US08337467B2
The invention relates to a safety device (1) for a syringe (2), the device comprising a protective sheath (20) in which the syringe (2) can slide, said sheath (20) presenting an opening (36) at a distal portion (33), which opening is suitable for allowing the syringe (2) to project beyond the sheath (20). According to the invention, the sheath (20) presents radial resilience at its distal portion (33) suitable for enabling the sheath (20) to receive a cylinder (3, 19) of diameter greater than that of said opening (36).
US08337466B2
A manual intravenous pump includes an input line, a fluid reservoir operatively connected to the input line, and an output line operatively connected to the fluid reservoir. The manual intravenous pump further includes a manually operable actuator, configured to facilitate the flow of fluid from the input line, through the fluid reservoir, and to the output line.
US08337465B2
Ports for accessing a vessels within a patient include passageways that can guide needles or other access devices directly into the vessels. The ports can be implanted subcutaneously within a patient. Some ports may be used in the creation and use of vascular access buttonholes.
US08337461B2
A universal gripping surface is provided on an intravenous catheter assembly. The universal gripping surface provides a plurality of surfaces whereby a user may grip the catheter assembly in a desired gripping configuration for improved balance and control of the catheter assembly during insertion of the catheter. Additionally, the universal gripping surface includes a guard feature to prevent a user's unintended contact with various components of the catheter assembly whereby the contact may result in an undesirable “over the bevel” condition.
US08337459B1
In order for diabetics to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels, this application will enable a person to determine the amount of carbohydrates in a particular food item in any restaurant. With the modern technology of applications for smart phones or hand held computer devices that can read barcodes, the information can easily be retrieved for appropriate use. Software can be integrated between the hand held computer device that will enable an insulin pump to automatically and accurately dose the appropriate amount of insulin that is required.
US08337458B2
Described herein are cannulas having a stepped exterior. Also described are methods of making and using these cannulas, for example to deliver one or more materials to the central nervous system of an animal.
US08337456B2
A syringe includes a body having a distal end, a proximal end and a center section therebetween, a plunger movably disposed in the body, and a hollow alignment flange for orienting and manipulating the syringe.
US08337443B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for correcting an ingrown nail within a very short time (30 min to 1 hr) with a very simple operation and without pain. The apparatus contains an upstanding push-down member having at its lower end a push-down head; a laterally extending, lifting angle maintenance means secured at its middle portion to the push-down member; and lifting members (having anchors at their lower ends) extending downwardly from portions of the maintenance means which are opposite relative to the middle portion of the maintenance means at which the push-down member is secured. When the lifting members are placed under tension, the anchors secured to side portions of a nail are lifted to exert a lifting force on the side portions while causing the push-down member to push the middle portion of the nail in its thicknesswise direction.
US08337427B2
In a bioinstrument system S of the present invention, a processor unit 121 in a bioinstrument device 108 obtains information indicative of displacement of two fingers in deformed state from distance between the two fingers; and calculates a finger-tapping force by using the obtained information and a predetermined fingertips' stiffness function retrieved from a storage unit 122. This provides a method for inspecting for neurological disorders in consideration of the finger-tapping force.
US08337415B2
A device comprises a needle, probe, holster, and tissue collection chamber. A motor simultaneously powers a vacuum pump, translates and rotates a cutter, and translates a plunger. The needle includes a piercing tip and an interior shelf that divides the needle into a cutter lumen and lateral lumen. The cutter and shelf include apertures configured to mince a portion of a tissue specimen that has been severed by the cutter and forced through the apertures by compressive force from the plunger as well as vacuum force. The apertures of the shelf and the apertures of the rotating cutter cooperate to shear the tissue being compressed by the plunger. The minced tissue is then transported to the tissue collection chamber under vacuum force with the assistance of a fluid flush. Collected minced tissue may then be further processed as desired for a given medical treatment or procedure.
US08337397B2
Landmark directional guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscopic device by displaying graphical representations of vectors adjacent a current image captured by an image capturing device disposed at a tip of the endoscopic device and being displayed at the time on a display screen, wherein the graphical representations of the vectors point in directions that the endoscope tip is to be steered in order to move towards associated landmarks such as anatomic structures in a patient.
US08337393B2
Described herein are delivery devices and methods of using the devices for delivering an ocular implant into a suprachoroidal space without use of a goniolens. The delivery device includes a handle including a channel extending from a proximal end of the handle to a distal end of the handle, an applier coupled to the handle, the applier including a blunt distal tip and an elongate, flexible wire insertable through a fluid channel of an ocular implant, and a fiber optic image bundle reversibly inserted through the channel such that the fiber optic image bundle extends to a region proximal to the blunt distal tip of the applier.
US08337386B2
The invention relates generally to surgical implants, and in various embodiments to surgical implants configured for promoting growth of well-organized collagenous tissue at an anatomical site.
US08337383B2
An assembler which limits the amount of torque that may be applied to a brachytherapy cartridge magazine when its cap is threaded onto same. The assembler is constructed so that the brachytherapy cartridge will rotate within the assembler before a destructive torque is applied while the cap and cartridge magazine are screwed together.
US08337381B2
Industrial process for the treatment of RSW (residential solid waste) after being milled is processed with sanitizing solutions, and binders and hardeners, which chemically immobilize and avoid the production of percolating liquids, leaching of heavy metals and generation of greenhouse gases. The resulting material is a grey, warm and malleable paste that is moldable, allowing diverse uses. The material can be directly buried in the ground without special protections; can be used as construction material for urban furniture or architectural structures; or can be anchored in the ocean, building habitats of ocean ecosystems, if it is properly packaged in waterproof material.
US08337372B1
The invention relates to an exercise device for use by a user on a selected surface material comprising a grasping member having a first end and a second end, a first tool head mounted to the first end of the grasping member and a second tool head mounted to the second end of the grasping member. Each of the first tool head and the second tool head has sufficient structural rigidity to be interacted with the surface material without significant deformation whereby a user can perform exercises upon the selected surface material by physically interacting the first tool head and second tool head with the surface material.
US08337370B2
A weightlifting system includes a weight bar frame rack which includes a multitude of openings along an upright to receive a weight support assembly at various positions along the frame rack. The support assembly includes a multitude of studs which extend from an inner surface of a U-shaped support plate to engage the openings and provide a robust weight support which will bear a significant quantity of weight. In use, the weight support assembly is pushed into and down the upright such that that the studs engage and are guided by the openings. Concurrent therewith, a spring bias is overcome until a latch member encounters a lock opening to securely lock the support into the desired position. To remove the weight support assembly a lock trigger is retracted and the weight support assembly is lifted up and out of the openings. The entire locking and unlocking of the weight support assembly is readily performed with one hand.
US08337358B2
A transmission includes first, second, third, and fourth clutches, first and second shift valves, and first, second, third, and fourth trim valves. Each trim valve is operative to control fluid pressure to a respective one of the first, second, third, and fourth clutches. The transmission also includes a controller. The controller is electrically operatively connected to the first and second shift valves and the first, second, third, and fourth trim valves to selectively provide a first clutch configuration for operating in a first mode and a second clutch configuration for operating in a second mode. The transmission also includes a clutch control mechanization for selectively moving the clutch configuration to a default position in the event power to the transmission is lost.
US08337351B2
A hybrid power driving system includes a planetary gear mechanism having a first rotating component, a second rotating component, and a third rotating component. The system also includes an electric motor operatively coupled to the first rotating component, a clutch, an internal-combustion engine operatively coupled to the first rotating component by the clutch, and a brake operatively coupled to the second rotating component and configured to control the second rotating component in a locked position or in an unlocked position. The third rotating component is operatively coupled to an output end to provide rotational power.
US08337349B2
The invention provides a power transmission belt which is superior in oil resistance so that it is swollen to only a reduced degree, reduced in hardness, and small in abrasion if the rubber layers are stained with oil while the belt is being used in an oil-present environment. Such a power transmission belt has rubber layers which comprise a compression rubber layer and an adhesion rubber layer both of which are vulcanized and bonded to each other and load carrying cords are embedded in the adhesion rubber layer, wherein at least the compression rubber layer between the two rubber layers is formed of vulcanizate obtained by vulcanizing ethylene-α-olefin-diene rubber with an organic peroxide and a trifunctional co-crosslinking agent.
US08337339B2
The invention is a floatation game device with a pole, which pole has a first (upper) end, a second (lower) end, and an intermediate section(s). A ballast weight is attached to the lower end. A generally ovoid and round float is attached to the intermediate section. A rope connector is attached to the upper end. One end of a rope is attached to the upper end of the pole and a ball is attached to the other end of the rope. The pole of the floatation game device can be disassembled into smaller sections. The attachment means can be a swivel, a hole, or other attachment means.
US08337336B2
A method of selecting a preferred golf shaft for a player who uses an existing golf shaft, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, may comprise gathering a plurality of empirical data sets, each data set corresponding to an individual golf shaft selected from a plurality of golf shafts; providing a plurality of specification codes, each associated with an individual empirical data set of the plurality of empirical data sets; from the plurality of specification codes, identifying a first specification code associated with the existing golf shaft; gathering feedback associated with the existing golf shaft from the player; and using the feedback to select, from the plurality of specification codes, a second specification code corresponding to the preferred golf shaft.
US08337335B2
In a first aspect, a system for monitoring a swing is provided that includes (1) a swing measurement device adapted to couple to a swinging object and to output a signal indicative of a characteristic of the swinging object; (2) a wireless transmitter coupled to the swing measurement device and adapted to wirelessly transmit the signal output by the swing measurement device; and (3) a wireless device adapted to receive the wirelessly transmitted signal and to provide information regarding the swinging object based on the received signal. The wireless device is a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08337331B2
A golf ball including an inner core layer formed from a first thermoset rubber composition and having a diameter of about 1.25 to 1.58 inches; an outer core layer formed from a second thermoset rubber composition; and an intermediate core layer disposed between the inner core layer and outer core layer. The intermediate core layer is formed from a thermoplastic composition having a first melt flow index at 280° C. under a 10-kg load of less than about 35 g/10 min and has a thickness of about 0.005 inches to 0.10 inches and a surface hardness of greater than about 60 Shore D. A cover layer having a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.05 inches and a surface hardness of about 60 Shore D or less is formed around the core.
US08337327B2
A fairway wood type golf club head and method for forming is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a cast body, a compression molded crown, and weight pads. The weight pads can be manipulated to create different mass property configurations for the golf club head using the same body and crown.
US08337324B2
Golf club heads for iron-type golf clubs (including 1 through 9 irons, iron-type hybrid clubs, driving irons, and wedges (e.g., pitching wedges, lob wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges, etc.)) include a striking face. The striking face may comprise a plurality of spaced, parallel grooves that extend across at least a portion of the striking face. The grooves may form a herringbone groove pattern. The herringbone groove pattern may include two or more rows of diagonal, parallel grooves slanting in alternate directions to form a series of parallel Vs. The grooves may be rounded. Other possible groove shapes also are described.
US08337317B2
A Ferris wheel-type ride. A lever arm is mounted to the wheel rim to freely pivot between front and rear stops. Passenger gondolas, pivotally attached to the lever arms, travel through four zones experiencing differing ride dynamics. In the first zone, the lever arm abuts the front stop while, in the second, the lever arm is spaced apart from the stops and the lever arm is supported from above by the wheel via the lever arm causing the gondola to be vertically lifted and to rotate slower than the hub rotation rate. In the third zone, the lever arm abuts the rear stop and, in the fourth zone, the lever arm is spaced apart from the stops and is supported from below by the wheel as it falls toward the front stop at a rate greater than the hub rotation rate.
US08337316B2
A torsion damper including a plurality of elastic elements, a first plate drivingly engaged with the plurality of elastic elements and adapted to drivingly engage with a transmission shaft, a gear, and a second plate drivingly engaged with the gear and the plurality of elastic elements. At least one of the first or second plate is adapted to hydraulically seal with respect to a housing for the transmission. The gear may be adapted to be a power take-off gear for the transmission.
US08337309B2
A electronic gaming device that distributes data based awards has been developed. The gaming device includes an outcome processor that determines certain machine events and an award delivery device that delivers data based awards in response to the machine events.
US08337308B2
A game system includes a game device, and a hand-held device having a predetermined input surface. The hand-held device transmits operation data which includes touch data representing a player input position on the predetermined input surface and movement data whose value changes in accordance with movement of the hand-held device. The game device controls an attitude of a control surface placed in a three-dimensional game space based on the movement data. The game device calculates a control direction in the game space based on the attitude of the control surface and the touch data, and performs a game process based on the control direction. The first game image representing the game space is output to and displayed on a display device which is separate from the hand-held device.
US08337304B2
An example portable, handheld game console includes a main body incorporating a first display screen, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen. The main body is hingedly connected to the cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that the cover body is movable between closed and open positions. The main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and a pair of game card slots for receiving game cards of different dimensions.
US08337287B2
A gaming machine includes a gaming console. A display is mounted in the gaming console for displaying a wagering game and its result. A controller controls operation of the game, the controller displaying the result of a first game on the display, making payment of a prize if the first game has a prize winning result and, thereafter, irrespective of the result of the first game, varying a result displayed on the display without requiring any additional wager by a player whether before or after completion of the first game.
US08337286B2
With liquid crystal provided in front of reels, a gaming machine includes reels 3 having symbol placement faces shaped like curved surfaces on which a plurality of symbols are placed for variably displaying of a plurality of symbol rows each made up of the plurality of symbols, liquid crystal 504 being provided in front of and opposed to the reels 3 for displaying the symbols through a flat symbol transmission face and also displaying an image concerning game play, reel backlights 513 for illuminating the symbols, and reel side reflectors 320 being provided on a side of the reels 3 for covering an area sandwiched between the symbol placement face and the symbol transmission face on a face on the side of the reels 3 for assisting image display of the liquid crystal 504.
US08337278B2
Systems and methods for performing one or more measurements of a substrate at one or more radii along the substrate are described. Thickness measurements taken at various radii along the substrate can be averaged together to obtain an average value that reflects an overall substrate thickness. A more accurate measurement of the overall substrate thickness can be obtained by performing multiple measurements and averaging the measurements together. Using the average value, polishing can be adjusted to ensure that the substrate achieves a desired planarized thickness profile.
US08337260B2
Devices are provided for facilitating connection of at least one element to a pole of a battery. The devices include an adapter including a first portion of the adapter and a second portion of the adapter. The first portion of the adapter is configured to attach to the pole of the battery and the second portion of the adapter includes at least one protruding member. The at least one protruding member is configured to receive the at least one element and is electrically connected to the first portion of the adapter. The device further includes a protective lid configured to be received by the adapter and to provide an electrically insulating cover for the at least one protruding member.
US08337256B1
Disclosed is a pogo-pin connector which includes an insulated body, at least one pogo-pin terminal, at least one insulative sleeve, at least one conductive terminal, at least one receiving pedestal and at least one spring part. A pogo-pin terminal slot and a conductive terminal slot are defined through insulated body. Each of the pogo-pin terminals has a top end movably protruded beyond the pogo-pin terminal slot and a bottom end defining a slotted hole toward an inside of the pogo-pin terminal. The insulative sleeve is removably fastened at the bottom end of the pogo-pin terminal. The conductive terminal is disposed within the conductive terminal slot. A receiving pedestal is used to seal the bottom end of the pogo-pin terminal slot. In accordance with the configuration of the insulative sleeve, an arcing effect occurring between the pogo-pin connector and a complementary connector can be avoided.
US08337253B2
Structures, methods, and apparatus that provide connector receptacles that have a reduced tendency to scratch and otherwise mar connector inserts, have an aesthetically-pleasing appearance, have an improved tactile response when inserts are inserted, or are very thin or have a low profile. Various examples reduce scratches and wear by utilizing domes, cylinders, balls, or other structures as finger contacts in a connector receptacle. Another example provides aesthetically-pleasing connector receptacle enclosures by forming receptacle enclosures using the same type of material, or material having the same or similar color or texture, as is used for enclosing the electronic device that includes the receptacle. Another example provides an aesthetically-pleasing receptacle enclosure by forming receptacle enclosures that are, in part or in whole, contiguous or formed with the housing. Another example provides a super-thin connector receptacle by removing fingers and portions of a shell along one or more sides.
US08337250B1
An electric plug includes a casing, two metal contacting blades, a printed circuit board and a cap. The casing has a cavity defined in the casing. The two metal contacting blades are mounted in the casing and extend out from the casing. The printed circuit board is received in the cavity in the casing and has two metal clampers electrically connecting with the printed circuit board. Each clamper has two legs mounted on the printed circuit board and curved toward each other for securely clamping the contacting blade between the two legs and electrically conducting the contacting blade with the printed circuit board. The cap is mounted on the casing for closing the cavity in the casing. The clampers provide a high heat-resistance. The connections between clampers and the contacting blades are firm for providing a well conduction without wire or welding.
US08337246B2
A modular jack (100) comprising a housing (200) defining an upper port and a lower port vertically stacked under the upper port, and a contact module (400) assembled to the housing. The contact modules each comprises a first vertical PCB (46) and a second vertical PCB (47) extending along a front-to-rear direction, a vertical shield plate (50) disposed between the first vertical PCB and the second vertical PCB, a mating module, and a horizontal shield plate (418) disposed between the upper contact module and the lower contact module. The horizontal shield plate is disposed below the upper row of ports and above the lower row of ports and connecting the vertical shield plate.
US08337244B2
A housing (11) of a waterproof connector (10) is formed with terminal accommodating chambers (12) arranged in rows one above another and columns. A rubber sheet (20) for sealing is arranged at a terminal insertion surface side of the housing (11) and has wire insertion holes (24) corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber (12). The wire insertion holes (24) are dimensioned to be held in close contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of wires (30) inserted therethrough. The rubber sheet (20) is with resilient members (22) having a larger modulus of elasticity than a rubber sheet main body (21) in parts at least on a wire insertion side surface (21a) either or both between the respective rows of the wire insertion holes of the rubber sheet main body (21) formed with the wire insertion holes (24) or/and between the respective columns of the wire insertion holes.
US08337242B2
A data cable includes a first connector, two bolts, a number of wires extending from the first connector, and at least one connector electrically connected to the wires. The first connector includes an insulated main body. The main body includes an elongated installing portion and a short connection portion extending from a rear side of the installing portion. Opposite ends of the installing portion each define a through hole, and opposite ends of the connection portion each define a receiving hole. The bolts are configured to be detachably received in the receiving holes, and operable to mount the first connector to an object via the through holes.
US08337238B2
A connector assembly includes a shielded housing having a cavity. The shielded housing has a mating end and a cable end configured to receive a cable therethrough. A plug is received in the cavity that has terminals extending between mating ends and wire terminating ends. The wire terminating ends being configured to be terminated to corresponding wires of the cable. A cable clip is received in the shielded housing proximate to the cable end. The cable clip has a base and a bonding arm extending from the base. The base engages and is electrically connected to the shielded housing. The bonding arm is positioned in the cavity and is configured to engage a cable shield of the cable to electrically connect the cable shield and the shielded housing.
US08337237B2
A connector device includes a male connector and a female connector attached to and detached from each other by moving the male connector in a sliding direction relative to the female connector, the male connector including plug electrodes arrayed in an arraying direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, each plug electrode including a curved part formed at one end and bent in the arraying direction, and the female connector including jack electrodes arrayed in the arraying direction, each jack electrode corresponding to one of the plug electrodes and including a connection formed at one end and projecting in a direction parallel to the sliding direction, each connection including two resilient terminal portions, and when the male connector and the female connector are mutually fitted to each other, the curved part of each plug electrode is inserted and fitted between the two resilient terminal portions of a corresponding jack electrode.
US08337235B2
A connector (10) formed by removing front and rear shaping dies in forward and backward directions. The connector (10) includes a housing (20), a lock arm (40) provided displaceably relative to the outer surface of the housing (20) and adapted to hold a mating housing and the housing (20) in a connected state. Couplings (51) connect the lock arm (40) and the housing (20) and have front and rear curved surfaces (57F, 57R). Front steps (54F) extend continuously forward from the end edge (58F) of the front curved surfaces (57F) closer to the rear curved surfaces (57R). Rear steps (54R) extend continuously back from end edges of the rear curved surfaces (57R) closer to the front curved surfaces (57F). Pairs of curved portions (59F, 59R) facing forward and back are provided at opposite ends of the curved surfaces (57F, 57R) in directions crossing the curving directions.
US08337232B2
An electrical connector for electrically connecting a central processing unit (CPU) with a plurality of electronic components assembled thereunder and conductive pins surrounding the electronic components to a printed circuit board (PCB) comprises a base having a plurality of terminals received therein for contacting with the conductive pins of the CPU, a cover mounted on the base, an actuator actuating the cover sliding along the base and a shielding frame mounted on the base. The base has a first opening and a plurality of passageways surrounding the first opening for receiving the terminals. The cover has a second opening corresponding to the first opening. The shielding frame is tightly attached to the sidewalls of the first opening and received in the first and second openings to prevent terminals from electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitted from electronic components assembled under the CPU.
US08337227B2
A wire harness is divided in an arrangement direction, and terminals are connected to ends of wires of the divided wire harnesses and respectively mounted into first and second connectors. An intermediate connector is provided which includes a first connector fitting portion and a second connector fitting portion, into which the first and second connectors respectively are fit, and a partition wall is disposed between the first and second connector fitting portions. Intermediate terminals are inserted through the partition wall of the intermediate connector and electrical contact portions at both ends of the respective intermediate terminals project into the first and second connector fitting portions. A waterproofing agent is filled in a part of one or both of the first and second connector fitting portions in contact with the partition wall to embed parts of the intermediate terminals except the electrical contact portions therein.
US08337217B2
In an example, an apparatus, such as a header pin, includes an insulator and a first pin disposed at least partially within the insulator. The first pin includes a first portion configured to electrically couple to a circuit board. A second portion is configured to releasably engage a pin of a surface mount module. The second portion includes a retention feature configured to selectively retain the second portion in engagement with the pin of the surface mount module. The second portion is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second portion is biased toward the first position. The second portion is movable to the second position to allow the pin of the surface mount module to pass by the retention feature. The second portion is configured to move back toward the first position to engage the pin of the surface mount module.
US08337216B1
Touch sensor panels can use touch sensors to detect the presence and location of a touch event. In order for the touch sensors to function reliably, the back plane of the touch sensor panel should be grounded. Supplying this ground connection can provide a uniform electrical reference point from which changes in voltage and capacitance due to a touch event can be measured. Without this ground connection, touch sensors may misrepresent the touch event. Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide different means for providing a ground connection for the back plane of a touch sensor panel. These embodiments are designed to provide a reliable ground connection even in the presence of various failure conditions.
US08337212B2
A multi-mode athleticism movement measurement system includes an athlete-borne acceleration sensor and an athleticism processing device to determine athleticism information based upon one or more timing measurements from the athlete-borne acceleration sensor, the athleticism information corresponding to any of multiple athleticism measurement modes available on athleticism processing device and selectable by a user. A data link between the athlete-borne acceleration sensor and the athleticism rating processing device transmits the one or more timing measurements from the athlete-borne acceleration sensor to the athleticism rating processing device.
US08337208B1
A system of interrogation to estimate whether a subject of interrogation is likely experiencing high stress, emotional volatility and/or internal conflict in the subject's responses to an interviewer's questions. The system applies one or more of four procedures, a first statistical analysis, a second statistical analysis, a third analysis and a heat map analysis, to identify one or more documents containing the subject's responses for which further examination is recommended. Words in the documents are characterized in terms of dimensions representing different classes of emotions and states of mind, in which the subject's responses that manifest high stress, emotional volatility and/or internal conflict are identified. A heat map visually displays the dimensions manifested by the subject's responses in different colors, textures, geometric shapes or other visually distinguishable indicia.
US08337206B2
The invention relates to a tool (10) for assisting in the design of an aircraft flight deck compatible with a night vision system, comprising a closed chamber (12) functioning as a dark room and containing: a mockup (14) that reproduces the interior of a flight deck and is representative of the visual characteristics of the station, the mockup integrating equipment items that are representative of a flight deck and that are capable of reproducing a plurality of possible illumination configurations of the flight deck on command, a light source (22) capable of reproducing at least one level of darkness in the chamber.
US08337205B2
A dental implant device for insertion into a bore defined in bone for use with a prosthetic tooth or dental appliance includes an abutment with a plurality of male keys disposed about the distal end of the abutment capable of being affixed to the prosthetic tooth or dental appliance, an implantable anchor having a proximal and distal end, a plurality of female keyways defined into the proximal end of the anchor, the keyways capable of coupling to the male keys of the abutment and thereby preventing relative rotation of the abutment and anchor; an interlocking thread helically defined around a longitudinal axis of the anchor, the thread being adapted to couple to the bore defined in the bone and elements for coupling the abutment to the implant anchor.
US08337195B1
An injection mold for molding a product which has a gap and an inserting groove at a side thereof includes a movable mold and a stationary mold. A fillister is designed in an inner sidewall of the inserting groove. The stationary mold includes an inclined pillar slantwise mounted in the stationary mold. The movable mold includes a movable core and a sliding mechanism which includes a sliding block, a preventing board and a sliding element. The preventing board is further inserted in the sliding block therein. The sliding block is parted from the product to form the gap, for assisting the sliding element to be parted from the product to form the inserting groove and the fillister under the drive of the inclined pillar and the inner end face of the sliding block acting on the other end of the sliding element, when the injection mold is opened.
US08337192B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing composite components. A tool is present for use in manufacturing composite components. The tool comprises an encapsulation layer having a shape, an insulation layer on the encapsulation layer, and an isolation layer on the insulation layer. The isolation layer has an outer surface capable of contacting a composite material laid up on the outer surface. The insulation layer is capable of insulating the encapsulation layer from heat applied to the composite material. The encapsulation layer is capable of maintaining a shape with the composite material laid up on the isolation layer during a curing process to form a composite component from the composite material.
US08337185B2
A rotary compressor includes a compressor casing which includes a compression unit for sucking refrigerant gas from a low pressure side of a refrigerating cycle and ejecting the gas to a high pressure side of the refrigerating cycle, and a motor for driving the compression unit through a rotating shaft. The compressor has a gas hole formed on a rotor of the motor for causing a refrigerant gas below the motor to pass upward, and an oil separation plate having a central cylindrical portion, a curved portion continuous to the central cylindrical portion and curved in a radial direction, and an outer peripheral disk portion continuous to the curved portion and is fixed on the rotor by a rivet so that a lower end portion of the central cylindrical portion comes into close contact with the upper end of the rotor or an upper end plate of the rotor.
US08337159B2
An airfoil arranged for use in a fluid flow of varying direction relative to the airfoil, has arranged thereon a plural axis hinge for automatic adjustment of the angle of pitch of the airfoil. The airfoil can be applied to a rotary crossflow device for use in a fluid flow of varying apparent flow direction, an oscillating device for use in a fluid flow, a force generation device for use in a fluid flow of varying direction, or a flow control device for use in a fluid flow of alternating direction.
US08337158B1
A turbine rotor blade with a tip cap section bonded to a tip end of the blade airfoil section, the tip cap section forming a separate cooling passage for the blade tip with a series of impingement chambers and diffusion chambers extending from a leading edge cooling air supply channel to a trailing edge exist hole. The chambers are formed by slanted ribs and a thin thermal skin is bonded to the ribs and upper and bottom surfaces to form an airfoil surface for the tip cap section. a blade with a damaged tip section can be repaired by removing the damaged section and bonding a tip cap section to the remaining surface of the blade to form a reusable rotor blade.
US08337152B2
The present invention relates to a centrifugal pump, a shaft sleeve and a stationary seal member for a static seal used in connection with a dynamic sealing of a centrifugal pump. The invention relates to a static seal the clearance of which may be adjusted while the pump is running. Especially the invention discusses the novel structure of such a static seal. A characterizing feature of a centrifugal pump comprising a pump housing (8), a shaft (6), an impeller attached on the shaft, a dynamic sealing (4) having a sealing chamber (12) and a repeller (14) mounted on the shaft (6), and a static seal (2) arranged in a shaft space (42) behind the dynamic sealing (4) as seen from the direction of the impeller, said static seal (54, 54′) comprising an axially adjustable seal cover (56) including a stationary seal member; and a rotary seal member arranged on the shaft (6), is that the seal cover (56) is provided with a flexible seal member (77, 92), whose counter member (68) is arranged in connection with a shaft sleeve (60) arranged on the shaft (6).
US08337146B2
A compressor rotor casing treatment comprises a plurality of axially spaced-apart circumferential grooves defined in the inner surface of the compressor casing adjacent the tips of the compressor rotor blades. A plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart recessed baffles projects from a bottom surface of each groove to a distance less than a full height of the groove.
US08337145B2
A blower assembly including a motor (4), an impeller (6) and a volute (8) that is configured such that an inlet chamber (112) of the volute and an outlet chamber (114) of the volute are divided from one another by an airtight membrane (128a-b) and the membrane is configured to allow the transmission of pressure waves between the inlet and outlet chambers.
US08337142B2
A technique is provided to facilitate pumping of fluids in a well environment. A submersible pumping system having a submersible pump incorporates features that manage thrust loads resulting from rotating impellers. The thrust reducing features cooperate with the action of the impellers in one or more pump stages to reduce forces otherwise acting on certain pump related components.
US08337137B2
A transfer apparatus has a vertical guide rod, on which a vertical carriage slides, which is integrated with a horizontal carriage, both of which support a transfer bar and gripping members that are responsible for the automatic handling of stamped parts in process. The transfer apparatus has a shaft limiter, below which there is a right angle lever with a stop, and a horizontal guide rod where the horizontal carriage slides. The transfer apparatus has a drive lever to drive a connecting rod which is connected to the right angle lever and has an adjustable stop toward a fixed stop, which limits the travel of the horizontal carriage in the Y-axis direction. The transfer apparatus in question has a continuous operating cycle and is controlled by a central processing unit.
US08337136B2
A device for lifting and moving shelves, in particular shelves for cages for laboratory animals, said device comprising: means for lifting at least one shelf, and for keeping it lifted from the ground; moving means to allow displacement of the device in the presence of a shelf lifted from the ground, along at least one direction. Structure comprising several devices as described above, engaged with a driving system to allow translation along a common direction.
US08337135B2
An apparatus, system and method allows for the towing of a vehicle. Specifically, the apparatus cradles an exposed wheel hub of a vehicle having had a tire removed. The wheel hub sits within the cradle or well, while the apparatus is disposed on a tow truck or a tow dolly. The tow truck or tow dolly safely moves the vehicle without damaging the vehicle.
