, the corner brackets can be configured to attach to frame members in a manner which produce an overall framework having multiple shapes and orientations, depending upon the desired design of the overall display. Various panels, brackets and supports can be easily attached to the frame members using integral portions of the constant cross-sectional configuration. Further, more complex displays can be easily created by simply attaching different framework components to one another thus creating a single structure with multiple panel members.
US08898938B2

The present invention relates to articles having die cut portions that form a window or a frame-like structure. Set into the window or frame-like structure is an object, affixed or mounted in transparent material, such that the object is visible from both the front and the rear of the article.
US08898933B2

A structure of a toe cap and a shoe having the toe cap embedded which does not disturb foot movement such as walking while protecting a toe against lateral collision with an object such as a wheel of a dolly includes a cup-shaped shell body which is formed by connecting a front end wall, bilateral side walls and an upper face wall with a gentle curved face, and an extension side wall disposed at least to one side wall as rearwardly extending a rear end edge of the side wall. The shoe having the toe cap embedded can sufficiently protect the toe even when an impact is applied from the outer side (i.e., the little toe) direction of the toe of which protection is not sufficient with a normal toe cap embedded shoe.
US08898930B2

The aim of the invention is to provide a method for the treatment of a transport support (1) for the conveyance and storage of semiconductor substrates, with said support (1) possibly having first undergone a cleaning operation using a liquid. The method includes a treatment stage in which the transport support (1) is placed in a sealed chamber (4) connected to a vacuum pump (5) and said transport support (1) is subjected to the combined action of a subatmospheric pressure and infrared radiation to favor the removal of foreign bodies on the walls of the transport support (1).The invention also concerns a treatment station for a transport support (1) for implementation of the method.
US08898929B2

An apparatus for drying gloves is provided, including a main member, at least one light source, and at least one air source. The main member includes an outer surface configured for receiving a glove, and a plurality of apertures disposed along the outer surface. The light source emits a UV-C light, and the air source blows air. The UV-C light from the light source and air from the air source can at least partially pass through the outer surface. The apertures are in communication with at least the air source.
US08898922B2

A tape measure has a finger recess in a housing, with at least a portion of the underside of a tape blade exposed in the finger recess. Pressing a finger against the underside of the tape allows the user to create a drag brake that acts against the retraction spring to slow and/or stop the retraction of the tape blade. The finger recess is located upstream (i.e. closer to the coiled portion of the retracted tape blade) than the point at which the tape measure's lock engages the tape blade. This arrangement results in a compact yet versatile overall tape measure with good tactile feedback during finger-braking.
US08898921B1

A multi-functional tape measure is provided with a top-mounted viewing window which reads a bottom surface of a coiled measuring tape for providing interior distance measurements using measuring indicia disposed on the bottom surface of the tape. The bottomside measuring indicia has an applied correction factor to compensate for the size of the housing and provide the dimension needed. The tape measure is also provided with a level for indication of a surface that is level and plumb. Further, the tape measure is provided with a fold-out locking T-square mechanism.
US08898910B2

A cutter formed by detachably attaching a replaceable blade to a cutter body. The cutter body can include a main body block and slide block. The main body block includes a main body supporting section supporting the replaceable blade back face, and a main body connecting section connecting with the replaceable blade from the front face side. The slide block includes a rear side supporting section supporting the replaceable blade back face, a slide connecting section connecting with and retracting the replaceable blade toward the rear side, and a back side protruding section protruding on the back side in a thickness direction. When attached, the replaceable blade elastically deforms to curve in the thickness direction, the slide block presses toward a main body block side in the thickness direction by elastic force of the replaceable blade, and the back side protruding section engages with a main body block engaged section.
US08898909B2

An electric shaver generally includes a handle assembly and a head assembly mounted on the handle assembly. The head assembly is pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation. A biasing element is fixed to one of the head assembly and the handle assembly and is free from being fixed to the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly. The biasing element is configured such that when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation the biasing element contacts a surface of the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly and bends to apply a counteracting force that biases the head assembly back toward the first orientation when the head assembly is not held in the second orientation.
US08898902B2

A printing apparatus includes: a flow channel plate including, a pressure chamber, a nozzle including an outlet through which ink contained in the pressure chamber is ejected, and a trench disposed around the nozzle, and the outlet extending into the trench; a piezoelectric actuator configured to provide a change in pressure to eject the ink contained in the pressure chamber; and an electrostatic actuator configured to provide an electrostatic driving force to the ink contained in the nozzle.
US08898897B2

A new method for making and manufacturing the User-Friendly USB Male connectors which is faster, lower cost, more energy efficient, waterproof and reliable, with no expensive tooling and molding required, having better quality and being easily adaptable for automated assembly.
US08898894B2

A welding system component includes a circuit board for the welding system component. An interface has a main riser portion with a fastener passageway formed therethrough. The interface has an extension portion with a terminal passageway formed therethrough. The extension portion is electrically connected to the circuit board with a terminal disposed in the terminal passageway. The extension portion is spaced away from a surface of the circuit board. A capacitor is electrically connected to the main riser portion with a fastener disposed in the fastener passageway.
US08898886B2

A method for producing a laminated ceramic electronic component includes the steps of preparing ceramic green sheets, transferring an inner conductor pattern layer and a lead conductor pattern layer formed on a support on the ceramic green sheets to form the inner conductor and the lead conductor on the ceramic green sheets, laminating the ceramic green sheets to cover the inner conductor and the lead conductor, and firing the ceramic laminated product. In the step of forming the inner conductor and the lead conductor, the inner conductor pattern layer is transferred onto the ceramic green sheet a plurality of times so as to overlap each other, thereby forming the inner conductor, and the lead conductor pattern layer is transferred onto the ceramic green sheet, wherein the number of times of the transferring is less than the number of times of the transferring of the inner conductor pattern layer.
US08898884B2

A manufacturing process of a monobloc vaned disc including a cutout by abrasive water jet of a block of material in general form of a disc, carried out so as to remove material from the block at a level of inter-vane spaces to reveal vane preforms extending radially from a hub, the cutout by abrasive water jet including, for making each inter-vane space: a first triple-axis cutout of a piece passing through the thickness of the block, used such that the cutout piece escapes from the block automatically by gravity; followed by at least one enhancement cutout.
US08898883B2

An apparatus and method are provided for feeding a connecting element into a processing position of a joining apparatus. The apparatus includes a singulation slide for separating and feeding a connecting element. The singulation slide has a through-hole running in an axial direction for accommodating the connecting element, and the through-hole is partially defined by two leg segments. The singulation slide includes a base segment and the transition from the base segment to each of the leg segments is designed so that the leg segments are flexible in a radial direction.
US08898881B2

A connector has first and second ends. The first end is configured to contact a door of the automated storage library when the door is in at least a first position. A safety stop is connected to the second end of the connector and adapted to move from a down position to an up position. The safety stop is in the down position when the door is in the first position. The connector is adapted to travel in a lateral direction corresponding to a similar movement of the door as the door is opened between the first position and a second position, causing the safety stop to move from the down position to an up position to prevent travel of the robotic accessor beyond the safety stop.
US08898872B2

A space-creating shower curtain hook hanging from a shower curtain rod. It includes a shower rod hook engaging the shower curtain rod; a neck disposed upwards and inwards from the shower rod hook; a first connector disposed along the neck engaging a shower liner; and a stem connected to the neck and disposed downwards. The weight of the shower liner causes the space-creating shower curtain hook to rotate about the shower curtain rod, contacting the stem to the shower liner, and disposing the shower liner outwards of the shower curtain rod.
US08898871B2

Provided is an endless operation cord that is easy to replace. The present invention provides an operation cord including: a main cord having one and the other ends; a first coupling part disposed at the one end; and a second coupling part disposed at the other end. The first and second coupling parts can be coupled together directly or via a coupling member and can be coupled or uncoupled by means of a relative rotation between the adjacent coupling parts or between the adjacent coupling parts and coupling member or a relative movement in a direction other than a length direction of the main cord between the adjacent coupling parts or between the adjacent coupling parts and coupling member.
US08898869B2

A touch fastener has a base and an array of discrete fastener elements each extending from the base and together forming with the base a contiguous mass of resin. Each discrete fastener element includes a stem rising from the base, and a head overhanging the base from a front side of the stem to a distal edge, the front side of the stem, an underside of the head, and an upper surface of the base together forming, in side profile, a generally curved retention space boundary surface such that the boundary surface forms, at its innermost extent, a retention cavity defined between curvature discontinuities spaced from both the base and the distal edge.
US08898863B2

A reclaimer cylinder for use in reclaiming cotton seeds containing spinnable lint from partially ginned cotton seeds utilizes channel saws mounted axially on a cylindrical body with axially closely spaced teeth that virtually eliminate the variation in likelihood the teeth will fail to grasp the fibers present on such cotton seeds. Triangular grid bars facilitate removal of fully ginned seeds that are not entrained in fibers of other seeds.
US08898858B2

A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner has a rotating brush bar driven by an air-cooled motor, which is mounted inside the cleaner head with at least a section of the motor being located inside the brush bar. To cool the motor in use, an external casing of the motor is provided a plurality of air-cooling holes comprising at least one air intake and at least one air exhaust. These cooling holes are connected—intake to exhaust—to form one or more air-cooling paths through the inside of the motor. Each air intake is connected to an upstream clean air inlet by a stationary—not rotating—intake duct, and each air exhaust is similarly connected to a downstream clean air outlet by a stationary—not rotating—exhaust duct. This avoids the problems associated with using the rotating brush bar itself as a duct for carrying cooling air to the motor.
US08898853B1

A vacuum cleaning system which has particular application to the oil-field industry. The system includes a vacuum unit for suctioning material from a surface to recycle, reclaim or cleanup said material. The system also includes a collection and discharge unit operable to automatically discharge, into an open atmosphere, an amount of the suctioned material collected while suctioning continues by the vacuum unit. The automatic discharging cycle of the collection and discharge unit allows drilling fluid to be rapidly vacuumed up and discharged to minimize settlement of debris in the collected material.
US08898851B2

A doctor blade holder system is disclosed that includes a doctor blade holder that includes a doctor blade receiving region for receiving a doctor blade, and an actuation system for causing the doctor blade receiving region to be selectively moved toward or away from a roll surface by rotating the doctor blade holder about a first axis, wherein the doctor blade holder system is generally circular shaped in cross-sectional area and wherein the first axis is generally centrally locate with the generally circular cross-sectional area.
US08898849B2

The invention relates to a windshield wiper blade of a motor vehicle, comprising an elongate flexible strip, wherein at least one end of the strip is covered by a cap with a built-in conduit provided with a nozzle offset on the side of the flexible strip relative to the longitudinal median plane of said flexible strip.
US08898845B2

A cleaning device for cleaning substrates is provided. The cleaning device includes a generally cylindrically-shaped brush mandrel and a cylindrical brush. The brush mandrel has a body section with an outer surface positioned about a central axis. The outer surface is interrupted by an engagement member having primary features adjacent secondary features. The brush has a hollow bore formed around the brush mandrel with an inner surface interrupted by a second engagement member which mates the first engagement member. The primary features flow in a direction generally perpendicular to a rotational direction of the brush mandrel around the central axis and include a first surface which is generally perpendicular to the outer surface. The secondary features include a second surface which flows in a direction generally perpendicular to the first surface and along the central axis. No primary feature includes a radially obstructing feature formed over any secondary feature.
US08898843B2

An electric toothbrush includes a body portion, a portion of which is gripped by a user, and a brush part that is exchangeably attached to the body portion. The body portion includes a switch that is a contact-type sensor unit arranged on a portion that excludes the gripped portion, and that receives operations from the outside, and a control unit for controlling operations of the electric toothbrush in accordance with an operation received by the contact-type sensor unit. If a first operation is received by the contact-type sensor unit, the control unit outputs an indication that operations can be received for a certain time period, and if a second operation received by the contact-type sensor unit in the certain time period is an operation that corresponds to a predetermined operation pattern, the control unit controls operations of the electric toothbrush in accordance with the second operation.
US08898842B2

An elevation structure system possesses anti-decubitus ulcer characteristics, and may cooperate with a mattress overlay also having anti-decubitus ulcer capabilities as part of a mattress overlay system, in which multiple elongate, positionally adjustable, relatively moveable risers are configured for selective placement in conditions of transverse, subposed, under engagement with the sides of an overlay to create substantially non-inclined, elevated, depth-supplemented regions at locations along the length of the overlay. The evelation structure and overlay may each include a dynamic-response core expanse formed of an open-cell, compressible viscoelastic foam coated with elastomeric, moisture- and gas-flow-managing, differential-thickness coating structure load-transmissively bonded to the entirety of the outside of said core expanse to function as a dynamically-responsive unit therewith.
US08898836B1

