US08906098B2
A device for introduction into a body in a straight configuration and assuming within the body a predefined curved configuration, includes an elongated element formed from a number of segments interconnected so as to form effective hinges therebetween. When the elongated element is confined to a straight state, the effective hinges transfer compressive forces from each segment to the next so that the elongated element can be pushed to advance it through a conduit. When the elongated element is not confined to a straight state, the effective hinges allow deflection of each segment relative to adjacent segments until abutment surfaces of the segments come into abutment, thereby defining a fully flexed state of the elongated element with a predefined curved configuration. The device can be produced with a wide range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional curved forms, and has both medical and non-medical applications.
US08906093B2
Bone implantable devices and methodologies permit careful application of biologically active substances and management of bone growth processes. The device includes a body defining a carrier receiving area for locating adjacent bone. Carrier material is located in the carrier receiving area. Substance is delivered onto carrier material through a port. A pathway delivers substance from the carrier receiving area to the bone surface. The body may be in the form of a spinal fusion cage, facet fusion screw, artificial joint, bone fixation plate, interbody graft, IM nail, hip stem, or other bone-to-bone appliances or bone-to-device appliances. In use, carrier is installed in the carrier receiving area of the device. The device is then implanted adjacent a bone. The substance is applied to the carrier for subsequent delivery to the bone. By doping carrier material after device implantation, inadvertent contact of the substance with non-target bone is more easily eliminated.
US08906090B2
An auditory ossicle prosthesis, which at one end has a first securing element for mechanical connection to a member of the ossicular chain, which securing element is designed in the form of a loop that encloses the member, is partially open to the outside via a slit-like aperture and engages with a force fit around the member, the slit-like aperture being considerably smaller than the diameter of the member engaged by the loop, wherein, after attachment, the loop bears with a force fit on the engaged member via at least three areas, and that, in the circumferential direction around the engaged member, at least three areas of the loop do not touch the engaged member but instead each extend at a distance from the surface of the latter.
US08906089B2
A method of designing a multifocal ophthalmic lens with one base focus and at least one additional focus, capable of reducing aberrations of the eye for at least one of the foci after its implantation, comprising the steps of: (i) characterizing at least one corneal surface as a mathematical model; (ii) calculating the resulting aberrations of said corneal surface(s) by employing said mathematical model; (iii) modelling the multifocal ophthalmic lens such that a wavefront arriving from an optical system comprising said lens and said at least one corneal surface obtains reduced aberrations for at least one of the foci. There is also disclosed a method of selecting a multifocal intraocular lens, a method of designing a multifocal ophthalmic lens based on corneal data from a group of patients, and a multifocal ophthalmic lens.
US08906086B2
A prosthesis having a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therethrough, and a sidewall. The prosthesis includes at least one perfusion branch extending from the sidewall of the tubular body and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough, where the lumen of the perfusion branch is in temporary fluid communication with the lumen of the tubular body. The perfusion branch comprises a self-sealing component, that after predetermined period of time precludes fluid flow out of the distal end of the perfusion branch.
US08906081B2
A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.
US08906079B2
Devices and transdermal methods are provided for safe and effective therapeutic treatment of the venous system, such as varicose veins. Present invention provides non-invasive and minimally invasive transdermal methods for treating varicose and spider veins, comprising the use of a radiation source in combination with a chemical fluid/composition to safely and more effectively close or shrink vein walls, providing a transdermal therapeutic method for varicose veins until now only treated with surgery or endovascular laser treatments. In a preferred embodiment a device comprises a radiation source, preferably of wavelength between about 980 and 1940 nm, being effective in causing shrinkage of the vein treated. In other preferred embodiments methods comprise the transdermal delivery of a chemical composition through a patch or gel or the injection of a chemical fluid, preferably a hypertonic solution, to the vein under treatment; and simultaneously or after a dwell time, irradiating with a radiation source transdermally. The treatment performed with the present invention results in blood vessel wall damaged, eventually closing the vein, in lesser time with practically no pain or discomfort to the patient during and after the therapy.
US08906070B2
For fixation of an oblique fracture in a long bone, a fixation plate is placed along the bone across the fracture and tabs extending outwardly from the plate engage the bone at upper and lower surfaces respectively of the proximal and distal fragments of the bone. By applying compressive force to the bone by the tabs, the fragments are subjected to compression force across the fracture and to a torque which opposes bone shortening.
US08906054B2
A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.
US08906053B2
A method for treating a brain tumor includes providing a surgical instrument having an inner member and an outer member. The outer member has a distal region forming a cutting window and an optional distal elevator tip. The inner member is rotatably received within the outer member, and has a cutting tip that is exposed at the window. The cutting tip and the distal region of the outer member combine to define a cutting implement. An opening is created through the patient's skull to provide access to a brain tumor target site. The cutting implement is delivered through the opening to the target site. The elevator tip is inserted partially between the tumor and tissue of the target site, and the cutting tip is placed into contact with the tumor and operated to cut the tumor. The target site is selectively aspirated to remove cut tumor tissue.
US08906036B2
A surgical retrieval apparatus for receipt of multiple tissue specimens includes a collection bag, a support ring, and a flip ring. The collection bag includes first and second packets each having an outer portion and an inner portion. The first and second packets define first and second adjacent chambers, respectively, that are each configured for receipt of a tissue specimen therein. The first and second packets are coupled to both the support ring and the flip ring. The flip ring is pivotably coupled to the support ring and is rotatable relative to the support ring between a first position, wherein the first chamber is accessible for depositing a tissue specimen therein and a second position, wherein the second chamber is accessible for depositing a tissue specimen therein.
US08906035B2
A specimen retrieval device may comprise the specimen retrieval bag for retrieval biological materials, a hybrid shaft, a first collapsible arm, and a second collapsible arm. The hybrid shaft may comprise a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is flexible, and wherein the proximal end is rigid. The first collapsible arm may be located at the distal end of the hybrid shaft, and may include a first portion. The second collapsible arm may be located at the distal end of the hybrid shaft, may include a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of the second collapsible arm may extend distally beyond the first portion of the second collapsible arm. The specimen retrieval bag may have an open end and a closed end, and may be configured to be retained upon the first collapsible arm and the second collapsible arm.
US08906026B2
An osteotomy plate for maintaining the spacing of a wedge-like opening in bone, the osteotomy plate comprising: a body having a front side and a back side; a key extending out of the back side of the body for disposition in a keyhole formed in the bone along the wedge-like opening; and a plurality of mounting holes for receiving fixation screws therein, the mounting holes being formed in the body such that when the key is disposed in the keyhole, the mounting holes direct the fixation screws into bone on either side of the wedge-like opening.
US08906025B2
A surgical instrument including a shaping instrument for shaping a bone as well as an impaction/extraction device for use with the shaping instrument is disclosed.
US08906019B2
A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft includes a proximal portion, a distal portion and a flexible portion supported therebetween. The flexible portion permits pivotal movement of the distal portion of the elongated shaft and an end effector supported thereon. A locking mechanism is operatively associated with the flexible portion of the elongated shaft to selectively impede pivotal motion of the distal portion. The locking mechanism includes a fluid chamber defined within the flexible portion in which a variable viscosity fluid disposed. The variable viscosity fluid is responsive to the application of an electromagnetic field to exhibit increased rigidity in the presence of the electromagnetic field and reduced rigidity in the absence of the electromagnetic field. An electrical coil is arranged such that the electromagnetic field may be selectively induced by the delivery of electrical energy from a power source.
US08905998B2
A catheter tunneling adapter including a generally elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end and a through passageway. The proximal end of the adapter is connectable both to a proximal hub of a stylet and subsequently to the distal end of a tunneler. The distal end of the adapter comprises a connector for connecting a plurality of proximal catheter tubes thereto, wherein the proximal end of one tube is affixed within the passageway at the adapter's distal end and the proximal end of the second tube is plugged by a plug extending distally from a free end of an elongate flexible arm that also extends distally of the adapter's distal end, such that the plug is offset laterally therefrom. The flexible arm and the affixed second tube end are deflectable toward the first tube to reduce the profile of the assembly during tunneling.
US08905992B2
A portable microbubble and drug mixing device is provided. The portable microbubble and drug mixing device comprises a flexible outer container comprising an interior chamber for accommodating a drug, and a rigid inner container within the flexible outer container and comprising an interior chamber for accommodating microbubbles. The outer container has a tensile strength at break less than or equal to approximately 15 MPa, and the inner container has a tensile strength at break greater than or equal to approximately 20 MPa and is capable of storing microbubbles at a concentration higher than or equal to approximately 5×106 microbubbles/ml. The inner container is configured to separate the microbubbles in the interior chamber of the inner container from the drug in the interior chamber of the outer container until a point of mixing when the microbubbles are released into the interior chamber of the outer container.
US08905984B2
This application teaches a disposal chain and a supply chain system for sealing and unsealing a vacuum draw path embodying a thrust handle capable of imparting assembly and disassembly thrust forces said system conferring the potential of reducing the amount solid waste mass contributed to the waste stream.
US08905977B2
A surgical stapling and severing instrument enables minimally invasive surgical procedures by having upper and lower jaws (i.e., anvil and staple channel) that are positioned with an elongate shaft and handle through a surgical opening, and in particular through a cannula of a trocar. A pair of fluid bladders (lift bags) are positioned in the staple channel beneath a proximally projecting lever tray so that transfer of fluid from the handle causes closing and clamping of the anvil. The bi-directional fluid control may be mechanically produced at the handle or by activating an electroactive polymer actuator. Once firing is sensed, an EAP plunger in a medical substance syringe inserted into the elongate shaft is activated to dispense a medical substance (e.g., anesthetics, adhesives, cauterizing substances, antibiotics, etc.) and is guided along a firing bar to a cutting surface of an E-beam placing the substance on tissue as severed.
US08905973B2
A hemostasis valve has a housing having proximal and distal ends defining proximal and distal openings configured for passage of a medical device therethrough. The housing further defines a cavity between the proximal and distal ends. One or more rollers are received within the cavity and define end sections and a central section having a smaller diameter than the end sections. Sleeves are disposed about the rollers and are elastically deformable to form a fluid seal around the device. The sleeves each assume a first form when the device is absent from the cavity wherein a radially inner surface of the sleeve is located at a first distance from the central section of a roller and a second form when the device is present in the cavity wherein the surface is located at a second distance, less than the first distance, from the central section of the roller.
US08905971B2
A pen-type injector for receiving a medication containing member. The injector comprises a housing 1 and a torsion spring 4 contained within the housing and coupled to a drive member 8. A dose setting knob 2 is coupled to the spring 4, and rotatably coupled to the housing 1 such that rotation of the knob relative to the housing in a first direction results in compression or twisting of the spring. A user actuable trigger 12 is provided for releasing the spring 4 to push the drive member 8 through the housing 1. A user actuable button 6 is coupled to the housing 1 for axial motion relative thereto, said button 6 being coupled to the torsion spring 4 to cause the spring to unwind or expand in discrete steps with each press of the button.
US08905967B2
A balloon catheter having a soft distal tip member having a non-tacky inner (liner) layer material and a soft flexible outer layer material, with both materials being readily thermally bondable to the catheter balloon.
US08905954B2
An appliance which removably stores a portion of a catheter and an adapter, where the indwelling portion of catheter is still inside the body tissue of a patient. The appliance has an aperture that permits connection of a vacuum source such as hospital suction. When the appliance containing the catheter is held against the portion of the body including the indwelling site of the catheter, the vacuum source is applied, having a tendency to hold the appliance in place against the body. An orthopedic cast can be fabricated around the appliance, after which time the vacuum can be deactivated and the appliance can be removed, revealing a channel formed in the orthopedic cast. Through the channel, the distal portion of the catheter and the adapter can be accessed, facilitating continued post-operative anesthesia, easy visual inspection for signs of infection or dislodgment of the catheter and permitting easy removal when needed.
US08905951B2
A functional electrical stimulation step and stand system comprising two footplates (left and right) connected to a primary drive motor that cause the footplates to move in a reciprocal motion. The footplates are further connected to corresponding servos, which allow for control of the movement of the footplate with respect to an axis. system comprises an electrical stimulation control unit. The stimulation step and stand system further comprises a control unit that has electrical stimulation leads connected to electrodes that deliver an electrical impulse to a patient's muscles. In a further embodiment, the control unit has one or more wireless stimulators.
US08905949B2
The present invention relates to a device for treating an ocular pathology, including a ring (1) comprising a proximal end intended to be in contact with an eye of a patient, and a distal end intended to receive ultrasound generating means (2), wherein the device additionally includes at least one reflector (3) for reflecting and focusing ultrasound generated by the generation means.
US08905937B2
An embodiment of an apparatus for locating a surface of a body lumen is disclosed. The apparatus includes a locator assembly that has a distal end region configured to extend into an opening of the body lumen and to selectably engage at least a portion of the body lumen adjacent to the opening. The distal end region includes at least one surface engaging element that is configured to engage the surface of the body lumen. The apparatus includes a measuring device that is in electrical communication with the surface engaging element. The measuring device is configured to determine changes in measurable characteristics of the surface engaging element. Methods and apparatus for locating a surface of a body lumen are also disclosed.
US08905936B2
A catheter includes a catheter main body provided with a window portion through which an inspection wave passes, a drive shaft provided with a detection unit detecting the inspection wave and concurrently installed advanceably and retractably in an axial direction inside the catheter main body, and a bias member biasing a force onto the drive shaft for moving the drive shaft forward toward the distal side thereof.
US08905934B2
Object is that an output sound pressure at transmission or an output voltage at reception of a predetermined higher resonance component becomes higher than those of the primary resonance component. The piezoelectric material layer 24 has an electrode on the surface of the piezoelectric material of between the layer and both ends, and outputs and inputs an electrical signal with this electrode. The piezoelectric material 24 has a remanent polarization in a thickness direction, the relationship of the (4P+1)th layer piezoelectric material from fixed end side is used as the basic relationship, piezoelectric materials are periodically arranged so that piezoelectric materials of (4p+2)th and (4p+3)th layer each has an opposite relationship, and (4p+4)th layer has the same relationship as the basic relationship. On the fixed-end side of the piezoelectric material layer 24, provided is the de-matching layer 23 with larger acoustic impedance than the piezoelectric material layer 24 for reflecting vibration propagated from the piezoelectric material layer 24 to the fixed-end side.
US08905933B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of quantitatively obtaining a blood flow velocity unaffected by angle dependence. The apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe including ultrasonic transducers for receiving ultrasonic echoes to output reception signals; a first movement information calculating unit for calculating first movement information on movement of a mobile element in a sound ray direction within the object based on the reception signals; a signal calculating unit for calculating azimuth direction component signals representing components of ultrasonic echoes in an azimuth direction based on the reception signals; a second movement information calculating unit for calculating second movement information on movement of the mobile element in the azimuth direction within the object based on the azimuth direction component signals; and a two-dimensional velocity calculating unit for calculating two-dimensional velocity information of the mobile element moving within the object based on the first and second movement information.
US08905932B2
Vascular conditions are detected non-invasively in the human body using a collection of information from small local regions of the vasculature. An array of accelerometers or other sensors are attached to the head or other points of interest of a patient and blood flow sounds are recorded. Vibration signatures of vessel structures such as branches, aneurysms, stenosis, etc. using random, periodic, band limited or transient analysis provides a library for further processing. The signature library is used to localize the origin of the recognized vascular feature, and the localized feature is presented to the physician in a clinically relevant manner.
US08905931B2
Generally, a photoacoustic signal has a wavelength longer than a general ultrasonic signal. That is, it does not matter even if at the time of acquisition of the photoacoustic signal, an element pitch of a probe is several times as large as at the time of acquisition of the ultrasonic signal. Thus, at the time of acquisition of the photoacoustic signal, a plurality of neighboring elements in a receiving element array are collectively considered as one element, and a phasing process is performed. As a result, the same effect as a plurality of phasing addition circuits are disposed in parallel is obtained, and not only a phasing addition process of the photoacoustic signal but also image reconstruction can be performed in real time at a high speed.
US08905928B2
Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for monitoring the sleep of a subject in a home environment. In embodiments, load cells placed under bed supports may be coupled to a computing device that may process the load cell data to detect disordered breathing. In some embodiments, a computing device may apply a pattern recognition algorithm to load cell data to distinguish between normal movements and movements associated with a sleep disorder. In an embodiment, apparatuses and methods for monitoring sleep may perform functions associated with detection of sleep disturbances and/or identify a sleep disorder.
US08905921B2
An optical coupler is disclosed with an attachment section for mounting at a distal end of an optical imaging device for visualizing a surface area covered with an opaque fluid and/or particulate matter. The coupler includes a visualization section at one end of the coupler that includes a proximal surface for engaging the distal end of the optical imaging device, an attachment section connected to and extending away from the visualization section, an outer surface spaced apart from the proximal surface, and may include a hollow instrument channel extending from the proximal surface toward the outer surface. This surface extends continuously from a first outer side boundary across to a second opposite outer side boundary of the visualization section. The visualization section can be formed from an elastic material capable of transmitting an optical image of the surface area. In one form, the material is a silicone gel or elastomer.
US08905920B2
A bronchoscope adapter is configured for one hand operation by providing a slide lock that is captured within a housing and a retaining nut that can be operated with a single finger or thumb. Rotation of the retaining nut is eased by isolating rotational force from a compression block with a spacer ring.
US08905919B2
An endoscope includes a distal rigid portion, a bending portion comprising a first bending portion and a second bending portion and a flexible tube portion. The endoscope further includes an operation wire, a wire guide member, a bending operation portion. The endoscope further includes a regulation wire, the regulation wire being longer than the bending portion, the regulation wire being inserted through the first bending portion and the second bending portion, the regulation wire being provided to face the operation wire in the diametrical direction of the bending portion, the regulation wire regulating the bending of the bending portion so that the second bending portion is bent in a direction opposite to the bending direction of the first bending portion and the bending portion is bent in an S-shape when the first bending portion is bent.
US08905918B2
An image pickup portion picks up an image of a suspected substance and produces a video signal. Optical fibers transmit the video signal output from the image pickup portion. A video signal processing portion processes the video signals transmitted by the optical fibers and then outputs the processed video signals to a monitor. A trouble detection portion detects trouble in a transmission state of the optical fibers. The video signal processing portion outputs to the monitor only the video signal transmitted by the optical fiber in which the trouble detection portion has not detected trouble.
US08905916B2
An implantable injection port for use with a gastric band for treating obesity and for attaching to a tissue of a patient is disclosed. The implantable injection port includes a base having an anchor opening, a gear coupled to the base and rotatable about a central axis, the gear having a plurality of gear teeth, an anchor coupled to the gear, and a top portion spaced apart from the base and having a plurality of top teeth that engage with the plurality of gear teeth. The top portion is rotatable causing rotation of the gear such that the rotation of the gear causes movement of the anchor through the anchor opening of the base and into the tissue of the patient.
US08905914B2
An apparatus for forming a gastric restriction includes an implantable band and at least one tab. In some versions, the at least one tab may serve to stabilize the apparatus as it forms a gastric restriction. In some versions, an opening may be formed in the tabs such that sutures may be used. In some versions, a tissue scaffold and/or matrix may be used on the implantable band and/or the tabs to facilitate long term support for the implantable band, such as by substantially preventing the implantable band from sliding along an axis defined by an anatomical structure about which the implantable band is wrapped.
US08905909B2
A system for filling a container with hazardous waste includes a primary confinement chamber that houses a lid handling mechanism and a filling head. The lid handling mechanism may be used to remove and/or recouple the lid to the container as part of the process of filling the container in such a way to ensure the exterior of the container is not contaminated by the hazardous waste. The filling head may be configured to add the hazardous waste to the container, mix the contents of the container, and/or vent air from the container.
US08905907B2
A cutting device includes a support base, a first slide module, a second slide module slidably connected to the first slide module, and a cutting module. The support base includes a support surface and a slide portion on the support surface. The first slide module is slidably positioned on the slide portion. The sliding direction of the second slide module is perpendicular to the sliding direction of the first slide module. The cutting module includes a fixed frame fixed on the second slide module, a driving device fixed on the fixed frame, and a cutter connected to the driving device. The driving device drives the cutter to rotate around a central axis of the cutter and move up and down along the central axis. The central axis is perpendicular to the support surface. The cutter includes a hollow cylindrical blade. An end surface of the blade faces the support surface.
US08905904B2
An apparatus includes adjustable resistance exercise assisting devices, including a hand grip and a bar grip, each having a length of cable wound about and fixed at one end to a cable spool and an opposite end with a quick connect fitting for removable attachment to an anchor point, whereupon forced movement of the exercise assisting device away from the anchor point, by pulling, pressing or pushing in the performance of various exercise movements, causes the cable spool to rotate against resistance imparted by a resistance adjustment mechanism. In one embodiment, the resistance adjusting mechanism includes a piston that moves against pressure within a variable volume airtight chamber as the cable spool rotates. The apparatus may also include a rigid garment that is worn about the human torso and which includes multiple anchor points for attachment of the cable quick connect fitting thereto.
US08905902B2
A kit for performing exercises. The kit includes a back board, a standing board and a bench press bar. The kit also includes a plurality of bungee cords that are of different strengths and which can be attached to the various elements of the kit to establish a precise resistance to accommodate a particular user for a particular exercise.
US08905898B2
A trampoline includes a trampoline bed secured to a frame. The trampoline bed is made of trampoline bed material. An enclosure includes an enclosure net made of enclosure net material, a net hem formed on the enclosure net, a plurality of net hem openings formed on the net hem, and a bed hem attached to a periphery of the trampoline bed. The bed hem is made of enclosure net material. A plurality of bed hem openings are formed on the bed hem. A securing cord is sized to weave the plurality of net hem openings to the plurality of bed hem openings.
US08905896B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including a selectively shut-down engine, a torque converter and a torque converter lock-up clutch. One example method comprises, during an idle-stop engine shut-down, restricting flow of transmission fluid out of the torque converter, and adjusting engagement of the torque converter lock-up clutch to adjust a drag torque on the engine to stop the engine.
US08905888B2
A simpler configuration for a power transmission element for realizing gear shift functionality and center differential functionality is achieved in a transfer mechanism (3) for a four-wheel drive vehicle by which rotative power input to an input shaft (11) is transmitted to a rear-wheel output shaft (12) and a front-wheel output shaft (13). The power transmission element includes one planetary gear mechanism (20) configured having a group of gears (21 to 23) that are arranged in a single line in the axial direction and are not moved in the axial direction.
US08905884B2
According to the embodiment, the electric motor controller is configured to perform control such that a free-state limit torque after switching from the ring-locking state to the free state is set to a value larger in absolute value than an upper limit torque of the first electric motor or the second electric motor determined by electric motor specifications at the time of switching from the ring-locking state to the free state or is set to a value larger in absolute value than a restricted state limit torque at the time of switching from the ring-locking state to the free state. The restricted state limit torque is a limit torque of the first electric motor or the second electric motor, and the electric motor controller performs control such that the torque generated by the first electric motor or the second electric motor is less than the free-state limit torque.
US08905878B2
A bicycle sprocket assembly is provided with at least a first sprocket and a first axial spacer. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of first sprocket arms extending radially from the first sprocket mounting portion and a first chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the first sprocket arms. The first chain engaging portion includes a plurality of first teeth. The first axial spacer is disposed on a first sprocket side surface of the first sprocket. The first axial spacer has a first spacer mounting portion and a plurality of first spacer arms extending radially from the first spacer mounting portion. The first spacer arms are partially visible from an axial view of a second sprocket side surface that faces in an opposite direction from the first sprocket side surface.
US08905873B2
A protective strip device to apply to the shaft of a hockey stick, the strip device having an inner side face, adhesive on the inner side face for bonding to the shaft of the stick, an outer facing side defining a central groove, and two spaced apart shock absorbing side abutment ridges extending lengthwise along opposite sides of the central groove, and a plurality of spaced apart openings formed along the central groove.
US08905869B2
The disclosure relates to a device for training proper finger spacing on a basketball ball at the time of releasing the ball. The basketball training devices provided herein maintain two adjacent fingers in comfortably spaced relation to enable the player to support and release the ball from those two fingers, thereby increasing the player's control of the ball and improving the accuracy of the basketball shot. A method for maintaining two adjacent fingers of a basketball player's hand in spaced and angled relation when shooting a basketball is provided. A method for making the training device is also provided.
US08905867B2
A batting tee system includes a batting tee assembly that may be used with conventional balls or with the ball described as an embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, the batting tee assembly may be used with a netting system that provides feedback to a batter based on a trajectory of the ball after it has been struck by a bat and leaves the batting tee assembly. In one embodiment, the batting tee assembly includes a support base coupled to a swing arm, which in turn is coupled to an adjustable-height batting tee. The batting tee system may be configured for both left and right handed batters and also placed in a portable or storable configuration.
US08905860B2
A ball includes a core, a cover, and an intermediate layer between the core and the cover. The intermediate layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The intermediate layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.
US08905855B2
System and method for utilizing motion capture data for healthcare compliance, sporting, gaming, military, virtual reality, industrial, retail loss tracking, security, baby and elderly monitoring and other applications for example obtained from a motion capture element and relayed to a database via a mobile phone. System obtains data from motion capture elements, analyzes data and stores data in database for use in these applications and/or data mining, which may be charged for. Enables unique displays associated with the user, such as 3D overlays onto images of the user to visually depict the captured motion data. Ratings, compliance, ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed, for example on a map or timeline or both. Enables performance related equipment fitting and purchase. Includes active and passive identifier capabilities.
US08905851B2
A torsional vibration damper or rotationally elastic coupling comprises: an outer housing including a flange; an inner part arranged within and rotatable relative to the outer housing; a plurality of intermediate pieces arranged around the inner part and spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction so as to form a plurality of chambers filled with a damping medium; a plurality of leaf spring assemblies having one or more leaf springs, said leaf spring assemblies being arranged in said chambers and having outer end portions engaging with receptacles formed between neighboring intermediate pieces and inner end portions engaging with the inner part; and a clamping ring extending around the intermediate pieces and the leaf spring assemblies for securing the leaf spring assemblies between the intermediate pieces.
US08905845B2
A tablet computer interface with additional motion based sensors and tactile controls.
US08905840B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a substitution hybrid game including: a gambling game; a multiplayer entertainment game that triggers at least one wager in the gambling game; a substitution module constructed to access a database containing player profiles associated with players of the substitution hybrid game, and the substitution module is constructed to: detect a substitution request from a human player via a user interface concerning a gameplay session of the substitution hybrid game, where a player profile within the database describes the human player; evaluate whether the substitution request involves a substitution of players that satisfies at least one substitution standard using at least the player profile that describes the human player; and perform the requested player substitution when the substitution request satisfies the at least one substitution standard.
US08905837B2
A gaming machine and method are provided which provide a video slot game to a player. The video slot game includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a plurality of rows and columns. The machine and method display a base instance of the video slot game and in response to occurrence of a triggering event, the base instance of the video slot game is split and a plurality of sub-instances of the video slot game are displayed.
US08905834B2
Interactive gaming tables are provided that include one or more video displays. The interactive gaming tables are operable to detect and distinguish between various types of physical objects placed on the interactive gaming table, associate a function with at least one type of physical object and generate a video display window on a video display that is viewable through a transparent portion of the one type of physical object. Video images including content associated with the function can be provided in the video display window. The interactive gaming tables can be used to provide a wager-based table game where the function associated with one of the physical objects can be a function related to play of the wager-based table game or a function related to a particular player playing the wager-based game. A mostly transparent, credit-card sized object designed to be carried by a game player is one example of one type of physical object that can be utilized with the interactive gaming table.
US08905833B2
In various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to select one or more playing cards from a plurality of playing cards, wherein different playing cards include or are otherwise associated with one or more different symbols. The gaming system then determines if any matches occur amongst the plurality of symbols of a plurality of playing cards (including at least the player's selected playing card(s)). Following such a determination, the gaming system determines and provides zero, one or more awards based on one or more of: (i) which, if any, matching symbols occurred amongst the plurality of symbols of the plurality of playing cards, and (ii) a quantity of symbol matches which occurred amongst the plurality of symbols of the plurality of playing cards.
US08905830B2
Plural vertically aligned curtain sections form a first wall of a structure and are each coupled to a respective manual or powered rotary drive by means of a respective elongated, roll-up rod disposed in a lower hem, and extending the length, of the curtain section. The rotary drives are attached to horizontally spaced, vertical tracks for limiting the vertical drives, the roll-up rods and each curtain's lower hem to vertical motion in rolling up and unrolling the curtain sections. A water curtain maintained in a moist condition is disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of the curtain sections, with fans disposed on a second opposed wall of the structure for drawing air through the space occupied by the curtain sections for providing moist airflow through the structure's interior. Moist airflow and cooling are precisely controlled by controlling the gap between a pair of adjacent vertically spaced curtain sections.
US08905824B2
The present invention is directed toward a shield assembly for a handheld tool device such as an angle grinder. The shield assembly is selectively repositionable with respect to the cutting tool. A lock mechanism secures the shield assembly in discrete rotational positions relative to the cutting tool. The shield assembly includes a guard member and a bumper member, and an alignment feature configured to align the relative positions of guard member and the bumper member, thereby positing the members in a predetermined relative orientation. With this configuration, the shield assembly is selectively repositionable via a “hands-free” mechanism that permits a user to adjust the position of the shield assembly by simply contacting the shield assembly against a work surface.
US08905819B2
Provided is an internal gear machining method capable of achieving improvement of machining accuracy and extension of the tool life by increasing a slip velocity. For this purpose, internal gear machining is performed on a workpiece (W) by synchronously rotating the workpiece (W) and a barrel-shaped threaded grinding wheel (11) in mesh with each other. The workpiece (W) is rotatable about a workpiece rotation axis (C1), and the barrel-shaped threaded grinding wheel (11) is rotatable about a grinding wheel rotation axis (B1) having a predetermined shaft angle (Σ) to the workpiece rotation axis (C1). In the internal gear machining method, the shaft angle (Σ) is set large based on the amount of change in a grinding pitch wheel pitch radius of the threaded grinding wheel (11).