US08337134B2
A device for stacking a plurality of silicon wafers has an upright machine carrier for holding a plurality of silicon wafers, the silicon wafers being provided in a horizontal position in the machine carrier. The device has three identical loading cassettes for introducing several silicon wafers therein. The machine carrier has holding devices for the loading cassettes. The loading cassettes have a lower support surface for putting silicon wafers on in stack-like fashion, and a rear side wall running substantially perpendicular thereto. The loading cassette is designed in such a way that the side opposite the rear side wall, and the top side are freely accessible.
US08337133B2
A system for managing the entry of a wafer carrier into a stocker in a semiconductor manufacturing operation is disclosed. The system comprises a stocker that accepts wafer carriers via one or more input ports. The present invention provides a means for detecting the presence of a wafer carrier at the input port, means for identifying the type of the wafer carrier, and means for executing an action sequence if the stocker is not compatible with those wafer carriers. Upon detecting an erroneous condition, an action sequence is executed which may include prevention entry of the wafer carrier, and notifying an operator.
US08337129B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for locking and flagging a wheel nut, the wheel nut being rotatable about a central axis to a secured position. The apparatus comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a toothed central bore therein sized to closely surround and engage a periphery of the wheel nut. The cylindrical body having a slot therein so as to permit the cylindrical body to be radially expandable. The apparatus further comprises a first extension extending perpendicularly from the body having an indicator thereon and a second extension extending perpendicularly from the body to an opposed side thereof. The second extension having a distal end adapted to overlap and engage with a first extension of an adjacent wheel nut cover so as to cover the indicator of the adjacent wheel nut cover when the wheel nut is in a secured position.
US08337126B2
The method makes use of four top corner plates (3), four bottom corner plates (4) and five center plates (5). Each plate (3, 4 and 5) has a number of holes (2) that accept and retain swivel connectors (1) and adjustable connector straps (8) that mechanically connect the corner plates (3) and (4) and center plates (5) and in this manner allow for the even restraining of the goods (7) packed on the pallet (14).
US08337125B2
A system with a container (1) and a tool holder (20) having two ends (21, 22). One of the ends of the tool holder is adapted to be secured to a machine tool and the other end is adapted for attaching a cutting edge or a cutting edge carrying unit. The tool holder includes an internal cavity (23) surrounded by a cavity wall. The cavity accommodates the container. One end of the cavity is adapted for connection to a supply for a cooling medium and the other end is connected to an outlet for cooling medium. The cavity furthermore includes an opening (25) for installation of the container. At least one gap for leading the cooling medium is formed between the container and the cavity wall. The container can be installed in a machine tool, and the container can be used to accommodate one or several sensors for measuring parameters or for receiving a damping system.
US08337122B2
A continuous semi-dense phase conveying system comprising a vessel having a gas inlet, a particulate material inlet, and a gas and particulate material outlet, which has an operating pressure of about 15 psig or less. The system includes a rotary airlock valve for feeding particulate material into the vessel and a pressurizing gas supply which branches into a feed gas line and a bypass line. A pneumatic conveying line coupled to the gas and particulate material outlet of said the and coupled to the bypass line. The pressure of the vessel is controlled using a bypass valve on said bypass line and optimize the flow of gas and particulate matter through the pneumatic conveying line.
US08337115B2
The paving stone (1) which can degrade environmental pollutant elements or gases, comprising a body provided with two layers, a first surface layer (2) and a second base layer (3) which are solidly overlapped, where said surface layer (2) comprises a solidified paste including cement, silica sand, titanium dioxide, zeolite and ferric oxides or FeO2, marble pebbles and recycled materials, while the base layer (3) comprises a solidified paste including cement, preferably grey, aggregate particles and recycled materials, and a method for producing said stone (1) in a continuous process.
US08337113B2
A torque arm for securing the position of a power train relative to a motor vehicle includes a first mount and a second mount. The first mount and the second mount are spaced by a body portion. The first mount is formed by a continuous ring defining a first central opening and is integral with the body portion. The second mount is formed by a loop defining a second central opening and the loop extends from the body portion at an opposite end of the body portion from the continuous ring.
US08337109B2
The applicator (1, 1′) of a cosmetic product (6) includes a manual gripping element (2) and an application member (3) of the product (6), and is characterized in that: a) the application member (3) includes at least one fixed element (30) and one rotating element (31), forming an application roller free to rotate about the fixed element (30) about a rotation axis (10), b) the fixed element (31) is typically fixed to the manual gripping element (2), c) the fixed element (30) and the rotating element (31) are fixed by reversible or irreversible cooperation. Advantages are easier application resulting in a different appearance.
US08337106B2
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a recording medium conveying section; an image forming section, disposed to the recording medium conveying section and relatively moveably supported by the recording medium conveying section at one end side, that forms an image on a recording medium; a side panel that configures a side face portion of the image forming section in a width direction intersecting with the conveying direction, and supports a drive source that drives the image forming section; a support plate, provided between the recording medium conveying section and the image forming section to cover the bottom side of the image forming section, and is supported at a support portion provided at the other end side of the recording medium conveying section; and a resilient member that resiliently supports the support plate and the side panel.
US08337105B2
A film-carrying system and a film-carrying device used therein are provided. The film-carrying system includes a support base, a film-carrying device and a film. The film-carrying device includes a support connection part, an elastic part, and a film connection part. The support connection part is coupled to the support base while the film connection part is coupled to the film. The elastic part has a free end and a fixed end; the free end connects to the film connection part, and the fixed end connects to the support connection part. The elastic deformation of the elastic part provides the film connection part with a degree of freedom in linear displacement, and the film connection part also has a degree of freedom in angular displacement corresponding to the support connection part.
US08337093B2
Fiber optic connectors and components for fiber optic connectors with improved side-loading performance are disclosed along with methods for making the same. The fiber optic connector includes a ferrule and a ferrule holder where the ferrule holder may be disposed within a housing. The ferrule holder has a forward portion with a spherical feature for cooperating with the housing, thereby allowing relative movement therebetween. Specifically, the spherical feature of the ferrule holder permits rotational translation of the ferrule holder in two degrees of freedom relative to the housing and inhibits the longitudinal translation of the ferrule holder in same two degrees of freedom relative to the housing, thereby providing improved side-loading performance.
US08337075B2
A chronograph includes a chronograph train, means for coupling the train and a device for controlling the coupling means, which includes:a pivotably mounted shuttle, a first angular sector provided with two notches defining first and second stable angular positions, and a second angular sector that includes cut out portions,an elastic member cooperating with the notches to keep the shuttle in one of the stable positions, anda push-piece cooperating with the cut out portions to pivot the shuttle, via a first application of pressure, from the first stable position to the second stable position, and via a second application of pressure, from the second stable position to a third intermediate angular position.
US08337074B2
A stirrer unit includes a reaction vessel having an inlet port, a shaft stirrer having a stirrer blade and a stirrer shaft connected to the stirrer blade, and an adapter defining a passage. The adapter is configured to be inserted into the inlet port and releasably fastened to the inlet port using a fastening device so that, in a connected state, the stirrer blade and a part of the stirrer shaft is disposed inside the reaction vessel. Furthermore, in the connected state, an immersion depth to which the stirrer shaft extends into the reaction vessel is adjustable and securable using a locking device in at least two positions that are spaced apart from one another.
US08337063B2
A vehicle light including at least one LED light source unit disposed within a light chamber defined by a lens cover and a housing. The vehicle light can further include, within the light chamber: a heat sink and a plurality of heat dissipation fins; a back plate separated away from the heat sink main body and constituting a part of a duct together with the heat sink, the duct containing the plurality of heat dissipation fins between the heat sink main body and the back plate; an axial fan motor configured to generate an air flow passing through the duct; and a cover member, the housing having an opening used for replacing the axial fan motor with another one, the cover member being detatchably attached to the housing so as to cover the opening of the housing.
US08337053B2
A lens applied to a light emitting element includes a first surface profile and a second surface profile opposite to the first surface profile. The first surface profile defines a first trench facing the light emitting element, and the first trench includes a bottom curved surface serving as a light incident surface. The second surface profile includes a top curved surface, and serves as a light emitting surface. Both the bottom and the top curved surfaces are mirror symmetric to the first suppositional plane P1 (X=0), and mirror asymmetric to the second suppositional plane P2 (Y=0) to cooperatively adjust light from the light emitting element to obtain an asymmetric light field. An illumination device having the lens is further provided.
US08337039B1
A window frame features solar electric cells on its exterior side that provide solar electricity for buffer storage in rechargeable batteries housed also in the window frame. Also integrated in the window frame are light emitting diodes that are activated during absence of daylight and powered from the solar electricity stored in the batteries. In that way a simple and compact system is provided for solar powered interior lighting that may be easily maintained and retrofitted in existing buildings.
US08337037B2
A bracket assembly for suspending an object from a portion of a bar joist, the bracket assembly having a rigid hangar having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the second end portion including at least one connector for engaging the object and means for connecting the rigid hanger to the bar joist, the first end portion of the rigid hangar being pivotally connected to the connecting means so that the object connected to the rigid hangar is able to self-level upon the connecting means being connected to the bar joist.
US08337020B2
Disclosed are illumination systems especially suitable for very small data projectors, called pico projectors. The disclosed illumination systems provide high optical efficiency for projectors that need polarized light but utilize unpolarized light sources such as light-emitting diodes. Some of the disclosed illumination systems make use of light sources of different colors, and provide polarization conversion in ways based on color-selective elements of a variety of different types to convert substantially all the light emitted by the light sources to a single polarization, without increasing the effective optical extent of the source. Other disclosed illumination system provide compact ways to combine light from differently colored light sources without the use of bulky x-cube or angled dichroic elements.
US08337017B2
There is described in one embodiment an eye viewing device for viewing a structure of an eye such as a retina. The eye viewing device can include an image sensor. In one embodiment an eye viewing device can be adapted to facilitate both visual viewing of an eye structure and electronic image capture.
US08337016B2
A hanger system for glasses includes glasses, a carrier, and a hanger. The glasses include a frame, lenses, hinges, and temple arms. The hanger includes a main body having a top portion for attachment to a hook and a lower portion for securing the carrier. A support is cantilevered from the main body. A first end of the support is integral to the top portion and extends out a distance of at least the depth the glasses, the second end has a hinged tab and has an aperture to receive one of the pair of temple arms. The glasses are supported where front of the frame is oriented toward the main body and the temple arms are oriented away from main body. The hinged tab provides for opening of the temple arms to allow a user to try on the glasses while the glasses remain attached to the hanger.
US08337013B2
A pair of glasses includes a clock that is at least partially embedded in the glasses. The clock can be in one of the temples of the glasses. In one implementation, the clock can be positioned at a region close to a hinge of the corresponding temple, with the clock facing inward towards the user. The clock can also be in a temple arrangement. Instead of or in addition to a clock, other types of electrical components can be at least partially embedded into a pair of glasses or a temple arrangement of a pair of glasses. For example, the other electrical components can pertain to a RFID tag, a temperature sensor or an eyewear finder.
US08337008B2
An inkjet recording apparatus has: an inkjet head which ejects ink so as to record an image on a recording surface of a recording medium; a drum-shaped member which includes a drum, holds an edge of the recording medium, and conveys the recording medium in close contact with a circumferential surface of the drum; an intermediate conveyance body which holds an edge of the recording medium while moving the recording medium in rotation, and transfers the recording medium to the drum-shaped member; and a conveyance guide which guides a non-recording surface of the recording medium which is moved in rotation by the intermediate conveyance body, wherein the conveyance guide has a back tension application device which produces a force to act on the recording medium in an opposite direction to a direction of movement of the recording medium.
US08337002B2
An ink ejection head unit includes a head that ejects ink drops from plural two nozzles. The head includes a common liquid chamber connected to the plural nozzles. The common liquid chamber has a supply opening and an ejection opening. A tank is connected to the head and includes an ink containing section that contains ink to be supplied to the head. Also included is a supply path to supply the ink from the ink containing section to the supply opening of the head. An ejection path is provided to eject the ink ejected from the ejection opening of the head to an outside of the ink ejection head unit. A communication path is also provided to communicate the highest section of a seal of the containing section with the ejection path higher than the highest section of the seal. A fluid resistance of the communication path is larger than the total fluid resistance of a path starting from the supply opening to the ejection opening.
US08337000B2
An objective of the invention is to provide an improved ink storage apparatus and an inkjet print head including the ink storage apparatus. Furthermore, an effective elimination of the air bubbles flowed into or generated in the print head is realized by an ink storage apparatus and an inkjet print head including the ink storage apparatus.
US08336999B2
A liquid supply method of a liquid ejecting apparatus including a tank having a liquid capacity greater than a storage amount of the liquid which is stored in a liquid storage unit, and a liquid ejection unit that ejects the liquid supplied from the tank side includes the steps of: firstly supplying all the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the tank; agitating the liquid accommodated in the tank; and secondly supplying the liquid in the tank to the liquid ejection unit.
US08336995B2
A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel, and a liquid return channel. The liquid dispensing channel includes a wall. The wall includes a surface. A portion of the wall defines an outlet opening that includes an upstream edge relative to a direction of liquid flow through the liquid dispensing channel. The upstream edge includes a radius of curvature when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the wall. A liquid is provided that flows from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A liquid drop is caused to be ejected from the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel by selectively actuating a diverter member to divert a portion of the flowing liquid through the outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.
US08336984B2
An inkjet printer includes a paper tray for holding print media; a pick roller for moving the print media through a paper transport path; and an encoder disk, which senses motion of the print media, disposed in the paper transport path and in direct contact with the print media as the print media passes through the paper transport path.
US08336974B2
In a refrigerator door in which a decoration member is mounted to a door frame using a foam material, the foam material fills a space formed between the decoration member mounted to a front side of the door frame and a rear panel mounted to a rear side of the door frame. Accordingly, the decoration member can be fixed to the door frame through direct contact with the foam material.
US08336970B2
A link for a track-type machine is disclosed. The link may have a body portion. The link may also have an aperture extending through the body portion. The aperture may have a cylindrical portion. Additionally, the aperture may have an annular groove formed in the cylindrical portion. The aperture may also have a tapered portion. The tapered portion may abut the cylindrical portion, and may taper toward the cylindrical portion.
US08336969B2
In the normal condition, a braking force is generated by directly supplying to a disk brake a fluid pressure generated in a master cylinder in response to an operation of a brake pedal. In addition, a braking force can be generated by supplying a fluid pressure to the disk brake by actuating a hydraulic pump motor by a controller. When a knock-back occurs due to, for example, rapid turning of a vehicle, a piston is allowed to be displaced backward so that uneven wear of a brake pad and a disk rotor can be prevented. After that, when a cause for the knock-back is eliminated, the piston is caused to move forward and a pad clearance is adjusted by actuating the pump motor by the controller so that deterioration of the responsiveness can be prevented.
US08336962B2
A wobble joint fitting for a vehicle seat has a first joint arm, which carries an internal gear and forms a first bearing surface, which are central to a main axis, and a second joint arm to which an eccentric gear is allocated, which comprises an externally toothed pinion and a second bearing surface. The pinion and the second bearing surface are central to an eccentric axis. An eccentric driving part is disposed in the area between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface. Clamping parts, in a clamping state, displace the eccentric axis relative to the main axis. The eccentric driving part defines the eccentric. The rotary drive of the eccentric driving part causes a rotation of the pinion relative to the internal gear even without the clamping parts being present, wherein only play compensation is not obtained without the presence of the clamping parts.
US08336955B2
A seat has an erroneous operation preventing device for, locking movement of a seat strap to regulate the stowing or folding operation, the device including a movable member provided on a seat back side to be abutted with the strap, a first connecting member that is connectable to the movable member, a second connecting member connected to the first connecting member through a first connecting portion, a strap connecting member connected to the second connecting member through a second connecting portion and locked to one end portion side of the strap, and a regulator for regulating the movable member or the first connecting member movably toward one side, wherein the first connecting member is supported on a first movable shaft provided on the seat back side, and the first connecting portion is arranged to be moved to cross a straight line connecting the shaft portion and the second connecting portion.
US08336954B2
There is provided a feeder apparatus for a slide panel so as to reduce the thickness of a panel of a car body the slide panel is attached to. The feeder apparatus 1 includes a wire harness 14 routed between a roof portion 2 and a sunroof 3, and a protector 15. The protector 15 includes a first protector 18 that is attached to rails 5a provided in the roof portion 2 and formed in the long-length shape parallel to the sliding direction of the sunroof 3 and accommodates one end portion 17a of the wire harness 14, and a second protector 2 that includes a protector body 26 slidably provided in the first protector 18 along the sliding direction of the sunroof 3 and a hook portion 27 the other end portion 17b of the wire harness 14 is attached to being attached to the sunroof 3.
US08336951B2
A window-defined mud guard assembly includes mud guards fitted to a side of a vehicle body for selectively opening or closing a lower side portion of a vehicle cabin and window units mounted above the mud guards. Each of the window units is made up of a window body disposed above the corresponding mud guard and a connecting element for connecting the window body with an associated to-be-connected element provided in the mud guard.
US08336950B2
The invention comprises a set of tubular inflatable bags mounted to the underside of a transport trailer along its lower edge in front of the rear wheel assembly. The bags are pressurized by ram air inflation upon forward motion of the trailer, such that they prevent air from entering the rear wheel assembly and thereby reduce aerodynamic drag. The outer exposed sides of the bags are vertically and horizontally straightened and stiffened by horizontal ribs which are anchored by cords to the trailer. The apparatus gives way without stress when unpressurized at slow speed and when docking to avoid damage.
US08336945B2
A product line of consumer-installable thermoformed vehicle floor trays has first and second floor trays for insertion into first and second driver's side vehicle foot wells. The first and second vehicle foot wells have a different shape from each other. The first and second floor trays each have a floor that substantially conforms to the floor of its respective vehicle foot well. Each tray also has an upstanding transverse first panel, an upstanding longitudinal second panel connected to the first panel, and an upstanding longitudinal third panel connected to the first panel. Each upstanding panel is integrally formed with the floor of the tray and conforms to the walls of its respective foot well.
US08336941B1
An arrangement for housing a device in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a trim component that is configured to be mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The trim component defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to substantially conform to the device, to engage with multiple surfaces of the device, and to support the device in a generally horizontal orientation. The trim component further defines an opening to the cavity. The arrangement further includes a retaining body that is connected to the trim component. The retaining body is configured to inhibit egress of the device from the cavity through the opening when the device is positioned within the cavity.
US08336939B2
A patient transport litter and system includes a patient support platform interconnected to a foldable frame that may be supported by and rolled upon a first plurality of wheels in an unfolded state. In a folded state, a second plurality of wheels may be provided to support and allow for rollable movement of the patient transport litter. A leading plurality of wheels may be provided at one end of the patient support platform for initially and rolling upon engaging the floor of an emergency transport vehicle during loading of the patient transport litter thereupon. One or more of the plurality of wheels may comprise multi-directional wheels, e.g., to allow for omnidirectional rolling movement. The litter may be selectively lockable in and unlockable from the unfolded state, the fully-folded state, and optionally, one or more partially-folded state(s). In a system implementation, the patient transport litter and an emergency transport vehicle may include complimentary interconnection members to secure the patient transport litter to the emergency transport vehicle during transport.
US08336936B2
Apparatus for providing a six-inch deep trench in a lawn surface, for the primary purpose of installing irrigation pipe for sprinkler systems.A trenching tool which includes a lower portion having two heavy steel blades and a hinge mechanism. The steel impact blades are sharpened at the bottom to accommodate a V configuration to enhance the downward penetrating action by the operator as he drives the blades into the ground until the desired 6″ is reached. The operator then forces the handles together which separates or widens the bottom portion of the channel.The channel/trench is elongated for any distance the operator desires by repeatedly thrusting the tool into the lawn right next to the elongated section of the original opened trench.
US08336933B2
In an embodiment, an energy absorbing device comprises: a metal component comprising greater than or equal to three walls forming a metal component channel; and a plastic component having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of walls defining comb channels therein. The plastic component is located in the metal component channel forming a crash can. The plastic component is inseparable from the metal component without damage to the metal component and/or the plastic component. In one embodiment, a method of making an energy absorbing device can comprise: co-molding the metal component and the plastic component to form a crash can. The energy absorbing device can be used on a vehicle, adjacent to a vehicle component.
US08336932B2
A closure system for a door opening includes a striker having a support plate and a striker wire, and a lock having a bolt actuated by a detent pawl and adapted to retain the striker wire in the door opening. The lock and the striker each have at least one attachment feature that is complementary and separate from the bolt and the striker wire. The striker is thus secured to the lock during the installation of the closure system on the vehicle.
US08336931B2
A T-handle actuator has one or more retractable ball bearings for selectively engaging a socket to operate a latch mechanism. The ball bearings are allowed to retract using a pushbutton for removal of the actuator from the socket. A latch mechanism is operated by rotationally moving a drive plug. The drive plug can be a socket that can be engaged by the T-handle actuator.
US08336925B2
A ventilation duct assembly kit for use for forming interconnecting ventilation ducts. The kit includes a pallet supporting a flexible panels that are shapeable into ductwork elements. Each of the panels has opposite duct-forming sides, opposite interconnecting sides for interconnection to a subsequent panel formed into a ductwork element, and a male and female interlocking interfaces respectively fixed on first and second opposite duct-forming sides for interlocking of the duct-forming sides together. The kit also includes slideable locking elements shaped to slide and fit over assembled male and female interlocking interfaces. A plurality of collets shaped to fit over the interconnecting sides of the formed ductwork elements and sized to extend between the adjacent slideable locking elements from corresponding adjacent shaped ductwork elements that are linked through the collet are also provided. A method of assembling such interconnecting ventilation ducts is also disclosed.
US08336910B1
An active bolster is provided on an generally-planar interior trim panel. An invisible tear seam in the panel follows a closed path that is spaced away from a peripheral edge of the panel. An inflatable bladder has a rim bonded to the panel along an inward edge of the tear seam. A bowl-shaped reaction frame has a cavity receiving the inflatable bladder and has a rim bonded to the panel along an outward edge of the tear seam, so that the inflatable bladder is contained between the reaction frame and the interior trim panel. Inflation of the inflatable bladder causes the interior trim panel to tear at the tear seam causing the portion of the interior trim panel within the closed path to separate and expand away from the reaction frame into the passenger compartment.
US08336909B2
A rear airbag system includes a rear-end collision sensor (10) installed on one side of a car body to sense the rear-end collision, a controller (20) outputting a control signal when an electrical signal input from the rear-end collision sensor (10) exceeds a reference value, a rear seat airbag module (100) mounted in a seat (30) and inflated to protrude upwards from the seat (30) so as to protect a rear head part of an occupant when receiving the control signal from the controller (20), and a support unit (200) sliding upwards along with the rear seat airbag module (100) when the rear seat airbag module (100) is inflated upwards out of the seat (30), supporting a rear of the rear seat airbag module (100), and protecting a head of the occupant from flying materials occurring in the event of the rear-end collision.
US08336902B2
A hitch coupler includes a frame that includes a back plate, a first plate connected to the back plate, a second plate connected to the back plate at a position spaced from the first plate extending between the first plate and the second plate and cooperating therewith to define an interior space, and a third plate connected to the back plate spaced from the second plate, wherein the first, second and third plates each include an aperture extending therethrough. The frame also includes a pin extending through the first, second and third apertures, such that the pin extends through the interior space and is adapted to slide within the apertures between an extended position and a retracted position, and a spring member biasing the pin towards the extended position.
US08336900B2
A tail wheel transporter with a single-beam chassis in a tricycle carriage and a towing arm extending from the single beam for towing and steering. The single beam is offset on the rear two-wheel axle to pivotably support a lifting arm, or lever, that is side mounted on the chassis. The short foot of the “L” supports one or more adjustable studs for initially engaging the underside of a tail wheel from the side. The lifting arm is manually operated to lift the tail wheel off the ground. In the lifted position, the lifting arm is latched to the towing arm so that constant manual force to maintain lift is not required. The tail wheel is received between the front and rear axles and exerts force below the height of at least some of the axles, so no manual force is required to maintain balance during operation.
US08336898B2
A modular wheelchair assembly is adapted to be reconfigured between a fixed angle of tilt, a dynamically adjustable tilt-in-space configuration with the tilt axis being near the user's knees and a dynamically adjustable tilt-in-space configuration with the tilt axis being near the user's center of gravity. The reconfiguration is achieved by modifying a limited number of selectively removable components of the support assembly or the pivot assembly of the wheelchair.
US08336881B2
A method of producing a gaming chip comprising at least two plaques forming the opposite faces thereof, the method comprising a step of connecting said two plaques placed against one another by arranging therebetween a connection material. The method comprises (i) a step of arranging in a mold two blanks of said two plaques which are placed against one another with the faces thereof facing one another, the total thickness thereof being smaller than that of the finished chip, the mold having an impression with a shape complementary to that of the chip to be produced, (ii) a step of holding the periphery of the plaque blanks within the mold, and (iii) a step of injecting connection material under pressure between facing faces of the two plaque blanks at a pressure and temperature suitable for deforming the plaque blanks against the surface of the impression of the mold.
US08336880B2
Air hockey tables are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an air hockey table comprises a playing surface and an opening wherein a puck is movable on the playing surface and is receivable in said opening. At least one barricade is movable proximate the opening, wherein the barricade has a first fixed position wherein the puck is prevented from entering the opening when the puck is shot from anywhere on the playing surface, and a second fixed position wherein the puck is able to enter the opening.
US08336879B2
A sheet feeding apparatus which includes a sheet loading tray for stacking sheets; a suction and conveyance section which is placed above stacked sheets on the sheet loading tray and sucks and conveys a sheet in the sheet conveying direction; an air blowing section which blows air at the stacked sheets on the sheet loading tray and causes the sheet to float up; and a skew correction section which corrects a skew of the sheet conveyed by the suction and conveyance section.
US08336878B2
A paper discharge device includes a waiting path having one side connected to an input port and another side connected to a discharge port, and a collection path having one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after the conveyance of the paper, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. An input mechanism provided in the collection path conveys the paper fed from the waiting path through the collection path into the collection chamber while sandwiching the paper between rollers to form folds across a total length of the paper along the paper conveying direction.
US08336869B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding roller pair, a sheet pushing member, a detection unit, and a control unit. The folding roller pair folds a sheet or a sheet bundle by a nip portion and conveys a folded sheet or a folded sheet bundle. The sheet pushing member performs a pushing operation in which a tip of the sheet pushing member pushes the sheet or the sheet bundle into the nip portion of the folding roller pair. The detection unit detects whether the tip of the sheet pushing member reaches a predetermined position in a moving direction of the sheet pushing member. The control unit controls driving of the sheet pushing member according to a result of detection by the detection unit such that the sheet pushing member repeats the pushing operation until the detection unit detects that the tip of the sheet pushing member reaches the predetermined position.
US08336868B2
A workpiece support that presents a generally planar workpiece contacting surface having high friction, gripping pad(s) that will not mar a workpiece surface, and thus provides a versatile accessory for home hobbyists and artisans alike that protects the supported surface of the workpiece. By providing a non-marring workpiece support, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1, 8 and 13, to support a workpiece with respect to a work bench surface, the workpiece can be kept from slipping while routing, sanding, carving and the like. It can elevate workpieces for edge work and finishing, or simply suspend and protect projects from marring during drying or between work sessions.
US08336866B2
A stage is provided on which is mounted a substrate that has a concavo-convex portion such as a circuit formed on the underside thereof. A channel 3 through which a coolant such as water flows is formed in a stage 1. An annular flange portion 4 is formed on the top surface of the stage 1. The inner side of the flange portion 4 forms a concave portion 5. The top surface of the flange portion 4 is provided with a smooth finish in order to mount a peripheral section of the underside of a substrate W thereon. Holes through which are passed three positioning pins 6 and lift pins 7 are provided in the flange portion 4 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction.
US08336863B2
The invention relates to a gas liquid contactor and effluent cleaning system and method and more particularly to an array of nozzles configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas. An embodiment of the invention is directed towards a gas liquid contactor module including a liquid inlet and outlet and a gas inlet and outlet. An array of nozzles is in communication with the liquid inlet and the gas inlet. The array of nozzles is configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas flow and maximize gas flow and liquid flow interactions while rapidly replenishing the liquid.
US08336861B2
A clutchable winch contains a shaft member including: a tube used to fix a belt; a fitting piece including a central hole mounted thereon; a column fixed on the central hole; a sleeve coupled with the fitting piece, including a groove arranged on one end thereof and a connecting end secured on another end thereof, the connecting end including plural apertures disposed thereon; a positioning disc fixed on a bottom end of the groove, including plural first inclined teeth arranged therearound, the first inclined teeth being spaced apart evenly from each other and each having a vertical side; an annular actuating plate fitted on the column, including a hexagonal pore arranged on a central portion thereof and plural second inclined teeth disposed on one end surface thereof, wherein each second tooth includes a vertical fringe; a compression spring defined between the actuating plate and the fitting piece of the tube.
US08336858B2
A protective tube which is slit in the longitudinal direction is provided with a closing element that maintains the longitudinal edges along the slit on a plane relative to one another. The closing element is a separate profiled piece, of which the cross-section has such a shape that a central web of said profiled piece is inserted between the longitudinal edges of the tube. The top face of the tube is covered by the profiled piece along the longitudinal edges, and the internal faces of the tube are supported by the profiled piece. An auxiliary tool is provided for closing such a protective tube and inserting the closing element in the tube.
US08336853B2
Recock handle assemblies for bottom loading couplers and bottom loading couplers comprising the same are disclosed. The recock handle assemblies for bottom loading couplers may include a lever portion comprising a first lever arm, a second lever arm and a lever bar oriented in a substantially u-shaped configuration. A handle portion may be joined to the lever portion with a first pivot block and a second pivot block, the handle portion comprising a first connecting leg, a second connecting leg, and a bail. The first connecting leg and the second connecting leg may be positioned in a first plane and the bail is non-coplanar with the first plane. A first base plate may be pivotally coupled to the first pivot block. The first base plate may include a first body guide member and a first sleeve guide member. A second base plate may be pivotally coupled to the second pivot block, the second base plate comprising a second body guide member and a second sleeve guide member.
US08336849B2
A valve includes a housing defining a bore having an inlet and extending along a longitudinal axis. A head is attached to the housing and defines a head passage having an outlet. A piston is disposed within the bore and includes a piston passage extending through the piston along the longitudinal axis. The piston is moveable between a closed position in which a sealing end of the piston abuts a seat of the head to close fluid communication through the piston passage and an open position in which the sealing end of the piston is axially spaced along the longitudinal axis from the seat of the head to permit fluid communication through the piston passage between the inlet and the outlet. The housing defines an equalizing chamber in fluid communication with the head passage for damping movement of the piston.