A caddy for use with hospital staff or patients provides a rigid housing having a carriage with at least one vertically and, preferably, at least one horizontally accessible compartments. The housing provides a semi-circular opening above the carriage to act as a handle while also, for many embodiments, a back to which a pivot connects to a connector which connects to a hospital bed rail to maintain the caddy in a pre-determined relationship while the rail is angled relative to a horizontal surface.
US08898829B1

A bed frame end board that can be easily disassembled and reassembled to replace damaged components and reduce the cost and labor associated with refurbishment of dormitory beds including a vertically oriented rail configured to interlock with a bed frame side member, an outboard panel, and an inboard panel; and vertically spaced apart cross members having opposite ends fixed to the posts, wherein the outboard panels are releasably fixed to the rail by a fastening system having a slotted fastening clip on the rail and a stud on the outboard panel engaging a slot in the clip, and wherein the cross members are releasably attached to the posts with a threaded fastener and stabilized against rotational movement with respect to the post by dowels received in aligned bores extending into abutting surfaces of the panels and posts.
US08898827B2

A waterproof sink insert (124, 124′, 124″, 124′″, 124″″) for installing an under-mount sink (108) in a built-up surround (104) having a non-waterproof support structure (116) so as to inhibit water damage to the support structure. The sink support insert is mounted within an insert opening (128) formed in the support structure. The sink support insert comprises a mounting region (144) located radially inward from the outer periphery (148) of the sink support insert. The sink is secured to the sink support structure within the mounting region. The sink support insert may optionally include one or more apertures (136) for receiving a faucet or other sink appurtenance(s).
US08898826B2

A back rest device for a bathtub comprising a rest member having a front surface and a back surface, at least one suction cup, a cover with pockets, and at least one insertable pillow. The rest member is placed against a bathtub back and on a cushioned bathmat that suctions to the floor of the bathtub. The suction cups are attached to the back surface of the rest member to facilitate the attachment of the rest member to the bathtub back. The cover with pockets is attached to the front surface of the rest member and the insertable pillow is placed inside the pockets to create additional comfort.
US08898825B2

A baby bath seat assembly includes a support member having a mounting bracket that clamps onto a tub wall and carrying a support that extends downwardly into the tub. The support carries a base on which the seat is mounted to turn through approximately 180°, and a detent mechanism releasably locks the seat in any selected position.
US08898823B2

Provided are templates, methods, and kits for installing closet flanges. The template can include a body having a sidewall and a bottom as well as a plurality of tabs connected to the body, with one or more of the tabs configured to delineate the location of a fastener hole in a closet flange.
US08904560B2

A method of operating a metrology instrument includes generating relative motion between a probe and a sample at a scan frequency using an actuator. The method also includes detecting motion of the actuator using a position sensor that exhibits noise in the detected motion, and controlling the position of the actuator using a feedback loop and a feed forward algorithm. In this embodiment, the controlling step attenuates noise in the actuator position compared to noise exhibited by the position sensor over the scan bandwidth. Scan frequencies up to a third of the first scanner resonance frequency or greater than 300 Hz are possible.
US08904549B2

In a multitenant service, security of the entire service is guaranteed by logically separating data for each tenant, and performing control to prevent access to data of another tenant. In an operation of the multitenant service, there are some special cases in which an access to data of another tenant becomes necessary. Further, processing executable across tenants needs to be subjected to restrictions on an executor of the processing and a processing target in addition to restrictions on a processing content. In data access control of the multitenant service, a control operation to determine whether processing is executable across tenants for each API and a control operation to determine whether processing is executable across tenants according to tenant categories of the executor and the processing target are performed.
US08904547B2

A system and method for protecting a user from offensive behavior in communications and notifying the user and/or an enforcement entity of the offensive behavior. The offensive content analysis system monitors communications between users for offensive behavior. The offensive content analysis system may measure the level of current offense in the communication and determine a historical offensive behavior pattern for the user. The offensive content analysis system may then determine if the offensive behavior, both current and historical, rises to a threshold behavior level. The offensive content analysis system may take notification action if the offensive behavior meets the threshold level.
US08904546B2

A DRM method and DRM-enabled portable device for controlling playback of DRM content on the basis of content usage log is disclosed. A digital rights management method for a portable device of the present invention includes playing a content item recording, when an abnormal playback stop event is detected, a stop time point in a playback session of the content item on a usage log and controlling a next playback of the content item with reference to the recorded stop time point. The DRM method and DRM-enabled portable device of the present invention further manages the licenses issued for the DRM content stored in the portable device by updating the licenses even when the DRM content are abnormally closed during its playback session.
US08904541B2

A system and method for performing security assessments in an online services system. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an accepted security assessment agreement from a user, where the security assessment agreement is associated with a software application utilized in an online services system. The method also includes receiving configuration data associated with the software application; receiving scanning data associated with the software application; and sending the configuration data and scanning data to one or more security assessment systems.
US08904538B1

A computer-implemented method for user-directed malware remediation may include 1) identifying a window within a graphical user interface of a computing environment, 2) identifying a user-directed interface event directed at the window, 3) determining, based at least in part on the user-directed interface event, that a process represented by the window poses a security risk, and 4) performing a remediation action on the process based on determining that the process poses the security risk. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08904522B1

The disclosure relates to a classification system which includes a classification circuit which may determine a classification of a signal based on comparing signal data received via a sensor to data in a database. The classification circuit may determine an interface protocol based on the classification.
US08904521B2

Cross-site request forgeries (“XSRF”) can be prevented using a client-side plugin on a client computer. The client computer accesses a content provided by a third party host via a network and generates a request to a web application as directed by the content. The client-side plugin determines whether the request is associated with suspicious activities based on the content, a source of the request and a list of approved hosts associated with the target host. In response to a determination that the request is associated with suspicious activities, the plugin removes authentication credentials from the request and sends the request to the web application.
US08904518B2

An information processing device includes an external connection unit which connects to an external device; and a communication control unit which obtains data from a first virtual machine, transmits the data to a second virtual machine, and transmits, to the external connection unit, transmission completion information indicating that the data is already transmitted to the second virtual machine. The external connection unit (i) determines, based on the transmission completion information, whether or not a virtual machine is the second virtual machine to which the data is already transmitted, when the external connection unit receives, from the virtual machine, a request for a connection to the external device, and (ii) permits a connection between the virtual machine and the external device, when the external connection unit determines that the virtual machine is not the second virtual machine to which the data is already transmitted.
US08904516B2

A system for connecting a first network device and a second network device includes one or more servers. The servers are configured to: (a) receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and (c) initiate a virtual private network communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, wherein the secure communications service uses the virtual private network communication link.
US08904510B2

Authenticating a user for testing purposes. A web server receives a request from a client that includes an authentication credential and that is formatted to be handled by a particular authentication module. The authentication module is configured to obtain authentication tokens based on authentication credentials included in requests, while refraining from generating any interactive authentication dialog. Based on the request, the web server passes at least a portion of the request, including the authentication credential, to the authentication module. The authentication module determines that the request is formatted in a manner that triggers the authentication module. The authentication module obtains an authentication token from an identity provider based on the authentication credential, while refraining from generating any interactive authentication dialog. The authentication module returns the authentication token to the web server. The web server returns the authentication token to the client.
US08904508B2

A method including: receiving, at a first device, a challenge provided from a second device, wherein the challenge includes an encoding algorithm and a request for credentials from the first device; and outputting, from the first device to the second device, a response to the challenge, wherein the response includes at least one image, the at least one image including an article of evidence arranged according to the encoding algorithm.
US08904502B1

A system and method for implementing password gates for entities and/or content is disclosed. A password gate may determine whether a select group of users are allowed to access a particular entity and/or content in order to rate and/or provide commentary with respect to that particular entity/content. The select group of users may be permitted access based on the ability to satisfy the password gate. A password gate may comprise a question that only a select group of users can correctly answer. Users may be able to create password gates and/or vote on existing password gates associated with entities and/or content. The highest rated password gate may be presented to a user attempting to gain access to a particular entity/content.
US08904497B2

Systems, methods, and devices for providing an operational dashboard are described herein. One method includes receiving operational data associated with a system, receiving credentials associated with a user of a user device including a number of display elements configurable by the user, and determining a particular portion of the operational data to provide to the user via the display elements of the user device based, at least in part, on the credentials.
US08904496B1

There is disclosed a method and system for use in authenticating an entity in connection with a computerized resource. An authentication request is received from entity for access to computerized resource. An input signal is received from a communications device associated with entity. The input signal comprises current location of communications device. The current location of communications device is derived from input signal. A location history in connection with communications device is captured. The location history comprises a record of discrete locations visited by communications device over a period of time. An analysis is performed between current location of the communications device and location history in connection with communications device. An authentication result is generated based on analysis between current location of communications device and location history in connection with communications device. The authentication result can be used for authenticating entity.
US08904495B2

A user transaction request is received at a client device. A web browser plug-in communicates the user transaction request to a server that determines whether the user transaction request is a secure transaction. Transaction data is received from the server via the web browser plug-in. If the received transaction data indicates a secure transaction, the user is prompted to provide biometric data, which is received from the user. The web browser plug-in then communicates a transaction confirmation to the server.
US08904477B2

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to configuring and providing policies that manage execution of mobile applications. In some embodiments, a user interface may be generated that allows an IT administrator or other operator to set, change and/or add to policy settings. The policy settings can be formatted into a policy file and be made available for download to a mobile device, such as via an application store or to be pushed to the mobile device as part of a data push service. The mobile device, based on the various settings included in the policy file, may perform various actions to enforce the security constraints that are represented by the policy. The various settings that can be included in a policy are numerous and some examples and variations thereof are described in connection with the example embodiments discussed herein.
US08904476B2

These and other objectives are attained with a method and system for evaluating an access policy change. The method comprises the step of providing an access control mechanism having a first policy, and an audit log having entries of accesses made under that first policy. The method comprises the further steps of submitting a second policy to the access control mechanism, comparing the log entries to the second policy, and based on the results of the comparing step, taking one of a predetermined number of actions.
US08904473B2

Devices, methods, and computer programs are presented for displaying information output of a host. One apparatus includes a housing that includes a panel, a scalar, a sensor, an integrated circuit (IC), and a communications device. The panel includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged to define an area for displaying information output from the host. The scalar is for receiving pixel data from the host computer to be displayed on the panel, and the sensor is for capturing data proximate to the panel. The IC is in communication with the scalar and the panel, the integrated circuit configured to intercept the information output from the host computer, the data of the sensor being analyzed for security control when the information output is to be presented to the scalar. The communications device is for enabling the IC to communicate with a remote computer without communicating through the host computer.
US08904471B1

A method for utilizing a policy system in the requisitioning of goods or services over a network, the network connected to a server, thereby allowing communication between the server and a plurality of users, each user having a login ID and belonging to one of a plurality of classes, the method comprising: the server storing each user's login ID, each user's class information, and a plurality of policies, wherein the class information comprises the identification of each class to which the user belongs, and each policy is associated with a class; a user logging into the server using the user's login ID; the user providing search input to the server; the server processing the search input; the server determining the appropriate policies, wherein the appropriate policies are policies that are determined to be associated with the user's class information; and the server providing the appropriate policies to the user.
US08904458B2

A method of pre-caching video content is provided and includes measuring an available bandwidth of a data connection to a set top box. The available bandwidth measurement can be an average available bandwidth of the data connection to the set top box or a minimum available bandwidth of the data connection to the set top box. Each of a plurality of video files is divided into a first portion and a second portion and the size of each first portion is based on the available bandwidth measurement. The first portion of each of the plurality of video files is downloaded over the data connection and stored in a memory within the set top box. A list is displayed at a display device and includes a list of video titles that correspond to the plurality of video files that have only a first portion downloaded to the memory.
US08904448B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to receive from a media communication system metadata describing one or more marketable items depicted in a media program supplied by the media communication system, present images of the media program at a media presentation device without highlighting the one or more marketable items, present an icon at least at one of a remote controller managing operations of the media processor or the media presentation device to indicate a presence of the one or more marketable items in one or more of the images presented at the media presentation device, detect a selection of the icon, and highlight the one or more marketable items. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08904443B2

