US08702388B2
A method of calibrating one or more load sensors of a blade of a wind turbine, said wind turbine comprising a main generator, a power electronic converter connected with the main generator, and a rotor operationally connected with the main generator and carrying the blade. The method comprises acting on the power electronic converter to operate the main generator as motor to set the blade in at least one predetermined condition. The method further comprises measuring loads in the predetermined condition using the load sensors of the blade and calibrating the blade load sensors taking into account the measured loads.
US08702387B2
The present invention relates generally to propulsion systems, and, more particularly, to a propulsion system including an axial flow water pump assembly and a laminar flow box assembly for generating a streamline laminar slipstream of water velocity that is used in aquatic therapy, aquatic sport fitness rehabilitation, aquatic rehabilitation, swimming, and a variety of other functional therapy and training modalities.
US08702386B2
A fan includes a frame and an impeller. The impeller is disposed in the frame and the impeller has a plurality of blades. Each blade has a wing part and a flap part, and the wing part and the flap part form a predetermined angle. A blade is also disclosed.
US08702383B2
A switchgear cabinet for a wind turbine has a cabinet housing with a ventilation hole defined therein. A fan is disposed in the cabinet housing and supported on the cabinet housing so as to be disposed in front of or in the ventilation hole. A circumferential coaming is disposed on the outer side of the cabinet housing surrounding the ventilation hole. A pan-shaped cover has a closed front and a rim. The cover is disposed over the coaming with the rim extending around the coaming. The cover is spaced from the coaming so as to define at least one air-permeable connection between the fan and the surroundings of the cabinet.
US08702380B2
A clamping assembly comprising a bearing support member (16), the bearing support member being clampable to a shaft (2) by virtue of a clamping member (24) adaptable to tighten the bearing support member to the shaft, wherein at least a portion (16′) of the bearing support member (16) is disposable between a first abutment surface (28) provided on the clamping member and a second abutment surface (25) provided on the shaft; and wherein the portion (16′) of the bearing support member (16) comprises one or more protrusions (30) and one or more depressions (32) provided on an end face (16a, 16b) of the portion of the bearing support member, the protrusions and depressions being arranged to interface with one or more corresponding depressions (36) and protrusions (34) provided on one of the first abutment surface of the clamping member and the second abutment surface of the shaft, the respective protrusions and depressions being disposed so as to resist relative rotation between the shaft and the bearing support member.
US08702379B2
A blower assembly including a motor, an impeller and a volute that is configured such that an inlet chamber of the volute and an outlet chamber of the volute are divided from one another by an airtight membrane and the membrane is configured to allow the transmission of pressure waves between the inlet and outlet chambers.
US08702377B2
A gas turbine engine rotor tip clearance and shaft dynamics system and method are provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine that is disposed within an engine case and includes a rotor. A rotor bearing assembly disposed within the engine case rotationally mounts the gas turbine engine rotor. Vibration isolators mounted on the engine case are coupled to the rotor bearing assembly, and are configured to provide linear and independently tunable stiffness and damping. A method includes determining the location of a gas turbine engine rotor rotational axis, disposing the gas turbine engine rotor in an engine case at the rotational axis location, mounting a plurality of vibration isolators that include a plurality of adjustment devices on the engine case, coupling each vibration isolator to the gas turbine engine rotor, and locking the gas turbine engine rotor at the rotational axis location using the plurality of adjustment devices.
US08702375B1
A stator vane for an industrial turbine, the vane includes a serpentine flow cooling circuit for cooling of the airfoil, and two separate purge air channels to supply air to the rim cavities. The purge channels are formed as separate channels from the serpentine flow channels so that the purge air is not heated by the hot metal and has smooth surfaces so that pressure losses is minimal.
US08702373B1
The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
US08702369B2
A load handling system includes a load movement assembly, a lift cylinder, a load holding member, a release control member, a load movement assembly control device, and a load sensing device. The load sensing device includes a housing having a first port and a second port, and a piston movable between the first and second ports, the first port fluidly connectable to the lift cylinder and the second port fluidly connectable to a source of fluid at a third pressure. The piston is operatively connected to the release control member. When the lift cylinder is at the second pressure the piston is driven to a first position which permits the release control member to be actuated to release the load. When the lift cylinder is at the first pressure the piston is driven to a second position which prevents the release control member to be actuated to release the load.
US08702364B2
A screw fastener, for fastening a workpiece to a fixed member, including a screw having a head having circumferential knurling and a stem having a first stem portion abutting the head and second stem portion abutting the first stem portion, the first stem portion having a smooth surface and the second stem portion having threads; a fixed member having a countersink bore section for accommodating the head and a threaded bore section for engagement with the second stem portion, the countersink bore section having a larger diameter than the threaded section; and a plastic washer having a hole that allows the washer to engage with the threaded section and an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the bore; the second stem portion passing sequentially through the workpiece to be fastened, the plastic washer, the countersink bore section and engage with the threaded bore section of the fixed member.
US08702343B1
Methods and compositions for improving the strength and longevity of secondary roadways through environmentally sound practices are disclosed herein. A composition for road sealing includes acrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer mixed with native soil.
US08702342B2
In various embodiments, a multi-application apparatus with two or more applicators may be used to form markings on a driving surface A profileable material may be applied to an area of the driving surface by one of the applicators during a pass of the apparatus by the area to create a first marking. More of the profileable material may be applied to at least a portion of the area by another of the applicators during the same pass to create a second marking. The second marking may have a more varied profile than the first marking. In embodiments, various parameters may be independently controlled during operation of the multi-application apparatus. In embodiments, the markings may be applied such that the profileable material forming the second marking is at least partially fused with the profileable material forming the first marking.
US08702337B2
A lamellar rotational flexure pivot may include a first pivot end, and second pivot end, and a divider layer positioned therebetween to allow first and second pivot ends to pivot relative to one another. The first and second pivot ends may include a plurality of spring layers and spacer layers that are stacked in alternating fashion to form the lamellar rotational flexure pivot.
US08702336B2
An adjustable assembly for a bicycle includes a first support having an interior surface and a second support slidably positioned within at least a portion of the first support. One of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a first bicycle portion, and the other of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a second bicycle portion. Further, the second support comprises an expansion portion configured to be moved between an expanded position and a retracted position. The expansion portion is configured to engage the interior surface of the first support when the expansion portion is in an expanded position. In addition, the first support is configured to be selectively moved relative to the second support when the expansion portion is permitted to assume a retracted position.
US08702335B2
An apparatus and method of employing modified twist-to-engage bolts that attach a photovoltaic (PV) module to an extrusion rail or channel within a rail are disclosed. In addition to a modified twist-to-engage bolt (e.g., “t-bolt”), a complementary bracket portion having alignment tabs locks in place and clamps the modules to the rail. The anti-rotation locking system prevents twist-to-engage bolts from disengaging without the removal of the complementary bracket.
US08702315B2
A radial cage in which side rings have a material thickness of a starting material for the radial cage, straight side sections of each axial crossbar are implemented with a greater material thickness that increases their strength, and an axial center section of each axial crossbar is implemented with a smaller material thickness than the material thickness of the side rings, thus reducing centrifugal mass.
US08702310B2
There are provided a hydrodynamic bearing assembly and a spindle motor including the same. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly includes: a sleeve including a shaft hole to have a shaft rotatably installed therein; and a cover member covering the shaft hole at a lower portion of the shaft hole in an axial direction, wherein an inner surface of the sleeve is provided with depression parts depressed in an outer diameter direction between upper and lower portions of the sleeve and portions in which radial bearings are formed, such that the portions in which the radial bearings are formed are provided with bearing closure adhesion parts allowing the portions in which the radial bearings are formed to be closer to the shaft than portions other than the portions in which the radial bearings are formed.
US08702309B2
A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks include an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. A plurality of load bearing plates are axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. A bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprises a plurality of pieces and defines at least two spaces in between the pieces. The bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extends circumferentially around the ball retaining structure. An inner arc of the pieces have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the ball retainer structure.
US08702308B2
The present invention is directed toward an improved construction of an elastic drawstring trash bag. The elastic drawstring trash bag described herein is comprised of a plastic bag made from two panels. An elastic drawstring is provided within hems running along the top of the two panels. The upper opening of the elastic drawstring bag is reduced (when the bag is in a relaxed state) by decreasing the distance between the interior edges of the short seals used to weld the drawstrings and bag together. Like an ordinary non-elastic drawstring bag, the elastic drawstring is pulled through access cutouts centrally located along the upper edge of the bag. When the bag of the present invention is in a relaxed state, the reduced upper opening width of the elastic drawstring bag is therefore less than bag proper width, allowing a consumer to pull the elastic drawstring bag over the lip of a trash receptacle and allowing the elastic drawstrings to snugly fit around the trash can.
US08702302B2
A combustion gas measurement apparatus mounted in a gas turbine including: a tunable laser generating a radiation beam passing through a combustion gas path; a controller tuning the laser to emit radiation having at least a first selected wavelength and a second selected wavelength which both correspond to temperature-dependent transitions of a combustion species of the gas, wherein the first selected wavelength and the second selected wavelength are not near absorption peaks of neighboring wavelengths; a detector sensing the radiation beam passing through the combustion gas and generating an absorption signal indicative of an absorption of the beam by the combustion gas at each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength, and a processor executing a program stored on a non-transitory storage medium determining a combustion gas temperature based on a ratio of the adoption signals for the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
US08702301B2
A timepiece bearing has a bearing member of unitary construction that is provided at least at one end portion of a shaft member for undergoing rotation around an axis and that regulates movement of the shaft member in axial and radial directions of the shaft member. An elastic member applies an urging force in an axial direction of the bearing member to hold the bearing member in contact with the shaft member. A frame member supported by and fixed to a support member contains the bearing member. The elastic member is provided so as to establish connection between the bearing member and the frame member. The shaft member is configured to undergo rotation around the rotational axis while the shaft member and the bearing member are held in contact with each other by the elastic member.
US08702296B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel which receives a light and displays an image, a bottom chassis which accommodates the display panel, and a top chassis which faces the bottom chassis with the display panel therebetween. The top chassis overlaps a portion of the display panel and includes a first thru-hole which extends through a thickness of a side portion thereof. The display apparatus includes a printed circuit board and a coupling member. The printed circuit board applies an electrical signal to the display panel, is under the side portion, and includes a second thru-hole which corresponds to the first thru-hole. The coupling member extends through the first thru-hole and the second thru-hole, and couples the top chassis and the printed circuit board to each other.
US08702295B2
A flat light source module including a light guide plate, a flexible circuit board and a light emitting device is provided. The light guide plate has a light incident surface, a light exit surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light exit surface, wherein the light incident surface further includes a light incident curved surface, and the light incident curved surface is connected with the light exit surface and the bottom surface. The flexible circuit board is disposed beside the light incident curved surface along the light incident curved surface of the light guide plate. The light emitting device is disposed on the flexible circuit board, and the light emitting device has a light emitting surface facing the light incident curved surface.
US08702281B2
A light fixture unit can include a light source having an optical axis and a light guide body. The light guide body can include a light incident portion at a front of the light source protruding from a first surface, a light exit portion formed to be elongated in a first direction on a second surface, and a light guide portion. The light incident unit can be configured to make light enter into the light guide body while converting the light into parallel light in a second direction. The light guide portion can include second reflection surfaces disposed to provide a recess on the second surface, each of which is inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis outward in the first direction individually, and third reflection surfaces which make light reflected internally on the second reflection surfaces in the first direction reflected internally in the second direction toward the light exit portion.
US08702278B2
The present disclosure involves a street light. The street light includes a base, a lamp post coupled to the base, and a lamp head coupled to the lamp post. The lamp head includes a housing and a plurality of LED light modules disposed within the housing. The LED light modules are separate and independent from each other. Each LED light module includes an array of LED that serve as light sources for the lamp. Each LED light module also includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled to the LED. The heat sink is operable to dissipate heat generated by the LED during operation. Each LED light module also includes a thermally conductive cover having a plurality of openings. Each LED is aligned with and disposed within a respective one of the openings.
US08702272B2
A LED light bulb includes a light bulb adapter; a housing fixed on the light bulb adapter and having an accommodating space, wherein the housing has at least a vent hole; a convective heat dissipation piece including a first heat dissipation part and a second heat dissipation part connected under the first heat dissipation part; a light-emitting module disposed on a top surface of the convective heat dissipation piece; and a light bulb cover disposed on the top surface of the convective heat dissipation piece and covering the light-emitting module.
US08702269B2
An outdoor lamp. The outdoor lamp includes: a plurality of frame members rotatably connected to each other by hinge members so as to change relative rotation angles; optical source modules each comprising an optical source for emitting light, each of the optical source modules installed attachably to and detachably from the frame members; and rotation restriction units each combined to the frame members to restrict the relative rotation angles of the frame members so as for the frame members to be fixed at desired angles. According to the outdoor lamp, the optical source modules are installed to the rotatable frame members so that optical angles may be easily controlled according to an installation condition for the lamp.
US08702265B2
An improved light emitting diode (LED) illuminating assembly is provided with a multiple sided LED lighting bar, also referred to as a multi-sided LED light bar, comprising a non-curvilinear LED luminary for enhanced LED lighting. The LED illuminating assembly can be used for overhead ceiling lighting, menu boards and other LED illuminating signs, as well as for other uses.
US08702261B2
The present invention provides connecting element, which includes mold frame and back plate; side of back plate disposed with convex bump unit having a bottom surface, side of mold frame disposed with opening having elastic latch unit inside, latch unit having latch hook part with top surface; wherein bottom surface of convex bump unit contacting to push top surface of latch hook part to make latch unit and convex bump unit fitly engaged, side of top surface of latch hook part near free end of latch hook part higher than bottom surface of convex bump unit. The invention also provides backlight module and disassembly method. Through designing different latch unit and convex bump unit, the invention effectively prevents latch hook part from springing back and damages caused by repetitive flipping latch hook part during disassembly. The invention ensures easy assembly/disassembly and reduces cost.
US08702259B2
A light converting device is described for receiving source light within a source wavelength range, converting the source light into a converted light, and reflecting the converted light to a desired output direction. The lighting device may use a color conversion occlusion to receive the source light and reflect a converted light in the desired output direction. The converted light may be intermediately reflected by the enclosure, or alternatively passed through the enclosure, as it is directed in the desired output direction.
US08702257B2
An LED bulb having a bulb-shaped shell, a thermally conductive plastic material within the bulb-shaped shell, and at least one LED within the bulb-shaped shell. The bulb also includes a base, wherein the base is dimensioned to be received within a standard electrical socket.
US08702256B2
The invention relates to an emergency light device for marine use comprising a housing accommodating an electronic circuit, a least one transparent dome, and a first and a second shell member, said electronic circuit comprising at least one light emitting diode provided in the at least one transparent dome, an electrical power supply comprising at least one battery of the AA, AAA or AAAA type, and at least one operating switch, said emergency light characterized in that the housing has a width which is substantially larger than the height, preferably the width is at least double or triple the height.
US08702254B1
An adjustable mirror mechanism includes a first connection section, a mirror lens carrier or support having a second connection section receiving and/or engaging the first connection section, and a mirror housing having a third connection section receiving and/or engaging the second connection section of the mirror lens carrier. The first connection section and/or the mirror lens carrier are fastened and/or secured to the mirror housing, and the mirror lens carrier is configured to receive a mirror lens. In some embodiments, the mirror lens carrier engages the rim of the mirror housing for added stability on one or more sides.
US08702252B2
An optical imaging apparatus operable to form a sharp stereo image in the air beside an observer, includes a flat plate-shaped light-controlling panel having numerous light-reflecting elements disposed side by side, each of which allowing light from the object to pass therethrough by reflecting the light by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface disposed in a crossed arrangement with respect to the first reflective surface, wherein the light-controlling panel has a plurality of segment light-controlling panels in which the first reflective surfaces and the second reflective surfaces included are parallel, respectively, centerlines P of the respective segment light-controlling panels, when viewed from thereabove, intersect at a point O on the light-controlling panel, and bisectors which bisect crossing angles between the first and the second reflective surfaces of the light-reflecting elements existing on the centerlines P coincide with the centerlines P when viewed from thereabove.