US08905817B2
An air-actuated clamping assembly that is quickly actuated to secure a workpiece in place during machining operations, such as on a waterjet machine. The clamping operation is completed within seconds after a workpiece is placed (for example, when used in conjunction with a waterjet machine) onto the waterjet machine slats. The system greatly minimizes set-up time, allows for an adjustable clamping force, allows for one operator to set up workpieces, keeps the workpiece firmly in place and prevents movement during the machining process, is adaptable to various waterjet brands and models, and is air-actuated so that typical “house air” can be utilized.
US08905813B2
An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.
US08905812B2
A toy block, configured to be assembled with a mating block, has four sidewalls. The toy block includes, where applicable, at least one stud, at least one recessed portion, bottom posts, semi-circle posts, rib pairs, a plurality of edge stoppers, and a plurality of corner stoppers. The studs and the recessed portion are provided at the top side and at the bottom side of the toy block respectively. When one of the studs of the mating toy block is inserted in one of the recessed portions of the toy block, each one of the engaged studs of the mating toy block has its sidewall abutting against eight abutment points in its corresponding recessed portions of the toy block. Thus, the toy block is grasped with the mating toy block at the engaged studs of the mating toy block.
US08905810B2
A plush writing toy that is attached to the user's wrist and holds a writing utensil in its front paws, legs, or hands, thereby simulating the movements of the user as the user draws, writes, colors, or paints. The plush writing toy can be manufactured to resemble an animal or any other fictional or non-fictional child's character.
US08905803B2
A device (1) for use in recovering a person who may be exhausted, injured or unconscious from the sea. The device (1) comprises a plurality of rigid rods (2) enclosed within a sheath (7) made from flexible tubular webbing. The sheath (7) comprises at least one flange (3) extending radially outwards from the rod (2). The device (1) also comprises a plurality of linking webbing elements (4) made from a flexible material. The linking webbing elements (4) are attached to the flange (3) of the sheaths (7) encasing the rods (2) to form a network of rods (2) enclosed within tubular webbing sheaths and linking webbing elements (4).
US08905793B2
An improved electronic contact assembly for electrical connectors is disclosed. A plurality of elongated metallic contacts may be formed, each having one or more protrusions that enable precision alignment within a connector. A plurality of the contacts may be insert-molded in a dielectric frame which may have alignment tabs, resilient alignment bosses, alignment posts and crushable combs, all enabling precise alignment of contacts within a connector.
US08905786B2
A header connector includes a header housing holding a plurality of header signal contacts and header ground contacts at least partially surrounding corresponding header signal contacts. A ground bracket is coupled to the header housing. The ground bracket is electrically conductive. The ground bracket is electrically connected to each of the header ground contacts to electrically common each of the header ground contacts.
US08905775B2
An retaining device of an electrical connector assembly for use with a heat dissipating device, includes a first retainer, a fixing lever, and a second retainer. The fixing lever has one end pivotally mounted to the first retainer and another end capable of locked by the first retainer. The second retainer is integral formed with an elastic plate. The first retainer and the second retainer are two separated members, and the fixing lever and the elastic plate are used for pressing two opposite ends of the heat dissipating device.
US08905774B2
A connector for forming an electrical connection includes a connector body having internal threads formed on an inner surface, a locking member mounted in the connector body and resiliently projecting into a valley of the internal threads, and a plug having external threads complementary to the internal threads. The apex of the external threads may include a recess for receiving the locking member.
US08905773B2
A memory socket with a special contact mechanism comprising a plurality of socket pins arranged in two opposite rows leaning respectively against two inner projecting portions in a socket frame, and an interacting member movably installed between the two rows of the socket pins having a cam portion to pushes the socket pin at both sides away from the interacting member during the insertion of a memory module, so that the socket pin may be bended to contact the inserted memory module.
US08905745B2
A mold core includes first and second main bodies and an adjustment assembly. The first main body includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a receiving cavity passing through the front and rear surfaces. The front surface defines two first cavities at opposite sides of the receiving cavity. A connection line of centers of the first cavities intersects with a symmetry axis of the first cavities to form a first intersection point. The second main body includes a forming surface defining second cavities. A connection line of centers of the molding cavities intersects with a symmetry axis of the second cavities to form a second intersection point. The forming surface is coplanar with the front surface. The adjustment assembly abuts the first and the second main bodies to compensate an offset between the first and second intersection points to satisfy a predetermined range.
US08905742B2
A three-dimensional printer to fabricate three dimensional objects using a rotary build surface platen. This architecture achieves high space efficiency, and rigidity for precision. The apparatus size can be very small relative to the objects it can build. The 3D printer can also actively shape the side profile of a layer for greater fidelity with the ideal input geometry. The profile can be shaped through subtraction of material, or by constraining the material while it is deposited.
US08905740B2
The invention relates to an automated mobile production system for fabricating a cement panel or composite cement panel. The system includes a movable container and a conveyor system inside the container aligned along a longitudinal axis of the container. The system further includes a plurality of independent manufacturing stations inside the container and aligned along the conveyor system. The container is preferably an international standard shipping container so that being compact and movable from place to place. Further, the system includes a removable mortar mixing station affixed to the outer top side of the container when the system is in operation, and is removed and stored inside the container during transport of the system.
US08905739B2
A system and method of layerwise production of a tangible object (5), they system comprising a construction shape (6) to form a liquid layer to be brought in contact with the tangible object; solidifying means (9) for solidifying a predetermined area of a layer (10) of the liquid (3), so as to obtain a solid layer (14) of the tangible object (5), the solid layer thus having a predetermined shape, separating means (18; 19′; 19″) for separating said solid layer from said construction shape; moving means (18) for moving, relative to one another, the construction shape (6) to a predetermined position relative to the tangible object (5), for carrying out a successive such method cycle for solidifying a predetermined area of a successive such liquid layer; the system is arranged to provide a limited volume of liquid adhered to the construction shape to form a liquid layer of limited height that does not contact the tangible object; wherein said moving of said construction shape and said solidifying of said predetermined area are carried out to take place simultaneously.
US08905735B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, an engine system comprises a housing, an outer gerotor, an inner gerotor, a tip inlet port, a face inlet port, and a tip outlet port. The housing has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first endwall, and a second endwall. The outer gerotor is at least partially disposed in the housing and at least partially defines an outer gerotor chamber. The inner gerotor is at least partially disposed within the outer gerotor chamber. The tip inlet port is formed in the first sidewall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The face inlet port is formed in the first endwall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The tip outlet port is formed in the second sidewall and allows fluid to exit the outer gerotor chamber.
US08905730B2
A peristaltic pump comprises a pump unit including a pump which receives a replaceable tube. The tube has a transponder, for example an RFID tag, which carries data relating to the tube, which can be read by a reader of the pump unit. On the basis of a comparison between the tube data on the RFID tag and control data held in a memory of the reader, the reader permits operation of the pump unit if the tube data is compatible with the control data, but prevents such operation if the tube data is incompatible with the control data, for example indicting that an incorrect tube has been fitted, or the tube is approaching the end of its predicted operational life.
US08905728B2
Rotodynamic pumps having an inner drive permanent magnet coupling disposed inside an impeller are provided. The impeller has a casing having a pumping region generally in a pumping plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the impeller and aligned with a permanent magnet coupling that includes outer magnets that are connected to the impeller and at least partially aligned with the pumping region of the impeller, and inner magnets that are connected to an inner magnet ring and are axially aligned with the outer magnets. A canister is sealed to the casing and separates the outer magnets from the inner magnets.
US08905715B2
A bucket for a turbomachine rotor wheel includes an airfoil portion, a shank portion and a dovetail mounting portion, the shank portion including opposite sides, one of the sides formed with a substantially axially-oriented groove extending between forward and aft ends of the shank portion. The other one of the opposite sides is formed with at least one substantially radially-oriented groove. The substantially axially-oriented groove is adapted to receive an elongated damper pin, and the at least one substantially radially-oriented groove is adapted to receive an elongated radial seal pin.
US08905713B2
An article is described, including an inner surface which can be exposed to a first fluid; an inlet; and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface, which can be exposed to a hotter second fluid. The article further includes at least one row or other pattern of passage holes. Each passage hole includes an inlet bore extending through the substrate from the inlet at the inner surface to a passage hole-exit proximate to the outer surface, with the inlet bore terminating in a chevron outlet adjacent the hole-exit. The chevron outlet includes a pair of wing troughs having a common surface region between them. The common surface region includes a valley which is adjacent the hole-exit; and a plateau adjacent the valley. The article can be an airfoil. Related methods for preparing the passage holes are also described.
US08905707B2
An air cycle machine has a housing which holds a compressor section, and a turbine section having an expansion area, and a fan section disposed outside of the housing. A shaft, which attaches to and is coaxial with the compressor section, the turbine section and the fan section, is supported by an air journal bearing and an air thrust bearing. The shaft has a hollow core for porting cooling air from the air journal bearing and the air thrust bearing, and a tube that extends into said expansion area and communicates cooling air from the turbine expansion area to the thrust bearing.
US08905704B2
A wind turbine comprising a drive shaft; at least one vane connected to the drive shaft; and a torque converter attached to the vane, the torque converter comprising an airfoil, the torque converter being adapted to capture air for use in aiding the vane to rotate. Certain embodiments include the vane comprising a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite to the first surface, the first surface comprising a plurality of wind disrupters. Certain embodiments include a plurality of vanes rotatably connected to the drive shaft, the plurality of vanes comprising a plurality of strakes adapted to capture air and direct air to the drive shaft. Yet certain embodiments include a first air scoop connected to the vane, the first air scoop comprising a first air scoop portion at an angle relative to the vane.
US08905694B2
This invention relates to a self-locking screw (16; 116) in which the flanks (18; 118), which are loaded when the screw (16; 116) is screwed, are provided with an arched portion (20; 120).
US08905685B2
This roughing insert is provided with an insert body, and a waveform cutting edge which is formed on an intersecting ridge line portion between a rake face and a flank face of the insert body, and which undulates along this intersecting ridge line portion. The waveform cutting edges are formed on the insert body respectively at positions which are rotationally symmetrical at predetermined angular intervals around a reference line of the insert bodies. These waveform cutting edges which are positioned rotationally symmetrically to each other are formed such that, when the insert bodies are rotated by the predetermined angle around the reference line, one or more portions of the waveform cutting edges do not match each other and are mutually asymmetrical.
US08905684B2
A slotting cutter includes a disc-like cutter body rotatable in a predetermined direction on a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the cutter body. The cutter body includes a stop slot, an upper cam slot and a lower slot. A plurality of pockets adapted to receive a cutting inset are formed about a perimeter of the body. A cantilevered clamping member includes a bottom surface with a pair of clamping surfaces that engage a pair of angled clamping surfaces on a top surface of the cutting insert during operation. A wrench is provided to lift the cantilevered clamping member for inserting, indexing or removing the cutting insert from the slotting cutter. The wrench includes two fixed pins and a floating pin that prevents the cantilevered clamping member from bending too far and limiting the useful life of the slotting cutter.
US08905681B2
A pneumatic conveying process transports plastic pellets from a manufacturing source to a bulk silo for storage before being delivered to the ultimate production utilization of the plastic pellets. Multiple types or multiple sources of plastic pellets can be fed through a common pneumatic conveying conduit to respective bulk silos for temporary storage with diverter valves being utilized to direct product into and out of the common conveying conduit. Expanded elbow fittings are deployed at each directional change in the conveying lines to eliminate the creation of streamers at conduit bends. The plastic pellets are conveyed at a medium velocity between dense and dilute phases to provide a gentle conveying operation. A closed loop air supply system is used for dedusting devices providing a final removal of dust and debris from the stored product before being delivered to the ultimate utilization facility.
US08905675B2
A method of manufacturing a mechanically lined pipe (MLP) having an outer pipe and an inner liner comprising at least the steps of: (a) forming the outer pipe as a single length; (b) forming an inner liner former being wholly or substantially the same length as the outer pipe of step (a); (c) locating the inner liner former of step (b) within the outer pipe; and (d) expanding the inner liner former within the outer pipe to form the MLP.
US08905663B2
The disclosure discloses an adhesive tape cutting apparatus. The apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to feed an adhesive tape, a guide plate configured to contact and guide a surface of the other side end of the adhesive tape, a movable blade configured to advance from the adhesive layer and cut the adhesive tape, disposed below the guide plate so that a blade edge of the movable plate vertically faces the guide plate, a travel mechanism for causing the movable blade to travel along the tape width direction along the guide plate, and a movable blade support device configured to support the movable blade with respect to the travel mechanism in the manner that the movable blade slopes so that the blade edge presses the adhesive tape to the guide plate in the travel direction along the tape width.
US08905657B2
A marking object having at least one object blank (3) and held by an object carrier (2), the object blank (3) being markable by a marking apparatus (7). To configure the marking objects such that the known drawbacks are eliminated, the object carrier (2) has at least one identification means (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) that contains at least one piece of information relating to the marking object (1) and/or the identification means (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) can be used to store at least one piece of information relating to the marking object (1).
US08905650B2
A fiber-optic cable with a fitting capable of increasing connection strength between a fiber-optic cable and an optical connector, which includes a fiber-optic cable including a sheath and a tensile member, an inner ring mounted on a circumference of the sheath from a position where the tensile member is drawn out of the sheath through a slit to a front end of the sheath, and a fitting mounted on the circumference and including a first portion mounted from the position where the tensile member is drawn out of the sheath to a position of the sheath on a side opposite to the ring side, and a second portion mounted while covering a circumference of the ring, wherein the first portion connects with the sheath, and the end portion of the tensile member is sandwiched by the ring and the second portion.
US08905649B2
An optical fiber terminal fixing member is configured to be inserted into an optical connector to fix an optical fiber terminal to a housing. The optical connector includes the optical fiber terminal attached to an end of an optical fiber cable, and the housing that holds the optical fiber terminal. The optical fiber cable includes an optical fiber, a tensile member disposed along a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and a coating portion that covers the optical fiber and the tensile member. The optical fiber terminal fixing member includes a main body, a fitting portion formed so as to project from the main body and configured to fit into a groove provided on an outer circumference of the optical fiber terminal, and a fixing structure for fixing the optical fiber terminal fixing member to the housing.
US08905645B2
A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, and double row rolling elements are contained between the outer raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. A shoulder height H of the inner raceway surface of the inner ring is set with a range of 0.4-0.8 times a diameter “d” of the ball (H/d=0.4-0.8). A shoulder height δ of a smaller diameter portion formed on the outermost circumference of the inner ring is set to a value δ/d≧0.35. A corner, formed by the tapered surface and the inner raceway surface, is rounded to have a circular arc cross-section. A shoulder height H1 of the inner raceway surface from its bottom to the corner is set within a range of 0.40-0.50 times a diameter of the ball (d) (H1/d=0.40-0.50).
US08905644B2
A shaft bearing device for a hand-held power tool, in particular for an angle grinder and/or a circular saw, includes at least one first support unit and at least one second support unit which are intended to axially and/or radially support a bearing element of a shaft. At least one of the at least two support units is formed at least partially by a plate element that has at least one axial and/or radial bend.
US08905634B2
A temperature detection apparatus includes a transformer, a thermostat attached directly to an electrically conductive site of the heating element and has contacts that become short-circuited or come into an open-circuit condition depending on whether or not the temperature of the heating element is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the contacts being connected to a secondary coil in the transformer, a DC voltage source and a transistor configured to supply required AC power to a primary coil in the transformer, a current detection resistor configured to detect a current flowing through the primary coil in the transformer, and a comparison circuit detecting a voltage generated across the current detection resistor when a current flows through the current detection resistor, the comparison circuit outputting an alarm signal when the current flowing through the primary coil in the transformer exceeds a preset threshold current.
US08905623B2
In a two-shaft extruder, a pair of rotor shafts (1) is rotatably arranged such that the closer to the head end of the pair, the smaller the distance between the pair. The pair of rotor shafts (1) is respectively provided with screw blades (2) mounted on the head end side of the pair. The rotor shafts (1) are adapted such that one screw blade (2a) enters gaps of the other screw blade (2b). Drive devices (M) for rotationally driving the pair of rotor shafts (1) are mounted on the respective base ends of the pair. The extruder has a screw blade contact prevention mechanism (SS) which, when the pair of rotor shafts (1) is driven, prevents the pair from having a phase difference greater than a predetermined level.
US08905619B2
The present invention discloses a backlight module and display device. The backlight module includes a front bezel and a frame. The frame includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member located on two opposite sides of a frame body of the frame. Each of the first connecting member and the second connecting member has a trench on the inner side. The front bezel includes a first side frame and a second side frame located oppositely. The first side frame and the second side frame are correspondingly plugged into the trenches of the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The front bezel is fixed to the frame through a third side frame.
US08905615B2
A light source module includes a first frame, a second frame, a light guide plate, a light source, at least one positioning element and at least one buffer element. The second frame is disposed corresponding to the first frame and has at least one through hole. The light guide plate is disposed between the first frame and the second frame and has a light incident surface and a side surface, and the side surface faces to the through hole of the second frame. The light source is disposed on the light incident surface of the light guide plate. The positioning element is disposed in the through hole of the second frame. The buffer element is located between the positioning element and the side surface of the light guide plate.
US08905597B2
An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved. Alternatively, the lens shape is numerically or analytically determined by a functional relationship between the shape and the predetermined illuminated surface pattern and predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source as inputs.
US08905591B2
A linear light source includes an LED, an LED drive circuit substrate disposed on a frame, a flexible substrate on which an electric supply pattern is formed and to which the LED is attached at one end and the LED drive circuit is attached at the other end, a linear light guide and a heat sink. The one end of the flexible substrate is attached to the heat sink. A face of the heat sink covered by the LED and a face of the one end of the flexible substrate are perpendicular to the light guide and to a substrate face of the LED drive circuit substrate, while a face of the other end of the flexible substrate is parallel to the light guide and a substrate face of the LED drive circuit substrate. A bent portion is formed between the two ends of the flexible substrate.
US08905585B2
A hospital layout comprising a plurality of adjacent OR/intervention rooms (46, 48) uniquely configured and equipped to perform surgical and other interventional procedures, with adjacent intubation rooms (52) configured and equipped to prepare patients for procedures to occur in the OR/intervention rooms and at least one extubation room (54) adjacent the OR/intervention rooms, configured and equipped to post-intervention awaken and extubate patients. A plurality of universal patient rooms (40) are located adjacent the OR/intervention rooms and universal patient rooms, and are configured and equipped to admit patients for surgery/intervention, prepare patients for surgery/intervention, allow patients to recover post-intervention, and discharge patients post-recovery.
US08905581B1
The present invention provides a coupling structure of a flexible core and a flexible base of a Christmas light string, which is applicable to a Christmas light string, in which a Christmas light is formed of a combination of a flexible core, a flexible base, an LED, and electrical wires and multiple Christmas lights are combined to form a Christmas light string. The features of the present invention are that a flexible core has a bottom on which two bearing seats are formed to support two terminal pins of an LED and having bottom edges in which folding notches are formed in such an arrangement that one is relatively high while the other is relatively low, whereby the two terminal pins of the LED, after being folded about the bearing seats, both provide an extended exposed portion for engagement with the conductive pad of the corresponding electrical wire.
US08905577B2
A lamp housing uses a tubular metal support functional as a heat radiator within which is an electrical circuit board having a component mounting surface, and in opposition thereto, a thermal transfer surface positioned for conducting heat, from the circuit board to the metal support. A clear lens is secured to the metal support, and a pair of ribs integral to the clear lens extend into contact with the component mounting surface of the circuit board thereby urging the thermal transfer surface toward the metal support for good thermal contact and heat transfer. A thermal transfer tape or paste may be used between the circuit board and the metal support surface upon which it rests. The circuit board may be laid onto the metal support without sliding it into grooves and the clear lens may be snapped into place over the circuit board engaging grooves in the metal support.
US08905576B2
Certain disclosed embodiments use two substantially hemispherical illumination sources, mounted on a mount that allows the illumination sources to illuminate both sides of the reflector, allowing both halves of the reflector, with 2 pi rotation, to be used for generating the lighting distribution. This system and method both increases the amount of light collected and increases the efficiency of the illumination source.
US08905563B2
A display device with narrowed frame border and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The display device includes a backlight module, an optical film, and a display panel. The backlight module includes an outer frame and a light source module. The outer frame has a bottom plate and a sidewall connected to the bottom plate, and the light source module is disposed in the outer frame near the sidewall. The optical film is disposed on the backlight module and covers the light source module. One side of the optical film protrudes outside from the sidewall and is bent to attach a portion of the sidewall. The display panel is disposed on the optical film opposite to the backlight module.
US08905558B2
An arrangement comprises a garment, a mounting apparatus and an optical tracking marker to be used in motion capture. The arrangement may include a plurality of mounting apparatuses and optical tracking markers. The garment includes openings. The mounting apparatus includes legs which are shaped and include features to enable the mounting apparatus to engage the openings of the garment. The mounting apparatus further includes a marker coupling which is shaped and includes features to engage the optical tracking marker. The mounting apparatus provides a secure yet removable attachment for the optical tracking marker to the garment.
US08905557B2
A projection apparatus is capable of changing a lens, and includes a lens shift unit that moves a mounted lens to a reference position in accordance with the mounted lens when the lens is changed.
US08905556B2
A projector includes a lens driving unit that drives a lens unit including a projection lens; a reception unit that receives instruction information that is input; and a control unit that controls a lens shift by the lens driving unit based on lens shift instruction information with respect to the projection lens, which is received by the reception unit, in such a manner that zoom, which is performed by the lens driving unit based on zoom instruction information adjusting angle of view with respect to the projection lens, is performed in a predetermined state for a first image which is projecting in a state that a central position of the first image is different from a basis position of the zoom.
US08905554B2
An illumination unit includes a plurality of light sources each including a solid-state light-emitting device configured to emit light from a light emission region including a single or a plurality of light-emitting spots. The solid-state light-emitting device includes a single chip or a plurality of chips each emitting light beam. Three or more of the light-emitting spots are provided within the whole light sources, to allow the whole light sources to emit light beams in two or more wavelength bands different from one another. Two or more of the plurality of the light sources include respective light-emitting spots which emit light in the same wavelength band.
US08905552B2
A dust-proof structure of a projector includes a color wheel module, an air diversion panel, and a circuit board. The color wheel module has a motor and a color wheel. The motor drives the color wheel by an axle to rotate. The air diversion panel is located on the circuit and positioned under the motor. The air diversion panel has an opening, a dust exit, and a dust collecting trough. The opening is positioned between the dust exit and the dust collecting trough. The circuit board has a sensor, which is placed in the opening of the air diversion panel. The dust exit and the dust collection trough of the air diversion panel prevent the sensor from dust aggregation.
US08905546B2
An optical system includes: a reflective imaging element; and a liquid crystal display panel disposed on a light-incident side of the reflective imaging element, the liquid crystal display panel having a display surface which is inclined with an angle of no less than 45° and no more than 75° relative to a plane defined by the reflective imaging element, a viewing angle dependence of a contrast ratio of the liquid crystal display panel taking a central value in a direction inclined by 10° or more in a direction of tilt of the display surface from a normal of the display surface, and causes an image displayed on the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel to form an image at a position of planar symmetry with respect to the reflective imaging element as a plane of symmetry.
US08905544B2
An ophthalmic apparatus for guiding positioning an intraocular lens for astigmatism correction, includes: an obtaining unit for obtaining an anterior segment image of a patient's eye and an astigmatic axis of a patient's cornea; a feature point designating unit for defining a feature point of an iris or a sclera on the anterior segment image; and a display control unit for superimposing and displaying a gauge image that models a cornea gauge and an axis that represents the astigmatic axis of the cornea on the anterior segment image.
US08905543B2
An adaptor for a slit lamp holds a portable camera, such as a cell phone, in place relative to a slit lamp. The adaptor is adjustable to accommodate virtually any size of portable camera through the use of screws, washers, spacers, and other adjustment mechanisms. The adaptor can be formed in two parts: an ocular engaging portion and a camera support. The two portions can be coupled together to position the camera relative to the slit lamp to photograph a patient's eye.
US08905537B2
A media handling device for a printer is provided. The media handling device includes a base structure and an assembly provided on the base structure. The assembly comprises a carrier structure that has a first end that is coupled to the base structure. The carrier structure is coupled to the base structure to move inwards from an original position and is under bias to return to the original position, in order to receive a media sheet during a print operation. The assembly also comprises a set of starwheels provided with the carrier structure. Each starwheel rotates while contacting the media sheet during the print operation.
US08905531B2
The present invention is to provide a printer and an ink tank therein. The ink tank includes a tank body, a first pillar, a resilient component, a lid, a second pillar and a waterproof moisture-permeable assembly. An ink filling port and a first opening are formed on an upper side of the tank body. The first pillar and the resilient component are disposed in the first opening and forming an openable intake passage cooperatively. The lid covers on the upper side of the tank body, a second opening and a second pillar are formed on the lid. The second pillar includes a communicating portion, and a waterproof moisture-permeable assembly is disposed on the lid and communicating with the communicating portion through the second opening. The present invention is to prevent the waterproof moisture-permeable assembly from being stuck by ink when the printer is not in printing operation.
US08905527B2
A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion that stores liquid therein, a liquid path that is in fluid communication with the liquid storing portion, a sealing member that is selectively penetrated and closed, and a storage. The storage includes a first count storage area configured to store first count data corresponding to a number of times the sealing member has been penetrated at a first position, and a first position sealing data corresponding to a first number that is comparable to the first count data.
US08905509B2
A printing section for performing duplex printing by performing printing on each printing paper sheet fed by a feeding section and performing printing on the other side of the one-side printed printing paper sheet that has been inverted by an inverting section; a control section for exert control to alternately perform the printing on each printing paper sheet from the feeding section and the printing on each one-side printed printing paper sheet; a post-processing time obtaining section for obtaining a post-processing time for each duplex printed printing paper sheet; and a feeding timing setting section for setting a feeding interval of the printing paper sheets from the feeding section based on the post-processing time for each duplex printed printing paper sheet, and calculating a paper spacing interval between each printing paper sheet from the feeding section and each one-side printed printing paper sheet based on the post-processing time.
US08905507B2
In an inkjet printer, for forming a large dot on a recording paper in the course of image recording, a second ejection pulse (721) and a first ejection pulse (713) are selected from a basic waveform (70), as a driving signal. For forming a medium dot, a first minute pulse (711) and the first ejection pulse (713) are selected. For forming a small dot, a third ejection pulse (722) is selected. At the time of non-ejection, a second minute pulse (712) is selected. As a result, by adjusting the waveform of the first minute pulse (711), it is possible to form high-quality dots of respective sizes while shortening a driving cycle with the use of the first ejection pulse (713) for forming a large dot and a medium dot.
US08905504B2
A liquid accommodation member includes a liquid accommodation chamber, a liquid outlet port that is capable of leading the liquid to a liquid consumption portion from the liquid accommodation chamber, a liquid inlet port through which the liquid is capable of being injected into the liquid accommodation chamber, a visual recognition surface through which a liquid level of the liquid accommodated in the liquid accommodation chamber is capable of being visually recognized, an illumination portion that illuminates the liquid accommodation chamber, and a displacement member that is displaced between a time of liquid injection at which the liquid is injected through the liquid inlet port and a time of liquid non-injection at which the liquid is not injected. The illumination portion lights up when the displacement member is displaced from a liquid non-injection position at which the displacement member is located at the time of the liquid non-injection.
US08905503B2
A refrigerator appliance is provided with a bracket disposed within a cavity defined by a cabinet of the appliance. The bracket supports a divider disposed within a chamber defined by the cabinet and configured for receipt of food articles. The divider extends from a top wall of the chamber into the chamber.
US08905497B2
A sliding arrangement, in particular an extension apparatus for drawers, sliding doors, hinged doors, etc., has an extending arrangement which comprises a sliding piece (21) that is displaceable by means of a spring element (22) between an inserted position and an extended position. In order to enable user-friendly opening of the drawer, provision is made according to the present invention that the sliding piece is displaceable over a first displacement distance in spring-impinged fashion, and in an adjacent second displacement distance is displaceable without spring impingement in a free-running portion of the extension apparatus.
US08905489B2
A washing element for a washing system is provided, in particular an automatic motor vehicle washing system, wherein the washing element is formed by a foam material. To provide a washing element of this kind wherein the risk of damage to the article to be washed can be reduced, the washing element is a foam sheet which has at least on one side a skin, wherein the skin is provided, at least in certain sections, with a surface texturing.
US08905484B2
A functional chair is capable of storing articles such as shoes, shoe brushes, umbrellas, canes and the like by utilizing a narrow space effectively, and can be used as a chair for senior citizens and for children to sit and put on shoes.
US08905481B2
A fitting for a vehicle seat has a first fitting part and a second fitting part in geared connection via a toothed wheel and a toothed ring, a circumferential eccentric, driven by a driver, for driving movement of the toothed wheel and the toothed ring, wherein the first fitting part receives the eccentric, which is supported on the second fitting part, wherein two wedge segments upon which a spring acts, define the eccentric, a retaining element which retains the eccentric in the non-driven state of the fitting by cooperating with at least one retaining lug of the retaining element via a toothing configured on the first fitting part, and which releases the eccentric, when it is driven by the driver, wherein the retaining element has at least one opening which is penetrated by the spring, the spring penetrates the retaining element at exactly one opening.
US08905475B2
A modular seat assembly for installation into one of at least two vehicles differing in body style includes a seat frame including a first attachment area and a second attachment area. The seat assembly also includes a coupling device that operably couples the seat frame to the vehicle. The coupling device is attached to the seat frame in one of the first and second attachment areas. The one of the first and second attachment areas is chosen for attachment of the coupling device according to the body style of the vehicle.