GUI presentation in a home network is improved by using a video encoding tailored for GUI, while using normal video encoding for video presentation. Also, GUI command response time is shortened by reserving, for transmission of commands originated by a user input device, a time slot in a contention free period (CFP) of a transmission cycle between a client device receiving the commands and a server executing them.
US08904437B2

According to one embodiment, a phrase similarity is reduced when a common genre characteristic word is included in a program of interest interested by a user and a similar phrase program including the same phrase. A genre similarity is increased when a common genre characteristic word is included in the program of interest and a similar genre program including the same genre as the program of interest. The similar phrase program is presented based on the phrase similarity, and the similar genre program is presented based on the genre similarity.
US08904434B2

According to one embodiment, an information display apparatus, comprising: a first display controller configured to display a broadcasting station information to identify a plurality of broadcasting stations on a screen; a acquiring module configured to acquire one or more short comments with respect to the broadcasting station information from a server connected through a network; and a second display controller configured to display the one or more short comments on the screen on each of the plurality of broadcasting stations.
US08904430B2

Real-time participation within a media presentation is disclosed. A participant overlay may be generated by preprocessing a media presentation to extract a time-variant metadata stream associated with one or more interactive regions depicted in the media presentation. The participant overlay includes simulated physics, which may include boundaries of the interactive regions defined in accordance with content in said media presentation. A participant's interaction with said media presentation through the interactive regions may be captured and combined with the media presentation for display on a display. The interaction may comprise a user action upon one or more elements in the media presentation, a user action expressed in the media presentation through an avatar, or a user action in said media presentation in connection with a game element.
US08904428B2

A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for selecting an advertisement for play on a specified device for one or more users. Each of the users has a defined relationship with the specified device, and has an information description stored on a mobile communications device. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the respective information description of each of one or more users from the user's communications device to a provider server. The server analyzes one or more information descriptions to identify an advertisement for playing on the specified device. The specified device, in one embodiment, is a television. In an embodiment, advertisements are displayed based on common purchase profiles and common purchase plans among different people. The purchase plans may be sent to the television when the users are in a defined area or come within a given distance of the television.
US08904427B2

A method of content sub-item substitution is described. The method includes: receiving from a headend a description of a plurality of virtual channels, the description defining each virtual channel on the basis of one or more metadata attributes associated with that virtual channel; receiving one or more content sub-item substitution opportunities for each virtual channel, each content sub-item substitution opportunity specifying one or more content sub-items for use in the content sub-item substitution; and receiving and recording a content item, the content item including metadata associated with the content item and one or more substitutable content sub-items. The method further includes, upon playback (201) of a previously recorded content item: matching the metadata associated with the previously recorded content item with the one or more metadata attributes, thereby determining a virtual channel (205) valid for the previously recorded content item; selecting a content sub-item substitution opportunity (207) based on the determined virtual channel; and substituting the one or more substitutable content sub-items (211) with content sub-items specified in the selected content sub-item substitution opportunity. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
US08904424B2

According to the invention, a method for securing a plaintext object within a content receiver is disclosed. In one step, a secure portion of a secure object and a plaintext remainder of the secure object are received. Which portion of the secure object is the secure portion is determined. The secure portion is decrypted to provide a plaintext portion. The plaintext object that comprises the plaintext portion and the plaintext remainder is formed. The plaintext object is stored including authentication and authorization.
US08904416B2

A content playback apparatus (100) includes: a viewing target content obtaining unit (20) obtaining the viewing target content; a viewer detecting unit (10) detecting a first viewer who views the viewing target content played back by the content playback apparatus; a viewer content selecting unit (204) selecting, from among viewer contents, a viewer content having a matching degree higher than a predetermined threshold, the matching degree indicating an amount of common points between the first viewer detected by the viewer detecting unit and a second viewer who views a same content as the viewing target content under temporally or spatially a different condition, and each of the viewer contents including information of video or sound of the second viewer; and a content playback unit (30) playing back the viewing target content obtained by the viewing target content obtaining unit and the viewer content selected by the viewer content selecting unit.
US08904414B2

A method of delivering video content is disclosed that includes receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device. The request indicates a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device. The method also includes sending notification information to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber. Further, the method includes receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device. The viewing preferences data indicates a particular time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content. Additionally, the method includes sending video content download data to a particular network entity. The video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the particular time.
US08904411B2

Techniques for making internal data from a source application available through an application programming interface (“API”). Embodiments may analyze a source application to determine a storage location and a first storage format of internal data, wherein the source application does not provide an API through which the internal data is accessible. Embodiments may then extract the internal data from the storage location, and convert the extracted data from the first storage format to a common storage format. Embodiments may then provide an API to make the converted data available.
US08904389B2

Techniques promote monitoring of hypervisor systems by presenting dynamic representations of hypervisor architectures that include performance indicators. A reviewer can interact with the representation to progressively view select lower-level performance indicators. Higher level performance indicators can be determined based on tower level state assessments. A reviewer can also view historical performance metrics and indicators, which can aid in understanding which configuration changes or system usages may have led to sub-optimal performance.
US08904388B2

A method and system for executing scripts on virtual machines is provided. The system includes an executor service that accepts scripts, parameters, authentication information from another process that needs to invoke a script on a target virtual machine (or group of virtual machines). The executor service remains running even after a script has completed execution. The executor service accepts any number of scripts and places them in a command queue. Agents running on the target virtual machine(s) check-in with the executor service to receive scripts from the command queue. Also, the executor service may directly invoke a script using a persistent connection to a virtual machine management center.
US08904383B2

Embodiments are directed to virtual machine migration according to environmental data in a data center. One embodiment is a method that analyzes environmental data for a data center having plural servers and migrates virtual machines among the servers to increase cooling efficiency in the data center.
US08904381B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for generating application-aware data partitioning to support parallel computing. A label for a user defined data partitioning (UDP) key is generated by a labeling process to configure data partitions of original data. The UDP is labeled by the labeling process to include at least one key property excluded from the original data. The data partitions are evenly distributed to co-locate and balance the data partitions and corresponding computations performed by computational servers. A data record of the data partitions is retrieved by performing an all-node parallel search of the computational servers using the UDP key.
US08904372B2

A computer implemented system and method includes accessing an application dialog from a computer readable storage device, wherein the application dialog contains process modules having interface operations and business logic. Process module commands are identified via the computer that are invalid for a service and identifying options for remediation of such commands. A completed process module that has invalid commands removed is compiled as a service procedure. A remote procedure definition and a service wrapper interface are created and stored in a computer readable storage device.
US08904360B2

Embodiments of the invention may provide for collecting specified data each time that a call to a given method occurs, wherein a given call to the given method is associated with a set of arguments comprising one or more particular argument values for the given method, and the collected data includes an element uniquely identifying each of the particular argument values. The process may further include storing the collected data at a selected location, and selecting a call threshold for the given method, wherein the call threshold comprises a specified number of occurrences of the given call to the given method, when the program is running. The collected data may be selectively analyzed at the storage location, to determine whether an occurrence of the given call to the given method has exceeded the call threshold.
US08904357B2

A software architecture as designed is governed. A rules engine tests code for implemented architectural decisions. Deviation from designed architecture is detected by execution of the rules engine. The dashboard generates a graphical or textual representation indicating violations and/or changes in the implemented architecture over time. A dashboard assists in managing implementation of the architecture by indicating deviation or the results of change to coding.
US08904351B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to maintaining a repository of subroutines used by a software program under test based on an analysis of subroutine usage logs. One aspect of the invention concerns a method that comprises analyzing a log of subroutine usage by an application under test to identify subroutines used by the application based on actions in the subroutines, and comparing the identified subroutines against a repository of subroutines applicable to the application. The method may further designate a subroutine in the repository as a matching subroutine, modify or delete a subroutine, or add a new subroutine to the repository.
US08904347B2

A method and system are disclosed for building complex real-time software that scales well to a large number of processors or CPU cores. The software design and implementation method are based on a combination of object composition (hierarchical assembly) and desynchronizable inter-object interactions.
US08904338B2

In one aspect, a method to predict performance of a software project includes determining, using a computer, performance estimates associated with at least one design count, the design count comprising at least one function point count, collecting actual performance data, comparing the performance estimates with the actual performance data, determining, using the computer, new performance estimates for a remainder of the software project in response to the actual performance data collected and refining a design of the software project based on the new performance estimates.
US08904335B2

Evaluation of electrical accessibility within a layer of a circuit to pin geometries residing within a cell boundary of the circuit is provided. The evaluating includes, for instance, checking along substantially parallel pin geometry access paths of the layer to determine possible points at which a respective pin geometry of the pin geometries within the cell boundary may be accessed. The evaluating also includes identifying which points of the possible points are accessible access points by any route of the possible routes for electrically connecting to a respective pin geometry of the pin geometries from a first side or a second side of the cell boundary, wherein at least one point of the possible points is identified as not being an accessible access point based on the at least one point being inaccessible by the possible routes.
US08904334B2

A method comprising placing elements in a layout, performing clock tree synthesis, and performing routing. The method further comprising, in parallel with one of the clock tree synthesis or the routing, performing a footprint based optimization, substituting a footprint equivalent element in a path based on a timing slack of the path.
US08904333B2

A system for prototyping an integrated circuit (IC) that has a mixed signal intellectual property (IP) core includes implementing the IP core using discrete programmable digital ICs and discrete analog ICs by partitioning the IP core into a digital IP portion and an analog IP portion.
US08904332B1

The present disclosure relates to a method for visualizing an electronic circuit design. The method may include receiving the electronic circuit design, wherein the electronic circuit design includes at least one timing constraint. The method may also include identifying the at least one timing constraint and displaying, at a graphical user interface associated with the one or more computing devices, the at least one timing constraint and a physical routing associated with the electronic circuit design. The method may further include receiving a user input associated with the electronic circuit design and dynamically updating a graphical representation of the at least one timing constraint, in response to the received user input.
US08904329B2

Methods and systems for qualifying a single cell with product path delay analysis are provided. A method includes designing a product using a model from an initial test site. The method also includes creating performance path tests for one or more paths on the product. The method further includes measuring performance path parameters of the product. The method includes determining that the measured performance path parameters match predicted performance path parameters.
US08904323B1

The present disclosure describes a memory block manager. In some aspects a request is transmitted to a model of an IP block at a randomized time and a response is received from the model of the IP block useful to characterize behavior of the IP block when fabricated. In other aspects a response to a request is transmitted to a model of an IP block at a randomized time and a communication is received from the model of the IP block useful to characterize behavior of the fabricated IP block when fabricated.
US08904322B2

An automated method of modifying a semiconductor chip design includes creating a timing analysis of said semiconductor chip design, identifying a plurality of gates in said semiconductor chip design which have either too fast a rising edge or falling edge, for each gate in said plurality of gates adding a stacked transistor to provide delay to the rising or falling edge of the gate. A design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, the design structure includes a CMOS device having a first transistor with a first input, a pair of stacked transistors having a second input, and an output.
US08904320B2

A design description for verification includes a set of constraints on random variables within the design description. The set of constraints includes at least one multiplication constraint involving at least two random variables. A computer-based tool obtains designs and analyzes the design description to find the set of constraints and identify the multiplication constraint. The computer-based tool then performs factorization to solve for the multiplication constraint and to determine a set of potentially valid factoring values for the random variables used in the multiplication constraint. The design problem is then solved by the computer-based tool using the factoring values. If two multiplication constraints involve a common variable, the factorization finds a set of common factoring values between the two multiplication constraints to use for the common variable.
US08904316B2

A method for printing a periodic pattern having a first symmetry and a first period into a photosensitive layer. The method includes providing a mask bearing a pattern of at least two overlapping sub-patterns which have a second symmetry and a second period, the features of each sub-pattern being formed in a transmissive material, providing a substrate bearing the layer, arranging the mask with a separation from the substrate, providing light having a central wavelength for illuminating the mask to generate a light-field in which light of the central wavelength forms a range of intensity distributions between Talbot planes, illuminating said mask pattern with said light while maintaining the separation or changing it by a distance whereby the photosensitive layer is exposed to an average of the range of intensity distributions, wherein the light transmitted by each sub-pattern is shifted in phase relative to that transmitted by another sub-pattern.
US08904315B2

There is provided a method comprising: examining the location of one or more feature(s) of the one or more component(s) of a circuit arrangement to determine the displacement of the location of said one or more associated communication contact(s) with respect to a designed location for the communication contact(s), and providing corrective communication path layout data of said circuit arrangement based upon the said displacement(s).
US08904313B2