US08336848B2
An on-off flow valve extends along an axis and has a valve body through which a supply duct and a delivery duct pass; a main shutter assembly; and a cover fitted to the valve body by means of a snap-on coupling system.
US08336846B2
It is necessary to support and manipulate such bulky items as gas turbine engines through appropriate cradle arrangements. It is necessary to allow robust presentation of the gas turbine engine upon a base such that it can be lifted to a position whereby the engine can be rotated to adjust the configuration of the engine within an arrangement. Such manipulation may minimize height or width dependent upon requirements. By provision of lever assemblies comprising lever arms linked together through a pivot link and a cross link rotation by an actuator of one assembly gives consistent presentation of the locator elements defining a center of rotation for the engine. The arrangement can be locked in a lowered condition for transportation or lifted to allow rotation and re-orientation of the engine with regard to external protuberances to limit width or height.
US08336843B2
An attachment device useful with suspended ceiling systems is provided. In disclosed embodiments, the device comprises a clip that matingly engages a bulb of a ceiling grid tee. The device may include a reinforcing sleeve and can be used to increase the load carrying capacity of suspended ceiling systems while providing a simple, quick method of attaching the suspended ceiling grid to the true ceiling.
US08336842B2
Mounting brackets for mounting microphones, lights, video, audio and photographic tools and accessories utilized in the audio/video industry to a variety of support structures or fixtures. This invention provides quick and effective attachment of numerous audio/video devices and other paraphernalia onto a wide variety of fixtures. Convenient clamping and mounting mechanisms are disclosed, as well as a kit of such mechanisms.
US08336839B2
An arrangement for transferring a post assembly carrying medical equipment thereon between first and second support structures. The arrangement includes a positioning arm which is supported at one end on the first support structure and at the opposite end is configured for supporting the post assembly. The positioning arm cooperates with a receiver assembly provided on the second support structure. A freestanding cart and wheelchair are also provided which are configured to accept the post assembly from a support structure such as a patient bed, to allow the patient to ambulate with the associated medical equipment.
US08336831B2
A switch or rail box for railway rails that include a system for sealing a portion of a location where the rail enters or exits the box. The sealing system includes a pair of seal plates that can be connected to an inner surface and an outer surface of the switch box, wherein the sealing plates each include a groove that conforms to and accepts a portion of a rail and in some embodiments, a rail jacket. The channel formed between the adjacent seal plates is filled with an insulating material that extends around a lower portion of the rail, thereby aiding in stray current control. Methods for sealing the switch box utilizing the sealing system are disclosed.
US08336820B2
Structures, systems and methods provide a load-bearing aircraft flooring within an aircraft's fuselage. Load-supporting aircraft flooring systems preferably are provided with a longitudinally separated series of transverse bridges having an upper doubler flange which defines latitudinally separated upper openings, and a latitudinally separated series of beams which include an upper flange and a pair of separated depending web flanges received within respective upper openings of transverse bridges. The upper flanges and web flanges of the beams may thus be connected to the transverse bridges so as to support aircraft flooring panels connected to the beams. Seat tracks for attaching aircraft seats and/or other interior aircraft structures/monuments are preferably fixed to the upper flanges of the beams coincident with its longitudinal axis.
US08336818B2
In a vehicle, having a fixed supporting structure and a load movable relative thereto, a jam tolerant actuating system, a method for controlling this system including: Locating a physical coupling/decoupling mechanism between the load and an actuator assembly as close a practicable to the load; constructing the coupling/uncoupling mechanism to be reversible, and hence testable; and controlling the connection/disconnection via decision making electronics which will detect any system failure by monitoring, at a minimum: actuator main motor load and speed, and actuator output load. Also set forth are specific embodiments of pivotable rotary geared actuators as well as linear ball screw type actuators embodying the coupling/uncoupling mechanisms of this invention.
US08336814B2
An aircraft, comprising an internal combustion engine by whose drive power a propeller can be driven, wherein the internal combustion engine cooperates with an electric machine which in a first operating mode is operable as electric motor and in a second operating mode as electric generator.
US08336809B2
An aircraft that is enabled to turn in a desired direction, and a method for controlling the flight direction of an aircraft, by employing differential drag on the respective wings. A control means that receives a control signal indicating a left turn increases the incidence angle on the left wing and reduces it on the right wing. For a right turn the opposite action is performed. The aircraft comprises airfoils that have increased drag as the incidence angle increases but have a generally constant lift.
US08336806B2
A flow path is disclosed that is capable of being deployed when needed and stowed in a relatively small space when not in use. The flow path device is flexible and may be made from a variety of materials. In an illustrative embodiment the flow path device is annular and transitions from an ellipsoidal annular shape to a quadrilateral annular shape. A vane box can be disposed at one end of the flow path device. Doors can be coupled to the vane box to cover the flow path device. The doors can be used to provide a structural load path for the flow path device and vane box. The doors and the flow path device can be moved together such that the doors uncover the flow path device as the device is deployed.
US08336800B1
The present invention relates to a powered hose reel device for taking up a hose about a reel without having to do so by hand. A reel is disposed between the reel support walls and mounted on one end to a rim integrally formed on an inner wall of one of the reel support walls. The reel is adapted to carry a hose thereabout. There is a motor mounted to one of the reel support portions, and disposed within the chamber formed by the inner wall of the reel. A rechargeable battery provides power. A shaft is operatively connected to the motor and is engaged with a bracket mounted to the inner surface of the reel. When the motor is activated the shaft turns the reel. A hose guide assembly is provided for leading and guiding the hose during the retrieving of the hose about the reel. A solar panel recharges the battery when the device is not operating.
US08336797B2
Provided is a powder and granular material crushing and sizing apparatus in which stators are easy to disassemble and assemble, i.e. in which disc-like rotors and stators can be cleaned and replaced easily. A drive shaft, on which a plurality of disc-like rotors are disposed, is supported in a cantilever manner on a bearing housing. A plurality of stators are disposed on a holder to make up a stator assembly. The stator assembly is detachably disposed in the bearing housing. An opening is formed in a side wall of the casing. The disc-like rotors and the stator assembly are housed via the opening, and the casing is detachably disposed on the bearing housing. ion.
US08336779B1
A system for automatically reading a response form marked by a user, including the response form containing a structured set of markers and a structured set of response areas, a camera for obtaining a digital image which contains the response form, programming for identifying positions of a majority of the markers within the digital image, programming for using a set of structuring rules in conjunction with the positions of the markers to obtain a structured set of response areas, programming for reading responses located at the response areas, and programming for generating an output of user responses.
US08336776B2
An aiming system for use with a weapon is provided and may include a processor, at least one sensor in communication with the processor, and a memory in communication with the processor. The aiming system may also include a display in communication with the processor that displays a corrected-aiming point based on at least one simulated bullet trajectory and at least one simulated bullet impact location determined by the processor.
US08336773B2
A system includes a media content processing subsystem and a plurality of user input devices each configured to transmit at least one command to the media content processing subsystem. Each of the user input devices also corresponds to a distinct user profile. When the media content processing subsystem receives a command from one of the user input devices, the media content processing subsystem is configured to identify the particular user input device that transmitted the command and execute the command in accordance with a user profile that corresponds to that particular user input device.
US08336765B1
An automatic banking machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and a cash dispenser. The automated banking machine carries out banking transactions related to user accounts based on information read from cards. The automated banking machine provides a printed receipt for transactions conducted. The machine carries out transactions when operatively connected to a source of AC power and a transaction network. The machine also carries out certain exception instructions when disconnected from its power source and/or network connection.
US08336758B2
There is shown and described a pouring element for a package for holding flowable or pourable products, and particularly a cardboard/plastics composite package having a gabletop, said pouring element having a pouring passage, the pouring passage having passage cross-sections of substantially identical areas arranged perpendicularly to its centerline, the outer passage cross-sections of the pouring passage being a product inlet opening and a substantially circular product outlet opening and the product inlet opening having associated with it a flange for connection to the package. To enable improved pouring characteristics to be achieved without having to accept disproportionately large costs and complication in production, provision is made, in the form for application, for the product inlet opening to be of an elongated shape which is not symmetrical in rotation.
US08336753B2
A staple drive assembly includes an actuation sled and at least one staple pusher. The staple drive assembly is adapted to fit within a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples and a corresponding number of retention slots. The at least one staple pusher includes at least one pusher plate for releasably engaging a backspan of a staple. The staple pusher may include a plurality of pusher plates that may be laterally and longitudinally spaced apart. An actuation member has at least one angled camming surface for engaging a complimentary angled surface of the at least one staple pusher. Camming engagement between the actuation member and the at least one staple pusher causes vertical movement of the at least one staple pusher. Lateral and longitudinal offset of the actuation member camming surfaces and the corresponding staple pusher following surfaces improves stability and control of the staple pusher during firing.
US08336751B2
A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle assembly, an elongated member and a disposable loading unit. The handle assembly includes a mode selection mechanism configured to alternate the surgical device between a first grasping mode of operation and a second clamping mode of operation. The handle assembly includes a rotation control member and an articulation lever. The rotation control member is configured to facilitate rotation of the elongated member with respect to the handle assembly. The articulation lever is configured to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of elongated member. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly configured to clamp and staple tissue in the second clamping mode of operation of the device.
US08336747B2
A bicycle rack includes at least one arm and a cradle installed on the arm for receiving a bicycle thereon. The cradle has a body including a through-hole extending through the longitudinal length of the body. The through-hole is sized to be received by the arm of a bicycle rack. A saddle extending along a length of the longitudinal body is positioned above the through-hole and has a top surface for receiving a tube of a bicycle. The saddle is oriented cross-ways to the longitudinal axis of the through-hole. The top surface of the saddle can increase in dimension on one side of a vertical axis of the through-hole and decreases in dimension on the other side of the vertical axis as the saddle extends toward each end of the longitudinal body. A latch is positioned on opposite sides of the vertical axis at either end of the saddle.
US08336743B2
A tap for use in association with bag in box containers comprising a body, a plug member, an upper seal assembly and a lower seal assembly. The body includes a tap nozzle in the form of an elongated tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, a handle opening at a first end and a dispensing opening at the second end. A nozzle opening extends into the elongated tube between the first and second ends and is placeable in fluid communication with a bag of a bag in box container. The plug member is structurally configured to fit and slidably move within the elongated tube of the body such that the outer surface of the plug member faces the inner surface of the elongated tube. In the open orientation, the nozzle opening is in fluid communication with the dispensing opening. In the closed orientation, the nozzle opening is precluded from fluid communication with the dispensing opening. The upper seal assembly includes an upper seal surface region and an upper seal bead positioned between the nozzle opening and the handle opening of the body. The upper seal assembly maintains continuous sealing engagement between the closed orientation and the open orientation of the tap.
US08336739B2
A fluid dispenser device having a fluid dispenser member, the fluid dispenser member fastened by a fastener ring (30) on a reservoir (1). An actuator head (20) is mounted on the dispenser member and is movable so as to actuate the dispenser member. A removable blocking element (40), in its blocking position, prevents the dispenser member from being actuated. At least one breakable element (50) is secured to the blocking element so as to indicate first use. The blocking element is assembled around the fastener ring (30), between the head (20) and the reservoir (1), and, in its blocking position, co-operates with the actuator head and the reservoir so as to prevent the actuator head from moving axially relative to the reservoir. The breakable element (50) surrounds the blocking element (40), at least in part, before first use.
US08336734B2
Systems are described for delivery of a wide variety of materials in which liquid and gas or vapor states are concurrently present, from a package preferably including a fluid-containing collapsible liner. Headspace gas is removed from a pressure dispensing package prior to liquid dispensation therefrom, and ingress gas is removed thereafter during dispensation operation. At least one sensor senses presence of gas or a gas-liquid interface in a reservoir or gas-liquid separation region. A gas removal system including an integral reservoir, at least one sensor, and at least one flow control elements may be included within a connector adapted to mate with a pressure dispensing package, for highly efficient removal of gas from the liquid being dispensed from the container.
US08336720B2
A storage rack is provided that exhibits an optical illusion that some of the items stored in the rack have disappeared in all or in part.
US08336716B2
A parts feeding apparatus feeds projection bolts into a receiving hole in an electrode and includes an excessively long parts detecting device which detects projection bolts having excessively long shanks. The excessively long parts detecting device has a pass control member fixed between a pair of plates of the delivery section for engaging an excessively long shank and a control plate which prevents the projection bolt having the excessively long shank from projecting upward so as to lock the projection bolt in cooperation with the pass control member. A feed rod advances to a predetermined position at which the shanks of the projection bolts are inserted into the receiving hole, and a spacing between the holding head and a receiving hole when the feed rod is in the predetermined position is set to prevent projection bolts having an excessively short shank from reaching the receiving hole.
US08336715B2
The banknote processing device 100 includes a first upper stacking unit 102a that is provided at an upper position of the banknote processing device and stacks rejected notes; a second upper stacking unit 102b that is provided adjacent to the first upper stacking unit and stacks banknotes other than the rejected notes; first to fourth lower stacking units 106a-106d that are arranged in parallel at lower positions of the banknote processing device and stack banknotes of at least one specific denomination; and a controller 111 that controls the transport unit to transport the banknote to the first upper stacking unit when a recognition result is a rejected note, and to transport the banknote to one of the second upper stacking unit and the first to fourth lower stacking units when the recognition result is not a rejected note.
US08336714B2
A separation screen has multiple discs configured to receive a material stream at an in-feed end and move a first group of materials from the material stream up an inclined angle and over a top out-feed end of the separation screen while a second group of materials from the material steam either fall through openings between the discs while being carried up the separation screen or roll off the in-feed end of the separation screen. A heating system heats an outside surface of the discs so that the discs can separate the first group of materials from the material stream during cold environmental temperatures.
US08336702B2
A tensioner for applying force to a device to be tensioned is configurable for applying force in different directions and comprises: a mounting plate having a guide; a slidable member slidable relative to the guide of the mounting plate for receiving a support for a device to be tensioned; a spring for being coupled to the mounting plate and to the slidable member, wherein the spring urges the slidable member in one direction when coupled to the mounting plate and to the slidable member in a first configuration and urges the slidable member in an opposite direction when coupled to the mounting plate and to the slidable member in a second configuration. The tensioner configurations enable the tensioner either to pull or to push the support for the device to be tensioned.
US08336692B2
A fan drive (1) includes a drive shaft (6), a fluid friction clutch (2) as well as a fan (3). The fluid friction clutch (2) includes a drive disc (5) as well as a housing (4) having a front-end housing part (4a) and a rear-end housing part (4b). The housing (4) is journalled on a drive shaft (6) via at least one bearing (7). Air flows against the fluid friction clutch (2) and the fan (3) in flow direction (L). An air-conveying unit (13) is mounted in flow direction (L) behind the fluid friction clutch (2). The fan drive is especially for a motor vehicle.
US08336685B2
A damper includes a housing, a hollow outer rotor provided inside the housing, an inner rotor disposed inside the outer rotor to constitute a plurality of liquid chambers and rotating in a state decentered relative to an axial core of the outer rotor, a communicating passage connecting between the liquid chambers, and a valve mechanism moving inside the communicating passage. Viscous fluid is filled between the outer rotor and the inner rotor. When the pressure inside the communicating passage reaches a predetermined value or above due to the rotation of the inner rotor, the communicating passage is closed or a flow passage area of they communicating passage is narrowed, and when the pressure inside the communicating passage falls to the predetermined value or less, the communicating passage is opened.
US08336682B2
A vehicle brake disk is disclosed that can include an outer friction member having a first thickness in cross-section, and an inner friction member having a second thickness in cross-section that is thicker than the first thickness in cross-section of the outer friction member. A plurality of vanes can connect the outer friction member to the inner friction member, and a connection cylinder portion can connect the outer friction member to a hub member for connection to a wheel of the vehicle. The vanes can be configured to have different lengths. The vanes can alternate in length about the periphery of the brake disk, with a uniform location of the end portions at an outer periphery of the brake disk and alternating locations of other end portions at an inner periphery of the brake disk.
US08336674B2
A device for a guide rail (1) for a scaffold (2), in which the guide rail (1) is connected to a building (4), and wherein the guide rail (1) is movable between an inactive, stowed away position and an active position.
US08336670B2
The invention provides a microelectromechanical system testing device, comprising an acoustic chamber having two opposing walls; a sound source for generating sound within the acoustic chamber at a first frequency in the range of 20 Hz to 10 kHz, the sound source being arranged at one of the opposing walls; and an interface for coupling one or more microelectromechanical systems thereto, the interface being arranged at the other of the two opposing walls and comprising a respective coupling site for each microelectromechanical system; wherein the acoustic chamber is adapted to have a total harmonic distortion (THD) at each coupling site of the interface for the first frequency below 1%, preferably below 0.8%, more preferably below 0.6%, most preferably below 0.4% when including all harmonics of the first frequency in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, in particular for the first frequency being 1 kHz or 4 kHz.
US08336668B2
A flanged joint (1) of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, is provided for fastening a tubular body (4) of the exhaust system to another component (5). The flanged joint includes a tube bell (2) formed at the end area of the tubular body (4) as well as a ring-shaped flange (3), which surrounds the tubular body (4) on a side of the tube bell (2) facing away from the other component (5) and which has a plurality of fastening sites (6, 7) for connection to the other component (5).
US08336666B2
A hinge for a hood of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The hinge is configured to bend towards a frame of the motor vehicle during a collision. The hinge includes upwards turned flanges to help prevent upwards buckling.
US08336662B2
An exhaust system for a motorcycle has a bent portion that extends upward from a position below a seat toward the seat and is then bent downward. A heat insulating plate is disposed in a space between the bent portion and the seat so as to cover the bent portion. Influence of exhaust heat on the rider and upsizing of the heat insulating plate are thereby suppressed.
US08336660B2
A snowmobile includes a vehicle body, a track belt, an engine, a left-and-right pair of skis, a suspension mechanism, and a steering mechanism. The track belt is located on a lower portion of the vehicle body. The engine drives the track belt. The suspension mechanism is a mechanism arranged to support the pair of skis so as to move in a vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body, and to support the pair of skis in an associated manner so that one of the skis moves downwards relative to the vehicle body when the other ski moves upwards relative to the vehicle body. The steering mechanism is a mechanism arranged to steer the pair of skis.
US08336653B2
A hybrid power drive system includes an engine, a first motor, a first clutch operatively coupled between the engine and the first motor, a first decelerating mechanism having an input portion operatively coupled between the first clutch and the first motor, where the input portion is configured to receive rotational power from the first motor and/or the engine. The first decelerating mechanism has an output portion operative to drive at least one first wheel, and a second motor is operatively coupled to at least one second wheel through a second decelerating mechanism. An energy storage device is coupled separately to the first motor and to the second motor. The engine, the first clutch and the first motor are connected in sequence, and the second decelerating mechanism and the at least one second wheel are connected in sequence. Various combinations of operating modes are provided to meet energy efficiency requirements and user power demands.
US08336651B2
A state estimation value indicating a battery state is successively calculated from time to time according to a battery model capable of dynamically estimating the internal state of the secondary battery by using an inspection value of a sensor group indicating the secondary battery behavior. By using the sate estimation value at each moment estimated by the battery model expression at each predetermined cycle, an I/O-enabled time is predicted when a predetermined power is continuously inputted (charged) or outputted (discharged) from the current moment. A load operation instruction of the secondary battery is set so as to avoid overcharge and over-discharge of the secondary battery according to the operation request to the load and by considering the predicted characteristics between input/output power and input/output-allowed time.
US08336648B1
The present disclosure provides mechanical attachments of TSD body to a carrier or substrate sufficient to allow eventual conventional attachment of the TSD to a drill bit or other component. According to one aspect, the disclosure includes a composite assembly including a thermally stable diamond (TSD) body and a substrate with aligned holes and a joining pin located in the aligned holes to mechanically attach the TSD body and substrate. The composite assembly may lack any non-mechanical attachment between the TSD body and the substrate, or may lack particular types of non-mechanical attachments. The disclosure also provides drill bits and other devices containing such composite assemblies as well as methods of making such composite assemblies and drill bits or other devices.
US08336644B2
The invention relates to a rod coupling for rod segments for use in horizontal earth boring, wherein the ends of the rod segments can be interconnected and are fixed by means of a cross pin.
US08336641B2
The present invention relates to a power tool comprises an adjusting mechanism, the adjusting mechanism comprising a station element defining at least a first engaged member, and an adjusting member rotated about a axis and driving the first engaged member to move elastically along the axis, wherein a frequency increase mechanism is disposed between the adjusting member and the station element, the frequency increase mechanism coupled to the first engage member, the frequency of the elastic moving of the first engage member increases when the adjusting member rotates about the axis. Because the adjusting mechanism can increase the sound frequency, so it can make precision and dense sound and remind of the operator when the adjusting member rotated.
US08336639B2
A tongue-hitch structure for a pull-type implement may comprise a tongue locking mechanism. A work frame for the pull-type implement may comprise a vertically adjustable rear wheel suspension comprising an actuator for moving the work frame between a lowered, working position and a raised, transport position. The tongue-hitch structure may be adapted to allow vertical movement between the tongue-hitch structure and the work frame. A leveling arrangement may be coupled between the work frame and the hitch-tongue structure operable to prevent and/or allow vertical movement between the tongue-hitch structure and the work frame.
US08336632B2
A method and a system are provided for a direct drive pump for use in pumping fluids and/or quasi-fluids from one location to another. In the direct drive pump, bearings or bushings are optimally spaced, taking into account various operational considerations such as load, path, pressure, and tension. Further, bearings or bushings are coupled to the drive string, thus assisting in more efficient installation and de-installation. The bearings or bushings are not fixed to the production casing or drive tube. In embodiments, the drive tube can be vented, and the production fluid can be used as a lubricant for the system bearings.
US08336631B2
A method of pumping an oilfield fluid from a well surface to a wellbore is provided that includes providing a clean stream; operating one or more clean pumps to pump the clean stream from the well surface to the wellbore; providing a dirty stream including a solid material disposed in a fluid carrier; and operating one or more dirty pumps to pump the dirty stream from the well surface to the wellbore, wherein the clean stream and the dirty stream together form said oilfield fluid.
US08336620B2
A method for determining integrity of annular seals in wellbores. In an embodiment, two wellbores are selected that extend through a common geological formation which is capable of sealing against casing sections located in the wellbores. A pressure test is typically carried out in a first of the wellbores to check that the formation provides an effective seal, and a logging tool is typically run to obtain well log data from which can be derived a characteristic response that is associated with the formation providing an effective annular seal around the casing section in the first wellbore. A logging tool may then be run in the second of the wellbores to obtain a second set of well log data, which are comparable with the characteristic response to determine whether the formation provides an effective annular seal in the second wellbore.
US08336618B2
An apparatus for isolating at least a portion of a tubular for use in a wellbore comprising a first, inner tubular in the form of carrier tube and a second, outer tubular in the form of protective shroud, coupled to the carrier tube. One or more aperture is provided in a wall of the carrier tube for permitting fluid transfer through the tube and one or more aperture is provided to permit fluid transfer through the shroud. A sealing layer is disposed on a surface of the shroud, the sealing layer defining a first configuration permitting fluid flow through the apertures and, on exposure to a selected reactant, adopting a second configuration to restrict fluid flow through the apertures, the sealing layer adapted to return from the second configuration to the first configuration where concentration of the selected reactant falls below a selected threshold.
US08336616B1
At least one frac plug for use in a wellbore are disclosed herein. The frac plug can include a mandrel having a first end and a second end, a nose connected to the second end of the mandrel, and a crown disposed on the first end of the mandrel.
US08336613B2
A hydraulic pump includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder sealed by an upper head and a lower head and carrying a piston which divides the hydraulic cylinder assembly into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A load is connected to the piston and urges it toward the lower head. A conduit connects a reversible hydraulic pump assembly in fluid flow communication with a pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid and the lower chamber for counterbalancing the load. A control system is operably associated with the reversible hydraulic pump assembly to cause hydraulic fluid to flow back and forth between the lower chamber of the hydraulic cylinder assembly and the pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid. A system is also provided to counteract leakage in the pump by adding hydraulic fluid makeup on an as needed and controlled basis.
US08336612B2
Methods for severing a tubular string having a cable in association therewith can include lowering a cutting apparatus into the tubular string and actuating the cutting apparatus to form a cut in the tubular string and sever the cable. Severing the cable in this manner can be performed through a single actuation of a single cutting apparatus, enabling at least a portion of the tubular string to be subsequently severed and retrieved, unimpeded by the cable.
US08336606B2
A method involves forming a core assembly. The forming includes deforming a wire, the deforming including increasing a transverse linear dimension along at least one portion of the wire. The wire is assembled to a ceramic core.
US08336603B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for casting a composite ingot made of metals that are susceptible to surface oxide formation when molten. The method involves co-casting at least two metal layers from at least two molten metal pools formed within a direct chill casting apparatus. During the casting operation, movement of metal oxide formed on the upper surface of at least one of the pools towards an edge of the pool is restrained by an oxide skimmer positioned close to an edge of the pool above an external surface or metal-metal interface of the ingot. The apparatus provides a DC caster with at least one oxide skimmer that operates in this manner.
US08336597B2
Movable partition systems include a vertical alignment structure including at least one roller element coupled to a portion of a movable partition and a ramp configured to abut against the at least one roller element to vertically align the portion of the movable partition to engage with a strike plate. Methods of vertically aligning the movable partition include coupling at least one vertical alignment structure to the movable partition including coupling at least one structural frame member to the movable partition and coupling the at least one roller element to the at least one structural frame member and installing at least one ramp to an overhead structure configured to abut the at least one roller element and vertically align a leading end of the movable partition.
US08336596B2
Aspects of the present disclosure include various exemplary embodiments of systems and methods relating to composite lamination using one or more arrays of parallel material dispensing heads. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a high aspect ratio composite article generally includes applying a first strip material to a work surface datum at a first angle with a first material dispenser, and applying a plurality of second strip materials to a work surface datum each at a second angle with a plurality of rotatable parallel material dispensers. The method also includes advancing the first material dispenser and the rotatable parallel material dispensers as a unit the width of the second strip material and continuing application of the first strip material by the first material dispenser and a plurality of second strip materials by the rotatable parallel material dispensers until a desired length is reached.
US08336592B2
A pneumatic tire in which, in employing as an air-impermeable layer a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer component obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer, separation of the film during tire production is prevented; and a process for producing the same. The pneumatic tire is obtained by disposing a film closer to a tire cavity than a carcass layer, disposing a first rubber layer closer to the tire cavity than the film so as to cover the film, and disposing ends, in the width direction, of the first rubber layer outward of ends, in the width direction, of the film, the film being formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer.
US08336586B2
A loading sleeve and method for loading pellets into chemical reactor tubes where the length of the loading sleeve is greater than the clearance above the upper tube sheet. The loading sleeve includes a rigid upper sleeve portion and a rigid lower sleeve portion extending downwardly from the upper sleeve portion and means for holding the upper and lower sleeve portions together in both an aligned position, in which their longitudinal axes are aligned, and in an unaligned position, in which the longitudinal axes are at a substantial angle relative to each other. The method includes bending the loading sleeve at a hinge means, inserting the lower portion of the loading sleeve into the chemical reactor tube, then straightening the loading sleeve and inserting the upper sleeve portion into the chemical reactor tube.
US08336578B2
A quick release gas pressure regulator having a primary pressure zone, a secondary pressure zone, and a gas bottle connection zone within the main body. A pressure-regulating device is positioned within the secondary pressure zone of the main body. A gas chamber sealing plug is disposed at the front portion of the first pressure chamber of the main body. An external axial pressure relief passage is formed at the gas chamber plug. A positioning ring seat includes an internal axial pressure relief passage communicating with the external axial pressure relief passage. A pressure relief O-ring is positioned at the joint between the internal axial pressure relief passage and the external axial pressure relief passage. A gas supply back-up post is divided by the pressure relief O-ring into a sealing portion and a pressure relief portion. A pushing member radially passes through the main body and the positioning ring seat, and having a pushing inclination facing the internal end of the gas supply back-up post. A return spring is positioned at the internal end portion of the pushing member. An operating lever is pivotally connected to the main body. The operating lever includes a cam portion facing the external end of the pushing member. In this way, an easy detachment and an improved use safety are achieved.
US08336575B2
A fluid pressure regulating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a first bore diameter, a second bore diameter, a fluid inlet for receiving fluid at an unregulated pressure, and a fluid outlet for discharging fluid at a regulated pressure. A shuttle assembly is located in the chamber, the shuttle assembly including a valve that is in fluid communication with both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and a first sealing member located at an upper portion of the shuttle assembly and a second sealing member located at a lower portion of the shuttle assembly. An unregulated pressure zone communicates with the fluid inlet, a regulated pressure zone communicates with the fluid outlet and a fluid pressure control zone communicates with a portion of the shuttle assembly, the fluid pressure control zone controlling the regulated pressure at the fluid outlet.
US08336574B2
A regulator comprises a regulator valve and an actuator. The actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and comprises a control element for controlling the flow of fluid through the regulator valve. The actuator is additionally equipped with a pressure averaging sense tube to sense the actual pressure at the outlet of the regulator valve. The actual pressure is then supplied to a sensing element such as a diaphragm of the actuator to adjust the position of the control element. The pressure averaging sense tube includes an open sensing end and an elongated slot. The elongated slot advantageously senses and averages the pressure across the length of the sense tube to maximize the accuracy of the pressure signal supplied to the sensing element.
US08336568B1
A camper cover is heavy and it is generally difficult to drape the cover over a camper. The present invention features a camper system comprising swinging poles to facilitate the draping of a camper with a camper cover.
US08336559B2
A hair extension system provides a skin weft of flexible material having hair like fibers uniformly displaced thereon. Micro rings are fixed to the skin weft and provide an anchoring feature for strands of human hair from a scalp to be secured thereto. The micro rings are deformable and include a flexible protectant so as to minimize damage to the strands of hair. The hair system may be reused by re-opening the micro rings and reinstalling the hair extension system to another location.
US08336552B2
The present invention comprises systems, methods and devices for the delivery of compositions for occluding or of elements for opening conduits. The implantable occlusive material may be delivered pre-formed or in situ cured and, may be a resorbable or degradable material that supports tissue ingrowth or wound healing or a similar response that replaces the cured occlusive material leaving little or no original occlusive material in place. The delivery system is positioned to allow for placement of the occlusive material into the body conduit. Use of delivery systems, methods and devices for re-opening an occluded body conduit are also included.
