US08267767B2
A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a 3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of a game outcome presentation. Apparatus and methods are described for generating and displaying a sequence of symbols from a virtual reel strip in the 3-D gaming environment. In particular, the sequence of symbols may be mapped to one or more to flat reels, rounded reels or sequences of moving objects in the 3-D gaming environment. The flat reels, round reels or sequences of moving objects may be moved in the 3-D gaming environment through a motion that allow the sequence of symbols from the virtual reel strip to displayed as part of game outcome presentation for a game of chance played on the gaming machine.
US08267765B2
A gaming device including a first player interactive game requiring one or more player inputs which result in an outcome. The outcome does not result in an award provided to the player. In one embodiment, the gaming device determines a paytable employed in the wagering game based on an outcome of the interactive game. In another embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of different wagering games. The gaming device determines which wagering game to provide to the player based, at least in part, on the outcome of the interactive game. Other suitable functions can be employed in the wagering game based on the outcome of the interactive game in accordance with the present invention. In any embodiment, the gaming device provides an outcome to the player for the wagering game which can result in an award.
US08267762B2
Blackjack and Blackjack-related card games are provided in which the speed of play is increased over the conventional ways these games are played. After the initial cards are provided to each of the players, determinations regarding the order in which players are to receive requested, additional cards are made using a control that communicates with terminals. The player who is determined to be the first to make a request for another card is provided the next additional card(s). Such determinations rely on requests generated by the players using input elements associated with their terminals. For each set of one or more additional cards being requested, one or more players make a request using the player's input element. A number of such sets of requests are typically made until all players are finished receiving requested cards. Accordingly, players do not need to wait until one or more other players have completed their game play before being able to receive their own additional card(s). The order related to being provided additional cards depends on the speed of input requests and not the positions of the players. The modified Blackjack and Blackjack-related games can be played at a table and online.
US08267753B2
A spinner wheel housing (100) comprises an outer housing (10) having at least one covering element (15), at least one bottom element (16), two front wall elements (11, 12) and two trapezoidal lateral wall elements (13, 14) which are arranged at a distance from each other and encompassed by the front wall elements. At least one of the lateral wall elements (13, 14) has a recess for receiving a guiding sleeve. A guiding sleeve cover (40) is pressed against this lateral wall element (14) by means of at least three clamping claw devices (50) which are fixed to the lateral wall element next to the recess for receiving the guiding sleeve and/or a bottom support element (16). The bottom element is connected to a base support element (17) by means of a plurality of clamping claw devices (70). The base bearing element is adapted to be fixed to a blasting compartment or a foundation.
US08267745B2
Methods for holding a workpiece with a hydrostatic pad are disclosed herein. The pad includes hydrostatic pockets formed in a face of the body directly opposed to the wafer. The pockets are adapted for receiving fluid through the body and into the pockets to provide a barrier between the body face and the workpiece while still applying pressure to hold the workpiece during grinding. The hydrostatic pads allow the wafer to rotate relative to the pads about their common axis. The pockets are oriented to reduce hydrostatic bending moments that are produced in the wafer when the grinding wheels shift or tilt relative to the hydrostatic pads, helping prevent nanotopology degradation of surfaces of the wafer commonly caused by shift and tilt of the grinding wheels.
US08267744B2
The present invention provides a drive for a grinding or cutting machine. The drive comprises a body having a drive coupling for receiving at least one drive shaft in a manner so that the or each drive shaft is drivable by the drive. The drive also comprises a mount for mounting the body to a portion of the machine such as to a linkage arm of an earth grinding or cutting vehicle. The drive coupling is arranged to inter-fit with a portion of the or each drive shaft.
US08267737B2
A display system is provided. The display system may include a housing and a transparent display screen mounted to the housing, the screen configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. The display system may further include a sensor mounted to the housing to detect screen position in relation to the housing and a character generator configured to generate and display images of a virtual character on the screen.
US08267733B2
A laminated structure is formed by placing a cover substrate over a device substrate with a projection structure in between in the vacuum atmosphere. Next, the laminated structure is taken out into the air in a state that a space between the device substrate and the cover substrate is maintained in the vacuum atmosphere. Subsequently, the portion of the organic layer formed on the auxiliary electrode is removed by irradiating laser light to the laminated structure. Since the space between the device substrate and the cover substrate is maintained in the vacuum atmosphere, even if the laser light is emitted to the laminated structure taken out into the air, the laser light is emitted to the portion of the organic layer formed on the auxiliary electrode in the vacuum atmosphere.
US08267732B1
A marine drive having a lower gearcase with a vertical drive shaft driving a horizontal propeller shaft in a torpedo housing has a vent plug setting the level of lubricant in the lower gearcase to be substantially at the top of the torpedo housing.
US08267724B2
In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a housing that supports a plurality of electrical contacts. Each electrical contact defines a mating end and an opposing mounting end, and a plurality of mounting terminals disposed at the mounting end. The mounting terminals of each contact are arranged in at least one column extending along a longitudinal direction, such that each column is spaced along a lateral direction, and the mounting terminals of adjacent contacts are longitudinally offset.
US08267722B2
A cable connector assembly (100), comprising a frame (1) have a plurality of passageways (13) and a plurality of openings (14) in a front wall (123) of the frame and in communication with the corresponding passageway (13); a plurality of electrical connectors (2) received in the corresponding passageways (13), each electrical connector (2) having a terminal seat (21), a shell (22) enclosing the terminal seat (21) and a mating portion (25) exposed at the corresponding opening (14); a grounding member (3) having a body portion (30), at least two first contact arms (31) and at least one second contact arm (32) formed with the body portion (30), each first contact arm (31) contacting the shell (22) of one of the electrical connectors (2), said at least one second contact arm (32) extending out the frame (1) and disposed around the front wall (123) of the housing (1).
US08267720B2
A seal structure includes a housing and a waterproof member provided in the housing. The waterproof member includes a body and electric wire insertion holes formed in the body for passing through electric wires respectively. Each of the electric wire insertion holes has a first insertion part and a second insertion part. An inner diameter of the second insertion part is larger than an inner diameter of the first insertion part. The first insertion part is adapted to hold a first electric wire and the second insertion part is adapted to hold a second electric wire. An outer diameter of the first electric wire is larger than an outer diameter of the second electric wire. An elastic portion attached to an outer periphery of the second electric wire is positioned at the first insertion part or the second insertion part in an intimate contact state.
US08267715B2
This present invention refers to a combined terminal and casing for establishing electrical contact between a multi-wire cable and a magnetic wire that uses the insulation displacement connector (IDC) concept, wherein the terminal (11, 25) has holes (12, 26) and closed channels (13, 27) to receive the multi-wire cable (23, 36) and openings (14, 28) to receive the magnetic wire (24, 37) linked to narrow slots (15, 29). The casing (18, 31) has through-holes (20, 21, 32, 34) for inserting the multi-wire cable (23, 36) and the magnetic wire (24, 37), as well as an opening (19, 35) to receive the terminal. Inserting the terminal into the casing causes the pressure exerted on the multi-wire cable and the magnetic wire to force the entry thereof into the narrow channels, causing the isolation layer to be withdrawn, providing electrical contact between the multi-wire cable and the terminal, between the magnetic wire and the terminal and, consequently, between the multi-wire cable and the magnetic wire.
US08267710B2
A connection apparatus includes a male plug which may be mated into bayonet-type engagement with a female socket. The plug has at least one radially projecting lug and the socket has at least one axially extending insertion channel and at least one adjoining locking channel within which the lug may be received. The locking channel includes at least one depression which is located radially angularly offset from the insertion channel. Engagement between the lug with the depression resists unintentional detachment of the connection.
US08267705B2
An electronic device with a detachable plug capable of changing plugging direction is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a main body and a plug. The main body has a plug-receiving portion, and the plug-receiving portion comprises at least two conducting pieces. The plug has a plug body and at least two conductive terminals. The plug body comprises four trenches disposed at a bottom thereof and arranged as a square. Each of the conductive terminals comprises a plugging portion, a connection portion and an extension portion, wherein the plugging portion is protruded out of a surface of the plug body, and the connection portion and the extension portion are embedded in the plug body and are corresponding to two adjacent trenches, respectively. Thereby, when the plug is assembled on the plug-receiving portion of the main body, the two conducting pieces are respectively received in two opposite trenches and contacted with either the two connection portions or the two extension portions of the two conductive terminals for power conduction.
US08267700B2
A connector structure which can realize height reduction of connecting portions and space saving and which prevents separation of a female connector and a male connector from each other due to an impact or vibrations, wherein a conduction structure is formed by bringing connecting pins (9) of a male connector (B2), which are inserted in female terminal portions installed in a flexible circuit board (B3) of a female connector (B1), into pressure contact with pad portions of the female terminal portions (3), and the female connector (B1) and the male connector (B2) are coupled with each other by inserting column-shaped projections (15) of the male connector (B2) into notch ring bodies (14) fixed on the flexible circuit board (B3) of the female connector (B1) and holding the column-shaped projections (15) by restoring force based on elastic deformation of the notch ring bodies (14).
US08267692B2
A method of using a collection of symbols based on the movement of a circular object in space on three-dimensional and two-dimensional art works. The method relates to orienting a circular object at different angles and to trace the path of the circular object to create basic symbols. The basic objects are incorporated in a three-dimensional sculpture including surfaces and circular objects suspended at relative heights and orientations according to the collection of symbols.
US08267675B2
A piezoelectric pump for pumping a fluid at a high flow rate includes a housing and an actuator located within the housing. An electric voltage applied to the actuator causes the actuator to apply a force to a first diaphragm that is proximate to the actuator. A piston assembly is located within the housing and is moveable between at least a first position and a second position. A first fluid chamber is defined by the housing, the first diaphragm, and the piston assembly. A coupling fluid is located within the first fluid chamber for coupling the first diaphragm to the piston assembly. A second fluid chamber is defined by the housing and the piston assembly. An inlet valve is in communication with the second fluid chamber and an outlet valve is in communication with the second fluid chamber.
US08267673B1
A fan assembly with an impeller and shroud for application in a vehicle cooling system. The fan is powered by an external rotor brushless direct current (BLDC) motor having an electronic controller positioned away from the BLDC on an outer shroud wall with a plurality of ducts drawing an airflow from a static lower pressure created by the impeller, the airflow streaming over a heat sink disposed on the controller, exiting through a shroud. The static lower pressure air is pulled by a centrifugal fan and skewed magnets inside the motor through a plurality of ducts in a shroud hub, cooling the BLDC, maintaining low resistance for high efficiency. The BLDC is integrated into the assembly, having a stator fixed in the shroud hub and a rotor directly fused to the impeller, the shroud and impeller forming the BLDC motor without a housing, allowing the motor to easily dissipate heat.
US08267672B2
An ultrahigh pressure pump includes a frame; a crankshaft having a journal; and at least one telescoping pump subassembly having inner and outer ends. The outer end is carried by the frame pivot so as to allow pivotal swinging movement of the pump subassembly, and the inner end is attached to the journal. The piston rod can reciprocate relative to the inner bore substantially free from side loads. The pump subassembly includes: an outer member including a cylinder defining an inner bore; and a inner member having a piston rod and a outer sleeve. The piston rod is received in the inner bore and the cylinder is received in the outer sleeve. First and second restraining elements are disposed at spaced-apart positions along the axis of the pump subassembly and are configured to oppose misalignment forces between the piston rod and the cylinder.
US08267668B2
A fuel pump system for pumping fuel to an engine in a vehicle includes a pump motor having a carbon-based commutator and brushes in a position exposed to fuel, resulting in a tendency to form a film between the commutator and brushes that can reduce pump performance by increasing the electrical resistance of the brush-commutator interface. The pump motor has a nominal voltage rating. A power circuit is coupled to the pump motor for selectably providing an operating voltage and a boost voltage, wherein the boost voltage is greater than the nominal voltage rating. A controller selecting the operating voltage during an ordinary run cycle and selects the boost voltage during a clean-up cycle. The controller selects the clean-up cycle for a limited time that is sufficiently short to avoid damage to the pump motor from exceeding the nominal voltage rating and sufficiently long to create arcing between the commutator and brushes that reverses formation of the film.
US08267660B2
A fan module includes a framework and at least two blade assemblies arranged inside the framework. Each blade assembly includes at least two blade units arranged in line. The rotating direction of each blade assembly is opposite to that of adjacent blade assembly.
US08267656B2
A variable pitch propulsor system with a propeller pitchlock system which utilizes a follower style pitchlock ballscrew screw which tracks the actuator axial stroke. The pitchlock system transfers the propeller yoke loads, from the ballscrew ballnut to the pitchlock nut allowing the propeller to pitchlock; utilizes the same screw thread lead angle for normal ballscrew back driving operation as well as pitch locking capabilities; provides a single ballscrew which is capable of both being back driven by the ballnut and structurally adequate for reacting the blade loads resulting from any flight condition; and minimizes the requirement of additional rotation and torque transferring interfaces between the ballscrew and pitchlock nut.
US08267648B2
A blower includes an electric motor having a shaft, a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet between which is defined a flow path for gas, a first impeller having a plurality of blades adapted to accelerate gas tangentially and to direct it radially outward, and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a gas flow path defined between an external wall of the motor and a wall of the stationary portion, a first stationary vane structure located downstream of the first impeller, and a shield constructed and arranged to provide a barrier between the first stationary vane structure and the blades of the first impeller to isolate leading edges of the first stationary vane structure from an impeller blade pressure pulse. The flow path is of sufficient width to allow a flow of gas therethrough without introducing excessive pressure drop.
US08267645B2
A centrifugal pump has impellers that are not connected by a central shaft. More specifically, each of the impellers has a separate hub segment that interlocks with an adjacent hub segment from another impeller. The hub segments are rotated in unison with each other to rotate the impellers.
US08267629B2
A mounting structure for a boss of a display module. The mounting structure is constructed with a reinforcing member installed on a chassis base of the display module, a boss including a threaded length having an outer portion on which a screw surface is formed and being coupled to the reinforcing member, and a connecting portion extending from the threaded length in a direction away from the reinforcing member and having an end portion in which a coupling hole is formed, and a supporting nut screwed into the threaded length to press the boss toward the reinforcing member.
US08267626B2
A transportation unit, such as a wagon and/or train, includes at least one plate-shaped alignment unit, which can rotate about a vertical axis, for picking up a vehicle from a ramp and aligning it. The length of the vehicle exceeds a useful width of the transportation unit, but the width of the vehicle does not project beyond the transportation unit. The alignment unit is mounted on the floor of the transportation unit so as to rotate on a carrier track. The transportation unit carries respective flaps which can pivot onto the ramp or ramps and onto which the carrier tracks extend and as a result also support the alignment unit in a rotated, partially projecting-out state at that location.
US08267622B1
A carrier apparatus is provided for transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system. The carrier apparatus comprises a housing contoured with forward and aft portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween. The housing includes at least first and second separable sections enclosing a carrying compartment. At least a pair of retaining assemblies are detachably coupled to the housing, with each retaining assembly encircling the housing's body portion to couple the first and second housing sections for angular displacement one relative to the other between open and closed configurations. Each of the retaining assemblies includes a glide band portion disposed to protrude radially from the housing in the closed configuration for slidably engaging an inner wall surface of a pneumatic delivery tube. At least one latch assembly is coupled to releasably lock the housing sections in the closed configuration.
US08267616B2
A pivot joint includes a first component (12) having a projecting boss form (16) and a second component (11) having an opening (25) for receiving the boss form (16). A headed fastener (32) and washer (27) engage with the boss form (16), which includes engagement elements (17) that dig into the washer (27) when the joint is assembled.
US08267613B2
A quick-release latch assembly includes a plate, a latch pivotally coupled to the plate, and a locking assembly movable relative to the latch between a first, unlocked position and a second, locked position. When the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the latch is allowed to rotate with respect to the plate. In contrast, when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the latch is prevented from rotating with respect to the plate.
US08267612B2
An exemplary holding structure used for holding an object that defines a latching hole, includes a main body, a pressing member received in the main body, and two latching members. The main body includes a lodging portion for being lodged into the latching hole of object and two receiving holes are defined in the lodging portion. The latching members are received in the receiving holes. The pressing member is configured to press the latching members to partially extend out of the at least two receiving holes for holding the object. The pressing member is capable of disengaging from the at least two latching members for releasing the object from the lodging portion.
US08267610B2
An apparatus for dispensing a cleansing solution on to a tissue comprised of: a reservoir container forming an interior volume for holding a cleansing solution and an opening that provides access to the interior volume; a dispersion component comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a plurality of holes on the upper surface, and at least one channel between the upper and lower surfaces; and a pump assembly comprised of a tubular member extending from the interior volume of the reservoir container, through the opening, and mated to the lower surface of the dispersion component, in which the pump assembly defines an actuator for pumping the cleansing solution from said interior volume of the reservoir container, through the one or more channels, and through the holes of the upper surface of said dispersion component when a pressure is applied to the dispersion component.
US08267609B2
Dispenser that dispenses a substance onto a substrate, such as a tooth treatment compound onto teeth, includes a vial including a cavity containing the substance and a projecting portion extending outward from the base. An applicator tip is engaged with the conduit and includes an internal passage communicating with the cavity, and an applicator portion situated forward of the conduit and that includes a plurality of spaced-apart projections at a distal application surface, preferably crenellated fingers. A cap is removably attachable to the vial and when attached, the applicator portion of the applicator tip is accommodated in a cavity of the cap and a sealing stopper extends into the internal passage to thereby seal it. When the cap is removed from the vial and the base is squeezed, the substance is urged out of the cavity through the passage of the applicator tip and onto the projections.
US08267607B2
A surface working apparatus or cleaning implement that is useful in removing soils and other undesirable items from carpeting, hard flooring or any surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a floor cleaning apparatus having a handle and an absorbent cleaning pad which is removably attached to a cleaning head and disposable after use. An aerosol canister is connected to the apparatus and a trigger is used to selectively dispense the contents of the canister in front of the cleaning head for cleaning the flooring. Various locking means are added to the floor cleaning tool to ensure proper floor chemical application.
US08267606B2
A device for packaging and dispensing a product includes a dispensing assembly provided with a holding cup for the product, a sheath in which the cup is mounted, a jacket around the sheath and including an outlet orifice, and an outer sleeve around the jacket. Guide devices are provided to bring about, during a rotation of the outer sleeve relative to said jacket, a joint axial movement of said sheath and of the holding cup relative to the jacket, followed by an axial movement of said cup relative to the guide sheath and to the jacket towards a use position of the product. A protective case in which the dispensing assembly is mounted, forms an outer cover for the assembly and includes an actuating member that is able to rotate the outer sleeve.
US08267605B2
A handheld electronic personal care device (with or without an applicator head) comprising a fast charging capacitor, and one or more electric load elements. The device may or may not be designed for use with one or more personal care compositions. Examples of load elements include heating and cooling elements, electric motors, sound and light elements, data storage and processing elements.
US08267597B2
An optical module includes: an optical device mounting board including a first surface, a second surface on the reverse side, and a light transparent part allowing an emitted light traveling from the first surface to the second surface and a received light traveling in the opposite direction to pass through the transparent part; an optical device mounted on the first surface, which is a light emitting device or a light receiving device; a first terminal mounted on a surface except the first surface of the optical device mounting board; a wiring connecting a second terminal of a component mounted on the first surface including the optical device with the first terminal; and a transmission medium connector connecting a light transmission medium transmitting the emitted light traveling from the second surface to an outside of the optical module or the received light traveling in the opposite direction.
US08267592B2
A compact bearing support operable for supporting and damping movement of a bearing assembly. The bearing support includes a plurality of flexible elements engaging the bearing assembly in a plurality of locations.
US08267586B2
The metallic mold 90 includes a product configuration portion 93 formed between an upper mold 91 and a lower mold 92. This product configuration portion 93 is composed so that a rolling element accommodating belt 50 formed by this product configuration portion 93 can include spacer portions interposed between balls adjacent to each other in an infinite circulating passage and also include connecting arm portions for connecting the spacer portions to each other and so that the balls can be aligned in the alignment direction in the infinite circulating passage. The upper mold 91 has a splitting structure. In this splitting structure, a splitting position BL is set at a position passing through a position 91t for forming an end portion on the outer circumferential side in the inner and outer circumferential direction of the infinite circulating passage of the spacer portions 51.
US08267583B2
A multi-chip module (MCM), which includes a three-dimensional (3D) stack of chips that are coupled using optical interconnects, is described. In this MCM, disposed on a first surface of a middle chip in the 3D stack, there are: a first optical coupler, an optical waveguide, which is coupled to the first optical coupler, and a second optical coupler, which is coupled to the optical waveguide. The first optical coupler redirects an optical signal from the optical waveguide to a first direction (which is not in the plane of the first surface), or from the first direction to the optical waveguide. Moreover, the second optical coupler redirects the optical signal from the optical waveguide to a second direction (which is not in the plane of the first surface), or from the second direction to the optical waveguide. Note that an optical path associated with the second direction passes through an opening in a substrate in the middle chip.
US08267582B2
A table for vacuum application which is guided by aerostatic bearing elements, having a fixedly mounted supporting structure and a tabletop which is displaceable in x-direction and y-direction with respect to the fixedly mounted supporting structure by means of slides. The slides are provided with the aerostatic bearing elements for guiding, these aerostatic bearing elements being connected to feed lines for supplying the gas required for the operation of the gas bearings and suction lines for removing this gas. The suction lines comprise at least one variable-length line arrangement having a first pipe member and a second pipe member which penetrate one inside the other without contacting, at least one sealing gap being provided between the pipe members.
US08267579B2
A film packaging bag has bag surfaces formed by a bag film and a carrying handle disposed on one of the bag surfaces, whereby the carrying handle has a film strip having a handle segment that is accessible via an opening in the bag film, during use. The film strip is disposed on a carrier sheet, whereby the film strip surrounds the carrier sheet with folded strip ends that follow the handle segment, which sheet is wider than the film strip. The film strip is attached to the bag film by way of the carrier sheet, whereby the carrier sheet is connected with the inside of the bag to the side of the film strip, directly or indirectly.
US08267573B2
A mixer apparatus comprising a pair of counter rotating beater blades operating in a rotating bowl for the mixing of food ingredients, in which at least one of the beater blades is provided with inserts which urge small quantities of the food ingredients from a thin distributed layer into a mixable concentration of the ingredients.
US08267570B2
A fixed base comprises an upper cover comprising an outer canister a top plate and a sidewall. The sidewall encircles the top plate to form a receiving room. An inner canister penetrates the receiving room and is attached to the top plate, which comprises a wall. At least one hatch is defined in the wall, and is connected to the receiving room. A positioning component is set inside the surface of the top plate. A limitation frame comprises a frame body, a connecting block, and a positioning block. The positioning block is slidably connected to the positioning component. At least one groove opposite the hatch is defined in the wall of the frame body, and comprises a sliding groove and a fixing groove connecting with the sliding groove. The fixed base further comprises a driver and a trigger switch.
US08267565B2
An LED illumination module for generating uniform stripped light source includes a stripped light-guiding unit, a stripped reflective unit and a light-emitting unit. The stripped light-guiding unit has a light-guiding body and a plurality of first light-guiding microstructures disposed on a top side of the light-guiding body. Each first light-guiding microstructure has a first reflective index. The stripped reflective unit has a reflective body corresponding to the light-guiding body and a reflective layer formed on an inner surface of the reflective body. The stripped reflective unit covers one part of the light-guiding body, the first light-guiding microstructures are disposed between the light-guiding body and the reflective layer, and the reflective layer has a second reflective index that is different from the first reflective index. The light-emitting unit has a first light-emitting module disposed beside one end of the light-guiding body.
US08267561B2
An optoelectronic headlight which emits electromagnetic radiation is specified, which has a luminescence diode chip with at least two spatial emission regions or which has at least two luminescence diode chips each having at least one spatial emission region. The headlight is suitable in particular for a front headlight for motor vehicles. The emission regions, in a plan view of a main extension plane associated with them, are shaped differently, are of different sizes and/or are not shaped rectangularly and are differently oriented. Particularly preferably, the emission regions can be driven independently of one another. Methods for production of an optoelectronic headlight and a luminescence diode chip are furthermore specified.
US08267559B2
An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a reflective mirror element, and a mirror mount for attaching the interior rearview mirror assembly to an attachment element attached at an interior portion of the vehicle. When the mirror mount is attached to the attachment element, the reflective mirror element has a field of view rearward of the vehicle. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a pivot joint enabling a driver of the vehicle to pivotally adjust the mirror head to set the rearward field of view of the reflective mirror element to the driver's desired setting with the interior rearview mirror assembly attached to the attachment element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes circuitry, and the circuitry comprises at least one of (a) a transmitter for a toll booth transaction function and (b) a receiver for a toll booth transaction function.
US08267548B2
The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle. Said lighting device comprises a light source (1; 96) for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular light which is visible to the human eye, and a reflector (70; 81; 90) for focusing the emitted light. The light source (1; 96) is fastened on the reflector (70; 81; 90) at least indirectly in a defined position relative to a reflective surface of said reflector. In order firstly to make heat transfer from the reflector (70; 81; 90) to the light source (1; 96) more difficult and secondly to enable EMC shielding by virtue of an electrical contact between the light source (1; 96) and the reflector (70; 81; 90), the invention proposes that a material (72) with poor thermal conductivity is arranged between the reflector (70; 81; 90) and the light source (1; 96) for thermally insulating the light source (1; 96) from the reflector (70; 81; 90). Preferably, the material (72) has a thermal conductivity λ of less than 2 W/mK and a relative permittivity (εr) of greater than 1.
US08267544B2
An LED (light emitting diode) lamp includes a lamp body, a cap mounted on an end of the lamp body, a lamp holder mounted on an opposite end of the lamp body, and a plurality of fasteners. The lamp body includes two beams located at two opposite lateral sides thereof and a plurality of separated light emitting modules mounted on the beams side by side. Each of the fasteners extends through the lamp body, the light emitting modules and the cap in series to secure the lamp body, the light emitting modules, and the cap together.
US08267542B2
Provided are devices and methods for grouping light emitters and devices including the same. Embodiments of such methods may include selecting a portion of the light emitters using a region of a multiple axis color space that is configured to represent each of a plurality of colors as at least two chromaticity coordinates. The region may be proximate a predefined point on the multiple axis color space and includes a major axis having a first length and a minor axis having a second length that is less than the first length.
US08267541B2
An outdoor illuminating device and illuminating method using LEDs as light sources to reduce a load on the environment and effectively function as a crime deterrent to contribute to environmental design for establishing safe and secure communities. Security light (1) capable of simultaneously emitting at least two different colors of illumination light is provided with a plurality of white LEDs (16) and blue LEDs (18) as the light sources. The security light (1) comprises main lighting unit (11) positioned at a predetermined distance (D) above the ground surface (G), first illuminating part (13) for emitting illumination light of white-tint color downward in the direction substantially vertical from main lighting unit (11), and second illuminating part (14) for emitting illumination light of blue-tint color to the outside of the area substantially vertically below main lighting unit (11).
US08267538B2
An illuminating device includes a light source and a light diffusing plate. The light diffusing plate includes a light pervious substrate and a light diffusing structure. The light pervious substrate has a lower surface adjacent to the light source and an upper surface at an opposite side of the substrate to the lower surface. A through hole is defined in the substrate to expose a central portion of the light source. The light diffusing structure is formed at the upper surface and includes a plurality of first lens arrays radially extending from the through hole and a plurality of second lens arrays each arranged between two adjacent first lens arrays.
US08267516B2
A fundus image is displayed, which enables accurate positioning and focusing to be easily performed with respect to an eye to be examined even on a small display unit by selecting a display magnification. At a first display magnification, an opening portion “m” of a mask specifying a predetermined angle of field of the fundus is displayed with no part missed in both of horizontal and vertical directions of a display unit 15. At a second display magnification, the opening “m” of the mask is displayed with no part missed in the horizontal direction in the display area of the display unit 15 and with some part missed in the vertical direction. Thus, the second display magnification is used to observe an essential part when the fundus is accurately observed.
US08267515B2
Providing multi-focal visual correction includes determining a plurality of visual conditions to which an eye is to be exposed, determining effects of the visual conditions on a pupil of the eye, and determining a target wavefront profile on the basis of the effects.
US08267514B1
A stop structure for a folding glasses temple includes a glasses frame and a glasses temple. Two spaced lugs are formed on an outer lateral of the glasses frame, and a stop portion is provided between the two lugs. The glasses temple includes a head end connected to the glasses frame and a tail end adapted to be worn on an ear of a user. The head end of the glasses temple is pivotably connected to the glasses frame between the two lugs to allow the glasses temple to be folded inwards or unfolded outwards relative to the glasses frame. The stop portion stops the tail end of the glasses temple from contacting the glasses frame while folding inwards, thereby protecting the glasses frame and the glasses temple.
US08267510B2
A inkjet recording method is provided in which occurrence of curling at the time of double-sided recording is prevented. In the method, an inkjet recording medium is used which includes resin coated paper having a resin layer A of thickness “a” at one side of base paper, and a resin layer B thinner than the thickness “a” by a thickness of 3 μm to 20 μm at the other side of the base paper, and ink receiving layers each of which includes an inorganic pigment and a binder and are provided at both sides of the resin coated paper; and an image is recorded on the ink receiving layer at the resin layer B side of the resin coated paper, and subsequently an image is recorded on the ink receiving layer at the resin layer A side of the resin coated paper.
US08267506B2
An inkjet printer device includes: an ejection portion that ejects an ink droplet onto a recording medium; a humidification portion that is provided upstream of the ejection portion in a transportation direction of the recording medium and ejects a wetting liquid droplet onto the recording medium; and a control portion that makes the ink droplet be ejected onto the recording medium from the ejection portion and the wetting liquid droplet be ejected onto the recording medium from the humidification portion, wherein the ejection portion is humidified during printing by letting the wetting liquid droplet ejected onto the recording medium evaporate from the recording medium.
US08267505B2
There is disclosed an ink set and method for printing an inkjet ink image on a nonporous substrate. The inkset and method comprise one or more inkjet inks comprising at least one first pigment-based inkjet ink having a first colorant load of a pigment and a polymeric latex binder; and at least one second pigment-based inkjet ink having a second colorant load of the pigment and a polymeric latex binder, the second colorant load being less than the first colorant load, and the second pigment-based inkjet ink applied to a substrate in an amount to provide a total ink loading of from about 10 g/m2 to about 30 g/m2.
US08267498B1
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to control gloss quality in printed images are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a print engine to print a plurality of images for respective ones of a plurality of colors, each image representing a plurality of different print parameter combinations, a scan module to measure a first plurality of light reflectances for respective ones of the plurality of images and the print parameter combinations, and a calibrator to calibrate an operation of the print engine for respective ones of the plurality of colors based on the first plurality of measured light reflectances, the operations of the print engine including at least one of an order of ink application, a rate of ink application, a density of ink application, or an applied amount of gloss enhancer.
US08267495B2
A liquid container includes a container body that accommodates a liquid containing portion containing a liquid. A residual liquid quantity detecting unit can be connected to the container body so as to detect a residual amount of liquid remaining in the liquid containing portion. A fitting mechanism, which allows the container body and the residual liquid quantity detecting unit to relatively rotate so as to be detachably attached to each other, may also be formed in a region where the container body and the residual liquid quantity detecting unit are connected to each other.
US08267494B2
A method of printing comprising the steps of: providing a print media having a printing surface; measuring at least one parameter of the print media; calculating an optimal configuration for a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder circuit for obtaining a desired RFID transponder resonant frequency; configuring the RFID transponder circuit and printing the RFID transponder circuit onto the print media.