A method for value specification in a responsive interface control, the method including: displaying an interface control in a user interface on a touch display device, wherein the interface control is an interactive interface element configured to set an interface value selected from an ordered continuum of values; detecting a shape of a touch gesture input on the interface control on the touch display device; and changing the interface value in response to detecting a change in the shape of the gesture input.
US08904304B2

Disclosed are several methods, apparatus, and a system to create, expose, and hide embedded secondary content data relevant to a primary content page of an electronic book generated by a content generating device. The method, system, and apparatus is enabled through a Y-axis slide apart gesture that is applied to a notification region of the primary content page such that the secondary content data is made visible when the Y-axis slide apart gesture is applied to the notification region. The method, system, and apparatus is also enabled through a Y-axis pinch close gesture that is applied to a boundary of an exposed pane that is appearing in the primary content page such that the Y-axis pinch close gesture collapses the exposed pane in which the secondary content data is made visible. In one embodiment, the system comprises an association server, an electronic book distribution server, and a content rendering device.
US08904303B2

A mobile communication terminal is provided. The mobile communication terminal includes a memory, a touch screen, and a controller. The touch screen is configured to display an Internet address input window, at least a portion of an Internet page corresponding to an Internet address in the Internet address input window, and a virtual key pad. The controller is configured to generate a duplicate window of the Internet address input window in response to a first touch input performed on the Internet address input window, move the duplicate window in response to a drag operation, store the Internet address in a memory in response to dropping the moved duplicate window on a key in the virtual key pad, and generate a short-cut by assigning the stored Internet address to the key.
US08904302B2

In an embodiment, a plurality of graphical elements of a graphical model may be displayed on a display device. An indication of a graphical operation involving a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements may be received. The graphical operation when performed may establish a relationship between the first graphical element and one or more other graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements that are compatible with the graphical operation. Two or more graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements that are compatible with the graphical operation and one or more characteristics associated with the first graphical element may be identified. A visual indication may be provided on the display device. The visual indication may indicate that the identified plurality of graphical elements is compatible with the graphical operation.
US08904294B2

A method of transferring image data from a first terminal to a second terminal connected via a communication network, the method comprising: displaying on a screen of the first terminal a screen image generated by a processor executed application; a processor executing a communication client to: establish a communication event between the first and second terminals and display at the first terminal an interactive selection component; a user at the first terminal actuating the selection component to select at least one object displayed on the screen to be shared with the second terminal, wherein the communication client accesses data defining displayed object dimensions and adjusts the selection component based on those dimensions to cause the at least one object selected by the window selection component to be displayed on a screen of the second terminal by transferring image data over the communication network in the established communication event.
US08904291B2

A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal comprises a wireless communication unit, a display (151) configured to display an image, and a controller configured to display a first input area overlapping with at least part of the image in response to a first touch applied to the display (151) and to transmit data based on a touch trace corresponding to a second touch of a user, which is acquired through the displayed first input area, to a client terminal (200, 300) including one or more other terminals through the wireless communication unit in real time, the first input area having translucent property to allow the overlap image to be recognized. According to the present invention, data corresponding to a touch applied to an input area can be transmitted to a client terminal to achieve each data exchange.
US08904286B2

A method and hierarchical menu is provided for displaying on the screen of a wireless handheld electronic device an extended menu or a short menu, which is a subset of the corresponding extended menu. The method includes displaying a page on a screen and receiving an ambiguous request/selection when no menu is displayed. In response to the ambiguous selection, a short menu corresponding to the displayed page is displayed on the screen. Various short menus are provided with their respective menu items being dependent and adjustable based upon the position of a cursor on the displayed page, the currently opened application, and/or the previous selections. Further, a selection from the short menu is capable of displaying the extended menu corresponding thereto.
US08904284B2

An electronic book (“eBook”) reader application executing on an electronic device conserves non-volatile, random access memory by reading from non-volatile memory an electronic document page that includes text and at least one non-textual object (e.g., an image), storing the read electronic document page in volatile memory such that the at least one non-textual object is replaced with a placeholder that occupies less memory than the non-textual object (e.g., a blank rectangle having the same dimensions as the image), determining that the electronic document page stored in volatile memory is likely to be displayed imminently, and replacing the placeholder in the stored electronic document page with the non-textual object.
US08904267B2

The present invention is a system, method and apparatus for converting a slide show presentation for use within a non-presentation application such as a Web conferencing or virtual classroom application. In accordance with the present invention, a slide show presentation in its native format can be processed to extract slide title information for each slide in the slide show presentation. Additionally, important text within slide further can be extracted. Each slide in the slide-show can be converted to a raster image and disposed within markup. The markup can be annotated with the important text and both the markup and the slide title can be provided to the non-presentation application for use in concert with the non-presentation application. In this way, the context of each slide can be preserved for use within the non-presentation application as can an image of each slide itself.
US08904264B2

An error correction encoding method is provided for encoding source digital data, having the form of a frame, wherein the data can be classified into N classes, where N is an integer at least equal to 2.The encoding method includes: a first step of recursive systematic convolutional encoding of the data of the class 1; an implementation of the following steps, for each n ranging from 1 to M, where M is a positive integer equal to or lower than N−1: nth mixing (108n+1) of a set formed by data of the class n+1 (102n+1), the systematic data and the parity data from a preceding encoding step; and (n+1)th recursive systematic convolutional encoding (110n+1) of data formed by the result of nth mixing. A decoding method is provided for decoding encoded data with the encoding method, using an associated encoding device and a decoding device.
US08904261B2

A mechanism is provided for controlling a solid state storage device in which the solid state storage comprises erasable blocks each comprising a plurality of data write locations. Input data is stored in successive groups of data write locations, each group comprising write locations in a set of erasable blocks in each of a plurality of logical subdivisions of the solid state storage. The input data is error correction encoded such that each group contains an error correction code for the input data in that group. Metadata, indicating the location of input data in the solid state storage, is maintained in memory. An indication of validity of data stored in each data write location is also maintained. Prior to erasing a block, valid input data is recovered from the each said group containing write locations in that block. The recovered data is then re-stored as new input data.
US08904259B2

A decoder 5 applies decode processing to N input data in parallel to generate K decode data. An S/P converter 6 outputs N input data applied in series to decoder 5 through first lines L1-L64 dividedly over several times. A P/S converter 7 receives through second lines R1-R60 the K decode data from decoder 5 dividedly over several times to output in series the K decoded data to an external source.
US08904258B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to binary block transmission codes for high-speed network transmissions. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to bounded-disparity run-length-limited forward error correction codes and methods of constructing and utilizing same. In one embodiment, a method for generating binary block bounded-disparity run-length-limited forward error correction transmission codes comprises selecting an existing base code, deriving a sub-code from the existing base code, having properties indicated by disparity bound, run-length limit and minimum distance, ascertaining a plurality of codewords and control characters from within the sub-code, encoding Messages to be transmitted with at least one codeword from the plurality of codewords, transmitting codewords from a transmitter to a receiver, and decoding the codewords into Messages.
US08904255B2

An integrated circuit comprises scan test circuitry and additional circuitry subject to testing utilizing the scan test circuitry. The scan test circuitry comprises a scan chain having a plurality of scan cells. The integrated circuit further comprises a clock distribution network configured to provide clock signals to respective portions of the integrated circuit. The clock distribution network comprises clock gating circuitry configured to control delivery of one or more of the clock signals along respective clock signal lines of the clock distribution network at least in part responsive to a scan shift control signal that is also utilized to cause the scan cells to form a serial shift register during scan testing. The clock gating circuitry may be used to determine whether a clock delay defect that causes a scan error during scan testing will also cause a functional error during functional operation, thereby improving yield in integrated circuit manufacturing.
US08904248B2

A self-test loopback apparatus for an interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, a bidirectional interface of an integrated circuit includes a transmitter coupled to an external pin, a first receiver coupled to the external pin, and a second receiver coupled to the external pin. During operation in a test mode, the first receiver may be disabled. The transmitter may transmit test patterns generated by a built-in self-test (BIST) circuit, and compare those test patterns to patterns received by the second receiver. The second receiver may be implemented as a Schmitt trigger (wherein the first receiver may be a standard single-bit comparator). When operating in functional mode, the second receiver may be disabled.
US08904246B2

A variable write back indicator control is provided to control the amount of data to be re-transmitted when a packet error occurs. A hardware controller obtains an indication that an acknowledge rate or an amount of set write back indicators of a data frame is to be adjusted. The indication is based on an error rate of data transmission over a communication bus. Based on obtaining the indication that the amount of set write back indicators is to be adjusted, one or more write back indicators are adjusted.
US08904245B2

Upon receiving a particular data unit by a receiving layer of a wireless device, it is detected that a previous data unit earlier in sequence to the particular data unit has not yet been received by the receiving layer. A timer is started in response to the detecting, where the timer has a time-out period that is variable dependent upon a parameter associated with receipt of the particular data unit. Upon expiration of the timer based on the timeout period, the receiving layer generates an error indication.
US08904243B2

Example event management systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method monitors an application implemented using one or more processors. The method identifies activity data associated with operation of the application. The activity data is stored in a cyclic buffer. Upon detection of an error event associated with the operation of the application, the activity data in the cyclic buffer is written to a log file.
US08904241B2

Processes, computer-readable media, and machines are disclosed for reducing a likelihood that active functional components fail in a computing system. An active monitoring component receives metrics associated with different active functional components of a computing system. The different active functional components contribute to different functionalities of the system. Based at least in part on the metrics associated with a particular active functional component, the active monitoring component determines that the particular active functional component has reached a likelihood of failure but has not failed. In response to determining that the particular active functional component has reached the likelihood of failure but has not failed, the active monitoring component causes a set of actions that are predicted to reduce the likelihood of failure.
US08904235B2

An online debug system for an information processing device is provided that enables easily connecting a debug device for online debugging to an information processing device while maintaining minimum required functions of the information processing device as a product. The online debug system has a debug device that transfers a directive from outside to thereby debug a navigation system. The navigation system includes a debug daemon that debugs the navigation system and a data expansion unit that reads a communication driver group stored in a USB memory via a connection terminal and validates it. A serial communication driver as the communication driver group validated in the navigation system enables the debug device communicate with the debug daemon.
US08904232B2

Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to auditing operations. In aspects, operations may be audited synchronously and/or asynchronously to one or more audit targets. When auditing synchronously, audit records may be written synchronously to an audit target. When auditing asynchronously, a buffer may be used to store audit records until the audit records are flushed to an audit target. If an error occurs in auditing, a policy may be evaluated to determine how to respond. One exemplary response includes failing an operation that triggered a subsequent audit record. Furthermore, if a buffer was unable to be copied to an audit target, the contents of the buffer may be preserved and one or more retries may be attempted to copy the buffer to the audit target.
US08904231B2

Synchronous local and cross-site switchover and switchback operations of a node in a disaster recovery (DR) group are described. In one embodiment, during switchover, a takeover node receives a failover request and responsively identifies a first partner node in a first cluster and a second partner node in a second cluster. The first partner node and the takeover node form a first high-availability (HA) group and the second partner node and a third partner node in the second cluster form a second HA group. The first and second HA groups form the DR group and share a storage fabric. The takeover node synchronously restores client access requests associated with a failed partner node at the takeover node.
US08904224B2

Techniques for providing session level replication and fail-over as a network service include generating a replication rule that replicates network traffic destined for a primary server from an originating server to a network controller and installing said rule in a switch component, identifying flows from the originating server to the primary server, replicating each incoming data packet intended for the primary server to the network controller for replication and forwarding to replica servers, determining said primary server to be in a failed state based on a number of retransmissions of a packet, to selecting one of the replica servers as a fail-over target, and performing a connection level fail-over by installing a redirection flow in the switch component that redirects all packets destined to the primary server to the network controller, which forwards the packets to the replica server and forwards each response from the replica server to said originating server.
US08904222B2

A watchdog timer includes an execution address detection section comparing a value of a program counter of a central processing unit with an address of a predetermined area, a timer count section having a first overflow time set thereto when the execution address detection section indicates that the value of the program counter has entered the predetermined area, and a counter clear control section generating a request signal for clearing the timer count section when the execution address detection section indicates that the value of the program counter has exited from the predetermined area.
US08904204B2

Systems, methods and computer program products manage computing resources for a system. A system includes a set of processors having multiple processor cores present in the computer system, where the processor cores form an aggregated set of processor cores for the system. A dependency analyzer determines dependencies among a set of workload components executing on the set of processor cores. A policy includes rules associated with managing one or more of power consumption, heat production, operating cost or workload balancing for the set of aggregated processor cores. In response to a workload event, a management component sets a state of one or more of the processor cores in accordance with the workload event, the policy and the set of dependencies.
US08904203B2