US08702251B2
Disclosed is a light-collecting heliostat using flat mirrors of enhanced light-collecting efficiency. The gradients of low-price flat mirrors are adjusted when reflecting sunlight by the heliostat equipped with the flat mirrors, thereby causing reflection focal areas having the same size as each of the mirrors to overlap, in the same number as the number of the reflective plates constituting the heliostat, on a heat collecting unit of collecting lights, so that a high temperature light-collecting focal area with a uniform temperature distribution is obtained.
US08702234B2
An apparatus for performing multiple procedures involving the eye. The apparatus includes a data collection apparatus and a data analysis module. The data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient is configured to provide data indicative of at least two neurological disorders selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, LDS, head trauma, diabetes, and inappropriate responses to contrast sensitivity patterns. The data analysis module interrelates the data indicative of at least two neurological disorders to provide an interpretive result.
US08702229B2
A modular printing apparatus has a printing device with an inkjet print head and a box-shaped module that urges items toward the print head, for printing thereon. In an operating mode, the box-shaped module is inserted into the printing apparatus via a mechanical connection and can be removed from the printing apparatus in a service mode. A triggering mechanism acts on a locking mechanism with first and second force components that couple the locking mechanism and the mechanical connection element to one another in the operating mode to lock the box-shaped module in a bay of the printing apparatus at the printing apparatus. The second force component acts in an opposite direction in the service mode, to disengage the locking mechanism and the mechanical connection element to unlock and remove the box-shaped module.
US08702225B2
An inkjet recording apparatus and an image forming method in which ink curing defects caused by differences in the activation energy absorption characteristics due to differences in the inks are avoided, and a desirable curing process can be achieved.
US08702218B2
The aqueous ink composition according to the invention includes at least a water-insoluble coloring agent, a glycol ether having an HLB value calculated by a Davies' method in the range of 4.2 to 8.0, a 1,2-alkyldiol having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, resin particles, and water.
US08702215B2
There is provided an inkjet apparatus capable of adjusting pressure in an inkjet head to a predetermined slightly negative pressure without limitations on the installation location of a pressure adjustment unit and without stopping the flow of liquid. The inkjet apparatus includes an inkjet head for discharging ink droplets and an ink tank for retaining liquid to the inkjet head. The inkjet apparatus further includes a liquid feeding unit communicating with the inkjet head and configured to feed the liquid in the ink tank to the inkjet head by reducing the pressure in the inkjet head, an open-close valve configured to open or close a flow channel connecting the inkjet head and the liquid feeding unit, and a pressure adjustment unit configured to open or close the open-close valve according to a pressure difference between inside and outside of the flow channel to adjust the pressure in the inkjet head.
US08702214B2
A liquid cartridge detachably loadable in a cartridge loading section of a liquid supplying device is provided. The liquid cartridge includes: a main body defining therewithin a liquid accommodation chamber storing liquid therein, the liquid accommodation chamber having a light-transmission portion transmitting light therethrough; a moving member disposed within the liquid accommodation chamber and configured to move in accordance with an amount of the liquid; a light-emitting element configured to emit light and move in conjunction with the movement of the moving member; and a light outlet configured to irradiate the light emitted from the light-emitting element toward outside of the main body via the light-transmission portion.
US08702205B2
A printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly including an ink distribution molding, the ink distribution molding including a plurality of first ducts; at least one printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink distribution assembly; and a rotary platen having at least three surface, each surface for providing one of a platen surface, capping portion, and a blotting portion. The ink distribution assembly further includes a plurality of second ducts acutely angled with respect to the plurality of first ducts, a plurality of transfer ports facilitating fluid communication between the plurality of first ducts and the plurality of second ducts, and a plurality of ink inlet ports facilitating fluid communication between an ink cassette and the plurality of first ducts.
US08702202B2
An apparatus and method for liquid-phase dispensing of layers onto a substrate of an electronic device. An absorbent material reduces or eliminates splatter of printing material on the substrate during continuous printing operations. The absorbent material can be regenerated by exposure of new surface area or vacuum drawing of printing material through the absorbent material.
US08702191B2
A method and apparatus for controlling firing energy in a printer pen of a thermal inkjet printer are described. A digital voltage value representative of a voltage output by a printer-pen power supply is obtained. The printer-pen power supply is electrically coupled to a switch. The switch is electrically coupled to a nozzle resistor and is controlled using a switch logic signal. A voltage level of the switch logic signal is set based on said digital voltage value and a voltage drop due to a parasitic resistance between the printer-pen power supply and the switch.
US08702187B2
A printer comprises: a vacuum table for supporting a jig which holds a medium; a printer head for discharging droplets; and a relative movement means for moving the printer head relative to the medium; a registration mark detection unit and barcode detection unit for acquiring holding platform information and support position information for the jig; and a controller for controlling the movement of the printer head by the relative movement means and controlling the discharge of droplets from the printer head on the basis of the holding platform information, the support position information and information pertaining to the desired pattern. As a result of this configuration, it is possible to generate image data without aligning the jig with a reference position on the vacuum table.
US08702180B2
A motor and pump assembly for providing pressure to a brake actuating device of a motor vehicle brake system is described herein. The assembly comprises an electric motor and a double diaphragm pump. The pump includes a pump housing, two opposed working diaphragms, and crank drives each being coupled between the electric motor and a respective diaphragm for moving the diaphragm. A working chamber is defined between the pump housing and a working chamber cover. Each working chamber including an inlet channel, an inlet valve associated with the inlet channel, an outlet channel, and an outlet valve associated with the outlet channel, wherein the outlet channels are defined in the covers of the working chamber and in the pump housing to direct air displaced from the working chambers into an inside space of the pump housing. An air outlet unit is provided for exhausting the air from the inside space.
US08702176B2
The present invention relates to a floor latch (200) for connecting a vehicle seat base portion (204) with a vehicle floor portion, the floor latch (200) comprising an attachment means (301) and a riser (300), the floor latch (200) providing centering of the attachment means (301) for clamping the riser (300) with the seat base portion (204) or with the vehicle floor portion.
US08702167B2
A bicycle frame, particularly a racing bicycle frame, comprises two bars. The bars are connected to a head member for connection to a saddle member. In their frame-side end region, the two bars are formed as a hollow profile. In this region, the two bars have a semicircular cross section so that a common contact face is formed.
US08702166B2
A chair support apparatus includes partially affixed first and second flexible panels with a first and second outer periphery portion respectively, also a plurality of channels are formed between the first and second flexible panels bounded by the partial affixment. Also, a plurality of straps are disposed within each one of the channels, wherein each of the straps has a pair of extensions that extend beyond the first and second outer peripheries, each strap has a slip fit engagement within each channel allowing relative movement between the first and second flexible panels and the strap. Operationally, each of the strap extensions is engaged to a beam of a chair for drawing taut a plurality of portions of the first and second flexible panels resulting in a remaining plurality of portions of the first and second flexible panels drooping from the relative movement as between the taut portions to retain accessories.
US08702159B2
The invention relates to a vehicle body comprising at least one longitudinal member (1) and an elastomer bearing (3) arranged thereon for supporting a vehicle component. Said elastomer bearing (3) consists of a first stable bearing part (4) attached to the body and a second stable bearing part (5) connected to the component, and an elastomer body (6) is arranged between the bearing parts. According to the invention, the elastomer bearing (3) is arranged at least partially in a receiving cavity (2) on the longitudinal member (1), and the first bearing part (4) attached to the body spans the receiving cavity (2) in the form of an impact bridge fixed to the edges of the cavity.
US08702156B1
A connecting structure for a fender apron may include a fender apron; a cowl side member that has the same cross-sectional shape as a part of the fender apron and is coupled with the fender apron; and an A-pillar of which the inside is coupled with the cowl side member.
US08702153B2
Provided is a vehicular door including a load transfer member. The load transfer member includes a transfer member body disposed in a wide-thickness portion in a door body, and a projection projecting downward from the transfer member body. The transfer member body has a lower region whose surface on a door-outer-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door outer panel, and an inclined region whose door-outer-panel side surface is inclined to come apart from the door outer panel and whose surface on a door-inner-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door inner panel. The thickness of the lower region and the inclined region in a door-thickness direction is set narrower than the width of an insertion portion between the door inner panel and a door beam.
US08702147B2
A vehicle safety seat system includes a seat, and a frame and support surface that are movable with respect to each other between rest and attenuated positions, wherein the frame and support surface are respectively a first and second distance apart. A biasing mechanism biases the frame and support surface to the rest position between blast and slam down phases. A damper coupled between the frame and support surface has blast and rebound recovery resistance settings. The blast resistance setting is set to a predetermined value based on a weight of a seat occupant. The damper, during the blast phase, resists motion between the frame and support surface toward the attenuated position based upon the blast resistance setting, and after the blast phase and prior to the slam down phase, resists motion between the frame and support surface toward the rest position based upon the rebound recovery resistance setting.
US08702134B2
A door lock device for an electric household appliance with movable latch, in particular a dryer, where the latch is carried by the door of the electric household appliance rotating on a plane, normally perpendicular to a door rotation axis, including a frame carried in use by the casing of the electric household appliance and provided with striker means for the latch; where the striker means are obtained on a pair of opposite jaws carried by the frame adjacent to each other and movable against the bias of elastic means and where the frame is provided with guiding means for the jaws adapted to cause the jaws to be driven apart from each other in response to a traction exerted in use on the latch, said elastic means and guiding means being arranged so that the movement of the jaws occurs on a plane arranged perpendicular in use to the rotation plane of the latch.
US08702128B2
A bound system including a plurality of pages and a cover and/or divider including a bound outer edge and a plurality of free outer edges. The cover and/or divider may be bound to the plurality of pages along the bound edge. The cover and/or divider may include one or more discreet tabs extending generally outwardly relative to one of the edges. Each tab may be integrally formed from a single piece of material with the rest of the cover and/or divider. Each tab further may have an opening formed therethrough and is configured to receive at least part of a binding device therethrough to thereby couple the cover and/or divider to the binding device.
US08702127B2
Sheets are bound to form a bound document by fastening together the sheets and a binding strip. A spacer is applied to a back sheet adjacent to the feet of the fasteners. A wraparound portion of the binding strip is folded around the spine edges of the sheets so that adhesive on the strip contacts the spacer or the back sheet farther from the spine than the feet of the fasteners. The adhesive is affixed to the back sheet. The binding strip includes a spacer adjacent to the heads of the fasteners, protruding above the face-attachment portion at least as far as the heads of the fasteners do.
US08702125B1
An exemplary embodiment can be an inflator module assembly. The inflator module assembly can include a module housing having a plurality of gas discharge openings; an inflator housed within the housing, the inflator, upon actuation, emitting gas from one lateral side or end thereof, and a gas treatment assembly mounted within the housing external the side or end of the inflator from which gas is emitted. The gas treatment assembly can include a first strainer element nestled within a second strainer element. The first and second strainer elements each have a side wall including a plurality of gas passage apertures, with at least either 1) the gas passage apertures of the first strainer element offset relative to the gas passage apertures of the second strainer element or 2) the gas passage apertures of the second strainer element offset relative to the module housing gas discharge openings.
US08702120B2
An active bolster is integrated within a seat for a transportation vehicle by covering an inner inflatable bladder with an outer cushion layer to provide a seating support surface. Seating loads are borne on the support surface from the weight of an occupant by elastic deformation of the bladder. When a vehicle crash event is detected, at least a portion of the bladder is inflated to extend a seat surface to protect the occupant. Size and weight of the seat are reduced as a result of the bladder contributing significantly to the normal cushioning of the seat in everyday usage.
US08702111B2
A stackable and collapsible trolley assembly having at least one collapsible transport container, and a support structure on which the transport container rests. The support structure is moveable on wheels. Additional transport containers can be rested on the assembly, and preferably, are arranged so that a recessed edge at the bottom of a second transport container fits within the open perimeter of the first transport container. The wheels on the support structure are all located inside of the recessed edge, so that the trolley assembly wheels will be located within the opening of a transport container when the trolley assembly is positioned on top of a transport container.
US08702107B2
The invention relates to a tool-holder mandrel for fitting to a rotating machine, comprising: a body comprising a rear portion designed to be attached to a drive shaft of the rotating machine and a front portion in which housing are arranged converging toward the front; jaws mounted so as to slide each in a housing of the body and having an inner thread; a ring for moving the jaws, mounted so as to pivot relative to the body, having a peripheral thread interacting with the inner thread of the jaws so that the rotation of the ring closes or opens the jaws.
US08702101B2
A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.
US08702094B2
According to aspects illustrated herein, a system, a printmaking device, and a method for pre-curling and registering media are provided herein. The system includes a media curler system and a deskew mechanism. The media curler system pre-curls at least one of lead edge and a trail edge of a sheet before delivery to a media hold-down transport. The deskew mechanism is coupled to the media curler system for pivoting the media curler system about a pivot axis to deskew the sheet. The pivot axis extends perpendicular to the media transport path. In operation, as the lead edge enters the pre-curling and registration system, the media curler system pre-curls the sheet towards the media hold-down transport. As the sheet is being pre-curled, the deskew mechanism pivots the media curler system about the pivot axis to correct any skew errors in the sheet.
US08702092B2
A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.
US08702090B2
A modular placement device for a feed station of a mail processing apparatus, wherein the feed station includes an ejection roller, has a housing that is separate for the modular placement device located upstream, in terms of the mail flow, of the feed station. The housing has a cavity therein to receive a stack of mail items, and a pressure element mounted so as to be pivotable and so as to be plugged into the cavity. The pressure element exerts a pressure force on the stack of mail items in the cavity, with a bottommost item of mail being pressed against the ejection roller so that the bottommost item of mail is propelled in the mail flow direction. The weight loss of the stack due to removal of the bottommost item of mail therefrom is counteracted by the pressure element.
US08702086B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge a sheet having a folding portion, a conveyance portion configured to abut on a lower surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of the discharge portion, a pressing portion arranged at a position opposing the conveyance portion, configured to press an upper surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, and a moving portion configured to move the pressing portion in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, in which the moving portion moves the pressing portion upstream in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, to move the pressing portion from a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is not pressed to a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is pressed.
US08702081B2
A clamping device having at least three jaws for clamping a plurality of elongated workpieces with the workpieces forming predetermined angles therebetween. Each of at least two jaws has clamping surfaces that are oriented to correspond to a respective angle. Each of the at least two jaws is connected to a first endportion of a respective arm. A holding element has the at least two arms pivotally movable mounted thereto such that the at least two jaws are movable between an open position for placing the clamping device and a clamping position for clamping the workpieces. An actuator is connected to the at least two arms for moving the at least two arms and for holding the at least two arms in the clamping position.
US08702078B2
A magnetic tool to enable a robot arm to grip a metallic workpiece includes a hollow housing having a coupling member adapted to attach the tool to the robotic arm. A sleeve depends from the housing having a shaft slidably received therein. The shaft has a first end disposed in the housing and a second end extending axially outwardly from an open end of the sleeve. A magnetic member is disposed on the second end of the shaft. The magnetic member includes a main body having a cavity formed therein. A magnet is slidably disposed within the cavity and attached to an actuator adapted to adjust the distance between the magnet and an inner surface of a magnetic face of the main body of the magnetic member to vary the magnetic attraction force at the magnetic face.