US08905473B2
A seat adjusting module suitable to connect the saddle including at least a seat rail and a seat tube of a bicycle is provided, wherein the module includes a base assembled to an end of the seat tube, a clamp unit including two clamp elements and a fastening unit including two fasteners. The first clamp element has at least a first clamp portion and a shaft portion matched to the base at a first or a second position so as to rotate relatively to the base on a first or a second rotation axis. The second clamp element has at least a second clamp portion, which with the first clamp portion together clamps the seat rail. The two fasteners together fasten the two clamp elements to the base so that the first and second clamp portions together clamp tightly the seat rail.
US08905460B2
A ballistic transparency includes a first ply having a peripheral edge; a second ply spaced from the first ply and having a peripheral edge; a polymeric layer located between the first ply and the second ply; and at least one flexible mounting member having a first end extending within the polymeric layer and a second end extending beyond the peripheral edges of the first and second plies.
US08905446B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for a hand held device for collecting waste material deposits. In one exemplary embodiment the device comprises a frame with a grip portion, and a waste receptacle with an open end for receiving a waste material deposit. The exemplary device may further comprise a pivoting scoop adapted to swing between a loading position in which the scoop extends generally away from the grip end of the frame, and a dispensing position in which the scoop is generally juxtaposed with the open end of the waste receptacle.
US08905443B2
The invention relates to a lock assembly (10) of a planar component (22) displaceably mounted in frame (30). Said assembly (10) comprises an engaging element (40) which, in said planar component's closed position, can be fixed in place in a latching system (50). Said latching system is designed in a manner that, in its blocked position, the engaging element, for instance a bar affixable by compression and/or friction in the latching system (50), can be inserted into latter in a first direction (R) opposite the direction of closing (X) of the planar component (20), whereas such insertion is blocked in a second direction (S) which is opposite said planar component's direction of opening (O). This design allows almost noiselessly operating the lock assembly. The planar component also may be closed when the latching system is in the blocked position already when the planar component is open. Moreover all double fittings are averted and as a result the said planar component always can be closed and be locked in play-free manner.
US08905442B2
A latch structure according to an embodiment includes a cage having an engagement hole, a connector attachably and detachably held in the cage, the connector comprising a connector body having an almost rectangular parallelepiped shape and an insertion part to be inserted into the cage formed on an end surface of the connector body, a latch cover rockably installed in an upper surface of the connector body, being formed of a single plate material and having a cover body for covering the upper surface of the connector body, an engagement claw to engage with the engagement hole of the cage formed at an end portion of the latch cover, a spring member for always energizing the latch cover so that the engagement claw engages with the engagement hole, a rocking member formed in both sides of the cover body of the latch cover and formed by bending the plate material downward and a rocking groove formed in both side surfaces of the connector body for rockably engaging with the rocking member, wherein the rocking member is fitted to the rocking groove and the latch cover is rockably installed in the connector body.
US08905438B2
A tongue plate includes a grasping portion through which the webbing for restraining an occupant is being inserted and a plate portion including an engaging portion. The engaging portion is integrated with the grasping portion, and extends from the grasping portion, and is able to engage with a buckle device of a vehicle. The grasping portion includes a pair of side surfaces. The side surfaces form a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the grasping portion when viewed from a plate thickness direction of the plate portion, and are arranged one on each side portion in a width direction of the grasping portion. The side surfaces are arranged such that a width dimension of the grasping portion on the engaging portion side of the grasping portion is larger than a width dimension of the grasping portion on a side opposite the engaging portion side of the grasping portion.
US08905436B2
The invention relates to an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle including a clamping device, in the opened state of which the steering column is adjustable and in the closed state of which the set position of the steering column is fixed and which has an operating lever and a clamping pin having a longitudinal axis. A clamping part, which can be rotated by the operating lever about the longitudinal axis of the clamping pin in order to open and close the clamping device, is arranged on the clamping pin or is integrated with the clamping pin as one piece. The clamping pin and/or the clamping part includes a toothing, which surrounds the longitudinal axis of the clamping pin and the teeth of which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the clamping pin.
US08905435B2
An ATV is disclosed which includes a pedestal assembly incorporated into the foot-wells, which cooperate with a removable passenger seat. Furthermore, passenger seat is selectively added or removed from ATV by way of a latch assembly. Hand grips flank the removable seat and are attached to a rear accessory panel. The rear accessory panel also includes an integrated cup holder, and rack tie-downs are formed in a front or rear accessory panel.
US08905434B1
A rollover protection apparatus unlocks and lowers from a raised position to a lowered position suitable for clearing a low hanging obstacle when an operator applies a force to an operator lever or pedal. The rollover protection apparatus returns to the raised position when the operator ceases applying force to the operator lever or pedal.
US08905410B1
A snowboard without foot bindings enables a rider to perform skateboard tricks while sliding on snow. A pair of runner boards is connected in a spaced longitudinal relationship by a strut. A pole is attached to the strut by a universal joint enabling a rider to perform maneuvers while holding onto a handle at the end of the pole. The universal joint enables the runner boards to rotate 360° about a longitudinal axis extending along the board and rotate 360° about a vertical axis and other angles therebetween providing the same freedom of movement to the runner boards that a skateboard provides for its rider. The pole is pivotally mounted to the connector enabling the pole to pivot through an arc of at least 180°.
US08905404B2
A card game in which players compete against a dealer to obtain a poker hand and a blackjack hand that beats the dealer without busting by exceeding a predetermined number of points.
US08905393B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing on a sheet having an image formed thereon. A stapling section or a scoring section performs processing on a sheet and a sheet bundle. The upper limit value of a sheet count of sheets processable at a time by the post-processing unit is equal to N (N is an integer). A buffer path performs buffer processing for retaining a conveyed sheet, placing the retained sheet and a sheet following the retained sheet one on the other, and conveying the superimposed sheets as a sheet bundle. A CPU controls the buffer path the stapling section or the scoring section such that when the processing is being performed on the sheet or the sheet bundle, the buffer processing is performed on a following sheet, and that the processing is performed on each sheet bundle having been subjected to the buffer processing.
US08905391B2
Disclosed is a portable holder for supporting a firearm during cleaning, maintenance, adjustment, sighting and repair operations at a work station, the holder being adapted to support a portion of the firearm, the portable holder comprising: a base section adapted to be fixed to the work station in a substantially upright position; a threaded rod mounted to the base section in a substantially vertical orientation; and, one of a support head and a vise assembly affixed to the upper portion of the threaded rod; wherein the base section contains a substantially vertically orientated threaded aperture allowing the threaded rod to be rotated about its longitudinal axis into the threaded aperture of the base section to permit both mounting of the threaded rod to the base section and height adjustment of the threaded rod relative to the base section; the support head having a base and at least one flange extending upwardly from the base to receive a support tongue of a gun barrel cradle and means for pivotally connecting and locking at least one flange and the support tongue.
US08905389B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for mounting workpieces to be measured, in particular sheet metal parts of a vehicle body, in a reference position, comprising a plurality of mounts each of which has a support column and can be moved on a support surface into a desired position, and further comprising connecting devices which can be fixed to the support columns and comprise an element for connecting to a support head which rests against the workpiece and is disposed in accordance with the desired position. The connecting element can be adjusted while compensating for deviation of the mount from the desired position.
US08905376B2
Tunable check valves reduce valve-generated vibration to increase the reliability of tunable fluid ends. Selected improved designs described herein reflect disparate applications of identical technical principles (relating to, e.g., the vibration spectrum of an impulse). Tunable check valve embodiments comprise a family including, but not limited to, tunable check valve assemblies, tunable valve seats, and tunable radial arrays. Each such tunable embodiment, in turn, contributes to blocking excitation of fluid end resonances, thus reducing the likelihood of fluid end failures associated with fatigue cracking and/or corrosion fatigue. By down-shifting the frequency domain of each valve-closing impulse shock, initial excitation of fluid end resonances is minimized. Subsequent damping and/or selective attenuation of vibration likely to excite one or more predetermined (and frequently localized) fluid end resonances represents further optimal use of fluid end vibration-control resources for improving high-pressure fluid end reliability.
US08905373B2
A non-interchangeable two-component connecting valve capable of connecting a fuel supply to a fuel cell or other device is disclosed. One component of the connecting valve comprises at least one center post and one internal elastomeric seal, which opens when moved or compressed by a correctly sized and dimensioned mating tube from the other component. In one embodiment, only one valve component has one or more internal seals. In alternate embodiments, both valve components have one or more internal seals, which can open simultaneously or sequentially.
US08905370B2
A supporting device for a display apparatus is disclosed. The supporting device comprises a chassis, threaded stem casters, a bed plate, and a main beam. The plurality of casters disposed in the chassis allow the supporting device be moved. The bed plate covers the chassis and comprises a first top wall and a first side wall surrounding the first top wall. A height of the first side wall is greater than that of the chassis. The first top wall covers and is on top of the chassis. The first top wall comprises an opening area. The plurality of casters are located in the opening area. The main beam is fixed to the chassis for hanging the display apparatus. The present invention supporting device is readily adjustable. The display apparatus is moved conveniently and efficiently, and the integration design of the supporting device and the display apparatus is more aesthetically pleasing.
US08905362B2
A test support apparatus includes a base, a support bracket, a first positioning member mounted to the support bracket; and a positioning arm. The support bracket is pivotally mounted to the base and keeps an angle relative to the base. The support bracket supports a product. The positioning arm defines an elongated positioning slot. The positioning arm is mounted to the base. The first positioning member is positioned in different positions of the elongated positioning slot to change the angle.
US08905360B2
A train signaling system, including a traffic signaling chain terminus set up unit configured to set a terminus location of a train running on the track and transmit a wireless traffic signal, a plurality of traffic signaling chain relay units installed along the track and configured to forward the wireless traffic signal and allow the wireless traffic signal to form a traffic signaling chain comprising distance-to-go information of the train, and a traffic signaling chain detection unit configured to allow the train to achieve the receipt of the information on the traffic signaling chain and calculate the distance-to-go of the train. A method for detecting distance-to-go of a train is also provided.
US08905354B2
A step assembly for a vehicle can include a housing and a support member hingedly coupled to the housing with a shaft. A first locking feature can be associated with the housing while a second locking feature can be associated with the support member. A spring can be operably associated with the support member and the housing such that the spring can bias the second locking feature toward the first locking feature. The support member is configured to rotate between a stowed position and a deployed position. Further, the support member is configured as a step support and a hand hold device.
US08905350B2
A stiffened panel including at least one stiffener, known as a longitudinal stiffener, extending substantially from one extremity of the panel to another and whose trace on a surface of the panel follows a path having non-zero geodesic curvature between the two extremities of the stiffener. This configuration makes it possible to optimize both a stiffness of the panel and its resistance to the force flow to which the panel is subjected to during operation by minimizing its mass through an optimum definition of an orientation of the stiffeners relative to the force flow.
US08905349B2
The structural element of an aircraft fuselage, with stringers running in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft fuselage and ribs running transversely to the stringers in the circumferential direction of the fuselage. According to the invention, at least one of the stringers running in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft fuselage is designed as a fastening rail for elements to be installed in the aircraft fuselage.
US08905339B2
Provided is a liquid developer-preparing apparatus preparing a liquid developer obtained by dispersing toner particles in a liquid, the apparatus including, a tank that stores a dispersion including a liquid and toner particles, a pulverizing device that pulverizes the toner particles in the dispersion sent from the tank; a liquid-sending route in which the dispersion circulates between the tank and the pulverizing device, a liquid-sending device that is provided to the liquid-sending route and sends the dispersion, a pressure gauge that is provided to the liquid-sending route and measures a liquid-sending pressure of the dispersion, and a determination device that determines whether or not the toner particles in the dispersion have been pulverized to a target volume average particle size.
US08905332B2
A dual turbine showerhead provides multiple spray modes emanating from the head. The showerhead includes an inlet orifice, a backplate, a first turbine located side-by-side with a second turbine, a faceplate forming a first orifice group and a second orifice group, a first fluid channel in fluid communication with the first and second turbines and the first orifice group, and a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the second orifice group. In another embodiment, the showerhead includes first and a second turbines located side-by-side and a valve body that channels a fluid to the first turbine and the second turbine. In another embodiment, the showerhead includes a first and a second turbine located side-by-side along a centerline of the showerhead, a corresponding outlet region is arranged along the centerline and additional outlet regions are laterally spaced therefrom.
US08905324B2
The invention relates to a rotary sprayer for spraying a coating material, comprising a fixed body, a spraying member, a device for rotating the spraying member about a rotational axis, and a flow path for supplying the spraying member with a coating material. The spraying member for the coating material includes a flow surface for receiving the coating material and an edge for spraying the coating material. The rotary sprayer further includes a device for injecting air into a region located radially inside the space defined by the flow surface and upstream from the edge, the air-injecting device being separate from the coating material supply flow path. The air-injecting device includes an air dispenser arranged in an upstream portion of the flow surface, which injects air into a central area of the surface.
US08905323B2
Disclosed is a guide plate for the lateral guidance of a rail and to a rail fastening system with such a guide plate. The guide plate has a contact area, on which the guide plate stands in the completely assembled state, and a support portion, which is associated with the counter bearing, with a support face, with which the guide plate 1 is supported, in the completely assembled state, on a counter bearing.
US08905313B2
A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing.
US08905311B2
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an infrared-transmissive dome, such as for infrared imaging applications. For example, an infrared camera system includes a housing having a lens coupled to the housing and an infrared detector within the housing configured to receive infrared energy passing through the lens. An infrared-transmissive dome, coupled to the infrared camera system, includes a main body providing a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome, with the main body made of an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material. The main body may have a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches to allow infrared transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body to the lens for infrared imaging in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers.
US08905306B2
An electronic voting system provides increased transparency to the public and verification for the individual voters regarding the tallying of their respective votes. A voting record can be made available electronically, thereby eliminating the need to provide a voter with a paper ballot. A voting record identifier is generated without use of, or reference to, voter identity. The voting record identifier is provided to the voter, such that the voter can access a record of his ballot selections and vote number sequence. In addition, a biometric authentication mechanism is provided to reduce, or eliminate, the potential that a voter is able to vote more than once.
US08905303B1
A method for facilitating wireless payment using different authentication and connectivity methods depending on the user profile, the user location, transaction, and connectivity capabilities of the payment terminal.
US08905297B2
A system and method of tracking biological fluid during a donation process. The system and method identify and release blood products from quarantined storage and print an appropriate blood bag label on demand.
US08905284B2
A fastener supply assembly for a fastener driving tool includes an outlet passage arranged to expel fasteners from the assembly to a workpiece during use, a magazine comprising a plurality of supply channels arranged to hold fasteners and supply them to the outlet passage, and a channel selector. The channel select has an opening and is arranged to selectively connect, via its opening, the outlet passage with each respective supply channel of the magazine, by movement of the channel selector relative to both the magazine and a longitudinal axis of the outlet passage. The movement of the channel selector may comprise rotation about the longitudinal axis of the outlet passage.
US08905283B2
An angled core slot dispenser includes an inclined platform sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of film bags wound on a hollow central core. A core pin has first and second ends, is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the central core and has at least one notch that extends across one of the ends. First and second guide slots are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the ends of the core pin. At least one guide rail is located between outer edges of at least one of the guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch. A bag stream guide, side constraints and a snagging hook are attached to the bag dispenser. The dispenser may be attached to an adapter for a bin mounted to a vertical surface formerly used to hold a single wide bag roll.
US08905277B2
A cable transport carrier facility is proposed. The cable transport carrier facility is designed for transport of system cables installed on a medical imaging facility and is able to be installed on the medical imaging facility. The cable transport carrier facility has at least one component which is made at least partly of an organic material.
US08905274B2
A pouring nozzle includes a generally rectangular shaped plate and a tube extending from the bottom surface of the plate. The nozzle includes a pouring channel emerging close to the downstream end of the tube through outlets formed in the lateral walls of the tube. The outlets are disposed symmetrically on either side of the axis of the tube. The axis of the outlets is substantially parallel to a pair of sides of the plate. The orifice is oblong and has a major axis and a minor axis. The minor axis of the orifice is parallel to the axis of the outlets. The pouring nozzle may be assembled with an inner nozzle. This nozzle and its assembly with an inner nozzle may be used for the continuous casting of steel from a tundish towards a continuous casting mould.
US08905272B2
A device for dispensing a metered amount of powdered, granular liquid or related fluent materials and a method of dispensing a fluent material such that a release of excess material beyond the metered amount is inhibited. The dispenser includes a sealing arrangement to effect such inhibiting, as well as to reduce moisture-based contamination of the material stored within the dispenser. Optional features may include various seal configurations and numbers, removable top and bottom caps that both may have a locking mechanism. The dispenser may be configured as a disposable hand-held device such that, after depletion of the fluent material contents arising out of a multiplicity of uses, it can be thrown away.
US08905254B2
The invention provides a container which has an erect condition in which it defines a load space within which goods to be transported are receivable and a collapsed condition. The container is configured such that a plurality of like containers, when in their collapsed condition, are receivable in the container for transport together therewith. The container includes a pair of ends, at least one and preferably two sides, which, in the erect condition of the container extend between the ends and a base. The ends, the or each side and the base may be formed of elongate elements. Alternatively, the ends, sides and base may be clad such that the load space is partially or fully enclosed.
US08905253B2
A lightweight container includes an enclosed base, an upper portion that extends upwardly to a finish; and a body located between the base and the upper portion. The sidewall includes vacuum compensation elements that have an open end and an opposing closed end, and that form a V-shape. Each element has nested fields.
US08905249B2
Utilization of event drapery for visual aids, and similar purposes is facilitated by insertion of an intermediate support bar between vertically disposed and relatively spaced posts supported at their bottoms by base plates and secured at their tops by an upper support bar. A clamp, positionable and securable, at any one of a relatively infinite number of positions along each post, functions to secure support bar receivers in place which, in turn, receive respective ends of the intermediate support bar to facilitate disposition of the visual aid and further event drapery. A base plate supports a pair of vertical posts and facilitates positioning two sets of drapes back to back.
US08905247B2
There is disclosed a versatile storage and shelving system. A plurality of specialized, sturdy, lightweight, integrally molded main panels (10) are provided, which may be hanged upon a hanger track (16) mounted upon a vertical wall (15). The main panels (10) are shaped to define shelf ledges (26) therein upon which shelves (18, 20) may be easily but securely placed. Defined in the fronts of the panels (10) are one or more wardrobe hooks (22) into which wardrobe rods (14, 14′) may be placed. Special hook bodies (53, 120) for the wardrobe rods (14, 14′) and flange elements (44, 47) for the panel wardrobe hooks (22) promote secure engagement of the wardrobe rods (14, 14′) with respective pairs of panels (10). A wardrobe rod (14′) is telescopically adjustable, and special hook body (120) adds versatility.
US08905221B2
An apparatus for stacking items (I) includes first and second pluralities of stacker shelves (22) extending towards each other in spaced and parallel operative sections and each moving along first and second endless paths. The stacker shelves (22) are switchable by a switch (350) between extended and retracted positions. The stacker shelves (22) in retracted positions in the operative sections are operatively spaced from the item (I) received on the corresponding stacker shelves (22) in extended positions. In preferred aspects, the stacker shelves (22) are slideable relative to first and second plurality of carriers (310) carried along the first and second endless paths by roller chains (304). The switch (350) switches a cam follower (328) on each of the stacker shelves (22) into one of first and second cam tracks (342, 344) as the stacker shelves (22) enter the operative sections of the endless paths.
US08905218B2
A control assembly for controlling rotation of a turnstile, includes a torque-restoring mechanism (13) with springs (20), a motion converting transmission with a multiplying gearing (56, 57) converting a rotation of the turnstile over 120° into a rotation of the rotary shaft entering the hydraulic damper (26) over 180°. The hydraulic damper (26) has two pistons mounted onto a single piston rod. A cam or crank mechanism converts rotation of the rotary shaft into reciprocating motion of the two pistons. The first piston damps the rotary movement of the turnstile when moving in one direction while the other piston damps this movement when the pistons move in the other direction, therefore damping the turnstile in both directions. A motion converting transmission in combination with a double-piston mechanism avoids any loss of hydraulic fluid, while achieving a gradually increasing damping force to effectively stop the rotation of the turnstile.
US08905214B2
An electric hub unit includes a hub composed of first casing and a second casing. An electric unit is located between the first and second casings. An axle extends through two respective centers of the first and second casings. The first casing has a reception recess defined in one side thereof. A first extension and a second extension extend axially from the first casing and toward in opposite directions. A bearing is located in the inside of the second extension. A socket unit has a tubular portion and a ratchet unit is connected to the socket unit. The socket unit is mounted to outside of the first casing, and a bearing and a plate are located between the tubular portion and the first extension. The hub unit prevents water and foreign objects from entering into the hub.
US08905205B2
A bicycle hydraulic component operating device has a main body, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston, an operating lever, a fluid reservoir tank, and a communication port. The main body includes a handlebar mounting portion and a gripping portion. The piston is movably disposed within the hydraulic cylinder. The operating lever is pivotally disposed around a pivot axis relative to the main body. The operating lever is operatively connected with one of the hydraulic cylinder and the piston to generate a hydraulic force in response to pivotal movement of the operating lever relative to the main body. The fluid reservoir tank is in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder. The communication port is in communication with the fluid reservoir tank.
US08905202B2
A brake drum which can improve the drag strength, strength and rigidity in the diametrical direction, joint strength, and heat radiating ability, that is, a brake drum which is used for a drum brake, wherein the drum has a plurality of the projections at the outer circumferential surface, the plurality of the projections are formed at the outer circumferential surface as a whole when casting a brake drum, and at least part of the projections have thin-waisted shapes. A height of the projections is 0.3 to 5.0 mm, while the number of projections is 5 to 100/cm2. The brake drum is produced by centrifugal casting.
US08905194B2
A lubricant dispenser having a cartridge, a wall in the cartridge defining therein a lower chamber and an upper chamber, and a piston subdividing the lower chamber into a lower lubricant compartment and an upper gas compartment. The cartridge has an outlet opening into the lower lubricant compartment. A body of fluent lubricant fills the lower lubricant compartment. A housing in the upper chamber holds a gas generator connected through the wall to the gas compartment and electrically energizeable to generate gas and pressurize the gas compartment. A battery is secured to the housing. An electronic controller removably mounted in the upper chamber has electrical contacts connectable to the battery and to the gas generator. It is powerable by the battery for operating the gas generator and thereby pressurizing the gas compartment, moving the piston, and forcing the lubricant out of the outlet.
US08905191B2
An assembly that includes an accessory gearbox (AGB) and a tank for a liquid lubricant for a turbojet engine. The AGB includes a gear connected to parallel shafts for mechanically driving accessories. The assembly includes a housing with two compartments and a partition perpendicular to the shafts for separating the compartments, a compartment defining the accessory gearbox and a compartment defining the liquid tank. The assembly can be compact and easily manufactured.
US08905186B2
An improved system for coupling a generated overpressure wave to a target media includes a coupling chamber and an interface between the coupling chamber and a target media. Pressure produced in the coupling chamber by a generated overpressure wave is applied to the interface thereby converting the pressure in the coupling chamber into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in the target media.
US08905184B2
An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering column that is swung around a tilting spindle during tilt adjustment, a fixing bracket that supports the steering column through the tilting spindle, and an electric motor that is supported by the steering column and used as a steering auxiliary. The fixing bracket includes a pair of side plates facing each other with the steering shaft therebetween in a vehicle width direction and a connection member through which the pair of side plates are connected together. Either one of the pair of side plates is provided with a first restraining portion that restrains the steering column from rotating in a first rotation direction around the tilting spindle. The remaining one of the pair of side plates is provided with a second restraining portion that restrains the steering column from rotating in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction.
US08905174B2
A traction unit has carrier sections on which suction cups are mounted that are connected to a vacuum source. The carrier units are driven around the frame by a chain driven by a motor. The frame has sections which move relative to one another in order to permit turning control of the traction unit.
US08905169B2
An exterior cover (shroud) for a saddle-type vehicle is formed by integrally uniting a plurality of resin members including a front cover section and a rear cover section. The shroud is insert molded to form an overlapping part where the front cover section and the rear cover section overlap with each other. The front cover section has an external-appearance-surface side at the overlapping part. The rear cover section has a non-external-appearance-surface side, which overlaps with the front cover section at the overlapping part. The rear cover section has a rib extending on the non-external-appearance-surface side. Such exterior cover prevents a sink mark from being generated in the external appearance surface of the front cover section, and improves the external appearance of vehicle.
US08905153B2
The invention relates to a method for operating power tool, particularly an electrically driven hand power tool, having at least one tool drive shaft for directly or indirectly rotationally driving a tool insert. The tool insert is received in a tool holder releasably connected to the tool drive shaft. The tool drive shaft can be coupled to a drive device via a clutch device. The clutch device is provided with at least two different limit torques, which are selectable by an operator. When the tool insert and/or the tool holder is changed out, the clutch device is reset to a lower limit torque of the at least two different limit torques, particularly the lowest possible limit torque.
US08905150B1
The casing stripper attachment secures the casing stripper within a housing, such as the bowl. The casing stripper rubber attaches to an attachment body for installation within the housing. The attachment body includes a base and an attachment lip. The base provides an outer surface for securing the attachment body and stripper rubber to the housing. The clamp secures the outer surface of the base with the housing. The stripper rubber fastens to the attachment lip of the attachment body to be secured within the bowl. The base of the present invention could attach to a drilling nipple that assists with inserting the casing into the well, a process known as running casing.
US08905143B2
A riser configuration having a rigid riser portion and a flexible riser portion. The riser configuration also includes a subsea buoy across which the riser portions are connected. Buoyancy means are mounted on the flexible riser portion.
US08905141B2
A valve useable in an undersea apparatus for generating a force for closing a blowout preventer (BOP) based on a pressure difference between a low pressure recipient and ambient pressure, an apparatus including the valve and related methods are provided. The valve includes a valve body enclosing a chamber with an input port selectively connectable to an output port, and a chamber separating assembly configured to separate the chamber from a region of different pressure. The assembly includes (1) a backup plate having a first portion of a first diameter towards the chamber and a second portion of a second diameter larger than the first diameter, towards the region, and (2) an upper seat located between the first portion of the backup plate and the valve body.
US08905140B2
Methods and apparatus enable reliable and improved isolation between two portions of a bore extending through a casing string disposed in a borehole. A downhole deployment valve (DDV) may provide the isolation utilizing a valve member, such as a flapper, that is disposed in a housing of the DDV and is designed to close against a seat within the housing. The DDV includes an operating mechanism for opening/closing the DDV. In use, pressure in one portion of a well that is in fluid communication with a well surface may be bled off and open at well surface while maintaining pressure in another portion of the casing string beyond the DDV.
US08905137B2
A method for performing shale gas operation is disclosed. The method may include drilling a first well, performing a fracturing operation in the well, recovering shale gas from the first well, supplying at least part of the shale gas recovered from the well to an electrical generator, generating electricity using the generator, and transferring the generated electricity to drilling equipment used to drill a second well.
US08905135B2
This invention is generally related to using treatment fluids having additives that modify rheological characteristics. Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods of using treatment fluids comprising an aqueous fluid and an associative polymer additive, wherein the associative polymer additive increases the PV of the treatment fluid by more than at least 50% and wherein the associative polymer additive increases the yield point by no more than about 30% of the corresponding increase in the PV relative to a treatment fluid without the associative polymer additive in a portion of a subterranean formation.
US08905123B2
An automobile which includes a radiator fan control for heat pump HVAC which can selectively reverse fan direction based on ambient temperature and moisture to reduce ice buildup on a liquid-gas converter. The automobile may include a liquid-gas converter located within an engine bay, a radiator located adjacent the liquid-gas converter, a first fan located adjacent the radiator, a fuel cell and motor with the inverter located adjacent the first fan, the fuel cell supplying electricity to the motor with the inverter to drive the vehicle. The automobile can also include a temperature sensor located on an exterior surface of the automobile to sense an ambient temperature, a heater core connected to the liquid-gas converter and located between the engine bay and the passenger area, and a control unit connected to the first fan, the temperature sensor, and the heater core.
US08905115B2
Disclosed is a blind cord winder integrating with stopping control to allow open/close operation of the cordless blind to lift or lower the cordless blind at any positions according to user's needs. The winder primarily comprises a spool installed inside a first compartment, a force-feedback mechanism, and a braking cushion mechanism installed inside a second compartment where the force-feedback mechanism is installed in a shaft cavity of the first compartment. The force-feedback mechanism includes a shaft sleeve and a volute spring. The braking cushion mechanism includes a friction ring, a friction spring, and a trigger sleeve. The friction ring is immovably installed inside the second compartment. The friction spring is tightly plugged into the friction ring and has an extrusion end for the trigger sleeve to trigger friction variation in a single directional rotation of the trigger sleeve.
US08905114B1
A cordless shade assembly having a primary panel with a face surface and a back surface. A plurality of horizontal support rods are affixed to primary panel at spaced intervals. A plurality of magnetic elements are supported by at least some of the horizontal support rods. The magnetic elements magnetically interconnect at least some of the horizontal support rods together whenever the primary panel is lifted to a raised position and at least some of the support rods come close enough together for the magnetic elements to magnetically interconnect and maintain that raised position.
US08905111B2
A device for releasing an interconnect layer that provides a connection between a carrier and a wafer which forms a carrier-wafer combination. The device includes rotation means for rotation of the carrier-wafer combination in a release position, and a connection release means for providing an immersion bath that receives the carrier-wafer combination.