A power supply assembly for a terminal having Ethernet energy supply, includes a split device with an Ethernet energy supply connection (A1) that connects to an Ethernet cable which is set up to supply energy and with an output to provide a first DC voltage (U1), a logic unit coupled to the split device, a DC/DC converter coupled to the logic unit and connected to the output of the split device in a switchable manner, and a voltage (U) that supplies the terminal being provided at an output of the DC/DC converter under control of the logic unit.
US08904197B2

Power usage of a portable computing device is modified to more efficiently use a power supply included in the portable computing device. Power usage by different components of the portable computing device is modified based on use of the portable computing device to allow dynamic modification of power consumption. The portable computing device includes data describing various power management states and the portable computing device transitions between different power management states as it is used, modifying the power consumption of various components in different power management states. Various communication device operating states are also defined to modify power usage by communication devices included in the portable computing device based on device usage.
US08904195B1

Methods and systems for secure communication between a client application and a secure element on a mobile device involve, for example, encrypting a request including a randomly generated session key by the client application with a user's unique public key and sending the encrypted request to the secure element. The request message is decrypted with a user's unique private key on the secure element, a response message is encrypted with the session key retrieved from the decrypted request and sent to the client application, which decrypts the response with the session key.
US08904193B2

A method for operating a security device includes a microcontroller, a protected memory area, in which at least one item of protection-worthy information is stored, and a unit, the microcontroller being connected to the protected memory area via the unit, the at least one item of protection-worthy information being accessed by the microcontroller via the unit when the method is carried out.
US08904187B2

A high security identification card includes an on-board memory for stored biometric data and an on-board sensor for capturing live biometric data. An on-board processor on the card performs a matching operation to verify that the captured biometric data matches the locally stored biometric data. Only if there is a positive match is any data transmitted from the card for additional verification and/or further processing. Preferably, the card is ISO SmartCard compatible. In one embodiment, the ISO SmartCard functions as a firewall for protecting the security processor used for storing and processing the protected biometric data from malicious external attack via the ISO SmartCard interface. In another embodiment, the security processor is inserted between the ISO SmartCard Interface and an unmodified ISO SmartCard processor and blocks any external communications until the user's fingerprint has been matched with a previously registered fingerprint. Real-time feedback is provided while the user is manipulating his finger over the fingerprint sensor, thereby facilitating an optimal placement of the finger over the sensor. The card may be used to enable communication with a transactional network or to obtain physical access into a secure area.
US08904183B2

A computationally efficient message verification strategy that achieves non-repudiation and resilience to computational denial of service attacks in conjunction with a broadcast authentication protocol that authenticates messages using a combination of a digital signature and a TESLA MAC. When messages are received at a receiver, the verification strategy separates the messages into messages with the same sender identification. The strategy then determines whether the TESLA MAC authenticator is valid for each message and discards those messages that do not have a valid TESLA MAC. The strategy collects the messages that have a valid TESLA MAC for each sender identification and performs a batch verification process on the group of messages to determine if the messages in the group have a valid digital signature. This strategy verifies each message in the group of messages if the batch verification process shows that the group of messages has a valid digital signature.
US08904165B2

Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface or “desktop” across two devices are provided. More particularly, a unified desktop is presented across a device and a computer system that comprise a unified system. The unified desktop acts as a single user interface that presents data and receives user interaction in a seamless environment that emulates a personal computing environment. To function within the personal computing environment, the unified desktop includes a sleep state where both the device and computer system become inactive. The unified desktop may be awakened by one of numerous actions by the unified system or the user. Awakening the unified desktop is governed by a set of rules that are associated with the state of the unified system.
US08904164B2

Various embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-function handheld user device that may have multiple selectable modes of operation. Various mechanisms may be provided for switching between modes. Within each mode, context awareness and situational awareness may be used to obtain additional information or perform additional functions not directly requested by the user.
US08904163B2

Various features for a computer operating system include mechanisms for operating where a single native application, in the form of a Web browser, exists for an operating system, and all other applications run as Web apps of the browser application. A computer-implemented object tracking method includes instantiating, a first time, an operating system object on a computing device; automatically identifying contextual meta data that defines a state of objects that are open on the computing device, other than the instantiated operating system object, when the operating system object is instantiated; and storing the identifying contextual meta data in correlation with the operating system object, wherein the contextual meta data identifies one or more objects that are active in the operating system when the operating system object is instantiated.
US08904157B2

A computer including a main body in which a system is built, a peripheral device coupled to the main body, a power supplying part to supply power to the system and/or the peripheral device, an interface part to communicate with an external device, and a controller to control the power supplying part to apply power to the system but not to the peripheral device if a power-saving power applying signal is received through the interface part.
US08904155B2

In response to a property of a conditional branch instruction associated with a loop, such as a property indicating that the branch is a loop-ending branch, a count of the number of iterations of the loop is maintained, and a multi-bit value indicative of the loop iteration count is stored in a Branch History Register (BHR). In one embodiment, the multi-bit value may comprise the actual loop count, in which case the number of bits is variable. In another embodiment, the number of bits is fixed (e.g., two) and loop iteration counts are mapped to one of a fixed number of multi-bit values (e.g., four) by comparison to thresholds. Separate iteration counts may be maintained for nested loops, and a multi-bit value stored in the BHR may indicate a loop iteration count of only an inner loop, only the outer loop, or both.
US08904154B2

An execution migration approach includes bringing the computation to the locus of the data: when a memory instruction requests an address not cached by the current core, the execution context (current program counter, register values, etc.) moves to the core where the data is cached.
US08904150B2

A processor includes an instruction unit which provides instructions for execution by the processor, a decode/issue unit which decodes instructions received from the instruction unit and issues the instructions, and a plurality of execution queues coupled to the decode/issue unit. Each issued instruction from the decode/issue unit is stored into an entry of at least one queue of the plurality of execution queues, wherein each entry of the plurality of execution queues is configured to store an issued instruction and a duplicate indicator corresponding to the issued instruction which indicates whether or not a duplicate instruction of the issued instruction is also stored in an entry of another queue of the plurality of execution queues.
US08904149B2

Methods, systems, and media are provided for a dynamic batch strategy utilized in parallelization of online learning algorithms. The dynamic batch strategy provides a merge function on the basis of a threshold level difference between the original model state and an updated model state, rather than according to a constant or pre-determined batch size. The merging includes reading a batch of incoming streaming data, retrieving any missing model beliefs from partner processors, and training on the batch of incoming streaming data. The steps of reading, retrieving, and training are repeated until the measured difference in states exceeds a set threshold level. The measured differences which exceed the threshold level are merged for each of the plurality of processors according to attributes. The merged differences which exceed the threshold level are combined with the original partial model states to obtain an updated global model state.
US08904146B1

Described are techniques for performing data storage system management. The data storage system is divided into a plurality of virtual partitions. A plurality of policy sets are specified where each of the policy sets includes one or more policies. One of the plurality of policy sets is assigned to each of the plurality of virtual partitions. Each of the plurality of policy sets includes an access control policy that assigns a portion of data storage of the data storage system as a resource for exclusive use in one of the plurality of virtual partitions that is assigned said each policy set.
US08904145B2

Acceptable memory allocation for a partition is determined during and with minimal impact on normal operation of the partitioned system. The approach includes: collecting, by a processor, statistics on a rate at which pages are transferred between uncompressed and compressed memory spaces of the partition's memory; adjusting size of the uncompressed memory space; and subsequent to the adjusting, continuing with collecting of the statistics, and referencing the resultant statistics in determining an acceptable memory allocation for the partition. In one implementation, the adjusting includes stepwise decreasing size of the uncompressed memory space by reallocating uncompressed memory space to compressed memory space, and repeating the collecting of statistics for a defined measurement period for each adjusted uncompressed memory space size until performance of the partition is negatively impacted by the reallocation of uncompressed memory space to compressed memory space.
US08904142B2

A semiconductor storage device includes a first nonvolatile memory to store user data of a file, a second nonvolatile memory to store management data of the file, the second nonvolatile memory being different in type from the first nonvolatile memory, and a controller to control read/write of data with respect to the first and second nonvolatile memories.
US08904140B2

Provided is a user-friendly information processing system which is capable of maintaining latency within a fixed range and ensuring the expandability of a memory capacity at high speed and low cost. The information processing system, including an information processing device, a volatile memory, and nonvolatile memories, is configured. The information processing device, the volatile memory, and the nonvolatile memories are connected in series with one another to reduce the number of connection signals, thereby realizing speeding-up while maintaining the expandability of the memory capacity. The information processing device manages response time zones and time zones where responses overlap one another, and performs a correction operation on the latency, thereby realizing fast data transfer while maintaining the latency within the fixed range. The information processing device performs an error correction to improve the reliability when transferring the data of the nonvolatile memories to the volatile memory. The information processing system composed of a plurality of chips is configured as an information processing system/module in which the respective chips are arranged in layers, and wired together by a through via.
US08904139B2

In one embodiment, a method for managing data swapping in a migration of virtual memory data in a virtual machine, wherein the data swapping is from a first storage device at a first site to a second storage device at a second site, and the first and second storage devices have a metro mirror relationship includes sending a fail report in response to a failure to access the first storage device according to a path table, in response to the fail report, modifying a mirror direction between the first and second storage devices, sending a path modifying notification for modifying settings of a first path to the second storage device, and activating the path to the second storage device by modifying the path table according to the path modifying notification, so as to make the second storage device accessible.
US08904102B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to process identifier (PID) based cache information transfer. An aspect of the invention includes sending, by a first core of a processor, a PID associated with a cache miss in a first local cache of the first core to a second cache of the processor. Another aspect of the invention includes determining that the PID associated with the cache miss is listed in a PID table of the second cache. Yet another aspect of the invention includes based on the PID being listed in the PID table of the second cache, determining a plurality of entries in a cache directory of the second cache that are associated with the PID. Yet another aspect of the invention includes pushing cache information associated with each of the determined plurality of entries in the cache directory from the second cache to the first local cache.
US08904100B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to process identifier (PID) based cache information transfer. An aspect of the invention includes sending, by a first core of a processor, a PID associated with a cache miss in a first local cache of the first core to a second cache of the processor. Another aspect of the invention includes determining that the PID associated with the cache miss is listed in a PID table of the second cache. Yet another aspect of the invention includes based on the PID being listed in the PID table of the second cache, determining a plurality of entries in a cache directory of the second cache that are associated with the PID. Yet another aspect of the invention includes pushing cache information associated with each of the determined plurality of entries in the cache directory from the second cache to the first local cache.
US08904098B2

Data stored in a volatile memory subsystem is backed up redundantly into first and second channels of a non-volatile memory subsystem. The data is retrieved from the volatile memory subsystem upon detection of a trigger condition indicative of real or imminent power loss or reduction and multiple copies are stored in dedicated non-volatile memory channels. The stored copies may be error checked and corrected, and re-written if necessary. The redundantly backed up data can be subsequently retrieved from the non-volatile memory subsystem, error-corrected, and an error-free copy communicated to the volatile memory subsystem.
US08904096B2

A storage device able to make a redundant write operation of unselected data unnecessary and able to optimize an arrangement of pages to a state having a high efficiency for rewriting, wherein the storage device has a first memory unit, a second memory unit having a different access speed from the first memory, and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit has a function of timely moving the stored data in two ways between the first memory unit and the second memory unit having different access speeds in reading or rewriting.
US08904086B2

A flash memory storage system having a flash memory controller and a flash memory chip is provided. The flash memory controller configures a second physical unit of the flash memory chip as a midway cache physical unit corresponding to a first physical unit and temporarily stores first data corresponding to a first host write command and second data corresponding to a second host write command in the midway cache physical unit, wherein the first and second data corresponding to slow physical addresses of the first physical unit. Then, the flash memory controller synchronously copies the first and second data from the midway cache physical unit into the first physical unit, thereby shortening time for writing data into the flash memory chip.
US08904085B2

An exemplary method includes performing flash memory operations; receiving a signal from a voltage monitor as being associated with the performed flash memory operations; and, based at least in part on the received signal, setting a limit for performing subsequent flash memory operations. In such a method, the limit can act to avoid resetting flash memory responsive to current demand associated with subsequent flash memory operations. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08904074B2

The invention described herein provides a system and method for distributing and applying a configuration file from a master device (102) to a slave device (104) in a distributed control system (100). According to aspects of the invention, a configuration file is saved at a master device (102) and distributed to the slave device (104) via the data payload of a fieldbus protocol, such as the CANopen protocol. Aspects of the present invention may be used to further configure an I/O island or sub-network (108) that is attached to the slave device (104). Further aspects of the present invention may be used to repair or replace failed devices in a distributed control system (100).
US08904072B2