US08702069B1
Apparatus and method for providing a guard rail adjacent an access aperture extending through a floor surface, such as in an attic space of a residential structure. A guard rail assembly includes a top rail portion which extends adjacent at least one side of the access aperture to provide a guard rail. An angled portion extends at a non-orthogonal angle to provide a hand grip surface for a user passing through the access aperture. A front leg segment supports an end of the angled portion opposite the top rail portion. Preferably, a rear leg segment supports the top rail portion to form a first side rail assembly. A second, nominally identical side rail assembly adjoins the first side rail assembly to form a substantially u-shaped top rail surface that surrounds the access aperture on three sides. The guard rail assembly is further preferably adjustable to accommodate different access aperture dimensions.
US08702068B2
An animal-resistant fence preventing entry of animals includes a first post, a second post, and a first panel member extending between the two posts. The fence further includes a second panel member extending from an upper portion of the first panel member above the ground level, and a third panel member extending from a lower portion of the first panel member beneath the ground level.
US08702065B2
The present invention discloses a quick tightener, which addresses the problems existing in the conventional tighteners such as inconvenient operation or failure in use under extreme conditions. The quick tightener includes a support, a handle, a ratchet wheel and a half-moon shaft. The half-moon shaft is composed of a first half-moon shaft and a second half moon shaft. Said first half-moon shaft could be fixedly connected with the ratchet wheel. Said second half-moon shaft could be fixedly connected with the ratchet wheel in the circumferential direction and axially move relative to the ratchet wheel. A clutch device is located between said first half-moon shaft and second half-moon shaft to connect the second half-moon shaft to the first half-moon shaft or disengage the second half-moon shaft from the first half-moon shaft. Such a quick tightener is equipped with the advantages such as preferential reliability and a high practical value.
US08702058B2
The present disclosure provides a valve for controlling the flow of abrasive particles along a predetermined path from the outlet of a hopper to a conveying line in a particle collection or transportation system. The design of the valve reduces the occurrence of erosive wear resulting from contact with the flow of abrasive particles. A method of making the valve that enhances the hardness of localized areas in the valve that are subject to high wear conditions is also disclosed.
US08702057B2
A bellows seal assembly and bellows valve equipped therewith. The bellows seal assembly includes an internal bellows, an external bellows, a hollow upper bellows seat, a first hollow lower bellows seat, and a second hollow lower bellows seat. One end of the internal bellows is fixed to the upper bellows seat and the other end is fixed to the second lower bellows seat. One end of the external bellows is fixed to the upper bellows seat and the other end is fixed to the first lower bellows seat. The external bellows is sheathed around the internal bellows. The first lower bellows seat is sheathed around the second lower bellows seat. The bellows valve includes the bellows seal assembly.
US08702056B2
A plug valve and stem sealing assembly capable of preventing leakage under demanding environmental and operating conditions while also improving the reliability of the valve seal. The valve includes a body, a flow-element, a bonnet and a self-adjusting stem sealing assembly. The body has a first port and a second port with a passage configured to flow a media extending between the first port and the second port. The flow-element is positioned between the first and second port and has a stem configured to actuate the flow-element between a closed position and an open position. The bonnet may be secured to the valve body and configured to secure the flow-element and stem sealing assembly in position. The self-adjusting stem sealing assembly is positioned adjacent to the stem and is configured to prevent media leakage from the valve.
US08702055B2
In some cases, a portable electronic device holder may include a holding member, a first arm attached to the holding member, a second arm attached to the holding member, a first mounting member attached to the first arm, and a second mounting member attached to the second arm. In other cases, a portable electronic device holder may include a holding member attached to a support member, and one or more mounting member attached to the support member. The one or more mounting members may be for mounting a portable electronic device. The holding member may include a slot and finger grooves for permitting a user to hold the portable electronic device holder.
US08702053B2
A vehicle seat interface assembly having a track including a web having a substantially uniform thickness and one of a key and a key slot. A seat bracket is operably connected with a vehicle seat. The seat bracket includes a support that has the other of the key and the key slot disposed thereon. The key includes first and second side portions. The space defined between the first side portion and the support is greater than the thickness of the web. The space defined between the second side portion and the support is less than the thickness of the web, such that the key may be inserted into the key slot and laterally translated until the web is frictionally secured between the second side portion and the support.
US08702052B2
A retention structure for retaining a heat generating component to a heat dissipating substrate. The heat generating component has a heat transfer surface and an opposing biasing surface, and the heat dissipating substrate has opposing first and second sides. The retention structure has a generally U-shaped retention body including an elongated base having opposing ends, and legs extending from the ends of the base. Each of the legs includes a positioning slot. The substrate includes a pair of passages for receiving the legs therethrough, and a pin structure is positioned on the substrate and extends through the positioning slots in the legs to locate the base of the retention body adjacent to the biasing surface and effect a biasing of the heat transfer surface toward the substrate.
US08702043B2
A rail vehicle control communication system includes a vehicle management device capable of being coupled with a conductive pathway extending along a track and of forming an instruction to control an operation of a rail vehicle travelling along the track, the vehicle management device transmitting the instruction to the rail vehicle through the conductive pathway; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with the rail vehicle, the on-board communication device configured to receive the instruction communicated through the conductive pathway from the vehicle management device, the on-board communication device configured to change the operation of the rail vehicle based on the instruction.
US08702042B2
A flow body is disclosed, particularly for aircraft. The flow body includes an outer side impinged on in a predetermined manner by a fluid in a direction of impinging flow, the flow body having on its outer side at least one flow control device including micro-perforations arranged in at least one segment of the outer side, at least one connecting passage communicated with the micro-perforations via at least one suction chamber so fluid flowing through the micro-perforations flows via the suction chamber into the connecting passage, at least one suction device having a first inlet communicated with the connecting passage, a second inlet communicated with at least one ram fluid feed line, wherein the ram fluid feed line is in a region of the flow body opposite to the direction of impinging flow of the flow body, and an outlet device for discharging the fluid.
US08702039B1
An airplane leading edge de-icing apparatus having a heat diffuser for heating the leading edges of an airplane is provided. The heat diffuser has a first heat diffuser side having a concave shape and a second heat diffuser side having a convex shape. The heat diffuser is joined to the leading edge of an airplane. A counter current heat exchanger is provided and heats a heat transfer fluid with heat energy absorbed from hot gases. The heat transfer fluid is pumped in and out of a reservoir tank with a first pump. A second pump pumps the heat transfer fluid in and out of the heat diffuser. The heat energy in the heat transfer fluid housed in the heat diffuser is transferred to the convex surface of the second heat diffuser side and prevents and/or melts ice build-up.
US08702026B2
The present invention includes an expandable hose reel, which may include: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and an expansion mechanism to modify a length of the spool.
US08702025B2
The present invention is directed to an improved rewind apparatus for a flexible member. Specifically, the invention provides a retractable spool and a mechanism which allows a user to move a switch so that he/she has a choice of having the spool always pulling on the flexible member, a Tension mode of operation, or using a No Tension mode of operation that allows the flexible member to relax, and then, with a brief tug on the flexible member, retraction forces of a spring causes the flexible member to be wound around the spool.
US08702021B2
A thermally controlled coffee grinder and method are disclosed. In some embodiments, a thermally controlled coffee grinder may have a heating or cooling element to adjust the temperature of a component of the coffee grinder in response to a measured thermal state of a component in the grinder in order to improve dosing consistency, ground coffee quality, etc. In other embodiments, a thermally controlled coffee grinder may detect a thermal state in the coffee grinder and utilize a computer control to adjust for consistent dosing amounts.
US08702009B2
The present invention discloses a biochip measuring system. The cytometer system includes a biochip and a biochip measuring apparatus. The biochip includes a substrate, for carrying bio-molecule droplet, and a stamp marking area, for receiving or displaying a stamp for identifying whether the biochip is used. The biochip measuring apparatus includes a controller, a driver circuit, a driver interface, a light, a light detector, and a stamp marking unit, for marking the stamp on the stamp marking area of the biochip after the biochip measuring apparatus completes measurement of the biochip.
US08702003B2
Bar code readers and methods of reading bar codes are described herein. One device includes a camera configured to produce a motion invariant image of a bar code while the bar code is in motion and a processor configured to deblur the motion invariant image of the bar code.
US08701999B2
A method and apparatus for reading optical indicia. The method includes generating calibration light, and measuring an intensity of the calibration light reflected into a detector system. The method also includes determining an optimum exposure level for the imaging system based on the measured intensity of the calibration light reflected into the detector system, and generating an illumination light with an illumination system. In addition, the method includes capturing an image of the optical indicia with the imaging system subjecting to the optimum exposure level.
US08701996B2
A decoding system, with a decoding engine, runs on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks into bits. A transaction engine is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives, as its input, decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party. The first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. The transaction engine is configured to be coupled to a payment system and a first party's financial transaction card institution or a first party's financial account.
US08701969B2
The present invention relates to a technique for producing a jointed member by subjecting two to-be-jointed members which are contacted each other to friction stir welding. The method for producing a jointed member executes a dwelling step in which a probe is rotated only for a predetermined period at at least one of a probe starting point position which is a position of the probe for forming a joint starting point in the to-be-jointed member and a probe end point position which is a position of the probe for forming a joint end point in the to-be-jointed member.
US08701968B2
The present invention provides a friction stir welder that includes a stage on which at least two material pieces to be welded are mounted and stacked, a pressing member that covers and presses end faces of the material pieces to be welded that are mounted and stacked on the stage, and a rotary tool that is inserted into the stacked material pieces to be welded while rotating, so that a plastic flow is generated at an interfacing portion as well as in the vicinity thereof between the rotary tool and the material pieces to be welded, thereby to joint the material pieces to be welded to each other.
US08701967B2
A method for coating the base element of a cooling element used in connection with a metallurgical furnace or the like, said base element being mainly made of copper, at least partly with a metal coating involves a step wherein the metal coating is explosion welded to the base element of a cooling element mainly made of copper. A cooling element, particularly to be used in connection with metallurgical furnaces or the like, includes a base element mainly made of copper, in which base element there is arranged a cooling water channel system, said base element of the cooling element being at least partly coated with a metal coating. The metal coating is explosion welded to the base element that is mainly made of copper.
US08701965B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle floor production system, in which a carrier is moved through a loop formed by a return line provided at the top of the system and a welding line provided at the bottom, and the carrier is horizontally moved by the frictional force of a horizontal movement driving means. Preferred systems can reduce the manufacturing cost and required installation area.
US08701951B2
A vehicle includes a high voltage traction battery, a front door trim including a removable trim panel, a removable/portable bag integral to the removable trim panel for storing inside the front door trim when the removable trim panel is attached to the front door trim. A charge cord kit is contained in the removable/portable bag, and includes a charge cord for connecting to an electrical power supply to charge the high voltage traction battery.
US08701942B2
A disposable dispensing system includes a collapsible container for liquid material sealingly connected to a pump. The pump includes a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber may be varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and from the chamber to the dispensing opening. A regulator is fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating flow of liquid between the container and the chamber, and between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The pump may assume a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening.
US08701936B2
Dispensing systems facilitates formation and dispensation of a use solution from a solid concentrate. The dispensing system may include a cartridge attached to a spray bottle or other dispensing apparatus. The cartridge defines a reservoir configured to store a solid product concentrate. A diluent, such as water, is placed in a fluid reservoir of the dispensing apparatus. Activation of a dispensing mechanism, such as a trigger, creates a vacuum in the cartridge reservoir, opening a valve and drawing diluent from the fluid reservoir into the cartridge reservoir and onto the solid product. The flow of diluent onto the solid product causes a portion of the solid product to be dissolved, eroded, and/or otherwise mixed with the diluent to form a use solution. Actuation of the dispense mechanism may further draw the use solution from the cartridge reservoir and dispense the use solution through the nozzle.
US08701927B2
A superhydrophilic thin film is formed on a metal surface of a boiler vessel to alter the wettability and roughness of the surface, which, in turn, changes the boiling behavior at the surface. The superhydrophilic film is formed by depositing a layer of a first ionic species on the surface from a solution. A second ionic species having a charge opposite to the that of the first ionic species is then deposited from solution onto the surface to produce a bilayer of the first ionic species and the oppositely charged second ionic species. The depositions are then repeated to form a plurality of bilayers, on top of the preceding bilayer. The bilayers are then heated, leaving the second ionic species on the metal surface to form a superhydrophilic film.
US08701925B2
A mobile machine, in particular a counterweighted fork lift truck, has at least one pressurized tank, in particular to carry fuel that is in a gaseous state under normal conditions. The tank has an at least approximately rectangular external contour in at least one cross-sectional plane.
US08701924B2
A method of storing material includes placing material in a storage container and removably positioning a magnetic device in a cap. The magnetic device includes a gasket including a magnet. Moreover, the method includes removably fastening the cap to the storage container to form a storage device and magnetically attaching the cap to a metal surface.
US08701923B2
This disclosure is generally directed toward containers with improved anti-buckling performance by incorporating one or more structural reinforcement features into the containers. The container may include a bottom wall, opposing sidewalls each including a plurality of ribs, and opposing end walls interconnecting the sidewalls. The sidewalls may include at least one reinforcement protrusion having a geometric center disposed in the upper half of the sidewall. The container may also include a non-planar top rim to redistribute top load so that the anti-buckling performance of the container can be improved.
US08701919B2
The plastic container has a lid and a receptacle, the receptacle and lid having corresponding engagement portions matingly shaped for the lid and receptacle to be maintained in a closed configuration by a resilient effect. In one embodiment, the lid has a handle lip extending vertically downwardly from a horizontal edge of the lid, the handle lip being shaped to allow overcoming the resilient effect when manually pulled upwardly; the receptacle having a barrier strip covering the handle lip and preventing manual pulling access thereto, but being tearable to allow its manual removal. In an other embodiment, the receptacle has an upwardly protruding receptacle rib providing sealing abutment support to the lid closure, a gutter surrounding the receptacle rib, and the receptacle wall portion has an engagement portion matingly shaped to resiliently receive the outwardly protruding rib of the lid and inclined so as to face both inwardly and downwardly.
US08701911B2
An electrical enclosure for use in poured concrete construction having a peripheral wall with opposed longitudinally extending walls longer than opposed laterally extending walls and at least one physical support located substantially midpoint along the opposed longitudinally extended walls to resist deflection of the opposed longitudinal walls caused by the hydraulic pressure of concrete poured around the enclosure. The physical support can be a crossbar extending across the opening of the electrical enclosure with the ends of the crossbar fixed to the longitudinally extending walls. The physical support can also be fastening sleeves extending along at least a portion of the width of the longitudinal walls for receiving elongated fasteners which extend into the concrete form thereby resisting deflection of the opposed longitudinally extending walls.
US08701902B2
To be able to connect and mount a rack mount device having a rack loaded device loaded thereon to a rack easily, and to be able to release and detach the rack mount device easily from the outside of the rack. The rack mount device has a pair of mount kits for holding the rack loaded device arranged to oppose to each other, which are detachably connected to four mount angles configuring the rack. Each mount kit is configured with a front mount and a rear mount, which are freely slidable with respect to each other in the longitudinal directions thereof. A kit connecting mechanisms for connecting each mount kit to the mount angles are provided to both ends of the mount kits, respectively. A connection releasing mechanism for releasing the connection between the mount kits and the mount angles is provided to each of the kit connecting mechanisms.
US08701896B2
A variety of improved hydroclone based fluid filtering systems are described. The hydroclones generally include a tank having an internal chamber and a filter (preferably a surface filter) that is positioned within the internal chamber. The filter defines a filtered fluid chamber within the internal chamber of the tank. The hydroclone may be operated such that a vortex of flowing fluid is formed between the chamber wall and the filter with the filter being located in the center of the vortex. With this arrangement, the filter acts as a cross-flow filter. In one aspect of the invention, a circulating cleaning assembly is provided in the hydroclone region. In yet another aspect of the invention, improved hydroclone intake structures are described.
US08701889B2
A container includes a base portion (11), a lid portion (12), and a hinge portion (13) connecting the base portion to the lid portion. The lid portion and/or the base portion are movable about the hinge portion between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which the lid portion overlies the base portion substantially in the form of a book. The base portion has a shell (40) attached thereto to form a sheath for receiving one or more articles (20). The sheath has an open end or outlet (44) and allows one or more articles to slide relative thereto in the direction substantially parallel to the base portion between a storage position and one or more dispensing positions.