US08905106B2
End portions of a sheet-shaped rubber member are manually and firmly joined together. A pair of opening/closing members is arranged to sandwich and move along the end portions. An opening/closing mechanism opens/closes the pair of opening/closing members between an open position and a closed position where the end portions are joined together. A pair of guiding rollers is provided to one opening/closing member and guides each of the end portions to a joining position. A pressing roller is provided to the other opening/closing member and presses each of the end portions onto the guiding roller. A pair of joining rollers is provided to the pair of opening/closing members, respectively, and sandwiches each of the end portions guided by the pair of guiding rollers. The joining rollers roll on each of the opposing end portions and abut and join the end portions to each other.
US08905103B1
A tool defines a piston/cylinder with first and second chambers on either side of the piston. A sealable port couples the first chamber to ambient environment. One end of the tool (i) defines a volume that is open to ambient environment, and (ii) has a cartridge coupled thereto such that the volume remains open to ambient environment. The cartridge defines (i) a chamber filled with a meltable material, and (ii) a channel coupling the material-filled chamber to ambient environment. A melting device in thermal communication with the meltable material simultaneously heats an air/water mixture in the second chamber and melts the meltable material. An element releasably coupled to the tool spans a region within the cartridge that lies within the channel. The element incorporates a check valve separating the volume defined by the tool and ambient environment.
US08905101B2
A run flat tire where: the ratio of the cross-sectional height on the inner side in the radial direction to the cross-sectional height on the outer side in the radial direction, having the maximum tire width in a state inflated to an air pressure as a boundary; the inclination angle of the outer wall in the upper region of the side wall portion; the curving form of the tread surface; the position of the carcass folded over end; the height of the bead filler; the relationship between the thickness of the outer side rubber taken on a line normal to the rim line and the maximum thickness of the outer side rubber in an upper region of the bead portion; and the relationship of the thickness of the inner side rubber and the thickness of the outer side rubber taken on a line normal to the rim line are stipulated.
US08905097B2
An agricultural tire has an equatorial plane separating first and second sides. First and second inner sixths of the treads extend between the equatorial plane and circumferential reference planes disposed axially one-sixth of a tread width on either side of the equatorial plane. First and second middle sixths of the tread extend between inner circumferential planes and middle circumferential reference planes one-sixth of the tread width from the inner circumferential reference planes. Outer sixths extend between the middle circumferential reference planes and outer circumferential reference planes disposed one-sixth of the tread width from the middle planes. Net tread volume ratio is approximately 40 percent, where between 36 and 39 percent of lug volume is in the inner sixths, between 32 to 35 percent in the middle sixths, and 27 to 30 percent in the outer sixths of the tread.
US08905088B2
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing and distributing a cleaning solution for use in a vehicle washing facility. The method includes receiving pre-measured raw chemical material at a distributor's facility, diluting the pre-measured raw chemical material using a mixing apparatus at the distributor's facility to form a cleaning solution, packaging at least a portion of the cleaning solution into containers at the distributor's facility, and delivering at least one of the containers from the distributor's facility directly to the vehicle washing facility.
US08905086B2
A machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products is provided with a gripping and carrier device to transfer at least one container between a magazine and a dosage station for the preparation of a pharmaceutical product, and a box-type holding frame defining a chamber for the housing of magazine, gripping and carrier device, and dosage station; the chamber displaying an access aperture to magazine and being crossed by a sterile air flow adapted to avoid the entry of air from the external environment through aperture itself.
US08905083B2
One aspect of the invention provides an energy dissipative tube including: a length of tubing; an inner resin layer surrounding an outer surface of said tubing, wherein said inner resin layer is substantially free of a fire retardant; a non-expanded metal foil adjacent to an outer surface of said inner resin layer; and an outer resin layer surrounding said metal foil and said inner resin layer, wherein said outer resin layer includes a fire retardant. Another aspect of the invention provides an energy dissipative tube include: a length of tubing; an inner resin layer surrounding an outer surface of said tubing, wherein said inner resin layer is static dissipative; a non-expanded metal foil adjacent to an outer surface of said inner resin layer; and an outer resin layer surrounding said metal foil and said inner resin layer, wherein said outer resin layer is conductive.
US08905077B2
The present invention relates to a hydraulic auxiliary valve device (1) adapted to be connected to a hydraulic main valve (20) on a work vehicle, which work vehicle comprises a hydraulic system comprising a pump and a tank, the auxiliary valve device (1) comprises: —a first motor port connection (4A) and a second motor port connection (4B) arranged to be connected to a first motor port and a second motor port, respectively, on a double acting hydraulic motor, in particular a double acting hydraulic cylinder, —a pump lead-through (2), which connects the pump input port connection (2A) of the auxiliary valve device (1) to the pump connection output port (2B); —a tank lead-through (3), which connects the tank input port connection (3A) of the auxiliary valve device (1) to the tank connection output port (3B); and —a control valve (IA) provided with two open positions, which control valve (1A) in the first open position connects the pump input port connection (2A) to the first motor port connection (4A) and the tank input port connection (3A) to the second motor port connection (4B), and in the second open position connects the pump input port connection (2A) to the second motor port connection (4B) and the tank input port connection (3A) to the first motor port connection (4A).
US08905072B2
A manual override device for controlling at least one valve in a power system includes a rod having a first end and a second end. An attachment is configured to attach to a spool of the at least one valve and includes a clearance with respect to the first end of the rod so as to allow the attachment to move with the spool, during ordinary operation of the power system, without contacting the rod. A lever is connected to the second end of the rod and is configured to activate the manual override device by moving the rod in a longitudinal direction such that the first end of the rod makes contact with the attachment to move the spool.
US08905067B2
Valve module for influencing a fluid supply of a fluid-operated load, comprising a valve housing with a valve chamber being connected to an inlet port and an outlet port and a pilot chamber being connected to an operating port, comprising a valve member which is movably adjustable between a blocking position and a release position and further comprising an actuator which is motion-coupled to the valve member, wherein a position of the actuator and the valve member can be set as a function of a pressure applied to the pilot chamber, and further comprising a sensor device for detecting a position of the valve member and/or the actuator along a movement axis, and the sensor device comprises an electric coil arrangement which forms a ring around at least one fluid port from the group comprising the operating port, the inlet port and the outlet port.
US08905057B2
A shunt pan is used to prevent excessive water damage from occurring if water leaking from a kitchen appliance is not discovered in a timely manner. The shunt pan directs the flow of collecting water into a walkway of a kitchen, where it is visible, rather than allowing the water to soak into surrounding kitchen walls and cabinets. A shunt pan is characterized by a rectangular floor bordered on three sides by walls, but not bordered by a physical obstruction on the fourth side, which is open. Preferably, the open side includes an indicator material, such as confetti or glitter in a water-soluble binder, that can be carried by flowing water into the walkway. If the water that carried the indicator material evaporates, the indicator material will remain in the walkway to clearly show the presence of a water leak.
US08905055B2
A full flow pressure relief valve includes a housing having an inlet opening on its bottom and an outlet opening on one of its side. A piston is positioned inside the housing adapted to move from a set position where the piston seals the inlet opening to a sprung position where the piston is removed from the inlet opening. A lock is biased by a spring in a perpendicular direction toward the side of the piston. The lock is adapted to hold the piston in the set position until a relief pressure is supplied in the inlet opening, where the lock is adapted to release the piston to the sprung position.
US08905038B2
The invention provides a portable hookah for smoking a smokable substance such as tobacco or medical marijuana. The device has a water jar with a handle and a perforated semispherical cover that supports a tubular cartridge. The lower end of the cartridge is inserted into the water jar so that it is immersed into the water that fills the water jar, and the upper end of the cartridge is located in the cover and contains a compartment for the heating and smoking substances. The water jar has on its outer surface a helical groove for winding and supporting a hose, the distal end of which has a mouthpiece for the smoker and is fixed to the water jar for storage and transportation. The water jar may be reusable or disposable.
US08905037B2
A smoking article having a tobacco rod and a filter attached to the tobacco rod, which filters the first puff differently than subsequent puffs. The tobacco rod includes an inner rod of tobacco material having an impervious outer wrap and an impervious cap at an upstream end thereof and an outer rod of tobacco material, wherein the inner rod of tobacco material is concentrically positioned with respect to the outer rod of tobacco material. The filter includes an outer cellulose acetate filter and an inner activated carbon filter, wherein the inner activated carbon filter is concentrically positioned with respect to the outer cellulose acetate filter.
US08905032B2
According to one claim of the invention, a method for occluding a fallopian tube in a vertebrate subject is described, which comprises comprising transcervically delivering a solid blocking material into the fallopian tube. In various embodiments, a fluid sealing material is delivered along with the solid blocking material. Other claims of the invention pertain to articles of manufacture, delivery devices and kits for use in occluding the fallopian tubes of a vertebrate subject.
US08905029B2
An airway management device is provided that may adjust the inflation level of a cuff associated with an endotracheal tube. The cuff inflation may be adjusted in response to an increase in carbon dioxide levels above the cuff, which may indicate a poor seal of the cuff against the tracheal walls, as well in response to a measured intracuff pressure. By using information about the seal quality of the cuff together with information about the cuff pressure, the inflation of the cuff can be adjusted to minimize cuff inflation pressure while maintaining a high quality tracheal seal.
US08905027B2
A compression chamber is formed by two end walls (10) and a flexible tubular member (11) extending between the end walls (10). The flexible tubular member (11) is formed from an inner tube (12) of air impermeable material and an outer tube (13) of a braided material. The inner tube (12) is unstressed when the chamber is filled with oxygen or air and the outer tube (13) bears the pressure load.
US08905026B2
A ventilator circuit for use in administering medication to a patient includes a housing, a one-way inhalation valve and a one-way exhalation valve. A metered does inhaler receptacle is in fluid flow communication with an interior space of the housing holding chamber. An exhaust conduit communicates between input and output passageways disposed on opposite sides of the interior space.
US08905024B2
Systems and methods are described for application of a transitory corrective modification to a hot-wire anemometer flow voltage and/or calculated flow rate to compensate for transient thermal response of the anemometer during a change in mixture of a mixed gas being measured. According to one embodiment a method of applying the transitory corrective modification is provided. An output signal of an exhalation flow sensor of a medical ventilator is received. The flow sensor includes a hot-wire anemometer. The output signal is indicative of a rate of flow of expired gas by a patient. Transient thermal response of the hot-wire anemometer is compensated for by applying a corrective modification to the output signal or a value based thereon. The corrective modification is based at least in part on a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) being supplied by the medical ventilator to the patient.
US08905022B2
A dry powder inhaler (1) is disclosed comprising first and second medicament reservoirs (2, 2a) and respective rotatable first and second metering members (5, 5a), which are urged into sealing engagement with the respective medicament reservoir (2, 2a) by a compression spring (8) located between the metering members (5, 5a). The inhaler (1) includes an actuator by which the first and second metering members (5, 5a) are rotated in unison from a metering position to a dispensing position. The actuator acts upon the first and second metering members (5, 5a) via a wheel (9) mounted between the first and second metering members (5, 5a). The first and second metering members (5, 5a) are provided with sockets (51) that receive the respective ends of the compression spring (8). The sockets (51) have extensions (52) that project into an axial bushing (92) of the wheel (9), the bushing (92) being provided on its internal surface with formations (94a, 94b, 94c, 94d) that engage the extensions (52) to cause the metering members (5,5a) to rotate when the wheel (9) is rotated.
US08905017B2
A reservoir and a nebulizer having such a reservoir are proposed. The reservoir comprises a closure for a fluid chamber with a medicament formulation that is formed by two closure members welded together. The closure comprises a particle barrier for preventing the ingress into the fluid chamber of any weld particles that may potentially be formed during the welding of the two closure members. The fluid chamber is preferably broadened in the shape of a beaver tail and is sealed lengthways with an additional strip of material.
US08905011B2
The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of systems and methods for cooling a combustion chamber of an engine. One method includes introducing fuel into the combustion chamber of an engine having an energy transfer device that moves through an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, and an exhaust stroke. The method further includes monitoring a temperature of the combustion chamber. When the temperature reaches a predetermined value, the method also includes introducing coolant into the combustion chamber only during at least one of the power stroke and the exhaust stroke of the energy transfer device.
US08905005B2
An evaporative fuel treatment apparatus for a vehicle includes a direct purge channel for supplying evaporative fuel to a purge channel without involving a canister; a purge control valve for controlling communications between the canister and an air-intake system of an internal combustion engine by an opening and closing operation; a direct purge control valve for controlling communications between a fuel tank and the air-intake system by another opening and closing operation; and a two-way valve provided in a charge channel. During a purge mode of the apparatus, evaporative fuel adsorbed in the canister is purged to the air-intake system by closing the direct purge control valve and opening the purge control valve during operation of engine. During a direct purge mode of the apparatus, evaporative fuel in the fuel tank is purged to the air-intake system by closing the purge control valve and opening the direct purge control valve.
US08905000B2
Improved throttle body assemblies are described. More particularly, throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensor assemblies are described. In one aspect, a throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine is described. The assembly comprises a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate. The throttle plate is actuatable by an electric motor. The assembly further comprises a throttle position sensor configured to monitor positions of the throttle plate. The throttle assembly further comprises an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing, wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
US08904987B2
The present engine design can comprise one or more three-cylinder modules. Each module can comprise a left-hand combustion cylinder, a compression cylinder and a right-hand combustion cylinder. In an embodiment, the compression cylinder can function as a supercharger providing compressed air to the two combustion cylinders in order to improve performance and efficiency. Each module can comprise a specialized cylinder head comprising an intake air plenum configured to allow pressurized air to flow from the compression cylinder into each of the combustion cylinders. The flow of this pressurized air can be precisely controlled by valves that control airflow into and out of each of the three cylinders. Variable valve timing and computer controls can determine the exact amount of fuel, if any, which will be injected into the combustion cylinders to deliver high fuel economy while delivering an optimal level of power, horsepower and torque.
US08904986B1
An air directing device for motorcycles with an engine air cleaner bottom housing. An external air plenum forms both an engine-air intake channel and a rearward cylinder cooling channel by coupling (e.g., directly attaching) the external air plenum to an air filter. The external air plenum defining a forward-facing inlet port and an engine-facing outlet port (disposed over a portion of the rearward cylinder) with the two channels in fluid communication with the inlet port.
US08904974B2
An electric water pump control apparatus actively controls an electric water pump in a high speed range or a high load condition as a vehicle accelerates or overtakes. An electric water pump control method may include determining whether an engine is in a high speed/high load condition or in a normal condition by detecting an engine speed, fuel consumption amount, and coolant temperature, determining whether the coolant temperature is less than a predetermined second temperature, if the engine is in a high speed/high load condition, calculating a speed of the electric water pump by applying fuel consumption amount and engine speed, if the coolant temperature is less than a second temperature and determining a final speed of the electric water pump by applying a compensation coefficient according to the coolant temperature, and operating the electric water pump with the final speed to circulate the coolant.
US08904960B2
An animal feeder for grazing/foraging animals adapted to anatomically replicate a natural grazing/foraging position and physiologically replicate a natural grazing/foraging pattern in which the animal feeder has a hopper for storing feed, and a trough from which an animal can feed in a natural ground-level grazing position.
US08904943B2
A foldable table may include a table top and legs that are movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. The table top may include a first section and a second section that are connected by a hinge assembly. A locking member may be sized and configured to lock the hinge assembly in a fixed position. Advantageously, moving the legs between the extended and collapsed positions may cause the locking mechanism to move between the locked and unlocked positions. Thus, when the legs are in the extended position and the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the table top may be secured in the unfolded position.
US08904942B2
A rail guide for loading railroad rails onto a rail train. The rail guide includes a guide beam disposed to depend vertically downward over each shelf in a rack on a rack car. The guide beam extends substantially the length of the rack car and is coupled to a corresponding guide beam of an adjacent car via a bridge that is configured to accommodate relative movement between the cars. A shoe is provided that is coupled to a leading end of a rail to be loaded. The shoe includes a follower that engages the guide beam to guide a rail being loaded along a path defined by the guide beam. The guide beam can provide vertical and lateral support to the leading end of the rail during loading.
US08904937B2
A line charge system includes a sock with a series of explosive sections and a detonation cord attached to each explosive section. A pair of spaced tubes made of explosive material are disposed about the line and secured to the explosive material of each section resulting in a hinged connection between each explosive section and the detonation cord.
US08904935B1
A shape charge holder includes a platform where all the charges are symmetrically positioned about equidistance from each adjacent charge and about an equal distance from a center point. The center point is generally the centroid of the platform. The holder has an explosive bridge fixture which enables simultaneous detonation of at least three shape charges. The charges are angularly mounted in sockets having holes through the platform. When detonated, each jet formed by the exploding shape charge proceeds to a convergence point located orthogonal to the platform. The holder includes a supporting structure that establishes a standoff distance of the platform/charges from a target. In operation, the explosive fixture is attached to each charge and is filled with an explosive that extends to each charge. The explosive fixture includes a single igniter assuring that when the explosive is detonated, so are the shape charges.
US08904934B1
A segmented flexible linear shaped charge for use with an explosive device. The segmented flexible linear shaped charge includes a flexible explosive core and a plurality of axially spaced housing segments having rigidity greater than that of the core.
US08904932B2
A bound document having a plurality of sheets is produced. Image data for a cover image is received and dividing along a sheet-edge curve into first and second image portions. The first image portion is printed on an inner cover sheet so that an alignment location is defined on the inner cover sheet corresponding to the sheet-edge curve. The inner cover sheet and the plurality of sheets are bound together. The second image portion is printed on an outer cover sheet, and is printed borderlessly with respect to a selected edge of the outer cover sheet. After the binding step, the outer cover sheet is affixed to the inner cover sheet so that the selected edge aligns with the alignment location to form the bound document.
US08904929B2
A printing screen, comprising a sheet, at least sections of at least one pair of opposite edges of which are folded such as to define attachment elements, and a printing screen unit including at least one pair of interface members attachable to the attachment elements at the at least one pair of opposite edges of the sheet.
US08904928B2
At least one printing unit which can be moved into a print-image pickup position and into a print-image transfer position fitted with a first printing pad support involving a first pad support system or first pad seat for a first printing pad and a printing plate carrier to receive a printing plate, said printing unit also including a second pad support fitted with a second support system or second pad seat for a second printing pad, the two pad supports are such that the first support system of the first pad support and the second seat or second support system of the first pad support and the second pickup or second support system of the second pad support face each other at least when in the print-image transfer position.
US08904927B1
A pneumatic can crusher for compressing a metal can has a hollow pipe. A piston assembly is located inside the pipe with a head attached to a first end of a connecting rod and a bottom air cylinder connected to a second end of a connecting rod. In some embodiments, an opening is located in the pipe near the top end, for allowing the metal can to be inserted into the inside of the pipe and placed on a top surface of the head of the piston assembly. The pneumatic can crusher has a manually activated safety interlock operated by a foot of a user. Air from the air compressor pushes the air cylinder upward toward the top end of the pipe so to crush the metal can on the top surface of the head of the piston assembly.
US08904925B2
A modular strapping head assembly includes a body, a weld head assembly, a drive motor configured to control the weld head assembly to grip and seal strapping material, a transformer assembly, and a single power interface configured to direct power from a source to the drive motor and the transformer assembly. The transformer assembly is configured to supply current to the weld head assembly and the weld head assembly is configured to seal a lagging end of the strapping material and a leading end of the strapping material together. Each of the transformer assembly, the drive motor, the weld head assembly, and the power interface are mounted to the body and removable from the strapping machine as an integral unit.
US08904923B2
A coffee maker including a base, a filter basket positioned above the base, the filter basket including an outlet, and a drip stop assembly, and a method of using the coffee maker.
US08904919B2
An Extensile Fluidic Muscle Actuator (FMA) that changes the normal direction of force and motion, achieving compressive force generation and extensile motion output with just a small increase in friction, weight, and cost is disclosed. The motion conversion is accomplished by a pushrod that is attached to the inside end of one of the actuator's end fittings, and extends through the actuator body and slidably out through the other end fitting. The other end fitting is held stationary by a seal housing that contains a sealing element to retain internal fluid pressure as the actuator moves. A linear bearing may also be installed to keep the rod aligned and centered properly in the seal. Upon pressurization of the actuator, the flexible body of the actuator will expand radially, causing relative contractile motion between the two end fittings. However, as the two end fittings are drawn towards each other, the pushrod is extended.
US08904918B2
Disclosed is a hybrid type air-compressor, which has a main body including a cylinder having upper and lower portions, a motor assembly including an eccentric shaft passing through a side surface of the main body to eccentrically rotate in the cylinder, a first communication part covering an upper portion of the cylinder of the main body and introducing air to discharge the air to the upper portion of the cylinder, a second communication part covering a lower portion of the cylinder of the main body and introducing air to discharge the air to the lower portion of the cylinder; and an air compressing means connected to the eccentric shaft of the motor assembly and vertically moving in the cylinder to alternately compress air introduced into the upper and lower portions of the cylinder.
US08904904B2
A strut comprises a substantially hollow composite tube. A fitting on each end of the tube adapts the strut for attachment to a structure. The tube is stiffened by at least one pair of opposing stiffeners.
US08904899B2
A delta robot includes a stationary housing, in which at least three drives are installed, at least three upper arms, at least three pairs of elongate and mutually parallel lower arms, and a movable parallel plate. Each of the upper arms is connected to one of the drives. Each lower arm comprises a corrosion-resistant metal tube having a first end connected to a free end of one of the upper arms through a ball joint and a second end connected to the movable parallel plate through a ball joint. Each ball joint includes a ball head and a ball socket, one of which is attached to the first or second end of one of the tubes.
US08904894B2
A backlash-compensating mobile (1) intended to form a gear with a second mobile (2) and having rigid teeth (4, 5) and backlash-compensating leaf springs (16), is characterized in that the rigid teeth (4, 5) are distributed in groups of consecutive teeth, each group having a first rigid tooth (4) and a second rigid tooth (5) having respective mutually facing meshing flanks (10, 11) to permit the displacement of the second mobile (2) in both directions, and in that the leaf springs (16) are interleaved between these groups in spaces not intended to receive the teeth (3) of the second mobile (2), and extend beyond the tip circle (Ca) of the rigid teeth (4, 5) in order to cooperate with the second mobile (2).
US08904891B2
A wiper for a translating ram with recessed features includes a first element conforming to the recessed features of the translating ram; and a second element conforming to the external surface of the translating ram. The first element and second element conform to the cross-section of the translating ram when placed axially adjacent.
US08904890B2
A moving device is disclosed. A moving device includes a driving unit comprising a rotary shaft that is rotatable in a forward direction and a reverse direction by air pressure, a power delivery unit connected to the rotary shaft and adapted and configured to convert rotary motion of the rotary shaft to linear motion.
US08904889B2
The restraining strap has a rectangular cross section with a broad side against cylindrical sections holding a release member. The moment of inertia for a rectangular cross section strap is represented by the formula I=BH3/12. The lower moment of inertia reduces the load on the fusible link. With no limit to the number of wraps around the cylindrical sections, higher preloads can be accommodated by increasing the number of wraps of the restraining strap without affecting the moment of inertia or the amount of force borne by the fusible link. The actuator has a catch extending between the restrainer and actuator. The catch ends engage the restrainer and actuator and, upon release from the actuator, the catch rotates to allow the restrainer to unwind from about the cylindrical sections.
US08904886B1
A moveable end (ME) sample cylinder device is provided which employs a method of collection wherein the initial cylinder volume of the collection vessel or sampling cylinder is zero. The sample cylinder is inserted into the pressurized gas (or fluid) source for spot sampling thereof, said sample cylinder employing a piston or moveable end configured such that purging of the cylinder sample cavity is not required, since the sample cavity volume is essentially eliminated prior to sampling by the location of the piston within the cavity, the cavity expanding upon sampling via piston movement within the cavity. Also contemplated is a cap/body (CB) spot sample cylinder having a low internal volume and which can be inserted into a pressurized process through common valving. Insertion of the CB sample cylinder into the process eliminates purging of interconnecting tubing and also eliminates the impact of low ambient temperatures which can otherwise alter the spot sample composition. The CB sample cylinder cap may be provided to function as a fill/empty valve.
US08904884B2
Disclosed herein is a torque sensor. The torque sensor includes a cylindrical upper case having one open end and an overload prevention member that is fixed to the upper case to prevent overload. A lower case covers the open end of the upper case and an elastic structure member is disposed on the lower case to detect deformation. Additionally, a silicon structure member is disposed on the elastic structure member to detect deformation.
US08904874B2
An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device is provided for measuring the transmission and/or reflection of ultrasonic waves on a thin material sheet, in particular on a foil sheet. The device may include a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, a plurality of ultrasonic receivers, wherein the number of the ultrasonic transmitters corresponds to the number of the ultrasonic receivers, and one receiver electronics respectively for each of the ultrasonic receivers or each a group receiver electronics respectively for a predetermined number of ultrasonic receivers. A method is provided for ultrasonic absorption and/or transmission measurement, in which signals are emitted by multiple ultrasonic transmitters at the same time or nearly at the same time which are received by ultrasonic receivers and in which the received signals are evaluated in parallel.
US08904866B2
A microgyroscope is used to determine rotational motions about at least one of three perpendicular spatial axes x, y, and z. The microgyroscope has a substrate (1) on which multiple masses (2x, 2y, 9) which oscillate parallel to the plane of the substrate (1) in an x-y plane are situated. Some of the oscillating masses (2x, 2y) are attached to the substrate (1) by means of springs and anchorings. Drive elements (4a, 4b) are used to maintain oscillating vibrations of the masses (2x, 2y, 9) which are subjected to Coriolis forces when the substrate (1) rotates about any given spatial axis. Sensor elements detect the deflections of the masses (2x, 2y, 9) due to the Coriolis forces generated. Some of the oscillating masses are x masses (2x) which are also deflectable along the z axis perpendicular to the substrate (1), by means of which they are able to detect yaw rates about the x axis, and/or some of the oscillating masses are y masses (2y) which are also deflectable along the z axis perpendicular to the substrate (1), by means of which they are able to detect yaw rates about the y axis, and/or others of the oscillating masses are z masses (9) which are also deflectable in the x-y plane, but perpendicular to their respective drive direction, by means of which they are able to detect yaw rates about the z axis.
US08904863B1
A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulate the operation of a motor which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to regulate the operation of a hydraulic actuating means for engaging a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means and mount assembly, enabling identification, marking, and adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
US08904860B2
Fluid detection apparatus including fluid non-retention members and fluid detection members is disclosed. The fluid non-retention members have concave curved portions having a concavity in an outwardly direction from the respective fluid detection member. The fluid non-retention members are configured to prevent retention of the fluid on at least one of the respective fluid detection members.
US08904859B2
A gas separation and detection tool for performing in situ analysis of borehole fluid is described. The tool comprises a sampling chamber for a downhole fluid. The sample chamber comprises a detector cell with an opening. The tool also comprises a gas separation module for taking a gas from the downhole fluid. The gas separation module comprises a membrane located in the opening, a support for holding the membrane, and a sealant applied between the housing and the membrane or support. Moreover, the tool comprises a gas detector for sensing the gas.
US08904857B2
A reservoir sampling apparatus comprising at least one probe adapted to provide a fluid flow path between a formation and the inner of the apparatus with a heating projector adapted to project heat into the formation surrounding the probe and a controller to maintain the temperature in the formation below a threshold value.
US08904853B2
Methods comprising: placing particulates in a test column; adding a fluid medium comprising a salt solution to the test column; placing the column under test conditions, wherein the test conditions comprise target temperature and target pressure; maintaining test conditions for a target test duration; and, analyzing the particulates. Some methods also measure a permeability value of the column after placing particulates in a test column and before placing the column under test conditions; continuously flow the salt solution through the particulates during the test; measure a permeability value after maintaining the test conditions for the target test duration; and, calculate a retained permeability value.
US08904851B2
Provided herein are methods and devices for sensing air quality. In some embodiments, materials from mitochondrial membranes, and/or material that is present in mitochondrial membranes can be used as a detection system to optically detect the presence and/or absence of various materials.
US08904843B2
A can end includes a severable panel, a peripheral scoreline, an opening mechanism such as a pull tab, a rivet coupling the pull tab to the severable panel, and a rivet base scoreline in the public side of the severable panel. The rivet base scoreline includes an arcuate head portion, first and second arm portions extending from the arcuate head portion, and first and second ends. The base of the rivet has a radius of curvature forming an intersection between the stem of the rivet and the public side of the severable panel. The arcuate head portion of the rivet base scoreline is contiguous with the radius of curvature.
US08904835B2
Door handle assembly (1) for a vehicle, including a door handle (2) for actuating a door lock (6), which can be moved by external power from a level rest position to an exposed operative position, and a lock cylinder (3) placed adjacent to the door handle (2) for locking and unlocking the door lock (6). The lock cylinder (3) can be covered by a cover plate (4) which, when actuated by hand, exposes the lock cylinder (3) and allows switch of the door handle (2) from the rest position to the operative position.
US08904830B2
A front-loading laundry appliance including a housing with a substantially circular housing opening and a door configured to close the housing opening. A substantially cylindrical container is disposed in the housing and is configured to receive laundry for treatment. The substantially cylindrical container has a substantially circular container opening. The laundry appliance also includes a steam generator with a heating element, an inlet opening and a common outlet opening for water and steam. A pump is configured to deliver water to the inlet opening of the steam generator. A nozzle is disposed in an edge region of the container opening and configured to inject water and steam into the interior of the container.
US08904825B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for fabricating a glass rod from a glass preform capable of suppressing a diameter fluctuation of the drawn glass rod even when there is a relatively large diameter reduction ratio between the glass preform and the glass rod, such as 60 to 95%. The feed speed V1 of the glass preform is set to a constant value, the diameter D of the glass preform is acquired for determining the drawing speed V2 from diameter data of the glass preform measured before being drawn at a diameter acquisition position defined with respect to a reference position of the furnace. The distance from the reference position to the diameter acquisition position is defined so as to vary depending on a diameter fluctuation of the glass preform before being drawn in a longitudinal direction thereof.