A storage system includes a first device having a device manager, and a storage device to generate a domain with the first device. The storage device further includes a domain manager that sends a domain manager message to the first device in response to a discovery message transferred from the device manager. The device manager may register the first device in the domain based on a registration device message transferred according to the domain manager message, and may notify components of the first device. The registered components of the first device are deployed as components of an application program to process data stored in a storage media of the storage device such that a function of the storage device is dynamically extended.
US08904070B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is discussed that includes: an analog to digital converter circuit, and a magneto-resistive adjustment circuit. The analog to digital converter circuit is operable to convert an input signal into corresponding digital samples. The magneto-resistive adjustment circuit is operable to reduce signal asymmetry in the digital samples due to sensing by a magneto-resistive head to yield a corrected output.
US08904058B2

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting Direct Memory Access (DMA) engines in an adaptor for processing Input/Output requests received at the adaptor. A determination is made of an assignment of a plurality of processors to the DMA engines, wherein each processor is assigned to use one of the DMA engines. I/O request related work for a received I/O request directed to the storage is processed by determining the DMA engine assigned to the processor processing the I/O request related work and accessing the determined DMA engine to perform the I/O related work.
US08904053B2

In one aspect of the present description, in an input/output (I/O) device having multiple CPUs and multiple I/O ports, a cycle of I/O port rotations is initiated in which each port rotation of the cycle includes rotating an assignment of at least one I/O port from one CPU to a different CPU of a plurality of the CPUs. In the illustrated embodiment, an I/O port assignment for each CPU of the plurality CPUs is rotated for at least a portion of the cycle. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
US08904047B1

Described are techniques for processing data operations. A request is sent from an application to perform a data operation on a key-value data store. The request is in accordance with a first application-level protocol for performing the data operation on the key-value data store and includes a first key of a first key-value pair used by a data storage system to perform the data operation. The request is received at the data storage system such as by a key-value server that processes requests in accordance with the first application-level protocol for the key-value data store. In response to receiving the request at the data storage system, first processing is performed on the data storage system for the data operation and a response is returned to the application.
US08904041B1

A system, apparatus, and method for link layer address resolution of overlapping network addresses is disclosed. In one aspect, the method performed on a first device includes receiving a first address resolution request from a second device, the first address resolution request having a sender network address and a target network address, wherein the target network address is an overlapping network address that is a gateway address of the second device and a network address of a third device, creating a first address resolution response having a sender link layer address associated with the first device, and sending the first address resolution response to the second device.
US08904032B2

The size and location of an envelope of a data block are included in the posting to a second device of a descriptor list entry for the data block, thus allowing the second device to read the data block without having to first read the descriptor list entry. This envelope may be the same size and location of the data block, or this envelope may be larger than the data block. For example, as the size of the posted register may not be large enough to also store all of the bits required to specify the exact size and position of the data block, a larger data block envelope is defined without specifying the exact low order bits of the size and/or location of the data block envelope.
US08904025B2

The present disclosure provides a system and a method for managing network traffic. The traffic management system has a quality of experience (QoE) measurement module configured to monitor a QoE metric in real-time. A control module is configured to periodically receive the QoE metric and determine a traffic management action based on the QoE metric. A traffic management module is configured to apply the traffic management action to the network traffic.
US08904021B2

A system, apparatus and method related to a communication dongle physically coupled with a media device to automatically discover and launch an application on the media device and to enable switching of a primary output display from a first display of a mobile device to a second display of the media device through an operating system of the mobile device sharing a local area network with the communication dongle is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a mobile device to access a multicast capability of an operating system responsive to a user interacting with an selector on a header bar of a browser application of the mobile device and/or an indicator on a menu bar of the operating system of the mobile device, a media device, and a communication dongle that communicatively couples the mobile device with the media device through a local area network that is commonly shared between the mobile device and/or the communication dongle.
US08904019B2

Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for computing device communications. According to an example implementation of the disclosed technology, a method is provided that can include determining a status and capability of at least one selected computing device, and sending a generated message to the at least one selected computing device. The at least one selected computing device is configured to retrieve content from a source identified by a uniform resource identifier in the message, and the at least one selected computing device is further configured to present the retrieved content.
US08904016B2

An approach is provided for selecting a network server. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to load from one or more network servers configuration information of one or more network servers used by a service provider network. The apparatus is also caused to select a network server in the service provider network based at least in part on at least one of network server latency and the network server load. The apparatus is further caused to set the network server as default network server used for at least one of current and future session on one or more user equipment.
US08904015B2

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for splitting a load of monitoring a peer to peer network. The method has a first node in the peer to peer network receiving information reported by a second node in the peer to peer network, including information concerning which nodes are connected to the second node. The method further has the first node connecting to nodes different from the nodes that are connected to the second node using the received information. The method still further has the first node reporting information, including information concerning which nodes are connected to the first node, such that the second node also has access to the reported information, thereby splitting the load of monitoring the peer to peer network among the first and second nodes.
US08904014B2

Content delivery by a network node in a network is optimized. The network node is communicatively coupled between multiple client devices and at least one content service provider. A media streaming service provided by a content service provider is received at the network node over a first unicast link. The service is transmitted from the network node to a first requestor device via a second unicast link. A request from a second requestor device for the service is intercepted by the network node. If it is determined that a multicast optimization threshold has been reached and/or exceeded, the service is transmitted from the network node to the first and second requestor devices using a single multicast link, while the service is received from the content service provider over the first unicast link.
US08904012B2

In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving an input method editor (IME) server request, the IME server request including one or more tokens and requesting that an IME server be instantiated, the IME server executing one or more IME functions based on a key event sent from an IME client, wherein the IME server is a stateful server that stores both requests and responses of a communication session between the IME server and the IME client, determining that the IME server can be instantiated in a restrictive environment based on the one or more tokens, and instantiating the IME server in the restrictive environment. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices.
US08904008B2

Systems and methods are provided for assigning and associating resources in a cloud computing environment. Virtual machines in the cloud computing environment can be assigned or associated with pools corresponding to users as dedicated, standby, or preemptible machines. The various states provide users with the ability to reserve a desired level of resources while also allowing the operator of the cloud computing environment to increase resource utilization.
US08904002B2

Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for reducing overhead in component interactions comprising monitoring interactions between components residing within a domain boundary; storing data indicative of the interactions; analyzing the data to determine whether there is a first component on a first server and a second component on a second server within the domain boundary that are coupled and dislocated that should be co-located; evaluating available server resources; determining whether the first and second components can be co-located based upon the evaluation of available server resources; and conveying a request to co-locate the first and second components if it is determined that the first and second components can be co-located.
US08904001B2

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for configuring end user equipment. A service broker may transmit access settings to an access node where the access settings are for a predetermined service provider. The access settings may be transmitted to end user equipment so that the predetermined service provider can access the end user equipment in order to configure the end user equipment to receive a service provided by the service provider.
US08903995B1

A network server analyzes a change in the network, including performing a machine-learning analysis of an extrapolation space. The server accesses observed data from multiple counters that each record samples for a metric in the network. The server performs a CART (classification and regression tree) analysis of the observed data to select the counters whose metrics affect a target network performance, such as latency. The server estimates an extrapolation space based on the observed data for the selected counters. The server then performs a machine-learning analysis of the extrapolation space based on a kriging model of the selected counters.
US08903993B2

An approach to improving performance of a target system is disclosed. The approach may involve determining how similar a target system being considered is to other systems in use by other clients. For each of these other separate systems, the approach may involve determining the differences between the performance of the target system and the performance of the separate system, accounting for the level of similarity. A report can be generated that identifies performance values of the target system that are outside an acceptable range, which is based on the performance of the other separate systems. Based on this report, the administrator of the target system can consider configuration changes and upgrades to improve performance of the target system.
US08903991B1

A secondary computer tests local network connectivity in assuming responsibility from a primary computer for a network service. The secondary computer issues an address resolution protocol (ARP) command on a network interface and monitors for an expected ARP response. The ARP command is a broadcast command including a network address of a gateway between a local network segment and external network(s). If the expected response is received (which includes the gateway network address and data-link-layer address), correct connectivity is confirmed. Otherwise there is a potential problem with the connectivity. For example, a switch providing layer-2 message forwarding may be improperly configured so that the secondary computer is erroneously not connected to the same network segment as the gateway, making it impossible for the secondary computer to use the gateway for service communications. The secondary computer initiates a remedial action such as investigating and/or repairing the potential connectivity problem.
US08903986B1

Outbound network traffic originating from a client computer is monitored, and requests to access URLs in the outbound network traffic are detected. Detected requests to access URLs are compared to each of a plurality of rules, in order to determine whether specific ones of the detected requests were initiated automatically by a process or manually by a human user. Where a rule of the plurality applies to a detected request, a rating concerning the request is adjusted. The rating indicates a likelihood as to whether the request was initiated automatically or manually. Depending upon whether the rating concerning the request reaches a threshold, the request is categorized as being either automatically initiated by a process, or manually initiated by a human user. Only those requests categorized as being manually initiated by a human user are logged.
US08903968B2

A distributed computing environment for executing applications in a degraded state during constrained resource availability.
US08903963B2

The distributed virtual SAN infrastructure provides a scalable dynamically expandable distributed virtual storage pool to a plurality of host systems. The storage pool is created via execution of a virtual storage automatic construct protocol. The distributed virtual SAN infrastructure includes one or more SAN units including IP SAN unit and Fiber Channel SAN unit, at least a management console, a distributing control management station across a network infrastructure, wherein the network infrastructure provides the communication links between all systems in this distributed virtual SAN.
US08903953B2

A computer implemented method and computer program product provides for announcing file availability. A source device receives a uniform resource locator (URL). The source device reports the URL, the URL corresponding to an event and to a network addressable server.
US08903952B2

Methods and apparatuses for streaming a video stored on a server to a display device over a network are provided. The TCP receive window size is adjusted to achieve a more uniform transmission of video segments of the video over the network to reduce the bustiness of network traffic.
US08903950B2

A method and apparatus for peer-to-peer video precaching is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises building a user profile, periodically checking for new content of objects in the user profile, maintaining a data base of available objects and location of said objects, and determining the download location of an object requested by a user.
US08903922B2

A method, an apparatus and computer readable storage media facilitate establishing an email thread utilizing an email application used by a client device that communicates with other client devices across a network, where the email thread includes at least one email circulated to a group of users over the network relating to a discussion topic. The email application is linked with a synchronous communication application so as to establish a real-time discussion between at least some of the users of the group in relation to the topic utilizing the synchronous communication application and so that each email of the email thread is accessible via a graphical user interface associated with the synchronous communication application.
US08903920B1

A method for inhibiting infection of network destinations by malware comprising detecting behavior consistent with the presence of malware at first network clients, such as access by a message received at a first network client to addressing resources containing an address of a malware evaluator. Detecting malware at the first clients is advantageously accomplished at one or more malware evaluators by receipt of messages forwarded from the first network clients, the forwarded messages comprising selectively flagged information relating to malware suspicions. Malware evaluators advantageously comprise a Bayesian Learning Network trained with knowledge of malware characteristics and forwarded messages. The malware evaluators, when adequately trained, provide classifications of received messages as malware or not, with at least a predetermined likelihood. Results of such classification can be selectively made available to network clients, including the first network clients.
US08903918B2

Disclosed are systems and methods to provide application acceleration as a service. In one embodiment, a system includes a head office to serve an enterprise application comprised of a collaborative document. The system also includes a branch office to request the collaborative document from the head office. The enterprise application may also include a computed document and/or a static document. In addition, the system also includes a set of Point of Presence (POP) locations between the head office and the branch office to communicate the collaborative document, the computed document and the static document on behalf of the head office from a closest POP location to the head office to a closest POP location to the branch office and then onward to the branch office.
US08903915B2

An approach that provides sharing of the same virtual space by a plurality of avatars in a virtual universe by grouping the avatars belonging to the virtual space and isolating each group. In one embodiment, there is an isolating tool, including a grouping component configured to group each of the plurality of avatars belonging to defined virtual space according to predefined grouping criteria. The isolating tool further includes an isolating component configured to isolate each group within each of the plurality of virtual spaces based on the grouping.
US08903913B2