US08336547B1
A breathing mask is disclosed, as well as a valve and a diverter that can be used within a breathing mask. The breathing mask can include a body, a respiratory interface, a balanced exhaust valve, and an inlet valve. The body can include an inlet and an exhaust. The respiratory interface can be configured to provide fluid communication between each of the inlet and the exhaust, and a user's respiratory system. The balanced exhaust valve can be configured to selectively flow fluid between the exhaust and the respiratory interface. The inlet valve can be configured to selectively flow fluid between the inlet and the respiratory interface. The valve can be a balanced exhaust valve with a fixed balance chamber. The diverter can include a tubular diverter body, a breathing port, an exhaust port, a demand port, and a diverter wall.
US08336545B2
A method of treating a patient with a pulmonary disease, where the method includes delivering a dose of aerosolized medicament intermittently to a ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of the patient. Also, a method of treating a patient with a pulmonary disease, where the method includes taking the patient off a ventilator, and administering to the patient, a nebulized aerosol comprising from about 100 μg to about 500 mg of a medicament. Also a method of treating a patient with a pulmonary disease, the method comprising administering an aerosolized first medicament comprising amikacin to the patient and administering, systemically a second medicament comprising an antibiotic to the patient that also treats the pulmonary disease, wherein a resulting amikacin concentration in the lung and/or pulmonary system is therapeutically-effective, and an amount of the systemically administered antibiotics is reduced.
US08336542B2
A fault indicator for a strip advancement mechanism comprising a base that defines a fault sensing portion of a path for at least a component of a strip, an element for bearing against a strip, or a component of the strip, while it passes through the fault sensing portion of the path, wherein the element is adapted to move from that bearing or non-fault position, to a fault indicating position in the event of the strip or the component of the strip ceasing to pass through the fault sensing portion of the path.
US08336540B2
A pneumostoma management device for maintaining the patency of a pneumostoma while controlling the flow of gases and discharge through the pneumostoma. The pneumostoma management device includes a bulb connected to a tube which enters the pneumostoma. A flow control device regulates air flow in and out of the pneumostoma via the tube. A hydrophobic filter traps discharge in the bulb while allowing gases to escape.
US08336527B2
A solenoid switching valve is provided at a low concentration gas pipe that sends gas from a second separating film unit to a canister. A reflux pipe, that is branched-off from the low concentration gas pipe by the solenoid switching valve, merges with a medium concentration gas pipe that is from the second separating film unit, and further runs via a circulating pipe, and reaches a merge portion with a purge pipe from the canister. By switching the solenoid switching valve to the merge portion side and driving a purge pump that is provided at an exhaust pipe between the merge portion and a first separating film unit, gas, whose concentration has risen within the low concentration gas pipe, is sent to the first separating film unit, and is separated into high concentration gas HG and low concentration gas LG.
US08336525B2
An apparatus for determining a deterioration of a NOx sensor response rate in an internal combustion engine system includes an engine control module configured to stop fueling to an internal combustion engine during motoring of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus also includes a signal monitoring module configured to monitor a NOx sensor signal after the engine control module stops fueling to the internal combustion engine during motoring of the engine and store NOx sensor signal data corresponding to the monitored NOx sensor signal. Additionally, the apparatus includes a time constant module that is configured to determine a time constant of the NOx sensor response after the engine control module stops fueling. The apparatus further includes a response rate deterioration module configured to determine a response rate deterioration value of the NOx sensor based at least partially on the determined time constant.
US08336517B2
An outboard motor includes an engine, an engine cover, a partitioning member, an intake device, and a fan. The engine is arranged to support a crankshaft extending along an up-down direction. The partitioning member is arranged to partition the inside of the engine cover into a lower chamber accommodating the engine and an upper chamber. In the partitioning member, a communication hole which is arranged to cause the upper chamber to communicate with the lower chamber is provided. Also, the engine cover has an air inlet arranged to cause the upper chamber to communicate with the atmosphere, and an air outlet arranged to cause the lower chamber to communicate with the atmosphere. The air inlet is arranged in an upper portion of the engine cover. The air outlet is arranged at a lower end portion of the engine cover. The intake device is connected to the engine. The intake device has an air suction port arranged to communicate with the upper chamber. The fan is arranged inside the engine cover. The fan is arranged to send air inside the upper chamber into the lower chamber through the communication hole.
US08336516B2
A system and method are disclosed for reducing the fuel consumption of an engine, particularly during a cold start or an engine warm-up period. A magnetorheological fluid having a low viscosity is used to lubricate the engine. When viscosity is to be increased, a magnetic field is applied to the magnetorheological fluid. The magnetic field can be selectively applied to electromagnets proximate engine bearings.
US08336513B2
A variable tappet may include an outer tappet body, an inner tappet body that is slidably disposed within the outer tappet body and selectively connected with the outer tappet body, a lost motion elastic member that is disposed within the outer tappet body and elastically supports the outer tappet body, and a connecting unit that is slidably disposed within the inner tappet body and selectively connects the outer tappet body and the inner tappet body.
US08336511B2
A method and control module includes a control hold duty cycle module generating a control hold duty cycle signal and a voltage correction module generating a voltage correction signal. The control module also includes a correction module generating a corrected proportional correction signal based on a proportional correction signal and the voltage correction signal, and generating a corrected integral correction signal based on an integral correction signal and the voltage correction signal. The control module also includes a force determination module controlling a duty cycle to a phaser operator based upon the control hold signal, the corrected proportional correction signal and the corrected integral correction signal.
US08336505B2
A comfortable and easy to use retractable pet leash is provided. A retracting and locking leash assembly provides a hollow ring-shaped leash housing, a spool inside the hollow ring-shaped leash housing extending through out the circumference of the hollow ring-shaped leash housing, a retracting mechanism inside the interior of the hollow ring-shaped leash housing, and a brake trigger, the trigger constructed to adopt at least one braking position and one free position. The leash housing, the line opening and the brake trigger are arranged such that when the leash is in use, the user holds the leashing housing as a handle while being able to control the brake trigger with one finger without bearing extra wrist strain from the weight of the leash or the orientation leash.
US08336498B2
A shrimp aquaculture structure including a set of at least two raceways each having a length, width, and at least one depth to give an average depth, and including two ends, two side walls having a top, a sloped bottom joining each side wall at two side wall junctions. Some of five raceways may be stacked at least partially on top of another of the five raceways. According to another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a process of shrimp aquaculture by using the set of five raceways and sequentially transferring shrimp form one raceway to another once the shrimp reach a given average size.
US08336496B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a watering system configured to provide water to livestock. The system includes a water basin defining a trough configured to retain water, a reservoir mounted to the water basin, wherein the reservoir is configured to receive and retain water above the water basin. A water path is defined from the reservoir to the trough, wherein water within the reservoir is configured to pass into the water basin through gravity. A first heating element configured to heat water within the reservoir. A second heating element is configured to heat water within the trough, wherein the second heating element is separate and distinct from the first heating element.
US08336488B2
A plasma chamber is constructed to have a chamber body defining therein a plurality of process stations. A plurality of rotating substrate holders are each situated in one of the process stations and a plurality of in-situ plasma generation regions are each provided above one of the substrate holders. A plurality of quasi-remote plasma generation regions are each provided above a corresponding in-situ plasma generation region and being in gaseous communication with the corresponding in-situ plasma generation region. An RF energy source is coupled to each of the quasi-remote plasma generation regions.
US08336485B2
A coating apparatus includes a first vessel, a revolving unit, and a motor having a drive shaft. The first vessel has a receiving space defined therein for receiving substrates and a first solution. The revolving unit is received in the receiving space and rotatable relative to the first vessel to impart a centrifugal force to the first solution. The drive shaft is coupled to the revolving unit. The motor is configured for rotating the revolving unit.
US08336482B2
Disclosed are fiber coating sizing applicator apparatus having a member to remove unused sizing and foreign objects from the fiber coating element of the applicator on a continuous or intermittent basis. Also disclosed are sizing applicators having as part of the drive, a servo motor for reduced variation in sizing application. Unused sizing is filtered to remove foreign objects and returned the applicator right away, or stored in a temperature controlled area until ready to feed back to a sizing applicator. Also disclosed are methods of using the sizing applicator apparatus to produce sized fibers. The apparatus and methods of the invention produce a substantial reduction in the fiber break rate, sizing usage and applicator maintenance.
US08336481B2
A method of revealing exposure of a substrate to an environmental stimulus includes exposing the substrate to the environmental stimulus, where the substrate includes at least one indicia, where each of the at least one indicia includes a plurality of chromatically selective scattering particles having a particle size distribution as measured by (weight average diameter)/(number average diameter) of less than or equal to about 1.1, and a colorant; and the at least one indicia exhibits a change in color in response to the environmental stimulus.
US08336480B2
A warning device for mounting on a vehicle having a rear bumper includes a storage housing, a warning frame and a driving unit. The storage housing is concealedly mounted within the rear bumper of the vehicle. The warning frame is selectively received in the storage housing. The driving unit connecting the storage housing and the warning frame to drive the warning frame to operate between a extended mode and a storage mode, wherein in the storage mode, the warning frame is selectively concealed within the storage housing, wherein in the extended mode, the warning frame is selectively driven by the driving unit to extend out of the storage housing to form a triangular structure for providing a warning signal to incoming traffic.
US08336473B2
A mattress edge tape machine is provided. More specifically, a workstation for applying a tape edge material about the peripheral side edges of bedding materials such as mattresses or foundation sets is provided. The mattress edge tape machine has a table adapted to support a work piece, at least one conveyor belt coupled to the table, a sewing head mounted directly adjacent to the table for performing a sewing operation on the work piece, and an arcuate turning arm mounted adjacent to the table to selectively turn the work piece on the table. The arcuate arm may include a clamping device for moving and securing the work piece. The machine may also include a guide assembly of actuators, instead of an arcuate turning arm.
US08336469B2
A transfer chamber assembly for an apparatus and method to precisely meter and dispense two or more crop inputs with a common metering disc. In one embodiment, dry granular or granulized fertilizer is metered from one side of the disc and seed is metered from the opposite side of the same metering disc. The fertilizer is placed in a concentrated “pulse” approximately equal distances between seeds within a common seed furrow and/or between seed furrows to improved nutrient use efficiency by minimizing soil to fertilizer contact and subsequent chemical reactions that make applied supplemental nutrients less available to plants. Pressurized air may be utilized to assist discharge of both the seed and fertilizer from the disc meter to assure precise spacing in the soil. A cover may be placed on the meter and metering disc to recirculate air and thus minimize potential atmospheric contamination from seed coatings and fertilizer materials.
US08336464B1
A freight car bogie and a freight car are provided. The freight car bogie includes two wheel set assemblies, side frames, and a bolster. The freight car bogie further includes a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod. The first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are crossed in an X form to pass through reserved holes at two sides of a belly of the bolster. The first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are separated from each other at a crossing portion. The first connecting rod includes a first end and a second end. The second connecting rod includes a third end and a fourth end. The first end and the third end are resiliently connected to one of the side frames and symmetrical about a center line of the bolster. The second end and the fourth end are resiliently connected to the other side frame and symmetrical about the center line of the bolster. Therefore, a warp resistant rigidity of the freight car bogie is increased, and an operation speed and capability for adapting to track irregularities of a three-piece casting steel bogie are raised.
US08336461B2
Building on a modular construction of a hand grenade (10), the invention provides a module (1) that can be integrated in the hand grenade (10) and can be equipped with a hollow charge insert (3) in order to act as an armor-penetrating part. The module (1), including the hollow charge insert (3), can be fixed (mounted, screwed, clipped, etc.) at the bottom end of the hand grenade (10) and is attached to the armored element. In the simplest form, the hand grenade (10) is put down, in the case of side walls possibly hung on, and the hand grenade (10) is attached so that the hollow charge insert (3) can exert an adequate effect on the target medium.
US08336457B2
Applicants have discovered that electrostatic discharge (ESD) may, in some circumstances, result in current densities sufficient to ignite unprotected reactive composite materials. They have further discovered that a reactive composite material (RCM) can be protected from ESD ignition without adversely affecting the desirable properties of the RCM by the application of conducting and/or insulating materials at appropriate locations on the RCM. Thus ESD-protected RCM structures can be designed for such sensitive applications as ignition of propellants, generation of light bursts, and structural materials for equipment that may require controlled self-destruction.
US08336442B2
An automatically-reloadable, remotely-operated weapon system may include an operator station located distant from a weapon station. The weapon station may include an externally-powered firearm, a firearm mover for adjusting an azimuth and an angle of inclination of the firearm, and an ammunition storage and transport system for automatically moving ammunition to and from the firearm. From the operator station, a user may remotely control all aspects of firearm operation and ammunition reloading.
US08336438B2
An electro-mechanical firearm trigger mechanism for controlling the rate of fire for a firearm in automatic firing mode. The controlling being achieved through the use of a solenoid directed by a computer processor. The computer processor being connected to multiple sensors to instruct the solenoid on a rate of fire or to disengage automatic fire if needed.
US08336436B2
A charging handle for a firearm which can be used by either a right-handed or a left handed operator. The charging handle uses a rod member which engages the action of the firearm and is secured to the action via a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is release when the handle is pulled by either the left hand or the right hand of the operator by pressing a first pressure surface when the left hand is used, and by pressing a second pressure surface when the right hand is used by the operator. This pressure forces the locking mechanism to disengage from the action mechanism.
US08336433B2
A rotary shear for subdividing a product moving longitudinally along a path comprises a parallel pair of shafts having cutting blades connected thereto. The shafts are on opposite sides of and arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line of the shear. Driven gears on each of the shafts are spaced one from the other. A first pinion gear is in meshed relationship with one of the driven gears, and a second pinion gear in meshed relationship with the other of the driven gears. The first pinion gear has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second pinion gear. The first and second pinion gears are in an intermeshed relationship at a location spaced laterally from the center line of the shear.
US08336432B1
A safety system for a rotary saw or other dangerous machine tools features a flesh-sensing circuit (14, 19), located on a safety guard (16) surrounding a dangerous machine part, which generates an electronic signal to trigger emergency stopping of the machine before the operator can contact the dangerous machine part. The stopping means preferably employs DC injection, winding current direction reversal and/or electromagnetic motor braking, in the event of detection of operator contact with the safety guarding device. The system is adapted to be used both with newly-manufactured machine tools and by retrofitting onto previously-manufactured machine tools, by in-the-field modifications.
US08336428B2
A universal ratcheting tool provides improved handling of tools that are difficult to use on their own, specifically, hexagonal wrenches. The universal ratcheting tool includes a handle and a body with a ratcheting mechanism within the handle. The body includes a first aperture for receiving a tool, and the first aperture includes slots to accept a plurality of sizes of tools. The body also includes a second aperture where the tool extends out of the body. A retaining component is coupled with the body to retain the tool and a retaining tab is able to be used to open and close the retaining component. Once the tool is positioned and retained within the universal ratcheting tool, a user is able to easily install or remove an object such as a screw with the benefit of a comfortable handle and the ease of use of the ratcheting mechanism.
US08336427B2
A one-way driver includes a handle, a shaft and an engagement unit. The shaft is rotationally inserted through the handle. The engagement unit is used to engage the shaft with the handle when the handle is pivoted in a direction and allow disengagement of the shaft from the handle when the handle is pivoted in an opposite direction.
US08336418B2
An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between stable lever positions from at least one drive mode position to a parking lock position, a detent device with a spring-loaded detent element, a detent guide-plate and a separating device with an actuator-operated thrust wedge. The detent element and the detent guide-plate can be moved by the thrust wedge from a first position, in which the detent element engages in a shift track of the detent guide-plate, to another second position in which the detent element is disengaged from the shift track of the guide-plate. The actuating device enables automatic return of the selector lever to the parking lock position and thus provides the driver with correct visual and tactile feedback about the actual shift status of the transmission.
US08336417B2
A chain for a motion transmission apparatus comprises a plurality of spacers and two links two links at both sides of the respective spacers for connecting spacers together. The spacers are equidistantly spaced from one another by a receiving space which is longitudinally asymmetrical and provided for holding rolling elements.
US08336416B2
A ball screw device includes a ball nut having a bore for receiving a screw shaft, and having a number of longitudinal channels and compartments for forming a zigzag shaped fluid flowing passage in the ball nut, a number of deflecting members engaged with the compartments of the ball nut and each having a recess for communicating adjacent channels with each other, the outer peripheral surfaces of the deflecting members are tilted relative to the ball nut for allowing the deflecting members to be expanded when the deflecting members are expanded, a cooling agent flows through the zigzag shaped fluid flowing passage for cooling the ball nut and for preventing the ball nut from being overheated.
US08336414B2
Provided is a roller screw having an unloaded roller return path of new shape capable of moving rollers smoothly. The roller circulation path of the roller screw has the unloaded roller return path and a loaded roller rolling path. The unloaded roller return path 10 is twisted so that while each roller 4 moves in the unloaded roller return path 10 its central axis is inclined. In a cross sectional shape of the twisted part of the unloaded roller return path 10, each of paired side surface corresponding parts 25c and 25d facing respective side surfaces of the roller 4 is convex toward the inside of the unloaded roller return path 10.
US08336409B2
A magnetic piston includes a housing having a tapered bore extending along an axis thereof and a piston having a tapered outside wall mating with the tapered bore of the housing for providing radial and longitudinal movement within the tapered bore about a rotational axis of the piston. A shaft is connected to the piston for movement along its longitudinal axis thereof, wherein the axes of the tapered bore and piston are generally aligned along the longitudinal axis. A first set of magnets is embedded within the outside wall of the piston and a second set of magnets is embedded within a surface of a wall forming the bore of the housing. The polarity for each of the magnets within the sets provides attracting and repelling forces causing rotation of the piston relative to the housing and a linear movement of the shaft along the longitudinal axis.
US08336404B2
A system for sampling a bale of fibrous material is provided including a transportation mechanism for moving the bale from a first point to a second point and a first gripper for obtaining a sample from the bale when the bale is at a position between the first point and the second point. The gripper includes a movable finger for gripping the sample from the bale. An actuator comprising an actuating rod is provided for pushing the sample away from the movable finger.
US08336402B2
The present invention is directed to devices and methods in which one or more miniature synthetic jet actuators are integrated with a chemical fluidic sensor (ChemFET) to effect inhalation and exhalation of ambient gas samples and induce small scale mixing at the surface of the sensor. The fluidically integrated jet transports ambient gas or liquid into the jet/sensor assembly through integrated gas or liquid channels, impinges the sample gas or liquid on the sensing element, and finally ejects the sample gas or liquid back into the ambient gas or liquid. The response of the sensor in the presence of the active jet is compared to its response when the jet is inactive. The jet actuator directs entrained ambient gas or liquid toward the active surface of the sensor, and the impingement of sample gas or liquid onto the surface of the sensor results in faster response time. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08336400B2
A power sensing arrangement for the rear hub of a bicycle. The power sensing arrangement includes a torque sensing assembly including torque sensing elements configured to measure a user applied torque. The torque sensing elements are in communication with an electronics assembly configured to process the measured data and transmit it to a receiver. The torque sensing elements are interconnected with the free hub assembly of the rear hub, and are operable to detect torque applied to the free hub from the rear cassette.
US08336399B2
A sensor system includes a first sensing device that includes a sensor, and first and second surrounding portions that surround the sensor at least partially, a second sensing device that comprises a sensor, and first and second surrounding portions that surround the sensor at least partially, wherein at least one of a combination of shapes of the first and second surrounding portions of the respective first and second sensing devices and a combination of physical properties of the first and second surrounding portions of the respective first and second sensing devices is configured such that a detection characteristic of the first sensing device is different from a detection characteristic of the second sensing device.
US08336396B2
A measuring transducer has a transducer housing, has a transducer housing, having a housing end is formed by means of, a flow divider having exactly four flow openings and an outlet-side, housing end is formed by means of, a flow divider having exactly four flow openings, and four straight, measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers. Each measuring tube opens into one of the flow openings and with an outlet-side, measuring tube end into one of the flow openings of the outlet-side, flow divider. Also included is an electromechanical exciter mechanism embodied, so that the measuring tubes are excitable pairwise to execute opposite phase bending oscillations in, in each case, a shared imaginary plane of oscillation (XZ1, XZ2).
US08336389B2
An optical fiber strain sensor array comprises several sensor support panels spaced in its longitudinal direction and at least one connecting member extending in the longitudinal direction, which mechanically interconnects the sensor support panels. An optical fiber is supported by the sensor support panels and the connecting member. The optical fiber extends with the connecting member between the sensor support panels and forms a curve on the sensor support panel, the curve including at least one portion of the optical fiber that extends in the transverse direction. The width of the connecting member is substantially less than the width of the sensor support panels, such that the connecting member is capable of flexure in the transverse direction. This has the advantage that the connecting member can be flexed to take up any slack during installation of the optical fiber strain sensor array in a wind turbine blade and can be fitted to the turbine blade even if the blade has a conical shape.
US08336383B2
An apparatus testing axle shafts includes i) a test bench to receive a tubular axle shaft including a wall exhibiting variable known external and internal radius profiles, ii) at least one ultrasonic probe to analyze at least one selected portion of the wall in a selected angular sector and thus acquire analysis data, iii) a controller to control the test bench to place each probe on the wall external or internal surface in at least one first site selected as a function of its profiles and a possible loading of the shaft such that it analyses the first and second selected wall portions respectively in at least one first and at least one second selected angular sector oriented in first and second opposing longitudinal or transverse directions, to thus acquire analysis data for various relative angular positions of the shaft in relation to the probe, and iv) a processor to create from these acquired analysis data maps representing the transverse or longitudinal orientations and positions of indications of echoes within the wall.
US08336376B2
Provided is a heating temperature adjustment circuit in a thermal flow meter capable of adjusting fluctuations of a heating temperature of a heat-generating resistor due to fluctuations of resistances with high accuracy and low cost. The thermal flow meter comprises: a heat-generating resistor that generates heat when a current flows therethrough; a first temperature measuring resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor whose resistance values vary due to temperature; and a fixed resistance having a resistance temperature coefficient lower than that of the first temperature measuring resistor, and measuring a flow rate of a fluid by controlling the heating temperature of the heat-generating resistor. The thermal flow meter includes: a first series circuit in which the fixed resistance, the first temperature measuring resistor, and the second resistor are connected to one another in series; and a second series circuit in which the third resistor and the fourth resistor are connected to each other in series, and generates a voltage to be added to the second series circuit based on voltages at both ends of the fixed resistance.
US08336374B2
A method of determining opening of an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, the method including the steps of: determining the time pattern of an intake pressure in an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, the time pattern of the rotation speed of a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine, or the time pattern of a voltage at the terminals of a battery of the internal combustion engine; determining an intake-frequency component of the intake pressure, the rotation speed, or the voltage; and determining opening of the intake valve as a function of the intake-frequency component of the intake pressure, and also as a function of the intake-frequency component of the rotation speed or voltage.
US08336373B2
A device for sensing a mass in a liquid environment including a resonator comprising a piezo layer having a top electrode and a bottom electrode, a sensing surface located adjacent and opposite the top electrode, the resonator and the sensing surface defining a gap therebetween, and a post attached to the sensing surface and the resonator.
US08336372B2
In a method to determine concentration of toner particles in a carrier fluid in a liquid developer system for a printer or carrier, a suspension of the carrier fluid in the toner particles is charged with an ultrasonic wave. A propagation time of the ultrasonic wave in the suspension is determined. A concentration of the toner particles in the suspension is determined from the propagation time. A system is also provided employing the above steps.
US08336364B2
A method and apparatus for calibrating wheel speed signals measured by wheel rpm sensors in a vehicle equipped with at least one longitudinal acceleration sensor integrates the signal of the longitudinal acceleration sensor during the acceleration or deceleration phases of the vehicle, and the resulting vehicle speed signal is compared against the signals of the individual wheel rpm sensors. A determination is made as to whether a deviation that may exist for a wheel lies within a predefined tolerance range. If a deviation falls outside of the tolerance range, the parameterized tire circumference of the associated wheel is adaptively recalibrated until the deviation falls within the tolerance range.
US08336361B2
In an apparatus and a method for producing diffraction- and interference-active structures by micro-pattern stamping a metal object, a micro-stamping arrangement is provided including a micro-stamping station with a micro-pattern stamp for generating a diffraction-active structure on the metal object, an application station for applying a protective layer to the diffraction-active structure and a macro-stamping station for applying a macroscopic image relief over the diffraction active structure while it is protected by the protective layer.
US08336348B2
Apparatus and associated methodology are provided for key operated pin tumbler locks, some of which may incorporate a removable core pin tumbler lock. A selected tumbler of a type commonly used in pin tumbler locks is configured along with a driver pin to control operation of a retainer that, when rotated by use of a control key inserted in the lock, allows alternate selective removal and replacement of the core assembly in the lock. Also, or separate therefrom, one or more tumbler holes may be formed or drilled in a manner so as to prevent engagement of a tumbler with the bite of a key. Presently disclosed structures and associated methodology help to reduce any susceptibility to unauthorized techniques practiced against the lock, such as unintentional activation of the tumblers by unauthorized persons through use of a key with so-called “bumping” techniques.
US08336347B2
A coded lock assembly is introduced in order to improve upon existing coded locks used to control access to protected areas. The lock assembly contains several micro-switches within the anterior portion that can be pushed by a push button on the posterior portion of the lock assembly. In order to unlock the lock assembly, the user must turn an exterior drive handle to the proper position and press the push button. A predetermined sequence of handle turns and push button presses is required to unlock the lock.
US08336346B2
A lock includes a stationary key mass having a first key mass bore and a keyway, and a movable spring mass including a first spring mass bore. A first spring mass pin is mounted in the first spring mass bore, and a first key mass pin is mounted in the first key mass bore for reciprocation between a locked position immobilizing the spring mass and an unlocked position unconstraining motion in at least one direction. The unlocked position is a function of the presence of a matching key in the keyway. Multiple key mass and spring mass pins can be used, some or all of which can have stepped configurations, and corresponding single-bladed or multi-bladed keys, or multiple keys, can be used. The keys can be straight or curved in any of various planes, or they can be straight but flexible to match curved keyways. Curves can be unidirectional or compound. Relative motion between the key mass and spring mass can be in a plane or along straight line or circular.
US08336342B2
A clothes refreshing apparatus is disclosed. The clothes refreshing apparatus includes a cabinet forming an external appearance, a drum which is installed in the cabinet and provides a space in which clothes are loaded and refreshed, a front panel which forms a front surface of the cabinet and has a loading port through which the clothes are loaded into the drum, and a door which is installed to open and close the loading port, wherein the door is formed to have a vertical length equal to or larger than a vertical length of side surfaces of the front panel.
US08336340B2
A drum type washing machine is provided. The drum type washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub, and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force that rotates the drum. The washing machine may also include a supporting plate to rotatably support a rotational shaft extending between the motor and the drum, and a plurality of supporters connected between the supporting plate and the cabinet. Such an arrangement may increase washing capacity by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing an external size of the cabinet.
US08336337B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a blank mold from synthetic quartz glass by using a plasma-assisted deposition method, according to which a hydrogen-free media flow containing a glass starting material and a carrier gas is fed to a multi-nozzle deposition burner. The glass starting material is introduced into a plasma zone by the deposition burner and is oxidized therein while forming SiO2 particles, and the SiO2 particles are deposited on a deposition surface while being directly vitrified. In order to increase the deposition efficiency, the invention provides that the deposition burner (1) focuses the media flow toward the plasma zone (4) by. A multi-nozzle plasma burner, which is suited for carrying out the method and which is provided with a media nozzle for feeding a media flow to the plasma zone, is characterized in that the media nozzle (7) is designed so that it is focussed toward the plasma zone (4). The focussing is effected by a tapering (6) of the media nozzle (7).
US08336334B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for alignment of a glass member for high temperature processing are disclosed. The high temperature processing can, for example, pertain to a slumping process to mold glass into a predetermined shape (e.g., a three-dimensional shape). In one embodiment, a glass slumping system can have a mold and an alignment system that support a glass member to be slumped relative to the mold. The alignment system may have a plurality of alignment members being configured to move away from the glass member as the temperature increases during the slumping process to allow the glass member to bend around the mold without interference.
US08336326B2
Provided is a dispenser including an ice-making water tank for storing ice-making water and an auger-type ice-making machine for producing ice chips by freezing the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank. The auger-type ice-making machine includes a refrigeration casing into which the ice-making water is supplied, and the refrigeration casing and the drain pan are connected to each other through the intermediation of an ice-making water drain pipe. The ice-making water in the refrigeration casing is drained at predetermined time points, and the drain pan is washed with the ice-making water thus drained.
US08336313B2
A unitary distributor is disclosed, comprising at least one main flow passage located within a distributor ring body, the main flow passage having an arcuate portion oriented in a circumferential direction around a distributor axis. Exemplary embodiments of a unitary distributor having an annular ring located at the axially forward end of the distributor ring body are disclosed. A fuel distributor is disclosed, comprising a fuel conduit and a distributor wherein the fuel distributor has a unitary construction.
US08336312B2
A can-annular gas turbine engine including a casing defining an annulus for receiving air flow from a compressor. A combustor basket is supported within the casing, and a swirler assembly is located within the basket and includes an air inlet and an outlet located in a combustion chamber. The swirler assembly is configured to discharge a fuel/air mixture from the outlet downstream into the combustion chamber. An acoustic filter is provided comprising a Herschel-Quincke tube having a first open end at the annulus and a second open end adjacent to the swirler assembly within the combustion chamber. Components of acoustic pressure oscillations travel along two paths of different lengths from one end of the Herschel-Quincke tube to the opposite end of the tube where out of phase components of the pressure oscillations interact to attenuate the pressure oscillations.
US08336305B2
A hydraulic drive device capable of utilizing return oil effectively while maintaining a driven speed of a hydraulic actuator, as well as a working machine having the hydraulic drive device, are provided. The hydraulic drive device includes a controller. During an external force applying period in which a return oil pressure exceeds a discharge pressure from a hydraulic pump, the controller specifies a regenerating flow rate capable of being conducted to a regeneration oil passage and a surplus flow rate other than the regenerating flow rate on the basis of power required of the hydraulic pump out of return oil other than return oil which is conduced to a tank through a control valve, then conducts the return oil of the regenerating flow rate to the regeneration oil passage and controls an MO valve and a regulator so that the return oil of the surplus flow rate is conducted to an outlet oil passage.