US08267489B2
An industrial machine assembly includes an industrial machine and a handle. The industrial machine includes an upper wall and a side wall. The side wall and upper wall cooperate to define a corner. The handle includes a grasping portion, a first flange, and a second flange. The handle is configured for attachment to the industrial machine in one of a first position and a second position. When the handle is in the first position, the first and second flanges straddle the corner such that the first flange is adjacent to the upper wall and the second flange is adjacent to the side wall. When the handle is in the second position, the first and second flanges straddle the corner such that the first flange is adjacent to the side wall and the second flange is adjacent to the upper wall.
US08267484B2
An axle arrangement (1) for two-wheelers, particularly for bicycles, includes a quick-release axle (2) having an axle (6) as the supporting part for a hub (7). The axle (6) can be inserted in receiving or dropout ends (3, 4) of a fork (5), a linkage, a rear end or similar mount. The axle (6) has a threaded end (16) and a quick-release fastener (9) with a tensioning lever (10) on the other end. One of the dropout ends (3, 4), or an intermediate supporting part that can be connected to the dropout ends (3, 4), has a screw-in thread (15) for screwing in the one threaded axle end (16) of the axle (6). In addition, an adjustable stop may be provided for the purpose of limiting the screw-in depth of the threaded axle end (16) in the screw-in thread (15) of the dropout ends or in the screw-in thread (15) of the intermediate supporting part connected to the dropout ends (3, 4).
US08267483B2
A shank bit, in particular a road milling bit, having a carrier part (10) that comprises a shank (11), the shank (11) carrying a bit tip (18) made of hard material, the carrier part comprising, in the region between the shank and the bit tip, a receiving portion (14) on which a head part is held (30), and the head part comprising a circumferential chip discharge surface (34.1) tapering in a direction toward the bit tip. In order to enable a shank bit of this kind to be designed in wear-optimized fashion, the head part is held rotatably with respect to the carrier part.
US08267469B1
A folding chair device having a seat that is mounted atop a seat support, wherein the bars of the seat support interconnect to form a border around the edges of the seat, with pivot mechanisms disposed in the support bars that engage the seat support, wherein the pivot mechanisms pivotally connect the support bars, having hinges disposed in the support bars allow the bottom portion to be folded upwardly, having sleeves on the support bars adapted to slide along the support bars and temporarily cover the hinges to prevent the hinges from folding, and a second frame with braces joining the sides, with pivot mechanisms in the braces which engage the side bars to pivotally connect the side braces respectively to the seat support, having hinges which allows the bottom portion to be folded upwardly or inwardly and sleeves adapted to slide and temporarily cover the hinges to prevent folding.
US08267467B2
A cab in a construction machine, the cab including frame members including a hollow first frame member connected to a second frame member in order to form a corner portion, the first frame member including a pass-through portion formed at a first side surface portion of the first frame member; a reinforcing member that is installed at the corner portion, wherein at least one of two sides of the reinforcing member passes through the pass-through portion and abuts against an inner surface of a second side surface portion of the first frame member that is at an opposite side of the first side surface portion; and a reinforcing plate that abuts against an outer surface of the second side surface portion, wherein the at least one of two sides of the reinforcing member is supported and reinforced by the reinforcing plate.
US08267466B1
An improved truck bed design for automotive and equipment delivery preferably includes at least one front section, a rear section and a front pan. A front of the rear section is preferably pivotally retained on a rear of the front section. The front pan is attached to a front of the front section. The front section includes a plurality of front lengthwise support members, at least one cross member and two front deck plates. The rear section includes two first rear deck plates, a second rear deck plate, a plurality of rear lengthwise support members and at least two improved air bag retention systems. Each improved air bag retention system includes an air bag, an air bag bracket and a base bracket. The front pan is formed from a single piece of material, which includes a base member, a first side member and a second side member.
US08267456B2
A compact seating arrangement for a vehicle, the seating arrangement comprising three seats: a front driver's seat arranged centrally and, at least to some extent, forward of two transversely aligned rear passenger seats, wherein the driver's seat extends transversely so as to be positioned in front of part of each of the rear passengers' seats, the extent of the overlap in the transverse position of the driver's seat and the rear passenger seats being such that each side of the driver's seat is required to be shaped so as to be able to accommodate at least part of a leg of a passenger seated in a forward facing position in a respective one of the passenger seats.
US08267455B1
An expandable trailer having a lower body portion having a first floor, a front wall, a back wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The trailer also has an upper body portion that is disposed over the lower body portion. The body portion has an upper segment and a lower segment that is connected to the lower body portion. The upper segment has a front wall, a back wall, a pair of opposite side walls, and a roof. The upper segment is movable relative to the lower segment such that the upper segment has a raised and lowered position relative to the lower body portion. The trailer may contain multiple floors defining separate living areas. The trailer may also have expandable rooms in the lower body portion which are slidingly retained within the lower body portion and provide additional room within the lower body portion.
US08267447B2
In an example embodiment, a lifting hook assembly comprises an elongated body, an adjustable arm, a joint assembly, and a lifting arm. The elongated body acts as a frame and skeleton for the lifting hook assembly. The adjustable arm is in communication with a first end of the elongated body, and is engageable to the lifting apparatus. The joint assembly is adapted to fix the adjustable arm at two or more predetermined angles with respect to the elongated body. The adjustability of the joint assembly can enable the adjustable arm to engage the lifting apparatus directly above the center of mass of the wheel weight, thereby balancing the wheel weight. The lifting arm extends from a second end of the elongated body, and is engageable to the wheel weight.
US08267446B2
This assembly includes a plastics material structural frame (2) including at least a lower cross member (8) and vertical struts (10, 12), each of said struts (10, 12) forming, over at least a portion of its height, a deformable energy absorption component (14), the module further including a plastics material shield (4) formed so as to match the shape of a shield skin (56) and arranged against the structural frame (2), said shield (4) including an upper cross member (34) and a lower cross member (36) interconnected via vertical connecting beams (38). The upper (34) and lower (36) cross members and the connecting beams (38) include a plurality of ribs (48) which form cells (50) in the cross members (34, 36) and the beams (38), at least some of said cells (50) passing through the shield (4).
US08267445B1
An energy-absorbing front end structure for a motor vehicle includes a pair of frame rails, struts (crushable members) made movable relative to the frame rails along a longitudinal axis, a bumper beam supported by the struts, and a spring resisting rearward movement of each strut relative to the frame rail. An inertia-activated locking device inhibits rearward movement of the strut when the vehicle undergoes a longitudinal deceleration above a threshold level so that the strut may absorb crash energy in a high-speed collision. If the vehicle is involved in a lower energy collision, such as with a pedestrian, the deceleration experienced by the vehicle is below the threshold level and the strut remains in an unlocked condition in which it is able to move rearward against the spring to lessen the crash energy transmitted to the pedestrian.
US08267429B2
A positioning pin and a bolt hole positioned near this pin are provided at a plate-shaped rear-portion attachment face portion of a suspension cross member. A positioning hole having the positioning pin inserted thereinto and a bolt hole positioned near this positioning hole are provided at a tunnel frame on the side of a vehicle. The rear-portion attachment face portion and the tunnel frame are fastened by a bolt inserting into the bolt holes together with a nut. Accordingly, the support rigidity of the suspension cross member during the normal vehicle traveling can be secured and the smooth retreat of the power unit to restrain the collision load from having bad influence on passengers in the vehicle frontal collision can be achieved.
US08267427B2
At the time of a frontal collision of a vehicle, even in a case in which knee regions of an occupant are in a state of being close to a housing of a knee airbag, the knee regions can be appropriately restrained with the knee airbag. When knee airbag 14 receives a supply of gas and expands and deploys towards the occupant side in the front passenger seat, expansion and deployment of a central region 14A of knee airbag 14 is suppressed by a flap 16 (a deployment control cloth), and end portion regions 14B expand and deploy before central portion 14A. Since these end portion regions 14B respectively expand and deploy from between the knee regions of an occupant and glove box door 24 towards the outer sides of the knee regions, a reaction force of knee airbag 14 with respect to the knee regions can be weakened.
US08267425B2
An air bag system for a vehicle including an air bag in a folded state and installed in a vehicle. The air bag is inflated and expanded by gas from an inflator, which introduces gas into the air bag. A vent hole is formed in at least one base fabric piece of the air bag so as to establish a communication path between an inside and an outside of the air bag through which gas may be discharged from the inside toward the outside of the air bag. A blocking member is supported on the base fabric piece to block up the vent hole. A guide portion is provided to slidably support the blocking member and to restrict the position of the blocking member relative to the vent hole. A sliding resistance increasing portion is provided on at least either one of the guide portion and the blocking member, so as to increase a sliding resistance between the guide portion and the blocking member when the blocking member slides.
US08267423B2
A side airbag extends along a side of an interior roof of a vehicle and is configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The airbag includes an inboard panel, an outboard panel, and one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel. The at least one or more seams include first seam portions and second seam portions. The first seam portions are subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates. The first seam portions are reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.
US08267420B2
A hitch system includes a handle portion including a handle loop, a pin portion extending from the handle portion, a pair of opposite retainers and a trigger. The retainers are movable between a retracted position relative to the pin portion and an extended position relative to the pin portion. The trigger is coupled to the retainers to actuate the retainers between the retracted position and the extended position.
US08267415B2
A suspension arm may include first and second metal housings, a metal connecting portion including first and second panels, wherein the metal connecting portion connects the first and second metal housings at distal ends thereof respectively, and wherein a burred first panel connecting portion and a burred second panel connecting portion are formed respectively to the first and second panels, and a reinforcement member wrapping the first and second metal housings and the metal connecting portion, wherein the first panel and the second panel are connected by inserting the burred second panel connecting portion into the burred first panel connecting portion.
US08267414B2
A suspension assembly structured to facilitate a selective variance in a height of a vehicle including at least one suspension arm having a suspension joint structured to vary the height of the vehicle dependent on the operative orientation of the suspension arm and suspension joint when connected to the vehicle. The suspension joint includes two bushing members each formed of a resilient material and two retaining assemblies, wherein each retaining assembly is disposed in retaining relation to a different one of the two bushing members on opposite sides of one end of the suspension arm. Either each of the bushing members or each of the two retaining assemblies includes a first section and a second section being of different, predetermined thicknesses. While the suspension arm and suspension joint may be produced as equipment of original manufacture, a conventional suspension arm may be repaired or retrofit by replacing its original suspension joint with a modified suspension joint.
US08267398B2
To provide a medium storing and advancing apparatus which orderly piles up bills even when not flat. The medium storing and advancing apparatus includes a tongue piece roller having tongue pieces having the length thereof predetermined. While the tongue piece roller is rotated to slap the rear end of a bill with the tongue pieces to orient the latter downward, the front end of a following bill is superimposed on the downward-oriented rear end of the preceding bill.
US08267393B1
A removable media input tray assembly comprising a housing for receiving a removable media input tray. One or more housing assemblies stackable beneath an image forming device. The assembly having a substantially continuous media reference surface extending the height of a media feed path formed by two vertically aligned plates, one plate mounted on the removable media input tray and the other mounted on the housing and extending into the removable media input tray when installed in the housing, the arrangement of plates minimizing any gaps in the media reference surface within the assembly and adjacent assemblies and the image forming device.
US08267386B2
A pneumatically actuated area vacuum gripper for gripping and, if necessary, separating workpieces is provided by the present disclosure. In particular, the vacuum gripper is used with thin, flexible workpieces, and has a suction chamber, which has a suction wall with perforations, to be placed on the workpiece. An ejector nozzle has a connection and an outlet, the ejection nozzle being connected to the suction chamber via its connection, and the outlet of the ejector nozzle opening to the outside or into an exhaust air duct, and the suction inlet of the ejector nozzle empties into the suction chamber, whereby the direction of the air stream in the connection coming from the suction chamber corresponds to the direction of the main air conveyance in the ejector nozzle.
US08267384B2
An annular seal device includes a mandrel, at least one cone axially moveable on the mandrel, at least one sealing element having a frustoconical outer surface and a frustoconical inner surface, at least one contact feature at the at least one cone and operably engageable with the at least one sealing element, and at least one of a blocking element and a resilient member at the mandrel, the at least one of a blocking element and a resilient member supporting a blocking surface in opposition to the at least one contact feature. The resilient member itself includes a tubular body having spring rings at axial ends thereof, and a plurality of beams extending spirally from one axial end to the other axial end.
US08267371B1
An impulse tolerant valve body has at least one internal variable-volume space capable of elastic longitudinal compression and rebound. Each such space is filled with incompressible fluid and has fluid communication with at least one internal surge chamber. A closing energy impulse due to valve closing causes elastic longitudinal compression of at least one variable-volume space, with consequent flow of incompressible fluid to at least one surge chamber via at least one fluid flow restrictor. During subsequent elastic rebound, incompressible fluid flows from at least one surge chamber to at least one variable-volume space, again via at least one fluid flow restrictor. A portion of valve closing impulse energy is thus redistributed as heat generated due to fluid friction losses and valve body hysteresis loss. Valve closing energy impulse amplitude is thereby reduced, impulse duration is increased, vibration spectrum is narrowed and induced resonance vibrations are damped.
US08267365B2
An apparatus for securing a measuring or display unit on an object. Included is elongated guide element, on which an orientation aid and a holder for the measuring unit or for the display unit are arranged shiftably in the longitudinal direction of the guide element, wherein the orientation aid and the holder are so positionable relative to one another, that the object is held clamped between the orientation aid and the holder or a mounted sensor, and wherein a resilient tensioning apparatus is provided, with which the measuring or display unit is pressable with a defined clamping force onto the object.
US08267364B2
A clamp, detachably attachable to the upper edge of a vehicular window, supports one end of a swiveling arm. The other end of the arm rotatably supports a conventional platform for a spotting telescope, a telescope, or camera or other device. A handle extends from the platform for selective rotation of the supported device about the vertical and the horizontal axis. Thereby, the supported devise may be repositioned into or out of a vehicle and rotated about the vertical and horizontal axis to be aligned with the subject of interest.
US08267359B2
An adjustable tilt solar panel support system including a support post, a pivot bracket attached to the support post in a generally upright orientation and having a pivot pin hole for accommodating a pivot pin, and further having at least one adjustment opening; a rotational support cradle having a pivot pin hole in alignment with the pivot pin hole of the pivot bracket, such that the support cradle is pivotally attached to the pivot bracket, the support cradle further including at least one adjustment opening which aligns with the adjustment opening of the pivot bracket. An adjustment pin is selectively inserted into and through the adjustment openings of the support cradle and pivot bracket to secure the support cradle at a selected angle, and wherein the removal of the adjustment pin permits the rotational support cradle to pivot on the pivot bracket about the pivot pin. Beam holders for securing support beams are disposed atop the rotational support cradle.
US08267351B2
The present invention provides an aircraft landing bay door mechanism that includes the use of a roller slot mechanism for opening and closing the landing bay door.
US08267340B2
The airflow pulverization and classification device includes a pulverizer and a classifier. The pulverizer includes a pulverization chamber including a collision member; a jet nozzle directing jet flow toward the pulverization chamber; a feeder feeding a particulate material; a supply nozzle having an acceleration tube connected with the jet nozzle and the pulverization chamber, and a supply tube connected with the feeder and the acceleration tube to supply the particulate material the acceleration tube so that the particulate material is collided with the collision member; and a pressure gauge measuring a static pressure in the feeder and/or the supply tube, and/or a static pressure at the junction of the acceleration tube and the supply tube to control the supply conditions of the particulate material supplied to the acceleration tube on the basis of the measured static pressure.
US08267338B2
Safety inlet apparatus for a shredder paper feed opening includes upper cover, safety cover, paper feed passage block, and elastic member. A safety cover end section covers the shredder paper feed opening, and rotatably couples to the upper cover. Paper feed passage block is positioned between shredder paper feed opening and elastic member, and the safety cover pivots to the upper cover. Paper feed passage block is slidably arranged on the upper cover near shredder paper feed opening, connecting to the safety cover second end section. Elastic member ends respectively connect to the upper cover inner wall and the paper feed passage block. Paper feed passage block may be fixed to, or integrated with, the second end section, or may limit a stud on the second end section.
US08267336B2
In a method and a system for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, in particular from vehicle body shells, shredder residues are separated into a shredder light fraction and a non-ferromagnetic fraction. The method and system provide for a raw-granulate fraction being produced during the sorting of the shredder light fraction and the shredder heavy fraction in preliminary processes and a main process, by separating out at least one ferromagnetic fraction, a nonferrous-metal fraction, a fiber fraction, and a sand fraction, and the raw-granulate fraction being split up in a refining process.
US08267323B2
A printer having a head and a handle are disclosed. In one embodiment, the handle has a convex side and a concave side. In another embodiment, the head is pivotable relative to the handle.
US08267318B2
The inventive concept relates to a product authentication and identification device using a liquid barcode formed by liquid bars stored in liquid chambers. For example, according to the inventive concept liquid barcodes and a liquid barcode reader for reading liquid barcodes used for product authentication and identification of thin-film chemical analyzers such as a lab-on-a-disc and a bio disc in which bio chips such as a lab-on-a-chip, a protein chip, and a DNA chip for diagnosing and detecting a small amount of material in a fluid are integrated, a credit card, or other products can be provided.
US08267317B1
A fuel management system for use by operators of temporary and/or permanent inventories of vehicles such as vehicle dealerships. Fuel vouchers are issued by authorized issuing personnel to authorized recipients if a validation procedure is passed using a database incorporating employee and vehicle inventory information. At the time of delivery, the fueling station will verify the vehicle and individual presenting the voucher. If verification occurs, the authorized quantity of fuel is dispensed. The voucher and sales receipt are returned to the dealership for future auditing and report generation. The system stores information to enable reports to be generated concerning fuel voucher issuance, actual fuel usage and to detect fraud or misuse, allowing more effective fuel expense management. In the event a report generates a fraud alert, appropriate management personnel are immediately notified by email, text messaging or other means.
US08267315B1
In one embodiment, credits earned by an end-user from previous interactions between the end-user and an entity can be stored. The storing of credits can alter one or more records of a credit account. The credit account is owned or controlled by the entity. A quantity of the credits of the credit account is identified. This quantity is applied to a purchase in accordance with a credit to funds ratio. Applying the quantity of the credits reduces a number of credits in the credit account as indicated by the records. Funds are transferred to a funds account based on the quantity of stored credits applied to the purchase and the credit to funds ratio. The fund account is not owned or controlled by the entity.
US08267310B2
In a method and apparatus for handling a package in an automated dispensary, a package is positioned in an inspection station of the dispensary. Images are captured of the package and are read to identify data on labels or on the package itself. The data is encoded as source data in an identifying label which is applied to the package and is used subsequently in handling the package for dispensing and other inventory management procedures.
US08267306B2
The present invention relates generally to a system and method to guarantee that a personal choice corresponds with an electronic encoding of this choice and, more particularly, to a system and method for its production, and allows the verification to a human that his or her choice has been taken into account which is easily auditable.
US08267305B2
A carrier handle for insertion into a plant tray or pot includes highly flexible locking tabs at opposite ends. Each of the opposed ends includes a generally triangular tab which deflects for ease of insertion into an aperture in a tray or pot. The handle includes a center section with inwardly projecting concave indentations for defining a handhold centered for balancing the item being carried.
US08267285B2
Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect, a pump is provided having an actuator with a nozzle and a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a valve seat is located along a pump's internal fluid passage with deflectable spring arms extending therefrom that are-deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element. In a third aspect, a compliant shut-off valve feature is provided, wherein, a first end of a tubular piston is deflectable in response to interferingly engaging the head of the poppet. In a fourth aspect, a pump includes a pump inlet, and a reservoir having a first portion and a second well portion in open fluid communication. Fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump.
US08267284B2
A two-stroke foam pump includes a piston housing and a piston assembly retained therein, the interaction of the piston housing and piston assembly defining a compressible mixing chamber. Movement of the piston assembly within the piston housing in one direction increases the volume of the compressible mixing chamber to draw liquid and air therein, and movement of the piston assembly within the piston housing in a direct opposite thereto decreases the volume of the compressible mixing chamber to expel liquid and air from the compressible mixing chamber as a foam product.
US08267283B2
In one embodiment, a personal hydration system includes a fluid reservoir having first and second spaced apart apertures. A first port is coupled to the first aperture, and a second port is coupled to the second aperture. A flexible tube has a first end that is coupled to the second port for communication with an interior of the fluid reservoir. The personal hydration system further includes a handle having a first end coupled to the first port, and a second end coupled to the second port. A channel near the second end of the handle extends over at least a portion of the first end of the tube and thereby captures the first end of the tube between the channel and the fluid reservoir.
US08267268B2
In a high-pressure gas tank for motor vehicles and a method for filling a high-pressure gas tank which has an interior space for holding gas and a filling region with an inflow opening which leads to the interior space, the filling region is formed so as to direct a gas jet which enters through the inflow opening at an angle φ upwardly with respect to a central horizontal longitudinal axis of the interior space toward a top wall of the tank where the gas jet is deflected toward the end of the tank opposite the filling region.
US08267259B2
A cup-shaped receptacle designed to engage the neck of a bottle and rigidly support it in a near horizontal position. The receptacle can be incorporated into many common building materials, so an array of the receptacles permits an attractive display of bottles. Bottles are held in place through the force of gravity and by resilient rings or gaskets disposed in the interior of the receptacle that limit vertical and horizontal migration of bottles. The rings also protect foil caps from damage.
US08267257B2
A rack for an appliance is provided. The rack includes a main support platform having a first support frame, an auxiliary support platform having a second support frame, and a plurality of elongated support members attached to the second support frame to form an auxiliary support surface. The auxiliary support platform is rotatable relative to the main support platform. In one example, the auxiliary support platform is rotatably connected to the main support platform. In addition or alternatively, a rotational drive member is operatively attached to the main support platform and operatively attached to the auxiliary support platform for causing rotational movement of the auxiliary support platform relative to the main support platform. Further, an appliance is provided including a main body having an interior cavity bounded by at least one wall section, and the main support platform is configured to be supported within the interior cavity.
US08267256B2
A device (1) for sorting a harvested stream of fruit in bunches is mounted in a harvesting machine. The sorting device includes at least two transverse sorter bars (3) driven with a cyclic relative movement, the cyclic relative movement enabling longitudinal displacement of the stream over the bars, while opening passages (4) between them. The passages allow detached berries to drop under the sorting device.
US08267250B2
The present invention refers to a multi-layered package, and particularly to a container including a container opening and a container bottom. Preferably, at least one outer wall includes a predetermined removable wall section, revealing an information. The feature of the package according to the present invention is that the package is formed with at least one inner wall and one outer wall. The outer wall includes a removable card that is part of the outer wall.
US08267246B2
A system for organizing, protecting, sterilizing, storing and delivery of surgical instruments, implants and related devices. Post and button fasteners are removably mounted to a tray and hold rigid and flexible bracketry for securing devices within the assembly. Silicone holders are mounted to upstanding pegs secured to the tray wall by nuts limiting movement of the holders relative to the tray wall.
US08267243B2
A postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station (8) with an unstacker device (2), a manual feed station (9), and a sorting conveyor adapted to move mailpieces in series one behind another in a conveying direction (31), the automatic feed station being designed to feed the conveyor automatically with mailpieces from a stack of mailpieces, the manual feed station (9) being adapted to receive mailpieces inserted individually and to place them in the conveyor. The manual feed station (9) comprises a protective cover forming a sort of tunnel over the conveyor, and an insertion slot (26) provided in the protective cover and through which a mailpiece can be inserted into the tunnel, said slot being in vertical alignment with a mailpiece receiving and handling space (34) for receiving and handling a mailpiece in the conveyor, which space is funnel-shaped.
US08267242B2
Disclosed is a large seamless belt which is prevented from being curled in a width direction of the belt.
US08267239B2
A conveyor belt cleaner scraper blade for cleaning the surface of a conveyor belt and a method of manufacture of the scraper blade. The scraper blade includes a body having a base member adapted to be attached to a cross shaft of a conveyor belt cleaner and a scraping member which extends outwardly from the base member to a scraping tip. The scraper blade includes one or more electrical sensors that are embedded in an insert member. The insert member and the sensors are molded and embedded within the body of the scraper blade. Each of the sensors is adapted to provide an electrical output signal representing a physical condition of the scraper blade sensed by the sensor. A variety of sensor embodiments are described, as well as two embodiments of control and monitoring systems for use in conjunction with the various blade and sensor combinations.
US08267237B2
An electromagnetic clutch includes an electromagnetic coil positioned within a coil housing. A pulley rotates relative to the housing and the coil. A shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. A hub plate is fixed for rotation with the shaft. A floating element is positioned between the pulley and the hub plate. An elastomeric ring is mounted between the pulley and the floating element and provides a driving connection therebetween. The elastomeric ring is sized to urge the floating element into frictional driving engagement with the hub plate and is compressible during energization of the coil to decouple the floating element from the hub plate.
US08267236B2
An electromagnetic clutch comprises a rotor rotatable with respect to the center of rotation, an armature facing the rotor with a clearance, a device for generating a magnetic attracting force between the rotor and the armature, a rotating member transmitting a driving force from the armature, and a plate spring for mounting the armature on the rotating member. The plate spring extends in a direction opposite to the center of rotation and has a first end separated from the center of rotation. The first end or a portion in the vicinity of the first end contacts an armature surface facing the rotor, and the plate spring is fixed to the rotating member at a portion other than the portion contacting the armature surface. The armature is supported such that the armature is urged to be separated in a direction opposite to the rotor by an elasticity of the plate spring.
US08267232B2
A clutch arrangement (10) for a motor vehicle transmission (80) is proposed for connecting a shaft (12) to a rotational element (14), in particular to a freely moving wheel (14), which is mounted thereon, wherein the clutch arrangement (10) has: a sliding sleeve (22) which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to the shaft (12) and is mounted in an axially displaceable fashion on the shaft (12) between a closed position and an open position and has a first sliding toothing (24); a clutch element (26) which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to the rotational element (14) and has a second sliding toothing (28) into which the first sliding toothing (24) can be inserted axially in the closing direction (30) in order to connect the rotational element (14) to the shaft (12) in the closed position; and an actuator arrangement (40) for axially sliding the sliding sleeve (22). In this context, the actuator arrangement (40) has an electromagnet arrangement (46) which can be actuated in order to slide the sliding sleeve (22) axially (FIG. 1).
US08267229B2
A brake shoe without a metal backing has a metal insert comprising two spaced apart bodies, a connecting portion having a back face adjacent to the back surface of the brake shoe, and two generally parallel radially extending flanges integral with the connecting portion. The parallel extensions define a keyway, wherein when the brake shoe is emplaced on the brake head, the keyway extends through an opening provided in the brake head.
US08267226B2
A method and apparatus for retarding rotation of at least one wheel, the apparatus including at least one braking member, a latch member secured to the braking member and movable between a first position and a second position, and a latch actuating member arranged to determine the position in which the latch member is positioned. The braking member is movable into a braking position in which rotation of the at least one wheel is retarded when the latch member is in the second position.
US08267224B2
The elevator car is arranged movably along guideways and in the special operating mode is decelerated to a standstill and kept at a standstill by a braking device, by a braking force brought about by the braking device together with a brakeway. A required deceleration to bring the elevator car to a standstill within a next-possible exit zone in the special operating mode is calculated, furthermore a stopping of the elevator car is detected if a sudden change in the braking force or the acceleration is established and the braking force of the braking device is set to a holding force when the stopping is established. The special operating mode results in the elevator car coming to a stop directly in the region of an exit zone in a special operating mode and passengers in the car being able to leave the elevator car independently.
US08267216B2
A cam lift and reset assembly includes a cam mounted on a rotatable shaft having a cam profile effective to provide a lifting force to a contacted part thereon upon rotation of the shaft and movement of the cam profile of the cam relative to the contacted part from a rest position to a lift position. The assembly also includes an active material in operative communication with the shaft, the active material being operative to change at least one property of the active material in response to an activation signal so as to effect rotation of the shaft. The assembly further includes a reset device in operative communication with the shaft to provide a reset force to the contacted part and counter-rotation of the shaft and movement of the cam profile of the cam relative to the contacted part from the lift position to the rest position.
US08267211B2
Disclosed is a tractor-trailer including a tractor having a lower tractor duct that receives first air from a front of the tractor and channels the first air through a center area of the tractor and down between a set of rear wheels, a trailer having a lower trailer duct positioned below a cargo space and that channels the first air in the lower trailer duct between each set of trailer rear wheels and a lower articulation duct positioned near the set of rear wheels in the tractor that receives air from the lower tractor duct and communicates air to the lower trailer duct. An upper duct is also provided with an articulation duct that channels air through a ductwork at the top of the trailer and tractor. A louver system at the rear of the trailer enables the air in each duct to be channeled and pulled out of the respective duct in such a manner as to reduce drag and eddy currents using the vacuum at the rear of the trailer.
US08267205B2
A riding work vehicle includes right and left wheels, at least one caster wheel, and a working machine. The lawnmower vehicle further includes traveling motor, steering motor, a traveling system clutch, and a steering system clutch. The traveling system clutch is configured to disable transmission of the rotational force from an axle of the caster wheel to the traveling motor in a state where the traveling motor is deactivated. The steering system clutch is configured to disable transmission of the rotational force from a steering shaft for the caster wheel to the steering motor in a state where the steering motor is deactivated.
US08267203B2
Earth-boring drill bits include a bit body, an erosion-resistant extension, and a shank. The erosion-resistant extension includes a generally tubular body, and an erosion-resistant material lining the generally tubular body within a fluid passageway. The erosion-resistant material lining the generally tubular body within the fluid passageway exhibits an erosion resistance greater than an erosion resistance exhibited by a material of the generally tubular body. Methods of forming an erosion-resistant extension include lining at least a portion of a wall of a generally tubular body within a fluid passageway extending through the generally tubular body with an erosion-resistant material.
US08267194B2
A rotation device (12) for rotation of equipment (13) fastened at the region of a distal end of a boom (9,11), which has a general longitudinal axis, and which is part of a boom device (3) which is fastenable to a carrier (2) for a mining or constructions work rig, wherein the rotation device includes a first rotation unit (R1) arranged to rotate the equipment around an axis (A1) which is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom and a second rotation unit (R2) which is arranged to rotate the equipment around an axis (A2), which forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the boom. The rotation units (R1, R2) are fastened to an angle unit (12′), which is included in the rotation device (12) and has rotational axes (A1, 21; A2,22) extending at an angle with respect to each other, and are connectable to the boom (9,11) as well as to said equipment (13). The invention also concerns a mining or constructions work rig and a boom.
US08267191B2
In an upper surface of a crank housing is provided an inlet for grease which is configured to be openable and closable by a cap. A vibration damping mechanism, which includes a counterweight provided with a connecting pin loosely fitted in a connecting hole of an eccentric pin when the cap is attached, is mounted in the cap, whereby the vibration damping mechanism is allowed to be taken in and out of the crank housing through the inlet by attachment and detachment of the cap to and from the inlet.
US08267187B2
A simplified spike tooth harrow includes an apertured bracket pivotally connected to the fore-and-aft connecting strap extending between the tine bars. The bracket adjustably supports a tine bar from the strap. A pin selectively secured in one of the apertures contacts the strap to set the working angle of the tines on the bar when the harrow is operated in the field. A chain or link connected to the bracket at a location offset from the bracket pivot suspends the harrow from an upper drawbar assembly which is movable vertically between field-working and transport positions. When the drawbar assembly is raised to the transport position so the harrow is out of ground contact, the bracket pivots so the pin is offset from the strap and can be easily and quickly removed from the aperture and reinserted in a different aperture to change the tine angle.