US08904820B2
A wearable dining utensil comprises a rigid function portion for engaging food, a holder for holding the dining utensil, a shapeable connector having a third linking part and a fourth linking part for fixing a bendable portion, and a fifth linking part having an outlet for linking with the fourth linking part. One end of the rigid function portion also serves as a male linker and the opposite end has a first linking part. One end of the holder serves as a female linker for linking with the male linker, and the opposite end has a second linking part. When the female linker is linked with the male linker, the dining utensil forms a loop, and when the outlet is linked with the fourth linking part, the dining utensil forms a regular utensil. According to various connecting profiles, the dining utensils can form a bracelet, necklace or an ornament.
US08904816B2
Ice maker comprising a mould (10, 110) forming at a number of mould cavities (11, 111a, 11b) for receiving water and forming a respective piece of ice (41, 42,141), which number of mould cavities are arranged in at least one column defining a longitudinal direction; a first (2, 102) and a second shaft (3, 103); an endless conveyor (100), which is arranged to convey the mould in the longitudinal direction around at least the first shaft; and drive means (8) connected to at least one of the first and second shafts for driving the conveyor. The mould (10, 110) is formed of an elastic material and arranged to be elastically deformed as the mould passes over the first shaft (2, 102). Longitudinal communication channels (13a, 113a) are arranged between consecutive mould cavities (11, 111a) arranged in one column, for allowing water to flow between mould cavities in one column. A method of fabricating pieces of ice is also disclosed.
US08904804B2
In an overspeed protection apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a turbine rotated by combustion gas injected from a combustion chamber to drive a compressor, a fuel shutoff valve to shut off fuel to be supplied to the engine and a controller controlling operation of the fuel shutoff valve based on a turbine rotational speed to protect the turbine from overspeed, an outlet pressure of the compressor is detected and compared with a threshold value when a shutoff command is outputted, and the fuel shutoff valve is determined to be failed when the detected pressure is not less than the threshold value, thereby enabling to promptly detect the fuel shutoff valve failure without additional installing sensor, thereby enhancing the reliability.
US08904803B2
A gas turbine, computer software and a method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine is provided. The method comprises: determining an exhaust pressure at an exhaust of the turbine; measuring a compressor pressure discharge at the compressor; determining a turbine pressure ratio based on the exhaust pressure and the compressor pressure discharge; calculating a primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold reference curve as a function of the turbine pressure ratio, where the primary to lean-lean mode transfer threshold curve includes points at which an operation of the gas turbine is changed between a primary mode to a lean-lean mode; and controlling the gas turbine to change between the primary mode and the lean-lean mode.
US08904802B2
A turbomachine combustor assembly includes a combustor body, and a combustor liner arranged within the combustor body and defining a combustion chamber. The combustor liner includes a venturi portion arranged within the combustion chamber. A fluid passage is defined between the combustor body and the combustor liner, and at least one turbulator is arranged in the fluid passage. The at least one turbulator is configured and disposed to create vortices in the fluid passage. A vortex modification system is arranged at the fluid passage and is configured and disposed to disrupt the vortices in the fluid passage.
US08904799B2
A combustion device used in gas turbine engines includes an annular combustor that contains the combustion process of air and fuel and then guides the hot gas products to a first stage turbine subsection of a gas turbine engine. The annular combustor has an inner/outer shell having corrugated surfaces that extend radially outward and inward across an entire hot gas stream inside the annular combustor. The corrugations twist about the engine centerline in a longitudinal direction of travel of the engine. The resulting flow path accelerates and turns the hot gas stream to conditions suitable for introduction into the first stage turbine blades, which eliminate the need for first stage turbine vanes. The annular combustor is configured with a system of fuel and air inlet passages and nozzles that results in a staged combustion of premixed fuel and air.
US08904798B2
A combustor includes a cap assembly that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor, wherein the cap assembly includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface, and a combustion chamber downstream from the cap assembly. A plurality of tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface of the cap assembly, and each tube provides fluid communication through the cap assembly to the combustion chamber. The downstream surface is sloped at an angle with respect to the upstream surface.
US08904791B2
A power generation system is provided. The system comprises a first Rankine cycle-first working fluid circulation loop comprising a heater, an expander, a heat exchanger, a recuperator, a condenser, a pump, and a first working fluid; integrated with a) a second Rankine cycle-second working fluid circulation loop comprising a heater, an expander, a condenser, a pump, and a second working fluid comprising an organic fluid; and b) an absorption chiller cycle comprising a third working fluid circulation loop comprising an evaporator, an absorber, a pump, a desorber, a condenser, and a third working fluid comprising a refrigerant. In one embodiment, the first working fluid comprises CO2. In one embodiment, the first working fluid comprises helium, air, or nitrogen.
US08904787B2
A method is provided for controlling EGR flow in turbocharged engine. The method comprises operating a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP-EGR) system at a fixed EGR percentage rate of fresh airflow from mid-load down to a minimum engine load, even as load changes. In this way, errors in the delivered LP-EGR rate during transient conditions may be alleviated by providing a fixed EGR percentage of fresh airflow at all engine loads within a fixed mode range.
US08904777B2
A pump control device for a construction machine includes a pump regulator, a pump pressure detector, a travelling operation detector, a working operation detector, and a controller instructing the pump flow rate depending on the pump pressure to the pump regulator. The controller stores first and second P-Q characteristics as a horsepower characteristic and instructs the pump flow rate to the pump regulator, based on the first P-Q characteristic when a travelling operation is detected, and based on the second P-Q characteristic when a working operation is detected. The second P-Q characteristic is equal to the first P-Q characteristic in a low-pressure region while is one giving a low characteristic relatively to the first P-Q characteristic so as to increase a horsepower difference as the pump pressure increases, in intermediate-pressure and high-pressure regions.
US08904776B2
A cylinder driving apparatus using air pressure including: a plurality of flexible tubes arranged in a case to flexibly move via high-pressure air; a connecting rod fixed at each of the flexible tubes, and which penetrates through an upper portion of the case; a crank shaft sequentially coupled to the connecting rod to rotate via the elevating movement of the connecting rod; a high pressure tank for supplying high pressure air to the flexible tubes via an air line; and a valve arranged in each of the flexible tubes to divide the space in the flexible tube into an upper section and a lower section and to open or shut airflow in the upper and lower sections.
US08904768B2
An adaptive method is used for LNT desulfation and regeneration. The desulfation method involves adapting the amount of sulfur loading to trigger a desulfation event in accordance with the current adsorption capacity of the LNT. The method involves monitoring the current sulfur loading and the current LNT adsorption capacity. This data is used to calculate a loading amount “trigger”, whose value varies over the LNT lifetime. Whenever this trigger amount is reached, a desulfation event is performed. The regeneration method is similar, with the baseline data and loading threshold being determined by NOx loading rather than sulfur loading.
US08904765B2
The internal combustion engine has an upstream side NOx selective reduction catalyst and a downstream side NOx selective reduction catalyst which are arranged in an engine exhaust passage. The upstream side NOx selective reduction catalyst has a region where the NOx removal rate becomes substantially constant when the ratio of concentration of ammonia to NOx of the inflowing exhaust rises. The internal combustion engine has an operating state in that region where the ratio of concentration of ammonia to NOx is maintained. The downstream side NOx selective reduction catalyst has an ammonia oxidation ability which is larger than the upstream side NOx selective reduction catalyst.
US08904756B2
An exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine includes: a bypass passage (22) provided in an exhaust passage (14) of the engine and arranged to bypass a main passage (16) as a part of the exhaust passage, a NOx adsorbent (28) provided in the bypass passage and adapted to adsorb at least NOx as one of components contained in exhaust gas, a channel switching device (30) that switches a channel of the exhaust gas between the main passage and the bypass passage, an adsorption control device (50) that controls the channel switching device, based on operating conditions of the engine, so as to cause the exhaust gas to flow through the bypass passage, and an adsorbing capability determining device (50) that determines, when the adsorbing capability of the NOx adsorbent degrades, whether the degradation in the adsorbing capability is a surmountable degradation from which the NOx adsorbent can recover, or an insurmountable degradation from which the NOx adsorbent cannot recover.
US08904754B2
An engine ECU diagnoses the presence or absence of abnormality during execution of the fuel cut. The engine ECU is configured to restrict the fuel cut according to the temperature of a catalyst when the temperature is higher than a fuel-cut-restriction temperature of the catalyst. The engine ECU is configured to set the fuel-cut-restriction temperature is lower when the diagnosis has been completed than when the diagnosis has not been completed. Furthermore, the engine ECU continues the fuel cut if the diagnosis is completed during execution of the fuel cut while the temperature of the catalyst is between the fuel-cut-restriction temperature set prior to the completion of the diagnosis and the fuel-cut-restriction temperature set after the completion of the diagnosis.
US08904753B2
A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger in communication with a bypass flow through an inlet. A valve is operable to selectively communicate the bypass flow to either the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger through the inlet.
US08904745B2
A link for a linear carrier chain is disclosed, said link including side and end walls connected together to form a duct for a hose, cable or the like, said walls being connected by means of flanges adjacent edges of some of said walls, said flanges being slidably engaged in slots in others of said walls and wherein said flanges are disposed at outwardly directed oblique angles to reduce stress concentrations at the base thereof.
US08904744B1
The method includes providing a source of flat stock; forming the flat stock into a spherical shaped bead that includes connected semi-spherical bead halves with each half having opposed open recesses that are located in a circular edge that defines each semi-spherical half; providing a source of wire stock; forming the wire stock into a series of the interconnected links with each link having a middle section and contiguous opposed enlarged ends at respective ends of the middle section; positioning the formed links each between adjacently disposed spherical shaped beads for accommodation in facing recesses thereof; closing the connected semi-spherical bead halves to form the spherical shaped bead; and laser welding between the connected semi-spherical bead halves.
US08904742B2
The invention relates to a method of operation for an air jet spinning machine, which is characterized in that the spinning process is interrupted when a yarn fault is detected, and subsequent to the interruption of the spinning process, a piecing process is initiated which is at least partly carried out by the spinning station and in which a number of yarn process and handling devices directly assigned to the spinning station are applied. Furthermore, an air jet spinning machine is proposed which permits such a piecing method.
US08904734B2
A method for embedding at least one solar structure, including one or more anchoring legs, includes making one or more holes in which the at least one solar structure is to be installed; forming one or more concrete slabs in the hole(s) at one installation rib; after setting of the concrete slab(s), locating the position(s) of the anchoring leg(s) of the at least one solar structure on the concrete slab(s); installing the at least one solar structure in the hole(s), with the anchoring leg(s) bearing on the concrete slab(s) at the position(s) of the anchoring leg(s) that were located beforehand; and embedding the at least one solar structure.
US08904733B2
A door lite frame comprises a first frame component comprising first screw bosses and first grip sockets, and a second frame component comprising second screw bosses and second grip sockets. The first and second frame components are constructed to permit arrangement of the first and second frame components in an assembled state and a nested state with respect to one another. In the assembled state, the first screw bosses are correspondingly aligned with the second screw bosses, and the first and second frame components are secured to each other. In the nested state, at least one of the first screw bosses of the first frame component is mated with at least one of the second grip sockets of the second frame component.
US08904726B1
A high-strength disengagement prevention pintle veneer tie and anchoring system employing the same is disclosed. The high-strength veneer tie utilizes modified compressed wire formatives formed from a wire formative construct that is cold-worked, with the resultant body having substantially semicircular edges and flat surfaces therebetween. The edges are aligned to receive compressive forces transmitted from the outer wythe. The veneer tie hereof, when part of the anchoring system, interengages with wall anchor and is dimensioned to preclude veneer tie movement and pullout through the use of the U-shaped securement portions. The veneer tie is installed within the wall anchor through a swinging motion, in either an over and through or under and through the anchor installation, fully securing the veneer tie within the anchor and providing flexibility during installation.
US08904717B2
A fire resistant PV shingle assembly includes a PV assembly, including PV body, a fire shield and a connection member connecting the fire shield below the PV body, and a support and inter-engagement assembly. The support and inter-engagement assembly is mounted to the PV assembly and comprises a vertical support element, supporting the PV assembly above a support surface, an upper interlock element, positioned towards the upper PV edge, and a lower interlock element, positioned towards the lower PV edge. The upper interlock element of one PV shingle assembly is inter-engageable with the lower interlock element of an adjacent PV shingle assembly. In some embodiments the PV shingle assembly may comprise a ventilation path below the PV body. The PV body may be slidably mounted to the connection member to facilitate removal of the PV body.
US08904704B1
This present invention relates to improvements in seed and seed-related products, processes for making such products and processes for establishing and improving seed beds and seed bed germination. As additional benefits, this invention is directed at improving soil productivity through enhancements in soil fertility, soil condition/tilth, and control of soil moisture. Further, the invention relates to productive use of certain types of abundantly available manufacturing waste, which waste is currently being disposed of in landfills.
US08904702B2
A container for a substance, such as an ant trap container for ant bait is comprised of a minimum number of component parts that are each formed in a cost effective manner to produce an inexpensive container. The component parts of the container include a flexible sheet that seals the substance inside the container. The sheet can be easily manually grasped and pulled from an opening of the container to expose the substance to the opening of the container.
US08904700B1
A fishing lure having a material that is magnetically attracted to a magnet slid down a fishing line connected to the lure. A movable hook shaft housed within the lure is spring loaded to a position where a free end thereof is captured within the lure and a hook attached to the hook shaft cannot be removed from the free end. When the magnet is slid down the fishing line and magnetically influences the magnetic material, the hook shaft is moved to a position where the free end thereof is exposed and the hook can be removed therefrom.
US08904692B2
A butt pad apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the butt pad apparatus includes a plate and a recoil pad attachable to the plate such that a chamber is defined therebetween. The recoil pad with plate attached thereto may be adapted for attachment to a butt of a stock. In various aspects, the butt pad apparatus includes an insert removably receivable within the chamber, and the insert may be formed of an elastomeric material. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.
US08904681B2
A flame simulator of an electric fireplace, including: a light source (1); a flame board (3); a flame projection screen (4); and a rotary drum (2); wherein the light source (1) is provided in the rotary drum (2); the rotary drum (2) is transparent and a light-concentrating block (20) is provided on a surface thereof; a flame pattern (31) is provided on the flame board (3); light concentrated by the light-concentrating block (20) is projected onto the flame board (3) and reflected by the flame board (3) to the flame projection screen (4) for forming a flame image. The flame is bright and has a sufficient dynamic effect. The rotary drum (2) and the light-concentrating block (20) can be made by injection molding for a simple structure and convenient production.
US08904677B2
The locking pin assembly includes an elongate pin housing and a pin mechanism insertably mounted into a bore in the pin housing. The pin mechanism includes at least one rotator section integral with a pin shaft. A rotation-locking member is integrally attached to the bottom of the pin shaft, the locking member having a non-circular shape. An elongate post having a rotation-locking collar attached to one end of the post is slidable in a keyhole extending through the pin. A non-circular recess is formed in the rotation-locking collar, which selectively receives the locking member therein. A spring is disposed behind the rotation-locking collar. The spring normally biases the locking collar into engagement with the locking member. A key is provided to axially push the post to selectively disengage the locking member for selective rotation of the rotator section between locked and unlocked positions.
US08904669B2
A fuel system comprising a fuel tank, a vent tank having a duct open to the ambient atmosphere, a first vent line fluidically connecting the fuel tank ullage to the vent tank, a gas drying system including a pump and a dehumidifying device disposed within the vent tank, and a second vent line fluidically connecting a dry gas outlet of the dehumidifying device to the ullage, wherein the pump is operable to maintain a higher pressure within the ullage than in the vent tank so as to drive vapor rich gas from the ullage into the vent tank via the first vent line. Also, a method of operating the fuel system and a method of retro-fitting the gas drying system in an existing fuel system. The gas drying system may optionally be a gas drying/inerting system.
US08904645B2
A method for assembling a rolling bearing by deformation of the outer ring (OR) and/or the inner ring (IR) comprising, before said step of deformation, determining the theoretical position (1′, 2′) that the two extreme rolling elements should occupy so as to allow inserting at least one supplemental rolling element (11) in said space (13), said theoretical position defining an acute application angle (α2) determining the value of forces (F1) to be applied from outside to said outer ring (OR) at three application points, one central point at said nearest or contact location of both inner an outer rings in said symmetry plane and two lateral points at an angle (2α2) equal to the double of said acute application angle with respect to said symmetry plane, verifying that the deformation of the outer ring (OR) resulting from the application of said forces remains elastic and in that case, applying said forces and inserting at least one supplemental rolling element in said space.
US08904644B2
A foam panel cutting machine for cutting foam panels used in insulated building panels. The foam panel cutting machine has a feeder system feeds the foam panel through the cutting blades. The cutting machine additionally includes a frame, a plurality of upper rollers and a plurality of lower rollers rotationally mounted to the frame. The foam panel cutting machine can be constructed so that it may be portable. One embodiment includes the upper rollers on an adjustable head that can adjust the gap distance between the upper and lower rollers so that foam panels of various thicknesses may be cut. The cutting blade may be a hot-knife wherein the blade is heated by passing an electrical current through it. The cutting blade may have a “L” or “J” shape to cut kerfs into the foam panel that receive metal studs to foil an insulated building panel.
US08904642B2
A method of manufacturing a non-ferrous, light metal alloy vibration-damped part for a vehicle chassis includes introducing a polymer insert into a cavity formed in the part. The polymer insert may be introduced into the cavity by separately fabricating the polymer insert and then sliding or maneuvering the insert into the cavity or by injecting a liquid polymer material into the cavity and then solidifying and shrinking the liquid polymer material into the polymer insert. The vibration-damped light metal alloy part can damp vibrations that originate within or are imparted to the part when such vibrations effectuate relative contacting frictional movement between an exterior surface of the polymer insert and an interior surface of the cavity.
US08904641B2
Method of reducing performance variability of membrane scaling devices. Scaling device performance uncertainty is reduced, thereby reducing the scaling safety factor, by specifying a narrow range or subset of the set of all qualified manufactured membranes for installation into scaling devices. In certain embodiments, the scalability factor is reduced by determining where within the performance distribution a particular membrane lies, and adjusting the scaling factor accordingly.
US08904640B2
A method of making an ink cartridge by forming an ink chamber, an air accumulation chamber, and a cap including a vent hole is disclosed. The cap is affixed at a first end of the air accumulation chamber and a one way valve is disposed at the vent hole for preventing gas from entering the air accumulation chamber through the vent hole when a pressure in the air accumulation chamber is less than a cracking pressure of the one-way valve. A neck region narrower than the ink chamber and the air accumulation chamber is formed for fluidically connecting the ink chamber and the air accumulation chamber. A mass is placed within the air accumulation chamber, the mass having a dimension smaller than an interior dimension of the air accumulation chamber such that the mass is movable between the first end and a second end of the air accumulation chamber.
US08904635B2
According to one aspect of the invention, a method for in situ repair of a turbine part is provided. The method includes the steps of accessing the turbine part while assembled to other turbine components, wherein the turbine part includes a region with a structural flaw near a hole in the turbine part, and wherein the hole is configured to flow a cooling fluid. The method also includes welding the structural flaw without performing a heat treatment of the turbine part, wherein welding the structural flaw includes laser welding that maintains a structure of the region.
US08904631B2
An interconnect device and a method for fabricating same. An embodiment of the invention includes sequential steps of providing a flexible substrate, forming vias through the flexible substrate, applying a conductive seed layer including first and second portions, applying conductive materials including first and second portions, copper plating the substrate, and then removing the second portions of the conductive seed layer and the conductive materials.
US08904627B2
An ampoule is disposed within a package, a metal tube is disposed between the package and a lid, one end of the metal tube protrudes to the outside, and a low melting point glass having a through-hole is disposed between the package and lid in order to connect the package and the lid each other. An end of the metal tube is connected to a pump which controls circulation of a cleaning solvent or coating agent. The pump circulates the cleaning solvent or the coating agent between the inside and the outside of the package. The gap between the package and the lid formed when the metal tube is extracted by and extracting melting the low melting point glass is sealed.
US08904624B2
A method of making a supporting framework for holding a covering for a container-treatment machine that includes a machine element that is at least partially covered by the covering, and in which columns and cross members are connected to one another in a centering manner at node points includes equipping a column with a connecting flange. This connecting flange is folded relative to a non-folded lug. The connecting flange centers the column relative to a cross-member.
US08904623B2
A folding utility table includes a table top having a pair of support pedestals pivotally attached. A first pivotal support brace includes a distal end and a proximal end attached to the first support pedestal. A second pivotal support brace includes a distal end and a proximal end attached to the second support pedestal. In addition, the support pedestals may comprise at least one support leg, and each support leg of the first and second support pedestals may be laterally offset from each other so as to permit an offset displacement of the support legs when the support pedestals are disposed in a collapsed position.
US08904617B2
A method of running a first tubular within a second tubular includes running the first tubular into the second tubular past at least one lateral extending from the second tubular, running a diverting tool at the first tubular with the running of the first tubular, withdrawing the first tubular from the second tubular until an end of the first tubular is beyond a junction between the at least one lateral and the second tubular and, running the first tubular into the at least one lateral.
US08904616B2
A method of monitoring a crimping process is disclosed, which determines whether an actual force stroke progression (Fa)/force-time progression is, a) above, or, b) below an ideal force stroke progression (Fi)/force-time progression in at least one point. The method shifts an upper border (Bu) and/or the lower border (Bl) of a tolerance band upwards in case a) and downwards in case b), utilizing four zones (Z1-Z4) of determined force progression. Additionally, there are is an absolute upper limit (Lu), at which an upward shifting of the upper border (Bu) is inhibited, and an absolute lower limit (Ll), at which a downward shifting of the lower border (Bl) is inhibited. Moreover, a crimping press and a computer program product embodying the method are disclosed.
US08904612B1
A rivet gun has a barrel, a handle, an annular flange, a pneumatic cylinder and a piston assembly. The handle protrudes downward from the barrel. The annular flange protrudes radially from the bottom end of the handle and has a bottom surface and a rotational angle alignment slot defined eccentrically in the bottom surface. The pneumatic cylinder is mounted under the handle and the annular flange and has a body and a top cover mounted on a top opening of the body and having a rotational angle alignment element mounted eccentrically on a top of the top cover and detachably engaging the rotational angle alignment slot of the annular flange. The piston assembly is mounted in the pneumatic cylinder. The rotational angle alignment slot and the rotational angle alignment element are both at least partially exposed to be visually observed from an appearance of the fully assembled rivet gun.
US08904610B2
A method for manufacturing a laminated ceramic electronic component is provided in which a plurality of ceramic green sheets having printed strip inner electrodes patterns, each including a thick portion at a width-direction center and thin portions at respective width-direction sides of the thick portion, are laminated so that the thin portions overlap and the thick portions do not overlap to form an unfired mother laminated body. This unfired mother laminated body is cut along predetermined cut lines that are vertical to each other to obtain a plurality of unfired ceramic element assemblies. By applying ceramic paste to cover exposed portions of inner electrode patterns exposed to lateral surfaces, side gap areas are formed between a first inner electrode pattern and first and second lateral surfaces of the unfired ceramic element assembly and between a second inner electrode pattern and the first and second lateral surfaces.
US08904592B1
Devices and systems are disclosed for rapidly drying and shaping fine-bristled brushes. The typical device is a resilient, water permeable tubular band or sleeve, designed to surround a bundle of bristles when in a radially expanded state. An elastic restoring force exerted by the sleeve acts radially inwardly against the bundle, compacting the bristles against one another. The compaction tends to preserve or restore a desired shape of the bundle, and substantially closes interstitial regions or open spaces ordinarily present between and among the bristles. Substantial closure of the interstitial regions, along with the use of a breathable material in the fibers used to construct the sleeve, contribute to a surprising and considerable reduction in bristle drying time. A system suitable for simultaneously drying several brushes includes a flat panel supporting a plurality of the sleeves, each sleeve aligned with a receptacle for the brush handle. The panel can be formed of a compliant material that permits a selective folding of the panel to form an enclosure for the brushes.
US08904588B2
A cleaning device has a cylindrical housing with a semi-cylindrical cradle and a semi-cylindrical cover which is rotatably mounted in the cradle. A roller is rotatably mounted in the cover and has an adhesive sleeve thereon. Because the cradle, cover, roller and sleeve are coaxial, it makes the device an easily usable cleaning device.
US08904587B1
A handheld electric shoe polisher can quickly polish shoes in a compact device. The handheld electric shoe polisher comprises a housing mechanically coupled to hand grip. The housing is further mechanically coupled to universal service bus port and a switch. The housing is mechanically coupled to a drive shaft; the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to gear box. The gear box is mechanically coupled to a motor. The motor is electrically coupled to a battery. The drive shaft is further mechanically coupled to a shoe shine attachment. In this manner a user, can charge the battery by electrically coupling the universal service bus port to a power source and the user can engage the battery with the switch to power the motor, turning the drive shaft and causing the shoe shine attachment to rotate. The user can utilize the shoe shine attachment to shine shoes.
US08904578B2
Mattress foundations for supporting a mattress generally includes multiple support units that can be abutting arranged to for the mattress foundation. In one embodiment, the mattress foundation includes at least two support units in an abutting relationship that form a rectangular shape at each end of the mattress foundation and provide a planar support surface having length and width dimensions effective to support a mattress disposed thereon.
US08904573B2
Disclosed is a toilet bowl water level gauge and associated methods. In one embodiment, the toilet bowl water level gauge comprises a gauge assembly having a stem with a float, and a sleeve, wherein the stem is inserted in the sleeve and slides through the sleeve. Also, the toilet bowl water level gauge comprises a support attached to the gauge assembly, the support being adapted to engage a rim of a toilet bowl. In addition, bowl level sensors are employed for automated calibration of an automated bowl fill system.
US08904571B2
A portable toilet system is provided having an enclosed housing and including a tank upon which a toilet seat and bowl is positioned. The tank has two sections divided by a wall. Waste drops into the first section where it is accumulated for collection. The dividing wall does not extend to the top of the tank. The second section is initially filled with fresh water. A pump draws water through a hose or pipe submersed in the second section. That water is flushed into the toilet bowl to rinse waste into the first section. As the water in the second section is depleted, the liquid waste deposited in the first section overflows the dividing wall into the second section of the tank to recycle the liquid waste and extend the period before servicing of the system is necessary.
US08910310B2
An embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC), an electronic device equipped with an eMMC and an eMMC engineering board are disclosed. The eMMC includes an eMMC substrate plate, a plurality of solder balls and an eMMC chip. The solder balls are soldered to the eMMC substrate plate, and, one of the solder balls is designed as a security protection enable/disable solder ball. The eMMC chip is bound to the eMMC substrate plate, and, the eMMC chip has a security protection enable/disable pin electrically connected to the security protection enable/disable solder ball. The security protection enable/disable pin is internally pulled high by the eMMC chip when the security protection enable/disable solder ball is floating. When the security protection enable/disable solder ball is coupled to ground, the eMMC is protected from software-based attacks.
US08910290B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may monitor a session that facilitates the processing of a transaction. The transaction may represent an action taken against a resource during the session. The apparatus may determine that the transaction qualifies for additional monitoring, and in response, generate a tag. The tag may be unique to the transaction. The apparatus may then associate the tag with the transaction to facilitate tracing of the transaction. The apparatus may then trace the transaction during the processing of the transaction by following the tag, and communicate a message to transfer the transaction to an isolated processing unit. The isolated processing unit processes the transaction in isolation.
US08910281B1
An improved technique involves searching for emails having a particular template generated by a phishing kit. Such a template typically includes field names corresponding to credentials that a customer inputs into a spoofed web site as part of a phishing attack. The phishing kit used in a phishing attack is typically configured to construct an email so that it arranges the credentials in a regular, tabular fashion. Accordingly, an administrator configures a receiver to search an email server for emails having a sequence of keywords in a format that matches the particular template.
US08910275B2
Network devices, systems, and methods are described that cause a particular port on a first network device to send data packets from the particular port on the first network device to an intrusion system (IS) on a second network device.
US08910270B2
In some embodiments of the invention, techniques may make private identifiers for private network resources usable to establish connections to those private network resources from computing devices connected to an outside network. For example, when a computing device is connected to an outside network and attempting to contact a private network resource, DNS may be used to resolve a domain name for the private network resource to an IP address for an edge resource of the private network. Communications may be passed between the computing device and the edge resource according to protocols which embed the identifier originally used to identify the private network resource. The edge resource of the private network may analyze communications over the connection to determine this identifier, and use it to pass the communication to the desired private network resource.
US08910267B2
The disclosure relates to a method for managing connections in a firewall. The method includes receiving packets from an external network; generating a connection table; determining the total number of currently established connections; determining a level of firewall load by comparing the number of established connections with a threshold; identifying new and established connections based on two-way exchange of packets between a client and server; identifying closed connections based on processing ICMP error messages or flags in a TCP header; and dynamically determining current timeout values for connections from the network protocol type, the connection state, and the firewall load level. The method also includes modifying the last packet processing timestamp if any packet is passed within a given connection or a group of connections; and removing the connection if the last packet processing timestamp differs from the current time by a value greater than the timeout of said connection.
US08910260B2
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.
US08910247B2
Embodiment relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for suppressing cross-site scripting in a content delivery system. A request is received for content that includes a scripted item or scripted items. The scripted item is identified within the content. An identifier is associated with the scripted element when the scripted element is an intended scripted element to be associated with the content. The identifier may be a hash value based from a hash function and the scripted item. Prior to communicating the content to a user, the scripted item is identified again to determine if an identifier is associated with the scripted item. If an identifier is associated with the scripted item, the identifier is evaluated to determine if the identifier is appropriate. When the identifier is determined to not be appropriate, the scripted item is prevented from being communicated to a user.