US08701887B2
A container adapted to be stacked on top of a second container is provided. The container includes a first end wall and a sidewall having a first end and a second end. The container includes a first seam coupling the first end wall to the first end of the sidewall, the first seam including a shoulder extending inwardly from an outer surface of the first seam. The container includes an alignment feature extending from the shoulder away from the first end wall. The alignment feature is adapted to align the container relative to the second container and to resist lateral movement of the container relative to the second container when the container is stacked on top of the second container.
US08701886B2
The present invention teaches a packaging box and a related manufacturing method. The packaging box contains a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover is an assembly of a first member and a second member embedded in a first indentation of the first member. The first member directly supports the packaged objects and has a better buffering capability than that of the second member. The bottom cover is an assembly of a third member and a fourth member embedded in a second indentation of the third member. The third member directly supports the packaged objects and has a better buffering capability than that of the fourth member. As such, the present invention can effectively reduce the material cost as well as product cost for the packaging box.
US08701881B2
A container comprising a housing defining a main storage space and a lid attachable to the housing to close said main storage space is disclosed. The lid includes a central recess and a cover attachable to the lid to close the central recess so to define a secondary storage space. Furthermore, the cover is magnetically detachable from the lid.
US08701871B2
A belt conveyor having snagless retractable flights. The flights rotate from a retracted position generally parallel to a top conveying surface on the conveyor belt to an extended position standing up and away from the top surface. In one version of the flight, a distal edge of the flight is bent downward into a cavity in the top surface of the belt when the flight is retracted. In another version, rollers at the distal end of the flight extend upstream of the distal edge of the flight. The flight rollers are rotated when the flight is retraced to lift and propel conveyed articles over the edges of the flight. Thus, both flights avoid snagging articles with discontinuous bottoms.
US08701870B1
A slat for use in an agricultural harvester including a web securable to a material moving system. A first and second leg extending outwardly from one side of the web, the first leg providing primary impetus for movement of crop material in a first direction by the material moving system. A third leg extending outwardly from an opposed side of the web and providing secondary impetus for movement of crop material by driven movement of the material moving system. In response to the slat encountering a foreign object that becomes wedged between the first leg, the third leg and structure of the material moving system and preventing driven movement of the material movement system in the first direction, upon application of force urging movement of the material movement system in an opposed second direction, the third leg facilitating a rotational movement of the slat for dislodging the foreign object.
US08701865B2
The invention includes a machine for handling and unscrambling empty containers provided with a bottom and with an opening. The machine comprises a carousel rotating about an axis of rotation and is provided with a plurality of pockets. Each of the pockets is provided with a respective channel for descent of the containers through gravity towards a handling area below. The machine further comprises a carousel feeding device equipped with a detecting system which detects the orientation of the containers before the containers are unscrambled. A respective unscrambling station of the containers is provided for each pocket which is controlled on the basis of information supplied by the detecting system and designed to arrange said containers correctly unscrambled with said opening facing upwards.
US08701863B2
Diverter disc for a conveyer system, comprising a circular outer periphery and an grip opening formed in the periphery of the diverter disc, where the grip opening is adapted to hold and divert a puck comprising a circular slide ring at the contact region and that the grip opening is shaped in a non circular shape such that a plurality of discrete contact points are formed in the grip opening. The advantage of the diverter disc is that it will be able to hold the slide ring of a puck in a more secure way due to the reduced contact surface compared with a conventional diverter disc.
US08701857B2
A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.
US08701853B2
A housing for use with a clutch assembly includes an annular wall disposed around an axis and extending between an open end of the housing and a floor of the housing with the floor extending toward the axis. A plurality of splines are spaced around the annular wall and extends between the open end and the floor. The splines define a work surface for engaging teeth of a clutch plate with the work surface being fractured from the annular wall providing a substantially normal relationship to the annular wall.
US08701844B2
The invention relates to a brake dust collector (10) for a disc brake (12) comprising a brake disc (18) and a brake caliper (16) clasping the latter. The brake dust collector (10) includes a housing (24) designed to clasp a portion of the brake disc (18) directly adjoining the brake caliper (16) in the main direction of rotation (R) of the brake disc (18). Provided arranged in the housing (24) is a brake dust retainer comprising a plurality of brake dust intake ports. To ensure practically total retainment of the resulting brake dust without detrimenting, indeed, even improving the cooling of the disc brake (12) the housing (24) features a plurality of air intake ports (34; 38) separate from the inner brake dust intake ports, making it possible to direct the inflow of air in the direction of the brake disc (18) and into the inner brake dust intake ports.
US08701837B2
A chain-type driving force transmitting apparatus includes a case having a lower space accumulating therein lubricating oil, an input shaft rotatably supported by the case, an output shaft arranged in parallel with the input shaft and rotatably supported by the case, and a chain wound around the input shaft and the output shaft and lifting up the lubricating oil accumulated in the lower space of the case. The chain-type driving force transmitting apparatus further includes a separator positioned adjacent to the chain and dividing the lower space of the case into a first chamber housing the chain and a second chamber. The separator has an inclined portion formed at an upper end of the separator and inclining towards the chain so as to receive the lubricating oil lifted up by the chain, wherein the lubricating oil received by the inclined portion flows into the second chamber.
US08701824B2
The inside of a muffler main body formed from an outer plate into the shape of a cylinder is divided into an upstream-side expansion chamber and downstream-side expansion chambers by partition walls. A catalyst is contained in the upstream-side expansion chamber having a larger volume, and a cylinder-shaped reinforcement member is attached to an inner surface of the outer plate of the upstream-side expansion chamber.
US08701822B2
A noise-attenuating covering configured for example for a pipe for guiding gases along a gas path. The covering includes a wall defining the gas path and at least one resonance cavity, the wall being pierced with holes for fluid communication between the gas path and the resonance cavity to attenuate noise. The holes have substantially identical diameters and, since the pipe is arranged to guide the gases in the downstream direction, a number of the openings per wall surface unit decreases continuously along the gas path in the downstream direction, such as to confer on the wall substantially constant acoustic resistance along the gas path, for which the noise attenuation is optimized along the gas path.
US08701818B2
A working vehicle includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a first hydraulic motor, a vehicle speed detecting unit, a parking brake, a parking brake operating member and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine whether the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold when the parking brake operating member is operated. The control unit is configured to execute a brake control that decreases a displacement of the first hydraulic pump and increases a displacement of the first hydraulic motor without activating the parking brake when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold in a state when the vehicle is traveling, and to activate the parking brake when the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined threshold.
US08701801B2
An electric vehicle which includes in-wheel motor driving devices and an independent-steering apparatus and is capable of making pivot turns within a minimum-required parking space, having a structure without a chassis and a part of the body protruding out of a minimum-required circular space necessary for the wheels to make pivot turning. In a case where the electric vehicle has four wheels including left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels, an in-wheel motor driving device is incorporated only in the left and right front wheels, only in the left and right rear wheels, or in all of the wheels. An independent-steering apparatus serves for all of the wheels. A kingpin axis in each of the wheels makes an intersection with a road surface on a circle inboard of a vehicle chassis.
US08701800B2
A solar electric vehicle (SEV) with large foldable surface area that can be oriented towards the sun for peak generation of electricity. The surfaces of the SEV are mounted on a flexible chassis for elevation tracking, while the drive train provides azimuth tracking. The SEV also integrates the conversion of power from various sources, to various storage or power consumption devices.
US08701799B2
A pocket restitution assembly comprises a pocket formed in a surface that includes a central axis, an anchor seated in the pocket and aligned with the central axis, a tool attachment comprising an end for connection to the anchor, and a hollow bit slidably and rotatably sitting on the tool attachment. The hollow bit may fit within the pocket. Weld material may be deposited within the pocket to form an interior of the pocket. The weld material may be shaped by the hollow bit to accept a cutting element.
US08701798B1
Some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies including a superabrasive cutting element that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, enclosed in an enclosure that restricts rotation of the superabrasive cutting element, or combinations of the foregoing. Additionally, some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies in which a superabrasive cutting element is mechanically fastened to a base, such as a substrate or directly to a bit body of a rotary drill bit. Some embodiments also relate to cutting element assemblies including one or more superabrasive cutting elements that are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element assembly, that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, that may be enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, or combinations thereof.
US08701795B2
A technique facilitates the drilling of deviated wellbores. A steerable drilling system is formed with a pair of components pivotably mounted with respect to each other. A removable strike ring is mounted to one of the steerable drilling system components and is positioned to engage a corresponding strike ring in a manner which limits the maximum pivot angle between the steerable drilling system components. By interchanging the removable strike ring with other removable strike rings, the maximum pivot angle can be adjusted in the field to accommodate drilling of a wider variety of deviated wellbores.
US08701789B2
The invention relates to a compressed air foam producer, wherein a fire or decontamination specific additive is injected directly into the foam forming flow supplied to the main water flow and/or the main water flow. A mixing pump for the foaming agent draws off an auxiliary and motive water flow, wherein initially the additive and then the foaming agent is injected. The foaming agent-additive-water mixture, which is produced directly on site, is mixed well together and with the main water flow ensuring a fine, uniform distribution of the additives in the compressed air foam. The thus produced compressed air foam ensures optimal, economical and environmentally friendly fire-fighting and decontamination.
US08701778B2
A downhole tester valve (100) includes a housing assembly (106) and a mandrel assembly (172, 174) that define therebetween an operating fluid chamber (176), a biasing fluid chamber (184) and a power fluid chamber (180). A valve assembly (126) disposed within the housing assembly (106) is operable between open and closed positions. A piston assembly (146) is operably associated with the valve assembly (126) such that annulus pressure entering the power fluid chamber (180) pressurizes operating fluid in the operating fluid chamber (176) which acts on the piston assembly (146) to shift the valve assembly (126) from the closed position to the open position and such that predetermined travel of the piston assembly (146) opens a bypass passageway (162) for the pressurized operating fluid to charge biasing fluid in the biasing fluid chamber (184), thereby enabling closure of the valve assembly (126) upon reducing annulus pressure by a predetermined amount.
US08701774B2
An improvement over known hydraulic fracturing fluids. Boundary layer kinetic mixing material is added to components of fracturing fluid wherein kinetic mixing material is a plurality of particles wherein at least 25% of particles are several types, i.e., having surface characteristics of thin walls, three dimensional wedge-like sharp blades, points, jagged bladelike surfaces, thin blade surfaces, three-dimensional blade shapes that may have shapes similar to a “Y”, “V” or “X” shape or other geometric shape, slightly curved thin walls having a shape similar to an egg shell shape, crushed hollow spheres, sharp bladelike features, 90° corners that are well defined, conglomerated protruding arms in various shapes, such as cylinders, rectangles, Y-shaped particles, X-shaped particles, octagons, pentagon, triangles, and diamonds. The resulting fluid exhibits improved dispersion of additives as well providing stabilization to a hydraulic fracture by reducing incidents of proppant grain column collapse and by reducing proppant flow back.
US08701771B2
A downhole heated fluid generation system includes an air subsystem having at least one of an air compressor and an air flow control valve; a fuel subsystem having at least one of a fuel compressor and a fuel flow control valve; a treatment fluid subsystem having a fluid pump; a combustor fluidly coupled to at least one of the air subsystem, the fuel subsystem, or the treatment fluid subsystem, and operable to provide a heated fluid into a wellbore; and a controller operable to receive an input representing a heated fluid parameter; determine a virtual heated fluid generation rate based at least partially on the heated fluid parameter; and control at least one of the air subsystem, the fuel subsystem, or the treatment fluid subsystem by the virtual heated fluid generation rate.
US08701764B2
A plant for generation of steam for oil sand recovery from carbonaceous fuel with capture of CO2 from the exhaust gas, comprising heat coils (105, 105′, 105″) arranged in a combustion chamber (101) to cool the combustion gases in the combustion chamber to produce steam and superheated steam in the heat coils, steam withdrawal lines (133, 136, 145) for withdrawing steam from the heat coils, an exhaust gas line (106) for withdrawal of exhaust gas from the combustion chamber (101), where the combustion chamber operates at a pressure of 5 to 15 bara, and one or more heat exchanger(s) (107, 108) are provided for cooling of the combustion gas in line (106), a contact device (113) where the cooled combustion gas is brought in countercurrent flow with a lean CO2 absorbent to give a rich absorbent and a CO2 depleted flue gas, withdrawal lines (114, 115) for withdrawal of rich absorbent and CO2 depleted flue gas, respectively, from the contact device, the line (115) for withdrawal of CO2 depleted flue gas being connected to the heat exchangers (107, 108) for heating of the CO2 depleted flue gas, and where the rich absorbent is regenerated an absorbent regenerator (116), the regenerated lean absorbent is recycled to the absorber (113), and a gas withdrawal line (121) connected to the absorber for withdrawal of CO2 and steam from the regenerator (116), is described.
US08701761B2
Disclosed are systems and method for servicing a wellbore and otherwise triggering a downhole tool. One method includes arranging an assembly within a lubricator coupled to a tree. The assembly includes at least one downhole tool and a signal receiver subassembly. A signal is communicated to the signal receiver subassembly before the assembly is introduced into the wellbore, the signal being configured to activate a timer. The assembly is then introduced into the wellbore and advanced until reaching a target depth. At the target depth, a trigger signal is transmitted to the at least one downhole tool using the signal receiver subassembly, the trigger signal being configured to initiate actuation of the at least one downhole tool.
US08701760B2
A method for using RF energy to facilitate the production of oil from formations separated from the RF energy source by a rock stratum comprises operating an antenna to transmit RF energy into a hydrocarbon formation, the hydrocarbon formation comprised of a first hydrocarbon portion above and adjacent to the antenna, a second hydrocarbon portion above the first hydrocarbon portion, and a rock stratum between the first hydrocarbon portion and the second hydrocarbon portion. The operation of the antenna heats water in the hydrocarbon formation to produce steam in the hydrocarbon formation, and the steam heats hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon formation and fractures the rock stratum to produce fissures in the rock stratum. The heated hydrocarbons in the second hydrocarbon portion flows into the first hydrocarbon portion through the fissures in the rock stratum.
US08701753B2
An apparatus and method for cooling a planar workpiece, such as a substrate of a recording disk, in an evacuated environment has a heat exchanging structure with at least two heat sinks having substantially parallel facing surfaces disposed within a vacuum chamber. A drive arrangement is connected to the heat sinks to controllably and dynamically drive the parallel facing surfaces of the heat sinks towards and away from each other.
US08701748B2
A novel outlet fitting for use in connection with a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is used in the role of a quench exchanger for cooling cracking effluent and solves particular problems associated with gas-oil cracking applications and other heavy feed based applications wherein differences between process outlet temperature and coolant temperatures are larger than in, for example, naphtha and gas cracking applications. The specific solution is achieved through a novel outlet fitting for the quench exchanger that eliminates the need for a steam purge, addresses thermal stress issues and reduces pressure drop within the system. The outlet fitting includes internal insulation to avoid the need for a steam purge. In addition, the outlet fitting includes a low-angle diffuser with an angle of less than 7 degrees and preferably less than 5 degrees.
US08701742B2
The embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for counter-gravity formation of BMG-containing hollow parts. In one embodiment, the BMG-containing hollow parts may be formed by first feeding a molten metal alloy in a counter-gravity direction into a mold cavity to deposit the molten metal alloy on a surface of the mold cavity and then solidifying the deposited molten metal alloy.
US08701739B2
Partition systems comprise a track and at least one partition configured to hang from and move along the track. A control box configured to contain at least a power supply for supplying power to a drive system, a floating jamb, and a trolley configured to attach to the floating jamb and rollingly engage with the track are also included. The trolley comprises at least one frame member comprising a jamb attachment portion configured to attach to the floating jamb, a distance from the jamb attachment portion to a rearmost surface of the at least one frame member opposite an end of the at least one frame member configured to face the at least one partition being less than or equal to a thickness of the control box in a direction at least substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the trolley. At least one support roller is attached to the at least one frame member and configured to engage with the track.