US08267186B2
A folding tool bar apparatus for an implement such as a rake, the toolbar having a frame with ground engaging wheels. The folding tool bar apparatus is adapted to be operatively attached to a prime mover for towing from place to place. First and second tool bars are pivotally attached to linkage members. A tongue member that sides along its longitudinal axis with respect to the frame pulls front ends of the tool bars toward the tongue member during movement to the transport position thereof and away from the tongue member during movement towards the working position thereof. The rear end of the tongue member is behind the frame in the working position thereof, making the folding tool bar apparatus shorter than conventional folding tool bars in the working position thereof.
US08267184B2
A method of radially expanding a tubular element extending into a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein the bending occurs in a bending zone of the tubular element. The bending zone is induced to move in an axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section to increase the length of the expanded tubular section. An annular space is formed between the expanded tubular section and the remaining tubular section, wherein the method further comprises arranging a seal element in the annular space to define an upper portion and a lower portion of the annular space, the upper and lower portions being sealed from each other by the seal element.
US08267183B1
The current invention relates to an improved gripper for use within a coiled tubing injector unit. The improved gripper comprises a carrier for securing the gripper to the chain drive mechanism of the coiled tubing injector unit and a gripping shoe carried by the carrier. The improved gripper provides a carrier and a gripping shoe designed to permit quick and easy removal and replacement of the gripping shoe in the field during operation of the coiled tubing injector unit.
US08267182B2
A method and apparatus are provided for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The pipe-holding spider that is normally mounted on the rig floor is adapted for easy disassembly and reassembly when the pipe slips within the spider are not engaged with the outer surface of the pipe string so that upon disassembly, a control line guide becomes vertically movable. The control line guide is adapted for being controllably elevated to a distance above the rig floor, thereby providing personnel access to a portion of the length of the pipe string below the elevated control line guide and above the rig floor for securing control line to the pipe string using a fastener.
US08267181B2
Apparatus and methods for performing downhole operations. The apparatus can include a sealing mechanism having an inner bore formed therethrough; a check valve adjacent the sealing mechanism; a circulation device adjacent the check valve; and a rotatable nozzle adjacent the circulation device. The circulation device can include a first tubular member having a radial hole formed therethrough, and a second tubular member disposed about at least a portion of the first tubular member. The second tubular member can also have a radial hole formed therethrough, and the second tubular member can be adapted to longitudinally move about the first tubular member from a first position to a second position.
US08267178B1
A valve for use in fracing through cement casing in a well allows for flow of cement down the well during the cementing process and in the open position allows for fracing fluid to be directed through the cement casing for fracturing the formation adjacent the valve. The valve is constructed so as to reduce the likelihood of the valve to jam as a result of cement or other foreign material.
US08267171B2
An apparatus and method are provided for monitoring and controlling a power system of an electrical submersible pump assembly. A sensor monitors an alternating current component of a downhole electrical imbalance voltage at a neutral point of a motor of the electrical submersible pump assembly. The sensor measurement is transmitted to a controller at the surface. The controller analyzes the alternating current component of the downhole electrical imbalance voltage and then adjusting an operation of the electrical submersible pump assembly, or scheduling maintenance, accordingly. Also, a model of a power system of an electrical submersible pump assembly is created to predict an alternating current component of a downhole electrical imbalance voltage. The model is modified as necessary responsive to measurements from the sensor. A controller adjusts surface currents according to the model of the power system to match downhole motor drive currents to thereby optimize the power system.
US08267164B2
A system and method for energy recovery and humidity control comprises an enclosure (12) with a plurality of ports (86,90,92,94,86) connected to a plurality of ducts (14,16,18,20,22) The system has an enthalpy exchange core (136) exchanging heat and humidity between first air stream (35) and a second air stream (37), and a heat exchange sub-core (134) exchanging heat between the first air stream (35) and a third air stream (39), and fans (34,38,36) for circulating the first air stream (35), the second air stream (37) and the third air stream (39) respectively, and a controller (40) for controlling the fans (34,36,38) and regulating the flows of the first air stream (35), the second air stream (37) and the third air stream (39).
US08267163B2
A tube for a heat exchanger is disclosed, the tube including a plurality of protuberances formed on an inner surface of the tube. The protuberances are arranged in a pattern that maintains a substantially constant cross sectional hydraulic area along a length of the tube.
US08267154B2
The invention concerns a roller and a roller arrangement for a continuous casting installation comprising two bearing blocks and the roller carried by the bearing blocks, wherein the roller has a rotationally symmetrical roller casing and wherein the roller bearing is arranged within the roller casing.
US08267152B2
In a twin-roll continuous caster configured to cast molten steel supplied to a molten metal pool between cooling rolls into a cast piece by, for example, cooling and solidifying the molten steel on the surfaces of the cooling rolls, the pair of cooling rolls each have ridges on the surface thereof, and cast-piece edges and a cast-piece central portion are generated. Specifically, the cast-piece edges are generated by pressing and bonding lateral edges of one of solidified shells to lateral edges of the other solidified shells, the lateral edges of the solidified shells being produced by cooling and solidifying the molten metal on surfaces of collars provided at lateral end portions of the cooling rolls. The cast-piece central portion contains the unsolidified molten steel between the solidified shells and is generated by cooling and solidifying the molten steel on the surfaces of the laterally central portions of the cooling rolls.
US08267145B2
A tilter system for a window blind permits the slats of the blind to be tilted open or closed in a number of different configurations, including a double pitch configuration, depending on the routing of tilt cables or actuator cords.
US08267133B2
Lateral grooves 6 are disposed in a land portion 4 between main grooves 2 at prescribed intervals in a circumferential direction TC of the tire, the lateral grooves 6 extending from the main grooves 6 to a circumferential groove 5. Blocks 7 are defined by the main grooves 2, circumferential groove 5 and lateral grooves 6. At least two sub-grooves 8 are disposed in each block 7 at a prescribed interval in the tire circumferential direction TC, the sub-grooves 8 extending from a main groove 2 adjacent thereto in a width direction of the tire. At least three block portions 7A, 7B and 7C are formed. The width of the main groove 2 adjacent to the block 7 is varied by making the block widths Wa, Wb and Wc of the block portions 7A, 7B and 7C different from each other. A groove wall surface, facing the main groove, of a block portion less in width has a greater inclination angle with respect to a tread normal direction. This allows for provision of a pneumatic tire capable of improving steering stability on a dry road surface and on a snow road surface.
US08267130B1
A fashion forward organizing handbag includes a first set of padded pockets, a center pocket and a second set of padded pockets. The center pocket includes a first and second center walls. A plurality of credit card slits are formed in one of the first and second center walls to retain a plurality of cards. A plurality of lengthwise pockets are formed in the other one of said first and second center walls. Each set of padded pockets preferably includes a first padded wall and a second padded wall. The first padded wall has a shorter height than the second padded wall. The second padded wall is attached to one of a first inner padded wall or a second inner padded wall to form a plurality of second padded pockets. The first padded wall is attached to the second padded wall to form a plurality of second padded pockets.
US08267129B2
Some methods and related apparatus for manipulating a fluid conduit for insertion into a substantially re-sealable membrane include determining an orientation and position of a fluid conduit relative to the membrane. In an illustrative example, a syringe needle having a beveled leading edge may be manipulated by an automated device to be oriented and aligned with an aperture made upon a previous insertion of a needle into a membrane. In some examples, a predetermined number of insertions may be made in the same aperture by aligning and orienting one or more needles with the aperture. In some examples, multiple needle insertions may be controlled to produce apertures that are substantially spaced apart. Such procedures may, for example, advantageously extend the integrity of the membrane against leakage and/or contamination.
US08267125B2
A papermaking forming fabric includes a series of repeat units, wherein each repeat units includes: a set of top machine direction (MD) yarns; a set of top cross-machine direction (CMD) yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns to form a top fabric layer; a set of bottom MD yarns; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns to form a bottom fabric layer; and a set of stitching yarns interwoven with the top and bottom fabric layers. The bottom MD yarns and bottom CMD are woven such that floats formed by the bottom CMD yarns under the bottom MD yarns are at least 1.8 mm in length. A first ratio of top MD yarn coverage area to bottom MD yarn coverage area is less than 0.5, and a second ratio of bottom CMD yarn cross-sectional area to bottom MD yarn cross-sectional area is greater than 2.0.
US08267124B2
A pipeline isolation plug for location in a section of pipe has two seal modules coupled together by a ball joint. The first module has a mandrel defining a pressure head which, in use, is exposed to the pipeline pressure. A seal element is mounted behind the pressure head and is radially extendable to engage a pipe inner wall. The second module has a mandrel defining a pressure head which, in use, is exposed to the fluid pressure between the first and second modules. Two axially spaced seal elements are mounted on the mandrel behind the pressure head and are radially extendable to engage the pipe inner wall.
US08267120B2
A control valve assembly is provided for a load carrying vehicle that includes a storage space and a dumping mechanism. The control valve assembly includes a housing and a sliding valve positioned within the housing and movable between a first position, and a second position. The sliding valve includes a first piston that defines a first piston first surface and a first piston second surface, and a second piston that defines a second piston first surface and a second piston second surface. The first piston second surface faces the second piston first surface. A pilot system includes a first pilot passage in fluid communication with the first piston second surface to selectively actuate the sliding valve toward the first position, and a second pilot passage in fluid communication with the second piston first surface to selectively actuate the sliding valve toward the second position.
US08267119B2
The invention relates to a valve for controlling volumetric flows in a heating and/or cooling system of a motor vehicle, comprising a valve housing (10), from which at least one inlet channel (18) and at least one outlet channel (20, 22) branch, in addition to at least one disc-type valve body (28) for controlling the flow, said body being located in the valve housing so that it can rotate about the axis (31) of a driven shaft (30). According to the invention, the valve body (28) is operatively connected to an electromotive drive (24) by means of a gear system (64). The invention also relates to a heating and/or cooling system (110) of a motor vehicle, comprising a valve (131) of this type.
US08267116B2
A backflow and strainer device is presented. The device is a unitary unit that prevents backflow of fluid gas in a compressor and prevents dirt particles and debris from entering the compressor, thereby damaging the components. A valve mechanism moves between an open position and a closed position to either allow or prevent fluid gas from flowing into the compressor. A mesh portion is disposed in the device to trap all dirt particles and debris to prevent them from entering the compressor. The valve mechanism responds to the higher and lower pressures associated with the operation and shutdown of compressors.
US08267113B2
Safety valve for the venting circuit of a liquid tank Safety valve for the venting circuit of a liquid tank, comprising: a) a chamber (1) provided with a cover (2), which extends at least partly into the tank and is connected via an aperture (4) to the venting circuit; b) a float (7), which can slide vertically inside the chamber (1) and close off the venting aperture (4) in a high position; and c) a moveable wall (3), which divides the chamber (1) into a lower portion (1′) in which the float (7) slides and an upper portion (1″) which connects with the venting circuit, this wall (3) being a moveable wall and having the venting aperture (4), said valve further including an aperture stop (13) integral either with the moveable wall (3) or with the cover (2).
US08267110B2
A gas pressure regulator comprises a main body having a first, gas inlet pipe and a second, gas outlet pipe, a calibrated gas passage through which gas flows from the first pipe to the second pipe, a shutter housed at least partially in the main body and mobile lengthwise along a first defined line to adjust the opening of the calibrated passage, a device for actuating the shutter and a regulator spring unit opposing the movement of the shutter.
US08267108B2
A liquid metering device that dispenses liquid into an adjacent reservoir at a precise ratio relative to the total volume of the adjacent reservoir as the reservoir is filled with liquid. The hydrostatic dispensing system includes an additive reservoir, a calibrated dispensing vessel, a hydrostatic pressure chamber, and a three-way valve that passively arms and dis-arms the system. The precise dispensing of liquid by a calibrated dispensing vessel into the adjacent reservoir is accomplished entirely through the management and arrangement of hydrostatic pressure creating a liquid piston generated by the addition of liquid to the adjacent reservoir and its subsequent application to the liquid in the calibrated vertical column that displaces the calibrated volume of liquid into the reservoir at the same rate that liquid is added to the reservoir.
US08267106B2
A shelter for a motor vehicle or other movable object is moved from a fully retracted position to a fully deployed position by a combination of linear and pivotal movement. The shelter includes a frame assembly including parallel rails with pole holding subassemblies mounted on and movable along the rails. Arched poles with a collapsible canopy covering the poles are mounted on the pole holders, and linear movement of one pole holder on each rail will pull or push the poles into position because the poles are connected by the canopy. Poles on parallel rails will be moved simultaneously. Front and rear pole holders are pivoted to enclose both the front and rear of the shelter, and the entire assembly can be retracted to a generally horizontal storage position by movement of swing arms from a position aligned with the rails to a position in which the swing arms extend upright relative to the rails.
US08267100B2
Low profile wash pads, usable alone or with other like pads in a module array, are disclosed whereby one or more motor driven or motorless vehicles may be wheeled onto or across (or other object placed upon) a full drainage impervious washing platform such that substantially all spent wash liquid and removed debris are caused to flow off from the washing platform to an edge collector or gutter. Debris accumulation at the washing platform is avoided and processing of gutter-contained spent wash liquid and removed debris can occur in offset relation to and without interfering with ongoing washing on the washing platform. Several modes for processing the drainage comprising spent wash liquid and removed debris contained in the gutter are disclosed, one mode comprising automated processing using a screw conveyor.
US08267099B2
An eyelash groomer having multiple functions on a function head portion of the groomer. The number of functions depend upon the number of function head pieces. Each function head pieces is recommended to have a plurality of small bridges protruding perpendicularly from its respective bases to cage a heating element accessible to each function head piece of the function head of the eyelash groomer. The bridges also prevent the skin from directly contacting the heating element but allow the eyelashes direct contact for optimum curling. The bridges also serve as a guide for the eyelashes because the eyelashes enter at the intervals or spaces between the bridges. The heating element run horizontally beneath each function head piece. A heating mechanism heats the heating element and a protection case houses the components of the heating mechanism and serves as a handle for the eyelash groomer.
US08267095B2
A colored smoke module is disclosed that is mountable to at least a portion of a cigarette or other smoking device. The colored smoke module produces colored smoke when burned. Further, the colored smoke module is user mountable to a cigarette or other smoking device.
US08267093B2
An orthodontic assembly articulation device for causing a mandible to move relative to a maxilla includes a lower splint fitted with a lower reinforcement and an upper splint fitted with an upper reinforcement. The reinforcements are connected by a system of rods mounted with sliding capability. A ball joint couples each system of rods with a part of the reinforcements. The ball joint is interdependent with an extension oriented perpendicularly and screwed into a support element interdependent with a corresponding part of the reinforcements. The ball joint engages with the hemispherical cage of an end piece secured to each system of rods. The cage is in communication with an opening of the end piece to allow articulation of the system of rods of about 90° in a vertical plane and about 360° in a horizontal plane, while preventing any swinging of the end piece.
US08267083B1
The invention concerns a combination control for use in nasal cannula therapy, and includes a high flow, nasal cannula respiratory assistance ducted system, and a pressure relief valve having indicator structure, which typically includes a tubular body, a carrier slidable in the body, a plunger-indicator carried by the carrier, and a spring resisting carrier movement toward a cap on the body that defines an indicator window.
US08267075B2
An ignition device includes: an axially extending chamber with an opening portion to be open to a cylinder and a bottom surface facing the opening portion; an outer electrode provided around the opening portion; and a center electrode that forms the bottom surface. When a voltage is applied between the center electrode and the outer electrode, a plasma is produced in the chamber and a plasma jet is injected through the opening portion. The ignition device includes: a metal housing formed integrally with or separately from the outer electrode; an insulating member that supports the center electrode while insulating the center electrode from the housing and the outer electrode; and a screw thread formed on a periphery of the housing by which the ignition device is screwed into a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. A gasket is disposed in a side closer to the inside of the cylinder. A peripheral wall of the chamber is formed by the insulating member.
US08267074B2
A fuel system for an engine of a vehicle and a method of operating the fuel system are described. As a non-limiting example, the fuel system is controlled in response to engine operating conditions.
US08267070B2
High pressure regions (31H to 35H) and low pressure regions (31L to 34L) are created based on the exhaust gas flow at curves in an EGR pipe (30), thereby enabling the exhaust gas pressure at inlets (21b to 26b) of gas introduction passages (21a to 26a) to be adjusted. Accordingly, regardless of the number of cylinders or whether the lengths of the flow paths of the EGR pipe (30) are the same, the exhaust pressure at the inlets (21b to 26b) of the gas introduction passages (21a to 26a) can be appropriately adjusted so any difference in pressure of exhaust gas introduced into branch pipes (21 to 26) can be reduced. In this way, the EGR rates of the cylinders can be made closer or the same such that stable combustion can be achieved, thus enabling stable engine operation to be maintained. The EGR pipe (30) is arranged weaving closely between the branch pipes (21 to 26) so space efficiency can be improved and a sufficient amount of exhaust gas can be introduced evenly into the cylinders.
US08267065B2
A method for adjusting fuel injection of an engine is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection timing is adjusted to account for fuels having different cetane numbers. Operation of the engine may be improved especially during conditions where combustion phase may vary.
US08267062B2
In an engine, blow-by is substantially eliminated and friction is significantly reduced using one or more combinations of non-metallic rings. By substantially eliminating blow-by and by reducing friction, certain engine parameters may be changed. In addition, by substantially eliminating blow-by and by reducing friction, pollution may be reduced, fuel economy may be increased and power may be increased.
US08267058B2
A valve opening/closing timing control apparatus includes a phase displacing mechanism for displacing relative phase between a drive-side rotational member and a driven-side rotational member rotatable in unison with a cam shaft, a first pump driven by an internal combustion engine, a second pump driven by a drive source different from the internal combustion engine, a locking mechanism capable of locking the relative phase to an initial phase suitable for starting the internal combustion engine, and an urging mechanism 3 for urging the phase displacing mechanism in the advancing direction between the most retarding phase and the initial phase, a minimal urging force of the urging mechanism being set so as to override the displacing force toward the retarding phase side at the minimal pressure.
US08267055B2
An eccentric ring is interposed between the big end bearing of the connecting rod and the crankpin.The eccentric ring is secured at one end of a secondary connecting rod, the other end of the secondary connecting rod being rotatably mounted on a crankpin of a secondary crankshaft.The angular displacement of the rotation axis of the secondary crankshaft about the rotation axis of the crankshaft controls the compression ratio.The secondary crankshaft and the secondary connecting rod carry a tiny part of the loads of the engine, some 1/20, enabling compact, true lightweight and robust structure.The kinematics of the piston remains unchanged.The balance of the engine remains unchanged.The application on V engines is more economical: a small secondary connecting rod per pair of cylinders, a single and slight secondary crankshaft and a single control frame is all it takes.
US08267050B1
An adjustable leash with automatic slack take-up assembly comprising a pulley buckle and cam buckle. The lead end of the leash strap is affixed to a top opening of the pulley buckle, and the leash body is movably threaded in operative order through a first opening of the cam buckle, a bottom opening of the pulley buckle, and a second opening of the cam buckle. In operation, a user maintains a grip at all times on the lead handle. The user depresses the spring loaded tab with the user's other hand. While depressing the spring loaded tab, the user pulls a pull tab on the cam buckle with the second hand to either lengthen or shorten the device. Once a desired length has been formed, with automatic slack take-up as the leash length is adjusted, the user releases the spring loaded tab to lock the device into position.
US08267047B2
In order to generate waves in a volume of water of an aquarium, it is proposed that a storage container which extends beyond the surface of the volume of water should be provided in the aquarium. Using a pump, water is periodically pumped from the water container into the storage container and returned from the storage container into the aquarium. The energy delivered to the water during this leads to fluctuations in the position of the free surface of the volume of water and in-phase operation of the pump provides stronger surface displacements in the aquarium, which are comparable with a wave in open water and which expose the plants and living beings in the aquarium to an alternating mechanical load.
US08267046B2
The invention relates to a method for producing viable tetraploid bivalve mollusks, by fertilisation of diploid female ovocytes with diploid male sperm, followed by the induction of the retention of the first polar body of the fertilised eggs, isolation from the obtained larvae of a larval sub-population enriched in tetraploids and selective raising of said sub-population.
US08267043B1
A canine cooling assembly includes a base that has a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge. A housing is attached to and covers the top side of the base. The housing includes a bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends between the top and bottom walls. The top wall has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. A blower is in fluid communication with the housing and injects air into the housing to force air outwardly through the apertures. An animal is positionable on the housing to be cooled by air ejected from the apertures.
US08267038B2
A droplet discharge apparatus is configured to move a droplet discharge head and a weight measurement unit relative to each other so that the droplet discharge head is placed in a position that faces the weight measurement unit by controlling a weight measurement unit movement part and a weight measurement unit secondary movement. The droplet discharge apparatus is also configured to control the droplet discharge head to perform a weight measurement discharge for measuring a weight of the liquid material discharged from the droplet discharge head during the feed/removal period, which includes a period for feeding and removing the substrate from the stage, and a period in which the stage is moved in relative fashion by the stage movement unit for performing feeding and removal operations.
US08267017B1
A folding workbench includes a work surface pivotally mounted to a wall for movement between a raised, horizontal use position and a lowered, vertical storage position. The workbench includes a pair of legs which are pivotally mounted at opposite ends to the wall and to the work surface. Each leg includes a knee joint. The legs are straight when the work surface is up and bent when the work surface is down. A lock prevents the legs from accidentally folding when the work surface is in the raised, use position.
US08267013B2
The present invention is a flexible, fillable and/or inflatable breach bag (aqua ram) with a planar body and at least one fillable water chamber for use in breaching locked or barricaded doors or penetrating surfaces with explosive charges. The breach bag may conform to a variety of shapes, depending on the application. The bag generally includes a generally planar panel of flexible material and at least one water chamber disposed on the material layer with a fluid inlet for the selective introduction of fill material, generally in the field. Additionally, the bags include means to suspend the breach bag against structures to be breached.
US08267009B2
A nutcracker utilizes a cone with a textured exterior surface rotatably mounted and centered inside a vertical cylinder with a textured interior surface. The textured exterior surface and the textured interior surface are non-parallel and form a cracking zone that becomes smaller in the downward direction. As the conical member rotates, gravity rolls nuts down in a spiraling path, between and along the preferred elongated and slanted protrusions forming the texture. This path takes the nuts into an increasingly smaller cracking zone until the pressure on the nuts from the conical and cylindrical members causes the nut-shells to crack and the nuts typically to break into halves and thirds. The nutcracker may include an adjustable barrel that rolls up and down inside a housing, for changing the minimum width of the cracking zone.
US08267008B2
The centrifugal fan for circulating a steam in the cook chamber of a steam oven is rotated in the reverse direction only for a certain time of a set cooking time, whereby a steam circulating flow generated in the cook chamber is changed, and consequently, the foods on the casseroles placed in the cook chamber are uniformly heated.
US08266992B2
A steady rest for clamping of rod-shaped workpieces, the steady rest including three holding elements, including two outer holding elements adapted to be swivelled about a pin mounted in a housing and a middle holding element adapted to be adjusted axially, and in which coolant or lubricant can be carried to a workpiece by means of ducts in the housing and the middle holding element. The ducts provided in the housing and in the middle holding element, being connected to a cavity and the ducts being connected together by a deformable flexible high-pressure hose. The ducts being connected together by means of the elastically deformable element.
US08266986B2
A hydraulic control system for a transmission includes a motor, a sump for storing a hydraulic fluid, and a dual element pump connected to the motor. The dual element pump has at least one input port connected to the sump, a first outlet port, and a second outlet port. The dual element pump provides a first volume of hydraulic fluid to the first outlet port and provides a second volume of hydraulic fluid to the second outlet port. The first volume is greater than the second volume. The first outlet port is connected to a diversion valve. The second outlet port is connected to a high pressure hydraulic circuit. The diversion valve is operable to transmit the hydraulic fluid from the first outlet port to a low pressure hydraulic circuit and the high pressure hydraulic circuit.
US08266978B2
A gear train assembly includes a first gear, a second gear, a first lubricant receiver, and a second lubricant receiver. The first gear meshes with the second gear at an engagement portion. The first lubricant receiver is configured to catch lubricant from the first gear before the engagement portion. The second lubricant receiver is configured to catch lubricant from the first gear after the engagement portion. A minimum distance between the second lubricant receiver and the first gear is less than a minimum distance between the first lubricant receiver and the first gear. An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes the gear train assembly.
US08266965B2
A method and a device for the contactless detection of laminated, flat objects, particularly sheet-like recording media. There is a galvanic separation and mechanical decoupling between the transmitter and receiver to improve detection. These measures can be further improved with correction characteristic methods.
US08266964B2
An ultrasonic flaw detection is performed to a welded portion 2 of a pipe body 1, a defect detection threshold value is determined based on the signal intensity difference between the total area of the defects existing in the region of an ultrasonic beam on a welded surface and an artificial defect, and a quality control of the pipe body is performed based on the defect detection threshold value. An equivalent defect diameter is determined from the defect density on the welded surface of the welded portion of the pipe body in a pipe axis direction and the area of the ultrasonic beam on the welded surface based on the total area of the defects existing in the region of the ultrasonic beam, and the defect detection threshold value is determined based on the equivalent defect diameter and the signal intensity difference of the artificial defect.
US08266960B2
Systems and methods for potted shock isolation are provided. In once embodiment a shock isolation system comprises an isolator comprising an outer ring for mounting to an external housing, and an inner ring connected to the outer ring via an isolating element; and an inertial sensing assembly comprising: at least one circuit board secured to the inner ring of the isolator, the at least one circuit board further comprising a triad of gyroscopes and a triad of accelerometers; and a low durometer highly dampened supporting material encapsulating a first surface of the at least one circuit board.
US08266951B2
The present invention is a method and apparatus for acoustically manipulating one or more particles. Acoustically manipulated particles may be separated by size. The particles may be flowed in a flow stream and acoustic radiation pressure, which may be radial, may be applied to the flow stream. This application of acoustic radiation pressure may separate the particles. In one embodiment, the particles may be separated by size, and as a further example, the larger particles may be transported to a central axis.
US08266942B2
A bending machine includes an operating platform, a lower die clamp received on the operating platform, an upper die holder, and an upper die clamp. The upper die holder includes a main body, a positioning pin, a spring, and an operating rod. The main body includes a lower surface and two opposite side surfaces, the lower surface defines a sliding groove having a bottom surface with a positioning hole defined thereon. One of the two opposite side surfaces defines a sliding slot communicating with the positioning hole. The spring and the positioning pin are received in the positioning hole in sequence. The operating rod is received in the sliding slot with one end received in the latching hole and the other end extending out of the sliding slot. The upper die clamp is slidable in the sliding groove and defines a pinhole corresponding to the positioning pin.
US08266940B2
An apparatus and method for bending or shaping orthodontic archwires or other medical devices into a complex, patient individual shape is described. The apparatus comprises of two moveable, compact, manipulators with, in total, at least three revolute joints defining three rotation axes and at least three prismatic joints defining at least three translation axes. Gripping tools are provided on the manipulators. The two manipulators are arranged to allow a relative movement in six degrees of freedom. A reduced complexity embodiment is also described having only one or two revolute joints.
US08266925B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass, including a float bath for storing a molten metal on which a molten glass flows, wherein the molten metal flows in the float bath, comprises an discharge opening formed through a wall of a downstream end of the float bath at the center of the wall to discharge a molten metal crashing against the wall and dross floating on the molten metal; and a pair of side channels formed inside of the wall and communicated with the discharge opening and both sides of the float bath.
US08266915B2
A thermodynamic energy conversion device (14) based on the effect of differential evaporation generated by a convex liquid surface and by a temperature gradient is constructed for the use either as a heat or hydraulic pump. In one arrangement the device (14) comprises two heat conductive containers (1) and (2); a working liquid (5) disposed in said containers with open surfaces (6) and (6′); a vapor (7) of the working liquid; a porous device (8) for creating at least one convex meniscus (9) on the open surface (6), of the working liquid (5) in one of the containers said convex meniscus having higher mean curvature than that of the open surface (6′); means (10) for connecting containers (1) and (2) to an external hydraulic circuit (11). An efficient external combustion engine using such a device (14) is disclosed.
US08266913B2
A power plant arrangement and method of operation are provided. The power plant arrangement comprises at lease one main air compressor and one or more gas turbine assemblies. Each assembly comprises a turbine combustor for mixing a portion of a compressed ambient gas flow with a portion of a recirculated low oxygen content gas flow and a fuel stream, and burning the combustible mixture to form the recirculated low oxygen content flow. The assembly further comprises a turbine compressor, fluidly connected to the turbine combustor, and connected to a turbine shaft that is arranged to be driven by rotation of a turbine. The assembly also comprises a recirculation loop for recirculating at least a portion of the recirculated low oxygen content gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor.
US08266906B2
A turbine housing for a turbocharger for use in a reciprocating internal combustion engine includes a housing having a housing axis and configured to house a rotatable shaft having a turbine wheel disposed thereon. The housing includes a volute having a volute chamber disposed around the housing axis for receiving the turbine wheel. The volute has a first volute inlet providing a first flow path in fluid communication with the volute chamber and second volute inlet providing a second flow path in fluid communication with the volute chamber. The first volute inlet is circumferentially spaced about the housing axis from the second volute inlet by a phase angle α. The first volute inlet is also radially spaced about the housing axis from the second volute inlet, and may also be axially spaced from the second volute inlet along the housing axis.
US08266900B2
A plurality of flat tubes formed as a tube having notches by linearly cutting upper and lower parts from a hollow flat circular doughnut shape are stacked to structure a tube laminate. It is attached to a case so that a notch aligns with the notch and faces upward by an exhaust inflow end plate and that a notch aligns with the notch and faces downward by an exhaust outflow end plate. A cutoff valve is provided at an exhaust outflow end of an exhaust communication tube passing through the center of the tube laminate by heat insulation. While an internal combustion engine is warming up, the cutoff valve is closed to cause the exhaust to flow in gaps of the respective flat tubes from upward to downward as a whole and also a heat exchange medium is caused to flow in the respective flat tubes from downward to upward as a whole to have heat exchanged between the exhaust and the heat exchange medium to recover the exhaust heat.
US08266891B2
Method and system for emission control of a compression ignition locomotive engine. The method includes measuring an actual power level of the engine, comparing a desired power level with the actual power level of the engine; implementing a combustion strategy based on the comparing of the desired and the actual power levels; and implementing an emission strategy based on the combustion strategy. The emission strategy is intended to attain a predetermined emission level in the exhaust from the engine.
US08266886B2
Systems and methods involving multiple torque paths of gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative spool assembly for a gas turbine engine, which incorporates a compressor, a turbine and a gear assembly, includes: a shaft operative to be driven by the turbine; a first spool segment operative to couple the shaft to the compressor; and a second spool segment operative to couple the shaft to the gear assembly. The first spool segment and the second spool segment are not coupled to each other.