US08336302B2
A flammable-gas led-out pipe (5) has a terminal end portion (5a) disposed in an exhaust-gas route (7) and a metal cylinder (10) is arranged at the terminal end portion (5a) of the flammable-gas led-out pipe (5). An oxidation catalyst (8) is disposed within the metal cylinder (10). On an upstream side of the oxidation catalyst (8), an air-supply passage (12) is opened to provide an outlet (12a) and the flammable gas (4) merges with supplied air (13). The flammable gas (4) is burnt with the oxidation catalyst (8) to produce catalyst-combustion heat, which is radiated from an outer peripheral surface of the metal cylinder (10) into the exhaust gas (9) in the exhaust-gas route (7) and the exhaust gas (9) heated by this heat-radiation is mixed with the flammable gas (4) that has passed through the oxidation catalyst (8).
US08336297B2
A vehicle can include an engine, an air cleaner for supplying air taken in by the engine, an exhaust passage for exhausting exhaust gas of the engine, and a secondary air passage for connecting the air cleaner to the exhaust passage and for supplying secondary air to the exhaust passage. A one-way valve can be disposed in the secondary air passage. A resonator portion can be interposed between the air cleaner and the one-way valve. The resonator portion can branch from the secondary air passage and can include a closed space. A water drain portion can be disposed in the closed space of the resonator portion.
US08336295B2
An apparatus for reducing nitrogen oxide in an exhaust pipe, may include a nitrogen oxide sensor that is mounted in the exhaust pipe and that measures amount of the nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas, a nozzle that is disposed on the exhaust pipe to be spaced apart from the nitrogen oxide sensor to a downstream side of the nitrogen oxide sensor by a first predetermined length and that injects urea corresponding to the amount of the nitrogen oxide, a mixer that mixes the urea with the exhaust gas and that is disposed at a downstream side of the nozzle on the exhaust pipe to be spaced apart by a second predetermined length from the nozzle, and a de-nitrification catalyst reaction device that is disposed at a downstream side of the mixer on the exhaust pipe, purifies the nitrogen oxide, and includes an inlet portion having a predetermined length.
US08336292B2
An exhaust component for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust component may have a housing at least partially defining an inlet and an outlet, and a treatment device supported by the housing in communication with exhaust passing from the inlet to the outlet. The exhaust component may also have a life indicator permanently associated with at least one of the housing and the treatment device.
US08336291B2
When switching an exhaust throttle valve from full opening to a closed position to warm up an engine, an intake throttle valve is fixed to full opening, an EGR valve is fixed to full closing, and a variable turbo-vane is fixed to a predetermined opening degree to accelerate a gas flow rate from an intake passage to an exhaust passage, a fully opened flow rate is detected and stored by gas flow rate detector, with the exhaust throttle valve being full opening. Then, an instruction is issued to the exhaust throttle valve to switch from the full opening to a closed position, after which a rotation number of the engine is detected, a threshold value is determined based thereon, a closed position flow rate is detected, a flow rate difference relative to the stored fully opened flow rate is determined, and failure of the exhaust throttle valve is judged based on whether the flow rate difference is less than the determined threshold value.
US08336285B2
The invention relates a cord for the reinforcement of a cementitious matrix. The cord comprises number of coated metal filaments twisted together to form a cord. The cord shows cross-sections, whereby three or more of the filaments form a closed sub-structure having a void in the middle of the three or more filaments. The cord further comprises a protective compound whereby the protective compound is at least present in said void. The protective compound gives the coated metal element cathodic protection. The invention further relates to a structure comprising a number of cords such as a knitted, a braided, a welded or a glued structure. Furthermore the invention relates to a cementitious matrix reinforced with a cord according to the present invention and to a method to inhibit hydrogen gas evolution at the interface of a cord embedded in a cementitious matrix.
US08336279B2
A device for aligning and leveling tiles as they are laid in floors, walls, countertops, or the like. The device has a locking assembly and a bottom plate. The components are combined with a shaft that extends from the bottom plate through the locking assembly so that the locking assembly is movable along the length of the shaft. In use, the device is placed between adjacent tiles so that the locking assembly and bottom plate hold adjacent tiles at a desired height as the setting bed dries.
US08336278B2
A method for forming a structural paver deck assembly includes fastening structural decking panels across a bare frame structure. One or more of the decking panels includes an upper panel surface having a non-planar contoured decking panel surface. A paver decking surface is seated over the plurality of structural decking panels to form a paver decking surface. Seating includes positioning a plurality of paver pieces on the structural decking panels including interfittingly engaging the paver pieces to the non-planar contoured decking panel surface. Seating further includes aligning the plurality of paver pieces in at least one specified direction, wherein the paver pieces includes paver contour surfaces along a lower surface having a corresponding shape to the non-planar contoured decking panel surface. Interfitting engagement of the paver contour surfaces with the non-planar contoured panel surface orients the one or more paver pieces in the at least one specified direction.
US08336271B2
The fan filter mounting frame is useful in installation of equipment in a cell of suspension grid systems when the equipment is passed through and is placed in a corner of the cell. The equipment is supported partially directly by the grid and partially indirectly by the grid through an adapting frame insert. The frame insert is connected between the equipment and the suspension grid system and may have two legs that meet at an apex, a first leg extending along a first grid rail and a second leg extending along an adjacent second grid rail. Each of the two legs also extends between its respective rail and the equipment, supporting the equipment on the respective suspension grid rails. Thus, the grid system may be in its design position or condition prior to and during placement and replacement of the equipment without disruption.
US08336269B1
A backed paneling unit comprised of a backing portion that includes at least one rib. In an exemplary embodiment, a rib may be adjacent to a drainage groove or between adjacent drainage grooves. A rib may enable ventilation behind the backing portion. In addition, a rib may also assist with liquid drainage.
US08336266B2
The invention relates to a system for attaching false stretched walls made of a flexible sheet (1) attached by the edges thereof to a mini-stringer (3′), said edges being provided with a harpoon-type hook (11) inserted as a gooseneck between the two flanges of the stringer (3′) and including a first section (11a) connected to the sheet (1) and a second section (11b) folded on the first one, and having an end bead bearing onto a shoulder (8) of the outer flange (5) of said stringer, characterised in that the end bead of the harpoon (11) includes a disconnection lip (12) extending perpendicularly from the bearing area of the bead on the shoulder (8), and extending under said shoulder (8) in the gap of the stringer (3′) so that said lip (12) can be used as a lever for urging the end of the harpoon (11) out of the shoulder (8), without any penetration of an application tool in the stringer (3′), in order to easily dismantle said sheet (1).
US08336261B2
A moveable roofing system for covering an interior space includes a fixed half-dome roof fixed to and supported by a first support structure, a rotatable half-dome roof rotatable about and supported by a second support structure, the second support structure being concentric to the first support structure, and, wherein the rotatable half-dome roof is configured to rotate about the second support structure.
US08336252B1
A deep root watering and stabilization assembly and method for supporting, irrigating, and fertilizing plantings, such as trees, shrubs, or root balls is described herein. The assembly can include a harness disposed around the planting and a perforated tube adapted to receive water and nutrients from above the surface and pass the water and nutrients to the roots or root ball. The assembly can include an attachment assembly with adjustable engagement locations and a fastener affixed to the attachment assembly. The fastener can be structured to tighten or loosen a first connector as it engages one of a plurality of positions between the harness and the perforated tube.
US08336245B2
A remote control system is disclosed for controlling a remote animal collar of the type which includes one or more electrodes or sensors which protrude from the inside surface of the collar for contacting the neck of the animal and electronic devices located within the body of the collar to receive electronic control signals or sensor input and to generate a stimulus, which is transmitted to the animal through the electrodes or by a speaker or other devices on the collar. The remote control system uses a master and slave remote transmitter combination.
US08336239B2
The field of the present invention relates to an identification assembly, and in particular, to a clasp device for securing to an identification wristband, and to a wristband and clasp assembly. In one embodiment, a identification assembly for a patient includes a band with first and second opposite ends and first and second opposite edges and a width measured between the first and second edges. The identification assembly also includes a clasp secured to the band. The clasp has a first section having an inside surface and an outside surface; a second section having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface of the second section facing the inside surface of the first section; and a protrusion extending from one of the first or the second section to engage the other of the first or the second section to secure the first and second sections together in a closed position. The outside surface of one of the first or the second section comprises a symbol on the outside surface to provide information about the patient. The clasp is color-coded to provide information about the patient.
US08336230B2
An article of footwear for use in weight lifting is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a non-deforming midsole. Also, the article of footwear includes a raised heel and a substantially flat bottom surface. Additionally, the article of footwear includes holes formed along the bottom of the midsole in order to reduce the weight of the article of footwear.
US08336215B2
In an image card where an image is formed on a thin plate made of special synthetic paper or plastic by engraving by sweeping the plate with the engraving needle through relative movement of an engraving needle and a plate, it is impossible to form a hidden image which can be viewed when a viewpoint is changed or form an image formed by watermark engraving and the hidden image within the same plane. A hidden image is formed on an image card by engraving while angles of stripes of striped patterns are changed in response to shading of an image. Further, an image engraving device is provided with a rotary driving unit, and engraving is performed in a state that an extending direction of striped grooves of the hidden image and a forming direction of the engraving are made equal, so that a wall face of a groove is always formed by the same side face of an engraving needle and undulation does not occur on the wall face of the groove. Similarly, a shape of a bottom face of the groove is made even. As a result, precision of the hidden image is made high and an effect as the hidden image is further improved.
US08336202B2
In a method of manufacturing a wiring board, a basic circuit pattern is formed on an insulating plate, and a metal layer is formed on the basic circuit pattern by cold spraying to thereby form a built-up circuit pattern on the basic circuit pattern.
US08336195B2
The invention is directed to an unfailing pickup operation of an electronic component from a component storage portion at a seam of storage tapes connected even using a connection tape and prevention of reduction in a pickup rate of an electronic component. A CPU sends a feeding command to a component feeding unit to perform a component feeding operation or the like. Then, when the CPU judges that a connection tape reaches a pickup position, the CPU drives an X axis drive motor and a Y axis drive motor to move a board recognition camera to the pickup position of the feeding unit, the camera takes an image of a storage portion of a storage tape, and a recognition processing device performs recognition processing. A correction value based on a result of this recognition processing is stored in a RAM, and a suction nozzle is moved taking this correction value into account and lowers to pick up an electronic component.
US08336188B2
Methods and systems, in one embodiment, are described related to a chuck with a plurality of vacuum grooves on a surface. Each single vacuum groove of the plurality of vacuum grooves has a single port connected with a single vacuum line coupled to a vacuum source. The single vacuum line is not shared with another groove and a restriction is applied to the single vacuum line in order to isolate each single vacuum groove.
US08336180B2
A method for repairing a crushing device or other device configured to comminute material includes the steps of removing at least one first insert from a portion of a crushing body such that at least one opening is formed in the portion of the crushing body, positioning at least one second insert in the at least one opening formed by the removing of the at least one first insert, positioning a force application mechanism adjacent to the at least one second insert and the portion of the crushing body, and actuating the force application mechanism to deform the portion of the crushing body to attach the at least one second insert to the portion of the crushing body. The one or more first inserts may be damaged and the one or more second inserts may be used to replace the one or more damaged first inserts. The force application mechanism is preferably explosive material. A method of forming a wearable surface is also disclosed.
US08336178B2
A roof panel seamer which is self-propelled and bidirectional for forming a standing seam joining two adjacent metal roof panels. Two seamers are disclosed, one for forming a 90° seam and the other for forming a 180° seam. Friction wheels, rather than gears, are used to transfer power from the main support body to the auxiliary support body of the seamer. The seamer includes five roll forming stations, the leading three of which are effective for each direction of travel. One of the roll forming stations for each direction of travel in the 90° seamer imparts a curve to the leg being bent.
US08336160B2
The present invention discloses a dual rotating dewater bucket and a mop. The dewater bucket includes a freely-rotating dewater basket and a spindle member for receiving a cotton strip disc of the mop. With a passive dual rotating mechanism together with an active rotating mop, a cotton strip disc is placed in the spindle member and rotated, so that the cotton strips of the mop are stirred and spun towards the wavy bucket wall to remove dirt effectively, and then a dewater basket disposed in the same bucket body is used for spinning water absorbed by the cotton strips by a centrifugal force, similar to a washing machine or a dewatering machine to achieve both functions of cleaning and dewatering the mop without the need of a stepping action and provide a convenient and user-friendly operation and a safe application.
US08336129B2
An assembly and method for processing human waste includes providing a supporting base having an opening within which a waste reservoir is affixed. The assembly may be installed on or below a rim of a toilet bowl. Solidification and pathogen killing materials are provided. The materials are deposited in the reservoir either prior to or upon accumulation of waste in the reservoir. The reservoir with the solidified waste is then sealed and transported to a collection facility.
US08336127B1
A method of stabilizing a closet ring to a floor by first attaching to the bottom of the floor, with fasteners driven from above the floor, a stabilizing device having a support panel with a length and a width greater than a width of a toilet to be attached to the closet ring. A sewer pipe or extension therefrom is inserted through an opening in the stabilizing device and bonded to the stabilizing device. A closet ring is then fastened to the floor followed by conventional application of a wax ring and a toilet. An elongated anchor tool having wide gap in one edge with teeth-like projections may be used to hold the stabilizing device in place from below for a user to drive fasteners from above into and through the floor and into the stabilizing device.
US08336126B2
An apparatus mounted to a toilet is configured to lift and lower a seat assembly of the toilet. The apparatus includes a motion sensor that outputs a detection signal in response to motion, a motor driving unit, a motor, a first gear, a second gear interfaced with the first gear, an output shaft connected to a clutch coupled to a lever exiting the apparatus, a wire rope wrapped around hubs of the second gear and the output shaft, and a micro-controller. The motor driving unit is configured to drive a shaft of the motor in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction based on receipt of a direction signal. The microcontroller is configured to send the direction signal to the motor driving unit based on the detection signal.
US08336122B1
A method of manufacturing a cranial shock absorption system. The method is comprised of forming a first layer of elastomer, positioning a thin layer of material on top surface of elastomer such that the top surface is exposed around the entire exterior of the layer of material, allowing the first layer to partially set, positioning a tubular stem or valve on the first layer adjacent to the layer of material, forming a second layer of elastomer, allowing the first layer and second layer of elastomer to fully set around the thin layer of material, removing the thin layer of material from between the first and second layers of elastomer and then introducing a fluid into the chamber through the tubular stem.
US08336117B2
An article of apparel is disclosed that is at least partially formed from a material element having a substrate and a plurality of projections. The substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The projections extend from the first surface of the substrate, and the projections each have terminal ends located opposite the substrate. The material element has a first permeability when the first surface has a convex configuration, and the material element has a second permeability when the first surface has a concave configuration, the first permeability being greater than the second permeability. The apparel may be reversible such that either the first surface or the second surface of the substrate faces outward.
US08336113B2
An improved welding helmet encloses a welders head and a portion of the neck. The helmet contains a fan, filter and thermoelectric cooling module to provide clean, cool air that reduces welding fume levels below suggested maximums and provides cool air to the welders head and neck area making their body feel cooler. Air exhausted from the helmet is captured and further utilized to significantly improve system efficiency by causing it to be in contact with the hot side heat sink that is a part of the thermoelectric cooling module assembly. The use of an external power source, including readily available welding power, is suggested as one option for supplying system power. An optional configuration is presented where an external container strapped to the welders body is employed containing the fan, air filter and thermoelectric cooling module and is connected to the helmet by cool air intake and exhaust air hoses.
US08341754B2
A system for preventing on-line violations of open meeting regulations and similar laws, in which one or more special classes of users are defined for an electronic communication system. Special class definitions include the number of group members that make a quorum for each special class. If a user is a special class member, a determination is made as to whether posting or sending a message being composed would violate any legal restrictions associated with that special class such as a serial quorum based on a total number of special class members that would be participants in the communication to which the message would be added, if the message were in fact conveyed. If the number of special class members that would be participants in the communication if the message were conveyed reaches the special class quorum, the message is rejected, and prevented from entry into the communication system.
US08341735B2
The present invention relates to a device and method for increasing the security for a computer or server adapted for communication with a communication network, for example the Internet. The method for automatically controlling access between the computer and the communication network arranges the access to be dependent on user activity. The user activity is determined by monitoring signal activity between the computer and at least one input/output device adapted for communication with the computer, and the user activity being defined as detection of signal activity between the computer and the input/output device. Access to the communication network is only allowed if user activity is occurring or has occurred in a predetermined time period.
US08341731B2
An IC card is recognized by an IC card reader. Data is obtained from the recognized IC card. Card ID included in the obtained data is compared with card ID stored in a user registration information DB. If it is determined that the same card ID exists, an IC card issue count included in the obtained data is compared with an IC card issue count stored in the user registration information DB, and it is determined whether the counts are the same. If it is determined that the issue counts are not the same, a PIN code entry window appears so that the entered PIN code is compared with a PIN code in the user registration information DB. If it is determined that the PIN codes are the same, authentication success is displayed.
US08341730B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with a user authentication portion performing a user authentication process on a user by using user authentication information, a section authentication portion performing a section authentication process, by using one of a plurality of pieces of section authentication information, on the user who has been successfully authenticated by the user authentication portion, an associated information storage portion storing, therein, associated information in which the user authentication information is associated with the plurality of pieces of section authentication information, and a selection process portion selecting, after the user has been successfully authenticated by the user authentication portion, at least one of the plurality of pieces of section authentication information satisfying a preset condition from among the plurality of pieces of section authentication information associated with the user authentication information that has been used for the user authentication process.
US08341725B2
In general, this disclosure describes network security techniques that may accommodate legitimate movement of a subscriber device while preventing MAC collisions that may result from configuration errors or MAC spoofing attempts. MAC spoofing may result in packets directed to one subscriber device being sent instead to another subscriber device. By modifying an access node or a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to allow only authorized subscriber devices on the access network, layer two collisions (“MAC collisions”) may be prevented.
US08341712B2
A method and system for authenticating a user of a mobile device is provided. A first message is received from a mobile device, the message including a mobile device identifier identifying said mobile device. An association between the mobile device identifier in the first message and a registered user is confirmed. A second message is generated and transmitted to the mobile device. The second message includes a user identifier identifying the registered user. A request for a service is received, the request including the user identifier.
US08341708B1
A method and system for authenticating credentials for management of a client is disclosed. The credentials are provided to a verification application. The credentials are authenticated to an authentication application. A connection between the authentication application and a security server is established. An authenticator is invoked. Administrative rights associated with the credentials are verified. An authentication certificate indicating the administrative rights is sent to the client.
US08341692B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for defining rights applicable to a digital object. A set of initial rights and a set of modifying rights are received for the digital object. At least one of the set of initial rights and the set of modifying rights specifies one or more conditions on rights in the respective set of rights. A new set of rights is defined for the digital object based on the set of initial rights and the set of modifying rights. The new set of rights specifies one or more new conditions on rights in the new set of rights. The new conditions are defined based on one or more of the conditions in the set of initial rights and/or the set of modifying rights.
US08341667B2
Advertising driven switched digital video may be provided. A plurality of content streams may be transmitted. In response to determining that an available transmission bandwidth has increased, at least one new content stream may be provided according to a bandwidth-based priority list. In response to determining that the available transmission bandwidth has decreased, at least one content stream may be removed according to the bandwidth-based priority list.
US08341663B2
In one embodiment, a Media Analysis and Delivery System obtains a set of media delivery rules, wherein the set of media delivery rules includes one or more triggers, each of the triggers identifying a topic of interest. The Media Analysis and Delivery System examines a media stream for at least one of the one or more triggers in accordance with the set of media delivery rules. The Media Analysis and Delivery System provides at least a portion of the media stream in response to at least one of the triggers in accordance with at least one of the set of media delivery rules.
US08341643B2
Shared memory and sockets are used to protect shared resources where multiple operating systems execute concurrently on the same hardware. Rather than using spinlocks for serializing access, when a thread is unable to acquire a shared resource because that resource is already held by another thread, the thread creates a socket with which it will wait to be notified that the shared resource has been released. The sockets may be network sockets or in-memory sockets that are accessible across the multiple operating systems; if sockets are not available, communication technology that provides analogous services between operating systems may be used instead. Optionally, fault tolerance is provided to address socket failures, in which case one or more threads may fall back (at least temporarily) to using spinlocks. A locking service may execute on each operating system to provide a programming interface through which threads can invoke lock operations.
US08341628B2
A mechanism is provided in a logically partitioned data processing system for controlling depth and latency of exit of a virtual processor's idle state. A virtualization layer generates a cede latency setting information (CLSI) data. Responsive to booting a logical partition, the virtualization layer communicates the CLSI data to an operating system (OS) of the logical partition. The OS determines, based on the CLSI data, a particular idle state of a virtual processor under a control of the OS. Responsive to the OS calling the virtualization layer, the OS communicates the particular idle state of the virtual processor to the virtualization layer for assigning the particular idle state and wake-up characteristics to the virtual processor.
US08341626B1
To place virtual machines on physical machines, at least one controller receives indicators related to regional environment effects. The at least one controller selects at least one of the virtual machines to migrate from one or more first physical machines to one or more second physical machines in response to the received indicators.
US08341625B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for identification and management of cloud-based virtual machines. A user requests the instantiation of a set of virtual machines from a cloud computing environment. A cloud management system requests the resources necessary to build the machines from a set of resource servers. After populating the set of virtual machines from the cloud, the cloud management system inserts a token ID into one of the virtual machines to designate that machine as a management instance. An image of that machine can be stored in the cloud management system to represent the configuration of the set of virtual machines, even when the cloud itself lacks permanent storage. When the user wishes to update the set of virtual machines, the cloud management system can insert another token ID into another virtual machine, reconfigure the software, processing, or other resources of that machine as a revised management instance.
US08341621B2
A server-client system is configured to automatically detect and install peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, etc. that are attached to a client. The server is configured to detect the peripheral device and install a driver that is compatible with the peripheral device. The I/O queue created for the peripheral device is redirected to the port to which the peripheral device is connected.
US08341608B2
A cross-platform toolbar and method thereof is disclosed. The toolbar includes a toolbar render object defining at least user interface elements of the cross-browser toolbar; a script file defining at least event handlers associated with the user interface elements; toolbar libraries including at least application programming interfaces (APIs) and script files supporting a specific web browser type; and a unique dynamic-link library (DLL) file assigned with the toolbar libraries and the script file.
US08341602B2
An “Automated, Static Safety Verifier” uses typed assembly language (TAL) and Hoare logic to achieve highly automated, static verification of type and memory safety of an operating system (OS). Various techniques and tools mechanically verify the safety of every assembly language instruction in the OS, run-time system, drivers, and applications, except the boot loader (which can be separately verified). The OS includes a “Nucleus” for accessing hardware and memory, a kernel that builds services running on the Nucleus, and applications that run on top of the kernel. The Nucleus, written in verified assembly language, implements allocation, garbage collection, multiple stacks, interrupt handling, and device access. The kernel, written in C# and compiled to TAL, builds higher-level services, such as preemptive threads, on top of the Nucleus. A Hoare-style verifier with automated theorem prover verifies safety and correctness of the Nucleus. A TAL checker verifies safety of the kernel and applications.
US08341600B2
A tool facilitating organizing code review via tagging changes in the code such that developer reasoning and reviewer comments are captured during the development process; thus documenting the development process. The tool providing intuitive presentation of changes and change sets based on the purpose of the change. The tool enabling retrieval of the information documenting developer and reviewer rationale during development and after development is complete.
US08341584B1
A system includes a memory and a controller. The controller may include a group of pads and an allocation register. The controller is configured to receive input signals corresponding to the group and allocate each one of the pads to output one of the input signals based on a configuration of pins of the memory. The controller is also configured to redirect the input signals, within the controller, based on the allocation of the pads and output the input signals from the controller into the pads.
US08341577B1
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for parallelizing simulation of circuit partitions. A circuit is divided into a number of partitions, for example, according to channel-connected regions. In some embodiments, the partitions are sequenced and assigned to multiple threads for parallel analysis. Iterative timing analysis (ITA), or some other form of analysis, is performed on the partitions over a series of integration time steps. Using the multiple threads, some partitions are solved at later integration time steps while the ITA continues toward relaxation convergence for a current integration time step.
US08341575B2
A circuit design device comprises a logic synthesis unit that generates a circuit with reference to a circuit design description, a statistical timing analysis unit that obtains a probability distribution of delay times of a path in a circuit, a relative delay restriction fulfillment rate calculation unit that obtains a fulfillment rate of the relative delay restriction according to the probability distribution of the delay time from the same starting point at each restricted path subjected to the relative delay restriction, a path delay probability distribution changing unit that changes the probability distribution of delay times of the restricted path to changed probability distribution when the fulfillment rate does not reach a predetermined rate, and a logic circuit structure changing unit that changes the structure of the circuit so as to follow the changed probability distribution.
US08341573B2
A method of designing an integrated circuit and a model of an integrated circuit block, an electronic design automation tool, an apparatus and a computer-readable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method of designing an integrated circuit includes: (1) generating a timing budget for the integrated circuit employing designer input of the integrated circuit, (2) establishing design constraints for a block of the integrated circuit employing the timing budget, (3) creating an input and output timing budget for the block employing the design constraints, (4) combining implementation information for the integrated circuit based on designer knowledge with the input and output timing budget to generate an updated input and output timing budget and (5) generating a model of the block based on the updated input and output timing budget.
US08341571B1
A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for generating a pattern signature to represent a pattern in an integrated circuit design. In one approach, the method, system and computer program product transform pattern data, two dimensional data for the pattern, into a set of one dimensional mathematical functions, compress the set of one dimensional mathematical functions into a single variable function, compress the single variable function by calculating a set of values for the single variable function, and generate a pattern signature for the pattern from the set of values.
US08341570B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and techniques to execute a hardware simulation and verification solution on a multiprocessor system. The hardware simulation and verification solution can be partitioned into different modules which can include a simulation kernel to simulate changes in signal values, a value change dump module to store the changes in the signal values on a computer-readable storage medium, a functional coverage module to check functionality, a toggle coverage module to check signal toggling, an assertion engine to check complex behaviors, and a testbench module to generate test scenarios. Embodiments of the present invention can execute different modules on different processors, thereby improving performance.
US08341562B1
A method includes retrieving first layouts of an integrated circuit from a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The first layouts include a via pattern in a via layer, and a metal line pattern in a metal layer immediately over the via layer. The metal line pattern has an enclosure to the via pattern. The enclosure is increased to a second enclosure to generate second layouts of the integrated circuit.
US08341558B2
A computer-implemented user interface method is disclosed. The method includes displaying information on a touchscreen of a computing device, receiving from a user of the device an input drawn on the touchscreen, correlating the input to a template, where the correlating includes employing a closed-form solution to find a rotation that reduces angular distance between the input and the template, and providing output based on a result of the correlating.
US08341551B2
A system and method is disclosed that provides for displaying on the screen of a handheld electronic device, an extended menu or a short menu, which is a subset of the corresponding extended menu. The system and method include a contact data entry record of an address book application being displayed on a screen. If a contact data entry record is designated through use of the auxiliary user input device and no menu is displayed, the user may initiate an ambiguous request. Various short menus are provided with their respective menu items being dependent and adjustable based upon the position of a cursor on the display page, the currently opened application, and/or the previous selections. Further, a selection from the short menu is capable of displaying the extended menu corresponding thereto.
US08341549B2
A system for arranging symbols for display and selection in a mobile communication terminal is provided. The system comprises user interface configured for selecting a first symbol having a first display priority; and means for assigning a second display priority to a second symbol associated with the first symbol, wherein the second symbol is displayed according to the second display priority, in response to a request for displaying a symbol set.
US08341544B2
An electronic device associated with a remote wand controlling the operations of the electronic device is provided. The wand may include a motion detection component operative to provide an output reflecting the motion of the wand to the electronic device, such that the movements of a cursor displayed by the electronic device may be related to the output of the motion detection component. The wand may also include an input mechanism operative to receive user inputs. Using the input mechanism, the wand may detect a user's inputs and direct the electronic device to zoom or scroll displayed objects. The electronic device may display a screen saver by which the user may select particular media items for playback while remaining in the screen saver mode. In some embodiments, the electronic device may display video with a scroll bar that includes a preview window of the video.
US08341540B1
A visualization service generates a graphical representation or visualization of each user's behavior within a network resource, such as a website. In one example, the visualization service provides a dynamic visualization of each user accessing the network resource. Each user is graphically represented in the visualization with an indicium, such as a point or dot. The visualization (and thus, the position of each indicium representing a user) is dynamically updated as each user accesses data files from the network resource and thus, moves from state to state (or page to page) over time. The effect is similar to watching cars move along a complex highway system.
US08341537B2
Indication of delayed content output is described. In an implementation, content is output for display as a user interface having one or more selectable elements. When a cursor is positioned proximally to one of the selectable elements, a graphical symbol is output in the user interface that indicates a delay of a user-specified amount of time before additional content is displayed.
US08341533B2
Tools and techniques are described for storage and expedited retrieval of messages and responses in multi-tasking environments. Methods provided by these tools may establish active communications with a first contact, and then received indications of secondary communications involving a second contact. These methods may then present user interfaces (UIs) that include representations of at least the secondary communications. Through the UIs, the methods may receive a selection of one of the secondary communications for an expedited response, and may receive input from the user that provides the expedited response to the secondary communication, while maintaining the active communication in an active state. These methods may provide the expedited response to the secondary communication, based upon the input received from the user.
US08341531B2
Content formatting and installation techniques are described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving one or more inputs for initiating an installation process of one or more content items and performing the installation process without user intervention. The performing of the installation process includes obtaining a content package, from over a network, which includes a manifest which describes a content type for each of the content items. Each of the content items is installed for use by an application module based on a respective content type.
US08341530B1
Systems and methods provide customer service center database management. A management component may identify an application accessible at a location based on a user profile and hardware component requirements for the application. The component may promote upgrading hardware components if the location's hardware components do not meet the requirements. The component may identify a user profile for a location and a communication route for the user profile. The management component may promote a change in a communication route to the location for the user profile if the route to the location does not correspond to the route for the user profile. The component may identify a first location's user profile that is similar to a second location's user profile. The component promotes modification of the first user profile to match the second user profile and of a route for the second user profile to a route for the first user profile.
US08341525B1
A digital multimedia platform available to a plurality of collaborators of a video project through a networked computing system maps script information to a timeline, allowing contributions to be mapped to the timeline for inclusion in the project. One embodiment includes a tools module, an authentication module, a compilation module, and a script writing tool. The tools module enables editing of a multimedia project by collaborators. The authentication module assigns roles and privileges to collaborators. The compilation module receives files and information from collaborators to the multimedia project. The script writing tool implements edits to a script file associated with the multimedia project.