US08701738B2
The present invention provides a cord controller to be mounted on a top rail of a window covering. The cord controller includes a base, a cord controlling device, and a cord regulating device. The base has a chamber therein and an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides of the chamber, and the cord controlling device and the cord regulating device are received in the chamber. The cord controlling device has a gap between the inlet and the outlet for the cord to pass through. The cord regulating device is adjacent to the outlet and has cord pressing bar to form a passageway between the cord pressing bar and the base for the cord to pass through. Therefore, the cord controller may avoid the cords twisting and keep a smooth movement of the cords.
US08701726B2
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an inlet device for regulating the inlet flow of the air tube pump.
US08701725B2
A tire for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a first circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that extend from the first circumferential groove and terminate at a first common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The tread further includes a second circumferential row of blocks disposed between the second circumferential groove and a third circumferential groove. Each of the blocks of the second circumferential row of blocks is delimited by a section of the second circumferential groove and by third and fourth transverse grooves that extend from the second circumferential groove and converge and terminate at a second common vertex. The first common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a circumferential tread rib.
US08701711B2
A rotary flow valve apparatus and associated systems and methods, comprising: a front plate (11) comprising a plurality of fluid entry ports (14) running therethrough; a rear plate (12) comprising one central fluid exit port (30) running through a substantial center thereof and P peripheral fluid exit ports (31-36) running through a substantially circumferential periphery thereof; P flow selector bars (91) integrally connecting the front plate (11) with the rear plate (12) and fixing the front plate relative to the rear plate; P inter-bar flow channels (92) defined between rotationally-adjacent pairs of the flow selector bars (91); and a selector cylinder (13) seated over and freely and continuously rotatable around the flow selector bars and relative to the front and rear plates.There are twice as many entry ports (14) as peripheral exit ports (31-36). When peripheral flow channel (62) aligns with two such ports, flow to central exit port (30) is blocked by a selector bar (91) and fluid exits only through the selected peripheral exit port. When the peripheral flow channel (62) aligns with a blank on plate (12) radially aligned with a flow channel (92), flow is allowed through channel (92) and fluid exits only through the central exit port (30). When the peripheral flow channel (62) is in an intermediate position fluid exits through both a peripheral exit port and the central exit port.
US08701697B2
A pneumatic system includes a first line, a second line, and a valve. The first line is configured to be connected to a container, and to convey a flow of gas from a source to the container. The second line is arranged co-axially with the first line and is in communication with gas in the container. The valve is connected in series with the first line, between the source and the container. Furthermore, the valve is in communication with the second line and is configured to control the flow of gas through the first line as a function of a characteristic of the gas in the container, as communicated by the second line.
US08701693B2
A check valve includes a valve body having a valve seat, a diffuser, a disc coupled to the diffuser, and a compression spring. The diffuser is positioned inside the valve body and has a forward face. The disc is coupled to and movable relative to the diffuser and has an upstream face and a downstream face. The compression spring biases the disc into a normally open position during forward flow. A check valve apparatus further comprises at least one test bore through the valve member in communication with the disc. A method for testing the operation of a passive check valve is also disclosed.
US08701691B2
A portable and collapsible multi-person layout hunting blind. The blind includes a head end, a foot end, a first side and a second side. A pivotal foot panel is movably mounted on the blind at the foot end of the blind. First and second pivotal side doors are provided at the head end of the blind. The blind has a width sufficient so that at least two, and perhaps more, hunters may position themselves in the blind.
US08701690B2
The present invention relates to horizontal frame tensile structures (“HFTS”) of the kind employing corner elements to interconnect beams and posts. The corner elements of the invention comprise 1) two arms that engage the ends of adjacent beams, and 2) a leg that engages the top of a post. The arms are splayed so as to produce canted corner angles. Optionally, or additionally, the leg angle of the corner element is canted. Canting the corner angle and/or the leg angle causes the beams to bow upwards and/or outwards, thereby effectively increasing the angle in the horizontal plane between adjacent beams. This bow in the beams is reduced or eliminated when the membrane is attached to the frame, thereby providing straight beams and an aesthetically pleasing profile and introducing beneficial increased tension into the frame.
US08701684B2
The present invention pertains to a brush (1), in particular for the application of colors, dyes or any other composition onto a surface, in particular onto hair. The brush includes a handle (2) for the brush to be held by a user and a brush head (3) including bristles (32) for the application of colors, dyes or other composition onto the surface, the brush head being connected to the handle. The handle (2) includes at least one gripping section (20) showing a substantially polygonal cross-section.
US08701680B2
A novel cigar is provided with an elongated cigar puller device which extends into the interior of the cigar. By removing the cigar puller from the device, the tobacco fill material of the cigar is disrupted so as to improve the draw of the cigar. Some of the cigar puller devices can be used to infuse flavorants into the cigar to alter the taste and/or aroma of the cigar.
US08701668B2
A nasal assembly includes a patient interface including a hollow body that defines an air chamber and a pair of nozzles supported by the hollow body. Each nozzle includes a conical tip structured to sealingly communicate with a respective nasal passage of a patient's nose in use. Headgear is provided to the patient interface so as to maintain the patient interface in a desired position on the patient's face in use. The hollow body is bendable to adjust a position of the nozzles in use.
US08701666B2
An adapter for connecting, in particular, respiratory implements such as tubes, tube extensions, filters, breather bags, or artificial noses to a tube having a particularly conically tapered connector. the adapter has a clamping section that may be fixed to the connector in a frictionally engaged manner. The clamping section of the adapter may be radially expanded from a first clamping position in which the inner diameter of the clamping section is less than the outer diameter of the connector into a second release position in which the inner diameter of the clamping section is greater than the outer diameter of the connector.
US08701661B2
An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters, each blister having a breachable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, an indexing wheel mounted in the housing rotatable to drive a strip to sequentially move blisters into alignment with a blister piercing member, a control element pivotally mounted to the housing and a drive mechanism configured to couple the control element to the indexing wheel during part of the rotation of the control element by a user so that the indexing wheel rotates together with the control element.
US08701653B2
A novel thermal storage device includes a container of metallic phase change material (MPCM). The MPCM has a high latent heat of fusion and a high thermal conductivity in its solid state. A thermal energy receiver is adapted to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source and transfer the thermal energy directly to the MPCM, without the need for an intermediate thermal transfer fluid. A thermal energy discharge mechanism transfers thermal energy directly from the MPCM to a device that uses the thermal energy. In a solar energy embodiment, the thermal energy receiver is formed from a material (e.g., polished copper) that has a relatively low absorptivity value and a relatively low emissivity coefficient, which unexpectedly results in the attainment of a highly efficient solar receiver.
US08701648B2
The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.
US08701640B2
The present disclosure is directed to specialized flying discs and launching devices having a launching arm that can be held by a user, the arm being coupled to a flying disc via a coupler disposed at the launching end of the arm, and an attachment member disposed on the periphery of the flying disc. When swung by the user with appropriate force, the disc becomes un-coupled from the arm and takes flight. In some examples, the attachment members define distinct attachment nodes disposed within attachment openings. In some other examples the attachment member defines a concentric ring disposed on the periphery of the disc.
US08701638B2
The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine. An electric transformer excites an oscillating circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A capacitor is formed by an ignition electrode together with the wall of a combustion chamber through which it extends. The excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled by generating a corona discharge igniting the fuel-air mixture. Before each ignition time the voltage applied to a primary winding of the transformer is incrementally increased, and the intensity of the current flowing in the primary winding is measured repeatedly at the same primary voltage. The variation of the values of the related primary current is determined, and the incremental increase in the primary voltage is aborted at a value thereof at which the variation of the primary current intensity reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.
US08701635B2
A supercharger system is disclosed herein having a front end, a rear end, an inlet and an outlet, the system contained within a housing, wherein the supercharger system includes a rotor assembly, and a plurality of intake runners that comprise an interlaced cross-runner pattern, wherein the supercharger system comprises a front drive, front inlet configuration and an inverted orientation.
US08701634B2
A zero-governor fitting structure for a gas engine, configured in such a manner that the lower half of a fuel tank for a gasoline engine is utilized as a support box for supporting the zero-governor in which a gas supply inlet pipe and a zero governor can be reliably mounted with vibration and heating of the zero-governor avoided. A zero-governor mounting structure for a gas engine equipped with a zero-governor is provided with a support box fixed to the upper part of the gas engine. The support box is formed as a box having two depths. The zero-governor is supported, through a vibration insulation gasket, on the bottom plate of the shallower depth space of the support box. A gas supply inlet pipe and an elbow joint which is connected to the gas supply inlet pipe and can be bent the direction of the gas flow at a right angle toward the zero-governor are received in the deeper depth space, and the elbow joint is connected to the bottom inlet of the zero-governor.
US08701631B2
A valve member of a pressure relief valve has a shaft portion, a pressure receiving portion, and a guide portion, wherein the valve member is axially movable in a fuel return passage. When a forward end of the shaft portion is seated on a valve seta, the fuel return passage is closed, while the shaft portion is separated from the valve seat the fuel return passage is opened. A notched portion is formed at an outer wall of the guide portion to thereby form an outer-surface passage. A fuel inlet port is formed in the valve member for communicating a fuel inlet chamber to the fuel return passage at a downstream side of the valve member.
US08701630B2
Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a knock control fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, and CMCV, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
US08701623B2
A multi-link, adjustable-stroke type engine includes: a timing gear provided on and concentrically with a crankshaft; an eccentric gear provided on an eccentric shaft and meshing with the timing gear so that rotation of the timing gear is transmitted to the eccentric gear; a lubricating oil passage provided in a cylinder barrel for supplying lubricating oil to lower shaft end portions of the crankshaft and eccentric shaft; and an ejection section provided in the lubricating oil passage for ejecting lubricating oil toward a meshing engagement section between the timing gear and the eccentric gear.
US08701611B2
A system for an engine drive that engages a timing band with a camshaft and a crankshaft is provided. The system further includes a coupling device that couples the camshaft to another camshaft that is not engaged with the timing band. The coupling device and the camshafts are in such a configuration that the camshafts rotate in opposing directions.
US08701606B2
A variable compression ratio V-type internal combustion engine joins the cylinder blocks of two cylinder groups together and makes the joined cylinder blocks move relative to a crankcase. The variable compression ratio V-type internal combustion engine includes a first relative movement mechanism and a second relative movement mechanism. The first relative movement mechanism and the second relative movement mechanism can be independently controlled, and a first relative movement distance at one cylinder group side of the cylinder block in the direction of the centerline of the engine which passes through the center of the crank shaft as seen in the front plan view caused by the first relative movement mechanism and a second relative movement distance at the other cylinder group side of the cylinder block in the direction of the centerline of the engine caused by the second relative movement mechanism are able to made different.
US08701605B2
A spark ignition type internal combustion engine of the present invention is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio, a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve, and a supercharger. At the time of engine low load operation, the mechanical compression ratio is made higher compared with at the time of engine high load operation. At the time of engine medium load operation, the supercharging action of the supercharger is used to make the pressure inside the intake pipe rise so that the intake air amount fed into a combustion chamber is increased, compared with at the time of engine low load operation, and the mechanical compression ratio is lowered to make the actual compression ratio fall.
US08701603B2
A control valve unit for a liquid circuit of an internal combustion engine, includes a valve housing (1) having at least one inlet opening (2) or outlet opening (2′) and at least two outlet openings (31, 32, 33) or inlet openings (31′, 32′, 33′) and at least two closing elements (41, 42, 43) actuated by a control device (22). The closing elements selectively open or close an associated outlet or inlet opening. The closing elements may be continuously adjusted between maximum open and closed positions. The control device (22) includes at least one displaceable or rotatable cam (6) and includes at least two cam tracks (71, 72, 73), each of which is assigned to a closing element (41, 42, 43) and acts on at least one driving pin (11) that is in contact with said closing element (41, 42, 43). The cams (6) are adjusted by an actuator (8).
US08701598B1
A dog bone carrier adapted for receiving and holding various sizes of hollow dog bones, that allows for chewing satisfaction for the animal, while protecting household surfaces for the owner. The carrier includes an elongated shaft having opposite ends attached to first and second end piece balls. The shaft has a length greater than the length of the dog bone for providing a chewing space. A chewing space allows the dog to engage the side of one end of the bone with his or her mouth and also allows space for additional chews. The diameter of the shaft is less than an interior diameter of the hollow bone to allow the dog bone to slide back and forth on the shaft. This difference in diameters forms a treat space. The diameter of the first and second balls is greater than an exterior diameter or width of the dog bone. This difference in the diameter of the end piece balls and the exterior diameter of the dog bone provides for a non-contact zone to prevent the exterior of the dog bone from engaging and scratching a surface, when the carrier is dropped and rolled thereon.
US08701596B2
A method for the mass production of fish belonging to the order of Cypriniforms, notably to the family of Cobitidae, from spawners which are raised in closed circuit.
US08701586B2
A magnetic wear saving device including a resilient member and a magnetic member for protecting a wear surface on a material handling device. The magnetic wear saving device further including a release means provided within a bore formed through and along the central axes of the resilient member and the magnetic member for removing the magnetic wear saving device from the wear surface of the material handling device. There may be a single shear plate with several recesses for the magnetic wear saving devices, or the wear surface of the equipment itself may be integrally formed with recesses for the magnetic wear saving devices.
US08701583B2
A catamaran (10) has two spaced demihulls (12) which are connected by an upper superstructure above the waterline. The catamaran (10) includes a main hydrofoil (26) extending between the demihulls at keel level slightly forward of the longitudinal center of gravity LCG (22) of the catamaran. Each demihull (12) defines an aft swept step formation (28) located slightly forward of the LCG (22) and extending transversely relative to a longitudinal center line CL defined between the demihulls. Each step formation (28) defines a step extending along a straight line and having a height dimension which tapers from an inner position at the keel (18) of the hull towards an outer position at the chine (20) of the hull. Each demihull defines a planing region immediately in front of the step formation (28), which has a concave hydrodynamic profile configured to generate lift on a wetted area of the hull.
US08701565B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a first door assembly operable to at least partially cover an opening of a rail car. The system also includes an actuator. A first common linkage is coupled to the actuator and is operable to reciprocally move in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator. In particular embodiments, a first secondary linkage is coupled to the first common linkage and is coupled to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car.
US08701562B2
On-board model railroad speaker enclosure designs are presented that allow maximum sized speakers, improve impedance matching of sound to the outside of the locomotive, and isolate back and front speaker waves while maintaining the standard horizontal drive-train in model train locomotives.
US08701558B2
A device for enabling safe/arm functionality in a gravity dropped weapon detachably connected to an airframe. The device including: an elastic element disposed in a shell of the weapon; a releasable connection between the weapon and the airframe to release a stored and/or generated energy in the elastic element; and a piezoelectric member connected to one end of the elastic member for converting the one or more of the stored and generated energy to an electrical energy. Wherein the releasable connection includes: a link having a movable connection for movement of the link relative to the shell between a first position constraining the elastic element from movement and a second position releasing the elastic member to generate the electrical energy; and a lanyard for tethering the link to the airframe such that the link is moved to the second position upon the weapon being released from the airframe.
US08701556B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a handheld stamp assembly. The handheld stamp assembly includes a stamp mount having a top member with an opening and a bottom member capable of being slid into the top member along a first direction through the opening, wherein the top member and the bottom member form an enclosure when the top member slides into and is secured with the bottom member; and a handle coupled to the stamp mount in a detachable manner along a second direction.