US08266882B2
A cable guide (10), having articulated links (12), capable of angling in two directions, and open on an face end, and arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction and forming a guide channel (16) by means of external guide elements; joints absorbing tensile forces are located between two connected links, and the links (12) each display corresponding connecting elements (18) with two connecting components (20, 22). The first component (20) of the connecting element (18) is fork-shaped, where the second connecting component displays a first seat (32) with a spherical boundary, in which a joint element (34), having an opening (36) and a spherical outer boundary (35) adapted to the first seat, is moveable, and the second component with a joint element (34) can be positioned between the two legs of the first component in a way that the opening (36) in the joint element with a spherical outer boundary is aligned with an opening (27, 28) provided in each of the two legs (24, 26).
US08266881B2
A motor support system including a motor having a shaft rotatably secured to and maintained in a substantially axial alignment with a second shaft configured to change angular orientation along at least one plane of travel perpendicular to the axial alignment. The second shaft has a first pivot point with respect to a frame, the motor being secured to the frame by a cantilevered flexible member to maintain the motor shaft in substantial axial alignment with the second shaft.
US08266880B2
A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.
US08266877B2
A packing method and unit for folding a sheet of packing material about a parallelepiped-shaped article, the packing unit having: a conveyor for feeding the article along a path; a feed device for feeding the sheet of packing material perpendicularly to the path and in front of the article, so the article, as it moves forward, intercepts and gradually folds the sheet of packing material into a “U”; two lead-in devices mounted to move parallel to the path and positioned on opposite sides of the article, so the article is enclosed between the two lead-in devices; and an actuating device for feeding the two lead-in devices parallel to the path and together with the article, so the sheet of packing material is also intercepted by the lead-in devices.
US08266875B2
A hot water shrink tunnel includes a heat chamber that has no flue or vent into the heat chamber, an inlet opening and spaced therefrom an outlet opening. Each opening is closed by an end closing device, such as a curtain. A conveyor carries a product through the heat chamber from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. A duct is mounted adjacent each end opening, where the duct includes a shroud of a size and design to capture hot water vapor that issues from the heat chamber when a product passes through the end closing device of the non-flued/unvented tunnel.
US08266872B2
The invention relates to a packaging tube for a pre-determined volume of a biological substance to be stored at a low temperature and to a system including same. The inventive packaging tube comprises a portion (2) for receiving the volume and an annular end portion (3) designed to be more easily crushed by pinching than the receiving portion (2) and to adopt a flattened position in which two lips (30) are in contact with one another. In addition, the annular end portion (3) is designed such that the lips (30) are secured to one another in order to form a seal (31) on the tube. The system includes at least one such tube and a jaw welding device designed to move the annular portion (3) into the flattened position and to weld the lips (30) to one another in order to form the seal (31).
US08266871B1
Waste disposal device adapted to receive a waste-containing member includes a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening, a lid connected to the container and having a first, closed position covering the opening of the container and a second, open position in which the opening is exposed, and a rotation mechanism arranged in the container to rotate the waste-containing member when present in the container. The rotation mechanism is arranged to rotate the waste-containing member upon closure of the lid. A switch mechanism enables opening movement of the lid to cause the rotation mechanism to rotate the waste-containing member or prevent the rotation mechanism from rotating the waste-containing member depending on a setting of the switch mechanism.
US08266863B2
The system relates to a system for joining flat, relatively thin members that adjoin one another along their narrow face, the members having grooves incorporated into the narrow faces that are parallel to the surface and have groove walls that are parallel to each other, and the joining element being inserted into the grooves of two adjacent members and bridging the partition gap between the members in the manner of an external tongue. In this context the joining element (11) has, on its part (12) that can be inserted in the manner of an external tongue in the longitudinal center on its side that faces away from the visible surface of the members, one continuous web or a plurality of aligned webs (13) that preferably protrude at a right angle, from which detent webs (14, 15) protrude on both sides, each of which has a detent projection (16, 17) that projects toward the external-tongue-like part (12), and on the bottom of the member (1, 2), which faces away from its visible surface, detent grooves (7, 8) being provided that run parallel to the adjacent edge at a distance corresponding to the width of the detent webs (14, 15).
US08266862B2
A prefabricated wall or floor panel includes a rectangular concrete section comprising a projection along one side, a recess along the other side, the recessing being complementary to the projection, a protrusion along one end, a trough along the other end, the trough being complementary to the protrusion, channels each having one end terminated at one end and the other end terminated at the other end, a first groove on each of one end and the other end extending from one side to the other side by passing the mouths of the channels, and a second groove on either side extending from one end to the other end; a rectangular surface board formed integrally with an outer surface of the concrete section; and an interconnection comprising a transverse part of and spaced longitudinal tubes each adapted to fit into the channel to connect two adjacent prefabricated components together.
US08266851B2
A mullion system includes a universal reinforcement key, that joins window frame members and when anchored in a window frame opening or against other window frame joining members, contributes to bearing the load on the window frame unit. The system also includes a mull strip member with end caps designed to weep moisture away from and out of the window frame unit.
US08266849B2
A platform panel or module is provided to construct a surface for a deck, floor, wall, ceiling, or roof. The panel or module comprises a decorative top layer integral with or joined to a structural, composite molded platform. Each platform panel or module has two complementary module-coupling sides that take advantage of the full width of each joist that supports the platform. Also, male and female connecting members are disposed along the module-coupling sides that enable one platform panel or module to be efficiently and positively interlocked with an adjacent panel or module. Each panel or module can be fastened on one side to a single joist while being secured on its opposite side to an adjoining panel or module. The panels or modules are also designed to cover over an entire joist substructure, including the beginning-of-sequence and end-of-sequence joists.
US08266834B2
The instant disclosure provides a photo-frame-type display and a support unit thereof. The display has a display frame unit having a bottom portion disposable on a working surface. The support unit comprises a connecting base unit fixedly disposed to the back of the display frame unit, an inclining module pivotally coupled to the connecting base unit, and a rebounding module on the back of the display frame unit in elastic connection with the inclining module. The photo-frame-type display may be disposed on a tabletop in a fashion resembling a traditional photo frame, and the support unit is capable of steadily sustaining the display frame unit in a steep inclining configuration suitable for touch-screen/handwriting operations.
US08266833B2
A vehicle showcase display badge is provided which includes a bezel, a substantially transparent front lens, and a rear lens comprising a light transparent front surface and a colored reflective rear surface. The badge also includes a graphic assembly disposed between the front lens and the rear lens, wherein the rear lens provides a three-dimensional appearance of the graphic assembly. The badge further includes an attachment for attaching the badge to a vehicle such that the graphic assembly is viewable. One or more curved surfaces may be employed on the rear lens to provide a shadow effect. One or more of the lenses may be overmolded.
US08266832B2
A label system including a label having a first portion which has a protective coating thereon and a second portion on a same side thereof which does not have the protective coating. The label further includes a generally transparent window, wherein the window is configured to overlie the second portion when the label is wrapped around a body.
US08266830B2
An ironing board for multifunctional use comprising a base (1), a body (5) with a work surface (6), which body has a first longitudinal axis (I-I) and is connected to the base. A column (7) extends between the body and the base, the column having a second longitudinal axis (II-II) and a tilting means. The tilting means is arranged for tilting the body about a tilting axis (T-T) extending substantially perpendicularly to both the first axis and the second axis. A system comprises such an ironing board and an iron for cooperation with the ironing board. The invention further relates to a method for refreshing an article and a method for pressing an article.
US08266822B2
An improvement for drying crushed cane or other bagasse for briquetting or other processes includes a drying unit (1) with a humid bagasse dosing hopper (2) having a screw conveyor feeding inclined screw conveyor (5) and a latter rotary dosing valve (6) discharging into hot air funnel (7) into drying tank (8), bagasse being lifted and exposed to the hot air in front chamber (9) and in final drying chamber (17) by tumbling blades (10) through the action of geared motor (15), almost-dry bagasse in suspension being sucked out by pair of centrifugal blowers (18) dropping it into separator filter (19) and falling into hopper (20), being cooled in open-trough screw conveyors (21) and (22), screw conveyor (22) including screen (23) for separation of powder to be conveyed by screw conveyor (25) to inclined screw conveyor (26) for discharge into feeder hoppers (28) to the burners (32).
US08266817B2
An electric wood kiln has a containment space sealed by at least one door. A tray is disposed on a bottom base of the electric wood kiln in the containment space. A diversion device is disposed on a top side of the electric wood kiln having a fan set, a plurality of diversion fins, at least one counterflow space and at least one intake aperture. The fan set has fan blades fluidly connected to the counterflow space, and the counterflow space is fluidly connected to the cycling channel on the door and the rear sidewall. An outer region of each fan blade fluidly couples with radial diversion fins; the diversion fins and the counterflow space form fluidly separated spaces coupled via the fan blades, and the intake aperture is connected externally to the electric wood kiln and the counterflow space. A heating device is disposed on a top side of the electric wood kiln adjacent to an outer side of the diversion fins and fluidly connected to the fan set. An adjustable knob is respectively disposed on at least two facing sidewalls of the electric wood kiln. A controller is disposed external to the electric wood kiln and electrically connected to the tray, the fan set, the heating device and the adjustable knob.
US08266814B2
A household appliance for cleaning laundry includes a rinsing container that collects rinsing liquid generated during a cleaning process, a controller that stores a connection type of a rinsing liquid device during an initial commissioning of the rinsing liquid device, and one of a collection container that collects rinsing liquid after cleaning a heat exchanger of a heat pump and a connection to an external waste water system that disposes of the rinsing liquid after cleaning the heat exchanger based upon the connection type stored by the controller.
US08266811B2
An adjustable alignment apparatus for a gage that fits to a vehicle body includes a base having first, second, and third abutment faces and an adjusting plate having first, second, and third walls respectively spaced from the first, second, and third abutment faces. An adjusting bolt acts between the base and the adjusting plate to move the walls of the adjusting plate respectively toward and away from the walls of the base. A first mounting bracket engages with the vehicle body and is attached to one of the base and the adjusting plate. A second mounting bracket engages with the gage and is attached to the other of the base and the adjusting plate. A plurality of shims can be removeably installed and uninstalled between the abutment faces of the base and the walls of the adjusting plate to adjust the position of the gage relative the vehicle body.
US08266806B2
A collapsible saw including a saw blade with teeth and a saw frame. The frame is made of four parts; a handle, a front piece, a support body and a lever piece. The four frame units fold flat and enclose both sides of the blade and fold out to form a generally U shaped saw frame, with the saw blade stretched between the two ends of the U shaped frame. The frame parts are connected to each other, and the saw has a sawing and a transport mode.
US08266788B2
A system for joining tubular members comprising: a U-shaped joining member, with a first leg, a bottom of the U in communication with the first leg, and a second leg in communication with the bottom of the U, and wherein the first leg and second legs have a taper such that the cross-sectional surface area of the first leg is at a minimum at generally the far end of the first and second legs, and the cross-sectional surface is at a maximum at generally the beginning end of the first and second legs; an anchor member configured to fit generally in the bottom of the U; a first tubular member configured to fit abutting the anchor member, and between the first and second legs; a wire made of anisotropic material configured to be wound about the first leg, second leg, and a portion of the first tubular member located between the first leg and second leg; a second tubular member configured to structurally attach to the first tubular member, U-shaped joining member, anchor member, and anisotropic material; a plurality of windings configured to attach the second tubular member to an anchored member. A method of making two joining members. A method of joining tubular members.
US08266785B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor having improved pinned layer stability at small track widths. The method includes providing a substrate, and depositing a plurality of sensor layers. A layer of material that is resistant to removal by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP stop layer) and an antireflective coating layer are deposited. A photoresist mask is formed on the antireflective layer, and a reactive ion etch (RIE) is performed to remove portions of the ion mill resistant mask that are not covered by the photoresist mask, the RIE being performed in a plasma chamber having a platen, the performing the RIE further comprising applying a platen power of at least 70 W. An ion milling is performed to remove a portion of the sensor layers, the ion milling being terminating before all of the sensor materials have been removed.
US08266782B2
A joining method for joining a second member to a first which is a tubular member having a plurality of hollow portions partitioned by a partition wall portion is provided. The first member 1 is inserted into an insertion hole 6 formed in the second member 5. A die segment 11a of a die 11 and a wedge portion segment 19a of a mandrel 18 are disposed in each hollow portion 3 of the first member 1. Next, in a state in which the partition wall portion 4 is held by and between both wedge portion segments 19a and 19a, each wedge portion segment 18a is inserted into the corresponding wedge hole portion segment 14a of the die segment 11a to thereby move each die segment 11 of the die 11 radially outward of the first member 1. With this, the inserted portion 2a of the first member 1 inserted in the insertion hole 6 and both portions 2b and 2b axially adjacent to the inserted portion are expanded to thereby join the first member 1 and the second member 5.
US08266779B2
A unique self-drilling anchor screw is configured so that it can be set and used to secure a first object to a second object using only one tool to save time and effort. A nut of the screw engages a nut stop when turning in reverse, thereby driving rotation of the screw in reverse. The screw has a drill bit tip adapted for drilling a hole while turning in reverse. A hole is drilled using the drill bit tip while turning the nut in reverse with a socket wrench of the one tool. After drilling the hole, the nut is turned in the forward direction with the socket wrench to engage a sleeve member of the screw, which sets the screw in the second object. Then, the nut is further turned forward using the socket wrench to tighten the nut against the first object located between the nut and the second object.
US08266776B2
A device and method of use for aligning structural elements to be connected is presented. In particular, the present invention relates to providing an end of a first structural element and an end of a second structural element; providing an aligning device including a head configured to be removably secured proximate the end of the first structural element, the aligning device further including an alignment element attached to the head, the alignment element having a rotatably secured plunging body extendable from the head; extending the plunging body from the head to non-rotatably engage the second structural element; and moving the non-rotatably engaged second structural element via extension of the plunging body to align the end of the second structural element with the end of the first structural element.
US08266762B2
In a blower, an engine is carried on the back, and a blower portion having a fan is held through a holding member by hand. One end of a flexible shaft, is connected to an output shaft of the engine and the other end of which is connected to a rotary shaft of the fan. The flexible shaft has a flexible outer tube for connecting a casing of the engine with a housing of the fan, and a rotary shaft formed of a helical coil rounded helically around the axial line of the outer tube and extending axially in the outer tube, one end of the rotary shaft being connected to the output shaft of the engine and the other end of the rotary shaft of the flexible shaft being connected to the rotary shaft of the fan. The rotary shaft of the flexible shaft is connected to the rotary shaft of the fan through a power transmitting direction varying device.
US08266750B2
An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.
US08266746B2
A self-adjusting mattress includes a support member, top and bottom foam layers, a movement mechanism and balancing bars. The support member includes a frame of longitudinal and cross bars and mesh panels between the bars. The support member has a middle section that is pivotally connected to upper and lower sections. The upper, middle and lower sections are coplanar in the flat configuration of the mattress. The movement mechanism includes multiple electric motors that move the mattress into an inclined configuration by rotating the upper and lower sections relative to the middle section. The bottom foam layer is molded around the support member. The molded foam flows above, below and through the holes in the mesh panels. The top foam layer is then glued or molded to the top of the bottom foam layer. The balancing bars extend less than half way under the upper section of the support member.
US08266738B2
An assembly of an aromatherapy system and tub comprises a tub for bathing. A reservoir portion contains an aromatic liquid, the reservoir portion being mounted to a wall of the tub. A pressure source is actuatable to provide pressurized gas, the pressure source being concealed under the tub. A fluid-conveying line is concealed under the tub and connecting the pressure source to the reservoir portion to diffuse the pressurized gas from the pressure source into the aromatic liquid in the reservoir portion so as to create a mist of the aromatic liquid in the environment of the tub.
US08266736B2
An oxidizer generating apparatus comprising a cylindrical housing and an electrode assembly attached at one end of the housing comprising at least three vertically disposed electrodes, the electrodes being spaced apart so as to define a water flow path between them, the electrodes comprising titanium outer electrodes and at least one inner diamond electrode.
US08266720B2
A glove closure system having an opening dividing the glove into a lateral side (thumb) and a medial side (pinky). The opening allows for easy access of the user's hand. The system consists of a rectangular or oval flap attached to the lateral portion and pulled over the access opening. A primary fit is caused by the user pulling the flap over to the back of the lateral side of the glove and fastening with a hook and loop attachment method.
US08266719B2
A glove made from narrow strap material. Glove advantages when used with a striking tool: improved control, improved striking force, improved tool head acceleration, improved energy transfer, reduced hand fatigue, improved grip, and reduced vibration shock. It can be configured for 1, 2, 3 or 4 fingers plus the thumb. The glove forms a web between the thumb and fingers. The width of the web and the tightness of fit on the thumb and fingers is controlled by a single pull-tab type of adjustment. The adjustment is secured by a contact friction loop which increases in friction during impact force use. The glove can be worn on a bare hand or over the top of a more conventional type of glove while still providing the same advantages.
US08272061B1
A method for evaluating access rules violations, the method includes: receiving, a model of a computer network; and determining security metrics associated with a violation of an access rule in response to: the model of the computer network, multiple network nodes of the computer network accessible according to at least one violated access rule or according to the network model, at least one vulnerability associated with the multiple network nodes, and damage associated with an exploitation of the at least one vulnerability.
US08272058B2
A security system provides a defense from known and unknown viruses, worms, spyware, hackers, and social engineering attacks. The system can implement centralized policies that allow an administrator to approve, block, quarantine, or log file activities. The system stores meta-information for files relating to security and at defined times after a file or a file hash is first received, performs security related analyses from a central server. Analysis results are stored on the server, and the server can automatically change file meta-information. Changes in file meta-information are provided to hosts.
US08272048B2
This document describes systems and methods for restricting program process capabilities. In some implementations, the capabilities are restricted by limiting the rights or privileges granted to an application. A plurality of rules may be established for a program, or for a group of programs, denying that program the right to take actions which are outside of the actions needed to implement its intended functionality. A security policy is implemented to test actions initiated in response to an application against the rules to enable decisions restricting the possible actions of the program. Embodiments are disclosed which process the majority of decisions regarding actions against a security profile through use of a virtual machine. In some embodiments, the majority of decisions are resolved within the kernel space of an operating system.
US08272046B2
Methods and apparatus for applying a single virtual private network (VPN) address to tunnels or connections associated with different access interfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes establishing a first tunnel between a node and a VPN server. The first tunnel has a first address. The method also includes assigning a VPN address to the first tunnel, as well as establishing a second tunnel between the node and the VPN server. The second tunnel has a second address. The VPN address is assigned to the second tunnel, and VPN address is accessed by both the first address and the second address.
US08272036B2
Systems and methods for authentication using paired dynamic secrets in secured wireless networks are provided. Each authenticated user is assigned a random secret generated so as to be unique to the user. The secret is associated with a wireless interface belonging to the user, so that no other wireless interface may use the same secret to access the network. The secret may be updated either periodically or at the request of a network administrator, and reauthentication of the wireless network may be required.
US08272033B2
A user authentication system is provided that is suitable for detecting and controlling potentially fraudulent login behavior. A pattern recording module is configured to record login attempts and to detect a pattern of login attempt results. An analyzing module is operatively connected to the pattern recording module and is configured to determine whether or not the pattern of login attempt results has an indicator of at least one abnormal pattern range. An action module is operatively connected to the analyzing module and is configured to perform at least one action, including adjusting a threshold value of the abnormal pattern range for a subsequent pattern of login attempt results if the pattern of login attempt results has an indicator of a predetermined abnormal pattern range.
US08272030B1
A method for dynamically changing the security protocol in a hand-held mobile communications device within a network includes providing an application management system in a respective mobile communications device for management of memory use and download functions, providing within the mobile communications device an embedded file system that contains executable files that are controlled by the application management system, providing a browser on the mobile communications device so that a user thereof may access websites available on the network, and providing a policy file that includes a set of rules for managing the download of applications from a remote location, the policy file being enabled to receive authorized updates over the network.
US08272027B2
A routing computer is connected to one or more multi-function peripherals (MFPs) on a network. A routing manager located in the routing computer contains user information for users that operate one or more of the MFPs connected on the network. Based on a set of user preferences and or default settings, document data scanned by or received via facsimile for a particular user is sent from one of the MFPs to the routing computer. The routing manager then applies rights management and optional encryption to the destination document created from the document data and sends the destination document to a folder or to one or more individuals via electronic mail. As a result, rights management policy may be applied to newly created documents automatically and before the documents are accessible to users in network storage or by email.
US08272014B2
An information storage medium on which a plurality of titles are recorded, and a reproducing apparatus and method thereof. The information storage medium includes a plurality of titles which are reproduced as motion pictures and a plurality of units of attribute information that correspond to the titles and indicate whether a user can control a title to be reproduced. Therefore, efficient navigation can be ensured and the titles can be reproduced as a manufacturer of the information storage medium has planned.
US08272002B2
A method for implementing an external trusted platform module includes establishing a connection with a remote host device via a remote interface. The method also includes receiving and processing a request for a trusted platform module (TPM) function from the remote host device via the remote interface. The method additionally includes generating a response to the request for the TPM function based on the processing of the request for the TPM function received from the remote host device. The method further includes sending the response to the request for the TPM function to the remote host device via the remote interface.
US08271998B2
Exemplary illustrative embodiments provide for a method implemented in a service oriented architecture environment including a plurality of live services. The method includes composing, at runtime, a composed service by mapping a first parameter of a first subset of live services to a second parameter of a second subset of live services. The first subset and the second subset are part of the plurality of live services. The method can further include storing the composed service in a memory.
US08271996B1
Described are techniques for communicating between one or more producers and one or more consumers. A first consumer of an event queue registers for notification regarding occurrences of one or more events. A producer of the event queue posts one or more notifications to one or more consumers of the event queue regarding one or more occurrences of one or more events. Each of the consumers receive notification regarding occurrences of events for which the consumer is registered. The first consumer retrieves posted event notifications regarding events for which the first consumer is registered. If the first consumer is executing in user space and an event notification list to which the event notifications for the first consumer are posted is located in shared memory, the first consumer retrieves the posted event notifications without proxying into kernel space.
US08271987B1
Techniques are described for facilitating access of users to tasks that are available to be performed, such as via a task exchange system that serves as an intermediary to facilitate performance by some task performer users of tasks supplied by other task requester users. The techniques may include automatically providing a particular group of task performer users with access to a supply of available tasks that are appropriate for those task performer users, such as based on an aggregate probability or other likelihood measure that the task performer users as a group will collectively accept to perform those tasks in a specified manner. More generally, the affinity and/or appropriateness of a group of users to perform one or more tasks may be based on various information related to the users, including past task performance behavior of those users, and/or qualifications or more general reputational aspects of those users.
US08271981B2
An apparatus detects detecting when an extraordinary behavior is performed when a monitoring task is executed on an information processing apparatus. The detecting apparatus includes: an obtaining section for obtaining a measurement data including an executing timing and an execution time for each occasion of execution when the monitoring task is executed for a number of times on the information processing apparatus; a distance calculating section for calculating a distance between a measured point corresponding to each measurement data in a multi-dimensional space on which an executing timing and an execution time are allocated to different coordinates and another measured point placed in a predetermined range; and a determining section for determining whether an extraordinary behavior is performed when the monitoring task corresponding to the measurement data is executed based on the distance obtained for the measured point corresponding to the measurement data.
US08271977B2
A virtual computer system has a plurality of computers for executing a program and a storage system connected to the computers via a network. A virtualization mechanism in a first computer of the plurality of computers generates at least one virtual computer on the first computer. The virtualization mechanism in the first computer executes at least one of a first judgment and a second judgment when a request for activating a first virtual computer of the at least one virtual computer is received, the first judgment being for judging whether or not the activation of the first virtual computer is prohibited based on first information stored in a memory of the virtualization mechanism, and the second judgment being for judging whether or not an identifier included in a logic I/O adapter device assigned to the first virtual computer is invalid based on second information stored in the memory of the virtualization mechanism. The activation of the first virtual computer is permitted or prohibited based on the executed judgment in response to the request for activating the first virtual computer.
US08271973B2
A system and method are disclosed for enabling the system administrator to identify servers in which the installation of drivers failed without having to examine the installation log of each server by directing the server to send an e-mail to the system administrator in the event of an installation failure. The need for examination of installation logs is eliminated as e-mail messages provide proactive, immediate and specific failure notifications to the system administrator.
US08271967B2
Techniques are provided for updating software components on an multi-function peripheral (MFP) using Web Services (WS). An MFP sends a multi-cast discovery message that conforms to a WS-Discovery protocol. An update server receives the discovery message and responds with a discovery response message that also conforms to a WS-Discovery protocol. The MFP sends, to the update server, an event subscription message that conforms to a WS-Eventing protocol. The event subscription message indicates one or more software components for which the MFP seeks an update. When an applicable update of a subscribed-for software component is available, the update server sends, to the MFP, an event notification message that conforms to a WS-Eventing protocol. In response to a message that requests the updated component, the update server sends, to the MFP, the updated software component.
US08271966B2
Techniques are disclosed for controlling software patching activity. Techniques may implement a software shell and institute a patching policy to control patching activities. When implemented, the software shell acts as a barrier which permits patching of the underlying software only when the patching activity would be in accordance with the instituted patching policy. Various patching policies can be instituted. Patching may be performed when convenient; or just before when the software requiring the patch is needed; or patching may be blocked to prevent unwanted software characteristics and/or behavior. Patching may be delayed until confidence has been established in a new patch so as to avoid disrupting a computer system that is already functioning in an acceptable manner. A particular software action may be blocked so as to avoid the necessity of having to patch software, particularly when the action may interrupt the orderly function of a computer system.
US08271961B1
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that measures the quality of a software system. During operation, the system performs a series of stress tests on the software system and determines a set of failure rates for the software system from the stress tests. Next, the system obtains a failure distribution from the failure rates. Finally, the system assesses the quality of the software system based on characteristics of the failure distribution.
US08271959B2
A computer-implemented method of finding portions of a computer program exhibiting irregular performance can include detecting an entry into a function of a computer program under test indicating a current execution of the function and, responsive to detecting an exit from the function, determining a count of a computing resource utilized by the function during the current execution of the function. The count of the computing resource can be compared with a count range determined according to at least one prior execution of the function. The function can be selectively represented within a call graph as a plurality of nodes according to the comparing.
US08271951B2
A system and method are disclosed for collecting software development feedback. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting a user feedback message associated with a software object. The software object may define a portion of an application user interface. The method may also include categorizing the user feedback message according to a feedback categorization criterion. Additionally, the method may include displaying the user feedback message in a display arranged by a category identified by the categorization criterion.
US08271949B2
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for self-healing a software factory are presented. Factory metrics that describe resources and operations within the software factory are collected and analyzed. If the analysis reveals a significant problem within the software factory, then corrective measures are taken and stored, thus enabling the software factory to evolve and improve over time.
US08271944B2
System and method for performing program-related operations over a network via a web browser. A network connection is established between a server computer and a client computer over a network. A universal resource identifier (URI) is sent from the client computer to the server computer over the network, where the URI indicates a program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), or at least a portion of a graphical program interactive development environment (GPIDE), e.g., a graphical program editor, an execution engine, a static or dynamic analyzer, and/or compiler. The at least a portion of the GPIDE is received from the server computer over the network in response to the URI, and executed in a web browser of the client computer to perform some specified functionality with respect to the GP.
US08271943B2
A system and method for automatically generating a graphical program or a portion of a graphical program in response to receiving user input. The user input may specify functionality of the graphical program or graphical program portion to be generated. In response to the user input, a graphical program (or graphical program portion) that implements the specified functionality may be automatically generated. The graphical program may include a plurality of computational models. Thus, different graphical programs may be generated, depending on the user input received.
US08271941B2
Techniques are provided for representing and configuring flexible and extensible presentation patterns based on fine-grained architectural building blocks (ABBs). The techniques include defining ABBs, modeling the ABBs in a uniform manner, and creating at least one template using the ABBs, wherein the at least one template includes at least one of pre-configured static characteristics and user-specified service characteristics. In an embodiment of the invention, an exemplary method for designing and managing fine-grained ABBs can include identifying ABBs to compose an architecture for facilitating presentation and interaction between consumers and other elements in a solution, analyzing the ABBs to monitor computing resources used by individual ABBs, selecting a number of running instances of the ABBs based on (i) requests of a pertinent entity and (ii) available resources, and managing life-cycles of ABBs.
US08271938B2
Mechanisms that allow frameworks significant flexibility in varying the library of common base classes in a manner that better suits the domain of applications served by the framework. Instead of providing the base class library, the runtime provides a data contract for the data structure of each base class. The frameworks can then define each base class in a custom way so long as the data contract is honored. Thus, for example, the framework may provide custom framework-specific methods and/or properties as is appropriate for the framework. Another framework might define the base classes in a different way.
US08271937B2
An application software generator automatically generates an application software unit. The application software generator includes an application composer that combines components extracted from a component repository with an application framework to generate the application software unit. Each component in the component repository includes a component shell, a component interface and a component core. The application framework includes configurable parameters that determine how the application software unit is generated and operates. The configurable parameters can be entered by a user using a graphical user interface. The user can be assisted using a wizard format. The application framework also provides connectivity between components so that they can pass messages to one another. The connectivity can be, for example, by a message bus or event registry and event dispatch. Components themselves can be automatically generated using the application software generator. Uses of the application software generator include creation of sensor/actuator networks and test script generation.
US08271929B2
A computing device may include a memory to store instructions and a processor. The processor may execute the instructions to conduct an initial cell optimization for an integrated circuit layout; designate clock loads associated with a first-level clock buffer; receive, after the initial standard-cell optimization, a set of initial placement locations; align the clock loads according to the set of placement locations; conduct, using the aligned clock loads, a re-optimization of the integrated circuit layout; and store, in the memory, a circuit layout based on the re-optimization.
US08271928B2
One or more portions of the design (e.g., components, channels, or portions thereof) can be assigned instances of one or more component power domains (CPDs). Assigning an instance of a CPD to a design element (or to a portion thereof) can indicate, for example, whether the element can be switched on and off, or whether the element can operate over a range of voltages. The CPD instances can, in turn, be assigned to one or more design power domains (DPDs). Assignments of a CPD to a DPD can be evaluated according to a set of compatibility rules. Two or more electronic design elements can be connected by one or more signal paths. Organizing the CPD instances into DPDs can aid in finding signal paths that cross from a first DPD to a second DPD. To improve the reliability of signal paths traversing a DPD boundary, one or more power domain interface (PDI) components can be created to handle the signal paths at the boundary.
US08271922B2
A system and method for clock optimization to achieve timing signoff in an electronic circuit and an EDA tool that embodies the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a clock cell identifier/sorter configured to identify at least some clock cells in a clock network associated with an electronic circuit design and sort the cells according to breadth, (2) a slack analyzer associated with the clock cell identifier/sorter and configured to identify flops that are downstream of the cells and determine a worst setup and hold timing slack thereof and (3) a clock cell delay adjuster associated with the slack analyzer and configured to adjust delays of the cells subject to the worst setup and hold timing slack.
US08271918B2
Methods and apparatus for performing automated formal clock domain crossing verification on a device are detailed. In various implementations of the invention, a device may be analyzed, wherein the clock domain crossing boundaries are identified. Subsequently, a formal clock domain crossing verification method may be applied to the identified clock domain crossing boundaries, resulting in clock domain crossing assertions being identified. After which the identified assertions may be promoted for post clock domain crossing analysis. With various implementations of the invention, a formal clock domain crossing method is provided, wherein the device components near an identified clock domain crossing are extracted. Assertions may then be synthesized and verified based upon the extracted components. Various implementations of the invention provide for clock domain crossing verification to be performed iteratively, wherein a larger and larger selection of the device is extracted during formal verification. Additionally, various implementations of the present invention provide that the clock domain crossing verification operate on the fly during a device verification procedure. With further implementations, a bit-blasted approach to clock domain crossing verification may be provided during formal verification.