A message tracking engine facilitates processing of a message through a determined workflow. In particular, the message tracking engine may route the message to various services in an order specified by the workflow. During processing, the message tracking engine tracks the progress of the message through the workflow. If any issues are encountered, the message tracking engine handles the encountered issues. In one aspect, the message tracking engine facilitates performance of one or more synchronous processing steps of the workflow during a first phase. Following the first phase, the message tracking engine serializes one or more asynchronous processing steps of the workflow to a storage device. After serializing the asynchronous processing steps, the message tracking engine facilitates performance of the asynchronous processing steps during a second phase.
US08903910B2

A system and machine-implemented method for generating a customized news collection based on social groups, the method comprising receiving an indication of one or more social groups associated with a user, wherein each of the one or more social groups is associated with the user's account in a social networking service, determining, one or more contacts associated with each of the identified one or more social groups at a social networking service, selecting a set of news items including one or more news items associated with the one or more identified contacts and generating a news collection including a number of the one or more news items of the set of news items for provision to a user.
US08903909B1

A system for detecting and extending user engagement with stream content includes an engagement extension module that comprises a context identification module, an abandonment detection module, an engaging post generator and an injection module. The context identification module determines the interactions of the user with content stream and provides the user interaction signals to the abandonment detection module. The abandonment detection module analyzes these signals to determine whether there is a risk that the user may abandon or disengage from interacting with the content stream. The engaging post generator generates messages or other information likely to be interesting to the user and keep them engaged. If the abandonment detection module determines that there is a risk that the user may abandon or disengage from interacting with the content stream, the injection module adds a message or post generated by the engaging post generator into the content stream for the user.
US08903905B2

Disclosed is a method for recording a communication session initiated by at least one communication terminal with at least one second communication terminal, utilizing at least one communication channel established via a computer and/or telephone network, from at least one recording server, a request to record the communication session, including recording configuration data, enabling, in particular, the identification of each communication channel, connecting the recording server to each communication channel established during initiation of the communication session according to the configuration data received, and recording data transferred over each communication channel by the recording server.
US08903900B2

Multiple individually renderable map elements, each representing a respective physical entity in a geographic area, are rendered to generate a digital map of the geographic area. A description of an aggregate map feature that includes several but not all of the multiple map elements is received. The several map elements represent physical entities that form a common administrative unit. A selection of one of the several map elements is received via the user interface. In response to receiving the selection, the several map elements included in the aggregate map feature are automatically selected, and an indication that the aggregate map feature has been selected is provided on the user interface.
US08903896B2

A client terminal comprises a first application unit which transmits and receives data to and from a server, and a second application unit which transmits and receives data to and from the first application unit. An instruction transmitting unit in the second application unit transmits a user's instruction to the first application unit, and a state holding and transmitting unit transmits state information of the second application unit to the first application unit. A request generation unit in the first application unit generates a request command for the server based on the instruction received from the instruction transmitting unit, a state addition unit adds the state information received from the state holding and transmitting unit to the request command, and a request transmitting unit transmits the request command to which the state information is added to the server.
US08903894B2

An apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code which when executed by an apparatus causes the apparatus to effect the method, for pre-fetching web content. Preferably, a proxy server performs the pre-fetching. Techniques such, for example, as executing Javascript in pre-fetched pages, modifying pre-fetched pages to address URL generation involving random numbers or dates, using cookie information or browser specifics when performing pre-fetching of pages, and injecting Javascript to measure response time may be performed, by way of example.
US08903893B2

A first component receives from a second component a set of diagnostic parameters to include in a diagnostic heartbeat packet, and information identifying a data communication protocol to be used for transmitting the diagnostic heartbeat packet. The diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and the set of diagnostic parameters. The first component sets a first diagnostic parameter in the set of diagnostic parameters to a first value, the first value being selected to detect a first soft network error condition. A soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component configures the diagnostic heartbeat packet for transmission using the specified data communication protocol and including the set of diagnostic parameters, and sends the diagnostic heartbeat packet to the second component.
US08903890B2

A system and method for realizing WEB service is provided. The system includes a WEB service signaling server is configured to receive a WEB service choice information sent by a logon WEB service client, obtain a WEB service signaling and a signaling performing logic of a WEB service selected by the WEB service choice information, communicate with the WEB service client and perform the WEB service signaling according to the signaling performing logic, and control a WEB service engine. The WEB service engine is configured to receive a control of the WEB service signaling server, and exchange a WEB service content of the selected WEB service with the WEB service client.
US08903880B2

A specified function p is generated to satisfy a first condition that an integral value of an evaluation function over a specified period is minimal. The evaluation function denotes a magnitude of an absolute value of a third order specified function p(3)(t). Moreover, the specified function p is generated to satisfy a second condition that a value of a second order specified function p(2)(t) is limited within a limiter range [p(2)min_c, p(2)max_c].
US08903879B2

A method and system for processing Kalman Filter. The system includes: an Unscented Kalman Filter; and a processor device configured to: non-uniform a phase duration of a signal outputted from a plant; inputting the signal to the Unscented Kalman Filter; and restore non-uniformed phase duration of an estimated value calculated in the Unscented Kalman Filter to the phase duration.
US08903877B1

A file system has files constructed of an inode for each file, indirect blocks, and allocation units of file system data blocks. Each of the allocation units has one of the file system data blocks or a plurality of the file system data blocks having contiguous file system block numbers. Each file in the file system has a respective allocation unit size attribute specifying an allocation unit size of each and every allocation unit in the file, and the files in the file system have allocation units of different allocation unit sizes. By using larger allocation units for larger files, there is a reduction in the number of indirect blocks in the files without a corresponding loss in performance, and a reduction in the time needed for the UNIX FSCK utility to check file system consistency.
US08903869B2

An object linkage system including: a database that stores objects and a linkage map; a unit for extracting an already-registered object to be linked with a new object from already-registered objects and copying a first linkage attribute value of the already-registered object to the new object as a second linkage attribute value of the new object; a unit for registering the new object into the linkage map by associating the new object with an identification value which identifies an object set which contains objects having the second linkage attribute value in common; and a unit for receiving a linkage request from a user terminal, obtaining an object set from the linkage map, and launching creation systems for operating element objects of the object set so as to enable the user terminal to browse the element objects.
US08903868B2

Data processing includes accessing a product category tree, the product category tree comprising a plurality of hierarchical levels. A leaf category level of the plurality of hierarchical levels comprises a leaf category node. The leaf category node includes product information. The product information comprises a plurality of product attribute parameters. The plurality of product attribute parameters comprises standard product information. Data processing further includes selecting, among the plurality of product attribute parameters that correspond to the leaf category node, a representative product attribute parameter that is representative of the product information; and partitioning standard product information of the leaf category node to obtain a plurality of sets using the representative product attribute parameter, wherein each of the plurality of sets includes at least some of the standard product information.
US08903866B2

Computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for processing data in an out-of-order manner in a streams computing environment. A windowing condition is defined such that incoming data tuples are processed within a specified time or count of each other. Additionally, the windowing condition may be based on a specified attribute of the data tuples. If the tuples are not processed within the constraints specified by the windowing condition, the unprocessed tuples may be discarded, i.e., not processed, to optimize operator performance.
US08903864B2

Methods and apparatus to obtain anonymous audience measurement data from network server data for particular demographic and usage profiles are disclosed. An example method to provide anonymous audience measurement data to an audience measurement entity disclosed herein comprises obtaining a demographic profile and a network usage profile, sampling customer data stored in a customer database not accessible by the audience measurement entity to generate a customer sample representative of the demographic profile and the network usage profile without customer intervention, the customer sample including customer identification information, processing log data obtained from a network server not accessible by the audience measurement entity using the customer identification information to determine audience measurement data associated with customers in the customer sample, and removing the customer identification information from the audience measurement data to prepare the anonymous audience measurement data for the audience measurement entity.
US08903857B2

Measures, including methods, apparatus and computer program products, are provided for creating display space in relation to a page requested by a client from a server for display by that client. A method comprises: configuring a domain name service to route requests for pages hosted at the server to a system; receiving at the system a request from the client for a page from the server, the system being configured to communicate with the client and the server, the request being received on the basis of the configuring; and transmitting, from the system to the client, a reference to a frame-set whereby to cause the client to request that frame-set, wherein, at least one frame of the frame-set includes a reference to cause the client to display the page.
US08903853B2

Federated search is disclosed. A result associated with a search of a content source not natively configured to provide content type data for content items is received. A content type is associated with a content item included in the result based at least in part on information associated with the result.
US08903850B2

A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer-readable storage medium provide for the ingestion of personalized information to provide customization. A request to customize a user's interactive experience on a website or application is received from a user. Personalized information based on a user's activities is ingested. The user activities are independent from activities on the website or application. A database is searched based on the personalized information and search results are produced. The user's interactive experience is customized based on the search results.
US08903840B2

A method, system and computer program for automatically launching a target application based on characteristics of a selected string of characters in a source application includes the steps of receiving a command resulting from a user's action, selecting a string of characters in a source application; identifying among one or a plurality of predefined regular expressions, a regular expression matching the selected string of character; identifying a predefined data type previously associated with the source application and the regular expression matching the selected string of character; identifying a predefined target application previously associated with the identified data type and the source application; and launching the target application.
US08903837B2

In one embodiment, accessing a search query and a document identified in response to the search query; extracting a first geographical location from the search query or from information associated with a user issuing the search query or a device used by the user to issue the search query; determining a first minimum bounding region enclosing the first geographical location; computing a threshold for the first geographical location; extracting one or more second geographical locations from the document; for one of the second geographical locations, determining a second minimum bounding region enclosing the one second geographical location; computing a distance between the first minimum bounding region and the second minimum bounding region; and if the distance is greater than the threshold, then discarding the document by not including the document in a search result identified in response to the search query.
US08903834B2

One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for recommending digital items to a user. Each digital item in a set of digital items is scored based on user preferences and other metrics. The digital items are ordered based on scores. The digital items are then evaluated in order of respective rank to determine a subset of digital items that re recommended to the user. The evaluation process is based on different evaluation criteria as well as the presentation style of the recommended digital items.
US08903832B2

The present invention relates to a method for providing a virtual job market on a network comprising an application server and clients and/or electronic message systems allowing to input and output information, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing primary dimensions information on industries, career levels and functional areas; providing secondary dimensions information on salary ranges and/or geo-data and/or educational information and/or languages and/or special expertises, entering the primary and secondary dimensions information in a three dimensional data base on the application server; collecting information chunks of open jobs and candidate profiles, and placing the information chunks in a distinct cell or number of cells in the three dimensional database. Further, the present invention relates to a system for providing a virtual job market on a network comprising an application server and clients and/or electronic message systems including at least a first database comprising candidate profiles, a second database comprising salary information and a third database comprising job information, wherein the information available in the three databases is matched in a three dimensional database model.
US08903831B2

Provided are techniques for rejecting rows while locating a target row. For a row that is stored in a hash space, a row filter value is generated for that row, and the row filter value is stored with the row. While trying to locate the target row in a collision chain in the hash space, a row filter value is calculated for the target row. For the row in the collision chain, the stored row filter value of the row in the collision chain is compared with the computed row filter value of the target row. In response to determining that the stored row filter value does not match the computed row filter value, it is determined that the row in the collision chain is not the target row.
US08903823B1

Embodiments provide tools and techniques for clustering failing runs in a design verification environment to aid in determining causes of the failing runs. Embodiments may include determining multiple failing runs of the design verification environment. Multiple partitions of the multiple failing runs may be generated. Each respective partition may partition one or more subsets of the multiple failing runs into one or more non-overlapping clusters of failing runs. The multiple partitions of the subsets of multiple failing runs may be merged into a hierarchical structure that includes at least one of the clusters. One or more clusters of failing runs from the merged hierarchical structure may be selected; these may be referred to as core clusters. Core clusters may be presented to a user based on the size and distance between the clusters.
US08903822B2

An apparatus for measuring contents similarity based on feedback information from ranked users includes: a user ranking unit for receiving from a database information on users as contents creators and feedback information on contents and ranking the users based on the received information; and a user grouping unit for classifying the users into a plurality of groups based on the ranking result. The apparatus further includes: a sequence modeling unit for receiving from the database the contents and the feedback information and modeling the number of feedbacks as sequences based on the ranked user groups; and a post similarity calculation unit for measuring similarity between the modeled sequences.
US08903809B2

A computing system executes an instant message session between one or more users of the one or more collaborative tools. The computer system further examines information from instant messages in a message window of the instant message session. In addition, the computer system identifies at least one keyword data of the examined information of the instant messages. The computer system queries a first repository for related content data that matches the at least one keyword data. The computer system also generates one or more contextual search results based on the match. Furthermore, the computer system transmits the generated one or more contextual search results for display on the one or more collaboration tools.
US08903806B2