US08341524B2
Improved methods and systems that assist a user in searching media items on a portable electronic device are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a portable electronic device is provided with a search function that enables a user to search for media items resident on the portable electronic device. The search function can search through different types of media items. Those of the media items that are deemed matching can be ranked in order of relevance and displayed in a list for the user. Thereafter, the user can navigate the list to select one of the listed media items for playback. According to another aspect of the invention, various graphical user interfaces can be presented on a portable electronic device to assist a user in interacting with the portable electronic device to utilize a search function.
US08341519B1
Systems and methods for managing tabs are provided. Such systems and methods may monitor and identify tabs based on tab usage. A method for web page tab management may include determining if tabs have not been used beyond a tab use threshold. The method may also include removing tabs determined to not have been used beyond the tab use threshold. The method may further include storing information of the removed tabs that will enable the removed tabs to be restored in the web browser. A system for web page management may include a tab use determiner and a tab assassin. The system may also include a stored tab repository.
US08341518B2
Generated is a template edition screen on which to display components of a report as modules by OSD by use of icons. One of the icons is selected by use of a pointing device including a mouse. By a drag-and-drop operation, the icon is placed at a desired position in an output format setup area formed in the same screen. The icon is set in a desired size by another drag-and-drop operation. Details of a module shown by the icon thus placed can be set up in a detail setup area in the same screen. Information on a format thus set up is retained as a template through a retention function, and accordingly can be used easily by simply calling the information. Moreover, the retained template can be edited as well. This makes it possible not only to create a new template, but also to modify an existing template.
US08341517B2
An area dividing section divides a display area into two areas having random dimensions. One of the divided display areas is further divided into two with random dimensions. This division is continued until the number of divided display areas reaches the number of content information to be displayed.
US08341514B2
Described herein are techniques for specifying and utilizing static data in the environment of a tag-based or meta-markup document description language such as XML.
US08341505B2
A method for enforcing network bandwidth partitioning. The method includes verifying that a guest driver in a guest operating system (OS) is configured to enforce a resource usage policy, wherein the guest OS resides on a host, mapping a hardware receive ring (HRR) residing on a physical network interface card (NIC) operatively connected to the host to the guest OS, wherein after the mapping the guest OS is configured to receive packets directly from the HRR, determining, using monitoring information, that the guest OS should not receive packets directly from the HRR, and in response to the determination, creating a data path from the HRR to a host OS executing on the host, receiving packets for the guest OS from the HRR by the host OS over the data path, and forwarding the packets from the host OS to the guest OS.
US08341504B2
A communication system that provides fast and reliable communications. The system is suitable for use in connection with wireless computing devices in which transmission errors may occur because of channel conditions, such as interference. Channel conditions causing transmission errors may be bursty and transient such that the errors temporarily overwhelm an error control code. By combining data received for multiple transmission attempts of a packet that fail error checking or that pass error checking with low reliability, a reliable representation of the packet may be quickly constructed. Though, combining may be omitted when a transmission attempt is received that passes error checking with high reliability.
US08341493B2
A method for identifying matched mobile stations includes receiving by a first mobile station signals from a plurality of mobile stations located within a threshold distance of the first mobile station, identifying a first group of mobile stations of the plurality of mobile stations, and receiving uni-cast control information from a network entity. For each mobile station of a first group, the method includes identifying a matched mobile station based upon first data of a mobile station of the first group effectively matching second data of a mobile station of a second group. One operation includes generating a descrambled information element for each matched mobile station of the first group by using the first scrambling sequence that is associated with the matched mobile station to descramble the scrambled information element of the mobile terminal of the second group that is matched to the mobile terminal of the first group.
US08341490B2
Virtual limited buffer modification for rate matching. A reduced-size memory module is employed within a communication device to assist in storage of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) employed in accordance with turbo decoding. This architecture is also applicable to other types of error correction code (ECC) besides turbo code as well. The memory size is selected to match the number of coded bits (e.g., including information bits and redundancy/parity bits) that is included within a transmission. The received signals may be various transmissions made in accordance with hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmissions. When the LLRs calculated from a first HARQ transmission is insufficient to decode, those LLRs are selectively stored in the memory module. When LLRs corresponding to a second HARQ transmission is received, LLRs corresponding to both the first HARQ transmission and the second HARQ transmission are passed from the memory module for joint use in decoding.
US08341488B2
Accumulating LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. The accumulating decoding architecture described herein is applicable to LDPC codes operating on a parity check matrix, H, consisting of CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices (or matrix sub-blocks) or permuted identity sub-matrices (or matrix sub-blocks). In such a structure, the entire LDPC matrix is broken into square sub-matrices such that each sub-matrix consists of either a CSI sub-matrix or a permuted identity sub-matrix, or a null matrix. The iterative decoding process operates by updating of APP (a posteriori probability) or gamma (γ) values and check edge message (λ) values, and this by updating one or more individual rows within a number of sub-matrix rows (or all sub-matrix or sub-block rows) are processed in parallel. The amount of parallelism is specified by the designer and is typically an integer divisor of the sub-matrix (or sub-block) size.
US08341486B2
A method for controlling power consumption of an iterative decoder based on one or more criteria is described. The method may include performing iterative decoding on a demodulated signal to provide a decoded signal, determining whether the iterative decoding is suffering an impairment, and terminating the iterative decoding responsive to the determination of the impairment, otherwise continuing the iterative decoding to provide the decoded signal.
US08341483B2
A data retransmission method for a radio communication system, in which a plurality of data streams are transmitted from a plurality of transmission systems, the method includes when there is a transmission error in transmission data in any of the plurality of data streams, adaptively selecting beamforming or spatial coding for retransmission of the transmission data; and retransmitting the transmission data with transmission errors by using either of selected beamforming or spatial coding, wherein a criterion for adaptively selecting the beamforming or spatial coding is that by comparing a retransmission period with a prescribed fading speed, the beamforming is selected when the retransmission period is smaller than the prescribed fading speed, while the spatial coding is selected when the retransmission period is smaller than the prescribed fading speed.
US08341482B2
A user equipment comprises a transmitter and an adaptive modulation and coding controller. The transmitter is configured to transmit data over an air interface in a single transmission time interval with a first specified modulation and coding scheme, where the single transmission time interval has a plurality of transport block sets. In response to receiving a repeat request for retransmission of at least one particular transport block set, the transmitter retransmits the at least one of the particular transport block sets. The adaptive modulation and coding controller is configured to change the specified modulation and coding scheme to a second specified modulation and coding scheme, enabling a combining of a particular transport block set transmitted at the first specified modulation and coding scheme with a retransmitted version of the particular transport block set transmitted at the second specified modulation and coding scheme.
US08341469B2
An FPGA configuration device comprises: a read operation control unit which performs control to read configuration data from a configured FPGA; and a configuration data transfer unit which transfers the configuration data read out of the FPGA to a memory.
US08341468B2
A test unit is provided for executing a confirmation test on the storage area of the storage apparatus. A storage area management unit sets an accessible valid storage area in the storage area, and extends the accessible valid storage area to include a part of the storage area. The part of the storage area used to extend the accessible valid storage is confirmed for normal operation by the test unit.
US08341467B2
A method and system for packet transmission in a hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) system. A modulation and a block length for a transmission are determined based on the average mutual information per bit. The average mutual information per bit is computed based on a current channel signal-to-noise ratio and a plurality of previous transmissions, each being transmitted with a respective coded block length, modulation form, and signal-to-noise ratio. A block error rate is computed for the potential block lengths and modulations based on the average mutual information per bit, and a throughput of the current transmission is determined based on the block error rate. The modulation form and the block length of the transmission are determined based on an analysis of the throughput. If the receiver cannot decode the current transmission, the transmitter repeats the computation to determine the modulation and the block length for retransmission.
US08341463B2
A system management procedure combines operations for performing operation management in a computer system, the system management knowledge capable of specifying a post-status of each constituent element of the computer system, the post-status being expected as a result that the operations are executed in accordance with the system management procedure, are previously stored in databases. Then, it is judged that a failure occurs, when an actual state of the computer system as a result that the operations are executed based on the system management procedure, is inconsistent with the expected post-status. When the failure occurred, a revising method capable of making the actual state of the computer system as the result that the operations are executed in the system management procedure, to be consistent with the expected post-status, is derived to be proposed.
US08341461B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus which adopts a distributed control system and increases the error detection accuracy of each control unit. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of slave control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The master control unit determines a diagnosis path for performing a diagnosis process for an error using the signal lines and a connection bridge connected to the respective control units. The master control unit performs the diagnosis process for an error in accordance with the determined diagnosis path.
US08341459B2
A system includes a source storage device, a target storage device, a host coupled to the source storage device and the target storage device, and a first migration device coupled to the source storage device and the target storage device. The first migration device includes a first virtual storage device. The first migration device is configured to migrate data from the source storage device to the target storage device, and the first virtual storage device is configured to receive write access requests for the data from the host during the data migration and send the access request to the source storage device and target storage device.
US08341451B2
A circuit and method for determining the frequency of a first oscillating reference signal generated by a first reference oscillator. The circuit comprises: a second reference oscillator arranged to generate a second oscillating reference signal having a known frequency, a boot memory storing boot code comprising clock configuration code, and a processor coupled to the boot memory and the second reference oscillator. The processor is arranged to execute the boot code from the boot memory upon booting, wherein when executed the clock configuration code operates the processor to determine the frequency of the first reference signal by reference to the second reference signal.
US08341444B2
A method for minimizing power consumption in a computer server is provided. Collected data for an event is compared with an entry in a power consumption table. A power reduction mechanism is triggered if the collected data and the entry are within a specified range. The power consumption table is updated with the collected data if the collected data and the entry are not within the specified range.
US08341433B2
A method for managing the power consumption of an information handling system including a processor and an associated cooling system. The method may include providing power to the cooling system based on a performance/power balance setting, accepting a user input to adjust the performance/power balance setting, and adjusting the power provided to the cooling system based on the adjusted performance/power balance setting. The performance/power balance setting may define a balance between performance of the processor and power consumption of the associated cooling system.
US08341431B2
A number of digital content rendering modules are equipped such that selective subsets of the modules may be employed to render digital content of different media, and of different format types. The modules are organized into a hierarchy, with a selected one occupying a root position of the hierarchy, to exclusively receive the digital contents to be rendered, and that each module is further responsible for verifying the integrity of its immediate downstream modules, to collectively protect the digital contents being rendered. Additionally, in accordance with another aspect, a tamper resistant module is employed to recover digital contents provided in a protected state, obfuscating the recovery. Further, the modules may be of different application domains.
US08341425B2
Provided is a storage device which partitions data from a host into multiple partitioned data and distributes, encrypts and stores them together with a parity to and in multiple memory mediums. This storage device executes processing of restoring the partitioned data or the parity stored in a memory medium to be subject to encryption re-key based on decrypted data of the partitioned data or the parity stored in each memory medium other than the memory medium to be subject to encryption re-key among the multiple memory mediums, storing the restored partitioned data or the parity in a backup memory medium while encrypting the restored partitioned data or the parity with a new encryption key, and thereafter interchanging the backup memory medium and the memory medium to be subject to encryption re-key so that the backup memory medium will be a memory medium configuring the parity group and the memory medium to be subject to encryption re-key will be the backup memory medium.
US08341420B2
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying sensitive data from a user-entered input sequence based on user-defined criteria. According to one method, user-defined criteria for identifying sensitive data within user-entered input sequences that include sensitive data and padding data are received. A request for sensitive data from a requesting agent is presented. A user-entered input sequence that includes sensitive data and padding data is received in response to the request for sensitive data. Sensitive data is identified within the user-entered input sequence using the user-defined criteria. The identified sensitive data is provided to the requesting agent in response to the request for sensitive data.
US08341416B2
The invention relates to a method for providing an assertion message (200) from a proving party (20) to a relying party (40), the method comprising the steps of: —creating an assertion (A) comprising one or more statements, —creating an assertion proof (p A), —creating a temporary private key and a corresponding temporary public key (K) from the assertion (A) and the assertion proof (p A), —creating a key proof (PK) for the temporary public key (K), —creating an assertion message signature (S) by means of the temporary private key, —creating the assertion message (200) comprising the temporary public key (K), the assertion proof (PA), the key proof (PK), the assertion (A), a message body (220) and the assertion message signature (S) to the relying party (40).
US08341412B2
The disclosed technology generally relates to methods for identifying audio and video entertainment content. Certain shortcomings of fingerprint-based content identification can be redressed through use of crowdsourcing techniques.
US08341410B2
An exemplary optimistic protocol for a two-party transaction includes a setup sub-protocol that includes an authorized Diffie-Hellman key agreement, an exchange sub-protocol that includes sending a certificate from a sending party to a receiving party and sending a receipt from the receiving party to the sending party and a dispute sub-protocol that includes a dispute resolution mechanism for resolving disputes between the sending party and the receiving party due to sending of an invalid certificate, due to sending an invalid receipt, or due to abortion of the exchange sub-protocol. Other exemplary methods, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08341408B2
A system and method for providing variable security levels in a wireless communication network. The present invention optimizes the often conflicting demands of highly secure wireless communications and high speed wireless communications. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, various security sensors are scanned to determine the likely presence of an intruder within a predetermined trust zone. If an intruder is likely present, the security level is changed to the highest setting, and consequently a lower data rate, while the intruder is identified. If the identified intruder is in fact a trusted node, the security level is returned to a lower setting. If the identified intruder is not a trusted node, the security level is maintained at an elevated state while the intruder is within the trust zone.
US08341407B2
Even with proper access privilege, when a secured file is classified, at least security clearance (e.g. a clearance key) is needed to ensure those who have the right security clearance can ultimately access the contents in the classified secured file. According to one embodiment, referred to as a two-0pronged access scheme, a security clearance key is generated and assigned in accordance with a user's security access level. A security clearance key may range from most classified to non-classified. Depending on implementation, a security clearance key with a security level may be so configured that the key can be used to access secured files classified at or lower than the security level or multiple auxiliary keys are provided when a corresponding security clearance key is being requested. The auxiliary keys are those keys generated to facilitate access to secured files classified respectively less than the corresponding security or confidentiality level.
US08341405B2
A system that can assist users to manage a personal active directory for all of their information maintained within a cloud-based environment is provided. The identity of a client that accesses data is monitored and recorded in a log. In turn, this information can be made available to the owner of the information in order to develop a desired access control list (ACL). Additionally, the system can employ a heuristic component that can automatically establish the ACL on the owner's behalf. As well, the system can track how information is being accessed (or attempted to be accessed) by other people therefore, giving the owner of the information the opportunity to restrict or allow access based upon any number of recorded factors (e.g., identity, context).
US08341402B2
Provided is a method of controlling content access in a home network. The method includes: (a) defining a predetermined sub group and allocating a sub group key for the sub group; and (b) checking whether a user belongs to the sub group and transmitting the sub group key to a user device requested by the user, wherein the user device obtains an encrypted content key using a domain key and the sub group key. Since a content key is twice encrypted using a domain key and a sub group key and transmitted to a user device, it is possible to provide authorized content access to a user.
US08341400B2
Method and apparatus are described wherein, in one example embodiment, a public key certificate issued by a certificate authority includes at least one characteristic that conforms to at least one rule established for the operation of a public key infrastructure. An attribute certificate is issued to be used to modify the public key certificate in accordance with information contained in the attribute certificate to create a modified public key certificate wherein the at least one characteristic is modified so as to be non-conformant with the at least one rule. According to one example embodiment, the attribute certificates may be distributed by a certificate authority, or embedded in an application that includes an engine that is used to modify the conforming public key certificate.
US08341399B2
A system and method for retrieving certificates and/or verifying the revocation status of certificates. In one embodiment, when a user opens a digitally signed message, a certificate that is required to verify the digital signature on the message may be automatically retrieved if it is not stored on the user's computing device (e.g. a mobile device), eliminating the need for users to initiate the task manually. Verification of the digital signature may also be automatically performed by the application after the certificate is retrieved. Verification of the revocation status of a certificate may also be automatically performed if it is determined that the time that has elapsed since the status was last updated exceeds a pre-specified limit.
US08341392B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to booting to a network storage target. In general, in one implementation, a bus-to-network device driver is loaded during a machine boot, where the bus-to-network device driver is capable of sending machine bus commands over a network, providing access to the network for a network device driver, and distinguishing between received responses to the machine bus commands and other network traffic corresponding to the network device driver. Loading of the bus-to-network device driver can occur in response to an operating system load of bus drivers. For example, the bus-to-network device driver can be an iSCSI driver, and the operating system load of bus drivers can be the operating system load of SCSI drivers.
US08341390B2
In a computer system including a server having a BIOS and a management module, the server includes therein a memory area and a server controller, and the management module includes therein a backup memory area and a management-module controller. When the BIOS changes the BIOS setting, the BIOS stores the BIOS setting into both of the memory area and the backup memory area by way of the server controller and the management-module controller. Here, the management module operates independently of the server. Accordingly, when a BIOS-setting read request is issued from the outside, the management-module controller makes the response to the request source by reading the data stored into the backup memory area.
US08341388B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display unit, a touch panel, a BIOS storage unit, and a setup program execution unit. The display unit displays various kinds of information. The touch panel is installed on a display screen of the display unit and used for input corresponding to a contact operation. The BIOS storage unit stores a BIOS (basic input/output system) to execute startup of an operating system. The setup program execution unit executes a setup program for the BIOS in response to that an input from the touch panel is detected during the execution of the startup based on the BIOS.
US08341378B2
The invention provides a data access method for a flash memory. First, a write command, a write address, and target data are received from a host. A target block corresponding to the write address is then determined. Whether a storage space with the write address in the target block stores data is then determined. When the storage space does not store data, the target data is written to the storage space of the target block. When the storage space stores data, whether a file allocation table (FAT) block mapped to the target block exists in the flash memory is then determined. When the FAT block exists, the target data is written to the FAT block. When the FAT block does not exist, whether a child block mapped to the target block exists in the flash memory is determined. When the child block exists, the target data is written to the child block.
US08341375B2
A method for operating a memory system is provided. In this method, a sequential update block is provided and a write command is received to write data. The write command comprises a logical address associated with the data. If the logical address is associated with a host file management data structure, then the sequential update block is converted to a chaotic update block. After the conversion, the data are written to the chaotic update block.
US08341373B2
A method is disclosed to set signal compensation settings for a data storage device comprising a first port and a second port, where that first port is interconnected to a first switch via a first communication pathway having a predetermined first length. The method determines first signal compensation settings based upon the first length.
US08341372B2
A system has an emulation memory having a plurality of sectors for storing information. A controller calculates a number of addresses used divided by a number of valid records in a predetermined address range of the emulation memory. An amount of remaining addresses in a currently used space of the emulation memory which have not been used to store information is calculated. A determination is made whether the calculation is greater than a first predetermined number and whether the amount of remaining addresses is greater than a second predetermined number. If both the fraction is greater than the first predetermined number and the amount of remaining addresses is greater than the second predetermined number, any subsequent update requests are responded to using the currently used space of the emulation memory. Otherwise a compression of the emulation memory is required by copying valid data to an available sector.
US08341370B2
A method, in one embodiment, can include a server receiving a message to deactivate a partition key of an object based storage system. A token of the object based storage system is signed by the partition key. The object based storage system includes the server. Additionally, after receiving the message, the server can deactivate the partition key to block access to a partition of the object based storage system by a client. The server includes the partition.
US08341367B2
A calculated factoring ratio is determined as a weighted ratio of current nominal data to physical data based on at least one storage capacity threshold and a used storage space currently physically consumed by one of backup and replication data. A maximal nominal estimated space in the computing storage environment is calculated. A remaining space, defined as the maximal nominal estimated space minus a current nominal space in the computing storage environment, is calculated. If the remaining space is one of equal and less than a user-configured reservation space for backup operations, data replication operations are accepted and stored in the computing storage environment.
US08341356B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a secure programming paradigm, and a protected cache that enable a processor to handle secret/private information while preventing, at the hardware level, malicious applications from accessing this information by circumventing the other protection mechanisms. A protected cache may be used as a building block to enhance the security of applications trying to create, manage and protect secure data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08341354B2
A method of performing cache coloring includes the steps of generating a dynamic function flow representing a temporal sequence in which a plurality of functions are called at a time of executing a program comprised of the plurality of functions by executing the program by a computer, generating function strength information in response to the dynamic function flow by use of the computer, the function strength information including information about runtime relationships between any given one of the plurality of functions and all the other ones of the plurality of functions in terms of a way the plurality of functions are called and further including information about degree of certainty of cache miss occurrence, and allocating the plurality of functions to memory space by use of the computer in response to the function strength information such as to reduce instruction cache conflict.
US08341353B2
A system and method to access data from a portion of a level two memory or from a level one memory is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a level one cache and a level two memory. A first portion of the level two memory is coupled to an input port and is addressable in parallel with the level one cache.
US08341351B2
A data reception system includes a data acquisition unit acquiring data from a predetermined transmission path, an access control unit storing the data acquired by the data acquisition unit in a predetermined storage area, and a plurality of storage areas. The plurality of storage areas includes a first storage area and a second storage area having a greater storable capacity and a lower storing speed compared to the first storage area. The access control unit further includes a transfer unit. The access control unit determines whether the total amount of data stored in the first storage area is in the excess of a predetermined threshold or not and causes a transfer unit to transfer the data acquired by the data acquisition unit to the second storage area to store the data in the second storage area when the total amount is in the excess of the threshold.
US08341336B2
A region-based management method of a non-volatile memory is provided. In the region-based management method, the storage space of all chips in the non-volatile memory is divided into physical regions, physical block sets, and physical page sets, and a logical space is divided into virtual regions, virtual blocks, and virtual pages. In the non-volatile memory, each physical block set is the smallest unit of space allocation and garbage collection, and each physical page set is the smallest unit of data access. The region-based management method includes a three-level address translation architecture for converting logical block addresses into physical block addresses.
US08341329B2
A method for providing hardware support for memory protection and virtual memory address translation for a virtual machine. The method includes executing a host machine application within a host machine context and executing a virtual machine application within a virtual machine context. A plurality of TLB (translation look aside buffer) entries for the virtual machine context and the host machine context are stored within a TLB. Memory protection bits for the plurality of TLB entries are logically combined to enforce memory protection on the virtual machine application.
US08341315B2
Buffers of programmable depths are used in the instruction and reply paths of cascaded devices to account for possible differences in latencies between the devices. The buffers may be enabled or bypassed such that the alignment of instruction and result may be performed at the boundaries between separate groups of devices having different instruction latencies.
US08341306B1
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising coupling a first device to a client device, the first device having a virtual storage drive, the virtual storage drive storing a device driver; installing the device driver in the client device; and subsequent to installation of the device driver in the client device, installing a filter driver in the client device, the filter driver configured to prevent the client device from detecting the virtual storage drive of the first device whenever the first device is subsequently re-coupled to the client device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08341305B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect a plurality of User Interface (UI) device configurations, receive a request from a computing device to download one or more of the plurality of UI device configurations, and transmit to the computing device the one or more UI device configurations requested to configure one or more UI devices of the computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08341298B2
An embodiment of an open data network system facilitates communication between applications related to operation of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and re-use of components in different systems and implementations. A switch/router communicates data between on-board systems. A server communicates with the switch/router and provides at least one of processing services and storage services to the on-board systems via the switch/router. A network manager communicates with the switch/router to direct the switch/router in selectively allowing access between the on-board systems. In other embodiments, an avionics interface unit communicates with the switch/router and enable communications between at least one avionics system and at least one of the on-board systems. Other embodiments selectively enable on-board systems to communicate with a ground-based network to provide communications between the aircraft and a stakeholder in the operation of the aircraft while isolating flight-critical avionics and flight communications systems from the open data network.
US08341296B1
Disclosed is a system and method for providing persistence in network access, by enhancing the likelihood that a gateway that is employed by a server array controller to send a client's message to a resource in another network outside of a local network behind the server array controller, is the same gateway employed by the resource for a responding message. In one embodiment, an outbound gateway is selected based on load-balanced gateways that have been enabled for automatic mapping of a source address to an available corresponding global Internet Protocol address. In another embodiment, multiple server array controllers are employed in a multi-active mode that enables multiple network address translation tables to be available in the event of a failover of one or more of the server array controllers.
US08341295B1
Techniques are provided for using the mobility support features of IPv6 to allow client and server nodes to communicate without the continuing intervention of a load-balancing node that selected the server node. A load-balancing node intercepts a TCP SYN packet addressed to a virtual IP address. The load-balancing node selects a server node from among multiple server nodes, and sends the packet toward the server node. The server node sends an IPv6 packet toward the client node. The packet contains a Binding Update option that specifies the virtual IP address as a Home Address. This information causes the client node to replace destination addresses in outgoing IP packets so that packets that the client node would have sent toward the virtual IP address are sent toward the selected server node's IP address instead. Consequently, the IP packets are routed toward the selected server node instead of the load-balancing node.
US08341291B2
A method of providing network communications using virtualization includes steps of creating a virtual machine instance that runs on a device and that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided, detecting a request for a network connection from an application running on the device, determining application-specific information associated with the application, using the application-specific information associated with the application, selecting a routing protocol from among a plurality of available routing protocols for communicating data from the application over a network using the virtual network connection, and, using the selected routing protocol, communicating data from the application over the network to a device using the virtual network connection of the virtual machine instance.
US08341280B2
A computer-implemented system and method for decoupling processing of request and response messages supporting different pluggable respective transports in a service-oriented pipeline architecture for a request-response Message Exchange Pattern (MEP) is disclosed. The method in an example embodiment includes receiving a message having coded therein information identifying a desired pluggable transport mechanism respectively for a request and a response; processing the message through a message processing pipeline; dispatching the processed message to a dispatcher; determining if the desired pluggable transport mechanism is available; activating the desired pluggable transport mechanism, if the desired pluggable transport mechanism is available; and transporting the processed message via the desired pluggable transport mechanism.
US08341279B2
In one embodiment, a node in a computer network may receive data of a particular type at a first frequency (e.g., a sensor in a sensor network), and may correspondingly determine whether there is at least one interested subscriber for the data of the particular type, where the interested subscriber desires the data at a second frequency. If there is an interested subscriber, buffered data publishing may be dynamically activated at the node in response to a ratio between the second and first frequencies being less than a configured threshold. In particular, buffered data publishing comprises buffering the received data and transmitting a latest received data to the interested subscriber at the second frequency.
US08341275B1
Systems and methods for remote access of network-enabled devices that provide seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity between multiple users and multiple devices, that allow collaborative operations by multiple users of remote devices, that allow point to multipoint control of multiple devices and which allow rapid, secure transmission of data between remote users and devices. In general terms, the system includes at least one connection server, and at least two computers operatively coupled to the connection server via a public or global network. In an example where at least one client computer is operatively connected to at least one network-enabled device through a connection server via the public or global network, the connection server is configured to route control instructions from the client to the network-enabled device, and route data from the network-enabled device to the client.
US08341273B2
In one embodiment, a network device determines one or more conditions for invoking one or more real applications to the network device for a session. This determination may be made at the initiation of the session, such as when a SIP INVITE message is received. The one or more conditions allow real applications to be invoked when a future event satisfies the condition. When it is determined that a condition is satisfied, a real application associated with the condition is then invoked. Accordingly, conditions may be set for real applications that may be tested against future events that have not yet occurred. This allows deferred invocation of real applications. Accordingly, if real applications are not needed for a session, then they are not invoked. But, when a real application is needed, it can be invoked.
US08341271B2
A method and apparatus for performing device discovery in a wireless communication system is described. In one embodiment, a device discovery process is used in a wireless communication system having an apparatus for communicating with WirelessHD devices in a wireless network, where the apparatus comprises a host processor; a transceiver; a physical interface coupling the host processor and the transceiver; and a memory accessible by the host processor and the transceiver to exchange information between the host processor and the transceiver, and the device discovery process comprises: discovering a remote wireless device in the wireless network; notifying, by the transceiver, the host processor of the remote wireless device; requesting, under control of the transceiver, capability information from the remote wireless device prior to receiving a request from the host processor for the capability information; buffering, under control of the transceiver, the capability information before the capability information is requested by the host processor; receiving a capability request from the host processor; and providing the host processor access to the capability information.
US08341269B2
A computer implemented method, system and/or program product configure cloud resources. A request is received for a specific set of cloud resources. The set of cloud resources comprises at least one cloud resource that has been associated with an ontological database. The ontological database defines descriptive terms for the cloud resource and describes relationships between the descriptive terms used by different cloud resources. An optimal set of cloud resources that satisfies the request is configured and saved for future usage in responding to requests for the specific set of cloud resources.
US08341258B2
Supporting end-user to view and operate computing resources by deploying logically organized and graphically represented multi-layered item list (“tree”) has been fully realized on native window based computer user work environment provided by modern operating system such as Windows Explore of Microsoft. The present invention has implemented such tree to represent structured resources, such as for a central controlled distributed scalable virtual machine (CCDSVM), and to be displayable and operable in any web browser on any type of computing system for user to access and manage the actual structured resources. The implementation of the tree is accomplished by creating the tree in memory to mirror the actual structure resource, where the mirrored tree is sent, via web page, to the computing system, where the computing system executes the web browser to display the tree and allow the user to access the actual structured resources via the displayed tree.
US08341251B2
Enabling storage area network (SAN) component migration are provided. An end-to-end systems management console, referred to as the hardware migration assistant, is provided to simplify the migration steps for a SAN administrator to replace key SAN components. The hardware migration assistant provides a single interface suitable for stepping the SAN administrator through the reconfiguring task faster and with fewer sources of error than the known distributed manual process. The hardware migration assistant of the illustrative embodiments provides an interface through which a user may specify a type of SAN component that is being replaced and identifies the particular SAN components that are being replaced. The hardware migration assistant provides a knowledge base for guiding the user through the replacement operation and the reconfiguring of the SAN components, including the new SAN components, based on the previous configuration of the replaced components.
US08341243B2
An apparatus includes unit storing scripts includes a tree structure, each of the scripts including at least one of a child-node script and content, unit selecting a parent-node script among the scripts, and acquiring to analyze a child-node script if the child-node script exists, unit acquiring content if content exists, unit retrieving substitute content if the acquisition of content ends in failure and if content indicates retrieving substitute content, unit retrieving the substitute-child-node script if the acquisition of the child-node script ends in failure and if the child-node script indicates retrieving the substitute-child-node script, and retrieving the substitute-parent-node script when content or the child-node script shows retrieving the substitute-parent-node script, unit acquiring substitute content when substitute content is found, unit acquiring the substitute-child-node script and the substitute-parent-node script when the substitute-child-node script and the substitute-parent-node script are found, respectively, and unit acquiring a change script.