US08271917B2
A static verification program according to the present invention reads a circuit description and property. In a static verification step, static verification of the circuit description is performed on the basis of the property and the number of states that can be reached and the number of states that is reached are calculated. In a search coverage value calculation step, a search coverage value is calculated on the basis of the number of states that can be reached and the number of states that is reached. In a display step, the search coverage value is displayed in a state in which the search coverage value can be visually checked.
US08271909B2
Embodiments of the invention provide system and methods for EDA tools. Specifically, some embodiments of the invention provide an input infrastructure for EDA tools that gathers pertinent information surrounding an input cursor's present locality (or neighborhood) and then analyzes the pertinent information in view of an issued command to automatically determine suitable targets or subsequent operations that a user of the EDA tool may want to select next.
US08271898B1
A system and a method are disclosed for effectively displaying database records on a device having a display area that is small compared to the underlying data being represented. A simulated catalogue is displayed with cards associated with database records. Detailed information is presented for a record on a card obscuring information related to other records. A user is allowed to swipe on the catalogue causing simulated movement of the cards thereby displaying information associated with a database record previously obscured. The catalogue is moved with an initial velocity determined by the speed of swiping and decelerated based on a drag factor until it comes to a stop and displays information for the record reached. The ability to determine the final record displayed when the catalogue stops allows pre-fetching of the data associated with the record.
US08271892B2
Systems and methods for generating and sharing interactive charts are described. The interactive charts are generated in an online portal that allows users to customize the interactive features of the chart. An exemplary interactive feature includes an interactive audio feature. The interactive chart can be shared by, for example, embedding the interactive chart in an external electronic document, such as a .ppt or PDF document, that can be shared with other users. The interactive chart and/or the data associated with the interactive chart may also be purchased through an online store environment or otherwise shared with other users.
US08271891B1
A computing environment logbook logs events occurring within a computing environment. The events are displayed as a history of past events within the logbook of the computing environment. The logbook provides search functionality to search through the history of past events to find one or more selected past events, and further, enables an undo of the one or more selected past events.
US08271886B2
A target advertising system includes a user profile database configured to store browser-login mapping information associated with mapping of browser cookie information and login cookie information, an advertisement server configured to identify an access by a web browser and to transfer browser cookie information of the web browser to a user behavior server, and the user behavior server configured to receive the browser cookie information from the advertisement server, to identify, from the user profile database, user profile information of the browser-login mapping information corresponding to the browser cookie information, and to transfer the identified user profile information to the advertisement server.
US08271884B1
Compiled computer code loaded on a mobile networked device implementing aspects of graphical animation capabilities, which include at least one of lateral movement, vertical movement, timing of movement and behavior. A network communication initiated by the code retrieves new instructions previously assembled in programmed browser and stored on programmed server. The new instructions direct the code to create content objects and download content object components, such as, but not limited to, graphic image, graphic images in frame sequence for animation, video, audio, and text elements. The instructions trigger selected ones of the coded aspects of graphical animation capabilities on the content objects to produce presentations. New instructions downloaded from the server trigger different coded aspects of graphical animation capabilities on the same or different content objects and content object components to change and display new presentations without having to program, compile and download new code on the mobile networked device.
US08271872B2
A technique for aligning a plurality of media clips is provided. One or more intra-clip points of interest (POIs) are identified in at least a first media clip. When aligning a first point in the first media clip with a second point in a second media clip, the first point may be snapped to the second point, wherein at least one of the first point and second point is an intra-clip POI. When a snap occurs, at least one of a visual or audible indication is generated, such as a “pop” sound, a snap line, or automatically aligning the first point with the second point when the first point is within a specified number of pixels of the second point. Techniques for representing multiple channels of an audio clip as a single waveform and caching waveforms are also provided.
US08271868B2
An embodiment of the current invention is directed to inserting content from a source website into a destination website. Content from the source website is selected as selected content. A destination website is navigated to and, thereafter, a script is executed in a window displaying the destination website. In embodiments, the script performs a process that includes retrieving the selected content and displaying the selected content on the destination website.
US08271857B2
The invention includes a method for longitudinal position (LPOS) detection in a magnetic tape storage system for storing data upon linear tape open (LTO) magnetic storage tape, which data includes odd and even 36-bit LPOS words with error correcting ability. The method includes steps of encoding positional information onto the magnetic storage tape within the odd and even 36-bit LPOS words using each LPOS word's 8-bit sync mark field, Sy, and six of each LPOS word's 4-bit symbol fields, L0, L1, L2 L3, L4, and L5, wherein 6 of 24 total bits comprising the encoded 8-bit sync mark field: Sy, and six 4-bit symbol fields: L0, L1, L2 L3, L4, and L5 are utilized as parity bits, operating the magnetic tape storage system by passing the LTO magnetic storage tape encoded with the odd and even LPOS words with error correcting ability longitudinally across a servo reader/writer at a known speed, decoding the encoded positional information by reading either two words sequentially or two words simultaneously, the simultaneous reading requiring that the LPOS words include servo band numbers and detecting and correcting both ambiguous bits and single erroneous bit errors.
US08271856B2
To control operations of a resistive memory device, an input-output operation of an error check and correction (ECC) code is separated from an input-output operation of data. A condition of the input-output operation of the ECC code is determined stricter than a condition of the input-output operation of the data. reliability of the input-output operation of the ECC code may be enhanced, thereby reducing errors due to defect memory cells, noise, etc.
US08271849B2
Modification of the prior-art M/H system to better suit transmission of internet-protocol (IP) transport packets includes a standard codeword length for a plurality of various options for transverse Reed-Solomon coding of M/H data, which options offer different degrees of forward-error-correction capability. A 235-byte standard codeword length for TRS coding of M/H data allows extending the FIC-Chunks in the Fast Information Channel signaling to double length so as to substantially increase the capability of such signaling to convey information concerning M/H services. In some transmitter apparatus constructed in accordance with aspect of the invention the TRS encoder in the M/H Frame encoder is modified for transmitting the parity bytes of TRS codewords before, rather than after, the data bytes of those TRS codewords.
US08271847B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for N+1 packet level mesh protection. An error correction encoding method is provided that assembles M-T data packets; appends a sequence number and a payload integrity check to each of the M-T data packets; and creates T protection packets having the sequence number and payload integrity check, wherein a payload for each of the T protection packets are formed from corresponding symbols in the M-T data packets. An error correction decoding method is also provided that receives a plurality of error-free packets and one or more packets having an error; and reconstructs the one or more packets having an error by applying block erasure decoding to said plurality of error-free packets, whereby one packet having an error can be reconstructed for each protection packet used to encode the received packets.
US08271842B2
Systems, methods and apparatuses for reducing HARQ retransmissions using peak power management techniques are presented. In one example, a receiver may perform multi-level error correction for reducing HARQ retransmissions. The receiver may include a Peak-to-Average-Power Ratio Management Module (PAPR MM) decoder configured to perform a first level of error correction utilizing retransmissions originating at a front end of a distal transmitter. The receiver may further include a symbol demapping module connected to the PAPR MM decoder, a deinterleaver connected to the symbol demapping module, and a decoder connected to the deinterleaver and the PAPR MM decoder, where the decoder may be configured to perform a second level of error correction utilizing retransmissions originating at a back end of the distal transmitter. A transmitter for reducing HARQ retransmissions using PAPR techniques is also presented.
US08271841B2
A method for testing an integrated circuit to detect delay faults resulting from a signal path from a first block of the integrated circuit to a second block of the integrated circuit, wherein first and second blocks are running at different application speeds. The method may include shifting first data into scan memory cells of the integrated circuit at a first frequency; applying a launch test clock pulse to the first block at a second frequency; applying a capture test clock pulse to the second block at the second frequency, wherein the first edges of the launch and capture pulses are delayed with respect to each other by a period that is a reciprocal of the second frequency; shifting second data from the scan memory cells to an output at the first frequency; and comparing the second data at the output with expected values.
US08271837B2
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for performing asynchronous testing of an application that is occasionally connected to an online services system, metadata describing at least a portion of an online services database is retrieved and the at least a portion of the online services database is authorized for replication at a software application, information is determined for an entity for an application database from the metadata, a request is sent for a database using the software application interface and the request has an asynchronous operation call to the database for the entity, an execution of the asynchronous operation call is recorded within a callback function, a response is received for the asynchronous operation call, and a result is determined for the software application performance.
US08271834B2
A method and system for providing immunity to a computer system wherein the system includes an immunity module, a recovery module, a maintenance module, an assessment module, and a decision module, wherein the immunity module, the recovery module, the maintenance module and the assessment module are each linked to the decision module. The maintenance module monitors the system for errors and sends an error alert message to the assessment module, which determines the severity of the error and the type of package required to fix the error. The assessment module sends a request regarding the type of package required to fix the error to the recovery module. The recovery module sends the package required to fix the error to the maintenance module, which fixes the error in the system.
US08271833B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for system recovery. An operating system and a backup copy of the operating system are both maintained in a partition of a computational device. A boot loader receives an indication to load the backup copy of the operating system. The boot loader loads the backup copy of the operating system. The computational device is rebooted with the loaded backup copy of the operating system.
US08271832B2
The described embodiments include a processor that handles faults during execution of a vector instruction. The processor starts by receiving a vector instruction that uses at least one vector of values that includes N elements as an input. In addition, the processor optionally receives a predicate vector that includes N elements. The processor then executes the vector instruction. In the described embodiments, when executing the vector instruction, if the predicate vector is received, for each element in the vector of values for which a corresponding element in the predicate vector is active, otherwise, for each element in the vector of values, the processor performs an operation for the vector instruction for the element in the vector of values. While performing the operation, the processor conditionally masks faults encountered (i.e., faults caused by an illegal operation).
US08271831B2
A method, system, and computer usable program product for tolerating soft errors by selective duplication are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application executing in a data processing system, selects an instruction that has to be protected from soft errors. The instruction is marked for duplication such that the instruction is duplicated during execution of the instruction. The marked instruction is sent for execution to a hardware front end.
US08271829B2
A network error detecting method checks if a network connection device has an Internet protocol (IP) address, if domain name mapping of web pages is correct, and if data communication between a web browser and a web server is correct. Accordingly, the network connection device informs the web browser of an IP address error, a domain name mapping error, or a data communication error. The web browser displays the network errors to users when the network errors are detected.
US08271815B2
This invention relates to a standby power control device, which is able to apply in controlling the ON/OFF state of the power of a computer and a plurality of peripheral devices, which comprises: a power input unit, a power transformation unit, a switching unit, a start control unit, a power control unit, a power output unit, and a micro-process unit, wherein the micro-process unit is connected to the computer to detect a boot signal and a shut down signal. When the computer is shut down, the micro-process unit receives the shut down signal and to turn off the start control unit to facilitate the power control unit to disable the connection of the power input unit and the power output unit, so that the standby power of the computer and the peripheral devices is turned off for achieving the purpose of saving the electrical power.
US08271810B1
Disclosed is a dynamic detector to detect an environmental condition including a power-supply level relative to a predetermined threshold signal during a training phase; and an adjustable buffer, coupled with the dynamic detector, configured to adjust output drive strength during the training phase in response to the detected environmental condition.
US08271809B2
Illustrative embodiments estimate power consumption within a multi-core microprocessor chip. An authorized user selects a set of activities to be monitored. A value for each activity of the set of activities is stored in a separate counter of a set of counters, forming a set of stored values. The value comprises the count multiplied by a weight factor specific to the activity. The set of activities are grouped into subsets. The stored values corresponding to each activity in each subset are summed, forming a total value for each subset. The total value of each subset is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the subset, forming a scaled value for each subset. The scaled value of each subset is summed, forming a power usage value. A power manager adjusts the operational parameters of the unit based on a comparison of the power usage value to a threshold value.
US08271803B2
A first process operating on a computer comprises code to be executed in connection therewith, where the code includes at least one triggering device. A digital license corresponds to the first process and sets forth terms and conditions for operating the first process. A second process operating on the computer proxy-executes code corresponding to each triggering device of the first process on behalf of such first process. The second process includes a selection of options to thwart reverse engineering by a debugger if a debugger is detected. The options include execution by a proxy engine of a re-routed call, crashing the first process, detection ad elimination of a debugger related interrupt a call to an arbitrary function.
US08271780B2
A trusted network connect method for enhancing security, it pre-prepares platform integrity information, sets an integrity verify demand. A network access requestor initiates an access request, a network access authority starts a process for bi-directional user authentication, begins to perform the triplex element peer authentication protocol with a user authentication service unit. After the success of the bi-directional user authentication, a TNC server and a TNC client perform bi-directional platform integrity evaluation. The network access requestor and the network access authority control ports according to their respective recommendations, implement the mutual access control of the access requestor and the access authority. The present invention solves the technical problems in the background technologies: the security is lower relatively, the access requestor may be unable to verify the validity of the AIK credential and the platform integrity evaluation is not parity. The present invention may simplify the management of the key and the mechanism of integrity verification, expand the application scope of the trusted network connect.
US08271771B1
A computer-implemented method for restoring an image to an encrypted disk is described. An image to restore to the disk is identified. Information is read from one or more filesystems currently residing on the disk to identify one or more sectors on the disk that are reserved for a disk encryption driver. The image is restored to one or more non-reserved sectors on the disk. One or more filesystems are created on the disk that are associated with the restored image.
US08271769B2
A method and apparatus for dynamic adaptation of a configuration to a system environment. An embodiment of a method includes obtaining system information for a system. The system information is stored in a memory. A setting of an abstract configuration for the system is resolved, with the resolution of the setting being based at least in part on the system information.
US08271765B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer-implemented method, apparatus, and a system for managing instructions. A load/store unit receives a first instruction at a port. The load/store unit rejects the first instruction in response to determining that the first instruction has a first reject condition. Then, the instruction sequencing unit activates a first bit in response to the load/store unit rejection the first instruction. The instruction sequencing unit blocks the first instruction from reissue while the first bit is activated. The processor unit determines a class of rejection of the first instruction. The instruction sequencing unit starts a timer. The length of the timer is based on the class of rejection of the first instruction. The instruction sequencing unit resets the first bit in response to the timer expiring. The instruction sequencing unit allows the first instruction to become eligible for reissue in response to resetting the first bit.
US08271759B2
Provided is a storage system comprising a plurality of storage subsystem in which each storage subsystem includes a storage resource and controls access from a host system to the storage resource of the storage subsystem. The storage system is capable of simply and promptly changing the operation of a storage subsystem between operating as a stand-alone system and virtualize the plurality of storage subsystems logically into one virtual storage subsystem and execute a first mode of causing a host system to recognize the virtual storage subsystem. The storage is further able to execute a second mode of causing the host system to recognize the plurality of storage subsystems respectively as separate storage subsystems.
US08271754B2
A system, method and computer-usable medium are disclosed for recovering data from a memory storage device. The operating system (OS) of an IPS comprising a source memory storage device, further comprising stored data, is monitored to detect a defective operating state. If a defective operating state of the OS is detected, then operation of the IPS is terminated, followed by the initiation of IPS boot operations to recover data from the source memory storage device. The OS is bypassed, and initial boot operations are performed from a management controller or from the BIOS of the IPS. Additional boot operations are performed, and once the IPS has been brought to an operative state, a data recovery module is used to transfer data from the source memory storage device to a target storage device.
US08271753B2
Difference information between two snapshots from a first point-in-time snapshot, which has been copied, to an Nth point-in-time snapshot, which constitutes the latest point-in-time snapshot, is acquired to a memory module. The memory module stores two or more pieces of difference information. The two or more pieces of difference information comprise difference information that shows the difference between a first point-in-time snapshot and any snapshot other than the first point-in-time snapshot of N snapshots. Copy difference information, which is information that shows the difference between the first point-in-time snapshot and a specified snapshot from among N snapshots, and which is used in copying the specified snapshot, is created on the basis of the two or more pieces of difference information.
US08271751B2
Systems and methods allow for reliably and efficiently managing files stored on a data storage medium associated with a computer system such as a set-top box. The computer system manages a collection of metadata describing each of the files stored on the data storage medium in a memory during operation of the computer system. A current snapshot of the collection of metadata is periodically or otherwise stored to the data storage medium. Following a reboot of the computer system, the collection of metadata can be recovered to the memory from the snapshot of the collection of metadata stored on the data storage medium.
US08271750B2
A data processing system includes a data store having storage locations storing entries which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as operand value prediction, branch prediction, etc. An entry profile store stores profile data for more candidate entries than there are storage locations within the data store. The profile data is used to determine replacement policy for entries within the data store. The profile data can include hash values used to determine whether predictions associated with candidate entries were correct without having to store the full predictions within the profile data.
US08271744B2
A device, method, and system for switching library managers of a data library while maintaining data library storage devices online. A library manager accepts and executes data transaction commands for access to data residing on the storage devices of the data library. A transition manager module receives a directive to transition library management functions from a first library manager to a second library manager. The transition manager module stops the first library manager from accepting new data transaction commands while maintaining the storage devices online. The first library manager may execute previously accepted data transaction commands. The transition manager module suspends the library management functions of the first library manager and activates the library management functions of the second library manager. The storage devices of the data library may complete data transaction commands throughout the library manager transition.
US08271732B2
In one embodiment, a cache memory includes a data array having N ways and M sets and at least one fill buffer coupled to the data array, where the data array is segmented into multiple array portions such that only one of the portions is to be accessed to seek data for a memory request if the memory request is predicted to hit in the data array. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08271726B2
A data storage apparatus having a plurality of hard disk drives, having: a deletion control section which executes complete deletion processes of the plurality of hard disk drives simultaneously; and a display control section to form a progress status display information of the complete deletion processes by the deletion control section, which display information represents all the progress statuses of the plurality of the hard disk drives, and to display the display information on a display section.
US08271724B1
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system are provided to control access to the non-volatile log (NVlog) of a storage server. By controlling access to the NVLog of a storage server the relative disk write bandwidth available to different client write requests can be controlled. The incoming write request can be categorized, and, during times of heavy load, only be permitted to use NVLog space as permitted based on the categorization of each write request. In one embodiment, the present invention includes receiving a write request from a client at a storage server, and determining whether the received write request can be presently logged in a NVlog based on a category of the write request.
US08271719B2
A method of storing information at a non-volatile memory includes storing a status bit prior to storing data at the memory. A second status bit is stored after storing of the data. Because the storage of data is interleaved with the storage of the status bits, a brownout or other corrupting event during storage of the data will likely result in a failure to store the second status bit. Therefore, the first and second status bits can be compared to determine if the data was properly stored at the non-volatile memory.
US08271718B2
The present invention provides a criterion for determining whether or not to apply de-duplication processing. That is, by setting a reduction effect threshold to control switching the de-duplication between ON and OFF, the present invention allows operation such that the de-duplication is applied for a volume for which a high capacity-reduction effect is provided by the de-duplication processing, and in contrast, the de-duplication is not applied to maintain performance for a volume for which a low capacity-reduction effect is provided by the de-duplication processing.
US08271704B2
Provided are techniques for status information saving among multiple computers. In one embodiment, a selected computer is operated using a plurality of input/output devices over switched input/output signal paths passing through a KVM (keyboard video mouse) switch positioned between the selected computer and the plurality of input/output devices. Status data is carried over signal paths passing through the KVM switch wherein the status data represents status information for a plurality of computers connected to the KVM switch. The status data passing through the KVM switch is stored in a memory coupled to the KVM switch. Other embodiments are described and claimed. Other embodiments are contemplated, depending upon the particular application.
US08271699B2
A memory system includes n (n>1) memory arrays (1.1 to 1.n), a address decoder (2), a data connecting circuit (3), and a write controlling circuit (4). The address decoder (2) includes a decoder (5), and n−1 selectors (6.1 to 6.n−1). The memory system has an address bus (01) for lead in address A, k (k>1), input/output data buses (02.1 to 02.k) for data transmission, and a control bus (03) for lead in write control signals. The data is stored by bytes, each data byte D being addressable by one address A. After the address A has been set on the address bus (01), in memory arrays (1.1 to 1.n) the memory locations are activated in which the data bytes DA, DA+1, . . . , DA+k−1 are stored. The data connecting circuit (3) connects the data interfaces of the memory arrays (1.1 to 1.n) with the data buses (02.1 to 02.k) so that the first data bus (02.1) transmits the data byte DA, and simultaneously the second data bus (02.2) transmits the data byte DA+1, . . . , and simultaneously the k-th data bus (02.k) transmits the data byte DA+k−1. This parallel access memory provides parallel access to all bytes of sequentially arranged data, e.g. to unequal length instruction code, within one read/write memory cycle.
US08271692B1
A storage device comprising a storage media and a controller is disclosed. The controller is configured to receive access commands from a host, to write data to or read data from the storage media based on the access commands, to detect a trigger event, and, when the trigger event is detected, to throttle back the access commands from the host based on an amount of data in a cache.
US08271690B2
In a device having a capability of using time data acquired from an external time information generator, a notification unit notifies a user of time information. The notification unit also notifies the user whether the notified time information is based on time data acquired from the external time information generator. Processing performed by the device is restricted depending on a status associated with time information. Although some types of processing are allowed when the device is in a status in which the time information is based on the time data acquired from the external time information generator, the same type of processing are disabled when the device is in any other status associated with time information.
US08271688B2
In a network having transaction acceleration, for an accelerated transaction, a client directs a request to a client-side transaction handler that forwards the request to a server-side transaction handler, which in turn provides the request, or a representation thereof, to a server for responding to the request. The server sends the response to the server-side transaction handler, which forwards the response to the client-side transaction handler, which in turn provides the response to the client. Transactions are accelerated by the transaction handlers by storing segments of data used in the transactions in persistent segment storage accessible to the server-side transaction handler and in persistent segment storage accessible to the client-side transaction handler. When data is to be sent between the transaction handlers, the sending transaction handler compares the segments of the data to be sent with segments stored in its persistent segment storage and replaces segments of data with references to entries in its persistent segment storage that match or closely match the segments of data to be replaced. The receiving transaction store reconstructs the data sent by replacing segment references with corresponding segment data from its persistent segment storage, requesting missing segments from the sender as needed. The transaction accelerators could handle multiple clients and/or multiple servers and the segments stored in the persistent segment stores can relate to different transactions, different clients and/or different servers. Persistent segment stores can be prepopulated with segment data from other transaction accelerators.
US08271687B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises supplying, by a network node to a peer network node, a randomization seed assigned to the network node for generating a prescribed sequence of pseudorandom numbers according to a prescribed pseudorandom number generation function; encoding each data block having a corresponding position in an ordered sequence of a stream of data blocks, by the network node into a corresponding differentially-encoded data block based on applying a product of the corresponding data block and the corresponding pseudorandom number, having the corresponding position in the prescribed sequence, to a corresponding successively-preceding differentially-encoded data block from the prescribed ordered sequence, the data block recoverable solely based on a determined difference between the corresponding differentially-encoded data block and the corresponding successively-preceding differentially-encoded data block relative to the corresponding pseudorandom number; and outputting each differentially-encoded data block in a corresponding packet that identifies the network node and the corresponding position.
US08271683B2
A method, system and computer program product for pushing contents to client devices is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product handles group pushes, manages different content priorities, prevents one content push from starving others, and handles different transport mechanisms for different clients.
US08271667B2
A session management server, which is provided with a service determination table having a plurality of entries each indicating a service identifier in association with possible particular items of information which may be extracted from a session setup request packet, receives a session setup request packet issued from a client to a particular application server and determines whether the client terminal is authorized to receive an information service by referring to the determination table, in place of the particular application server. When the determination results in success, the session setup request packet is forwarded to the particular application server.
US08271640B2
A method and device for communicating information resources between subscriber end stations and nodes belonging to different network domains is described. The device instantiates different virtual network machines for different network domains using separate independently administrable network databases. Each of the administrable chores of the separate independently administrable network databases includes the assignment of access control and the configuration of the policies for those network databases. The policies include traffic filtering policies to indicate what kind of information payloads can be carried, traffic and route filtering policies to indicate what paths through the network will be used for each payload carried. Each of the network domains includes one of the different virtual network machines and each of the different network domains is virtually isolated from other network domains.
US08271633B2
The correlating network transactions techniques include a method, an apparatus, and/or a computer program product. In some embodiments of these techniques, the method includes receiving, at a first monitor server, a first plurality of network transmissions from a first plurality of communication networks and correlating, at the first monitor server, the first plurality of network transmissions based on information associated with the first plurality of network transmissions to form a first correlated network transaction. The method further includes transmitting the first correlated network transaction from the first monitor server to a second monitor server based on a first correlation flag and correlating, at the second monitor server, the first correlated network transaction with a second network transmission based on at least one of the first correlation flag, information associated with the second network transmission, and information associated with the first correlated network transaction to form a second correlated network transaction.
US08271625B2
A method and apparatus for synchronizing contents of devices in a home network are provided. The apparatus includes a determination unit which determines whether a first device and a second device support a common synchronization protocol. A synchronization request unit then requests at least one device to synchronize the contents using the common synchronization protocol determined by the determination unit.
US08271621B2
Techniques for communicating metadata are disclosed. According to one technique, a device comprises a configuration module. The configuration module contains and specifies a mapping table. For example, each mapping in the mapping table might indicate a standard, a retrieving protocol, and a packaging protocol. In the mapping table, a particular retrieving or packaging protocol can be mapped to more than one standard. The device comprises one or more separately implemented retrieving protocol modules and packaging protocol modules. The device receives a client's request. The device selects a retrieving protocol to interpret the request, and interprets the request using that protocol. The device uses the mapping table to determine a packaging protocol that is mapped to the client's standard. The device uses the selected packaging protocol to package, in the appropriate form, the requested metadata. The device sends the appropriately packaged metadata back to the client.
US08271613B2
An asynchronous hypertext messaging system and method are disclosed. The system and method use existing hypertext transfer protocols and is capable of transmitting real-time asynchronous data between server and client regardless of firewalls or proxy servers implemented at the client or the server. In a communication system comprising a client and server interconnected by an internet, initial authentication is performed initially between the server and the client. A secure log in is performed by the client with the server in conjunction with a possible java applet download. The communication server then initiates a multiplexed virtual connection between the server and the client and transmission of asynchronous real-time data can occur over the virtual connection. The virtual connection is periodically refreshed by a request issued from the java applet.
US08271602B2
Embodiments of the present invention introduces mechanisms that allow conversational Web services to have long running business transactions between multiple parties with persistent states. Web service addressing is used to exchange conversational identifiers between the client(s) who requests the service and the server who provides it. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US08271590B2
A computer-implemented method of sorting electronic messages can include identifying at least one recipient of an electronic message and retrieving a classification scheme of the recipient. An identifier can be included within the electronic message. The identifier can specify a tag selected from the classification scheme of the recipient. The electronic message, including the identifier specifying the selected tag, can be sent.
US08271588B1
Systems and methods for filtering fraudulent email messages are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an email message, determining whether the email message is indicative of fraud, and creating a fraud filter based on the email message if the email message is fraudulent.
US08271579B2
A server implemented method for facilitating execution of an application for a wireless device. The server selects a plurality of scene components. The scene components comprise at least one functional unit operable to execute functions associated with the scene components. The functions of said functional units are a portion of an application operable to be executed by the wireless device. The server further selects a plurality of assets. The assets are operable to be used in rendering a scene utilizing said plurality of scene components. The server determines a partition of functionality of the application which defines a server behavior module for executing on the server and a client behavior module for executing on the wireless device. The server customizes the plurality of scene components and the plurality of assets for the wireless device. The plurality of scene components and plurality of assets are sent to the wireless device for execution and rendering.
US08271578B2
A method of transferring data objects over a network comprises intercepting a network transfer message with a passing object, creating a unique identifier for the object using a predetermined function, the same function having been used to provide identifiers for objects stored at predetermined nodes of said network, removing the object and sending on the network transfer message with the unique identifier in place of the object. Then, at the recipient end it is possible to obtain the unique identifier and use it as a key to search for a corresponding object in the local nodes. The search starts with a node closest to the recipient and steadily spreads outwards. The object when found is reattached for the benefit of the recipient and network bandwidth has been saved by the avoidance of redundant transfer since the object is brought to the recipient from the node which is the closest to him.
US08271575B2
Particular embodiments provide interaction between items in a network. For example, lists of content may be shared between items connected through a network. A user may use a first item to select a second item in which content should be outputted. Instead of sending the content to the second item, the first item may generate and send a list of content to the second item instead of the content. A messaging infrastructure is used to allow the items to communicate the list of content between each other. The second item can then process the list and then determine how to access the item. This allows two different items to share content without the transfer of content between them. In another example, an item may be used to interact with a user interface of a second item. For example, an input device on a first item is used to provide input to a second item.
US08271570B2
A unified integer/Galois-Field 2m multiplier performs multiply operations for public-key systems such as Rivert, Shamir, Aldeman (RSA), Diffie-Hellman key exchange (DH) and Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem (ECC). The multiply operations may be performed on prime fields and different composite binary fields in independent multipliers in an interleaved fashion.
US08271569B2
A technique for performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) includes storing, in a single-port memory, multiple signal points. A first group of consecutive ones of the multiple signal points are fetched (from a first line of the single-port memory) to a first input register associated with a processor that includes multiple arithmetic units (AUs) that are each configured to perform multiply accumulate (MAC) operations. A second group of consecutive ones of the multiple signal points are then fetched (from a second line of the single-port memory) to a second input register associated with the processor. Selected pairs of the multiple signal points are then loaded (one from each of the first and second input registers for each pair) into the multiple arithmetic units during an initial butterfly stage. Radix-2 butterfly operations are then performed on the selected pairs of the multiple signal points (using the multiple AUs) to provide respective output elements.
US08271566B2
The present invention provides a system and method for time-series with compression accuracy as a function of time. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a computer with a processor. The system performs a method receiving a data set on the computer, utilizing a plurality of filter banks to transform the data set into a plurality coefficients, wherein each coefficient is associated with a basis function, and quantizing the plurality of coefficients, wherein the quantization maps the plurality of coefficients into certain value ranges. Then, system further performs determining a threshold based upon each coefficient effect on a time domain, disregarding the coefficient that fall below the threshold, and storing any remaining coefficients as compressed data for the data set.
US08271565B2
Method, apparatus, and program means for nonlinear filtering and deblocking applications utilizing SIMD sign and absolute value operations. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving first data for a first block and second data for a second block. The first data and said second data are comprised of a plurality of rows and columns of pixel data. A block boundary between the first block and the second block is characterized. A correction factor for a deblocking algorithm is calculated with a first instruction for a sign operation that multiplies and with a second instruction for an absolute value operation. Data for pixels located along said block boundary between the first and second block are corrected.
US08271563B1
A computer-enabled system, method, and medium is provided to support, e.g., analyzing intellectual property documents by assigning attributes to the documents. The present invention is suitable for use by intellectual property professionals and is flexible to support development and use of customized attribute types and attributes. Optionally, a group of intellectual property documents can be divided into projects, which can be ingested including assigning attributes. Optionally, the attributes can be used to filter information included in e.g., searches, and/or reports.
US08271561B2
A software product comprising a set of computer instructions stored on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer processor to maintain a profile object representing profile data, receive a first command based on the profile object to access an attribute value, and access the attribute value. The profile object can include at least one profile section that acts as a container for attributes and at least one attribute for each profile section. The attributes can essentially be variables having a name and a value.