US08910237B2
Systems and methods are disclosed with which queries can be sent to various clients of a trusted query network in a trusted query network message. In one embodiment, each registered client receives the message and determines whether or not it will participate in the query. If so, the client adds to the message in a first data round a true response to the query and obfuscation data, and then forwards the message on to the next client (or back to the client that initiated the query if each client has added its data to the message). In a second round, the message is again sent to each participating client, which this time removes its obfuscation data. Once each client has removed its obfuscation data, a final result is obtained that can be sent to each of the clients.
US08910230B2
A method of converting legacy HFC CATV cable systems, which transmit data over the optical fiber portion of the system using the optical counterpart of analog RF waveforms, such as RF QAM waveforms transduced to corresponding optical QAM waveforms, to improved HFC CATV systems that transmit data over the optical fiber using optical fiber optimized protocols, such as Ethernet frames and other optical fiber optimized digital transport protocols. According to the method, most aspects of the legacy HFC CATV system may be retained, however at the CATV head end, the optical fiber transmitter system is replaced by an improved system that extracts the underlying symbols from legacy waveforms, packages these symbols into optical fiber optimized packets, and transmits downstream. The legacy optical fiber nodes are replaced with improved nodes capable of receiving the packets and remodulating the symbols into RF waveforms suitable for injection into the system's CATV cable.
US08910227B1
A method performed by a central network device, such as a network edge device, or a CMTS, determines whether some of a plurality of user devices coupled to a communication device are transmitting at substantially their respective maximum power output level over a given channel. If the central device determines that some of the devices are operating at near their maximum output level (“power pegged,) the central device searches for another channel that can carry the traffic of the power pegged devices at reduced data rate. If another channel can accommodate transmission of signals of the power pegged device, the central device instructs the power pegged devices to tune to the new channel at a reduced data rate compared to the data rate of the current channel.
US08910220B2
A content delivery resource in a cable network receives a request for specified content. The content delivery resource retrieves profile information assigned to the subscriber domain. The profile information indicates multiple different playback formats assigned to the subscriber domain. To service the request, the content delivery resource utilizes the profile information associated with the subscriber domain to select versions of the specified content encoded in accordance with the multiple different playback formats. The content delivery resource then initiates transmission of the versions of the specified content in the multiple different playback formats to the subscriber domain for playback on multiple types of playback devices.
US08910219B2
A method includes receiving at a set-top box device first video content associated with a requested channel from a first source. The method includes, in response to receiving the first content, requesting second video content associated with the requested channel from a second source. The method includes, in response to receiving the second video content, determining whether at least one data packet associated with the requested channel was not received based on a comparison of first data packets corresponding to the first video content and second data packets corresponding to the second video content. In response to a determination that at least one data packet was not received, sending a retry request to the first source. The retry request includes an overhead bandwidth factor.
US08910218B2
An approach is provided for controlling one or more set-top boxes. Communications is established among a plurality of set-top boxes. One of the set-top boxes is designated as a master set-top box that is configured to control one or more of remaining ones of the set-top boxes. A control message is generated to configure the remaining ones of the set-top boxes as child set-top boxes.
US08910214B2
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver for receiving a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a section number field indicating a section number and a protocol version field indicating a protocol version; demodulating the digital television signal; and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US08910207B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an acquiring module, a first output module, a second output module and a third output module. The acquiring module is configured to acquire program information via a computer network upon receipt of an instruction to acquire program information. The first outputting module is configured to create a program guide using program information acquired via a computer network. The second outputting module is configured to receive a broadcast of a program designated in the program guide. The third outputting module is configured to acquire program information of the designated program from the received broadcast of the designated program.
US08910206B2
When a user hovers a screen cursor over a TV channel icon on a cross-media bar (XMB) user interface (UI) for a threshold period, enhanced metadata from PSIP/XDS/EPG that pertains to the program currently available on the associated TV channel is presented in a pop-up window on the XMB UI.
US08910202B2
A data stream processing system receives a transport stream containing single/multiple program/s and receives alternate content. The system identifies portions of the transport stream to replace with the alternate content. An alternate content data stream is generated that includes the alternate content and at least one sync packet. The sync packet enables synchronous replacement of the alternate content into the transport stream. The system then distributes the alternate content data stream.
US08910197B2
Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information is sent to the user interface devices during a multicast update period. If a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, a unicast update comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information is sent to the given user interface device during a unicast update period. The unicast update may be sent responsive to a request from the given user interface device for a designated portion of the updated targeted information.
US08910191B2
A codec architecture including an audio wave driver and a coded topology driver. The audio wave driver is communicatively coupled to an audio engine and an analog audio codec. The coded topology driver is communicatively coupled to the audio wave driver by a set of interfaces that enables streamlined code implementation, improved operation efficiency and power savings, while allowing vendors to supply differentiating functionality outside of the basic requirements of the operating system.
US08910181B2
A circuit configuration for a data processing system and a corresponding method for executing multiple tasks by way of a central processing unit having a processing capacity assigned to the processing unit, the circuit configuration being configured to distribute the processing capacity of the processing unit uniformly among the respective tasks, and to process the respective tasks in time-offset fashion until they are respectively executed.
US08910178B2
Executing computing tasks on a parallel computer that includes compute nodes coupled for data communications, where each compute node executes tasks, with one task on each compute node designated as a master task, including: for each task on each compute node until all master tasks have joined a global barrier: determining whether the task is a master task; if the task is not a master task, joining a single local barrier; if the task is a master task, joining the global barrier and the single local barrier only after all other tasks on the compute node have joined the single local barrier.
US08910175B2
A method for job management in an HPC environment includes determining an unallocated subset from a plurality of HPC nodes, with each of the unallocated HPC nodes comprising an integrated fabric. An HPC job is selected from a job queue and executed using at least a portion of the unallocated subset of nodes.
US08910166B2
A workflow scripting system is described herein that combines the features of workflows and scripts by automatically translating between the two models. Using the system, a script author can create workflows on the fly using familiar scripting language, and a workflow author can use scripting steps to perform actions. Workflows run in this manner can be setup to execute in their own process to improve robustness or efficiency. Operations in an enterprise environment frequently take a long time and are subject to interruptions. By adding reliability concepts of workflows to a shell environment, users of the system can write scripts to address common needs of large-scale computing environments. Thus, the workflow scripting system blends the available resources provided by workflow and scripting environments to provide a host of powerful, advanced capabilities to IT personnel.
US08910165B2
Techniques are disclosed for providing thread specific protection levels in a multithreaded processing environment. An associated method includes generating a group of threads in a process, one of the group of threads opening a thread entity, and that one of the group of threads specifying one or more levels of access to the thread entity for the other threads. In one embodiment, when a first of the threads attempts to perform a specified operation on the thread entity, the method of this invention determines whether that first thread is the one of the group of threads that opened the thread entity. When the first thread is not that one of the group of threads, the first thread is allowed to perform the specified operation if and only if such operation is permitted by the specified one or more levels of access.
US08910163B1
A method, system and computer program product for implementing a first Virtual Machine (VM) and a first guest OS in the VM, on a computing system that has a host OS and a host desktop. The first VM has a non-native application associated with the first VM and the first guest OS; means for replacing the first guest OS in the first VM with a different guest OS; a second VM and a second guest OS in the second VM running on the processor; upon a user attempting to launch the non-native application, means for associating the non-native application with the second VM; and means for determining compatibility of the non-native application with the second guest OS; The non-native application is launched inside the second VM.
US08910161B2
A method and a system scan a virtual machine (VM). The method stores a first copy of a scan token associated with a first scan operation within a VM and stores a second copy of the scan token in a database accessible by a management module. Upon restarting of the VM, a scan token in the restarted VM is compared with a scan token associated with the restarted VM in the database. The scan token in the restarted VM is current when the scan token in the restarted VM matches the scan token in the database. A first scan operation is resumed on the restarted VM when it is determined that the scan token in the restarted VM is current, and a new first scan operation of the restarted VM is initiated when it is determined that the scan token in the restarted VM is not current.
US08910156B1
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for describing virtual machine dependencies. In particular, data objects, such as virtual hard drives, associated with virtual machines may be identified and/or examined to identify data structures, such as configuration files, comprising configuration data. The configuration data may be analyzed to determine dependency relationships between virtual machines to describe virtual machine dependencies. Identifying virtual machine dependencies, among other things, allows virtual machines that are no longer used to be repurposed, deleted, reset, etc. with little to no adverse effect on other virtual machines.
US08910153B2
A system and method is shown that includes an admission control module that resides in a management/driver domain, the admission control module to admit a domain that is part of a plurality of domains, into the computer system based upon one of a plurality of accelerators satisfying a resource request of the domain. The system and method also includes a load balancer module, which resides in the management/driver domain, the load balancer to balance at least one load from the plurality of domains across the plurality of accelerators. Further, the system and method also includes a scheduler module that resides in the management/driver domain, the scheduler to multiplex multiple requests from the plurality of domains to one of the plurality of accelerators.
US08910152B1
To migrate a virtual machine from a first physical machine to a second physical machine, a hot-plug event notification is issued to an operating system of the virtual machine in response to an indication that the virtual machine is to be migrated. After issuing the hot-plug event notification, migration of the virtual machine to the second physical machine is performed.
US08910134B2
A method for performing a neighbor-flipping transformation is provided. In one embodiment, a graph analysis program for computing a function relating to nodes in a directed graph is obtained and analyzed for neighborhood iterating operations, in which a function is computed over sets of nodes in the graph. For any detected neighborhood iterating operation, the method transforms the iterating operation by reversing the neighbor node relationship between the nodes in the operation. The transformed operation computes the same value for the function as the operation prior to transformation. The method alters the neighbor node relationship automatically, so that a user does not have to recode the graph analysis program. In some cases, the method includes construction of edges in the reverse direction while retaining the original edges in addition to performing the transformation.
US08910132B2
A method of operation of a bundle management system includes: generating a resource bundle with client-based script code based on a client device condition of a potential client device; generating a condition map correlating the client device condition to the resource bundle; generating a bundle set including the resource bundle based on a developer version of the client-based script code; uploading the condition map to a web service system; and configuring the web service system to operate a web service corresponding to the developer version of the bundle set.
US08910131B2
A safety controller designed to control an automated installation having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. A method for generating a user program for the safety controller comprises the step of generating a source code having a number of control instructions for controlling the actuators and having a number of diagnosis instructions for producing diagnosis reports. Safety-related program variables are processed in failsafe fashion during execution of the control instructions. A machine code is generated on the basis of the source code. At least one checksum is determined for at least some of the machine code. The diagnosis instructions are ignored for the determination of the checksum.
US08910124B1
An apparatus and method for aiding in debugging and optimizing software is presented, in particular for instrumenting software to trace function calls. Source code is compiled with placeholder memory ranges. While executing the compiled binary object, a call-trace profiling function is inserted into at least certain of the placeholder memory ranges to log call-trace profiling data. Then, the compiled binary object is restored to its original state by removing the call-trace profiling function(s). A NOP function can be inserted in each placeholder memory range during compilation.
US08910119B2
A system and method for displaying a trace are described. In an embodiment, the described trace display includes a navigational map that illustrates the linear path taken to get to a selected logical unit and may be used to go back to any previously viewed logical unit in that path. The trace display also includes information section to display relevant information about the currently selected logical unit of the trace.
US08910113B2
Embodiments include a method comprising providing a design interface that depicts a plurality of interface elements of an application under development, each element defined in source code accessible by the application development environment in a declarative markup language. The method can comprise receiving, through the design interface, data representing a selection of a plurality of the interface elements, identifying the declarative expressions corresponding to the selected interface elements, defining a new declarative expression, and generating at least one code segment using the identified declarative expressions. The method an comprise storing the generated code segment in a computer readable medium, with the stored code segment associated with the new declarative expression, so that the new declarative expression can be inserted into the source code in place of the identified declarative expressions and/or can used in a second application under development.
US08910109B1
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for enabling a user to efficiently design a programmable logic device (PLD) capable of partial reconfiguration. In some implementations, a processor is configured to run a system level design tool and accepts, as inputs from a user, an identification of at least two personas to be used within a reconfigurable region of the PLD. The design tool defines one or more boundaries of a partial reconfig (PR) domain, the PR domain including a partitioned reconfigurable region of the PLD that is selectably configurable as any of the at least two personas. In some implementations, the PR domain includes at least one IP component configured to safely shut down at least one signal, the at least one signal originating from or directed toward an element of the PLD outside of the PR domain.
US08910100B1
The subject system and method are generally directed to the user-friendly insertion of at least one device, and optionally chains of devices, into at least one pre-existing chain of interconnected devices within a graphical representation of a circuit design such as a circuit layout, circuit mask, or a schematic. The system and method provide for discerning the intended insertion points and performing remedial transformations of the devices within the chains to ensure compliance with both structural and operational requirements of the circuit design.
US08910093B2
A method of modeling an image intended to reside in a photoresist film on a substrate is provided. A simulated latent acid image of the image is produced, the simulated latent acid image is compressed in a predetermined direction, and developed to a pattern that enables (a) transfer of the pattern to the substrate or (b) further modeling of the pattern for transfer to the substrate.
US08910083B2
A multi-source picture viewer adapted for use within a portable electronic device to view pictures saved on multiple sources, comprising a common graphical user interface for providing picture viewing functionality that is independent of the multiple sources, an optional domain-specific graphical user interface for providing source-related picture viewing functionality that is dependent on the multiple sources, and an image-fetching transport layer for retrieving pictures from the multiple sources and converting the pictures to a common picture model for display on the portable electronic device under control of the common graphical user interface and further manipulation via the domain-specific graphical user interface.
US08910069B2
A register configurator may include a display screen, a data display unit that displays data related to field devices on the display screen, a register space display unit that graphically displays a register space of a register on the display screen, a manipulation reception unit that receives a manipulation for allocating each of the data, which has been displayed by the data display unit, to an area in the register space, which has been displayed by the register space display unit, the manipulation being performed on the display screen by a user, and a correspondence establishing unit that establishes a correspondence between the data and the area, based on the manipulation that has been received by the manipulation reception unit.
US08910068B2
Disclosed is a portable terminal operation method and a portable terminal supporting the same that enable rapid and convenient operation of a user function in relation to a particular item on a touch screen. The method includes: outputting an area in which one or more scrollable items are arranged; appointing a particular item when a first touch event occurs, determining if a second touch event occurs on the appointed item within a range in which item scrolling does not occur; and changing at least one of a part of a color, and a shape of an image, corresponding to the appointed particular item according to the occurrence of the second touch event.
US08910062B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing a computerized provisioning environment for a service agent performing provisioning of intelligence network services is provided. The method includes grouping the identity information of the service agent, a plurality of navigation links directed to information pages, and a plurality of task links directed to a task pages into separate sections. The method also includes displaying the separate sections on a same single layout.
US08910057B2
Screen sharing in which image pixel data operable to display one or more user interface windows associated with at least one shared application is retrieved from a memory. The retrieving excludes image pixel data operable to display at least one other display object currently contained in a user interface of said computer. The retrieved image pixel data is combined into a shared image.
US08910054B2
Audit reporting applications provide audit users the ability to perform reviews of compliance procedures used throughout a business that require supervisors to take actions on the communication between personnel. The action analyzer tool compiles, filters, and sorts message and action information, allows more advance analytics about the information, and answers complex questions that are not easily available by looking at the raw message and action information. The action analyzer tool breaks down the actions taken in order to determine if the supervisors are trying to take credit for an action that they did not actually perform or otherwise violating the accepted procedures for proper supervision and compliance. The message and action information can be sorted into number of actions taken within a specific time frame, the number of actions performed after a specified date, and/or the number of actions taken without the message being reviewed, to name a few.
US08910053B2
Provided are a mobile terminal, an electronic system, and a method of transmitting and receiving data using the same for effectively transmitting and receiving data between the mobile terminal and external electronic devices.
US08910047B2
A device-specific and application-specific computing device, a playback device and a method for controlling the playback device using the computing device is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a user may control the playback device using a control information generated according to a device configuration information of the computing device in his/her possession.
US08910023B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with soft decoding for a quantized channel are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes repetitively controlling the soft decoder to attempt to decode the signal based, at least in part, on a reliability measure selected from a pre-determined collection of reliability measures. When the soft decoder fails to decode the signal, the method includes computing a new reliability measure and repetitively controlling the soft decoder to attempt to decode the signal based, at least in part, on the new reliability measure. When the soft decoder decodes the signal with the new reliability measure, the method includes adding the new reliability to the pre-determined collection of reliability measures.
US08910018B2
A dynamic error correcting table can be embedded on an integrated circuit memory device. The error correcting table includes entries which are created for data when an error is detected and corrected during a read of the data. During subsequent reads, without intervening write or refresh operations, the entry in the table can be used to correct the error by merging the corrected bit with the data output from the array before it is applied to the ECC logic.
US08910013B1
Systems and methods are provided for recovering data stored in memory. A group of data is encoded using a first layer of code to form a first encoded group of data. Individual portions of the first encoded group of data are then encoded using a second layer of code to form a second encoded group of data. A processor may request access to an individual portion of the group of data. The encoded version of the requested individual portion is retrieved from memory and decoded using the second layer of code to recover the requested individual portion. If the recovery of the requested individual portion fails, the remaining encoded portions of the group are retrieved from memory and decoded using the first layer of code to recover the requested individual portion.
US08910004B2
A mark adding unit adds first information that is erroneously generated error detecting data of first data stored in a first storage area of a memory to the first data and adds second information that is erroneously generated error detecting information of second data stored in a second storage area to the second data. A mark removing unit removes the second information in the second data by rewriting the second information with the error detecting information of the second data without rewriting the first information in the first data when the second storage area out of the first storage area and the second storage area is configured to be usable. An error detecting unit performs an error detecting process of read-out data using information that is added to the read-out data in a case where the data stored in the memory is read out.
US08909998B2
Method and system of adjusting a first phase shift between a first data signal and a clock signal at a sending device. First and second test signals representing first and second test data, respectively, are transmitted to a receiving device. The test signals have respective phase shifts relative to the clock signal. An error detection code is calculated from first and second received data carried by the transmitted signals. The error detection code is transmitted from the receiving device to the sending device. An estimated first received data is calculated from the error detection code, wherein the estimated first received data are calculated under the assumption that the second received data are identical to the second test data. The first phase shift is adjusted on the basis of a comparison of the estimated first received data and the first test data.
US08909989B2
The present disclosure provides a method for outputting power-on self test information, a virtual machine manager, and a processor. The method includes: receiving trigger information generated by a BIOS program when the BIOS program runs a predefined virtual mode trigger instruction, starting, by a virtual machine manager, the virtual machine manager and monitoring a processor, where the processor is a processor that enters a virtual mode after receiving the trigger information of the BIOS program; when detecting that the processor generates an exit instruction, obtaining power-on self test information after the BIOS program performs a power-on self test operation, and outputting the power-on self test information to a serial port. Power-on self test information may be output without using a motherboard diagnostic card, so that device resources are saved. In addition, the operation is simple, and no human control operation is required.
US08909987B2
In one example, a method for implementing recovery segments includes sending an application message from a parent process executed by a first computing device to a child process executed by a second computing device and identifying a dependency created by the application message. This identified dependency is included in a dependence set of the child process and saved. A checkpoint is generated by the parent process and a checkpoint message that includes dependency information is sent from the parent process to the child process. The child process modifies the dependence set according to the dependency information and generates a second checkpoint that is saved in nonvolatile memory of the second computing device. Upon occurrence of a failure of the parent process, the child process reverts to a most recent checkpoint generated by the child process that does not include the effects of processing an orphan message.
US08909971B2
The present invention relates to a clock supervision unit (100) and an electronic system clocked by at least one clock (c*) and using the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) analyzes the at least one clock (c*) based on a monitor clock (m*) provided together with the at least one clock (c*) or separately to the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) at least comprises an activity unit (210), a deviation unit (220) and an auxiliary clock generator (240). The auxiliary clock generator (240) outputs an auxiliary clock (a*). The activity unit (210) detects the presence of the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*) and the presence of the auxiliary clock (a*) based on the monitor clock (m*). The deviation unit (220) detects clock faults in the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*). With the clock supervision unit (100) according to the present invention, the at least one clock (c*) can be supervised in more detail and it is possible to react on different clock faults in the at least one clock c* with different error handling procedures, e.g. by initiating a shutdown of the devices controlled by the electronic system.
US08909970B2
If data received by the an information processing apparatus from an external device is delayed by one cycle or more with respect to a clock of the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus may require an additional process for adjusting a data latch timing.Delay information indicating a relationship between a calibration pattern to be received and an amount of cycle delay is stored in advance. Thus, the time required for detecting an amount of cycle delay, which is equivalent to the amount by which a signal for controlling a data latch mechanism in the information processing apparatus to stop its operation is delayed, can be reduced.
US08909966B2
A wireless power supply apparatus generates an electric signal frequency-modulated or otherwise phase-modulated according to a transmission-side code that is determined beforehand with a wireless power reception apparatus. The electric signal thus generated is transmitted via a transmission coil so as to generate an electric power signal including any one of an electric field, a magnetic field, and an electromagnetic field. The wireless power reception apparatus receives the electric power signal using a reception coil. A control unit changes the impedance of a resonance circuit that comprises the reception coil and a resonance capacitor, according to a reception-side code that is to correspond to the transmission-side code.
US08909964B2
Disclosed is a power supply control apparatus including plural processing units, a mobile body detection unit, a determination unit, a transition unit, a mobile body confirmation unit, and a controller that controls the transition unit such that states of all of the processing units transit to the powered-off state when a result of confirmation in the mobile body confirmation unit represents absence and controls the transition unit such that the states of the plural processing units selectively and individually transit to the powered-off state when a result of confirmation in the mobile body confirmation unit represents presence.
US08909962B2
A method of controlling power at a central processing unit is disclosed. The method may include moving to a higher CPU frequency after a transient performance deadline has expired, entering an idle state, and resetting the transient performance deadline based on an effective transient budget.
US08909954B2
A mechanism is provided for dynamically changing power caps for a set of powered elements. Current being consumed by the set of powered elements P on a branch circuit is measured and available current on the branch circuit is determined. A new total power cap for a current time period t is identified based on a current total power cap and the measured current. A difference in total power caps (ΔTPC) is determined and, for each powered element p in the set of powered elements P at the current time period, a new power cap PC (p,t) is determined based on the previous power cap PC(p,t−1) and the difference of the total power caps to the set of powered elements P. A power cap of each powered element p is then dynamically set to the new power cap PC (p,t).
US08909950B1
A method for power management comprising inferring a user behavior from an action, inferring a mission state from the action and an event, forecasting a forecasted action from the user behavior and the mission state and outputting an instruction to modify a power resource allocation based on the forecasted action. A processor based assembly for power management of at least one device comprising a means to infer a user behavior from an action, a means to infer a mission state from the action and an event, a means to forecast and a means to plan power management from the inferred information. In some embodiments, the systems and methods apply pattern recognition algorithms and pattern learning algorithms to manage the power allocation to power consuming devices.
US08909944B2
A storage device started when connected to a computer so as to be able to communicate. The storage device includes: an interface for controlling communication with the computer, a data storage unit for storing data received from the computer via the interface, a radio signal processing unit for receiving radio signals including ID information at a predetermined timing and for authenticating the received ID information, and a control unit for encrypting data using the authenticated ID information as a key, for sending the encrypted data to a data storage unit, and for disabling communication with the computer via the interface when radio signals including the authenticated ID information are not received by the radio signal processing unit within a predetermined period of time.
US08909941B1
A method of enabling detection of tampering with data provided to a programmable integrated circuit is described. The method comprises modifying a portion of the data to establish randomness in the data; and inserting, by a computer, a redundancy check value in the portion, wherein the redundancy check value is based upon the modified portion of the data. A programmable integrated circuit is also described.
US08909932B2
A secure digital system including a number of ICs that exchange data among each other. Each of the ICs includes a key generator for generating a cipher key; a memory for securely storing the generated cipher key; an authenticating module for authenticating neighboring ICs of a respective IC; an encryption module for encrypting data communicated from the respective IC to the neighboring ICs; and a decryption module for decrypting data received from the neighboring ICs.
US08909931B2
In order to complete an authentication process in shorter time in a case where there is a large number of clients which concurrently authenticate a server, the server in a server authentication system includes an address key allocation means for generating an identifier to identify each of the clients by a combination of addresses on a plurality of address spaces and allocating address keys to the respective addresses configuring the generated identifier, and a message authentication code generation means for generating message authentication codes corresponding to a message by using the address keys allocated by the address key allocation means. Each of the clients includes a server authentication means for authenticating the server based on the message authentication codes generated by the message authentication code generation means.
US08909930B2
Methods and systems for increasing the security or trust associated with an untrusted device are provided. For example, a trusted hardware component may send a request to the untrusted device. The request may indicate one or more challenges to be performed by a secure application executing on the untrusted device. The trusted hardware component may determine an expected response to the one or more challenges. The expected response may be determined at the secure hardware component based on an expected configuration of the untrusted device. The trusted hardware component may receive a response to the request from the untrusted device. The trusted hardware component may determine a security status of the untrusted device based on the expected response and the received response.
US08909921B2
A signature management apparatus and method of cutting-out streaming data. The signature management apparatus includes a signature-related information preparing device which prepares signature-related information for streaming data, a signature-related information storage device which partitions a sequence header of the streaming data into stream header information needed for reproduction of the streaming data and user header information which a user can freely use for storage, and stores the signature-related information within the user header information in a form that allows no start code to emerge.
US08909914B2
A computer, a computer system and a method of booting the computer and computer systems within 300 milliseconds of receiving power. The computer may be configured to simultaneously power sequence a controller, a processor and a chipset. The computer may be further configured to transfer a boot image from a non-volatile memory to a first volatile memory. The controller may be further configured to transfer the boot image from the first volatile memory to a volatile memory associated with the processor using a PCI-Express interface.
US08909913B2
An application method for integrating heterogeneous operating systems based on the same system kernel is disclosed. The application method includes opening a master virtual console corresponding to a master operating system, opening a slave virtual console corresponding to a slave operating system in the master virtual console, and establishing a share information area for the master operating system and the slave operating system and switching to slave virtual console to operate on the slave operating system.
US08909911B2
In a power-on/off management method of a communication device, a display screen of the communication device is powered off, and a signal transmitting function of the communication device is suspended, when a power key of the communication device is pressed upon the condition that the communication device is in a power-on state. A duration time of how long the display screen is powered off is determined, and the communication device is activated according to the duration time when the power key is pressed upon the condition that the display screen is powered off.
US08909907B2
Exemplary embodiments include a system and method for reducing branch prediction latency using a branch target buffer with most recently used column prediction. An exemplary embodiment includes a method for reducing branch prediction latency, the method including reading most-recently-used information from a most-recently-used table associated with the branch target buffer where each most-recently-used entry corresponds to one or more branch target buffer rows and specifies the ordering from least-recently-used to most-recently-used of the associated branch target buffer columns, selecting a row from the branch target buffer and simultaneously selecting the associated entry from the most-recently-used table and speculating that there is a prediction in the most recently used column of the plurality of columns from the selected row from the branch target buffer while determining whether there is a prediction and which column contains the prediction.
US08909906B2
A method and apparatus for branch reduction in a multithreaded packet processor is presented. An instruction is executed which includes testing of a branch flag. The branch flag references a configuration bit vector wherein each bit in the configuration bit vector corresponds to a respective feature. When said branch flag returns a first result processing is continues at an instruction located at a first location relative to a Program Counter (PC) and when the branch flag returns a second result processing is continued at a second location relative to said PC.
US08909903B1
In some implementations, a processor is provided having a buffer to store one or more instructions, a decoder configured to decode the one or more instructions and generate one or more decoded instructions, a processor register file to store one or more operands, and a plurality of execution units. Each execution unit includes a plurality of execution stages and a plurality of registers. The plurality of execution stages is configured to execute one or more decoded instructions using the one or more operands. The plurality of registers is positioned between the plurality of execution stages to latch data between the plurality of execution stages.
US08909895B2
A memory apparatus is provided. The memory apparatus includes a first memory chip, a second memory chip and a control unit configured to manage a first mapping table for the first memory chip and a second mapping table for the second memory chip. If a first physical address of the second memory chip is allocated to a first logical address of the first memory chip, the control unit is configured to update a second logical address of the second memory chip to correspond to the first physical address of the second memory chip in the second mapping table and update the first logical address of the first memory chip to correspond to the second logical address of the second memory chip in the first mapping table.
US08909888B2
Method and apparatus for securely erasing data from a non-volatile memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory array. In accordance with various embodiments, an extended data set to be sanitized from the memory is identified. The extended data set includes multiple copies of data having a common logical address and different physical addresses within the memory. The extended data set is sanitized in relation to a characterization of the data set. The data sanitizing operation results in the extended data set being purged from the memory and other previously stored data in the memory being retained.
US08909883B2
A storage system is provided with a memory region, a cache memory region, and a processor. The memory region stores the time relation information that indicates a time relationship of a data element that has been stored into the cache memory region and that is to be written to the logical region and a snapshot acquisition point of time to the primary volume. The processor judges whether or not the data element that has been stored into the cache memory region is a snapshot configuration element based on the time relation information for the data element that is to be written to a logical region of a write destination that conforms to the write request that specifies the primary volume and that has been stored into the cache memory region. In the case in which the result of the judgment is positive, the processor saves the data element to the secondary volume for holding a snapshot image in which the snapshot configuration element is a configuration element, and a data element of a write target is then stored into the cache memory region.
US08909877B2
Provided are techniques for managing an amount of real storage used by a database management system. A value of a real storage management parameter is received, wherein the real storage management parameter indicates conditions under which one or more virtual storage pages are analyzed to identify one or more unused, virtual storage pages that are to be discarded. The database management system and consumption of real storage and auxiliary storage is monitored. In response to determining that the value of the real storage management parameter is set to on, the one or more unused virtual storage pages are discarded. In response to determining that the value of the real storage management parameter is set to auto and that paging has occurred, the one or more unused, virtual storage pages are discarded. Health values are recorded.