US08701543B2
This application discloses a firearm gas system that includes a gas block that defines a gas port and a passage that receives a gas tube and an orifice plate that defines at least two orifices, where the orifice plate is positioned between a gas port in the barrel and the gas port on the gas block and where the orifice plate is movable with respect to the gas ports in the barrel and gas block to selectively position one of the orifices between the gas ports in the barrel and gas block where the orifices in the orifice plate have different orifice sizes.
US08701540B2
An armor includes a metallic matrix; a plurality of ceramic rods disposed in the metallic matrix, the plurality of ceramic rods and the metallic matrix forming a core; and a spall liner disposed adjacent a rear face of the core. The metallic matrix places a compressive stress on the plurality of ceramic rods. A method for making an armor includes the steps of providing a plurality of ceramic rods in a desired configuration and embedding the plurality of ceramic rods in a metallic matrix to form a core, such that the metallic matrix provides a compressive stress to the plurality of ceramic rods. The method further includes providing a spall liner and disposing the spall liner adjacent a rear surface of the core to form an armor.
US08701538B2
Multiple embodiments of a system are disclosed for defeating enemy missiles and rockets by the use of a non-lethal cloud of pellets that collide with the missile a certain distance away from the target causing premature detonation of the missile, and/or possible severe damage to the missile, and/or deflection of the missile, and/or a deformation to the ogive cones to cause a short in the fuze circuit, and/or deposition of conductive material to cause a short in the fuze circuit.
US08701537B2
A cutting tool that includes a base body including at least one deformable clamping element and at least one bit seat in which an insert is positionable, and at least one control element positioned in a recess of the base body. The at least one control element is positionable to bias the at least one deformable clamping element against the insert to hold the insert in the at least one bit seat.
US08701533B2
According to one embodiment, a sheet material cutting device includes a rotatable blade including a blade unit, which extends from one end of the rotary shaft to the other end thereof and defines a predetermined angle relative to an axial direction of the rotary shaft, provided on the outer circumference of a rotary shaft rotatably supported by a support frame. The sheet material cutting device further includes a fixed blade mounted on the support frame so as to be opposed to the rotatable blade and configured to cut a sheet material in a transverse direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the sheet material that is perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The sheet material cutting device further includes a sheet-suspension prevention unit configured to prevent a rear edge of the sheet material in its feed direction from being suspended within the support frame.
US08701532B2
A method includes removing material from a die and thereby changing a location of a cutting edge of the die in a punch entry direction and changing a cutting edge cross-section of the die; and assigning a punch and/or a workpiece thickness to the die based, at least in part, on the change in the cutting edge cross-section of the die.
US08701530B2
A method is provided to cut a thin-walled member without causing chattering vibration, without using a chattering vibration preventing retainer, that performs the following: (A) preparing a material having much stock for obtaining a thin-walled material, (B) while rotating the material about a center axis, cutting the inner round surface of the material within a predetermined range by feeding a cutting tool relative to material by the desired distance from one end side to the other end side of the material along the center axis, (C) while rotating the material about the center axis, cutting the outer round surface of the material within a predetermined range by feeding the cutting tool relative to the material by the desired distance from the one end side to the other end side of the material along the center axis, and (D) alternately repeating (B) and (C) to finish cutting the material.
US08701529B2
A method of grooving a work-piece of superalloy uses a grooving cutting insert at least partially covered with a Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) layer and having one or more interior ducts formed therein which open out to the insert's rake face at one or more corresponding openings. One or more coolant fluid streams, conveyed via these interior ducts at a pressure of no less than 200 bars, are directed upwardly and outwardly toward an interaction area between a cutting edge of the cutting insert and the work-piece, to thereby limit lengths of work-piece chips created during the grooving operation. The openings of the cutting insert's interior ducts may be located between 0.5-3.0 mm from the insert's cutting edge.
US08701525B2
A nut driver bit is designed to install nuts onto threaded shafts, such as all-thread rods and bolts. The nut driver bit may be driven by a power drill which causes a driver end of the nut driver bit to rotate. The driver end may contact a nut, thereby causing the nut to rotate. The driver end may be covered in with a contact grip for gripping the nut during use. A worker may install and spin a nut on a threaded shaft without requiring their fingers to manually rotate the nut. The nut driver bit may drastically reduce the time required to install nuts onto threaded rods.
US08701498B2
A device for determining material properties includes a bottom panel extending from a first end to a second end of the device, for supporting a material to be tested. A closed loop flexible wall extends upwardly from the panel and is in operational engagement with a flexible wall idle means towards the first end of the device and a flexible wall driving means in spaced relation with the flexible wall idle means. The flexible wall driving means causes movement of the closed loop flexible wall along a predetermined closed loop path. The flexible wall driving means and the means of driving it are arranged at a position outside of a material containment area of the device.
US08701496B1
Systems and methods for a pressure sensor are provided, where the pressure sensor comprises a housing having a high side input port that allows a high pressure media to enter a high side of the housing and a low side input port that allows a low pressure media to enter a low side of the housing when the housing is placed in an environment containing the high and low pressure media; a substrate mounted within the housing; a stress isolation member mounted to the substrate; a die stack having sensing circuitry bonded to the stress isolation member; a low side atomic layer deposition (ALD) applied to surfaces, of the substrate, the stress isolation member, and the die stack, exposed to the low side input port; and a high side ALD applied to surfaces, of the stress isolation member and the die stack, exposed to the high side input port.
US08701495B2
An apparatus for remote inspection of fire extinguishers at one or a system of fire extinguisher stations includes, e.g., at each fire extinguisher station: a detector for lack of presence of a fire extinguisher in its installed position at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for out-of-range pressure of contents of the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for an obstruction to viewing of or access to the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; and a device for transmission of inspection report information from the fire extinguisher station to a remote central station.
US08701494B1
An apparatus and method for testing composite structures in which ultrasonic waves are used to detect disbonds in the structures are described. The apparatus comprises a flexible structure carrying acousto-optical transducers such as fiber Bragg gratings. During use, the apparatus is mechanically and conformally coupled to the structure under test.
US08701491B2
A method of performing near-field acoustic holography comprises the following steps. Establishing (102) acoustic data representing a set of near-field acoustic holography measurements at a first set of positions. Extrapolating (204) acoustic data using a model-based extrapolation to obtain extrapolated acoustic data relating to a plurality of positions outside the aperture. Applying (108) a spatial frequency transform to the padded acoustic data to obtain data in a spatial frequency domain. Propagating (110) the Fourier transformed acoustic data. Applying (112) a regularization in a wavenumber domain. Performing (114) an inverse spatial frequency transform.
US08701484B2
A measurement system for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a capacitor, a signal generator, a digital counter, counter register, a digital clock, a digital timer, and a data register. The sensor of the measurement system is the capacitor. The measurement system generates a repeating signal having a measurement cycle that corresponds to the capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitor comprises more than one capacitor mechanically in series. Electrically, the capacitor comprises more than one capacitor in parallel. In one embodiment, the capacitor includes a dielectric layer comprising polyimide. A force, pressure, or load is applied to the capacitor that elastically compresses the device.
US08701483B2
A measuring device is for determining a separating layer or a mixing ratio in a container. The measuring device comprises two fill-level measuring apparatuses that acquire the echo curves in a standpipe and outside the standpipe, respectively. Solely from these two echo curves the position of a virtual boundary layer or the mixing ratio of the two different liquids can be determined.
US08701482B2
A system for monitoring wind characteristics in a volume including a plurality of non-coherent laser anemometers operative to measure wind characteristics in a plurality of corresponding sub-volumes located within the volume and a data processing subsystem operative to receive data from the plurality of non-coherent laser anemometers and to provide output data representing the wind characteristics in the volume.
US08701468B2
A method for determining the flow of an anode gas out of an anode sub-system. The method includes providing pressure measurements at predetermined sample times over a predetermined sample period and using the pressure measurements to calculate a slope of a line defining a change of the pressure from the beginning of the time period to the end of the time period. The slope of the pressure line is then used in a flow equation to determine the amount of gas that flows out of the anode sub-system, which can be through a valve or by system leaks.
US08701464B2
A gas chromatography system comprising a sample introduction device, an oven coupled to the sample introduction device and a detector coupled to the oven is disclosed. In certain examples, the oven may be configured to receive a chromatography column in a space in the oven. In some examples, the oven may be constructed and arranged to provide a substantially constant temperature to the space during an analysis stage of the gas chromatography system.
US08701462B2
A shim stack testing apparatus and method of determining a stiffness of the shim stick may be employed to assemble a shim stack kit. The apparatus includes a testing jig that receives either a compression or rebound shim stack. The testing jig may be used with a variety of testing machines capable of determining force versus deflection. The test jig includes a simulated piston rod coupled to a simulated piston valve having apertures. The shim stack being tested may be coupled to the piston at a selected location and then deflected by a pre-determined amount by a loading fixture having elongated prongs. Once the pre-determined deflection is achieved, a corresponding force is identified and then an overall stiffness value for the shim stack is obtained. Tested shim stacks may be assembled into kits with each having an identified stiffness that may be compared to a baseline stiffness value.
US08701458B2
A gas regulating device for use in calibration of a gas analyzer has an inlet and an outlet, a valve arrangement comprising at least one valve, and valve regulator for regulating the at least one valve. The gas regulating device is intended to be connected between a calibration gas supply and a gas analyzer that is to be calibrated and the valve regulator is configured to regulate the at least one valve such that gas is allowed to flow through a gas flow path between the inlet and outlet only when a gas pressure in the gas flow path, between the at least one valve and the outlet, falls below a predetermined threshold value. The gas regulating device is used when calibrating side-stream gas analyzers in which case it reduces calibration gas consumption, prevents discharge of calibration gas into the ambient environment and prevents leakages jeopardizing correct calibration.
US08701457B2
The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for positioning blanks in a tool provided with at least one die, at least one locating device for centring the lamination and at least one stripper element for separating the blank from the locating device. The locating device has an engaging portion having shape and dimensions so as to engage the contour of a centring hole placed inside the profile of the lamination obtained as final product and having the shape of a portion previously blanked.
US08701456B2
A roll stand with at least one pair of rolls mounted in a stand column and drive shafts, particularly cardan shafts, for the rotary drive of the rolls. A coupling for coupling the drive shafts to the rolls. Axial roll displacement is based on a drive shaft which has an actuating arrangement. Further, a method for axial roll displacement is disclosed.
US08701454B2
An apparatus includes a mandrel having a first end and a second end, the mandrel including a cavity formed therein, a pilot disposed in the cavity formed in the mandrel, a portion of the pilot extending outwardly from the first end of the mandrel, and an insert disposed in a channel formed in the mandrel and through an exterior surface of the mandrel, wherein a portion of the pilot abuts the insert and radial outward movement of the insert is caused by an axial movement of the pilot.
US08701452B2
A security device to secure a computer may include a substantially vertical pedestal, a fixed platform mounted on the pedestal, a clamping table to cooperate with the fixed platform to secure the computer and a locking assembly to allow the clamping table to be moved to allow the computer to be attached and released from the fixed platform in an unlocked state and to prevent the clamping table from being moved to hold the computer in a locked state, The locking assembly may include a locking knob to operate the locking assembly between the locked state and the unlocked state, and the locking knob may rotate freely in the locked state and rotates to allow the clamping table to be moved in the unlocked state.
US08701451B2
A laundry treating appliance having a drum, defining a treating chamber, with a lifter and a balancing system having at least one balancing ring and a reservoir located in the lifter and a liquid supply system fluidly coupled to the reservoir. Liquid may be supplied to the ring and to the reservoir through the ring to offset an imbalance in a laundry load located within the drum.
US08701449B2
Disclosed herein are a water level/vibration sensing apparatus and a washing machine having the same. The water level/vibration sensing apparatus includes a housing provided with a pressure chamber communicating with an air inlet, a diaphragm unit moving forward and backward according to the variation of a pressure in the pressure chamber, a core and a coil forming a frequency varied according to the forward and backward movement of the diaphragm unit, and a collision member striking the diaphragm unit according to the movement of the housing. Therefore, the water level/vibration sensing apparatus simultaneously senses the washing water level and the vibration of the washing machine.
US08701447B2
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber base material includes: forming a porous glass base material by depositing glass particles; providing a vessel which employs a composite tube, the composite tube including a portion formed by jacketing a first quartz glass containing aluminum equal to or less than 0.01 ppm with a second quartz glass containing aluminum equal to or more than 15 ppm; introducing dehydration reaction gas and inert gas into the vessel; heating the jacketed portion in the vessel which contains the dehydration reaction gas and the inert gas; and inserting the porous glass base material into the heated vessel to dehydrate and sinter the porous glass base material.
US08701441B2
A process for making inorganic, metal oxide spheres that includes exposing solidified, molded microparticles that include a glass precursor composition to a temperature sufficient to transform the molded microparticles into molten glass and cooling the molten glass to form inorganic, metal oxide spheres.
US08701438B1
A band has a major section of a major length with first and second free ends spaced by an opening of a minor length. First and second minor sections in a generally J-shaped configuration are coupled to each free end. The minor sections have lower, upper and intermediate segments. Each upper segment ends in a semicircular free tip. An opening is formed at each free tip. A decorative gem stone has an upper region in a generally dome-shaped configuration projecting above the upper segment. A topper is removably positioned within the opening and has a decorative center and opposed ends. The opposed ends include similarly configured first and second rings adapted to be removably coupled to the first and second minor sections of the band.
US08701433B2
A heat exchanger door system includes a heat exchanger and a first rotatable member, proximate to the heat exchanger, that rotates about an axis of rotation. The system includes a first door member rolled around the rotatable member and movable from a rolled position to an unrolled position in which the first door member covers more of the heat exchanger than when the door member is in the rolled position.
US08701431B2
An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes: an indoor device installed at indoor; an outdoor device connected to the indoor device using a refrigerant pipe; a ventilation unit for exchanging heat of outdoor air and indoor air while ventilating indoor air and outdoor air; and a guidance duct for communicating the ventilation unit and an air inhalation portion of the outdoor device in order to guide indoor air exhausted from the ventilation unit to an air inhalation portion faulted in the outdoor device. Therefore, the number of ventilation holes to form in an outer wall of a building can be minimized, a construction cost can be reduced, and performance of the air conditioner can be improved.
US08701430B2
A refrigeration unit body (31) is mounted to a trailer (20). The refrigeration unit body (31) includes a refrigerant circuit (40), an engine (50) and an electric generator (51). The refrigeration unit body (31) has a condensation side passage (70) formed from the front surface of the refrigeration unit body (31) to the top thereof. In the condensation side passage (70), a condenser (42) and an electrical component box (54) are disposed in series with condenser fans (44) for the condenser (42) and a radiator (55) in order from upstream to downstream of air flow. In addition, the refrigeration unit body (31) has an evaporation side passage (71) formed therein. The condenser fans (44) in the condensation side passage (70) and evaporation fans in the evaporation side passage are disposed alternately in the width direction of the refrigeration unit body (31).
US08701415B2
A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a flexible metallic seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
US08701406B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes an accumulator having a first plate with a first wire guide and a second plate with a second wire guide. The second plate is positioned at an offset from the first plate, and the second plate is moveable relative to the first plate to adjust a fluid pressure. The accumulator also includes a plurality of shape memory alloy wires extending between the first and second plates, wherein the plurality of shape memory alloy wires extend along the first and second wire guides.
US08701401B2
A first target engine speed is set in response to a command value commanded by a command unit and a second target engine speed lower than the first target engine speed is set based on the first target engine speed. A reduction range from the first target engine speed to the second target engine speed is set according to a type of a hydraulic actuator operated by an operation lever or a combination of plural hydraulic actuators operated by an operation lever.
US08701394B2
An electrically heated catalytic device includes an electrically heated catalyst accommodated in an outer casing provided on an exhaust pipe. A heater ring made of an insulating material is provided adjacent to an outer peripheral edge portion of an upstream end face of the electrically heated catalyst. The heat of the electrically heated catalyst is transferred to the heater ring by generating resistive heat in the electrically heated catalyst. When the soot in exhaust gas accumulates on the surface of the heater ring, the deposits of soot is removed through combustion by the heat from the surface of the heater ring.