US08271555B2
A system for external monitoring of networked digital file sharing to track predetermined data content, the system comprising: at least one surveillance element for deployment over said network, said surveillance elements comprising: surveillance functionality for searching said digital file sharing and identification functionality associated with said search functionality for identification of said predetermined data content, therewith to determine whether a given file sharing system is distributing said predetermined data content.
US08271554B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus. In some aspects, a decoding method comprises receiving multimedia data which comprises a media area including a video data area having a plurality of video contents and an audio data area having a plurality of audio contents, a media information area including a plurality of video track areas respectively corresponding to the video contents and a plurality of audio track areas respectively corresponding to the audio contents, and a menu description area including description data for displaying a menu that provides an interface between a user and media data in the media area; displaying a menu using the description data; and decoding media data extracted from the media area based on the menu, wherein each of the video track areas and the audio track areas comprises at least one of temporal information and spatial information of a corresponding content, and the media area, the media information area and the menu description area are incorporated into a single file. The disclosed embodiments include a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus can construct a multi media data file including a plurality of video/audio contents and description data for a menu between a user and media data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can be reduced.
US08271553B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus. In some aspects, a decoding method comprises receiving multimedia data which comprises a media area including a video data area and an audio data area, a media information area including a video track area and an audio track area respectively corresponding to the video data area and the audio data area, and a menu description area including description data for displaying a menu that provides an interface between a user and media data in the media area; extracting the description data from the multimedia data, the description data being described using a scene representation format; decoding the extracted description data by extracting scalable vector graphics format data form the description data; rendering a menu using the decoded description data; and decoding media data extracted from the media area based on the menu, wherein the media area, the media information area and the menu description area are incorporated into a single file. The disclosed embodiments include a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus can construct a multi media data file including a plurality of video/audio contents and description data for a menu between a user and media data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can be reduced.
US08271551B2
The present invention relates to a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus. The encoding method includes generating a file type area having information on a file format; generating a data area comprising a plurality of media data areas; and generating a media information area comprising a plurality of track areas corresponding to the plurality of media data areas, respectively. According to the present invention, the multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus has an effect of being capable of constructing a slide show by only a small amount of multimedia data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can reduce.
US08271550B2
A memory management system for managing memory of a processing device and a corresponding method thereof. The system comprises a memory manager and a garbage collector. The memory manager is configured to allocate memory after dividing discrete units of memory into smaller units. The garbage collector is configured to organize a memory availability collection of free units of memory in the memory manager. The collection is ordered based on at least one of the amount of each of the discrete units available and the allocation age of the discrete units.
US08271546B2
A set of ordered predicted completion strings are presented to a user as the user enters text in a text entry box (e.g., a browser or a toolbar). The predicted completion strings can be in the form of URLs or query strings. The ordering may be based on any number of factors (e.g., a query's frequency of submission from a community of users). URLs can be ranked based on an importance value of the URL. Privacy is taken into account in a number of ways, such as using a previously submitted query only when more than a certain number of unique requestors have made the query. The sets of ordered predicted completion strings is obtained by matching a fingerprint value of the user's entry string to a fingerprint to table map which contains the set of ordered predicted completion strings.
US08271543B2
In one embodiment, an identification (ID) of a person involved in a current communication is utilized to access a communication log to determine an active time interval of a previous communication with the same person. The active time interval is utilized to identify the context material of the previous communication and access to the context material is provided during the current communication.
US08271540B2
An exemplary MMIC (“Multi-Mode Interviewing Capability”) survey program is a computerized tool that supports various traditional modes of collecting interview data, including telephone interviewing, written interviewing, and personal interviewing, and can be used to manage the whole interview process from questionnaire design, sample management, and fieldwork monitoring to final dataset production. The collected data may also include non-textual data from survey participants such as medical measurements of blood pressure and heart rate. Self-interviewing using the Internet is also possible which permits real time availability of results and the participation of respondents from virtually anywhere in the world, using devices such as PDA's, Smart phones and Web TV's. The MMIC survey structure is non-linear and object oriented, which permits a connection between all the building blocks of the survey to be defined on any level. The compiled survey includes sufficient metadata to facilitate decompilation and the production of equivalent source code in any supported programming language, whether or not it was originally programmed in that language. This stored metadata not only allows researchers to later trace back the exact conditions under which this particular answer was given, but also permits results from multiple iterations of the related surveys to be combined in a rigorous manner that will be transparent to subsequent analysis and research.
US08271532B2
A method and apparatus for improving the system response time when URL filtering is employed to provide security for web access. The method involves gathering the attributes of the user, and pre-populating a local URL-rating cache with URLs and corresponding ratings associated with analogous attributes from a URL cache database. Thus, the cache hit rate is higher with a pre-populated local URL rating cache, and the system response time is also improved.
US08271523B2
In a structure where a table is partitioned into multiple databases according to a certain partitioning method, a coordinator server changes allocation information that is used to determine a database into which each of data records should be registered when an allocation change command is issued. The coordinator server stores therein allocation history information, which is the allocation information used before the change. When an entry request to make an entry of a new data record from a client, a database to enter the new data record is determined based on the stored allocation history information and the changed allocation information, and an entry request is sent to a database server having the determined database.
US08271522B2
A method of matching queries in a hybrid infrastructure/infrastructure-less network, the network comprising pluralities of first and second type communication devices respectively, the method comprising placing a first query by a user on one of the first type devices and forwarding the query via infrastructure based communication to one of the second type devices; forwarding, depending on a category of the first query, the first query from the one second type device to one or more first type devices via infrastructure based communication; and relaying the first query from each of one or more first type devices to one or more neighboring first type devices via infrastructure-less communication.
US08271518B2
A method of searching real numbers for a nearest neighbor to a query point includes a construction phase in which a database of the real numbers is prepared; and a search phase in which the nearest neighbor is searched by the use of the database. The database includes a series of buckets that respectively correspond to small one-dimensional spaces defined by dividing a one-dimensional space between a minimum real number and a maximum real number at regular intervals. The buckets include data about real number(s) falling in one of the small one-dimensional spaces corresponding to the bucket concerned, and the number of the real number(s). The search phase includes locating one of the buckets in which the query point falls; checking the bucket size of the located bucket whether the bucket size thereof is zero; and searching the nearest neighbor by the use of the data in the bucket.
US08271516B2
A social network service provides trusted, timely and managed communications between a querying individual and an informed individual by optimizing distribution of queries to reflect a requisite amount of expertise necessary (i.e., interest, background, education, demographic attribute, etc.). Those candidate recipients with a rare level of expertise or specialization can specify a desired level of participation, which is respected. In order not to exhaust their availability, those who are less qualified or part of a larger demographic category appropriate for the query are selected to handle queries of lesser difficulty or less specialization. Anonymity if desired by the recipient party can be supported by increasing the pool of candidate recipients so that the querying party cannot reasonably ascertain who is responding. Timeliness of response, as well as satisfaction in the response, is tracked in order to affect redirection of a query.
US08271515B2
An invention is provided for affording CopyBack data integrity in a non-volatile memory system. When the potential for moving data with a CopyBack command occurs, a counter corresponding to the data is examined. When the counter is below a predetermined limit, the counter is incremented and data from the block of data is moved using a CopyBack command. However, when the counter reaches the predetermined limit, the counter is reset and data from the block of data is moved to system memory and examined for errors. Once any errors are corrected, the data is transferred back to the non-volatile memory.
US08271513B1
A module determining a named entity of terminology includes a named entity dictionary and mining rule database storing the named entity dictionary where named entity of terminology combined with the ontology schema and connected to concept is defined, and a mining rule database where a mining rule configured with mining pattern and RDF triple combined with the ontology schema and connected to relationship name is defined; a named entity and mining rule search unit searching for corresponding mining rule and named entity from the mining rule database and the named entity dictionary using inputted mining pattern and terminology included in the mining pattern; and a names entity selection unit selecting, if two or more named entities corresponding to the terminology are searched, named entity matching to the concept configuring the RDF triple of the searched mining rule as named entity of the terminology among the searched named entities.
US08271507B2
A server runs a software program controlling a system and is connected to the Internet to communicate with one or more advertising agencies. A client of the agencies has a home location with a server connected to the Internet for communication with the server and the agencies. The client can have branches that are connected to the Internet for communication with the server and the Client Home and, in some circumstances, with the agencies. Also connected to the Internet are Media parties representing any and all types of advertising display parties such as radio, television, print, billboard, etc. The media parties also could be brokers that place the advertising with various media outlets.
US08271506B2
The disclosure describes systems and methods for modeling relationships between entities on a network using data collected from a plurality of communication channels including social data, spatial data, temporal data and logical data within a W4 Network. The W4 Network personalizes and automates sorting, filtering and processing of W4COMN communications delivered or requested to be delivered using personalized value-based ranking and encoding of data, which is modeled from the point-of-view (POV) of any specific user, topic or node in the W4 Distributed graph. POV modeling supplies comparative value services to users which entails individuated data models to be aggregated and used in customization and personalization forecasting for each user and their associated data management needs.
US08271502B2
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for summarizing the content of a plurality of documents and presenting the results of such multiple-document summarization to a user in such a way that the user is able to quickly and easily discern what, if any, unique information each document contains. Each sentence of each document is assigned a score based upon the perceived importance of the information contained therein. The sentences receiving the highest scores are then compared with one another to identify and remove any duplicate sentences. The remaining high-scoring sentences are extracted from the corresponding documents and presented to the user, for instance, in a bulleted list format. The user can then simply scan the list and can quickly and easily discern the unique information contained in each document.
US08271497B2
In a position history analysis unit for analyzing a position history to acquire movement history information such as places of stay, a speed history computation unit refers to the position history to determine a speed occurring at each point of time and to obtain a speed history. A categorization unit organizes a time axis in the position history, and, ultimately, data for position coordinates occurring at respective points of time, into segments of stay and segments of movement, by checking the speed history against a threshold value. A merge unit detects segments of stay which occur at different points of time but which are identified as indicating stays in the same place, by feeding the time flow, categorized into segments of stay and segments of movement by the categorization unit based on the speed, back to the position coordinates in the respective segments. The merge unit merges the segments of stay as needed. An information generation unit evaluates a set of position coordinates and speed values in each segment of stay and in each segment of movement thus obtained and derives predetermined information on each segment.
US08271491B2
An apparatus and method for recording activities of an avatar in a virtual world by means of a computer including: means for dividing the virtual world into a plurality of blocks each provided with a unique ID; means for recording a movement history in a storage area of the computer, the movement history including the ID of each block which an avatar acting in the virtual world enters and a time point at which the avatar enters the block; means for deleting the movement history between the first and the last blocks of a plurality of blocks which the avatar enters if the plurality of blocks are continuous in a straight line in one direction; and activity record DB recording means for recording, as an activity dataset in an activity record DB, an event content, the movement history and a repetition count of an event.
US08271488B2
A program may be used to increase traffic flow to a Web site by analyzing, optimizing and submitting the Web site to one or more search engines. The program may accept search phrases and check the compatibility of the Web site with the search phrases as well as check the textual content, the parseability and the spiderability of the Web site. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis mimics the ranking methodologies used by the search engines. The program assists the owner of the Web site in optimizing the Web site for the search engines, possibly by automatically editing the code of the Web site, and submits the Web site for registration with the selected search engines. The program may be repeated from time to time to insure the Web site remains in an optimized state.
US08271480B2
A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.
US08271479B2
Embodiments of the invention disclose a method, a system and a computer program product of discovering automated insights in XML data by generating a query result in response to querying data using a query, wherein the data is in a markup language format, and identifying a pattern associated with the query result, wherein the data in the markup language format is used for pattern identification.
US08271475B2
An approach that applies user context to searches in a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an enhanced virtual universe search tool that includes a receiving component configured to receive a query from an avatar that is online in the virtual universe. A scanning component is configured to scan a collection of avatar data describing attributes that are relevant to behavioral, search and informational needs of the avatar. A resource search component is configured to return search results for the query that are in accordance with the scanned collection of avatar data.
US08271463B2
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided for accessing data within data repositories. Public UDTFs, private UDTFs and a metadata processor are utilized to provide access to data residing in a variety of data repositories.
US08271456B2
Information is retrieved by receiving a list of one or more files to be restored; and obtaining a contiguous group of blocks that includes a first segment of one or more blocks associated with the one or more files to be restored, a gap of one or more blocks that are not associated with the one or more files to be restored that is adjacent to the first segment, and a second segment of one or more blocks associated with the one or more files to be restored that is adjacent to the gap.
US08271444B2
A storage control device uses write management information that manages locations of the occurrence of writing in one or more first storage devices in order to specify one or more locations where writing has occurred, and backs up one or more data elements stored in one or more specified locations to a second storage device. In order to perform a restore operation, write management information at the time of a backup is stored, and data elements stored in the second storage device are restored to one or more locations specified from the write management information at that time of backup, or to one or more new locations specified from new write management information indicating one or more new locations corresponding to the one or more locations.
US08271442B2
Tools and techniques are described for formats for database template files shared between client and server environments. Systems provided by these tools may include client subsystems that include client-side database management applications that instantiate tables within a database, and instantiate client-specific database template files corresponding respectively to the tables. These database management applications may also instantiate server-specific database template files that correspond to the client-specific template files, and may enable servers to access the server-specific template file. These systems may also include server subsystems that further include server-side database management services that access the server-specific template files, and instantiate server-side template files based thereon. In turn, the database management services may create database applications from the server-side template files.
US08271439B2
A method for providing synchronized updates to a data record in a data store, the data record including a plurality of data fields, each of the plurality of data fields having an initial field value, the method includes reading the data record from the data store into a data record in memory, each of the plurality of data fields of the data record in the data store having a corresponding data field in the data record in memory, the data fields in the data record in memory having inspectable and modifiable field values; identifying a set of relevant fields comprising at least one of an inspected field and a modified field of the data record in memory; in response to a determination that fields of the data record in the data store corresponding to each of the fields in the set of relevant fields has a value of its initial field value, updating the data record in the data store with the value of modified fields in the data record in memory.
US08271435B2
A partial entry of a service request is received into a service request window. Responsive to the receiving the partial entry of the service request, a first querying operation is performed on a first topic map. The first querying operation includes constructing a first query based on the partial entry. The first topic map is stored in conjunction with the application, and the application generates the service request window. Responsive to the performing the first querying operation, a first group of service request solution identifiers are retrieved. A result display is populated with the first group of service request solution identifiers. Responsive to a selection of a selected service request solution identifier from the result display, a service request solution associated with the selected service request solution identifier is retrieved. The service request window is populated with details derived from the service request solution.
US08271432B2
A method and apparatus for calculating a score for word selection, which may be used to preprocess sets of words prior to a dimensionality reduction process, employs information about relationships between words themselves (such as synonym relationships) or relationships between items with which the words are associated (such as products in a catalog). In some embodiments, the relationships are also community based; i.e., the relationships are established by a community of users. The relationships may be references to two or more word sets in which the word of interest is common. In one embodiment, the word sets are descriptions of products in an online catalog, the community is the group of people who view the catalog, and the relationships used for calculating the score for a particular word of interest are coreferences (e.g., viewing or purchasing) of pairs of products for which the catalog descriptions both include the particular word.
US08271428B2
A data warehouse is created using an input file that can contain sub-documents of different formats. A root document model including path names to all nodes among the sub-documents is generated, and a table is generated with columns being derived from the path names of the root model. The sub-documents are shredded to populate the table. Then, the dimensions of the data warehouse are defined by selecting respective columns. A routine such as a DDL may then be generated to populate the data warehouse with data.
US08271426B2
A method includes storing a first value for one or more measures in a block of data for the cube of data. The first value is a value where the state of the cube is that no changes are applicable to the block of data. A second value is stored for the one or more measures in the block of data. The second value is a delta value representing changes made to the block of data based on the first value. A change is received to the block. A computer processor then calculates a new second value based on the change to the block. The new second value is stored in place of the second value previously stored while the first value remains the same. The second value represents the cumulative changes to the measure since the frozen value was determined.
US08271420B2
Systems and methods are provided for integrating educational software. In one implementation, a first method includes providing on a first server an integrated learning management system adapted to exchange education data and materials via a connector interface, providing on the first server a first component which responds to requests made by the integrated system via the connector interface to exchange education data and materials with a first source learning management system, and exchanging education data and materials between the integrated system and the first system via the first component by use of the connector interface.
US08271416B2
A method for dynamically determining a predetermined previous condition of a rule-based system comprising a plurality of rules. Each of the plurality of rules is associated with a transaction and a condition under which the transaction is executed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) determining a system condition; (b) determining an immediate previous condition that caused the system condition; (c) setting the immediate previous condition to the system condition; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until the predetermined previous condition is reached.
US08271410B2
A user data engine residing on an endpoint machine generates a current user context reflecting a specific flow of operations performed by an end-user when interacting with a software application. A context engine residing on a sever machine compares the current user context to one or more stored user contexts included in a context database and generates a similarity value based on each comparison. A resource engine identifies resources in a resource database that are associated with the stored user contexts and then generates a relevance score for each resource based on the similarity scores corresponding to the stored user contexts with which those resources are associated. The resource engine transmits a resource list reflecting the identified resources to the user data engine based on the relevance scores. The user data engine displays on a display screen of the endpoint machine information associated with resources reflected in the resource list.
US08271406B2
An optimization engine includes a mixed-integer programming (MIP) solver that receives a programming model, an outcome objective, and a group of start vectors. Each of the MIP start vectors in the group specify one or more restrictions to apply to the programming model. The MIP solver uses the programming model to compute a potential solution from each of the MIP start vectors included in the group, which results in a group of potential solutions. Next, the MIP solver selects one of the potential solutions in the group as an optimal intra-group solution. The optimal intra-group solution is the potential solution in the group that best achieves the outcome objective. In turn, the optimal intra-group solution is used to complete the outcome objective.
US08271405B2
A method is provided for constructing at least one decision graph for managing at least one applicative stream assigned to a terminal and set up between the terminal and a correspondent via at least one communication network. The method includes a step of dynamically constructing at least one possible decision graph for the one applicative stream assigned to the terminal, itself including a step of exchanging at least one configuration message between at least two decision modules pertaining to a predetermined set of decision modules.
US08271404B2
Techniques are disclosed for generating complex invariants in a program using a Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solver. In one embodiment, the generated invariants may be used to validate assert statements in a program. Additionally or alternatively, a weakest pre-condition invariant may be generated such that parameters passed to the program that satisfy the weakest pre-condition are guaranteed to satisfy the program's assert statements. Additionally or alternatively, a strongest post-condition may be generated, determining what is guaranteed to be true about the state of the program upon completion of the program. In one embodiment, the SMT solver generates invariants by mapping predicates onto unknown variables in a template. The template may comprise unknown variables related by logical structures defined with disjunctions, universal quantifiers, and existential quantifiers. The predicates may comprise equalities and inequalities between program variables.
US08271401B2
An expert system may be utilized for providing and receiving interactive, computer-implemented support services related to chemical processing units. The expert system may include a knowledge base that contains information coded in the form of rules, decision trees, and logic and a database that stores and handles various types of information related to the expert system. A query component receives a query that may be a problem, a performance issue, or a training request selected from a list or diagram or otherwise generated by a customer. An answer component utilizes the knowledge base, the database, an external database, and/or an expert to provide one or more answers to the query. A question and answer session may be initiated by the expert system in order to gain further information and detail related to the query. Supplemental information and the identified answers may be provided to the customer.
US08271392B2
A method and system for processing a financial transaction using a payment card through a third-party interchange network is provided. The financial transaction is initiated by a cardholder at a merchant location. The method includes storing a list of private label participating merchants, receiving an authorization request for the transaction involving the payment card wherein the authorization request includes a merchant location identifier for the merchant location where the transaction occurred, performing a merchant screening process on the transaction including validating the transaction as originating at a private label participating merchant location, manipulating at the interchange network the authorization request to include a private label identifier when the transaction is determined to have originated at one of the participating merchants, and transmitting the manipulated authorization request with the private label identifier to an issuer of the payment card for processing as a private label transaction.
US08271389B2
Techniques described herein overcome many of the issues that have previously made the printing of a single copy of a book from a digital version unattractive and infeasible. According to one embodiment of the invention, an automated mechanism such as a computer program automatically determines whether the spine thickness of a to-be-printed copy of a digital version of a book will exceed the specified maximum spine thickness that a specified binding or other finishing device can handle. In response to determining that the spine thickness will exceed the specified maximum spine thickness, the automated mechanism automatically splits the digital version of the book into two or more volumes such that, for each volume, the spine thickness of the printed version of that volume will be no greater than the specified maximum spine thickness that the specified binding or other finishing device can handle.
US08271387B2
A method and apparatus for providing limited access to data objects or files within an electronic software delivery and management system are described. A data object is transmitted to the system for storage in a library. Input of one or more restriction parameters is further requested for the stored data object. A user interface is displayed in a display window for facilitating input of the restriction parameters. At least one customer is selected, such as, for example, one or more users authorized to receive the stored data object. The stored data object is further designated as restricted data object for the selected users. Finally, the user restriction information is stored in appropriate tables within a database.
US08271382B2
One method involves the use of stored value account that may be used, for example, to make internet payments, and that can be credited using a variety of payment techniques. Such a method involves receiving money at a money transfer location from a potential purchaser. The money is then stored as an electronic record in a stored value account of the purchaser. This money is then available for transfer at the request of the purchaser. Upon such a request, the money may be electronically sent to a recipient and the stored value account may be debited.
US08271380B2
System and methods for facilitating the settlement of financial accounts across different entities utilize a host computer system that tracks financial transactions made at each merchant location or store and uses this information to reconcile accounts across different entities. In one embodiment, for redemption transactions that occurred within one of the entities other than where the associated account was activated, the host computer system is configured to prepare a request to transfer a redemption amount to a central account from an entity account associated with where the account was activated, and to prepare a request to transfer less than the redemption amount from the central account to an entity account associated with where the redemption transaction occurred.
US08271359B2
A device and method for permitting access to a real time data stream through prepayments or other payment arrangements and/or calculating a fee corresponding to usage of a real time data stream, wherein the real time data stream includes transcript data from a court transcription. In one example, a device may include a data collection device for receiving prepayment data, such as a code, key, token, pass that may contain purchase units therein; and a counter. In one embodiment, if the counter contains a value representing unused real time connections, then the data collection device permits the computing device to access to the real time data stream. In one example, the prepayment data includes a code containing a number representing a quantity of connections that may be made to the real time data stream. In another example, a method may include receiving the real time data stream; extracting one or more billing data elements from the real time data stream; storing said one or more billing data elements for processing; and calculating the fee based on at least one of the one or more billing data elements. In this way, charges may be calculated and levied or itemized according to the usage of such a real time service during a court proceeding such as a deposition.
US08271357B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to monitor an activity level associated with queries made in an online marketplace over a monitoring time period to provide an activity rate, and to determine that the activity rate has crossed a merchandising threshold rate. In response, a cluster of items or item groups associated with the queries may be presented on a display, perhaps in conjunction with a landing page merchandising promotion. Additional apparatus, system, and methods are disclosed.
US08271354B2
Method and system for providing a notification function for bookmarked music clips broadcast over a radio station to provide to a user of an electronic music marking device such that when the playlist for the bookmarked music clips is available, the user can access information corresponding to the bookmarked music clips, while when the playlist for the bookmarked music clips is not available, the user is notified that the playlist is unavailable, and when the playlist becomes available, the an email is generated and transmitted to the user informing the user that the playlist corresponding to the user's bookmarked music clips is available, and further, the email may include a hypertext link attachment which may be configured to automatically re-direct the user's browser terminal to display the playlist corresponding to the bookmarked music clips on the user's electronic music marker device account.
US08271352B2
A method of providing recommendations is disclosed and includes receiving a selection of an offering via an online site. The method also includes outputting a detail page related to the offering via the online site. The detail page includes a first selectable indicator corresponding to a social network of a visitor and a second selectable indicator corresponding to unfiltered content. The method also includes outputting at least one recommendation via the detail page. Each recommendation is associated with a member of the social network when input received via the online site indicates a selection of the first selectable indicator.
US08271348B2
Systems and methods are presented for generating consumable orders for document processing devices and for verifying approved source consumable usage in document processing devices, in which a customer computer receives electronic reports from the devices and from these ascertains whether particular devices will need replacement consumables and also whether non-program consumable products are being used in particular devices. If a replacement will be required, the customer computer presents a proposed order to the customer via prompting content customizable by a reseller. The customer can then accept, modify, or reject the proposed order, and any accepted or modified order is forwarded to an account manager system for automatic placement for consumable shipment from a manufacturer or distributor. If the device has a non-program consumable installed, the customer computer notifies the account manager system and may warn the customer that continued usage may void one or more warranty extensions or other program incentive.
US08271347B2
A self-distribution method and system for distributing information content among network connected devices includes receiving a query having a code against a database from a wireless communications device, the code uniquely representing one of an advertising campaign, a product, or a service. A result set is generated by querying the database, forwarding a link associated with the result set to a user-preferred remote location, the link being sent in an electronic message. The link directs a user to a first version of information content. A plurality of options to purchase user-preferred items from the first version of information content include “purchase now” and “purchase later” features. A reminder message is forwarded to the wireless communications device if a user at the remote location selects the “purchase later” feature. The user is enabled to conduct a purchase transaction from the remote location or the wireless communications device.
US08271341B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for enabling a consumer to acquire media content items.
US08271339B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the Web. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for enabling object routing, the method comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities. A method is also disclosed for enabling service management of the value-added network service, to perform OAM&P functions on the services network.
US08271337B1
The present invention enables the purchase of upgrades by ascertaining and attaching a value to the certainty that the upgrade will be available and adjusting the value of the product or service for purchasers willing to pay a reduced value on the condition that the upgrade may not be available at the time of expiration. Rather than paying the certainty value, the prospective purchaser is given the opportunity to enroll in a pool for the perishable upgrade. At a certain time the perishable is released to the pool of purchasers, who are then selected to purchase the item.
US08271326B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking, reporting and performing processing activities and transactions in association with referral data and related information for a variety of product and service offerings.
US08271320B2
The present invention provides a method and system for enabling an e-commerce website to persist electronic items, such as electronic coupons, gift certificates etc., across multiple browsing sessions. Users are offered electronic items over a communications network during a browsing session. In case the user wishes to save the items for a later browsing session, he/she is prompted for an email address. Details pertaining to the selected items are mapped against the email address. Thereafter, e-mail is sent to the user, containing a URL with the email address of the user embedded in it. Alternatively, entire details corresponding to the items selected during a session are embedded in the URL and in this case they need not be mapped against the email address.
US08271312B2
Example implementations relate to revenue generation based on introduction of revenue-generating features or inconvenience. In some implementations, the logarithmic convexity of a probability function is determined. The probability function may describe a probability that a user will continue to utilize the service based on a level of inconvenience or number of revenue-generating features introduced to the service. In some implementations, a number of periods for introducing the inconvenience or revenue-generating features may then be determined based on the log convexity of the probability function.
US08271300B1
Systems and methods for gathering information for insurance underwriting may present a question from a sequence of questions. Questions in the sequence of questions may relate to an insurance underwriting function. A response to the question may be collected and analyzed. An investigative function may be selected based upon the analysis of the response to the question. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08271295B1
A health clinic broker system is provided. The system comprises at least one computer system and a health clinic broker application that, when executed on the at least one computer system, receives a plurality of health care service requests containing information about a health care need, at least some of the requests seeking to set an appointment for health care. The system also receives a plurality of health care service offerings and provides at least one recommendation for the appointment for health care based on matching the health care service offerings with the health care service request.
US08271287B1
The invention is a method and apparatus for controlling electronic devices from a remote location. The method and apparatus utilizes a remote control device which receives and transmits voice commands as electrical signals to at least one controlled device having a recognition processor which converts received electrical signals to pattern data and compares that pattern data with data stored in the processor. The invention may incorporate the use of a recorder for recording electrical signals in the remote or controlled device and may further include a teaching circuit for retrieving and reproducing voice commands as visual or audio prompts as needed. The invention may be adapted to control multiple controlled devices in coordination so that each coordinated device is made to perform the same or a different function in response to a single voice command is disclosed.
US08271273B2
In order to achieve the best improvement of ITU G.711 related codec perceptual quality, perceptual weighting controlling parameter(s) should be at least adaptive to relative quantization error statistics or adaptive to signal level. When the relative quantization error statistics are larger or the signal level is lower, the perceptual weighting should be “stronger”, which means α in (5) is smaller; when the relative quantization error statistics are smaller or the signal level is larger, the perceptual weighting should be “weaker”, which means α in (5) is larger.
US08271271B2
A method for modification of a cepstro-temporally smoothed gain function of a gain function resulting in a bias compensated spectral gain function is provided. The cepstro-temporal smoothing increases the quality of an enhanced output signal, as it affects only spectral outliers caused by estimation errors, while the speech characteristics are well preserved. However, due to the cepstral transform, the temporal smoothing is done in the logarithmic domain rather than the linear domain, and hence results in a certain bias. Thus, the method for a general bias compensation for a cepstro-temporal smoothing of spectral filter gain functions that is only dependent on the lower limit of the spectral filter-gain function.
US08271270B2
A method, apparatus, and system for encoding or decoding a broadband voice signal are provided. The method includes extracting a linear prediction coefficient (LPC) from the broadband voice signal; outputting a linear prediction (LP) residual signal; pitch-searching a spectrum of the LP residual signal; extracting spectral magnitudes and phases of the LP residual signal, which correspond to a damping factor; obtaining, from among the extracted spectral magnitudes and phases, a first spectral magnitude and a first phase at which a power value of the LP residual signal is minimized; quantizing the first spectral magnitude and the first phase; and decoding the broadband voice signal. The apparatus includes a linear prediction coefficient (LPC) analyzer; an LPC inverse filter; a pitch searching unit; a sinusoidal analyzer; and a phase and spectral magnitude quantizer. The system includes a broadband voice encoding apparatus and a broadband voice decoding apparatus.
US08271253B2
Methods are provided for performing depth-first searches of concrete models of systems using control flow information of the system for improved reachability analysis. The concrete model's control structure and dependencies are extracted and an over-approximated (conservative) abstract control model is created. The abstract control model simulates the concrete model during model checking. Model checking the abstract control model produces execution traces based on the control paths of the concrete model. These execution traces may be used to guide a state space search on the concrete model during invariant checking to determine satisability of one or more selected invariants of the system.
US08271246B2
A system and method is provided for minimizing lost circulation associated with the operation of a subterranean reservoir. The system includes one or more sources, such as earth modeling and fracture analysis tools, for providing data representative of a fracture formation in the reservoir, and a computer processor in communication with the data sources for determining an appropriate blend of lost circulation material products for application to the fracture formation. The computer processor is programmed with computer readable code for selecting a plurality of candidate products for application to the fracture formation, and for mathematically determining an optimized blend of the selected products. By applying the optimized blend, material and labor costs associated with well operation can be significantly reduced.
US08271242B2
A method that is suitable for modelling and simulating optical properties in special effect paints which contain pigments with isotropic light-scattering properties and pigments with anisotropic light-scattering properties, and the effect-producing substances form at least one layer of material or coat of paint on a suitable substrate. The method is characterised in that the isotropically light-scattering pigments and the anisotropically light-scattering pigments are virtually separated such that the isotropically light-scattering pigments virtually form the layer of material and the anisotropically light-scattering pigments are virtually arranged on the edge surfaces of the layer of material. The optical properties of the virtual layer of material of the isotropically light-scattering pigments are determined by linear differential equations and the optical properties of the anisotropically light-scattering pigments are taken into consideration as boundary conditions, by means of specific effect operators.