US08909874B2
A memory system and data processing system for controlling memory refresh operations in dynamic random access memories. The memory controller comprises logic that: tracks a time remaining before a scheduled time for performing a high priority, high latency operation a first memory rank of the memory system; responsive to the time remaining reaching a pre-established early notification time before the schedule time for performing the high priority, high latency operation, biases the re-order queue containing memory access operations targeting the plurality of ranks to prioritize scheduling of any first memory access operations that target the first memory rank. The logic further: schedules the first memory access operations to the first memory rank for early completion relative to other memory access operations in the re-order queue that target other memory ranks; and performs the high priority, high latency operation at the first memory rank at the scheduled time.
US08909861B2
The invention is directed towards a system and method that utilizes external memory devices to cache sectors from a rotating storage device (e.g., a hard drive) to improve system performance. When an external memory device (EMD) is plugged into the computing device or onto a network in which the computing device is connected, the system recognizes the EMD and populates the EMD with disk sectors. The system routes I/O read requests directed to the disk sector to the EMD cache instead of the actual disk sector. The use of EMDs increases performance and productivity on the computing device systems for a fraction of the cost of adding memory to the computing device.
US08909845B1
A computer-implemented method to identify candidate duplicate memory pages in a virtual environment is described. At least one memory page in memory is analyzed. The at least one memory page is associated with an application executing in a virtual machine. Information for the at least one memory page in memory is collected when the at least one memory page is identified as being a candidate duplicate memory page. The information identifies the application associated with the at least one memory page. A report is generated that includes the collected information for the at least one memory page.
US08909844B2
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an I2C bus multiplexing circuit for use in an I2C bus interface can be provided. The I2C bus multiplexing circuit can facilitate multiplexer switching in an I2C bus interface by detecting a start command from an I2C master device via an I2C bus, buffering data from the I2C master device, detecting a clock frequency of a bus serial clock (SCL) line of the I2C master device, holding the serial data (SDA) line of the I2C master device in a clock stretch state and selecting a port based on the detected clock frequency of the SCL of the I2C master device. The method further can include sending the buffered data to an I2C slave device on the selected port. The method further can include receiving an acknowledgement from the I2C slave device on the selected port.
US08909832B2
A physiological data collection device obtains physiological data from a subject interface on a subject. The physiological data collection device includes a data connector such as a USB connector for connecting directly to a computer. When the physiological data collection device is connected to the computer, the physiological data is uploaded to a remote data processing center for computer-based analysis and review by a medical professional. A report can be provided to the subject based on the analysis and review. When the subject interface is physically connected to the physiological data collection device, the data connector is prevented from being connected to an external device such as the computer.
US08909825B2
A storage device includes a processing state value calculator that calculates a first processing state value representing a state of data forwarding from the storage device via the connection lines; a notifier that notifies the first processing state value to the second storage device; a receiver that receives a second processing state value representing a state of data forwarding from another storage device (second storage device) via the communication lines and calculated in the second storage device; a multiplicity calculator that calculates, using the first processing state value and the second processing state value, a multiplicity representing the number of data forwarding processes which the storage device is able to simultaneously carry out on the communication lines; and a forwarding controller that forwards data via the communication lines within the calculated multiplicity, so that data may be optimally forwarded via the connection lines.
US08909824B1
This invention relates to techniques for managing the transmission and reception of data fragments that contains one or more data blocks. One embodiment of the invention includes the following steps: processing the fragments sequentially, wherein each fragment has a processing index that corresponds to sequential processing of that fragment; processing each of the fragments until a termination upon meeting at least one pre-defined condition; assigning a timer to an un-terminated fragment having a lowest processing index; starting said timer having a timeout value; and running said timer until the processing of said un-terminated fragment is terminated.
US08909820B2
A hub device includes an upstream port, multiple downstream ports, a first and a second sub-hub module, a data-format detector, a transaction translator, and a controller. The upstream port is coupled to a host device supporting a first and/or a second data format. Each downstream port is coupled to one of a plurality of slave devices supporting a first and/or a second data format. The first sub-hub module supports transmission of data in the first data format. The second sub-hub module supports transmission of data in the second data format. The data-format detector detects the data format supported by the host device and the slave devices. The transaction translator transforms the data format between the first data format and the second data format. The controller determines whether to control the transaction translator to perform data-format transformation.
US08909815B2
Provided are devices and methods for transmitting two or more data streams through the same cable. An exemplary cable includes at least two sets of conductive points, each set capable of independently transmitting a separate data stream. The cable may be a USB 2.0 type cable, with two contacts assigned for transmitting one data stream, and two other contacts assigned for transmitting another data stream. In some embodiments, one data stream is an audio-video signal transmitted to an audio-video receiver.
US08909810B2
The invention provides, in one aspect, a multimedia content sharing system that includes (i) a shared content server which stores items of content (such as still, moving images and audio) and (ii) a plurality of nodes, each of which is in communications with the shared content server via cellular telephone and/or other data networks. The shared content server transmits items of content to a first set of the nodes “automatically,” e.g., without requests by users of those nodes for the items. At least one node in that first set displays the content of received items (e.g., on an LCD screen) and accepts user feedback in regard to those items. That feedback—which may be, for example, a command to copy an item into an “album”, to rotate an item on the display, to block another node from displaying the items, and/or to block a sender (or creator) of the item from sending further items of content from presenting—is transmitted back to the shared content server for distribution to other nodes, which alter their own respective displays of the items accordingly.
US08909806B2
A smooth streaming system provides a stateless protocol between a client and server in which the server embeds incremental control information in media fragments. The server provides uniform media fragment responses to media fragment requests that are cacheable by existing Internet cache infrastructure. The smooth streaming system receives media data in fragments from one or more encoders, creates an index of each fragment, and stores the fragments. The server provides fragments to clients that contain metadata information describing the encodings available on the server and the encoding of the fragment. The server may also provide information within each fragment that allows the client to determine whether the client is requesting data too fast or too slow, so that the client can adapt its request rate to a cadence in tune with the rate at which the server is receiving encoder data.
US08909798B2
Monitoring computer devices operating on a network is disclosed. Computer devices are all different and require monitoring settings that are tailored to their specific requirements. One example method of assigning a sample set to a network device operating on a network may include identifying the at least one network device, and identifying at least one object identifier associated with the at least one identified network device. The method may also include transmitting the at least one object identified to a memory location, and comparing the at least one object identifier to a plurality of sample sets and assigning relevancy scores to the plurality of sample sets based on the comparison. The method may also include assigning at least one sample set having a greater relevancy score than the other sample sets to the at least one network device. The sample sets may be SNMP sample sets.
US08909795B2
Disclosed are method and system for determining the validity of a command line, comprising the steps of: maintaining a first IP address database including first IP address information or at least one terminal specification information associated with the first IP address information, in which the first IP address information includes IP address information of a proxy server or that of a terminal using a dynamic IP address; receiving a command line from a terminal of a user; extracting a request content, second IP address information, or second terminal specification information included in the command line; generating log information including the request content, the second IP address information, the second terminal specification information or input time point information with respect to the input time point of the command line; recording the log information associated with the command line in a log database; identifying the terminal by referring to the first IP address database and the log database; and determining the validity of the command line in association with the identified terminal.
US08909786B2
An apparatus comprising an application cross-stratum optimization (CSO) gateway (ACG) configured to communicate with a plurality of servers at an application layer, and a network CSO gateway (NCG) coupled to the ACG via an application-network interface (ANI) and configured to communicate with a plurality of network nodes at a plurality of network layers below the application layer, wherein the ANI allows joint application-network resource allocation, provisioning, and optimization. Also disclosed is a network apparatus implemented method comprising receiving at a service controller in a service plane a resource reservation request from an application controller coupled to an application plane to enable an application for a user, computing a path for the application, allocating the resource for the path at a network plane using network maintained databases, and forwarding a response with the allocated resource to the application plane via the service controller and the application controller.
US08909785B2
A system and associated method for dynamically optimizing workload of a cloud computing system is disclosed. The cloud computing system comprises virtual machines, physical servers, a smart cloud workload balancer (SCWB), and an objects database (ODB) storing various parameters controlling operations and optimization behavior of the cloud computing system. The SCWB configures and runs the cloud computing system based on a VM topology. When the SCWB determines that the cloud computing system does not perform optimally based on a total cost of software cost for licensing all VMs and power cost of all running physical server, the SCWB calculates a new VM topology that minimizes the total cost and relocates VMs pursuant to the new VM topology.
US08909781B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable storage media for providing virtual access to network services. A virtual storage layer contains reference objects configured to reference network services stored in a network computing environment. Network clients access the reference objects through a resource interface based on a resource identifier associated with the virtual storage layer. Initiation of the virtual service by a network client invokes the service in a native computing environment of the service.
US08909778B2
A method and apparatus control a double-ended soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) connection coupling from a source end to a destination end via a communications network. The method includes (a) receiving an SPVC connection message from a first network device for the source end, (b) accepting an SPVC connection in accordance with the SPVC connection message if a second network device receiving the SPVC connection has an association with the first network device, and (c) rejecting the SPVC connection if the second network device does not have an association with the first network device. The network device for the destination end includes a database memory adapted to store an access identifier of at least one predetermined source network device from which the network device is allowed to accept an SPVC connection.
US08909769B2
Service data and service management data traffic in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) may flow thorough a large number of devices (e.g., storage, network, cache and other devices and appliances) when the data move from one or more source systems to one or more target systems (or end user systems). Embodiments of the present invention provide a data analysis driven approach that detects patterns in data movements, and data traffic can be used to determine placement of certain network service components such as, among others, storage devices and appliances, server devices and appliances, network devices and appliances, etc.
US08909752B1
Systems and methods for associating data with advertisements include storing a relationship between a first user and a second user in a memory, receiving an identification of user data from a first user of a website, assigning interest data for the second user based on the identified user data from the first user, associating the interest data with advertisements provided by an advertiser, and providing display data representing the advertisements associated with the interest data to the second user.
US08909751B2
A network policy system is described herein that allows computing devices to manage and control various networking decisions based on a specific policy defined by a policy administrator that may include the device manufacturer, information technology (IT) personnel maintaining the devices, or the network provider. The policies can include many factors defined by the policy administrator under various conditions, including cost, power consumption, central processing unit (CPU) time, battery life, use of pooled minutes, and so forth. Packet routing in the device happens today primarily based on hardcoded factors such as bandwidth availability or cost, but there may be other considerations that appeal to policy administrators. The network policy system allows the policy administrator to define one or more flexible policies suited to the administrator's purpose.
US08909740B1
Systems and methods enable users to exchange content, such as chat text, with other users that are consuming like video media. In one implementation, several users collectively group together to form a video session. The video media played during the video session may be selected by a vote of the users. The users in the video session each consume the same video media, and the video media is played on individual user computer devices in a synchronized manner. The users send chat text to one another over a network using a computer user interface. The chat text is superimposed over the synchronized video running on the individual user computer devices.
US08909739B2
A system and method for upgrading remote control application resident on a device. To this end, a markup language file is created. The markup language file has a representation of information used to setup the remote control application to communicate with an appliance. The markup language file may be executed, on the device or an intermediate client with which the device is synchronized, to upload the representation of the information to a remote server. At the remote server, the uploaded information is used to automatically display user-selectable, downloadable data files relevant to the control of the appliance. Downloaded data files, which may include command codes and/or graphical user interface elements, may be used within the device to upgrade the ability of the remote control application to communicate with the appliance. The information uploaded to the server may also be used to generate demographic data regarding consumer preferences.
US08909736B1
In general, techniques are described for managing content request referrals by keying content requests to a composite key data structure that maps end-user address prefixes and content identifiers to content delivery network servers of downstream CDNs. In one example, a CDN exchange includes a communication module to receive first network prefixes and first content identifiers from a first secondary content delivery network and to receive second network prefixes and second content identifiers from a second secondary content delivery network. A request router of the CDN exchange redirects the content request to the first secondary content delivery network or to the second secondary content delivery network according to a network address of the end user device and a content identifier for the content request.
US08909729B2
A system and method for sharing digital content are provided. A system and method of the present disclosure enable a user to automatically list their media content and also enable automatic placement of the content onto a community web site that the user is participating in. The system and method provide for reading at least one identifier of at least one media content; determining at least one pre-selected community web site from a database and an identity of a first user of the at least one media content; transmitting the at least one identifier and the identity to the at least one pre-selected community web site; and posting the at least one identifier on a first predetermined page of the at least one community web site, the first predetermined page being associated with the identity of the first user.
US08909728B2
A network device transmits, to a cache located proximate to the network device, instructions to store content in the cache. The cache stores the content based on the instructions. The network device further receives a request for the content from a mobile communication device; determines, based on the request, that the content is stored in the local cache; and retrieves the content from the local cache. The network device also creates packets based on the retrieved content, and transmits the packets to the mobile communication device.
US08909727B2
A computer-implemented method, system, and article of manufacture for data communication between a requester and a responder in a remote direct memory access (RDMA) network, where each of the requester and the responder is an RDMA-enabled host of the network. The method includes: sending a request for the responder to provide data, where the request includes a mapped steering tag that is obtained by mapping a set of memory buffers of the requester onto a single representation that allows for identifying each of the memory buffers of the set; and receiving the requested data together with the mapped steering tag and assigning the data being received to the memory buffers of the set consistently with the mapping.
US08909724B2
A computer system performs actions in response to receipt of message notifications. The actions may include preventing the message notifications from being manifested (e.g., displayed on a screen). The actions may be specified by profiles. The computer system may activate and deactivate profiles. For example, activating a first profile may cause a second profile to be deactivated. When a message notification is received, the computer system may perform an action specified by an active profile but not perform an action specified by an inactive profile.
US08909716B2
Administering truncated receive functions in a parallel messaging interface (‘PMI’) of a parallel computer comprising a plurality of compute nodes coupled for data communications through the PMI and through a data communications network, including: sending, through the PMI on a source compute node, a quantity of data from the source compute node to a destination compute node; specifying, by an application on the destination compute node, a portion of the quantity of data to be received by the application on the destination compute node and a portion of the quantity of data to be discarded; receiving, by the PMI on the destination compute node, all of the quantity of data; providing, by the PMI on the destination compute node to the application on the destination compute node, only the portion of the quantity of data to be received by the application; and discarding, by the PMI on the destination compute node, the portion of the quantity of data to be discarded.
US08909710B2
A method for identifying participants of a collaborative network is disclosed. The participants communicate over a larger electronic network wherein not all members may be participating in the collaborative session. The method begins by determining a unique session identifier for only the participants of the collaborative network. Next, a message having the session identifier is sent to all members of the network by an inquiring participant of the collaborative network. Only participants that have the session identifier respond to the inquiring participant. Finally, communication is established between the participants that responded to the message and the inquiring participant. In this regard, a collaborative network is formed including the inquiring participant.
US08909703B2
Techniques for facilitating a real-time virtual interaction between two or more users are provided. The techniques include extracting a dynamically changing context from two or more users, wherein the context comprises at least one of user-provided information and one or more items related to at least one of current activity and past activity of the two or more users, analyzing the context from each user to create a classification for each user, comparing the classification for each user with a classification for each additional user, wherein comparing comprises ordering each user in terms of closeness to each additional user, and using the ordering of each user in terms of closeness to each additional user to facilitate a real-time virtual interaction between two or more users. Techniques are also provided for generating a database of one or more user classifications.
US08909700B2
Methods and apparatus for determining and maintaining user presence information include capturing user presence data with an application presence server. The application presence server can be configured to update user presence data as a user initiates or exits an application. Applications associated with user presence data are configured to query an application proxy client concerning user presence data of a selected user and, based on a returned user status, deliver, discard, or redirect a message intended for the user. User presence data is stored in a user presence repository and can be provided via Internet-based or other connections to applications executed on external networks. User activity status can be used to select or update user presence data. In some examples, an application server of an external network is configured to receive user presence data from the presence server.
US08909693B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a communication system that provides various automated operations, including searches of public and private resources for third party information and presentation of the located third party information by a mashup and preparation of a mashup to combine different communication modes or modes in a common session.
US08909692B2
A computer-implemented system for progressively transmitting of knowledge between system nodes of a network structure comprises a plurality of system nodes and intelligent interfaces by which respective system nodes are coupled with each other for performing a communication. The intelligent interfaces transmit object features of cognition structure objects comprising knowledge, information and data depending on a respective question of a respective one system nodes progressively more faithful to detail from another of the respective system nodes to the one of the respective system nodes. Furthermore, there are disclosed a corresponding method and a computer program product relating to the system and method.
US08909674B2
A system and method of managing interests and activities of residents and potential residents in a multi-unit building are provided. The method comprises: creating and maintaining a first set of records in the database for tenants, each record in the first set of records including fields for a name, contact information, building and interests; creating and maintaining a second set of records in the database for buildings, records in the second set including fields for a building name, address and amenities; creating and maintaining a third set of records in the database for activities, records in the third set including fields for an activity name, organizer, site, participants and activity details; analyzing the database to identify a set of tenant records in the first set of records that match an activity in the third set; and generating and sending notifications using contact information in the set of tenant records relating to the activity.
US08909662B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for synchronizing data within a native PIM data store in a device an enterprise data. Data modifications generated by mobile applications on the device, or by an enterprise server, are identified and reflected into the native PIM data store. Additionally, a listener is provided to detect modifications to relevant data within the native PIM data store and reflect these modifications in the mobile applications and the enterprise server. The framework which accomplishes this further provides platform-independent access to the native PIM data store.
US08909658B2
A method and apparatus are provided for automatically selecting and deleting unimportant content in order to secure a storage space in a digital multimedia device. The multimedia content is classified into content in which a storage period is set and content in which a storage period is not set and then the content is stored. The size of the content occupying a storage space in each storage type is automatically calculated to analyze a user's pattern of using the storage space when the storage space is insufficient, and content to be deleted is selected according to the analyzed pattern. Thus, it is possible to prevent the content which the user does not want to delete from being deleted and to eliminate the need for the user to individually manage the content.
US08909649B2
A method for managing content is provided. The method may include, by a content management apparatus, receiving a content request, searching for content information associated with the request, and causing writing of missing content information to an alert file. The method may provide default content information when content information is not otherwise located. A content request may comprise an application and context name. A response from a content management apparatus may comprise a location and map identifier used by a calling apparatus to locate and cause display of content. The method may provide synchronization capabilities in which content referenced by an application is searched for in order to track missing content in an alerts file, and to track the synchronization history or status of an application in a synchronization log. Corresponding systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are also provided.
US08909645B2
Methods and apparatus to classify text communications are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first score indicating a likelihood that a text belongs to a first classification mode by combining a first sentence score and a second sentence score retrieved from an index, the first sentence score indicating a probability that a first sentence in the text belongs to the first classification mode, the second sentence score indicating that a second sentence following the first sentence belongs to the first classification mode, determining a second score indicating a likelihood that the text belongs to a second classification mode, comparing the first score to the second score, classifying the text as the first classification mode when the first score is greater than the second score, and determining a confidence level that the text belongs to the first classification mode by dividing the first score by the second score.
US08909644B2
In one embodiment, a set of boundaries may be obtained, where the set of boundaries includes boundaries for each of one or more bins. The boundaries for each of the one or more bins may include a lower boundary and an upper boundary, wherein the set of boundaries of the one or more bins together defines a contiguous range of data values capable of being stored in the one or more bins. A data value may be obtained. The data value may be added to one of the one or more bins according to the boundaries of the one or more bins. It may be determined whether to modify the set of boundaries. The set of boundaries may be adjusted according to a result of the determining step.
US08909643B2
A method, system and computer program product for inferring topic evolution and emergence in a set of documents. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a group of matrices using text in the documents, and analyzing these matrices to identify a first group of topics as evolving topics and a second group of topics as emerging topics. The matrices includes a first matrix X identifying a multitude of words in each of the documents, a second matrix W identifying a multitude of topics in each of the documents, and a third matrix H identifying a multitude of words for each of the multitude of topics. These matrices are analyzed to identify the evolving and emerging topics. In an embodiment, the documents form a streaming dataset, and two forms of temporal regularizers are used to help identify the evolving topics and the emerging topics in the streaming dataset.
US08909641B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and data manager computing device comprises retrieving a time series data of a monitored asset based on one or more tags in response to a request. Further, a heterogeneous data based on the one or more tags is retrieved. Furthermore, a cause of an anomaly period in retrieved time series data of the monitored asset is determined based on the retrieved heterogeneous data. Finally, the determined cause of the anomaly period in the time series data in the monitored asset is provided.
US08909628B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying a plurality of n-grams in a plurality of resources found in a particular site; determining, for each of the plurality of resources, a count of n-grams that originated in the resource; determining, based on counts of n-grams that originated in the resources, a first aggregate count of n-grams that originated in the particular site; determining a second aggregate count of the plurality of n-grams that were identified in the plurality of resources found in the particular site; and determining, based on the first and second aggregate counts, a site originality score for the particular site.
US08909622B1
A packet network troubleshooting system. The system comprises a processor, a memory, and a search tool stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the search tool searches system log, router command, maintenance, alarm, and trouble ticket data stores based on a search request and presents the results in chronological order. The search tool determines search keys for each of the data stores based on the search request.
US08909618B1
A system is provided. The system comprises an at least one computer system, a services database, and an application that, when executed on the at least one computer system, receives a message containing information about a digital image, the information containing a request for a service. The application also transmits an image translation request, wherein the image translation request includes the information. The application also receives a translation containing a service code, validates the services to be provided associated with the service code based on information in the services database, and when validation succeeds, provides a communication service, wherein digital images are associated with the provision of services based on information in the services database.
US08909611B2
A method of operating a content management system, the content management system including a central server and a plurality of content servers connected to the central server, each content server associated with a respective location, the method including receiving data at the central server for distribution to at least one of the content servers, accessing user information relating to one or more users at one or more locations, determining, from the user information, whether the received data is relevant to each user, and transmitting the data from the central server to one or more content servers according to whether the data is relevant for users at the respective locations of the content servers.
US08909607B2
A computer identifies a relationship among a subset of a set of data blocks, a basis of the relationship forming a context shared by the subset of data blocks. The computer selects a code data structure from a set of code data structures using the context. The context is associated with the code data structure, and the code data structure includes a set of codes. The computer computes, for a first data block in the subset of data blocks, a first code corresponding to a content of the first data block. The computer determines whether the first code matches a stored code in the code data structure. The computer replaces, responsive to the first code matching the stored code, the first data block with a reference to an instance of the first data block. The computer causes the reference to be stored in a target data processing system.
US08909604B1
Both redo operations and undo operations are provided for returning a database that is corrupted to a correct state. When corruption of the database is detected, an automatic selection is made of one or more operations from the redo operations and undo operations for returning the database that is corrupted to a correct state. The selected one or more redo and undo operations are then performed on the database, thereby returning the database that is corrupted to a correct state.
US08909603B2
One embodiment is a method that backups up objects to a storage device. A number of objects that are concurrently backed up to the storage device is limited.
US08909591B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide for detection of spam business listings. Aspects operate to identify business listing characteristics in trusted sources and untrusted sources. As untrusted sources are likely to contain more spam, characteristics that are present in untrusted sources but not present in trusted sources are typically indicative of spam listings, and vice versa. Thus, statistical analysis of the frequency of characteristics within each source may be used to identify common characteristics of spam listings. These characteristics may further be analyzed in specific listing contexts, as different listing contexts (e.g., different types of businesses) typically use different terms and vocabularies, such that terms that are indicative of spam in one context may not be indicative of spam in another. Various methods for leveraging this context-specific statistical information to improve spam detection operations are disclosed.
US08909589B2
Embodiments of the present invention characterizing the uncertainty of the orbital state of an Earth-orbiting space object hereof using a Gauss von Mises probability density function defined on the n+1 dimensional cylindrical manifold n×. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention can include transforming a Gauss von Mises distribution under a diffeomorphism and approximating the output as a Gauss von Mises distribution. Embodiments of the present invention can also include fusing a prior state represented by a Gauss von Mises distribution with an update report, wherein the update can be either another Gauss von Mises distribution of the same dimension as the prior or an observation related to the prior by a stochastic measurement model. A Gauss von Mises distribution can be calculated from a plurality of reports, wherein the reports are either Gauss von Mises distributions or observations related to the state space by a stochastic measurement model.
US08909584B2
A method, system and computer program product for minimizing a rule set. A rule set application graph that describes a set of rules including actions and cases is built, whereby each rule defines an action for one or more cases. A rule violation graph for each rule describing the actions and cases not defined for that rule is built. A subset of rules having a reduced number of rules with the same set of actions and cases as the rule set application graph is determined by exploring candidate subsets of the rule set that are sufficient for reproducing the behavior of the original rule set.
US08909581B2
Systems and methods are provided for matching one or more first entities with one or more of second entities. Factor graph representations of the first entities and a plurality of second entities are stored. The factor graph representation of the plurality of second entities includes an identity variable referencing each of the individual second entities. When a request is received from a requesting one of the first set of entities for a match from the second set of entities, the first factor graph and the second factor graph are merged, and the merged graph is solved for a probability mass function for the identity variable to yield a probability vector to be used to identify those ones of the plurality of second entities having the highest probabilities as matches to be returned in response to the request.
US08909580B2
Methods and systems for thermodynamic evolution. Adaptive control systems are constructed based on the property of volatile matter to self-organize to maximize the dissipation of energy. The logical state of sensory nodes in a node circuit are set and projected into a network. Then, the system evaluates logical state of processing nodes by summing input currents of processing nodes and project processing node's state into network. The strength of processing node is increased such that logical state of sensory node matches with logical states of processing node by utilizing plasticity rule. The system is configured to maximize energy dissipation by creating weight structures to stabilize nodes with logical state. The internal positive feedback of node circuit forces competition between nodes such that one node is driven to high logical state and other nodes to low logical state.
US08909576B2
An event-driven neural network includes a plurality of interconnected core circuits is provided. Each core circuit includes an electronic synapse array has multiple digital synapses interconnecting a plurality of digital electronic neurons. A synapse interconnects an axon of a pre-synaptic neuron with a dendrite of a post-synaptic neuron. A neuron integrates input spikes and generates a spike event in response to the integrated input spikes exceeding a threshold. Each core circuit also has a scheduler that receives a spike event and delivers the spike event to a selected axon in the synapse array based on a schedule for deterministic event delivery.
US08909573B2
An alteration candidate for a query can be scored. The scoring may include computing one or more query-dependent feature scores and/or one or more intra-candidate dependent feature scores. The computation of the query-dependent feature score(s) can be based on dependencies to multiple query terms from each of one or more alteration terms (i.e., for each of the one or more alteration terms, there can be dependencies to multiple query terms that form at least a portion of the basis for the query-dependent feature score(s)). The computation of the intra-candidate dependent feature score(s) can be based on dependencies between different terms in the alteration candidate. A candidate score can be computed using the query dependent feature score(s) and/or the intra-candidate dependent feature score(s). Additionally, the candidate score can be used in determining whether to select the candidate to expand the query. If selected, the candidate can be used to expand the query.
US08909572B2
Systems, methods, and media that: implement a boosted classifier having a plurality of weak hypotheses that produce a classification, each of the plurality of weak hypotheses having at least one weight; receive testing data; receive at least one piece of training data subsequently to receiving the testing data; calculate corrective terms for correcting a sum of weights of correctly classified training data and a sum of weights of incorrectly classified training data; calculate the sum of weights of correctly classified training data and the sum of weights of incorrectly classified training data based on the corrective terms; modify the at least one weight of at least one of the plurality of weak hypotheses in response to the at least one piece of training data based on the sum of weights to produce modified weights; and classify the testing data based on the modified weights to produce a classification.
US08909569B2
The disclosed techniques can provide users with a tool having an integrated, user-friendly interface and having automated mechanisms which can reveal correlations between data streams to the users in a clear and easily understandable way, thereby enabling the users to easily digest the vast amount of information contained in activities within one or more network, to understand the correlations among the activities, to stay informed and responsive to current or new trends, and even to predict future trends. Among other benefits, the disclosed techniques are especially useful in the context of discovering impacts of social networking activities on other types of commercial activities.
US08909568B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for training a predictive model. In one aspect, a method includes receiving over a network predictive modeling training data from a client computing system. The training data and multiple training functions obtained from a repository of training functions are used to train multiple predictive models. A score is generated for each of the trained predictive models, where each score represents an estimation of the effectiveness of the respective trained predictive model. A first trained predictive model is selected from among the trained predictive models based on the generated scores. Access to the first trained predictive model is provided to the client computing system.
US08909562B2
A system for analyzing service usage utilizing Markov models. Records of client requests to the service are extracted from at least one log. The records are grouped by client and sorted by timestamp. A pattern of requests that form an action is detected. Each action has a time. A probability is calculated of a transition from a precedent action to a subsequent action, where the precedent action has a time prior to the subsequent action. A delay time is also calculated between a precedent action and a subsequent action. A probability is calculated for a delay time, such as the likelihood that a delay from a precedent action to a subsequent action will fall within a given time interval.
US08909561B2
An information processing apparatus that selects a plurality of feature amounts acquired by applying a filter to learning data and generates a discriminator based on the selected feature amounts includes a time specification unit configured to specify a calculation time required for acquiring a feature amount of a selection candidate by applying the filter to the selected feature amounts or the learning data, a precision specification unit configured to specify a precision of a discriminator generated based on the feature amount of the selection candidate and the selected feature amounts, a selection unit configured to select the feature amount of the selection candidate based on the calculation time and the precision, and a generation unit configured to generate the discriminator based on the selected feature amounts.
US08909550B2
Customers may utilize different services or products of a provider. The different services or products utilized by a customer may create different relationships between the provider and the customer. Systems and methods are provided for coordinating the different relationships to provide relationship-based pricing. Relationship-based pricing may increase customer satisfaction with services or products offered by the provider. Systems and methods may adjust fees associated with services or products of the provider by coordinating the different relationships. The fees may be decreased or waived to increase customer satisfaction.
US08909547B2
Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes.