Systems and methods are described herein that can implemented by a middle tier of a multi-tier data retrieval system to select data operation(s) that correspond to a query. The query may be received from a front tier. The selection is performed by comparing the query to a query template associated with each data operation. The query template for each data operation includes an algebraic description of queries that each respective data operation can satisfy. The selected data operation(s) are then executed against a data service to obtain data, which is then provided to the front tier. In some embodiments, an execution plan may be created by the middle tier for satisfying the query. The execution plan can include the selected data operation(s) and post-processing step(s). The post-processing step(s) can be applied to the obtained data to satisfy the query. The post-processed data is then provided to the front tier.
US08903804B2

A data existence judging device includes: L number of first storage areas each associated with one of L hash values; M number of second storage areas each associated with some of the L hash values; an information setting part, for each data in a data set, to calculate k hash values about the data, and, for each calculated hash value, when a count value in the first storage area associated with the calculated hash value is less than 2n−1, to count up the count value, whereas when the count value is 2n−1, to set 1 into the first storage area associated with the calculated hash value; and a judging part to calculate k hash values about an input data, and to judge that the input data is a new data when a count value in the first storage area associated with the input data is 0.
US08903799B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for searching and reporting on semistructured data that can include dynamic metadata. One embodiment can comprise providing a user interface to a user based on an object type definition for an object type that allows the user to specify search criteria associated with a set of metadata, mapping the user search criteria to a query that comprises at least one structured query constraint and at least one unstructured query constraint, processing the query to search a set of data objects containing semistructured data associated with the object type according to the query and returning a set of results to the user. The search results can be returned to a user based on user-specified reporting parameters. Additionally, the reporting definition can be saved as an object for future execution.
US08903796B2

The invention relates to a method, system and computer program for management of paid advertisements displayed in response to a search query entered into a search engine. A vendor's inventory is discovered by reading from an inventory database. Search terms are determined for item categories in the inventory database, reading from fields of the inventory database. A user can specify additional or replacement search terms to be associated with a particular item. Advertisement sets are then created for items which are currently available or “in stock,” each set containing an advertisement corresponding to an item, the associated search terms, and a landing page identifier. The landing page displays search results from the vendor's inventory database, relating to the corresponding item category for that advertisement.
US08903794B2

Systems, methods, and computer-storage media for generating lateral concepts are provided. The system includes a search engine to receive user queries, a storage to store content and its associated categories, and a lateral concept generator. The lateral concept generator is connected to both the search engine and storage. The lateral concept generator selects lateral concepts from categories associated with the content based on similarity scores for the stored content.
US08903771B2

The present invention involves a field of mobile terminals and discloses a method and a device for importing backup data for a mobile terminal. The method and device for importing backup data for the mobile terminal provided by the present invention is convenient for a user to manage, simple to operate and easy to implement since the message data of the mobile terminal pre-stored in the xml file are used and classified to be imported to the mobile terminal.
US08903761B1

A system and method maintains mappings from data containers to their parent directories within a file system of a storage system. Each inode is modified to include a primary name data structure comprising a parent directory inode and a parent directory cookie value. The parent directory cookie value identifies a particular directory entry within a specified block of a directory identified by parent directory inode. An alternate name file is utilized to store alternate names, such as those associated with hard links.
US08903760B2

A method and apparatus for information repository workflows enables the transfer of information between healthcare sites and medical research facilities. Large quantities of medical information may be directly transferred to an information repository or indirectly transferred to the repository through the use of pointers. The information is cleansed and normalized prior to storage in a production database within the repository. The cleansing process is conducted while ensuring integrity of the production database is maintained and while continuing to receive additional information transfers. Errors encountered during processing are logged and reported.
US08903753B2

A steam turbine performance testing system, including at least one computer hardware device, including a neural network created using a dynamic steam turbine thermodynamic model and preliminary data collected from a steam turbine; a network tester for testing the neural network with testing data; a current performance calculator for calculating a current performance of the steam turbine from operation data of the steam turbine; and a projected performance calculator for calculating a projected performance of the steam turbine from the current performance.
US08903741B2

A method for providing credit score information for a user to the user is provided. The method comprises offering the user an option to obtain information related to a credit score via a computer networking arrangement. The method further determines credit score information once the option is selected by the user, and providing the credit score information determined to the user via the computer networking arrangement.
US08903729B2

Many portable playback devices cannot decode and playback encoded audio content having wide bandwidth and wide dynamic range with consistent loudness and intelligibility unless the encoded audio content has been prepared specially for these devices. This problem can be overcome by including with the encoded content some metadata that specifies a suitable dynamic range compression profile by either absolute values or differential values relative to another known compression profile. A playback device may also adaptively apply gain and limiting to the playback audio. Implementations in encoders, in transcoders and in decoders are disclosed.
US08903720B2

Provided is an encoding apparatus for integrally encoding and decoding a speech signal and a audio signal, and may include: an input signal analyzer to analyze a characteristic of an input signal; a stereo encoder to down mix the input signal to a mono signal when the input signal is a stereo signal, and to extract stereo sound image information; a frequency band expander to expand a frequency band of the input signal; a sampling rate converter to convert a sampling rate; a speech signal encoder to encode the input signal using a speech encoding module when the input signal is a speech characteristics signal; a audio signal encoder to encode the input signal using a audio encoding module when the input signal is a audio characteristic signal; and a bitstream generator to generate a bitstream.
US08903718B2

The present invention relates to methods and systems for storing words and phrases in a data structure, and retrieving and displaying said words and phrases from said data structure. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system of predicatively suggesting words and/or phrases to a user entering a string of characters into a user interface, which may be a limited user interface.
US08903715B2

A mechanism is provided for accelerating data exchange language parsing. An input data stream is loaded into a first in, first out (FIFO) memory. A tokenization bit corresponding to a next byte to be read is extracted from a FIFO. A determination is made as to whether the tokenization bit corresponding to the next byte to be read from the FIFO indicates a control character or a non-control character located in an associated FIFO memory location in the FIFO. Responsive to the tokenization bit indicating the control character, the control character that causes a state change in a state machine is processed. Responsive to the tokenization bit indicating the non-control character, a length associated with the tokenized bit is identified and a set of non-control characters that do not cause a state change in the state machine are processed based on the length associated with the tokenized bit.
US08903681B2

A monitoring system and method for monitoring performance of individual powers sources in a distributed power source system. A monitoring module is coupled to each of the power sources, or to each string of serially connected power sources, to monitor and collect data regarding current, voltage, temperature and other environmental factors at the power source. The collected data is transmitted over a power line to a central analysis station for analysis. Data collected from each source indicates malfunction or degradation at the source. Comparison of data collected from adjacent sources filters for environmental factors impacting neighboring sources such as cloudy days for a solar panel. Comparison of data collected from the same source at different times indicates soiling or degradation of the source with time or periodic events such as a moving shade from an adjacent building.
US08903678B2

A sensing device with lower power consumption by controlling a rate for generating output data is to be provided. A sensing device includes: a sensor module including a group of sensors, at least one of which is set as a motion sensor; and a data generating unit that generates output data on the basis of outputs from the group of sensors. The data generating unit switches, on the basis of an output from the motion sensor, a rate for generating the output data.
US08903676B2

Sensors, systems, and methods for measuring fluid perturbation are provided. One system includes a sensor module, a data management system, and a control system. In operation, data representing fluid is generated and recorded on the sensor module. During generating and recording, the sensor module is preferably partially submerged in a conductive fluid. The sensor module transmits the data representing fluid to the data management system in response to receiving data representing a record request from the data management system. Next, the data management system operates on the received data representing fluid to convert the data representing fluid into data representing fluid perturbation. Then the data management system stores the data representing fluid perturbation and transmits the data representing fluid perturbation to the control system. The control system stores the data representing fluid perturbation and displays the data representing fluid perturbation.
US08903666B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple way of measuring the local average absorbed power of a radio device having a plurality of antennas. A local average absorbed power measuring method of the present invention has an individual measurement step and a calculation step. In the calculation step, local average absorbed power candidates are obtained while weights are being varied. In a local average absorbed power candidate calculation sub-step, the absorbed power distribution in three-dimensional space is calculated from the combined electric field or combined magnetic field obtained in the combination sub-step, and a local average absorbed power candidate is obtained. In a local average absorbed power selection step, the highest one of the local average absorbed power candidates is specified.
US08903664B2

A method for use in monitoring a synchronous machine includes coupling a power conversion assembly to an electric power source and to a synchronous machine. The synchronous machine includes a plurality of winding inter-turn portions. The method also includes energizing the synchronous machine via the power conversion assembly. The method further includes recording at least one first operational measurement of the power conversion assembly and the synchronous machine. The method also includes calculating a first impedance downstream of the power conversion assembly based on the first operational measurement. The method further includes recording at least one second operational measurement of the power conversion assembly and the synchronous machine. The method also includes calculating a second impedance downstream of the power conversion assembly based on the second operational measurement. The method further includes estimating a short circuit associated with adjacent winding inter-turn portions based on the first and second operational measurements.
US08903660B2

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of compositions, methods, devices, systems, kits, or products regarding rejuvenation or preservation of germ cells or gametes. Certain embodiments disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, methods of modifying germ cells or gametes, or methods of administering modified germ cells or gametes to at least one biological tissue.
US08903640B2

A system for detecting a pedestrian is provided. The system includes a base and a mast extending from the base, and a plurality of sensors mounted on the mast, the plurality of sensors for detecting objects and pedestrians within a predetermined range, and wherein the sensors include a GPS antenna, at least one camera, an alert mechanism, a radio with an integrated directional antenna, and a short range communication antenna. A path predicting circuit is in communication with a system vehicle and the pedestrian detection system. The path predicting circuit processes information from the system vehicle and pedestrian detection system to predict the path of the system vehicle and detected objects. The path predicting circuit is in communication with a path collision circuit and the predicted paths are mapped on the path collision circuit so as to determine if the system vehicle may possibly collide with a detected object.
US08903630B2

Methods and systems are provided for fuel systems including a gaseous fuel. Temporary flow restrictions in the fuel line of a first gaseous fuel may be addressed by temporarily shifting to cylinder operation with a second liquid fuel. Upon resumption of first fuel operation, if the flow restriction persists, a diagnostic code may be set and cylinder operation with the second fuel may be restarted.
US08903615B2

A continuously variable transmission (4) comprises an endless torque transmission member (13) looped around a pair of pulleys (11, 12). At least one of the pulleys changes a winding radius of the endless torque transmission member (13) in accordance with an applied pulley thrust. A controller (22) estimates a stretch amount of the endless torque transmission member (13) based on an operating state of the continuously variable transmission (4), sets a slip limit thrust based on the stretch amount, and controls the pulley thrusts based on the slip limit thrust. In this manner, appropriate pulley thrust control in accordance with whether or not the endless torque transmission member (13) stretches is realized.
US08903606B2

A system for providing enhanced steering pull compensation is provided. The system compensates for steering pull in a vehicle using a signal from a pull compensation signal generator. The signal from the pull compensation signal generator is processed though a processing mechanism. The processing mechanism controls a power steering assist motor through fault and limit logic as a function of the pull compensation signal generator, thereby providing steering pull compensation. The processing mechanism also controls the power steering assist motor based on input from a vehicle speed sensor and a calibration input mechanism.
US08903598B2

A technique can include receiving, at a controller for a vehicle, the controller including one or more processors, a signal indicative of a pressure in an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle. The vehicle can include a supercharger configured to supply pressurized air to the intake manifold. The supercharger can be driven by a crankshaft of the engine via a belt. The technique can include estimating, at the controller, a frequency of the signal to obtain an estimated frequency. The technique can include determining, at the controller, whether the belt is slipping based on a comparison between the estimated frequency and a predetermined frequency. The technique can also include outputting, at the controller, a notification when the belt is determined to be slipping.
US08903592B1

A vehicle has a plurality of control apparatuses, a user input, a geographic position component, an object detection apparatus, memory, and a display. A processor is also included and is programmed to receive the destination information, identify a route, and determine the current geographic location of the vehicle. The processor is also programmed to identify an object and object type based on object information received from the object detection apparatus and to determine at least one warning characteristic of the identified object based on at least one of: the object type, a detected proximity of the detected object to the vehicle, the location of the detected object relative to predetermined peripheral areas of the vehicle, the current geographic location of the vehicle, and the route. The processor is also configured to select and display on the display an object warning image based on the at least one warning characteristic.
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