US08271240B2
In a method of electronic design automation, discretized meshes of layers of current conducting materials of a computerized device model are determined. Each discretized mesh corresponds to the current conducting material of one model layer. For each discretized mesh, a corresponding impedance matrix having cells is determined. Each cell includes an impedance value Zij which is based on a voltage (Vi) induced in a cell i of the discretized mesh due to a current (Ij) flowing in a cell j of the discretized mesh. A subset of the cells, including impedance values, of the impedance matrices is dispatched to node computers via an electronic communications network. In response to dispatching the cells of the impedance matrices, charge densities estimated by the node computers to exist on a subset of the cells of the discretized meshes are returned.
US08271237B2
Improved 8-node hexahedral elements configured for reducing shear locking in finite element method are disclosed. According to one aspect, aspect-ratio based scale factors are introduced to modify partial derivatives of the isoparametric shape function of the hexahedral element with respect to isoparametric dimensions, respectively. The modified derivatives are used for calculating the Jacobian matrix thereby the rate-of-strain. The scale factor is configured such that no changes for a perfect cubic solid element (i.e., element having aspect ratio of 1 (one) in all three spatial dimensions), while significant changes for element having poor aspect ratio. In other words, elements with poor aspect ratio are mapped to a perfect cubic element using the aspect-ratio based scale factors. According to anther aspect, off-diagonal components in the local Jacobian matrix are directly modified by cancelling terms related to spurious shear deformation modes. This measure completely alleviates the shear locking effect even for perfectly shaped elements.
US08271236B2
A method of predicting breakage properties of a particulate material when subjected to impact, the method including: calculating a breakage index for the particulate material using the following equation: Breakage Index=M{I−exp[−fmatxk−E]} where: M represents the maximum breakage of particles for the particulate material; fmat is a material parameter that is a function of the particulate material being broken and particle size; x is the initial particle size of the particulate material prior to impact; E is a measure of the specific energy applied to the particulate material; and k is the number of impacts with specific energy E.
US08271233B2
A fault isolation method and system includes tailored fault isolators for each grouping of similar data to differentiate between one or several potential faults within any group.
US08271227B2
A measuring transducer has a sensor for recording a physical or chemical parameter and for generating a corresponding measurement signal and has an analytical device for determining a measured value dependent on the measurement signal and for outputting the measured value. A first interface for digital transmission of the measured value and a second interface are provided between the sensor and the analytical device. The analytical device is provided with a signal by the second interface, providing the measurement signal from the sensor. A synchronization of the analytical device t to the sampling time of the sensor is thus possible.
US08271213B2
A system and method for online monitoring partial discharge of a generator are disclosed. The system is connected in parallel with a busbar between the generator and electric network, includes: a near-end circuit on a generator side, which includes a near-end capacitive coupling sensor connected to the busbar and a near-end impedor connected in series with the near-end capacitive coupling sensor; a far-end circuit on an electric network side, which includes a far-end capacitive coupling sensor connected to the busbar and a far-end impedor connected in series with the far-end capacitive coupling sensor; and a detection device, which has a near-end input terminal connected to a connection point between the near-end capacitive coupling sensor and the near-end impedor through a near-end cable, a far-end input terminal connected to a connection point between the far-end capacitive coupling sensor and the far-end impedor through a far-end cable, and a processing unit.
US08271209B2
Methods, systems and computer program products for identifying components of an unknown mixture using spectral analysis techniques. The method includes comparing the spectrum of the unknown mixture with the spectra of library compounds to obtain candidate mixture combinations. A model is generated for each of the candidate mixture combinations based on a modeling metric. A residual spectrum is computed corresponding to each of the candidate mixture combinations by removing the spectrum of each of the compounds of the candidate mixture combination from the spectrum of the unknown mixture. One or more potential compounds are identified by comparing the residual spectrum with the spectrum of library compounds. The potential compounds are added to the candidate mixture combinations to generate an updated list of the candidate mixture combinations. The search algorithm repeats the steps described above on the updated candidate mixture combinations, until a first termination condition is satisfied.
US08271199B2
A method for forming a borehole image includes fitting logging sensor measurements residing in each of a plurality of azimuthal windows with corresponding mathematical fitting functions. The functions may then be evaluated at one or more corresponding azimuthal positions to obtain at least one sector value for each of the azimuthal windows. A two dimensional borehole image may be formed by repeating the procedure at multiple measured depths in the borehole.
US08271191B2
Methods and systems for determining reliability of Global Positioning System (GPS) ground speed. An example system receives GPS track information and GPS ground speed, determines a change in GPS track information and determines reliability of the GPS ground speed based on the determined change in GPS track information relative to the GPS ground speed. The system sets a GPS ground speed based on the determined reliability. A GPS ground speed output is set to zero, if the GPS ground speed is determined unreliable and the GPS ground speed output is set to the GPS ground speed, if the GPS ground speed is determined reliable. The system sends the GPS ground speed output to a Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS). Also, the system sets the GPS ground speed output to zero, if a received GPS ground speed validity signal or a received GPS track validity signal indicate invalid.
US08271188B2
Location may be determined based on a map that includes a plurality of transition patterns for a geographic feature. Each such transition pattern is different from the others.
US08271186B2
A synthetic vision type viewing system SVS for a first aircraft includes at least position sensors of the first aircraft, a traffic detection system for calculating the position and the dangerousness of at least one second aircraft presenting a risk of collision with the first aircraft based on data obtained from sensors or from the TCAS or ADS-B, an electronic computer, a human-machine interface device and a display screen. The computer includes a processing unit configured to process different information obtained from the database, from the sensors and from the interface device. The processing unit is configured to provide the display screen with a synthetic image of the space surrounding the first aircraft and center on the latter. The image includes at least one first symbol of the first aircraft and a second representation of the past and present trajectory of the second aircraft.
US08271176B2
An end point of a reference speed zone is obtained in which a host vehicle travels at a reference speed by controlling an adjustment amount of a drive source output of the host vehicle, without applying a preset correspondence relation regarding an accelerator pedal position and the adjustment amount of the drive source output of the host vehicle. After the host vehicle passes the end point of the reference speed zone, the adjustment amount is changed by a first degree of change if an actual adjustment amount and an adjustment amount corresponding to application of the correspondence relation with the accelerator pedal position do not coincide.
US08271173B2
A control method for vehicular hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a transmission gear selector, and determining an operator torque request based upon the operator inputs to the accelerator pedal and the transmission gear selector. Torque output from the electric machine is commanded based upon the operator torque request. Engine output is controlled based upon the operator torque request and the commanded torque output from the electric machine. Vehicle hood position is monitored and the engine output is controlled correlative to the operator input to the accelerator pedal when the monitored position of the vehicle hood is open and the operator input to the transmission gear selector is one of a PARK and a NEUTRAL position.
US08271171B2
A method for clutch characteristic curve adaptation of an automatic dual-clutch transmission which comprises two sub-gearboxes each with an input shaft connected, via a friction clutch, to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears that are shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. A value of the current touch point of the friction clutch can be determined with the motor running and the gears disengaged in a load-free sub-gearbox. The method includes the steps of starting synchronization of a gear clutch with a defined force of a regulator. Waiting until the gear clutch is synchronized. Engaging the friction clutch of the until the gear clutch is synchronizes. Determination the current touch point from the current synchronous torque of the gear clutch and the current regulating parameter of the associated clutch regulator. Then, adapting the clutch characteristic curve of the friction clutch in view of the current touch point.
US08271169B2
An ECU executes a program that outputs a shift command when a determination has been made to perform a power-on downshift (i.e., YES in S100); controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to a friction engagement element to perform the power-on downshift; allows the correction of the hydraulic pressure supplied to the friction engagement element during the power-on downshift when the difference between a target input torque and an estimated input torque is equal to or less than a threshold value ΔTT (1) (i.e., YES in S130); and correcting the hydraulic pressure supplied to the friction engagement element during the power-on downshift.
US08271164B2
The invention provides a guidance system for guiding a towed agricultural implement such as seeders, planters, sprayers and the like, along a preferred path between rows of growing crop or standing stubble by sensing the rows of growing crop or standing stubble with a uniquely designed paddle-like sensor means which does not engage the ground.
US08271161B2
A method and system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, provide a means to securely store odometer information in an automobile. A distance traveled by the automobile is calculated. The distance traveled is then stored in both a first and second memory unit within the automobile.
US08271160B2
In a method for checking the proper functioning of a component in a vehicle by evaluating the system state of the component with the aid of a sensor, a state variable is measured first and then the measured state variable is examined for at least one characteristic feature that is descriptive of the system state of the component.
US08271158B2
A system maintains communication between a plurality of unmanned vehicles within an environment. The system includes a sensor component and an evaluator. The sensor component senses objects within the environment. The sensor component is located on a first unmanned vehicle. The evaluator evaluates data from the sensor component. The evaluator is located on the first unmanned vehicle. The evaluator compares data for the first unmanned vehicle and a second unmanned vehicle and determines whether a trajectory of one of the first and second unmanned vehicles may be modified to maintain communication between the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle.
US08271157B2
A steering mechanism is provided on an equilateral triangular base of a mobile mechanism, and three joints are attached to the base at the three vertexes thereof. Links are attached to the three joints respectively. On each link is provided a steering mechanism. The equilateral triangular base of the mobile mechanism is moved or rotated by periodically driving the three joints while steering the four steering mechanisms.
US08271155B2
There is elucidated a safety system for a marine vessel. The vessel includes two engines coupled to propellers for propelling the vessel through water. The vessel is provided with a digital anchor in communication with the two engines for maintaining the vessel substantially at a defined location when the anchor is activated. The safety system includes a sensor assembly coupled to a data processing assembly for sensing a region of said water at least partially surrounding the vessel for detecting one or more persons present in the region and for modifying operation of the digital anchor in response to the one or more persons being detected. The invention is of advantage in that the digital anchor is capable of responding to the one or more persons being present in the water and thereby reducing a risk of injury or loss of life when the digital anchor is employed.
US08271143B2
Disclosed is a control system for controlling a plurality of fluidly and operably connected water heaters to meet a hot water demand such that overall efficiency is maximized and usage disparity between water heaters is minimized. There is further disclosed a method for detecting a small system demand in said network by adjusting the setting of each flow limiting valve of each water heater. There is still further disclosed a method for enabling seamless addition or removal of a heater in service and heating load distribution to water heaters.
US08271142B2
Provided is an easy to use valve controller designed to obtain optimum operation performance. The valve controller is designed to control the valve opening of an expansion valve by calculating the valve opening such that a detected temperature coincides with a target temperature. The valve controller includes an automatic for calculating a deviation between the detected temperature and the target temperature and for calculating a changing amount of the valve opening by substituting at least the deviation and a set control parameter into an arithmetic expression to automatically set the control parameter. The valve controller further includes and control level adjuster for adjusting a magnitude of the valve opening calculated with the control parameter set by the automatic tuning means in stages in accordance with a set control level.
US08271137B2
There is provided a robot, which compensates for the angle of a joint, bent due to external force, using a redundant degree of freedom of the robot, and a method of controlling the same. The method includes sensing a bending angle of a joint due to external force or a torque applied to the joint, comparing the bending angle of the joint or the torque applied to the joint with an allowable safety reference value; and adjusting the bending angle of a higher-level joint of the joint using a redundant degree of freedom of the robot, when the bending angle or the torque reaches the allowable safety reference value, thereby compensating for the excessively bending angle of the joint and thus being capable of safely controlling the robot.
US08271134B2
A robot having a learning control function is disclosed. The robot includes a robot mechanism unit with a sensor on a part to be positionally controlled and a control unit for controlling the operation of the robot mechanism unit. The control unit includes a normal control unit for controlling the operation of the robot mechanism unit, and a learning control unit for operating the robot mechanism unit according to a task program and carrying out the learning to calculate the learning correction amount in order that position of the part of the robot mechanism unit to be controlled which is detected by the sensor approaches a target trajectory or a target position assigned for the normal control unit. The learning control unit calculates the maximum speed override that can be set with in the learning operation, and carries out the learning to calculate the learning correction amount while increasing the speed override a plurality of times until the maximum speed override is reached.
US08271123B2
An embroidery data generating apparatus includes a thread color acquisition device, a first line segment data generating device, an expanded data generating device, a second line segment data generating device, a color allocating device, a connecting line segment data generating device, and an embroidery data generating device. The thread color acquisition device acquires a plurality of available thread colors. The first line segment data generating device generates first line segment data. The expanded data generating device generates expanded data. The second line segment data generating device generates second line segment data. The color allocating device allocates an embroidery thread color to each piece of the second line segment data. The connecting line segment data generating device generates connecting line segment data. The embroidery data generating device generates embroidery data.
US08271110B2
The present invention provides a sound source supply apparatus capable of playing music with less degradation of sound by processing an original sound source such that music is not determined to be a noise.According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sound source supply apparatus (20) for providing a service for playing music via a portable terminal (105), the sound source supply apparatus having a sound source file storage device (200) for preliminarily storing a plurality of types of processed sound source files (202 and 203) produced by processing an original sound source of the music so as to reduce degradation of sound according to a plurality of types of codec characteristics and a sound source playback device (300) for determining a codec type (106) of the portable terminal (105) from a start signal indicative of a playback request when the sound source playback device receives the start signal, playing back one processed sound source file corresponding to the determined codec type selectively from the plurality of types of processed sound source files (202 and 203), and supplying the one processed sound source file to the portable terminal (105) so as to play the music via the portable terminal.
US08271103B2
A system and computer-implemented method for creating a new model or updating a previously-created model based on a template are described. A template is generated from a previously-created model. The previously-created model specifies a set of parameters associated with a manufacturing process, a process tool or chamber. Variables associated with the manufacturing process are acquired, monitored, and analyzed. A statistical analysis (or multivariate statistical analysis) is employed to analyze the monitored variables and the set of parameters. When any of the monitored variables satisfy a threshold condition, a new model is created or the parameters of the previously-created model are updated, adjusted, or modified based on the template and the monitored variables. A user interface facilitating communication between a user and the systems and display of information is also described.
US08271097B2
Various embodiments relating to MRI safe, multi-polar active fixation stimulation leads with co-radial construction are disclosed. Some embodiments, allow the use of the generally smaller diameter co-radially constructed body (coated wires) to construct an active fixation lead, with an extendable/retractable fixation mechanism. Some embodiments use a connector assembly with an inner terminal ring, a terminal pin partially rotatably positioned within the annular inner terminal ring, and one or more resilient C-clips disposed within circumferential recesses. The resilient C-clips mechanically and electrically couple the inner terminal ring and the terminal ring while substantially limiting relative longitudinal translation of the terminal pin. In some embodiments, the connector assembly can be connected to an electrically inactive torque tube disposed longitudinally within the flexible body of the lead such that rotation of the terminal pin relative to the lead body causes rotation and longitudinal translation of a fixation helix relative to the body.
US08271093B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for deriving physiologic measurement values that are relative to ambient conditions. In one embodiment, the system comprises an implantable medical device (“IMD”), an external computing device, and a backend computing system. The IMD determines an absolute physiologic parameter value within a patient's body, and communicates the absolute physiologic parameter value outside the patient's body, for example, to the external computing device. Further, the external computing device receives the absolute physiologic parameter from the IMD and communicates it to the backend computing system. The backend computing system receives the absolute physiologic parameter value and obtains an ambient condition value outside the body that can affect the absolute physiologic parameter value. The backend computing system then calculates a relative physiologic parameter value from the ambient condition value and the absolute physiologic parameter value, and in some embodiments, stores the relative physiologic parameter value in a storage location, such as a memory or database.
US08271088B2
This document discusses, among other things, methods and systems for facilitating automated device programming at changeout. A method comprises receiving, from a first device, physiological data at a temporary storage device; and processing the received physiological data, wherein the processing includes determining if a first signal processing function was used by the first device and substantially offsetting the first signal processing function if the first signal processing function was used by the first device; and processing the resultant physiological data to be compatible with a second device. The method further comprising providing the processed resultant physiological data to the second device.
US08271085B2
An implantable medical device has an impedance or admittance determination unit, an alternating current or voltage source, a measuring unit, and an analysis unit which is connected to the alternating current or AC voltage source and the measuring unit to calculate an impedance value or an admittance value at different times. The impedance or admittance determination unit may generate measuring current having two different frequencies (preferably below 100 kHz), and the analysis unit may calculate pairs of impedance or admittance values which are chronologically assigned to one another for different frequencies of the measuring current, and calculate a value for a blood impedance or blood admittance component which is independent of the impedance of the body tissue surrounding a particular blood vessel, The analysis unit may also determine trends in this value over time as an indicator for a change of blood hematocrit value.
US08271073B2
A medical device and associated method for discriminating cardiac events includes determining whether a first match score is within a first match zone having a first correlation with a non-treatable cardiac event, a second match zone having a second correlation with the non-treatable cardiac event less than the first correlation, a third match zone having a first correlation with a treatable cardiac event, and a fourth match zone having a second correlation with the treatable cardiac event greater than the first correlation with the treatable cardiac event. In response to the first match score being within one of the first and second match zones, a determination is made whether consecutive match scores are within the first match zone and whether a break in the treatable cardiac event has occurred. Cardiac evidence is accumulated in response to determining whether a break has occurred and utilized to discriminate cardiac events.
US08271070B2
A method for monitoring left ventricular (LV) myocardial wall thickness. The method includes: obtaining real time images of a periodically spatially changing myocardium and segmenting the myocardium in such images; calculating wall thickness of the myocardium from each one of the obtained images; and performing a dynamic harmonic analysis of the calculated thickness to determine spatial changes in the thickness of the wall of the myocardium. The method applies the calculated wall thickness to a predictor to determine changes in the thickness of the wall of the myocardium. The method applies the calculated wall thickness to a predictor to determine the periodicity the myocardium.
US08271069B2
A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient that may include a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The dynamic reference frames may be fixedly placed on the patient. Also the dynamic reference frames may be placed to allow generally natural movements of soft tissue relative to the dynamic reference frames. Also methods are provided to determine positions of the dynamic reference frames. Anatomical landmarks may be determined intra-operatively and without access to the anatomical structure.
US08271067B1
A graphical visualization tool is disclosed that enables a user to graphically define multiple pre-scan volumes on a localizer image. The tool automatically determines appropriate shim values for both pre-scan volumes. Additionally, the tool displays the pre-scanned volumes on the localizer image such that the user knows that the slices/slabs for high resolution imaging are positioned in the region where the user wants the center frequency to lie.
US08271057B2
Device, system, and method of condition-based activation, shut-down and management of applications of mobile devices. For example, a method includes: based on one or more collected information items, determining whether or not a condition related to a mobile device is true; and based on the determination, controlling a monitored application of the mobile device by performing at least one of: activating the monitored application; shutting down the monitored application; activating a feature of the monitored application; deactivating a feature of the monitored application; and switching the monitored application from a first mode of operation to a second, different, mode of operation.
US08271056B2
A battery conservation component synchronizes with a user's schedule or calendar. The battery conservation component may disable functions or features to ensure that the device has sufficient battery life for selected calendar events. The battery conservation component may warn the user if a battery charge is necessary to make selected calendar events. The battery conservation component may be applied to a wide variety of portable devices with time-sensitive events. For example, the battery conservation component may be applied to a device with vehicle navigation and estimate time-sensitive events based on waypoints in the vehicle's route. The battery conservation component may synchronize with a user's travel itinerary. Alternatively, the battery conservation component may suggest alternative functions or features based on a time-sensitive event, such as suggesting a shorter movie on a flight or road trip.
US08271055B2
An interface transceiver power management method and apparatus including controlled circuit complexity and power supply voltage reduces power consumption when interface conditions will support a transceiver having reduced complexity. The power supply voltage of the reduced complexity logic is then reduced if the lowered complexity will support a lower power supply voltage. The reduced complexity in combination with a reduced power supply voltage decreases power consumption to a greater degree than reducing transceiver complexity alone.The complexity of processing blocks within the receiver and/or transmitter are adjusted in conformity with one or more selection signals and an operating voltage level is selected in accordance with the requirements of the reduced complexity circuit. An interface quality measurement circuit may provide the selection signal, so that the transceiver complexity is adjusted in response to measured interface conditions or an external pin or register bit may be coupled to a select input.
US08271051B2
A method and system for eliminating echo in a speaker-microphone communication system are provided. The method includes the steps of: performing a noise energy estimating process on a local microphone signal in order to obtain an estimated noise signal, wherein the local microphone signal includes a local voice signal, possible background noise signal, and possible remote voice signal output from a speaker and received by a microphone; performing an echo estimating process on a remote voice signal to obtain an estimated echo signal, wherein the remote voice signal is output from the speaker; determining an error signal from the local microphone signal and the estimated echo signal; calculating a variance (σe2) of the error signal and a variance ({circumflex over (σ)}n2) of the estimated noise signal; calculating a determinant (ξ), wherein the determinant (ξ) corresponds to the variance (σe2) of the error signal and variance ({circumflex over (σ)}n2) of the estimated noise signal; and comparing the determinant (ξ) and a preset threshold, wherein when the determinant (ξ) is lower than the preset threshold, it is determined that double-end talk has not occurred, otherwise, it is determined that double-end talk has occurred.
US08271030B2
A mobile communication terminal including a wireless transceiver configured to perform a video telephony call with at least one other terminal, a display configured to display a first image corresponding to a user of the mobile communication terminal and a second image corresponding to a user of the at least one other terminal during the video telephony call, an input device configured to input a request for an image processing of the first image, and a controller configured to perform a predetermined image processing on the first image according to the input request for the image processing and to control the display to display the image-processed first image as a preview image.
US08271028B2
A dual band amplifier is provided comprising a first matching circuit disposed in a first radiofrequency path between an input port and a first amplifier and a second matching circuit disposed in a second radiofrequency path between the input port and a second amplifier. The first matching circuit transforms a first input impedance of the first amplifier to a predetermined input port impedance when the radiofrequency signal is in a first frequency range and transmits the first input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the second frequency range. The second matching circuit transforms the second input impedance to the input port impedance when the input signal is in the second frequency range and transmits the second input impedance to the input port when the radiofrequency signal is in the first frequency range.
US08271025B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided to manage utilization of radio network technology and display thereof when multiple services and radio network technologies are available to a multi-technology mobile device. Management relies at least in part on a subscriber profile that comprises a network selection profile constructed through market policy, subscriber policy, and application policy for radio technology utilization. Network preference(s) profile is generated on per subscriber, or per subscriber type, basis and is conveyed to a subscriber station over the air. Initial subscriber profile can be delivered at a time of provisioning a multi-technology mobile device, and updated based at least upon subscriber demand, a schedule established by a network operator or service provider, or an event related to coverage area relocation or contracted services. Radio technology preferences and display of associated technologies available to a multi-technology mobile device can be dynamically controlled on a per-call and/or per-application basis.
US08271024B1
The present invention relates to facilitating the delivery of messaging service messages, such as those provided through short messaging services and multimedia messaging services, to a dual-mode terminal through a wireless network as well as through either a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or data access network using a terminal adaptor. The terminal adaptor is capable of providing local wireless communications with the dual-mode terminal, when it is within communication range of the terminal adaptor.
US08271019B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for storing a phone number in a mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a memory that stores a call history in which an outgoing call number and an incoming call number are listed; a phonebook manger that detects a recent phone number from the call history, checks how many times the detected recent phone number has been used to make a call, and determines whether to store the recent phone number; and a Micro-Processor Unit (MPU) that controls the phonebook manager to determine whether the recent phone number can be stored when the call is ended, and, if information that indicates the recent phone number can be stored is received from the phonebook manager, stores the recent phone number in the memory.
US08271018B2
A method, a system, and an equipment for implementing the central control of a 2G network electric regulating antenna are disclosed. The embodiment of the method includes: receiving an ID of the electric regulating antenna to be controlled and a control command; determining the 2G network electric regulating antenna according to the ID; and sending the control command by a 3G base station equipment to the 2G network electric regulating antenna to control the 2G network electric regulating antenna. The embodiment of the system includes a control platform and a 3G base station equipment. The embodiment of the equipment includes a memory unit and a control unit.
US08271016B2
A method of managing radio resources and a Node B implementing the same are provided. If the total radio resources used in a cell exceed target radio resources signaled by an RNC, uplink rates are equally allocated to primary UEs and non-primary UEs by controlling the signal strengths of the primary and non-primary UEs.
US08271011B2
A method for a response device in an audience response system having a plurality of response devices to wirelessly communicate bulk data includes transmitting a signal and receiving data indicating to the response device to transmit data requests. The method further includes transmitting data request signals, and receiving at least data describing the bulk data in response to a first data request signal and at least a portion of the bulk data in response to a second data request signal.
US08271001B2
A method for allocating paging areas includes: determining a basic paging area currently visited by a User Equipment (UE); and allocating a paging area to this UE according to a history record of motion trace of UEs located in the basic paging area currently visited by this UE. An apparatus for allocating paging areas is disclosed.
US08270999B2
A method for indicating a direction of a destination in a mobile communication terminal includes: receiving network identification information from a mobile communication network that is currently accessed; reading current location and declination information corresponding to the network identification information from a mobile communication network information table; obtaining true north information by using the declination information to correct magnetic north information of a current location measured with a geomagnetic sensor; obtaining direction information of the destination from the current location information on the basis of the true north information; and displaying the direction information of the destination.
US08270997B2
A method of providing a localized information service using an infrastructure of a cellular communication network is described. It comprises a service source terminal transmitting a network upload message to the cellular communication network, said network upload message comprising a payload part, a reflection entity of said cellular communication network receiving said network upload message, generating one or more reflection messages comprising said payload part, and sending said one or more reflection messages to a group of service destination terminals that stand in a predetermined spatial relationship with said service source terminal.
US08270993B2
A proxy server in a wireless communication network and method thereof that receives data from a mobile station, processes the data in conjunction with information contained within proxy server databases, and forwards the data to a Position Determining Entity (PDE). The proxy server may include subscriber and network information databases. The subscriber database may include information regarding characteristics of the mobile station. This subscriber database information may be used by the proxy server to determine whether to forward or modify the data to the PDE. The network information database may include information regarding characteristics of the wireless communication network. The information from the network information database may be used by the proxy server to determine a route to forward the data to the PDE. A billing information database may also be included that prepares billing information based on predetermined characteristics of a roaming environment of the mobile station.
US08270982B2
A method for switching call between a mobile terminal with the same number and a soft terminal includes: receiving the switching instruction information sent by the soft terminal user during the call between the soft terminal or the mobile terminal with the same number and the opposing user; confirming the type of the switching instruction information, and carrying out the switching performance between the mobile terminal with the same number and the soft terminal according to the type of the switching instruction information. A system and an equipment for switching call between a mobile terminal with the same number and a PC client are disclosed in the present invention.
US08270981B2
When a receive signal strength received from a target network that will perform the handoff is larger than a reference strength, software related to the target network is previously installed in the corresponding portable terminal, a wireless connection environment with the target network is configured by driving the software related to the target network at the time of determining that the handoff is performed, and performs the handoff to the target network in the portable terminal.
US08270979B1
Methods and systems for facilitating handoff in a wireless communication network are disclosed. One method entails receiving a sector handoff request from a mobile station, the request including a signaling trend and specifying a sector identifier that identifies a target sector, where multiple available sectors are identified by the sector identifier. The method further entails accessing a history of signaling-trend records, which are indexed per sector, to determine, based on the received signaling trend, which of the multiple available sectors is the intended target sector, and, responsive to the determination of the intended target sector, causing the mobile station to be served by the intended target sector. Other embodiments include a system for implementing the methods and a method in which a mobile station requests handoff to a target sector and provides a signaling trend upon request when it is determined that multiple available sectors have the same sector identifier.
US08270978B1
A method and apparatus for performing a handover of a communication session from a non-3GPP access network to a 3GPP access network in which only a Gn/Gp-based Serving GPRS Support Node has been deployed in the 3GPP access network. The method includes establishing the communication session between a user equipment and an Evolved Packet Core through the non-3GPP access network, and performing a handover of the communication session from the non-3GPP access network to the 3GPP access network. Performing the handover includes providing information to the UE of a selected packet data network gateway prior to performing the handover, and providing the information of the selected packet data network gateway from the user equipment to the 3GPP access network during the handover to maintain continuity of the communication session between the user equipment and the Evolved Packet Core.
US08270975B2
A method of managing network traffic within a wireless network (100) comprises identifying a plurality of base stations (111, 121, 131) within the wireless network, categorizing each one of the plurality of base stations according to its type, setting a load balancing parameter (α) for each one of the plurality of base stations according to its type, and, for a handover event involving a handover from a first one of the plurality of base stations to a second one of the plurality of base stations, selecting the second one of the plurality of base stations according to a process that takes into account the load balancing parameters of both the first one of the plurality of base stations and the second one of the plurality of base stations.
US08270971B2
To provide an initialization method that enables a portable terminal device to be initialized with a remote operation even if an insertable/removable user information storing unit is replaced with one possessed by a third party in the portable terminal device that performs an incoming/outgoing operation on the basis of identification information registered to the user information storing unit, a communication system includes a portable terminal device that obtains first identification information and second identification information from a user information history storing unit and notifies a switch of the obtained information, and a switch that searches for the second identification information in an initialization target storing unit, and instructs the portable terminal device into which the user information storing unit to which the first identification information is registered is inserted to initialize data upon detection of the second identification information.
US08270970B1
A network listening method of a mobile phone is provided. The mobile phone includes a code division multiple access (CDMA) chip and two user identity module (UIM) cards. The network listening method executes a first network listening method to listen to a communication network, if a listening frequency of the first UIM card equals a listening frequency of the second UIM card and the listening channel of first UIM card equals the listening channel of the second UIM card. The network listening method further executes a second network listening method to listen to the communication network, if the listening frequency of the first UIM card does not equal the listening frequency of the second UIM card and/or the listening channel of first UIM card does not equal the listening channel of second UIM card.
US08270961B2
A mobile telephone can be configured to interact with external services by using a client application on the telephone that interacts with several external services via an intermediary server. The server sends, to the mobile telephone, configuration information to enable or disable defined sets of functionality in the application, the configuration information depending on and appropriate to the particular external service selected on the mobile telephone and being sent automatically to the mobile telephone over-the-air. An implementation of the invention enables a single client application on the mobile telephone to automatically configure features on / off, and modify the terminology used in resources (such as menus, text strings, bitmap images, sounds, sonic effects etc.) depending on the external system or service that the client is connected to via the intermediary server.
US08270956B1
A system and associated methods and media of delivering a notification of an incoming call and a series of interactive options such that a user can provide call-handling instructions to a wireless communications network for the incoming call. The notification and interactive options are transferred to a display device across at least a partially wired network. The indication and caller-identification information is inserted into a video stream that is communicated from the video-providing component to a media-receiving device that is in communication with a display device. The video-providing component receives call-handling instructions from the media-receiving device, as selected by a user, regarding the incoming call and then transmits the call-handling instructions to the wireless communications network.
US08270952B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a software developers kit is provided for implementing a verifiable service processor to be stored on a communications device, in which the software developer kit facilitates development of a plurality of service processors for controlling network service usage of a plurality of communications devices and includes one or more tested service processor versions for more or more communications device types.
US08270950B2
A mobile communication device and method for reducing exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy during outgoing and incoming transmissions. During outgoing transmissions, media is stored in a local storage element on the mobile communication device as the media is being created. When the device is positioned a safe distance away from the user, the media is transmitted out of storage over the network to the recipient. Alternatively for incoming transmissions, media is stored on the network as it is created. While the wireless communication device is a safe distance away from the user, the media stored on the network is transmitted to the mobile communication device, where it is locally stored. The user of the mobile communication device can then review the incoming media at an arbitrary later time out of storage. As a result, the exposure of the user of the mobile communication device to RF energy for both outgoing and incoming transmissions is either substantially reduced or eliminated altogether.