US08909546B2
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can mitigate privacy concerns in connection with ad targeting or data collection. In particular, architecture can be included in a personal mobile communication device such as a cell phone. During communication transactions between the host device and a peer device, shared information can be extracted either from content included in the communication or from metadata. Based upon the shared information, a social graph maintained on the host device can be updated. In addition, the host device can receive a large set of ads and select or tailor a custom ad from the set based upon the social graph.
US08909543B2
A motion detection component is operated to detect movement of the motion detection component. The movement detected by the motion detection component is recorded. A display is operated to provide a visual indication of an amount of the recorded movement. Electrical signals are communicated from the motion detection component through an electrical contact. The electrical signals are associated with the detected and recorded movement of the motion detection component. The motion detection component, the display, and the electrical contact are included within a band formed to secure to a part of a human body.
US08909541B2
In general, in one aspect, a method for developing an asset by competition includes specifying standards for an asset, receiving from potential contestants indicia of interest in participating in an asset development competition in which the contestants compete to develop an asset, and determining an estimated likelihood that the asset development competition will result in an asset that meets the minimum standards based on historical information about the performance of the contestants from whom the indicia of interest were received. Steps may be taken to increase the estimated likelihood of success, upon a determination that the likelihood is less than desired. Steps may be taken to prevent registration by additional participants, upon a determination that the estimated likelihood is at or above a predetermined threshold.
US08909540B1
Methods and systems for the provision of a targeted risk-protected minimum income benefit or protected distribution through the design and management of a trust that allows for exposure to the equity and fixed-income markets. The targeted minimum income amounts depend upon the performance of equity and fixed income assets and risk mitigation instruments contained in the Trust. The method and system rely upon the adjustment of constituent assets to provide for the targeted minimum retirement income amounts. The action of risk management procedures eliminate reliance upon third-party guarantors. The methods and systems include mortality management procedures that protect the participants against longevity risk.
US08909532B2
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for supporting multi-lingual user interaction with a multimodal application, the application including a plurality of VoiceXML dialogs, each dialog characterized by a particular language, supporting multi-lingual user interaction implemented with a plurality of speech engines, each speech engine having a grammar and characterized by a language corresponding to one of the dialogs, with the application operating on a multimodal device supporting multiple modes of interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the application operatively coupled to the speech engines through a VoiceXML interpreter, the VoiceXML interpreter: receiving a voice utterance from a user; determining in parallel, using the speech engines, recognition results for each dialog in dependence upon the voice utterance and the grammar for each speech engine; administering the recognition results for the dialogs; and selecting a language for user interaction in dependence upon the administered recognition results.
US08909527B2
A method and system for training an automatic speech recognition system are provided. The method includes separating training data into speaker specific segments, and for each speaker specific segment, performing the following acts: generating spectral data, selecting a first warping factor and warping the spectral data, and comparing the warped spectral data with a speech model. The method also includes iteratively performing the steps of selecting another warping factor and generating another warped spectral data, comparing the other warped spectral data with the speech model, and if the other warping factor produces a closer match to the speech model, saving the other warping factor as the best warping factor for the speaker specific segment. The system includes modules configured to control a processor in the system to perform the steps of the method.
US08909524B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an adaptive noise canceling system. The adaptive noise canceling system may be used in a handset to cancel background noise by generating an anti-noise signal. The adaptive noise canceling system may include first input to receive a first signal from a feedforward microphone; a second input to receive a second signal from an error microphone; a controller coupled to the inputs, the controller configured to adaptively generate an anti-noise signal according to the received signals, wherein the controller derives a profile of the anti-noise signal from the first signal and derives a magnitude of the anti-noise signal from both first and second signal; and an output to transmit the anti-noise signal to a speaker.
US08909523B2
A method determines a bias reduced noise and interference estimation in a binaural microphone configuration with a right and a left microphone signal at a time-frame with a target speaker active. The method includes a determination of the auto power spectral density estimate of the common noise formed of noise and interference components of the right and left microphone signals and a modification of the auto power spectral density estimate of the common noise by using an estimate of the magnitude squared coherence of the noise and interference components contained in the right and left microphone signals determined at a time frame without a target speaker active. An acoustic signal processing system and a hearing aid implement the method for determining the bias reduced noise and interference estimation. The noise reduction performance of speech enhancement algorithms is improved by the invention. Further, distortions of the target speech signal and residual noise and interference components are reduced.
US08909522B2
A voice activity detector (100) includes a frame divider (201) for dividing frames of an input signal into consecutive sub-frames, an energy level estimator (202) for estimating an energy level of the input signal in each of the consecutive sub-frames, a noise eliminator (203) for analyzing the estimated energy levels of sets of the sub-frames to detect and eliminate from enhancement noise sub-frames and to indicate remaining sub-frames as speech sub-frames, and an energy level enhancer (205) for enhancing the estimated energy level for each of the indicated speech sub-frames by an amount which relates to a detected change of the estimated energy level for a current speech sub-frame relative to that for neighboring speech sub-frames.
US08909519B2
A Voice Activity Detection/Silence Suppression (VAD/SS) system is connected to a channel of a transmission pipe. The channel provides a pathway for the transmission of energy. A method for operating a VAD/SS system includes detecting the energy on the channel, and activating or suppressing activation of the VAD/SS system depending upon the nature of the energy detected on the channel.
US08909518B2
A warping factor estimation system comprises label information generation unit that outputs voice/non-voice label information, warp model storage unit in which a probability model representing voice and non-voice occurrence probabilities is stored, and warp estimation unit that calculates a warping factor in the frequency axis direction using the probability model representing voice and non-voice occurrence probabilities, voice and non-voice labels, and a cepstrum.
US08909515B2
A social networking system includes a mechanism for integrating user actions on objects outside of the social networking system in the social graph. External system operators include widgets that, when executed by user devices, record user interactions that correspond to a defined structure of actions and objects. Third party operators utilize a tool provided by the social networking system to define the structure of actions and objects, verb tenses of action types, and noun forms object types. External actions are recorded by the social networking system for publishing to the social graph in dynamically generated sentences formed using the structure of the actions and objects.
US08909508B2
This disclosed subject matter is generally related to methods for characterizing two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) samples to determine pore-body and pore-throat size distributions and capillary pressure curves in porous media using petrographic image analysis. Input includes high-resolution petrographic images and laboratory-derived porosity measurements. Output includes: (1) pore-body and pore-throat size distributions, and (2) simulated capillary pressure curves for both pore bodies and pore throats.
US08909507B2
Predicted environment conditions are received for time steps within a prediction horizon N. Information is accessed regarding expected system responses generated by a system model, each expected system response related to a different combination of control parameters and starting environment conditions applied to the model.An optimal response is designated for each combination of starting environment conditions for each time step from time step N−1 to the current time step based in part on the expected system response and the predicted environment conditions, each optimal response in a time step based at least in part on an optimal response determined for a later time step.For the current time step, for starting environment conditions substantially similar to the current environment conditions, the combination of control parameters that results in the system response designated as the optimal response is determined from the expected system responses and is applied to the system.
US08909504B2
A method for processing dimension numbers using a computing device, a first template of a dimension frame and a plurality of second templates of dimension numbers 0-9, and a numerical text data of each second template are established. A plurality of block objects are obtained by grouping all discontinuous line segments in the engineering drawing. All frame objects in the engineering drawing are obtained by matching each of the block objects with the first template. One or more remainder objects in each bounding box are obtained, and grouped to obtain one or more number objects in each of the frame objects. A matched second template of each of the number objects is obtained by matching each of the number objects with each of the second templates. The number objects in each of the frame objects are replaced by corresponding numerical text data.
US08909493B2
A non-volatile memory system that has two or more sub-blocks in a block performs a check before accessing memory cells to see if the condition of a sub-block that is not being accessed could affect the memory cells being accessed. If such a sub-block is found then parameters used to access the cells may be modified according to a predetermined scheme.
US08909491B2
Provided is a method for measuring multi-point interferometric angle changes beginning with an interferometric device capable of measuring at least one main point and at least one reference point. The method includes recording interferometric intensity changes on two or more spots using the main point and the reference point, and determining a sequence having a plurality of peak, local maximas and a plurality of valley, local minimas. The method includes sampling a first, partial sequence and comparing it to a neighboring, partial sequence using a perturbation analysis and additional calculation(s) to compile all phase angle changes for all measured points. Also provided is a computer implemented method to enable nanometer resolution sensitivity in a noisy signal and for characterization of a material in an interferometric device.
US08909489B2
A first detection unit has first and second detection circuits. A second detection unit has third and fourth detection circuits. Output signals of the second and fourth detection circuits differ from output signals of the first and third detection circuits in phase, respectively, by an odd number of times ¼ the signal period. The output signal of the third detection circuit differs from the output signal of the first detection circuit in phase by an integer multiple of ⅙ the signal period other than an integer multiple of ½ the signal period. A rotating field sensor generates a first signal based on the output signals of the first and third detection circuits, generates a second signal based on the output signals of the second and fourth detection circuits, and calculates a detected angle value based on the first and second signals.
US08909481B2
The invention provides methods for identifying polypeptides. The method can include the steps of simultaneously determining the mass of a subset of parent polypeptides from a population of polypeptides and the mass of fragments of the subset of parent polypeptides; comparing the determined masses to an annotated polypeptide index; and identifying one or more polypeptides of the annotated polypeptide index having the determined masses. The method can further include the steps of determining one or more additional characteristics associated with one or more of the parent polypeptides; comparing the determined characteristics to the annotated polypeptide index; and optionally repeating the steps one or more times, wherein a set of characteristics is determined that identifies a parent polypeptide as a single polypeptide in the annotated polypeptide index. The method can additionally include the step of quantitating the amount of the identified polypeptide in a sample containing the polypeptide.
US08909480B2
A vibrator-coupled ground filter improves seismic data recorded during a seismic operation. This filter is based on a ground model that takes into consideration the vibrator system, the coupling system between the baseplate and captured ground, and the coupled ground system. Using acceleration data from the baseplate and the reaction mass, the ground model can be used to derive particular variables for the ground model to help characterize the system. Using the derived variables in a ground filter, the recorded seismic data can be corrected to remove errors in the trace data produced by typical assumptions.
US08909472B2
A user interface of a wireless user terminal provides a forecast of a future rate discount that may apply at a future time and/or at a possible future location of the wireless user terminal. The forecast may be displayed as a map and/or as textual or graphical information, and may be provided in response to a user request, in response to receipt of a message from the wireless network and/or automatically at a given time. Related systems, methods and devices are described.
US08909471B1
A position determining voting system that uses Doppler information from an on-board weather radar to improve the system's accuracy and/or fault tolerance includes a comparison function and an error integration function. The comparison function is used to monitor the independent position sources for correct operation, comparing and identifying a position source that should not be used based on its relative error compared with the other position sources and their characteristics. The integration function provides corrections to relative position sources by integrating the data from multiple absolute position sources when they are mutually consistent.
US08909467B2
A material position information measuring section measures a position of a material lifted up by a tower crane. A structure information measuring section measures position information about surrounding structures. A route searching section searches for a route of movement of the material from a start point to a destination. The route of movement determined by the route searching section is stored in a route storage. A data processor receives data of the material position information measuring section and the structure information measuring section, and calculates 2D or 3D image data about relative positions of the tower crane, the material lifted up by the tower crane and the surrounding structures. A display unit displays information about at least one of the tower crane, the material and the surrounding structures using the image data calculated by the data processor, and displays the route of movement determined by the route searching section.
US08909466B2
A system, method and apparatus for hybrid off-board vehicle navigation are disclosed. In the system, a multi-stop route package is created and sent from a route server to a navigation device. The route package can include a collection of vehicle attributes and corresponding road restrictions for guiding the vehicle towards its destination. The server can optionally push the route package to the vehicle in an email message or other stored communication. When an off-route condition is detected, the navigation device can send a route request to the server that includes the vehicle attributes and the corresponding road restrictions. The server can respond with a partial route correction that is determined based on the vehicle attributes and road restrictions.
US08909464B2
A driving evaluation system that divides a traveling route of a vehicle into a plurality of sections and evaluates the driving of a driver of the vehicle includes: a driving data acquiring unit that acquires driving data of the driver for each section; a determining unit that determines whether the driving data acquired by the driving data acquiring unit satisfies the evaluation conditions set to each section; and an upload unit that uploads the driving data to a center which evaluates driving when the determining unit determines that the driving data satisfies the evaluation conditions.
US08909455B2
A control device for an internal combustion engine including a camshaft of the internal combustion engine; a plurality of plane cam shape portions; at least one transitional shape portion; a cam switching mechanism; a cam position sensor; and a control section. The plane cam shape portions, at the camshaft, have valve lift characteristics different from each other, have respective cam faces parallel to a rotation axis of the camshaft, and are spaced apart from each other. The transitional shape portion is between two adjacent ones of the plane cam shape portions and has a curved cam face which connects the cam faces of the two plane cam shape portions. The cam switching mechanism switches between the valve lift characteristics for an intake valve by selecting one of the plane cam shape portions via the transitional shape portion.
US08909452B2
In a vehicle driving support apparatus, if a brake pedal operation by a driver is detected during a braking control, a cruise control unit determines that it is highly likely that the driver recognizes a possibility of a collision of a subject vehicle and a obstacle, and halts the braking control. On the other hand, if a depression amount of the brake pedal by the driver changes to a release side at or over a preset speed, the cruise control unit restarts the halted braking control.
US08909445B2
The present invention relates to a method for determination of one or more shift points for a gearbox in a motor vehicle which comprises an engine connected to, in order to drive, said gearbox, where a shift point represents an engine speed at which said gearbox is adapted to effecting a downshift or upshift, said one or more shift points are determined on the basis of an engine target speed ωT and a first engine speed difference ΔωTT, said target speed ωT is a desired speed for said engine, said first engine speed difference ΔωTT is a difference between a first engine speed at a first time t1 and said target speed ωT at a second time t2, and said first and second times t1 and t2 are separated by a time period T. The invention relates also to a system, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product thereof.
US08909442B2
The present invention relates to a vibration control method and apparatus of a power train in a vehicle for reducing the vibrations in a power train when driving on a protruded portion of a road surface using a motor torque control. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to determine the generation of vibrations in a power train as the vehicle passes on the protruded portions of the road surface; and calculate a compensation torque for a vibration reduction of the power train when vibrations occur in the power train as the vehicle passes on the protruded portions of the road surface.
US08909440B2
Provided is a tractor which allows continuation of a plowing work by appropriately elevating a plow when slip occurs in wheels. The tractor includes draft controlling means (34) for elevating the plow to a target machine body level value obtained by making reference to control information with a draft load value detected by a draft load sensor (S). The control information is set based on a target plowing depth set when the plow was set to a target plowing depth and a draft load value. When a slip ratio detected by a slip ratio acquiring means (37) exceeds a threshold value, in place of previously set control information, there is newly set control information which renders higher the target machine body level relative to a same draft load value, thereby to elevate the plow.
US08909429B2
In a vehicle steering system, when a sensor malfunction determination unit detects a malfunction of a rotation angle sensor, the sensor malfunction determination unit changes a control mode from a first control mode to a second control mode. In the second control mode, an actual rotor angle (mechanical angle) (θSM) of a steered system motor is computed on the basis of a second rotor angle (electric angle) (θSE2) estimated by a rotation angle estimation unit. Then, feedback control is executed such that the actual rotor angle (θSM) converges to a target rotor angle (θSM1*) that is obtained by superimposing a rotation maintaining command signal on a target rotor angle (θSM*) computed by a target rotor angle computation unit.
US08909425B2
A vehicle or other system includes a flow device, component, and controller. The controller executes a method of diagnosing flow performance in the vehicle/system. The flow device is a pump, blower, or fan. A calibrated upper speed limit is commanded from the flow device in response to detected enabling conditions. The device is turned off after maintaining the upper speed limit for a calibrated duration. The speed of the flow device is determined during a coast-down interval defined by a period between command of the upper speed limit and attaining a calibrated lower speed limit. An absolute rate of change of the speed over the coast-down interval is calculated, with the controller executing a control action when a maximum absolute slope of the calculated rate of change falls outside of a calibrated range during the coast-down interval.
US08909424B2
The invention provides a wireless control system for a bicycle, including at least one shift actuator generating an input signal when actuated and a master control unit transmitting a shift signal responsive to the input signal. At least one electromechanical gear changer is provided and includes a gear changer control unit. The gear changer control unit receives the shift signal from the master control unit and controls the at least one electromechanical gear changer corresponding to the received shift signal. The gear changer control unit listens for the shift signal during a part of an awake mode cycle time, the master control unit transmitting the shift signal for a message duration time which is greater than the awake mode cycle time.
US08909423B2
A vehicle display device includes a vehicle instrument panel, upper-side and lower-side segment displays and a display controller. Each of the upper-side and lower-side segment displays has at least three number-displaying elements that are arranged in a line in a lateral direction for displaying numerical values using a plurality of segments. The display controller is configured to combine the number-displaying elements in the upper-side and lower-side segment displays and to display vehicle information.
US08909420B2
A system for monitoring a fill level of a plurality of tires of a vehicle includes a situation detecting unit set up for detecting a situation in which adaptation of a fill level of at least one of the tires of the vehicle is expected. The system further includes a fill level adaptation assistant set up for autonomously assisting a user of the vehicle during the adaptation of the fill level of the at least one tire when the situation is detected.
US08909417B2
A monitoring system for rail-borne transportation of goods or people in at least one car. The one or more cars may, for example, be railway cars or tram cars which are moved in the public rail system. The monitoring system according to the invention first of all includes a generator mount, which is integrated in at least one wheel bearing of the car. The generator mount is therefore used on the one hand as the bearing for a wheel of the car, and on the other hand to produce electrical energy, as a result of which it forms a power supply unit. The components which are required to produce the electrical voltage in the generator mount are integrated in the mount. One of these components is formed by a conductor arrangement which is used for induction of an electrical voltage to be generated. The monitoring system according to the invention furthermore includes sensor electronics, which are electrically connected to the conductor arrangement, for determining measurement variables which act on the conductor arrangement. As a result, the generator mount furthermore forms a sensor.
US08909414B2
For a three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, wherein the three-dimensional corporal figure may be locked in place in the motor vehicle, it is in particular provided that a communication from a passenger and a driver of the motor vehicle, respectively, to the three-dimensional corporal figure is carried out acoustically and/or haptic, and that a communication from the three-dimensional corporal figure to a driver or a passenger of the motor vehicle is carried out optically and/or acoustically.
US08909410B2
Various systems and methods are described for controlling operation of a motor vehicle based on a sensor. One example method comprises receiving sensed parameter data from the sensor, receiving calibration data from the sensor, and adjusting a vehicle operating parameter in response to the sensed parameter data and the calibration data.
US08909408B2
The control apparatus according to the invention is applied to a hybrid vehicle having a manual transmission. The control apparatus controls a motor-generator such that a torque is input to the manual transmission when a neutral switch outputs a detection signal while an internal-combustion engine and the vehicle are stopped. The control apparatus starts up the internal-combustion engine when a release manipulation is performed to a clutch while the time rate of change of input-side rotating speed of the manual transmission by a torque providing control does not satisfy a predetermined criterion.
US08909404B2
A user interface for conveying tips on driving behaviors or vehicle settings that will improve vehicle efficiency may be provided. The tips may be listed on an information display along with an efficiency impact value associated with each tip. The efficiency impact values may be conveyed in terms of fuel economy, vehicle range, emissions or some other value. Accordingly, the user interface may communicate ways to improve a vehicle's efficiency, as well as quantify the potential improvement in meaningful terms.
US08909403B2
A powertrain includes: an engine provided with a plurality of cylinders; a first motor generator coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and an ECU for controlling them. When misfire in the engine is detected, the output shaft of the engine is rotated by driving the first motor generator with ignition and supply of fuel to the engine being suspended.
US08909402B2
A vehicle control system is configured to include a motive power unit that includes an engine and a rotating electrical machine, a power supply device that is connected to the rotating electrical machine, a pump unit that includes an electric oil pump and a mechanical oil pump for cooling the rotating electrical machine, and a control device. The control device is configured to include a carrier frequency determination unit, a rotating electrical machine determination unit, a vehicle required traveling state determination unit, a motive power unit operation mode determination unit that makes a determination on the operation mode of the motive power unit, and an EOP operation control unit that controls the operation of the electric oil pump on the basis of these determinations.
US08909401B2
HV-ECU executes a program including a step of executing rattling noise avoidance control when an engine operating point falls within a rattling noise producing range and when a requested torque Treq2 falls within the rattling noise producing range, and a step of executing normal control when the engine operating point does not fall within the rattling noise producing range or when the requested torque Treq2 does not fall within the rattling noise producing range.
US08909395B2
A system and method for aircraft performance predictions for climb flight phase is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of aircraft performance predictions for climb flight phase in a flight management system (FMS) includes determining current predicted aircraft state using a total energy of the aircraft. Further, excess energy available in an engine of the aircraft is computed. Furthermore, a change of speed of the aircraft is computed at a given point in the climb flight phase. Kinetic energy (KE) change required is then computed for the computed speed change. Remaining energy available is then computed based on the computed KE change. The aircraft performance predictions for the climb flight phase are then computed using the determined current predicted aircraft state.
US08909390B2
A charging start time and preliminary air conditioning time are calculated based on the departure time that is set with a control/operation device (S108), and the charging time and preliminary air conditioning time are set (S110). Then, a control is executed to start charging when at the charging start time (S112 to 116) and preliminary air conditioning may be started when the amount of charge is sufficient for preliminary air conditioning and a preliminary air conditioning starting trigger is detected, that is locking or preparation for leaving house is detected, for example (S118 to 128).
US08909377B2
A system for controlling driving of a wearable robot may include a drive unit for operating a drive joint of the robot, a measurement unit for measuring an actual angle and an actual angular velocity of the drive joint in the robot, a sensing unit for determining a human torque applied by a wearing user to the drive joint, and a control unit for determining a target angular velocity of the robot by applying the determined human torque to an admittance model and for determining a required torque that may be input to the drive unit of the robot by applying an optimal control gain to a difference between the target angular velocity and the actual angular velocity of the robot.
US08909376B2
Disclosed herein is a method of controlling a robot hand similar to a hand of a human being such that the robot hand naturally and safely grasps an object. The robot hand, including fingers and a palm, is capable of naturally and safely grasping an object, by the tip of each finger performing impedance control while following the optimal path on a Cartesian coordinate system, although the robot hand cannot reach a position ideal to grasp the object due to sensor errors or shape information of the object to be grasped is not correctly recognized. Also, the robot hand is capable of stably grasping the object even when moving or manipulating the object.
US08909371B2
A pointer is guided by a user of a processing machine in succession to a number of locations of a working space of the processing machine. The pointer has first location determining devices which are arranged at predetermined pointer locations relative to a pointer coordinate system in fixed relationship to the pointer. Through interaction of the first location determining devices with second location determining devices arranged at predetermined locations relative to a machine coordinate system in fixed relationship to the processing machine, data describing a geometric relationship of the location determining devices relative to one another are acquired. These data are transmitted to a control device which determines the position of the pointer in the working space based on the characteristic data and based on the data subdivides the working space into a permitted movement range for a component of the processing machine and a complementary prohibited movement range.
US08909368B2
A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.
US08909367B2
Machines for machining workpieces, especially metal sheets, include a machining device, a main drive, and an auxiliary drive that is different therefrom. Both drives serve to generate a relative movement between the machining device and a workpiece, wherein the machining device is movable relative to the workpiece and/or the workpiece is movable relative to the machining device with a main movement by means of the main drive and wherein the machining device is movable relative to the workpiece with an auxiliary movement by means of the auxiliary drive. Machines with high adaptability to different machining tasks are provided. Methods of machining workpieces include corresponding method steps.
US08909365B2
A method and apparatus for compensating a bias voltage at the wafer by measuring RF voltage signals in RF driven plasma including at least an electrostatic, chuck (ESC), a capacitive divider, a signal processing and signal conditioning network is disclosed. The bias compensation device includes a capacitive divider to detect the RF voltage at the ESC, a signal conditioning network for the purpose of filtering specific RF signals of interests, and a signal processing unit for computing the DC wafer potential from the filtered RF signals.
US08909355B2
Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve, and at least one cathode and at least one anode, fixed to the housing. The apparatus further includes two or more passive electrodes, fixed to the housing, and a conducting element, which electrically couples the passive electrodes to one another. Other embodiments are also described.
US08909345B1
In a patient suffering from neural impairment, stimulation is provided to sensory surfaces of the face and/or neck, or more generally to areas of the body that stimulate the trigeminal nerve, while performing an activity intended to stimulate a brain function to be rehabilitated. The simulation may then be continued after the performance of the activity has ceased. It has been found that the patient's performance of the activity is then improved after stimulation has ceased. Moreover, it tends to improve to a greater extent, and/or for a longer time, when the post-activity stimulation is applied, as compared to when postactivity stimulation is not applied.
US08909331B2
Devices and methods for analyzing cardiac signal data. An illustrative method includes identifying a plurality of detected events and measuring intervals between the detected events for use in rate estimation. In the illustrative embodiment, a set of intervals is used to make the rate estimation by first discarding selected intervals from the set. The remaining intervals are then used to calculate an estimated interval, for example by averaging the remaining intervals.
US08909326B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) representation of one or more light sources inside a sample, such as a mammal. Mammalian tissue is a turbid medium, meaning that photons are both absorbed and scattered as they propagate through tissue. In the case where scattering is large compared with absorption, such as red to near-infrared light passing through tissue, the transport of light within the sample is described by diffusion theory. Using imaging data and computer-implemented photon diffusion models, embodiments of the present invention produce a 3D representation of the light sources inside a sample, such as a 3D location, size, and brightness of such light sources.
US08909325B2
A system for calculating a position of a radioactivity emitting source in a system-of-coordinates, the system comprising (a) a radioactive emission detector; (b) a position tracking system being connected to and/or communicating with the radioactive emission detector; and (c) a data processor being designed and configured for receiving data inputs from the position tracking system and from the radioactive emission detector and for calculating the position of the radioactivity emitting source in the system-of-coordinates.
US08909318B2
A user interface component and system for physiological parameters telemetry is provided. A user interface component may be reversibly or irreversibly attached to a garment that allows connection to a user's skin, such as via one or more holes in the garment. Signals transmitted through a conductive transfer layer in the user interface component are provided to a signal receiving unit which can collect and transmit physiological data.
US08909306B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for conserving battery power in a user equipment (UE) by idling the modem when it is not needed in an active state. Idling can occur (1) between a user request for content and the start of the content download; (2) after the content download; and (3) after additional dynamic content has been downloaded, further scripting has finished, or UE data has been uploaded to the network, but before another user request for content has been made. Grace timers can be used before the second and third opportunities to ensure that the modem is not idled while still in use, but also to minimize the time that the modem is in an active state but not being used. These timers can be fixed or dynamic and their duration based on historical trends or testing of particular content or content types.
US08909303B2
A system and method for determining the orientation of a mobile device for displaying a graphical user interface and for activating an audio user interface in response to an incoming call or outgoing call. For the graphical user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, the graphical user interface can be displayed in a first vertical orientation, a second vertical orientation, a first horizontal orientation, and a second horizontal orientation. For the audio user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, a speaker and a microphone can be activated based on the detected vertical orientation so that the activated speaker is near the top of the mobile device and the activated microphone is near the bottom of mobile device.
US08909302B2
When connecting a multi-profile device by Bluetooth, an in-vehicle apparatus performs a MAP connection establishment process in succession to an HFP connection establishment process to have a MAP connection established earlier than a conventional timing, thereby reducing a waiting period before receiving a new message arrival notification from the multi-profile device through the MAP connection.
US08909300B2
A mobile phone (10) includes a display (14), an acceleration sensor (54), etc., and a displaying direction of the display (14) is set based on an inclination detected by the acceleration sensor. If the mobile phone (10) is rendered in a horizontal posture or approximately horizontal posture, an image imaged by a first camera module (50) is output so as to be subjected to face detection processing. If a face of a user is detected from the imaged image, a direction of the face is detected. When the face direction is detected, the displaying direction of the display (14) is set based on the face direction. An image is displayed on the display (14) in a displaying direction being set based on the direction of the face of the user.
US08909295B2
According to one embodiment, a method includes establishing a plurality of wired connections between a plurality of nodes. The plurality of nodes include a base station and a plurality of geographically distributed remote transceivers. The base station is assigned to a first set and the base station and a first remote transceiver of the plurality of remote transceivers are assigned to a second set. Each set is configured to wirelessly transmit a respective channel reference signal. Signal quality feedback that indicates the strength of the respective channel reference signals is received from an endpoint. One of the sets is selected to use for transmitting data traffic from the base station to the endpoint based on the signal quality feedback. The method further includes transmitting data traffic from the base station to the endpoint using at least one wireless connection between the endpoint and each node of the selected set.
US08909293B2
A compact form factor integrated circuit card. In one embodiment, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is disclosed. In one embodiment, the SIM card has overall dimensions optimized for a particular application; e.g., 12.30 mm (±0.10 mm)×8.80 mm (±0.10 mm)×0.67 mm (+0.03/−0.07). In another embodiment, the SIM card has overall dimensions of 11.90 mm (±0.10 mm)×8.80 mm (±0.10 mm)×0.70 mm (maximum). Multiple complementary SIM card adapters and methods of use are also disclosed.
US08909284B2
An outdoor broadband unit may be connected to an external portion of a customer premises. The outdoor broadband unit may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna to receive communications from a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network and a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board may include an integrated circuit (IC) chip to implement a subscriber identity module (SIM) to provide services for the LTE network. The IC chip may be soldered to the printed wiring board and have a rated temperature range corresponding to an industrial grade or military grade integrated circuit. The IC chip may provide authentication services for the SIM using a hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) connection. The printed wiring board may further include a control module to implement an air interface for the LTE network. A radome may contain the RF antenna and the printed wiring board.