US08701392B2
An internal combustion engine wherein an exhaust purification catalyst and a hydrocarbon feed valve are arranged downstream in an exhaust passage. A first NOX purification method, which removes NOX by making a concentration of hydrocarbons that flows into the exhaust purification catalyst vibrate within predetermined amplitude and period ranges and a second NOX purification method which utilizes an adsorption action of NOX to the exhaust purification catalyst are used. A high pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (HPL) causing recirculation of high pressure exhaust gas and a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (LPL) causing recirculation of low pressure exhaust gas are provided. When performing an LPL recirculation while performing an NOX purification action by the second NOX purification method, if an acceleration operation occurs, the NOX purification action is switched to the NOX purification action by the first NOX purification method and recirculation is temporarily switched to the HPL recirculation.
US08701390B2
A vehicle has an exhaust aftertreatment system including an LNT. The vehicle operates through a series of ignition cycles, deNOX cycles, and deSOX cycles. DeNOX operations begin when the LNT reaches a loading threshold. The applicable threshold depends on operating conditions, such as mean LNT temperature and mean exhaust flow rate. The thresholds are adapted based on NOX removal efficiency data. The data is compared to target values. The target values depend on the operating condition range, but remain fixed while the thresholds are adapted. NOX removal efficiency is measured over intervals corresponding to entire deNOX cycles. The data is sorted into bins according to operating conditions. The adaptations are only made if a bin has several data points accumulated over a minimum interval that is at least one ignition or deSOX cycle, preferably several. The method provides stable adaptations that compensate for aging.
US08701388B2
A method of controlling an exhaust treatment system, comprising: selectively determining a first control state from a plurality of control states based on an exhaust temperature and a plurality of activation temperatures; estimating a reductant dose based on the control state; and controlling an injection of a reductant to the exhaust treatment system based on the reductant dose.
US08701385B2
A method and an apparatus is disclosed for the operation of a turboprop aircraft engine provided with pusher propellers. In order to reduce thermal loading of the pusher propellers impaired by the hot exhaust-gas flow of the engine and increase the service life of the pusher propellers, cold air from the environment outside of the aircraft engine is fed into, and mixed with, the hot exhaust-gas flow passing the pusher propellers and their connecting structure before the hot exhaust-gas flow reaches the pusher propellers.
US08701375B2
A container treatment plant, with a discontinuously working container treatment machine and having a feed conveyor and/or a discharge conveyor each for individual containers, and in the feed conveyor and/or the discharge conveyor, at least two continuously driven, circulating conveyor means supplying each other with individual containers, and where the conveyor means being closer to the discontinuously working container treatment machine in the conveying direction exhibits a closer conveying pitch than the conveying pitch of the conveyor means which is further away. In this manner, a container acceptance and/or transfer interruption caused by the respective cycle standstill of the discontinuously working container treatment machine is compensated by the conveying pitch difference to be able to continuously supply individual containers for the discontinuously working machine or continuously discharge them from the discontinuously working container treatment machine.
US08701370B2
A structural element for constructing an auxiliary means for the manufacture of a reinforcement includes at least one coupling point for coupling the structural element to another structural element. The structural element is formed from a basic element. The structural element may further include a holding means for holding a reinforcement rod. A method for constructing an auxiliary means and a method for manufacturing a reinforcement are also provided.
US08701363B2
The specification discloses a window or door, and glazing assemblies therefor, wherein the glazing assemblies include a first pane of glass with an exterior surface coated with a smooth, hardened silica-containing coating, and an opposite surface coated with at least one layer of a low emissivity coating. In one embodiment, a second pane of glass is joined to and spaced from the first pane of glass by a polymeric spacer. In a second embodiment, a third pane of glass is laminated to the second pane, and in a third embodiment, a third pane of glass coated on its interior surface with a low emissivity coating is joined to and spaced from the second pane by a polymeric spacer.
US08701358B1
A system for setting and securing metal plate on an outer wall of concrete masonry, includes upper and lower masonry blocks with side walls and end walls forming an inner grout cavity. The metal plate has Nelson studs extending from it, each having a head on its outer end The studs extend from the plate, through a masonry side wall, into the grout cavity. A spring clip in the grout cavity compressed between a masonry block side wall and the stud head urges the stud and plate inward to secure the plate against the masonry as the grout cavity is filled with grout.
US08701356B2
A movable enclosure is configured to selectively enclose an area. The enclosure includes at least one side wall and an end wall attached thereto. The side wall comprises a number of individual panels that are independently movable along a track secured to the ground. The panels are selectively collapsible such that they may travel along the track and overlap one another when in a collapsed or stowed position. The enclosure may be configured in any number of intermediate positions wherein the panels are partially collapsed. Roof panels may be attached to the side walls for movement therewith, or alternatively, the roof panels may operate independent of the side walls to extend and retract between an open and collapsed configuration.
US08701350B2
A window draft blocker uses resilient elements held in spaced parallel relationship within a rectangular envelope and also has at least one impervious sleeve surrounding one of the resilient bodies protecting it from the elements.
US08701345B2
A greening system is disclosed for enabling plants/vegetation to grow only with natural rainfall, enabling a garden to be constructed on building rooftops, minimizing the applicable loads on the building and risk of leakage. Planting container 1 comprises box 2 with stickers 3 to carry perforated partition panel 4. The lower half of the container is constituted as water storage 5, and drain holes 6 are opened on sides of the container. Soil layer 7 placed on partition panel 4 is formed of light woody soil-based on charcoal 9 and humus timber chips for absorbing moisture transported from the water 8 stored in water storage 5 by evaporation or difference in humidity, to increase water capacity and reduce amount of water evaporating into the air. Charcoal 9 absorbs water from the air inside the lower half of the container to water the plants.
US08701344B2
To provide a plant cultivating substrate which satisfies e.g. the water absorptivity required for plant cultivation, shape retentivity and flexibility and a method of manufacture thereof. In the plant cultivating substrate and the method of its manufacture, at least water-retentive filling material, water, urethane prepolymer and polyol are reacted with each other.
US08701338B1
The automated vacuum-based pest control system features a clear tube into which a sensing means and baiting means are located sequentially along the length of the tube. The tube attaches to the hose of an existing vacuum cleaner, and upon turning on said vacuum cleaner shall suck in and trap a pest allured via the bating means. The vacuum system includes a waste bin, which can be accessed to remove the trapped pest regardless of whether the pest is exterminated or relocated. The sensing means includes a plug that plugs into a standard wall outlet and is wired engaged to a switch that turns on or off the vacuum cleaner upon detection of a pest via the sensing means.
US08701329B2
A method for disassembling a pistol that includes the steps of coupling a tool to the pistol so that a portion of the pistol is interposed within a retaining aperture formed within the tool, removing a second portion of a slide stop from a notch formed within the frame, removing a first portion of the slide stop from an aperture formed within the frame of the pistol and rotating the second portion of the slide stop to an axis defined by the first portion of the slide stop as the second portion of the slide stop is permitted to contact the tool to prevent a scratch on a portion of the pistol that is prone to being scratched by the second portion of the slide stop.
US08701322B2
A sign cube system having a substantially square-shaped box portion having four substantially planar side surfaces, one closed end and one open end, and a wire support having a substantially square-shaped portion which is inserted into the open end of the box portion and a stem extending perpendicular to and vertically downward from a center of the square-shaped portion. The wire support may be attached to an upright bracket and inserted into a substantially hollow upright member of a retail merchandise display or the wire support may be attached to a stringer which extends horizontally between two upright members of the retail merchandise display.
US08701321B2
The invention is related to an automatically activated z-shaped model totem pole type display apparatus, used for visual communication, advertising and propaganda, for provision of information on products and services at points of sale and events, comprised by only four pieces, including two internal devices that form a Z-shape upon automatic activation and two external panels with the optional addition of a base and top plate for outdoor use, which apparatus may be easily assembled and disassembled by the end user, where in order to facilitate the transport and storage thereof upon disassembly, the apparatus may be flattened and folded one or more times to thereby assume what practically amounts to the shape of a folded plate and enabling the accommodation thereof in a carrying case.
US08701320B2
Disclosed herein is a display device for use on transportation vehicles. The device can be easily altered or removed by the user. The display device contains a mounting bracket which can be permanently or releasably attached to the vehicle and a display which may be permanently or releasably attached to the mounting bracket. The angle of the display may be altered to provide easier viewing from the road.
US08701319B2
A channel letter has a rear surface for mounting against a raceway, wall, or a structure for supporting the signage, and sheet metal sides defining the figuration of the letter or shape to be depicted. A lighting element is positioned against the rear surface of the enclosure, and a lens is retained to the open front of the enclosure. The lens is secured with a retainer cap and a plurality of retainer clips. Each of the retainer clips comprises as least one side including an outwardly extending leg for retention with the retainer cap.
US08701318B2
An angle adjustment apparatus of an image display module includes a display panel configured to have image display devices arranged and disposed therein; fixture frames disposed on the upper and lower sides of the display panel, respectively; rotation frames disposed on one side and the other side of the display panel, respectively; and step angle adjustment units disposed between the auxiliary frames of the display panel and the rotation frames and configured to adjust an angle of the rotation frames by stepwise moving the rotation frames at a constant angle when the rotation frames are rotated. The angle adjustment apparatus can reduce the time taken to install and dismantle image display modules because the angle adjustment work of an image display module is easy and can adjust the angle of the image display module precisely by moving the image display modules at a constant angle stepwise.
US08701317B2
The auricular livestock identification tag comprising a male portion having a head at an end of a narrower stem, the head protruding laterally from the stem by an abutment ledge, and a female portion having an annular body with an axial aperture, and an insertion side opposite an exposure side, and a plurality of resilient abutment members extending inwardly from the annular body into the axial aperture, the abutment members being flexible to allow penetration of the head through the axial aperture from the insertion side to the exposure side, and resilient so as to return toward its original position, and under the abutment ledge, after said penetration, to thereafter prevent retraction of the head through the axial aperture.
US08701314B2
A fluid jet apparatus includes a body having a fluid flow path defined between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A thrust device is mounted within the fluid flow path to direct in use a flow of fluid along the fluid flow path. At least a portion of the fluid flow path includes a duct. The thrust device includes a propeller mounted within the duct. The apparatus further includes a plate spaced from the fluid inlet defining a space therebetween. A plurality of elongate pivotable vanes is positioned in a generally circular orientation in the space and about the axis of the flow path and with their pivoting axes aligned with the axis of the flow path. The thrust device is adapted to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of flow of fluid through the vanes into the space.
US08701307B2
A method for improving the manufacture and reliability of new, remanufactured, repaired or reconditioned Fire Control Radar APG-68 tactical radar systems (FCR) utilized in military aircraft and providing such units with extended useful life expectancies equivalent to or better than new of the FCR APG-68 unit high frequency, high voltage dual mode radar transmitters that are deployed in over 1000 state-of-the-art military aircraft such as the F-15, F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft, and B-1 bombers. The novel method extends the mean lifetime of previously repaired and repairable FCR APG-68 tactical radar units and radar units and ageing transmitters from about 100 to a few hundred hours to about five hundred or more hours by the process of removing embedded moisture and absorbed moisture from the heterogeneous electronic components and preferably also removing contaminants from the heat transfer surfaces of the cold plates and heat exchangers in the FCR APG-68 tactical radar unit.
US08701306B2
An air flow deflector for use with a hood-type hair dryer is a thick, resiliently compressible, unitary halo with an inner perimeter of length suited to surround and abut, preferably with tension, against the subject's head when the halo's inner perimeter is contoured approximately immediately below the subject's hair line. The halo deflects the flow of warm air away from exposed skin portions of the head, neck and shoulders. An arcuate upturned extension on its front portion deflects air flow back to the interior of the hood of the dryer. The unitary halo may be continuous or split for adjustability and hinged for increased manipulability.
US08701287B2
For shaping the leading edge (1) of blisk blades (2), the shape, amount and disposition of the material to be removed in a subsequent grinding and polishing process is determined beforehand over the entire blade length. The blade leading edge is milled such that an elliptical profile (3) has a material allowance (7) which over the length of the leading edge exactly corresponds to an expected material removal during the grinding and polishing process, so that a blisk blade is produced whose leading edge features an aerodynamically advantageous shape.
US08701284B2
A method of manufacturing an electrical connector comprises steps of providing a series of generic lead frames each having an array of contacts arranged in a common generic pattern, removing from one of the generic lead frames a first subset of the contacts to form a first pattern of contacts having a first spaced-apart relationship, removing from another of the generic lead frames a second subset of the contacts to form a second pattern of contacts having a different second spaced-apart relationship, wherein the first and second patterns are selectively obtained from the generic pattern, and loading the first and second patterns of contacts into a housing.
US08701279B2
An electronic device is provided. The device may include a plate placed behind a screen formed from a window and a display module to provide the screen with additional stiffness (e.g., resist dropping events).The window may be maintained in the electronic device by trapping the window between a bezel and the display module. In some embodiments, the window may include a chamfered edge operative to be received by a recessed edge in the bezel. In some embodiments, the input mechanism of the electronic device may be metallic and need to be grounded, but may be surrounded by plastic or other non-grounding components. The device may include screws operative to pass through a circuit board to reach a frame, which may serve as a ground, where the screws are located in proximity of the button. In some embodiments, the circuit board may include an additional component for grounding the button.
US08701278B2
A device is provided to attach a connector having an internally threaded base and external threads to a cable having a casing. The device includes a body having a bore therethrough. At least a portion of the bore is threaded and the external threads on the connector are threaded into the threads of the bore until a stop surface in the bore is engaged by a portion of the connector. The device may then be turned to thread the base onto the casing of the cable.
US08701276B2
The invention provides for a placement head for a die placing assembly of an assembler for assembling dice on a carrier. The assembler has an enclosure with a support assembly for operatively supporting a wafer with dies thereon, a die picking assembly for picking dice from said wafer, a die placement assembly for placing the dies onto the carrier, a die conveyance mechanism operatively conveying the dies from the die picking and placement assemblies, and a control system controlling the assembler. The placement head includes a first translation stage mounted on the die placement assembly, said first stage operatively displaceable along a first axis relative to the die placement assembly. The placement head also includes a second translation stage mounted on the first stage, the second stage displaceable perpendicular to the first stage. The placement head further includes a third translation stage mounted on the second stage, the third stage displaceable orthogonally to the first and second stages, as well as a die placer head mounted to the third stage, the placer head shaped and dimensioned to operatively receive a die from the dice conveyance mechanism and to place the dice onto the carrier.
US08701270B2
Methods of making squirrel cage rotors of aluminum based material end rings joined with high conductive and durable material (such as copper) conductor bars for use in electric motors. The methods include forming conductor bars by casting or other metal forming methods in the slots of laminate steel stack, or positioning the preformed or premade solid conductor bars in the longitudinal slots of the stacked laminated steel, with bar ends extending out of the laminated steel stack ends, optionally coating the extended part of the conductors (bars) with a latent exoergic coating containing Al and one or more conductor bar chemical elements, positioning the laminated steel stack having conductors (bars) in a casting mold that forms the cavity of both end rings of the rotor, filling the end ring cavities with aluminum melt, and allowing the end rings to solidify under pressure. Alternatively, the conductor bars and end rings can be made separately and mechanically joined together.
US08701255B1
Crimp-imbalanced protective fabric is accomplished by varying the levels of yarn crimp within and across a layer or layers of a multi-layer fabric armor system. The method includes developing a crimp in the yarn (utilized for producing a fiber layer) by pulling the yarn through a solution that substantially coats the yarn. The removable coating has a thickness that ensures a proper amount of crimp in the yarn. The tension in the yarn is controlled; the yarn is weaved; and a crimp is applied in the yarn. Once the crimp is applied, families of the crimped yarn are utilized as a layer or layered to produce a soft armor form.