US08270948B2
A method for avoiding loss of data or consumption of resources between a mobile node and an new access network in which an authentication agent performs authentication with an authentication client of the mobile node to effect access to an enforcement point of said access network, said method comprising informing an authentication client of said mobile node that an authentication agent has completed an installation process with the enforcement point.
US08270938B2
A method of 2-way data and voice communication with a user utilizing a portable device having a cellular transceiver module, a GPS module and an emergency call button is disclosed. The method includes determining whether the portable device is in proximity of the base station; powering down the GPS, placing the portable device into sleep mode and sending a signal to the base station indicating that said portable device is in proximity of the base station when the portable device is in proximity to the base station; and activating and fully powering the cellular transceiver module and activating and fully powering said GPS module when the portable device is not in proximity of said base station. When not in proximity, the method also includes collecting an initial GPS location data from the GPS module and storing the location data into a memory location; placing the GPS module into a lower power mode and fully powering the GPS module, acquiring and storing additional GPS location data only at specified intervals to conserve battery life while monitoring the cellular transceiver module for inquiries and monitoring the emergency call button for an emergency signal. Various other steps occur when the emergency button is depressed which involve communicating with a back end server and collecting and sending various data packets.
US08270932B2
A method and apparatus for performing a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) operation of a connected User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system are provided. For a packet service, adjusting an active period length according to the requirements of traffic at a reception time provides a DRX operation. Also, the UE enters into a sleep mode after confirming successful reception of packets including retransmission packets and sending an RLC ACK signal for the packets.
US08270924B2
There is an antenna diversity system for radio reception in moving vehicles which includes a receiver, and at least two antennas coupled to the receiver. These antennas transmit antenna feed signals to an antenna diversity module coupled between the receiver and the antennas. In at least one embodiment, the antenna diversity module comprises at least one evaluation circuit for evaluating an interference in a reception signal, and at least one processor for adjusting a magnitude and a phase angle of a linear combination of the antenna feed signals. The evaluation circuit reads and sends an interference indication signal to the processor to create a relatively low interference signal. Thus, the diversity module combines the antenna feed signals in an adjustable manner based on an magnitude of phase angle, to form a linear combined signal that is present at the output of the antenna diversity module as a reception signal.
US08270919B2
A receiving apparatus includes: an electronic device; a first antenna which is provided so as to be separate from a main body of the electronic device and receives broadcast waves; and a power transmission cable which transmits power to the electronic device. In the power transmission cable, a high-frequency blocking section is disposed on the side of a power source, and at least a part of the power transmission cable functions as a second antenna receiving a broadcast wave. The electronic device includes a diversity processor executing a diversity process on a signal received by the first antenna and a signal received by the second antenna.
US08270909B2
The present disclosure includes systems, apparatuses, and techniques relating to wireless local area network devices. Systems, apparatuses, and techniques include communicating with multiple wireless communication devices to determine characteristics of spatial wireless channels, determining steering matrices based on one or more outputs of the communicating, and transmitting signals that concurrently provide data to the wireless communication devices via different spatial wireless channels. The signals can be spatially steered to the wireless communication devices based on the steering matrices.
US08270907B2
Aspects of a method and system for matching an integrated system to an antenna utilizing on-chip measurement of reflected signals are provided. In a chip comprising at least a portion of a receiver and at least a portion of a transmitter, a best impedance match between an antenna and the chip may be determined based on on-chip measurement of one or more signals reflected from the antenna. The best impedance match between the antenna and the chip may be determined utilizing a correction algorithm. The correction algorithm may be determined utilizing data from an external test set that measures signals transmitted by the chip via the antenna. The reflected signals may be routed to a signal analyzer via on on-chip directional coupler. The best impedance match may be determined for each of a plurality of frequencies and/or each of a plurality of transmit signal strengths.
US08270904B2
A method to transmit local area radio broadcast signals (38) that is coupled to wide area radio broadcast signals (39) is described. Local area radio broadcasting is used to transmit audio content from personal audio players into the audio of an automobile. Local area radio broadcast signals (38) are coupled to wide area radio broadcast signals (39) using time based or algorithm based time slot allocation methods. A personal audio player such as a smartphone (32) or a music player is enabled with a local area broadcast radio signal transmitter (53) that transmits radio signals into a desired channel (35) which may be occupied by a wide area transmitter (68). The local area transmission may be mutually exclusive or overlapping with wide area transmission. When overlapping, signal cancellation techniques may be used such that a signature signal from wide area broadcast station may be cancelled by local area broadcast.
US08270892B2
When a toner image larger than a recording material is formed on an image bearing member, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording material as widely as possible to form an image without margins, a toner in a vicinity of an end portion of the recording material adheres to the recording material while remaining unfixed. In order to suppress the adhesion of the toner to the end portion of the recording material, the recording material is passed through a cleaning unit for the end portion of the recording material after fixation. In the cleaning unit, the recording material is sent askew. By being conveyed while an edge of the end portion of the recording material is rubbed against a cleaning member, the recording material becomes less subject to the adhesion of the toner at the end portion thereof.
US08270891B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developer storage portion for storing developer. The image forming apparatus further includes a developer supply portion for supplying developer through an opening portion of the developer storage portion. When a closing member is attached to the developer storage portion for closing the opening portion, the developer supply portion is separated from the developer storage portion.
US08270884B2
An image forming method using toner comprising toner particles having a core-shell structure comprising a core particle incorporating a viscous material and a shell layer covering the above core particle is disclosed. The method comprises steps of a toner image forming step on a dielectric drum; a first pressure applying step in which the shell layer of the toner particles forming the toner image is subjected to a preliminary break treatment by a first pressure roller, which is arranged in contact with the dielectric drum; and a transfer/fixing step in which a toner image made by the toner particles which have been subjected to a preliminary break treatment by the first pressure applying step is transferred and fixed to an image support by a second pressure roller which is arranged in contact with the dielectric drum.
US08270879B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge and rotatable member having a cartridge mounting portion with an engaging portion engageable with a portion of the cartridge. The cartridge includes a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member. The rotatable member is rotatable for moving the mounting portion between a mounting and demounting position for mounting and demounting the cartridge and another position. The engaging portion is movable between a regulating position, in which disengagement of the cartridge from the mounting portion is suppressed, and a permitting position in which the disengagement of the cartridge from the mounting portion is permitted. When the mounting portion is at the another position, the engaging portion is regulated at the regulating position. When the mounting portion is at the mounting and demounting position, the engaging portion is movable from the regulating position to the permitting position.
US08270876B2
A process cartridge usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis and having a photosensitive layer at its peripheral surface; ii) process means actable on the drum; iii) a coupling member for receiving an external force for rotating the drum, wherein the coupling member is capable of taking a first angular position for transmitting the external force to the drum, a second angular position inclined away from the axis of the drum from the first angular position, and a third angular position away from the axis of the drum from the first angle position; and iv) a regulating portion for regulating an inclination angle of the coupling member such that downward inclination angle of the coupling member is smaller than an inclination angle of the coupling member when the coupling member is at the second angular position.
US08270871B2
An accommodating container includes: a container main body that has an opening at a part thereof; a cap member; and a seal member, wherein the seal member includes a plurality of seal abutment pieces that abut on a wall surface of the cap member or a wall surface of the container main body, and are elastically deformable, and at least one of the seal abutment pieces is arranged in non-contact with the wall surface of the cap member or the wall surface of the container main body in a first state before the cap member is attached to the container main body, and is arranged in contact with the wall surface of the cap member or the wall surface of the container main body in a second state where the cap member has been attached in an attachment position of the container main body.
US08270866B2
A cooling device having a cooling unit including an air suction port that is disposed at a front surface side of a main body of the cooling device to suck air, and an air exhaust port that is disposed at a rear surface side of the main body of the cooling device to exhaust air, in which the cooling unit transfers heat from a cooling target to air sucked from the air suction port to cool the cooling target, and discharges the heat-transferred air from the air exhaust port.
US08270865B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming section to perform image formation based on a plurality of jobs, including: a control section to allow a display section to display switching information showing that a paper feeding tray to be used in performing the job is to be switched, the switching information displayed before the plurality of jobs are performed by the image forming section.
US08270858B2
An image forming device includes a sensor to detect whether a paper is discharged or not, a determiner to determine a paper width according to whether a sensing signal is output from the sensor when a printing job is executed, and a controller to control a subsequent printing operation according to the determination result of the determiner. After the printing job is initiated, the determiner determines a normal width when the sensing signal is output within a preset time, and the determiner determines a narrow width when the sensing signal is not output within the present time. Accordingly, using an existing sensor, the paper width can be detected and the appropriate printing process can be performed.
US08270857B2
A prediction table is stored in an NVM and an in-apparatus temperature is measured by a temperature sensor, a registration control adjustment based on the prediction table is carried out if an absolute value of a variation in the in-apparatus temperature is smaller than a threshold, and a registration adjusting patch is formed to actually measure a positional shift amount if the absolute value of the variation in the in-apparatus temperature is equal to or greater than the threshold. When the positional shift amount measured actually is greatly different from a value of the prediction table, the value of the prediction table is modified into the actually measured value.
US08270848B2
A device and a method for receiving a differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) signal and a method for obtaining a DQPSK signal are provided. The device includes: a splitter, configured to split the DQPSK signal to obtain two optical signals; two optical bandpass filters, connected to the splitter and configured to optically bandpass filter the two optical signals respectively, in which the two optical bandpass filters respectively have a positive frequency offset and a negative frequency offset from a central frequency of the DQPSK signal received by the splitter; and two photoelectric detectors, correspondingly connected to the two optical bandpass filters and configured to photoelectrically convert the filtered optical signals to obtain data signals. In the method, the DQPSK signal is filtered and demodulated by the optical bandpass filters, and then photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric detectors to recover the data signals, such that the problems of poor stability and polarization dependence caused by the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) are avoided, thereby greatly improving the performance of an optical transmission system.
US08270833B2
A passive optical network (PON) system supporting wireless communication includes an optical line terminal (OLT) configured on a central office, an optical distribution network (ODN), and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) respectively configured on user ends. The ODN is connected to the OLT and the ONUs in a one-to-many manner. The OLT sends a downstream optical signal to the ODN, and receives an upstream optical signal. The ODN circularly guides the optical signal to each ONU. Each ONU receives and reflects the downstream optical signal, processes the received downstream optical signal, receives and processes the upstream optical signal, carries an electrical signal to be uploaded into the upstream optical signal, and carries data received by a remote antenna into the upstream optical signal. Through the above architecture, the PON system supports wireless communication.
US08270829B2
In a network design apparatus, a full channel evaluator determines whether all wavelength channels for main signals can deliver the main signals of an existing optical network. When it is found that one or more wavelength channels cannot deliver main signals, a chromatic dispersion evaluator determines whether there are a specified number of wavelength channels that satisfy a specified chromatic dispersion condition. An optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) evaluator extracts a specified number of wavelength channels out of those satisfying the chromatic dispersion condition in descending order of optical SNRs thereof, and determines whether the extracted wavelength channels satisfy a specified optical SNR condition.
US08270823B2
A shake correction module for a photographing apparatus, including a base plate, a first slider member capable of moving in a first axis direction with respect to the base plate and accommodating a photographing device, a first drive portion moving the first slider member in the first axis direction, a second slider member capable of moving in a second axis direction that is perpendicular to the first axis direction, a second drive portion moving the second slider member in the second axis direction, and a support member attached to the base plate and pressing one of the first and second slider members. The shake correction module can reduce the effect of shaking during photographing.
US08270816B2
To provide an information recording and/or playback apparatus for dubbing onto a second recording medium all or some of plural pieces of information from a first recording medium in which the plural pieces of information are recorded. The apparatus includes a dubbing function that includes a plurality of dubbing functions respectively having different dubbing information selection methods. In the event of executing dubbing, identifiers enabling selection of one of the plurality of dubbing functions and a display screen for displaying an explanatory text regarding the respective dubbing function is displayed. In addition, when information is selected before the display screen is displayed, the information selection method of the respective dubbing function and an explanatory text to be displayed is changed corresponding to an information selection state.
US08270812B2
A video signal input-output circuit and a recording-reproduction apparatus in which a digitally compressed video signal input in packet form can be recorded and reproduced efficiently and in stable fashion. In this apparatus, a clock reference is detected from a packet signal containing the clock reference and a digitally compressed video signal, a time stamp for a packet is generated using a clock signal in phase with the clock reference and added to the particular packet, and the packet signals with the time stamp added thereto are recorded closely to each other in a data storage element such as a magnetic recording medium. At playback, the packet interval is output by being restored to the original length on the basis of the time stamp added to the packet in store.
US08270810B2
A personal video recorder (PVR) enabled set-top box (STB) may be operable to store an advertisement and associated playback control information received from a media provider into a storage device in the PVR enabled STB, schedule the stored advertisement for viewing based on the associated playback control information. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to insert the stored advertisement into media content for one or more times based on the scheduling. The PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement and the media content in different transport formats. At a forward/reverse playback position during a PVR playback, the PVR enabled STB may be operable to cause display of the stored advertisement when a play count associated with the stored advertisement is less than a count threshold at the forward/reverse playback position.
US08270809B2
Systems and apparatus are described to perform methods including receiving input to apply attributes that represent modifications to appearance of content of the video segment, to a video segment. Multiple modified video segments are generated, each modified video segment being associated with a corresponding attribute applicable to the video segment. The appearances of the multiple modified video segments vary based on corresponding attributes. A selection of a modified video segment associated with a first attribute is received, and a first video segment is generated by associating the first attribute with the video segment.
US08270804B2
In one embodiment, the recording medium includes a data area storing moving picture data, and a navigation area storing navigation information for managing reproduction of the moving picture data. The navigation information includes a metadata indicator indicating whether metadata associated with the moving picture data exists. The metadata is additional information describing content of the moving picture data, and the navigation information includes linking information identifying metadata associated with the moving picture data if the metadata indicator indicates metadata associated with the moving picture data exists. The navigation area may also store a content reference that references the moving picture data associated with the metadata.
US08270799B2
An inlet device is described for inserting a telecommunication cable into a telecommunications enclosure. The inlet device includes a housing compressible portion and a strength member securing section configured to fasten at least one strength member of the cable to the housing. The cable is centered in the housing when a protective sleeve is applied over a compressible portion of the housing. A method for preparing a cable assembly is also described. A telecommunications enclosure including an inlet device is also described.
US08270797B2
The present invention discloses a splice holder, which is used for holding at least one splicing sleeve (4), each of the splicing sleeves (4) is used for coupling two optical fibers. The splice holder comprises: a body; a splice channel (7) provided on the body; and an elastic device (9) in each splice channel, wherein the elastic device holds the splicing sleeve (4) elastically in the splice channel. The present invention also includes a communication socket having a splice holder mounted therein. By the splice holder of present invention, optical fiber connection points can be accommodated in a communication socket, so that electrical cables and optical fibers in the communication socket may be managed in an orderly way. Furthermore, inclusion of the inventive splice holder ensures than a minimum bending radius of optical fiber can be maintained when the optical fiber is stored in the communication socket.
US08270795B2
A hollow fiber has a hollow tube, a reflecting film formed on an inner wall of the hollow tube, and the reflecting film is a first metal film formed by baking a first metal nano particle solution including a first metal nano particle. The hollow fiber may have a transparent film on the first metal film. The transparent film is formed by baking or chemically reacting from a second metal nano particle included in a second metal nano particle solution.
US08270791B2
An optical waveguide of the invention includes a core that is a waveguide through which light propagates; and a cladding that surrounds the core. The core has a plate shape and includes a wide core base part onto which the light is incident, a taper part that is connected to the core base part and of which a width is gradually tapered along a propagation direction, and a narrow front end core part that is connected to the taper part and that extends along the propagation direction. A grating is provided on one of planar surfaces of the wide core base part, the grating is formed by engraving a number of concave grooves having a rectangular cross section on the planar surface along a width direction thereof, the grating is formed to be optically coupled with laser light that is incident perpendicularly onto the grating formation surface, a frequency (grating pitch: pitch of the concave grooves) of the grating is smaller than a wavelength (defined as a wavelength in the cladding) of the perpendicularly incident laser light, and a groove depth H1 of the grating is formed with respect to a thickness H2 of the core base part so that a relationship H1=(0.33 to 0.67)×H2 is satisfied.
US08270779B2
An apparatus comprising an electronic-photonic device. The device includes a planar substrate having a top layer on a middle layer, active electronic components and active photonic waveguide components. The active electronic components are located on first lateral regions of the top layer, and the active photonic waveguide components are located on second lateral regions of the top layer. The second-region thickness is greater than the first-region thickness. The top layer has a higher refractive index than the middle layer.
US08270778B2
A single-photon absorption all-optical signal-processing device, systems employing the same, and methods of making and using the same. Illustrative examples are provided based on silicon semiconductor technology that employs rectangular waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers. In some embodiments, it is observed that the waveguides have surface state density, σ, of not less than 1.5×1018 cm−1s−1mW−1 to provide a single-photon absorption operation mode. In some embodiments, some portion of the ridge waveguide structure has a surface to volume ratio of at least 18 μm−1, computed using a unit length of 1 μm of the waveguide, with the width and depth dimensions of the waveguide being measured in units of microns.
US08270777B2
Provided is an optical modulator wherein frequency characteristics in a high frequency band are further improved and temperature drift phenomenon is more suppressed. The optical modulator is provided with a substrate (1) having electro-optical effects; an optical waveguide (2) formed on the substrate; and a modulation electrode on the substrate. The modulation electrode is composed of a signal electrode for controlling an optical wave guided in the optical waveguide, and ground electrodes (4, 5). A high frequency modulation signal introducing path or a terminator is bonded to at least one of end sections (31, 32) of the signal electrode by bonding (81-86). Dummy electrode sections (131-186) are arranged on the side opposite to the end section of the bonded signal electrode, by having a waveguide path in between.
US08270774B2
An image processing device includes: an interpolation unit configured to perform interpolation along each of a plurality of directions in a neighbor region of a predetermined pixel of interest in an input image, and generate interpolation values for each; a chroma signal alias intensity calculating unit configured to calculate alias intensities of chroma signals from interpolation values of each of the plurality of directions from the interpolation unit; and a direction evaluation unit configured to generate evaluation values corresponding to each of the plurality of directions, based on the alias intensity of each of the chroma signals of the plurality of directions from the chroma signal alias intensity calculating unit.
US08270772B2
Image resizing for web-based searching is described. In one implementation, a system resizes a user-selected thumbnail image into a larger version of the image that emulates the quality of a large, original image, but without downloading the original image. First, the system extracts resizing parameters when each thumbnail image is created. Then, the system creates a codebook of primitive visual elements extracted from a collection of training images. The primitive visual elements in the codebook provide universal visual parts for reconstructing images. The codebook and a resizing plug-in can be sent once to the user over a background channel. When the user selects a thumbnail image for enlargement, the system resizes the thumbnail image via interpolation and then refines the enlarged image with primitive visual elements from the codebook. The refinement creates an enlarged image that emulates the quality of the large, original image, without downloading the original image.
US08270768B2
A method of rendering a multi-view image comprising a first output image and a second output image on basis of an input image (102) is disclosed. The method comprises: creating a modulation image (100) comprising irregular shaped objects (106-112); modulating pixel values of a portion of the input image (102) on basis of further pixel values of the modulation image (100), resulting into an intermediate image (104); and generating the multi-view image by means of warping the intermediate image on basis of the disparity data.
US08270763B2
Image transforms that can be performed through a reverse lookup process in which output pixel addresses of an output image are reverse transformed into input pixel addresses. In some embodiments, rather than reverse transforming all output pixel addresses, a subset of output pixel addresses can be reverse transformed to calculate transformed addresses. The reverse transforms of all output pixel address may then be approximately calculated by interpolating the transformed addresses. The approximately transformed addresses can then be used as read addresses to a memory storing the input image.
US08270762B1
A method of calibrating the intensity with which light is emitted through the light-emission face of an optical fiber light line assembly employs (i) a data processing system with computer memory, (ii) a camera communicatively linked to the data processing system, and (iii) a signal-responsive scoring device communicatively linked to the data processing system. Light is introduced into the assembly, an image of the emitting face is captured, and corresponding image data is stored in computer memory. The image data is segmented into plural image-data segments corresponding to physical sub-regions of the imaged face. The image-data segments are algorithmically analyzed to identify the sub-region that emits inputted light with the lowest intensity, and emission-intensity data associated with that sub-region is identified as reference emission data. Comparative analysis of the image-data segments identifies “non-compliant” sub-regions that emit light with unacceptably high intensity in accordance with a pre-established parameter set. The data processing system issues scoring signals that cause the scoring device to score each non-compliant sub-region until that sub-region emits light with acceptable average intensity.
US08270758B2
A number of invalid pixels at an outer peripheral part is reduced while suppressing an influence on an image quality such as discontinuity by pixel expansion, and suppressing increase in a number of processing pixels. When sequentially generating a plurality of reduced images having resolutions different from each other by sequentially performing a reduction process on an input image when realizing a noise reduction process using multiresolution transformation, the pixel expansion process of expanding the pixels at the outer peripheral part of the image of the reduced image is performed at least once before performing one of the reduction processes, and the reduced image after the pixel expansion process is further reduced to generate the plurality of reduced images.
US08270753B2
An image processing device includes: a saturated area extraction unit that extracts a saturated area corresponding to a saturated pixel from an image expressed by a color component signal of a predetermined color system corresponding to a pixel; a color information acquisition unit that acquires color information from a color component signal corresponding to a pixel contained in an area in contact with the saturated area of the image; and a color component signal modification unit that modifies a color component signal of a pixel in the saturated area so that color information on the saturated pixel contained in the saturated area approaches the color information acquired by the color information acquisition unit.
US08270748B1
Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the model including a plurality of probes. Each probe represents a relative position at which a test is performed in an image at a given pose, each such test contributing evidence that the pattern exists at the pose. The method further includes a comparison of the model with a run-time image at each of a plurality of poses. A match score is computed at each pose to provide a match score surface. Then, the match score is compared with an accept threshold, and used to provide the location any instances of the pattern in the image.
US08270747B2
An image encoding device that receives a plurality of component values of a color input signal inputted to an object pixel, vector quantizes, and encodes each of the plurality of component values includes: a difference vector quantization unit that vector quantizes and encodes each difference value obtained by subtracting prediction component values based on a previous object pixel from the component values of the object pixel respectively; an absolute value vector quantization unit that vector quantizes and encodes each different value of the object pixel; a determination unit that compares each difference value with respective comparison ranges to determine a code selection; and a code selector that selects one of an output from the difference vector quantization unit and an output from the absolute value vector quantization unit based on an output from the determination unit.
US08270746B2
An image compression method and a device thereof are provided. In the image compression method, a block image having a plurality of pixels is received. In the block image, an adjusted value of a first pixel is compared with a threshold value, and the adjusted value of the first pixel is accordingly quantized as a first parameter value or a second parameter value so as to obtain a quantized value of the first pixel. Next, an error value between the adjusted value of the first pixel and the quantized value of the first pixel is distributed to at least one second pixel adjacent to the first pixel according to an error diffusion kernel. The first pixel and the second pixel are respectively one of the above pixels. Therefore, the quality of the compressed image is improved and the influence of the blocking effect is reduced.
US08270745B2
The present invention can realize an image processing device and an image processing method that enable a simplified circuit configuration. An image encoding device (200) encodes an input image (91) in an ordinary process that is the same as main encoding on the basis of a predictive quantization parameter (QPd), while encoding the input image (91) in a simple manner (simplified process) on the basis of the predictive quantization parameter (QPd) and quantization parameters (QP) approximate to the predictive quantization parameter (QPd). The image encoding device (200) calculates a code quantity ratio R_reduction between a high-precision generated code quantity obtained through an ordinary process based on the predictive quantization parameter (QPd) and a generated code quantity obtained through a simplified process based on the predictive quantization parameter (QPd). The image encoding device (200) calculates high-precision generated code quantities based on the quantization parameters (QP) approximate to the predictive quantization parameter (QPd) on the basis of the code quantity ratio R_reduction and generated code quantities obtained through a simplified process based on the quantization parameters (QP) approximate to the predictive quantization parameter (QPd).
US08270741B1
Assets of raw geo-located imagery can be divided into tiles and coverage masks can be generated for each tile. For each tile, fragments of pixels from coverage masks of neighboring tiles can be extracted and tagged. The fragments can be sorted and stored in a data structure so that fragments having the same tag can be grouped together in the data structure. The fragments can be used to feather the coverage mask of the tile to produce a blend mask. Multi-resolution imagery and mask pyramids can be generated by extracting fragments from tiles and minified (e.g., down-sampled). The minified fragments can be tagged (e.g., by ancestor tile name), sorted and stored in a data structure, so that fragments having like tags can be stored together in the data structure. The fragments can be assembled into fully minified tiles for each level in the pyramid. Input tiles in a first projection are re-projected into a second projection using techniques that minimize distortion in the re-projected imagery.
US08270734B2
An image-processing method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes compressing color information of an input image, generating additional data, which includes transparency information of the input image, and providing a compressed image, which includes the generated additional data and the compressed color information. The apparatus can include: a color-information-compressing unit, which compresses the color information of an input image; a transparency-processing unit that generates additional data, which includes transparency information of the input image; and an output unit that generates a compression image that includes the generated additional data and the compressed color information.
US08270730B2
A method of target recognition performs a 3D comparison of target and reference data. Translation invariant signatures are derived from the two data sets, and an estimate of the orientation of the target with respect to the reference is obtained. Rotational alignment and comparison can then be achieved. The 3D data sets can be represented on an axi-symmetric surface such as a sphere and rotational convolution, over a discrete set of selected rotation angles can be performed. Optic flow can be used to derive the estimate of orientation or the target relative to the reference, in terms of a displacement field.
US08270729B2
The invention to be provided relates to focusing control for obtaining a detected image necessary for image authentication. Through the focusing control, a lens is controlled to be located at an optimum position upon starting authentication. An image authenticating apparatus compares a detected image with a recorded image to carry out authentication using the detected image and the recorded image. The apparatus includes an image-capturing unit (camera unit) that obtains the detected image by capturing an image of a photographed subject, a display unit (image display unit) that displays the detected image on a screen displaying a target image showing the outline of a portion to be detected, and a controlling unit (image processing unit) that controls the lens of the image-capturing unit to locate the lens at a given focusing position relative to the photographed subject upon obtaining the detected image.
US08270727B2
The method, system, and apparatus of source statistics based intra prediction type is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes classifying a four-pixel square block in an edge class (e.g., may include a DC edge class, a vertical edge class, a horizontal edge class, a diagonal edge class, and/or a planar edge class) based on an edge classifier, classifying an eight-pixel square block having the four-pixel square block and other four-pixel square blocks as a homogenous class if the four-pixel square block and the other four-pixel square blocks of the eight-pixel square block belong to the edge class, assigning a direction to the edge class of the eight-pixel square block, and determining an optimal intra-prediction type through the classification such that empirical testing of all possible ones of the edge class and the direction is avoided when the homogenous class is identified.
US08270723B2
A recognition device includes storage unit that stores information of a cluster to which a model feature point belongs; extracting unit that extracts a feature amount of a query feature point; generating unit that determines a first set of the query feature point including a reference point and a dependent point, and generates geometric information; clustering unit that clusters the query feature point; correcting unit that sets up the model feature point as a nearest candidate of the reference point, sets up the model feature point as a nearest candidate of the dependent point, determines whether or not the nearest candidate of the reference point is present, and corrects the model feature point; and similarity degree calculating unit that calculates a similarity degree of the first set and a second set and determines the second set nearest to the first set.
US08270717B2
A method for extracting a character string from print data rasterizes the print data into a raster image. Then, the method divides the raster image into a character region and non-character region and determines character data used for metadata based on the raster image of the character region and character data extracted from the print data and drawn at approximately the same position as the character region.
US08270705B2
A motion object monitoring system captures an image of a scene and distance data between points in the scene and a time-of-flight (TOF) camera by the TOF camera. A 3D model of the scene is built according to the image of the scene and the distance data. The motion object monitoring system gives numbers to the monitored objects according to specific features of the monitored objects. The specific features of the monitored objects are obtained by detecting the built 3D model of the scene. Only one of the numbers of each of the monitored objects is stored, instead of repeatedly storing the numbers of same motion objects. The motion object monitoring system analyzes the stored numbers, and displays an analysis result. The motion object monitoring system also determines a movement of each of the motion objects according to corresponding numbers of the motion objects.
US08270700B2
According to the present invention, for a pattern inspection apparatus that compares images in corresponding areas of two patterns that are identical and that determines an unmatched portion between the images is a defect, a plurality of detection systems and a plurality of corresponding image comparison methods are provided. With this configuration, the affect of uneven brightnesses for a pattern that occurs due to differences in film thicknesses can be reduced, a highly sensitive pattern inspection can be performed, a variety of defects can be revealed, and the pattern inspection apparatus can be applied for processing performed within a wide range. Furthermore, the pattern inspection apparatus also includes a unit for converting the tone of image signals of comparison images for a plurality of different processing units, and when a difference in brightness occurs in the same pattern of the images, a defect can be correctly detected.
US08270695B2
A method for medical diagnostic image processing obtains digital image data for a diagnostic image and extracts one or more image features from the image data, obtaining one or more image properties from the one or more extracted features. An image quality aim is obtained for rendered image appearance according to one or more stored viewer preferences. Rendering parameters are generated according to the obtained image quality aim and the one or more obtained image properties. The image is rendered according to the generated rendering parameters and the rendering validated against the selected image quality aim.
US08270692B2
A method of obtaining a measurement of the extent of telangectasia in an area of skin is disclosed. Initially (S3-1) an image of an area of skin (2) to be analyzed is obtained. The obtained image is then processed (S3-2-S3-3) to determine blood distribution data indicative of the distribution of blood in an imaged area of skin. This blood distribution data is then converted (S3-5) using a Discrete Fourier Transform and the converted blood distribution data is then processed to obtain a measurement of the extent features in a determined distribution of blood correspond to structures of a predetermined size. The obtained measurement of the extent of telangectasia can then be combined (s3-6) with other measurements of the effects of photo-damage such as measurements of melanin disorder and collagen degradation to obtain a measurement of the extent of photo-damage.
US08270689B2
An apparatus for obtaining an image of a tooth having at least one light source providing incident light having a first spectral range for obtaining a reflectance image (122) from the tooth and a second spectral range for exciting a fluorescence image (120) from the tooth. A polarizing beamsplitter (18) in the path of the incident light from both sources directs light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor (68), wherein the second polarization state is orthogonal to the first polarization state. A first lens (22) in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth toward the sensor (68), and obtains image data from the portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter (15) in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range.
US08270683B2
Provided is a computer system and method for mapping a visual path. The method includes receiving one or more images included in a predefined area; receiving one or more parameters associated with the image; and integrating the images and parameters into a map of the predefined area to enable mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters.
US08270682B2
Segmenting scalp and facial hair of a human subject depicted in an image by identifying from metadata associated with the image or semantic information extracted from the image information indicating a possible distribution of the scalp hair or the facial hair, identifying from hair distribution information an expected-hair region within the image wherein the expected-hair region includes at least a portion of a head area of the subject, and identifying a hair region within the expected hair region.