US08341239B2
A runtime vulnerability defense method, system, and computer readable article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for executing the method for cross domain interactions for a Web application. The method includes: creating a first and second iFrame object by the Web application which belong to a lower domain; creating an object O by the first iFrame object; sharing the created object O by the second iFrame object; promoting the domain of the second iFrame object to an upper domain; creating in the shared object O a source accessing function for submitting to a third party server a request to access the content of the third party server; and creating in the shared object O a sanitization function for sanitizing the response received from the server.
US08341233B2
Various technologies pertaining to instant messaging are described herein. A persistent instant messaging group is created, wherein the persistent instant messaging group comprises a plurality of members and persists over a plurality of instant messaging sessions. Instances of an instant messaging application are installed on mobile telephones, and the instant messaging application is used to transmit instant messages between members of the persistent instant messaging group. Messages directed towards offline members of the persistent instant messaging group are transmitted to such members when they come online.
US08341232B2
A method comprises identifying one or more relationships between a target individual and one or more persons based at least in part on a plurality of emails. The plurality of emails comprise one or more outbound emails, which may comprise emails sent to the target individual from the one or more persons. The plurality of emails further comprise one or more inbound emails, which may comprise emails sent from the target individual to the one or more persons. The method further comprises, for each of the one or more relationships, calculating an amount of outbound emails and an amount of inbound emails. The method further comprises assigning a classification to each of the one or more relationships based at least in part on the amount of outbound emails and the amount of inbound emails. The method further comprises sorting the one or more relationships based at least in part on the classification assigned to each of the one or more relationships. The method may further comprise storing information regarding the sorted relationships.
US08341230B2
Method for predicting messaging addresses for an electronic message composed on an electronic device
A method for predicting messaging addresses for an electronic message composed on an electronic device is provided. In accordance with one embodiment, the method comprises: receiving a request to compose an electronic message; automatically filtering the contacts based on filter criteria comprising a type of the electronic message to generate a first list of contacts; displaying a message composition user interface screen on a display screen of the electronic device, the message composition user interface screen including one or more address fields for inputting message recipients; displaying the first list of contacts, the message recipients being selectable from the first list of contacts; and selecting a messaging address in accordance with selection of a contact from the first list of contacts and populating an active address field in the message composition user interface screen with the selected contact.
US08341227B2
Systems, methods and media for playback of instant messaging session history in an instant messaging system by facilitating recording and playback of an instant messaging session history to a user are disclosed. Embodiments may include, during an instant messaging session where one or more instant messaging events occur, determining a timestamp associated with the one or more instant messaging events and recording an indication of the one or more instant messaging events and their associated timestamps. Embodiments may also include receiving one or more playback commands and, in response to the received playback commands, displaying playback of the one or more instant messaging events based on their associated timestamps. The instant messaging events may include one or more of a text message, file transfer, input device movement, or a status indication such as offline, returned from offline, away, returned from away, secure session established, session beginning or session ending.
US08341215B2
A processing time can be defined in a system including a plurality of computers for which the processing time is calculated, by displaying candidates of paths corresponding to flow of a series of processings as to transmission and reception of each message based on transmission and reception of messages among a plurality of computers; receiving an input that selects one path among the displayed candidates; and creating a processing time in each of computers in the flow of a series of processings as to transmission and reception of messages based on the received input.
US08341208B2
A method for providing, by a remote machine, access to functionality associated with a resource executing on a local machine includes receiving, by a remote agent executing on a remote machine, an identification of a shell extension associated with a resource provided by a local machine. The remote agent installs a proxy handler associated with the identified shell extension. The proxy handler receives a request for access to the shell extension and redirects the request to a shell extension invoker executing on the local machine.
US08341202B2
A method for calculating coefficients of a filter and a method for filtering are provided. The invention directly factorizes a specific function in a cepstrum domain by spectral factorization and cepstrum technique to obtain coefficients of denominator function from the filter. In other words, the invention adopts a non-iterative algorithm to reduce computational complexity and avoid convergence due to calculating coefficients. Besides, the specific function of the invention includes a compensation function, so that a Fourier transform with greatly reduced size can be utilized in the spectral factorization to greatly save the computations and keep good system performance at a receiver.
US08341195B1
Managing content assets, such as images, video, and audio to facilitate filtering, searching, licensing, and editing associated attributes. Content assets are associated with multiple attributes, including licensing models, predefined value tiers, collections, and albums. Value tiers define varying ranges of price, resolution, or other qualities. Collections comprise groups of content assets within families, each specified by a license model and a value tier. Albums comprise groups of content assets that share a common topic, and albums have a predefined duration. An interface enables a user to filter by selecting any combination of the attributes, and to search the filtered content assets by keywords. Collection states and asset states determine which content assets are accessible for filtering and searching. An asset organizer automatically evaluates proposed edits to content asset attributes, to minimize edits that would unintentionally make content assets unavailable for licensing, and/or that would unintentionally change licensing terms.
US08341190B2
Mechanisms to support multiple name space aware projects are provided. Multiple roots of a project declare multiple namespacing mechanisms. Resources of the project can utilize each of the multiple namespacing mechanisms. In some cases, a particular resource of the project can override and use a foreign namespace that is associated with a different project hierarchy even while that particular resource resides within a project hierarchy associated with the original project and even while the project hierarchy does not declare, at the root, the foreign namespace.
US08341188B2
A coupling facility is coupled to one or more other coupling facilities via one or more peer links. The coupling of the facilities enables various functions to be supported, including the duplexing of structures of the coupling facilities. Duplexing is performed on a structure basis, and thus, a coupling facility may include duplexed structures, as well as non-duplexed or simplexed structures.
US08341187B2
A method and device for storage are provided in embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: acquiring a storage position of a table entry in a hierarchical binary tree that includes a first-part binary tree and second-part binary trees, wherein nodes of the first-part binary tree point to the second-part binary trees through pointers; and inserting the table entry to the hierarchical binary tree according to the storage position. In the embodiments of the present invention, the hierarchical binary tree structure with pointers is adopted to store table entry content, reducing the times of moving table entries and greatly improving the algorithm refresh rate.
US08341183B2
Methods and arrangements of representing the allocation of integers are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to represent the allocation of integers. An embodiment may involve representing a first allocation of integers via a set of nodes of a tree. In the representation, a data structure in a node may represent, for each integer in a set of integers, whether the integer is allocated or free. The embodiment may also involve representing a subsequent allocation. The representing may include adding a new node to the nodes of the tree for the first allocation. The subsequent allocation may consist of freeing of an integer allocated in the first allocation. The data structure of the new node may represent that the integer is free.
US08341181B2
A method for performance tuning a database is described. The method includes setting a database-allowed core value between 500 megabytes and half size of memory for the database. Further, the method declares small and heavily accessed structures as memory resident structures, and sets a memory resident limit value between 0 and the database-allowed core value for the database. In addition, the method analyzes the database to determine whether read-ahead should be enabled for the data structures. The method also analyzes the database to apply a reblocking factor between 1 and 60. The method associates system buffers ranging from 1000 to 20000 with the data structures, and stores the system buffers in memory. Moreover, the method consolidates the data structures having unused space.
US08341179B2
Content delivery system that aggregates and delivers text, audio and video and other content to an end-user from a library of past and current content. A user can actively provide information to the system without utilizing multiple steps or the system can guide content creation from a content originator. A single or limited action content request from a user to the content originator simultaneously collects various information from the user without additional user action. The system collects implicit and explicit content from the source where a content originator can indicate content that should appear a delivery system which originates on other delivery systems. The system automatically reads content and assigns it to a specific category and allows the content originator to further edit said content. Content is delivered to a user through implicit and explicit triggers and excludes content or makes available content depending on user history and other variables.
US08341176B1
Input indicating a first object within a set of structured data may be received. Input indicating a second object within the set of structured data may be received. Additional other objects within the set of structured data that are structurally similar to first and second objects may be determined based on metadata associated with the first object and based on metadata associated with the second object.
US08341172B2
A method and apparatus for defining and processing aggregate data is disclosed. Using database abstraction techniques, a set of logical fields may be used to compose queries of a set of underlying physical data sources. In one embodiment, a logical field may represent an aggregate data value calculated from the elements appearing in a column of a relational table in an underlying physical data source. The elements may be divided into to subsets to calculate multiple aggregate values. An abstract derived entity is a data object present in a database abstraction model that may be accessed as though it were a relational table contained in an underlying physical data source. In one embodiment, columns of the table defined by the abstract derived entity may be populated with aggregate data values joined to other data as specified by a composition rule included in the definition of the abstract derived entity.
US08341169B2
Open profile data in a user profile, e.g., free-form fields in a user profile, are processed to identify interests and preferences of the user. The interests and preferences are utilized to identify categories associated with the user profile, and content items, e.g., advertisements, can be identified based on the categories.
US08341167B1
A method for searching within a product context. The method includes receiving a first search phrase for a search within the product context, and evaluating the first search phrase based on the product context. Evaluating the first search phrase includes obtaining a plurality of keywords from the first search phrase, and identifying a facet using the plurality of keywords. The facet is contextually related to a keyword of the plurality of keywords, and the facet and the plurality of keywords are used to obtain a plurality of search terms. The evaluating the search phrase further includes applying a backward filter to revise the plurality of search terms into a second search phrase. The method further includes displaying the second search phrase.
US08341165B2
Extensible Markup Language (XML) data is represented as a list of structures with each structure in the list representing an aspect of the XML. A set of frequently used elements is extracted from the list of structure representation and stored in packed vectors. The packed vector representation allows Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions to be used directly on the XML data to increase the speed at which the XML data may be searched while minimizing the memory needed to store the XML data.
US08341164B1
A data structure for storing items of information having a time of life includes a time of life interval for each item of information. The items of information are organized in a data structure having nodes and edges connecting the nodes. This data structure is preferably a directed acyclic graph structure. The data structure includes parent nodes and child nodes. The time interval specified for any child node must always be contained within the time interval specified for that child node's parent node, such that the data structure includes no child nodes with a time of life interval that falls outside of the time of life interval of its parent node.
US08341163B2
Techniques for filter sharing are described. An apparatus may comprise a shared filter manager component for an application program. The shared filter manager component may be operative to manage shared filtering operations for the application program. The shared filter manager component may comprise a shared filter interface module operative to receive a selection for a shared filter component to filter multiple source data objects, and assign the shared filter component to the multiple source data objects. The shared filter manager component may further comprise a shared filter control module communicatively coupled to the shared filter interface module. The shared filter control module may be operative to filter data from the multiple source data objects using the shared filter component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08341153B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to order a binary tree using primary values and selected secondary values required to resolve a position in the binary tree. The remaining secondary values are in a do not care state. A new primary value is compared to the primary value at the root node of the binary tree. If necessary, a new secondary value is compared to the secondary value at the root node to determine whether the new primary value and the new secondary value or the value at the root node should be placed in a sorted list.
US08341137B2
A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.
US08341123B2
A computer storage file system structured without the use of tables or indexes, instead using a sequence of a small but extensible number of predefined Event types in a logical sequence that describes the complete historical state and content of the file system, Events being actions taken upon objects, objects being at least a directory or a file, optionally with associated user data.
US08341115B1
In a system comprising a production environment and a replication environment, a method and program product for dynamically switching from an asynchronous replication policy to a synchronous replication policy. In a system comprising a production environment and a replication environment, a method for dynamically switching from a synchronous replication policy to an asynchronous replication policy.
US08341111B2
In some example embodiments, a system and method are illustrated as including receive pattern data that includes transaction data relating to transactions between persons. Next, the system and method may include building at least one secondary network based upon the pattern data. Additionally, the system and method may include displaying the at least one secondary network.
US08341110B2
A temporal-influenced geospatial modeling system and method forecasts the likelihood of desirable and undesirable events. In one aspect, the present invention designates at least one temporal feature, determines an intensity function representing an expected value of event type instances corresponding to the temporal feature, determines a time window break associated with the intensity function and assesses whether the time window break is a critical time point for the event type.
US08341108B2
A goal of computer development is to understand the user and the data with which the user is engaged. If a better understanding of the user and their data can be accomplished, then additional information and features may be provided based upon the user's intent and interests. Accordingly, as provided herein, Kinds may be created as digital representations of everyday things. Kind classifications may be created to characterize the Kinds. The Kind classifications may be updated based upon user interaction to further characterize Kinds with which the user has interacted. For example, when a user writes an email about using orange peels as an air freshener, an orange Kind classification may be updated to reflect that an orange may be used as an air freshener. Kind feature vectors and user feature vectors may be created to represent the probabilities that the Kind or user relates to particular characteristics.
US08341107B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to expert modeling in a KM system and provide method, system and computer program product for organically ranked knowledge and categorization for a KM system. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for organically ranked knowledge and categorization in a KM system can be provided. The method can include bookmarking answer content for a first end user of the knowledge management system, suggesting a set of categories previously associated with the answer content by other end users of the knowledge management system, and categorizing the bookmarked answer content with a category selected from the set of categories.
US08341094B2
The invention relates to a franking machine, comprising a print head of an ink-jet printing mechanism for printing flat postal items such as letters or postcards, which can be introduced into said mechanism or which pass through the same. Said franking machine consists of a guiding part which is located around the print head and projects in relation to the nozzle opening plane of said print head, and with which a conveying device is associated, said conveying device transporting the postal items between itself and conveying rollers lying opposite and rotating about axes that are located crosswise to the conveying direction. Said conveying device has two drive-connected driving rollers which together with the guiding part, form a path of travel. The driving rollers are located in front of and behind the print head in relation to the conveying direction. A reversibly liftable counter pressure roller located opposite exerts a pressure on each driving roller, respectively, or on a postal item being transported in-between. A roller feeler (39, 119) which is driven by the passing postal item and which is associated with an encoder device (122) is located between the driving rollers (13, 15; 127, 113) in order to monitor the speed and position of a postal item being transported or for controlling the pressure on a postal item.
US08341088B2
The invention relates to multipurpose electronic payment method and system. The inventive method consists in transmitting (A) from a multimedia terminal (TM) a payment order (MP) issued from at least one multimedia application hosted in the (TM) to a local proxy for payment (PP), in discriminating (B) said payment order in (PP) upon a specific local processing criterion respectively remote, in carrying out (C) a local payment upon the retained local payment specific criterion, if not in transmitting (D) the payment order to a remote system (SD) for carrying out a remote payment. Said invention is usable for proximity payment transitions, external payment or for electronically carrying out a telepayment.
US08341082B1
A user may log into a system containing data pertaining to a jointly owned funding account of which he is a co-owner. The user may view information directed to the jointly owned funding account, such as his bills and bills associated with other co-owners. The user may pay bills or schedule payments of bills from the funding account. A co-owner of the funding account may set up an account with a biller and enable other co-owners of the funding account to use this information, thereby providing the other co-owners with the same or similar functionality when they log into the system using their own login information. The information that the co-owner may set up with a biller may be ported over to the information maintained by the system that is directed to the other co-owners.
US08341077B1
A method for predicting client funds positions includes predicting an expected future change in funds for a selected party, and creating a funds estimate for the selected party at a specified time. The predicted future change in funds is based on a transaction history of the selected party, and the calculation is based on the expected future change in funds. The change in funds can be a deposit or withdrawal. Such deposits or withdrawals can be in the form of monetary packages, which enables incorporation of monetary package tracking features into the method.
US08341075B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for assessing the risks and/or exposures associated with financial transactions using various statistical and probabilistic techniques. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for identifying plausible sources of error in data used as input to financial risk assessment systems using Bayesian belief networks as a normative diagnostic tool to model relationships between and among inputs/outputs of the risk assessment system and other external factors.
US08341074B1
A loan repayment system and method comprises a loan account for a purchased item, and a personal fund account used to manage discretionary money. A user deposits discretionary money periodically into the fund account. Typically, the fund account has a starting balance of at least one full cycle's worth of such deposits. Additional principal payments, leveraged from the fund account to front-load against the loan account, are used to exponentially counter the total interest. As the method recycles with each full cycle, the loan account balance is reduced faster.
US08341069B2
Collateralized option index derivative investment instruments and methods for creating a collateralized option index are disclosed herein based on changes in a performance of collateralized option strategies. According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method for calculating a collateralized option index is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method for calculating a collateralized option index includes calculating a value of a portfolio invested in a collateralized short strategy according to the relation: Vt=Mt−NlastPt where Mt is a value of a LIBOR component of the portfolio at the close of date t, Nlast is a number of put options sold at a last roll date, and Pt is a price of the underlying option portfolio based on arithmetic averages of the last bid and ask prices of all options in the underlying option portfolio reported before a time on date t.
US08341068B2
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for generating and evaluating ideas within an organization through an idea market. It includes an automatic price-setting mechanism that modifies the share-price at the same instant that a trade is made, yet without the assistance of a market maker or a queue of orders. The instant price-setting is achieved by assuming a pre-defined relationship between the quantity of shares in the order and the average share price for that order. This relationship is the price-quantity function. The present invention also includes a mechanism of weighted parameters to modify the share-price in addition to pure supply and demand. The parameters can be adjusted over time in a neural network to optimize the relationship between the share price and the prediction of the actual idea value.
US08341065B2
A user participates in trading securities in a prediction market which represent different outcomes of an event, using an interface which allows the user to understand a trade in terms of a bet. The interface also allows the user to explore different bet amounts while receiving feedback on potential payoffs in real time. In one approach, a tool is used which is moved in one direction by the user to indicate a larger trade for an outcome, or in the opposite direction to indicate a larger trade against the outcome. A bet for an outcome can be translated into a purchase of a corresponding security which represents the outcome. A bet against a particular outcome can be translated into a purchase of securities which represents all other outcomes. The user interfaces hides complexities of the market from the user while surfacing relevant information.
US08341060B2
Investment choices are each within a respective asset class of a defined set of asset classes. Investment choices of a first set of the investment choices (e.g., core investment choices) are within a particular asset class and have a performance factor value that is constrained by a performance factor value range defined by a filter structure. Investment choices of a second set of the investment choices (e.g., satellite investment choices) are within the particular asset class and have a performance factor value that may or may not be constrained by the performance factor value range of the first set, but may have a separate and distinct filter structure. The filter structure specifies unique characteristics desired of a set of investment choices, including a relationship between a benchmark performance factor value and a parameter used for determining the performance factor value range. The performance factor value of each investment choice and the performance factor value of the benchmark investment choice correspond to a common performance factor. A comparative assessment of each investment choice set is performed using a comparative assessment value for each one of the investment choices within each set of investment choices.
US08341055B2
An existing customer of a financial institution may open a new account with their financial institution using an optimized online interface. Initially, the interface presents a standard application for a new account in which an extensive number of fields for personal and financial information must be completed. A link is provided on this long application for use by existing account holders only. Upon selection of the link, an existing account holder is instead presented with a short application in which only the account holder's name, a portion of their social security number, their existing account number, and their account confirmation identifier are required to be entered.
US08341052B2
A combined loan and investment program comprises a computer processor and program code configured to be executed by the computer processor to process financial loan and investment data by calculating from the data interest and principal loan payments on a loan principal at a given rate and term, calculating investment performance data on a periodic principal investment deposit at a given rate and calculating loan principal amortization parameters as a function of the investment performance data. The present invention provides a method for paying off a mortgage and simultaneously generating wealth via an investment account by making a payment to a mortgagee, dividing the payment, applying a first portion of the payment to satisfy the interest due on the mortgage, applying a second portion of the payment to an investment account, allowing the investment account to grow and applying a portion of the investment account to satisfy the mortgage.
US08341051B2
A method and system for conducting an online property auction whereby the system allows for identifying an owner of property willing to sell his property by an online auction, entering into a contract with the owner obligating him to complete the sales of his property conducted pursuant to terms of the contract; pre-arranging a minimum auction price for his property that accounts for the owner's interest, plus costs and fees, conducting the on-line auction with a plurality of bidders for his property whereby at the on-line auction's conclusion there is a winning bidder and ensuring the transfer of the winning bidder's funds to the escrow holder.
US08341046B2
A method begins by storing payment request data, which, for a client, includes a payables profile and an accounts payable data file. The method continues by receiving payment remittance information subsequent to initiation of a payment in accordance with the payment request data. The method continues by storing the payment remittance information. The method continues by consolidating the payment remittance information and the payment request data to produce consolidated payment data. The method continues by generating at least one report based on the consolidated payment data.
US08341043B2
A system and method are disclosed for monitoring, managing and reporting credit card prepayment risk for an issuing bank. Sales data, corresponding payment data and data indicating the fulfillment of orders are monitored. The amount required as security by the bank is dynamically adjusted, for example on a daily basis, in response to the quantum of prepayment exposure determined by the data.
US08341022B2
Embodiments of the invention include a virtual reality system that includes an instrumented device used to present a virtual shopping environment to a simulation participant. The participant's interactions with the virtual shopping environment may be used to conduct market research into the consumer decision making process. The virtual shopping environment may include one or more smart objects configured to be responsive to participant interaction. The virtual shopping environment may recreate a real-world shopping environment.
US08341010B1
A method and system for providing an accurate count of total households and seasonal households within a defined geographic area is disclosed. The invention has application in, for example, the identification of potential sites for retail business locations. The invention utilizes additional data sources beyond census data in order to provide more accurate household counts, particularly in high-growth areas when census data has become stale. Seasonal households are counted by the use of telephony data containing spatially inconsistent records (SIRs), that is, records for which the billing address does not match the location where the telephone service is provided. Households for which an exact address is not known are allocated within the geographic area of interest according to various spreading models.
US08341000B2
A machine-implemented method receives job specifications for at least one direct mail printing job from at least one user and creates at least one workflow related to the direct mail printing job. The workflow comprises at least one job activity. The method automatically transmits requests for bids on the job activities to entities for allowing the entities to bid on performing job activities within the workflow. Bids are received on the job activities from the entities and from rate cards previously established by the entities. The method identifies the lowest bids on an individual job activity-by job activity basis from the bids received from the entities and the rate cards and outputs the lowest bids to the user. The method receives an identification of a single selected entity to perform all activities within the workflow from the user and performing the workflow to output the direct-mail printing job through the selected entity.
US08340997B2
The present invention is directed to a system, and method for making and using the same, for an on-site evaluation of removable goods, condition, and value, and further, for providing replacement removable goods. The present invention provides an effective and uniform way to more objectively evaluate removable goods and/or provide replacement removable goods and/or remediation of the removable goods to the benefit of both an insurer and a customer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable goods evaluation system which includes removable goods evaluators equipped with a portable apparatus for evaluating removable goods which includes an objective evaluation approach using evaluation logic to determine a current monetary market value, or “as new” or pre-use value, which takes into account removable goods characteristics, and/or a depreciated value which takes into account loss factors such as wear, appearance, and other degradative considerations. Further, the system of the present invention can include removable goods providers and/or remediators which participate in the remediation and/or replacement of a selected replacement removable goods. The present invention is directed to an interconnected system which includes estimation logic, project management logic and delivery logic for managing an insurance claim from start to finish in a just in time fashion.
US08340990B2
A method for supply chain design may include identifying nodes, links connecting the nodes, and replenishment strategies for moving materials along the links, in a supply chain. The method may also include determining a value indicative of the complexity of the supply chain based on a characteristic of the nodes, links, and replenishment strategies. The method may also include identifying whether core competencies of the nodes are underutilized. The method may also include reducing the complexity of the supply chain to increase utilization of the core competencies of the nodes.
US08340982B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for assessing the impact of an ailment on a health related quality of life domain of a patient using a standardized common metric. The standardized common metric of the present invention enables the impact of various ailments to be compared.
US08340976B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a coded audio signal based on a multiple channel audio input signal. A balance factor having balance factor components each associated with an audio signal of the multiple channel audio signal is generated. A gain value to be applied to the coded audio signal to generate an estimate of the multiple channel audio signal based on the balance factor and the multiple channel audio signal is determined, with the gain value configured to minimize a distortion value between the multiple channel audio signal and the estimate of the multiple channel audio signal.
US08340956B2
An information provision system capable of providing attribute information to a contextually appropriate portion as well as a linguistic unit including a specific character string expression is provided. The information provision system includes analysis means 21 for dividing a linguistic expression into predetermined linguistic units, a dictionary 31 for extracting vocabularies each of which determines attribute information and selecting a linguistic unit to which the attribute information is to be provided, attribute information determination means (first attribute information determination means) 22 for extracting a predetermined vocabulary from the linguistic unit and determining the attribute information using the dictionary, and attribute information provision linguistic unit selection means (second attribute information determination means) 23 for determining the attribute information on an adjacent linguistic unit, based on the attribute information determined by the first attribute information determination means 22 and a connecting relationship between the respective linguistic units.
US08340955B2
Automated question answering is disclosed that relates to the selection of an answer to a question from a pool of potential answers which are manually or automatically extracted from a large collection of textual documents. The a feature extraction component, a feature combination component, an answer selection component, and an answer presentation component, among others, are included. The input to the system is a set of one or more natural language questions and a collection of textual document The output is a (possibly ranked) set of factual answers to the questions, these answers being extracted from the document collection.
US08340954B2
Systems and methods for providing multi-language support in a pre-boot environment are supplied. User interface type information, such as keyboard type information and translation tables, are ascertained and provided to the pre-boot environment of the apparatus, allowing the apparatus to properly receive and/or translate multi-language inputs in an appropriate fashion.
US08340947B2
Provided is a single quantification method of an external event PSA model containing multi-compartment scenarios, including: loading an internal event PSA logic model having core damage as a top event; constituting a mapping table comprising external events containing the multi-compartment scenarios in consideration of information regarding external event occurrence frequencies, external event-induced initiators, and equipments damaged by external events; reflecting the mapping table in the internal event PSA logic model to establish an external event PSA model; calculating a final minimum cut set (MCS) based on the external event PSA model; and calculating a core damage frequency (CDF) value according to the final MCS.
US08340944B2
Computational and/or control systems and methods related to nutraceutical agent selection and dosing
The present disclosure relates to computational and/or control systems and methods related to nutraceutical agent selection and dosing.
US08340939B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for selecting paths for use in at-speed testing. One embodiment of a method for selecting a set of n paths with which to test an integrated circuit chip includes: organizing the set of n paths into a plurality of sub-sets, receiving a new candidate path, and adding the new candidate path to one of the sub-sets when the new candidate path improves the process coverage metric of the sub-sets.
US08340938B2
A computer system for safety critical sensor variables includes first and second sensors which respectively output first and second sensor variables, a computer, and an independent comparator. The computer calculates an output variable from the first sensor variable by a first function. The computer calculates a comparison variable from the output variable by a second function. The comparison variable and the second sensor variable are applied to the input of the comparator. The second sensor variable is not an input variable of the computer and differs from the first sensor variable in terms of its qualitative value. By calculations of the computer and, if appropriate, of the comparator, an expected comparison variable for the second sensor variable is determined from the calculated output variable, and the correspondence of the two variables is checked by the comparator. Specific internal errors of the computer can thereby be discovered.
US08340935B2
A network analyzer contains a processing device, at least one signal generator and at least four measuring points. The processing device controls the signal generator and processes measured values picked up from the measuring points. The network analyzer implements several calibration measurements on calibration standards, before it implements measurements on a device under test. The network analyzer implements the calibration measurements using the measuring points. The processing device determines error matrices on the basis of the results of the calibration measurements. The network analyzer implements measurements on the device using simultaneously, exactly three measuring points. The processing device determines measured values in each case of a fourth measuring point on the basis of the calibration measurements and the measured values of the three measuring points. The three measuring points belong to the set of the at least four measuring points, at which the network analyzer implements the calibration measurements.
US08340934B2
This invention discloses a method of performance analysis for VRLA battery which applies the method of using the float voltage dispersion ratio of the battery to evaluate the battery performance from a new perspective, and it is an online real-time test which applies several ways to evaluate the performance of the VRLA battery. According to the relevance between the dispersion of the float charge voltage of the battery and its performance, the method gets the result of the battery performance through calculating the battery float charge voltage dispersion ratio and making it relevant with the battery performance. It has small workload, convenient operation and no danger to the system when doing online testing. It also won't affect the cycle life of the VRLA battery.
US08340932B2
A vehicle power supply device includes a battery, a charging device (a charger, booster converters and inverters capable of performing an internal charging operation for performing charging with an electric power generated by a motor generator and an external charging operation for performing charging by coupling to a power supply outside the vehicle, and a control device detecting a state of charge of the battery and controlling the charging device. The control device executes a first estimation processing of estimating the state of charge in the internal charging operation and a second estimation processing of estimating the state of charge in the external charging operation.
US08340924B2
A method is provided for precisely predicting the temporal variation of a membranous filtration resistance, a transmembrane pressure, a membranous filtration flowrate, or a membranous filtration flowrate as occurs in filtrating a liquid with a membrane, in a membranous filtration method wherein the liquid is filtrated by the separation membrane with the transmembrane pressure as a driving force. The method includes calculating: a constituent component quantity value of the liquid that attaches on a surface of the separation membrane at a time t+Δt; a constituent component quantity value of the liquid that exists in pores of the separation membrane; a consolidation degree of a constituent component of the liquid that attaches on the separation membrane surface; a membranous filtration resistance value; a transmembrane pressure value; and a membranous filtration flowrate value.
US08340904B2
A wireless communication device disposed on a moving vehicle. The wireless communication device further includes a geographic location determination processor for determining a geographic location on a city map. The wireless communication device further receives a vehicle location and arrival schedule request for sending a message to a passenger waiting for the vehicle for providing the geographic location on the city map and an estimated arrival time of the vehicle to a passenger waiting for the vehicle.
US08340903B2
Disclosed is a system to provide optimum guidance for an individual seeking the destination point in a complex building. The system can be used for a range of individuals from firemen seeking an optimized and accurately mapped path from an access point at the entrance to the building to a destination point where a fire alarm has gone off or for a visitor in the museum who is seeking a path to a particular desired display destination. The system can provide multiple sequential simplified floor configuration maps. These maps are designed to show foreshortened walls so as to provide a three-dimensional maze-like format with the pathways visible and with a track mark illustrating an optimal path for the user to follow within the area shown on the map.
US08340884B1
A system and method for maximizing a vehicle's fuel efficiency preferably without inconveniencing the driver, includes maximizing a ratio of a real-time parameter proportional to engine load or engine power to fuel flow or air flow rate referred to herein as the P/F ratio. This ratio is calculated to evaluate engine fuel efficiency. With the system and method, the throttle is operated incrementally to increase or decrease the throttle in a manner to maximize the P/F ratio, thus maximizing fuel efficiency, in a pulse phase. The system and method implement an on and off pulse width modulation (“PWM”) style of control to modulate engine power and acceleration to achieve the speed that the driver desires, based on the position of the accelerator pedal. When the desired speed is achieved, the throttle is released and when the speed drops a sufficient amount, the throttle is re-engaged to reach the desired speed again. When the throttle is disengaged or when the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the system and method implement a glide phase, where the vehicle coasts without use of fuel or in neutral with very limited use of fuel and minimum engine drag.
US08340882B2
The present invention provides a method of controlling a driver request torque in a hybrid electric vehicle, in which a driver request torque is calculated by determining that a driver has an intention to accelerate, if an accelerator opening degree detected by an accelerator pedal position sensor (APS) is greater than 0% when the accelerator pedal is depressed by the driver who intends to re-accelerate after coasting or decelerating, and a torque discontinuity, which may be caused when the APS is turned on→off→on according to the depression operation of the accelerator pedal by the driver, is controlled using an up/down torque rate limit logic, thus preventing deterioration of driving performance.For this purpose, the present invention provides a method of controlling a driver request torque in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method including: monitoring a vehicle speed; calculating a maximum torque with respect to the vehicle speed; monitoring an APS; and calculating a driver request torque by determining that a driver has an intention to accelerate and recognizing a minimum request torque as 0 Nm, if an opening degree of the APS is greater than 0%.
US08340876B2
In an automatic transmission controller, a gear shift control unit has a target rotational angle position calculator for calculating a target rotational angle position of a gear shift motor, an actual rotational angle position calculator for calculating the actual rotational angle position of the gear shift motor, and an F/B gain setting unit. When a gear shift instruction from a gear shift controller is a gear shift pattern for driving at least a select motor, the F/B gain is set to be larger that of the gear shift pattern in which the select motor is not driven, and also a motor driving mode and a motor braking mode are switched to each other in accordance with the difference between the target rotational angle position and the actual rotational angle position.
US08340869B2
A vehicle includes a contact-position-dependent type operational intention determining unit that detects a change in posture of a rider using posture sensors for a backrest disposed in areas of a backrest with which left and right shoulder blades of the rider come into contact, and thereby determines whether there is an operational intention of the rider; and a left-right amount-of-change comparison type turn intention determining unit that determines, only when it is determined that there is an operational intention, whether there is a left or right turn intention of the rider from a difference between sensor output values located left-right symmetrically.
US08340867B2
A steering controller for an electric power steering device 110 includes a base signal computing part 51 for computing a base signal DT in accordance with at least the steering torque; a damper compensation signal computing part 52 for computing a damper compensation signal in accordance with an angular velocity of an electric motor 4 or a speed of steering wheel turn; and an inertia compensation signal computing part 53 for compensating inertia and viscosity in the steering unit. The electric motor is driven by a target signal IM1 obtained by compensating the base signal with a damper compensation signal and an inertia compensation signal, to provide a steering auxiliary force. The target signal of the auxiliary torque is compensated so that a difference between a reference self-aligning torque of front wheel in a front wheel steering vehicle and a self-aligning torque of front wheel in an all-wheel steering vehicle is provided to a driver as a responsive feeling from the steering torque.
US08340866B2
A steering control device for a vehicle has a steering assistance means (7) which performs steering assistance processing for driving an actuator (6) so that a vehicle (1) travels along a lane recognized by a lane recognition means (5) from an image acquired by an image acquisition means (4); a side displacement amount calculation means (8) which calculates a displacement amount in the lane width direction between the position of the vehicle (1) and the center of the recognized lane; a complexity calculation means (10) which calculates the complexity of the acquired image; and a steering assistance inhibition means (11) which inhibits, according to the displacement amount in the lane width direction calculated based on the lane recognized from the acquired image at a given time point and the complexity of the acquired image, steering assistance processing based on the lane by the steering assistance means (7). This prevents inappropriate steering control based on an incorrectly recognized lane when performing the steering control of the vehicle so that the vehicle travels along the lane recognized from the road image.
US08340864B2
There is provided a vibration damping control device which suppresses pitching and bouncing vibration of a vehicle through a drive output control based on a wheel torque estimated value estimated with a wheel speed, etc., which device uses the estimated value of a wheel torque while taking into account conditions where no good estimation of the wheel torque is executable. The vibration damping control device comprises a wheel torque estimated value acquisition portion which acquires a wheel torque estimated value; and a driving torque control portion which controls a driving torque of the vehicle to suppress pitching or bouncing vibrational amplitudes based on the wheel torque estimated value, wherein the absolute value or the sign of the wheel torque estimated value is corrected in accordance with the degree of a slip of the wheel or the direction of movement of the vehicle. Further, there is provided a torque estimating device suitable for a vibration damping control and other running, motional or braking-driving force controls for a vehicle, etc.
US08340863B2
A pedal system for a vehicle is disclosed. The pedal system includes an accelerator pedal, a sensor, a sensor detection circuit, and a controller. The pedal has a footpad, and the pedal moves in response to user actuation of the footpad. The sensor, which is coupled to or integrated into the footpad, has a first state when the footpad is actuated and a second state when the footpad is not actuated. The sensor is independent of and distinct from any physical position sensors of the pedal. The detection circuit, which is electrically coupled to the sensor, can distinguish between the first state and the second state. The controller, which is coupled to the sensor detection circuit, controls operation of the vehicle in a manner that is influenced by the first state or the second state.
US08340856B2
A single input having multiple functions is provided. The single input having multiple functions may be used on off-board tools. In accordance with one embodiment, an off-board tool having a read/scroll actuator is provided. The read/scroll actuator, upon being actuated, performs either a read function or a scroll function. Another embodiment of an off-board tool having a display and capable of receiving information is provided. The off-board tool includes a contextual actuator having a first and a second mode. Actuation of the actuator in the first mode effectuates retrieval of information. Actuation of the actuator in the second mode effectuates display of at least a portion of the retrieved information. In accordance with another embodiment, an off-board device is provided. The off-board tool includes a display, read logic, scroll logic and a read/scroll actuator.
US08340848B2
Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor are provided. A signal comprising at least first and second cycles is provided to the electric motor. A first flux value for the electric motor associated with the first cycle of the signal is calculated. A second flux value for the electric motor associated with the second cycle of the signal is calculated based on the first flux value.
US08340841B2
A method for estimating an angle of attack and an angle of sideslip of an aircraft having a plurality of control surfaces each adjustable with respect to an associated reference surface. The method includes measuring quantities representative of the angle formed by each control surface with respect to the associated reference surface, and measuring an effective rolling speed, an effective pitching speed, and an effective yawing speed of the aircraft. A linearized model of a state observer is defined according to the following equations: { x . = Ax + Bu + L δ y y = Cx + Du wherein u is a vector containing the values of the quantities of each control surface, x is a vector including an estimated angle of attack, an estimated angle of sideslip, an estimated rolling speed, an estimated pitching speed and an estimated yawing speed, δy is an error vector including the errors between the measured speeds and the respective estimated speeds, y is a measure vector including the values of the measured speeds, A,B,C,D are matrices representative of the behavior of the aircraft in unperturbed motion and L is a feedback matrix including the gains of a predetermined numeric control filter. The estimated angle of attack and the estimated angle of sideslip are obtained from the model to use as an actual angle of attack and an actual angle of sideslip of the aircraft.
US08340838B2
A braking system for the landing gear of an aircraft, which landing gear includes a bogey containing at least four wheels, each equipped with a brake, with the bogey having at least two axles that are connected to the aircraft by a telescoping strut, wherein when the aircraft makes a low-speed turn around a center of rotation, the straight line linking the center of rotation of the turn to the barycenter of the landing gear does not pass between the front wheels and the rear wheels of the landing gear which system further includes means for applying differential braking between the front wheels and the rear wheels of the landing gear.
US08340836B2
A method for receiving at least one of advisory information and vehicle control information in a vehicle-mounted system, comprising: receiving at least one of advisory information and vehicle control information from a transmitting unit using a receiving unit; determining whether the at least one of the advisory information and the vehicle control information is directed to the receiving unit; and if the at least one of the advisory information and the vehicle control information is directed to the receiving unit, outputting the at least one of the advisory information and the vehicle control information.
US08340824B2
A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.
US08340823B2
A controller of a mobile robot that moves an object such that the position of a representative point of the object and the posture of the object follow a desired position and posture trajectory is provided. The desired posture trajectory of the object includes the desired value of the angular difference about a yaw axis between a reference direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the yaw axis of the object, and the direction of the moving velocity vector of the representative point of the object, defined by the desired position trajectory. The controller has a desired angular difference setting means which variably sets the desired value of the angular difference according to at least a required condition related to a movement mode of the object. This allows the object to be moved at a posture which meets the required condition of the movement mode.
US08340820B2
A method of automatically controlling an extendable robot arm to avoid collisions while returning to a first position from a second position includes periodically storing locations of the robot arm as the robot arm moves along a forward path from the first position to the second position; applying heuristic algorithms to the stored locations to determine a return path to the first position, the return path including at least a portion of a retrace path retracing the stored locations of the forward path; and controlling the robot arm to return to the first position using the determined return path.
US08340818B2
A robotic mapping method includes scanning a robot across a surface to be mapped. Locations of a plurality of points on the surface are sensed during the scanning. A first of the sensed point locations is selected. A preceding subset of the sensed point locations is determined. The preceding subset is disposed before the first sensed point location along a path of the scanning. A following subset of the sensed point locations is determined. The following subset is disposed after the first sensed point location along the path of the scanning. The first sensed point location is represented in a map of the surface by an adjusted first sensed point location. The adjusted first sensed point location is closer to each of the preceding and following subsets of the sensed point locations than is the first sensed point location.
US08340817B2
There is provided a legged robot that performs motion by changing a joint angle, which includes a section of generating a center-of-gravity trajectory of the legged robot based on a trinomial equation obtained by discretizing a ZMP equation and a target ZMP, a section of calculating time-varying data of a target value of the joint angle based on the generated center-of-gravity trajectory, and a section of rotating a joint of the legged robot based on the calculated time-varying data of a target value of the joint angle, wherein the ZMP equation involves an angular momentum according to a center-of-gravity velocity.
US08340815B2
Embodiments of the invention can include systems and methods for dispensing consumable products. In one embodiment, a product dispenser is provided. The product dispenser can include a user interface operable to receive consumer inputs and to present product selection information. In addition, the product dispenser can include a reader configured to obtain identification information associated with a consumer. The product dispenser can include a controller in communication with the reader and user interface, and operable to execute a set of instructions to receive from the reader identification information associated with a consumer. The controller can also be operable to execute a set of instructions operable to retrieve consumer information based at least in part on the identification information, and provide product selection information at the user interface based at least in part on the consumer information.
US08340812B1
Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for determining optimum sizes of packaging in a packaging suite employed in a materials handling facility. The packaging may be used, for example, in the shipping of items from the materials handling facility to various destinations. The sizes of the packaging in the packaging suite are determined based upon the shipping volumes associated with packages or shipments shipped from the materials handling facility.
US08340811B2
A substrate supporting apparatus includes a pallet on which a substrate is mounted, a pallet double-end holding mechanism holding both ends of the pallet in a diameter direction while the pallet is in a vertical posture, a pallet center holding mechanism rotatably holding a center section of the pallet, and a moving mechanism moving an apparatus body, wherein the pallet double-end holding mechanism is a mechanism that grips both ends of the pallet in the diameter direction from both sides of a thickness direction, the pallet double-end holding mechanism holds the pallet during movement, the pallet is held by both of the holding mechanisms during delivery from the pallet double-end holding mechanism to the pallet center holding mechanism, and the pallet center holding mechanism rotatably holds the center section of the pallet and holding by the pallet double-end holding mechanism is released during substrate processing.
US08340807B1
A system and related method providing a turnkey arrangement for the rapid production of parts using one or more CNC machines. The system includes a set of functions arranged to generate a rapid production technical data package that may be used by the manufacturer to fabricate a part quickly, efficiently and accurately. The package includes a First Article inspection certificate, a three-dimensional solid model, setup and process instructions, G and M Post codes, holding fixtures, cutting tools and revision control. The method includes steps leading to the creation of the rapid production technical data package. The steps include the gathering of part information, populating a database with CNC machine information, including Post codes, designing manufacturing instructions using a single CAD/CAM platform, integrating model and fixture information to generate a Smart Part model for any CNC machine, establishing Post codes for all CNC machines in the database, and proving out the model.
US08340806B2
The invention relates to a method for compressing the surface of a toothed section. The method is characterized by iteratively calculating the number of compression movements of a form tool to be repeated for compressing the surface of an area of a blank.
US08340805B2
A knitting line comprises a plurality of yarn feeders from which a downstream machine draws respective yarns. The machine is provided with selection elements adapted to vary the state of selection of the yarn feeders in relation to the angular position of the machine. Each of the yarn feeders is provided with a stationary drum and with a yarn count sensor arranged to generate a pulse per each yarn loop unwound from the drum. A selection signal is periodically sent to the yarn feeders, which is indicative of the state of selection of the individual feeders in relation to the angular position of the machine. For each of the selected feeders, a threshold time interval is continuously calculated, which corresponds to the maximum interval between two successive pulses, above which it should be regarded that an accidental stop of the yarn has occurred, and is updated in real time as a function of the yarn-drawing speed, the delay from the last pulse is continuously measured and compared with the updated threshold time interval, and the downstream machine is stopped when the measured delay exceeds the updated threshold interval.
US08340798B2
An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The preset invention includes a signal receiving unit a plurality of preset informations and preset attribute information; a display unit displaying a plurality of preset metadatas; a preset mode input unit being inputted a select signal selecting one preset metadata; a preset mode select unit selecting the preset metadata and a preset information based on the select signal; a static preset mode receiving unit receiving the preset information and the preset metadata corresponding all data regions of the downmix signal based on the preset attribute information; a dynamic preset mode receiving unit receiving the preset information and the preset metadata corresponding single data region of the downmix signal based on the preset attribute information; and a rendering unit controlling the object by applying the preset information to the all data regions or the single data region of the downmix signal.
US08340796B2
A portable digital media player and method for providing convenient music discovery are presented. Music is maintained and includes a multiplicity of music stored in digital media form on a portable digital media player. A music recommendation is displayed to a recipient. A message included is processed for information to describe the music recommended, to identify the recommender, to capture a context of the recommendation, and to specify a rating for the music recommended. At least part of the information is integrated into a display of the music on the portable digital media player. The information is displayed to the recipient as integrated. Action upon the music recommended is facilitated through one or more of playback and addition of the music to the music on the portable digital media player through an external source.
US08340792B2
A system and method of managing therapy provided to patients in an institution. The system monitors all aspects of the medication delivery to a patient, as well as other information related to the patient, such as values of vital signs, laboratory results and patient factors such as history, diagnosis, allergies and the like. The system includes one or more databases of information, including institutionally developed rules, guidelines and protocol representing the best medical practices of the institution. The system provides alerts and/or recommendations based on the application of the rules to the information being monitored, and alerts care givers accordingly, providing for dynamic adjustment of the patient's therapy. The system also monitors the status of the alerts, and if no action is taken in a selected period of time, may escalate the priority of the alert and/or halt the delivery of medication to the patient until the alert is resolved.
US08340781B2
A sensor element, a sensor system, a catheter that can detect the thrombi, plaques and stents in the blood vessels and manufacturing method of the sensor element are provided. A cylinder is formed as a cylinder shaped part that has a long inner space and one open end. The cylinder has a slit being formed along an axis and the width of the slit is less than diameter of the inner space. A plurality of coils is wound outside of the cylinder and the lead portions of the coils are led into the inner space of the cylinder by passing through the slits. Electrically conducting means are connected to each of lead portions and are externally led out from the open end of the cylinder.
US08340778B2
An acoustic energy delivery system for delivering acoustic energy to an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The system includes an IMD having a power source and an energy delivery device. The energy delivery device includes a controller and an array of ultrasonic elements electrically coupled to the controller and configured to deliver acoustic energy to the IMD. Methods of delivering acoustic energy to an IMD are also disclosed.
US08340776B2
Devices, systems, and methods for selectively activating medical devices are disclosed. A medical device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment includes an energy storage device, an acoustic transducer configured to convert an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, a signal detector configured to generate a trigger signal when the electrical signal exceeds a specific threshold established by a biasing element, a control circuit, and an activation/deactivation switch configured to switch the medical device between an inactive state and an active state in response to the trigger signal.
US08340773B2
Methods and devices of stimulating nerves are disclosed. In one embodiment adapted for stimulating excitable tissue, the invention includes drive circuitry (12), an acoustic transducer (14) and a pair of electrodes (28).
US08340770B2
Apparatus and methods associated with controlling seizure activity with electrical stimulation that either suppress axonal conduction between brain structures and/or that generate a desired response in a targeted neuronal pool are described. One example apparatus includes an implantable stimulating electrode that provides an electrical stimulus to fiber tracts of the hippocampal commissure of the brain of a subject. The stimulus may be a high frequency structure that prevents communication of signals associated with an epileptic episode and/or prevents seizure activity in a target nucleus. The example apparatus may also include a detection logic that detects specific electrical activity in the central nervous system that identifies that an epileptic episode is imminent. The example apparatus includes a pacing system to selectively configure and apply the electrical stimulus to fiber tracts of the hippocampal commissure of the brain.
US08340760B2
A method is described for the treatment of obesity or other disorders, by electrical activation or inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by electrically stimulating the greater splanchnic nerve or other portion of the sympathetic nervous system using an implantable pulse generator. This nerve activation can result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure. Reduced food intake may occur through a variety of mechanisms that reduce appetite and cause satiety. Increased adrenal gland hormone levels will result in increased energy expenditure. Fat and carbohydrate metabolism, which are also increased by sympathetic nerve activation, will accompany the increased energy expenditure.
US08340757B2
A method for providing motor control therapy for a user by altering a user's motional response is generally described. The method includes directing a user to perform a specified motion in accordance with a schedule. The method also includes detecting the user's motions and providing vestibular stimulation in an effort to teach a proper response.
US08340747B2
The present invention relates to an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or pacemaker whose standard circuitry is used to trend a physiological cardiac parameter using intra-cardiac impedance measurements. The trend information may be used to predict the onset of a sudden cardiac death (SCD) event. By being able to predict the onset of an SCD event, patients and their physicians may be forewarned of a life-threatening event allowing them to respond accordingly. The trend information may also be used to predict the efficacy of cardiac-related medications, monitor progress of congestive heart failure, detect the occurrence of myocardial infarction, or simply track changes in sympathetic tone.
US08340745B2
A quantitative method for determining tissue characteristics includes the steps of generating data for a dynamic optical curve over a period of time based on an optical property of a tissue, or portion thereof, that has been exposed to a biomarker and, based on the data, determining a value of a dynamic optical parameter. The value of the dynamic optical parameter is compared with at least one reference value of the dynamic optical parameter known to be linked to a structural or functional characteristic and/or the pathological status of the tissue. Based on the comparison, a structural or functional characteristic and/or the pathological status of the tissue, or portion thereof is determined. Data for dynamic optical curves may be generated for a plurality of tissue locations corresponding to a plurality of spatial image locations. The plurality of dynamic optical curves may be used to determine values of a dynamic optical parameter and a related tissue characteristic at a plurality of tissue locations. A computer readable medium holds computer program instructions for carrying out this method. Reference values can be calculated by measuring dynamic optical properties from known representative tissue samples. Preferred tissue samples include endothelial and cervical samples. Preferred methods involve diagnosing and/or grading neoplasia and/or HPV infection and/or calculating nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios of the cells in the tissue sample.
US08340742B2
An integrated radiation therapy process comprises acquiring first objective target data related to a parameter of a target within a patient by periodically locating a marker positioned within the patient using a localization modality. This method continues with obtaining second objective target data related to the parameter of the target by periodically locating the marker. The first objective target data can be acquired in a first area that is apart from a second area which contains a radiation delivery device for producing an ionizing radiation beam for treating the patient. The localization modality can be the same in both the first and second areas. In other embodiments, the first objective target data can be acquired using a first localization modality that uses a first energy type to identify the marker and the second objective target data can be obtained using a second localization modality that uses a second energy type to identify the marker that is different than the first energy type.
US08340740B2
A garment enables the monitoring of physiological properties of a person wearing the garment. The measuring sensors are integrated into the garment and are positioned by wearing the garment to the correct position of the body of the person wearing the garment. The device for monitoring the physiological properties containing the measuring electronics is located in the back portion of the garment. This device is either fixedly integrated into the garment or it can be removed.
US08340736B2
A system and method for controlling antennas in a mobile electronic device is disclosed. The mobile electronic device comprises a first case comprising first antenna means and second case comprising second antenna means. The mobile electronic device is operable to communicate using the first antenna means when in a closed state and using the first and second antenna means when in an opened state.
US08340729B2
Switching signals between a mobile communications device and a wireless headset can include setting a switch in a first position; connecting, through the switch, signals received from a mobile communications device to a wireless adapter for transmission to a wireless headset; and repositioning the switch, in response to input, to a second position, wherein signals received by the wireless adapter from the wireless headset are connected through the switch to the mobile communications device. Further, signals can be transmitted from the wireless adapter to the wireless headset using a short-range radio frequency protocol. Additionally, the input in response to which the switch is repositioned can be received from a hand-held trigger switch.
US08340723B2
In one embodiment, the method includes switching, at the base station, from a sleep state to a receive active state to detect whether service should be provided for an authorized mobile terminal. The base station disables transmission and associated processing and disables reception and associated processing in the sleep state. The base station disables transmission and associated processing in the receive active state, and the base station enables reception and associated processing in the receive active state. The method further includes switching, at the base station, from the receive active state to a full active state if the base station detects that service should be provided for an authorized mobile terminal. The base station enables transmission and associated processing and enables reception and associated processing in the full active state.
US08340709B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication device including: a cable port to which an external device is connected; a reading unit that reads identification information from the external device; a determination unit that determines whether the external device is the source-side wireless communication device; an authentication memory unit that performs an authentication process with the source-side wireless communication device; a wireless communication unit that performs a wireless communication with the source-side wireless communication device; and a physical address processing unit that controls the source-side wireless communication device to store a physical address of a source-side device calculated based on from the read identification information of the sink-side device.
US08340708B2
A portable telephone according to this invention includes a housing (10) which incorporates a display unit and a receiving speaker (6), a first sound emission portion (8) and a second sound emission portion (9) which guide an output sound from the receiving speaker to the outside of the housing, a sound guide hole (26) which communicates the first sound emission portion and the second sound emission portion, and a screen (12) which protects the display unit. The first sound emission portion is formed at a position opposing an output sound generating main surface (6a) of the receiving speaker, and the second sound emission portion is formed at a portion adjacent to the position opposing the output sound generating main surface. The sound guide hole is formed by covering a groove (23), formed on the housing to connect the first sound emission portion to the second sound emission portion, with the screen. This arrangement enables stable emission of an output sound without sacrificing downsizing and thickness reduction of the portable telephone regardless of the position of an earpiece portion to allow a user to listen to the output sound that the user's ear pinna opposes.
US08340706B2
In a non-limiting and exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for controlling co-existence of multiple radio access units. The method comprises: receiving a scheduling request comprising value information on at least some of radio independent scheduling parameters of a control interface common to a plurality of radio access units, scheduling radio access on the basis of the value information on at least some of the radio independent scheduling parameters, and sending a response to the scheduling request in a given form in accordance with the control interface common to the radio access units.
US08340705B2
Methods of camping on a hybrid cell and checking access priority and devices therefor are provided. The service of a CSG user is preferably guaranteed by adjusting a UE's camping right and a passing probability of an access priority checking according to the user's contracted characteristic and limit access information of a hybrid cell Node B. At the same time, the initial access delay of a non-CSG user is reduced, the initial access efficiency of the non-CSG user is improved, and the network resource and the UE's power are saved.
US08340704B2
In a resource allocation method for a multi-mode terminal, a control network element of a first network technology type obtains information about a radio resource of a second network technology type. The radio resource of the second network technology type is used by the multi-mode terminal and the information about the radio resource of the second network technology type indicates a carrier frequency. The control network element of the first network technology type determines that a carrier frequency allocated to the multi-mode terminal serves as a radio resource of the first network technology type according to the carrier frequency indicated by the information of the radio resource of the second network technology type and according to a maximum spectral width between a service of the first network technology type and a service of the second network technology type.
US08340703B2
A multi-mode base station includes a transmit standby mode and an active mode. Transmit standby mode of base station operation is a low power/low interference level of operation as compared to active mode. In transmit standby mode at least some of the synchronization signaling such as pilot tone signaling is reduced in power level and/or rate with respect to the active mode. In transmit standby mode, the base station has no active state registered wireless terminals being serviced but may have some sleep state registered wireless terminals being serviced. Mode transitions from active to transmit standby may be in response to: a detected period of inactivity, scheduling information, base station mode change signals, and/or detected wireless terminal state transition. Mode transitions from transmit standby to active may be in response to: scheduling information, access signals, wake-up signals, hand-off signals, wireless terminal state change signals, and/or base station mode change signals.
US08340701B1
Configurations providing a reusable context model for a user interface over SMS for interacting with different levels of a user interface (UI) within an interactive system are described. An SMS server can implement the reusable context model in which an available number from a sequence of numbers (e.g., a block of numbers) is assigned to a first level of the UI. The first level of the UI can include a set of options corresponding to different operations within the interactive system. When an SMS message, which includes a selected option from the set of options from the first level of the UI, is received over the assigned number, the SMS server can determine whether to assign an additional number from the sequence of phone numbers for responding to the received SMS message. The additional assigned number can correspond with a second level of the UI within the interactive system.
US08340685B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to generate market segmentation data with anonymous location data. A disclosed example method involves receiving geographic location information associated with a mobile phone user, associating the geographic location information with an identifier unrelated to personal information associated with the mobile phone user, identifying a home location associated with the geographic location information, and associating segmentation information with the identifier based on the home location and without referencing personal information of the mobile phone user.
US08340677B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a base station in a wireless system, includes partitioning a frequency band into at least one band of a first type and at least one band of a second type, and coordinating the partitioning with at least one further base station. The at least one band of the first type includes a band on which the base station transmits power proportional to a distance of a user device from the base station, and the at least one band of the second type comprises a band on which base station transmits a data rate inversely proportional to a distance of a user device from the base station.
US08340676B2
A wireless communication device receives control signaling from a base station in a control region of a downlink carrier spanning a first bandwidth, signaling message from the base station indicating a second bandwidth, and a first control message within the control region using a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format size, wherein the first DCI format size is based on the first bandwidth. The device also receives a second control message within the control region using a second DCI format size, the second DCI format size based on the second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is distinct from the first bandwidth and the first and second control messages indicate downlink resource assignments for the downlink carrier.
US08340675B2
A cellular communication system comprises a network based radio bearer controller (123) which is arranged to control and manage the setup and operation of radio bearers. The radio bearer controller comprises a RAB processor (201) which is arranged to set up a plurality of user plane radio bearers for a user equipment (101). The plurality of user plane radio bearers all support a common service. The radio bearer controller (123) further comprises a link processor (203) which links the plurality of user plane radio bearers. The radio bearer controller (123) can process linked user plane radio bearers in relation to each other, for example by terminating all linked user plane radio bearers if a single radio bearer fails. The invention may be particularly suitable for a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) communication system supporting services using a plurality of UMTS user plane radio bearers.
US08340671B2
A method and an apparatus of performing a cell reselection procedure in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes starting a first reselection timer if a signal property value of a first neighbor cell with a higher priority than a serving cell is increased to above a threshold, starting a first delay timer if a second reselection timer that is a reselection timer of a second neighbor cell with a higher priority than the first neighbor cell is running at the expiry of the first reselection timer, reselecting the second neighbor cell as a suitable cell if the second reselection timer expires before the expiry of the first delay timer, and reselecting the first neighbor cell as the suitable cell if the first delay timer expires before the expiry of the second reselection timer.
US08340669B2
An apparatus and method for performing cell selection to a Home cell or a Private network in a mobile communication system are provided, in which a User Equipment (UE) determines a candidate cell by measuring a serving cell and neighbor cells, receives an indicator indicating a Home cell or a Private network in system information from the candidate cell, determines whether the candidate cell is included in a Home cell or Private network list set in the UE, and selects the candidate cell if the candidate cell is included in the Home cell or Private network list.
US08340666B2
Improved search capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications devices such as cell phones, as well as improved techniques for delivering sponsored content in a mobile communication environment.
US08340663B2
A method and system for ground station signal handoff for an aircraft. The method comprises receiving signal quality data and position data from each of a plurality of ground stations as a signal from each of the ground stations becomes detectable onboard the aircraft, while the aircraft is in communication with an active ground station. A position of the aircraft is determined each time a signal quality from one of the ground stations reaches a predetermined threshold indicating that the signal quality is suitable for handoff. A set of ground stations potentially suitable for handoff is identified based on their signal quality data when an insufficient signal quality of the active ground station is detected. The set of potentially suitable ground stations is evaluated based on their position and signal quality, and a trajectory or speed vector of the aircraft, to determine an optimal ground station for handoff. A handoff request is then transmitted to the optimal ground station.
US08340662B2
The present invention discloses a method and a system for implementing communications between multiple subnets covered by one physical Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and an MSC. The method includes the steps of: mapping one physical MSC to multiple logical MSCs, i.e. multiple virtual MSCs, and assigning a virtual MSC number to each virtual MSC, and setting relationship(s) between location area(s) covered by the virtual MSC and the virtual MSC number of each virtual MSC; transmitting location information of a terminal with the virtual MSC number during communications to implement communications among multiple subnets. During communication, since the terminal location is transmitted according to the virtual MSC number, it is possible to differentiate the terminals located in different subnets covered by a physical MSC, therefore the roaming and handover of the terminal between the subnets can be implemented; and the roaming limitation also can be implemented through the MSC List and VLR List.
US08340656B2
Various embodiments facilitate data communication between a client device and a remote device over a voice channel of a telephone system. In one embodiment, the data communication over the voice channel is synchronized to align with voice frames utilized by the telephone system to transmit communicated data between the devices. In some embodiments, the synchronization is performed by determining an offset between a received synchronization audio signal and the voice frames used by the telephone system to process the synchronization audio signal, such as based on an amount of energy present in the received synchronization audio signal.
US08340648B2
Methods and systems are provided for delivering travel related information with an intelligent network. One method embodiment includes establishing a communication with the intelligent network through an access device, determining a location of the access device, and obtaining the travel-related information with the access device through the intelligent network, wherein the travel-related information includes data related to a location of the access device. Additional system and computer-readable media embodiments of the present methods and systems are also provided.