US08701254B2
A clamp structure includes a base plate, a pair of first jaws, and a pair of second jaws. The first jaws extend respectively from two sides of the base plate in a face-to-face manner and form a first jaw opening at their ends. The first jaws are also formed with a pair of cutouts that face each other. The second jaws extend respectively from the pair of cutouts towards the base plate and form a second jaw opening at their ends. Each second jaw has a hook-shaped configuration composed of a first arc near the second jaw opening and a second arc away from the base plate, wherein the first arc has a greater curvature than the second arc. A junction box and a solar panel which are bonded together can be inserted into and thus clamped by the clamp structure so as to be secured against lateral shifting.
US08701251B2
A hinge for a door, flap or similar pivotal wings of a motor vehicle is provided. The hinge includes a column-side hinge part and a door-side hinge part, which can be pivoted about a hinge pillar relative to each other, and with an integrated door retaining device, which includes a retaining element arranged on the side of the one hinge part, which cooperates with a retaining contour on the side of the other hinge part. The retaining element is formed as clamp element cooperating with a clamping surface of the hinge pillar, the clamping force of which can be adjusted by means of a transmission element as a function of the retaining contour.
US08701247B1
A hinge pin includes a shaft defining a clearance surface and joined at one end to a head. A channel between the head and the clearance surface is configured to provide a lubricant path between the head and the clearance surface. In one embodiment, the head has an annular outer portion and a concave central portion, and the channel is provided by a radial slot extending from the central portion through the annular outer portion, and a contiguous axial slot extending downward from the radial slot to the clearance surface. The central portion of the head is configured to receive a small volume of lubricant, while the channel provides a path that allows the lubricant to flow from the head to the clearance surface of the shaft.
US08701246B2
A grommet device and method of using a grommet device is provided. A top structure has a top surface. An aperture having a central axis is positioned interior of the top structure. A sidewall is formed around the aperture and connected to the top structure. The sidewall is positioned substantially perpendicular from the top surface of the top structure. At least two upper protruding structures are connected to the top structure at different locations along the top structure, wherein each of the upper protruding structures extends into the aperture. At least two lower protruding structures extend from the sidewall at different locations along the sidewall, wherein each of the lower protruding structures have a flexing portion extending into the aperture, wherein each of the upper protruding structures are substantially radially aligned with the flexing portion of each of the lower protruding structures, respectively.
US08701243B2
An apparatus and methods for collecting swept waste material are described herein. The apparatus includes a dustpan having a base and a wall, a handle, and a plurality of protrusions. The base is configured to be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned and includes a front lip over which debris can be swept. The wall extends upwardly from at least a portion of the base other than the front lip and is configured to contain debris in the dustpan. The handle is coupled to a top edge of the wall opposite the front lip and extends away from the wall and downwardly from the top edge so that an end of the handle is disposed approximately even with the base. The plurality of protrusions extend inwardly from the wall and are configured to remove debris from bristles of a broom when the broom is swept across the plurality of protrusions.
US08701240B2
A lens cleaning mechanism according to the present invention comprises: a cleaning unit (1a) that covers a standby area being a part of the surface of a front lens element (11), as the standby area is pressed, the cleaning unit (1a) being rotationally moved along the surface of the front lens element (11) to slide over the entire surface of the front lens element (11), including a remaining part of the surface and the standby area; a drive unit (3) connected to a holding member (1b); and a control unit (2) for rotationally moving the cleaning unit (1a) by driving the drive unit (3).
US08701234B2
A pig receiver and method retrieve pigs in pipeline pigging operations. In one embodiment, a pig receiver includes a pig receiver unit. The pig receiver also includes a pig gate valve assembly disposed on the pig receiving unit. The pig gate valve assembly includes a gate valve. The pig gate valve assembly also includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The pig gate valve assembly further includes a cylinder guide. In addition, the pig gate valve assembly includes a tie bar. Actuation of the tie bar actuates the gate valve. An end of the tie bar is attached to the first actuator, and an opposing end of the tie bar is attached to the second actuator.
US08701233B2
A sealing element for a pipeline pig includes rigid first and second cup supports having outer peripheral edges. A resilient sealing element protrudes beyond the outer peripheral edge of each of the first cup support and the second cup support. Means are provided for clamping the sealing element between the first cup support and the second cup support.
US08701225B1
A reusable, washable, absorbent under pad has built-in handles to aid in the transfer and accommodation of bedbound or chairbound patients, for example. The under pad can have at least two handles on each side thereof to facilitate transfer of patients by caregivers and to facilitate proper body mechanics, thereby preventing work related and home injuries by caregivers.
US08701218B2
A protective garment including a body portion shaped to be worn on the torso and arms of a wearer. The body portion has a front surface, a rear surface, and lower edge. The protective garment further includes at least one pocket portion coupled to the front surface, wherein at least part of the pocket portion is located below the lower edge.
US08701216B1
A grip-it golf method for releasably supporting a golf glove and for maintaining the golf glove in a readily accessible location consists of providing a golf glove, a supporting member, a primary connector, and a supplemental connector, then coupling the primary connector to a recipient member and finally coupling the supplemental connector to the recipient member.
US08701215B2
A body covering gown which is secured on the user by one or more stretchable strips which extend across an opening in the gown.
US08701213B2
A body-shaping intimacy garment for a woman has an upper portion that supports or at least contacts undersides of the breasts while leaving the breasts exposed, a torso portion extending from the upper portion, a lower portion that encircles the waist, buttocks and hips while defining a crotch opening through the garment for access during intimate encounters, and leg portions that extend to below the knee. The torso portion, lower portion and leg portions each include respective portions of inner and outer layers of stretchable fabrics. The inner layer fabric is worn stretched about the torso, waist, buttocks, hips and legs, with tension in shoulder straps maintaining some inner layer stretch along the torso portion while worn. The outer layer fabric has a lesser elasticity than the inner layer fabric, and the two fabric layers are connected at the bust but are otherwise disconnected throughout front and sides of the torso and lower portions, and throughout the leg portions to at least below the knee, such that the outer layer is configured to slide over the inner layer, and to flow over local curvature fluctuations of the inner layer, during movement.
US08707461B2
The method relates to a method of scanning a sample. Scanning a sample is typically done by scanning the sample with a probe along a multitude of parallel lines. In prior art scan methods a sample is scanned multiple times with a nominally identical scan pattern. The invention is based on the insight that the coherence between adjacent points in a direction along the scan direction is much better than the coherence of adjacent points perpendicular to the scan direction. By combining two images that are scanned perpendicular to each other, it should thus be possible to form an image making use of the improved coherence (due to shorter temporal distance) in both directions. The method thus involves scanning the sample with two scan patterns, the lines of one scan pattern preferably perpendicular to the lines of the other scan pattern. Hereby it is possible to use the temporal coherence of scan points on a line of one scan pattern to align the lines of the other scan pattern, and vice versa.
US08707454B1
Multi-party messaging is disclosed. An encapsulation is received from a first client. The received encapsulation encapsulates an encrypted message encrypted using a symmetric key, and a plurality of keys. Each key in the plurality of keys comprises the symmetric key as encrypted with a respective public key of a respective recipient. An account associated with each of the respective recipients is determined. For each of the respective recipients, a flag is set that is indicative of the arrival of the encapsulation. For each of the respective recipients, which recipients have download the encapsulation is tracked. The encapsulation is deleted.
US08707451B2
A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to provide real-time secure access to enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries.
US08707442B1
A dynamic URLs construction system includes a publisher server and one content accessor server. The publisher server has a content URL access module, a content access module and a content database for storing media content and providing content URL accessing instructions and media content to a content accessor server. Media content provided by a publisher is accessed using dynamic URLs. A content accessor server includes at least one dynamic URL generation module and one content retrieval module. The content accessor server receives a content ID and a template URL containing instruction for constructing the corresponding dynamic URL from the publisher server. The dynamic URL generation module parses the template URL instructions, obtains an access key associated with the dynamic URL and constructs the dynamic URL using the access key and the content ID. The content retrieval module retrieves the content referenced by the dynamic URL.
US08707433B1
Fake exception handlers resulting from malicious stack buffer overflows that overwrite an exception handling record on the stack are detected. The operating system exception processing logic is monitored. Responsive to an exception occurring, an exception handler to be called by the monitored operating system exception processing logic is identified. A specific number of the first bytes of the identified exception handler are scanned to determine whether a return instruction is present therein. Instructions of the identified exception handler that are positioned prior to the return instruction are analyzed to determine whether they modify the value of the stack pointer so as to shrink the stack. The identified exception handler is adjudicated as being fake, responsive to determining that a return instruction is present in the first specific number of bytes of the exception handler and/or that the instructions positioned prior to the return instruction shrink the stack.
US08707431B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for insider threat detection are provided. Embodiments detect insiders who act on documents and/or files to which they have access but whose activity is inappropriate or uncharacteristic of them based on their identity, past activity, and/or organizational context. Embodiments work by monitoring the network to detect network activity associated with a set of network protocols; processing the detected activity to generate information-use events; generating contextual information associated with users of the network; and processing the information-use events based on the generated contextual information to generate alerts and threat scores for users of the network. Embodiments provide several information-misuse detectors that are used to examine generated information-use events in view of collected contextual information to detect volumetric anomalies, suspicious and/or evasive behavior. Embodiments provide a user threat ranking system and a user interface to examine user threat scores and analyze user activity.
US08707428B2
A system for defending against internet-based attacks is disclosed. The system may include a processor which may be configured to receive information associated with a device when a web request is transmitted by the device to access a web page monitored by the processor. The processor may also determine whether traffic associated with the web request from the device is suspected of being used for malicious activity and, if not, enable the device to access the web page. If the traffic is suspected of being used for malicious activity, then the processor may transmit a challenge to the device if the traffic is determined to be suspected. Furthermore, the processor may receive information associated with the web request, which may be provided by a uniform resource locator invoked in response to the traffic being determined to be suspected.
US08707426B1
A method and apparatus for resolving a cousin domain name to detect web-based fraud is described. In one embodiment, the method for resolving cousin domain names of a legitimate domain name comprising applying at least one rule to a domain name to generate one or more candidate cousin domain names and comparing the at least one candidate cousin domain name with legitimate domain information to identify the legitimate domain name that is imitated by at least one portion of the domain name.
US08707425B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing scanning of a copy of a message. In use, it is determined whether an identifier of a message is stored in a data structure. Further, the scanning of a copy of the message is prevented, based on the determination.
US08707422B2
A system for and method of automatically enforcing a configuration change process for change requests of one or more configurable element within one or more configurable computation systems. The system comprises means for managing a configuration change process for one or more configurable elements within a corresponding configurable computation system, means for generation a configuration request, means for applying a set of authorization rules to the configuration change requests to generate selective authorization of the CEs, and means for selectively locking and unlocking changes to configurable elements within the configurable computational systems.
US08707415B2
A method includes: establishing a first connection between a first ID token and a first computer system via a second computer system for reading at least one first attribute from the first ID token, establishing a second connection between a second ID token and the first computer system via the second computer system for reading at least one second attribute from the second ID token, sending the first and second attributes from the first computer system to a third computer system, receiving the data from the third computer system by the first computer system, writing the data into the second ID token via the second connection by the first computer system thereby storing the data in the second ID token, where the first connection still exists, wherein the first and the second connection are respectively connection with end-to-end encryption and a connection oriented protocol.
US08707414B2
Described herein are systems and methods for access control management, these generally being directed towards location aware access control management. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for providing additional functionalities in access control systems having disconnected devices, and the present disclosure is primarily focused accordingly. For example, embodiments include access control devices configured to operate in conjunction with a GPS receiver or other source of geographical positional information, and methods associated with the use of such devices.
US08707413B2
A system is configured for authenticating a chip card interface device (CCID) during a transaction with the CCID. The system has a communication device configured for communicating with the CCID over a network and a processing device coupled with the communication device. The processing device is configured for receiving a transaction initiation communication from the CCID and instructing the communication device to communicate a request for authentication information including a random number to the CCID. The CCID encrypts the random number with a unique chip key (UCK) previously created with a master chip key (MCK). Then, the CCID communicates the encrypted random number to the system along with a serial number. The system recalculates the UCK using the serial number, encrypts a copy of the random number using the recalculated UCK and compares the encrypted copy with the encrypted random number received from the CCID to authenticate the CCID.
US08707412B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user credentials to the remote computer application.
US08707410B2
A method and system for cross-system authentication or credentialing of clients. Credentials from one system (e.g., system 2) are placed on a client, such as with a cookie on a browser, and the credentials are then extracted by another system (e.g., system 1), and used by system 1 to impersonate the client to system 2. If the client's credentials with system 2 are valid, system 2 provides that information to system 1 (which is impersonating the client), and system 1 uses the validity of the credentials from system 2 to grant the client access to protected resources on system 1.
US08707405B2
A method for selectively refreshing group membership for an identifier associated with an authenticated user. The identifier represents an application server security context, and it is generated to enable a user credential associated with the authenticated user to be persisted. Following such authentication, the client is provided with a time-bounded, renewable security token. The method begins by configuring an option whether group membership information is refreshed during renewal of an expired security token. During renewal of an expired security token, the method determines whether the option is set. If so, an attempt is made to refresh information. This attempt performs a set of checks to verify certain conditions. If these checks are valid, the identifier is refreshed and the security token renewed with updated group membership information. If any check is not valid, the identifier is refreshed and the security token renewed with existing information.
US08707403B2
The present application provides a subscription interface positioned between client devices and third-party digital subscription providers. The subscription interface allows multiple different publication-related applications (e.g., Sports Illustrated, Time magazine, etc.) running on different client devices (e.g., tablets, desktop computers, laptop computers, smart phones, etc.) to obtain a list of digital issues available from an associated third-party digital subscription provider based on entitlements of the user of the client device. The subscription interface ensures that the application receives the list and associated metadata in a desired format for that particular application on a particular client device.
US08707397B1
Methods and systems provide indirect and temporary access to a company's IT infrastructure and business applications. The methods/systems involve establishing an access control center (ACC) to control the access that technical support personnel may have to the company's IT infrastructure and business applications. Thin client terminals with limited functionality may then be set up in the ACC for use by the technical support personnel. The thin client terminals connect the technical support personnel to workstations outside the ACC that operate as virtual desktops. The virtual desktops in turn connect the technical support personnel to the IT infrastructure and business applications. An ACC application may be used to automatically establish the connection between the thin client terminals and the virtual desktops and the virtual desktops and the IT infrastructure and business applications.
US08707390B2
Secure access to a wireless network access can be provided in a system where wireless devices access a wireless network through a wireless access point (WAP). For example, a plurality of pre-shared keys (PSKs) may be generated and distributed to the WAP and the wireless device. The wireless device may automatically rotate an active one of the plurality of PSKs, while the WAP receives one or more rotation signals identifying the active one of the plurality of PSKs. The wireless device and the WAP may encrypt information relating to the active one of the PSKs within communications between them, thus securing the communications.
US08707388B1
A system and method for allowing a user to access enterprise resources comprising authentication devices and an authentication server. The authentication devices allow a user to enter authentication data. The authentication server is in communication with the authentication devices. The authentication server comprises a policy database storing a policy. The policy comprises guidelines including a first guideline establishes a qualification necessary for the user to access enterprise resources and a second guideline establishes a qualification necessary for the user to activate a silent signal. The authentication server is adapted to request assistance for the user if the silent signal is activated.
US08707384B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for maintaining a software system. During operation, the system obtains a compliance policy for the software system and monitors the software system for a violation of the compliance policy. If a violation is detected, the system generates a change recommendation associated with the violation using the compliance policy and provides the change recommendation to an administrator, so that the administrator can use the change recommendation to resolve the violation.
US08707380B2
A method and apparatus for integrating a bi-directional control channel into an entertainment display device to deliver content and exchange control information. The system collects request and response information from the entertainment display device. The system also provides format translation of received and collected content to and from a plurality of formats such as N-PCS technology formats and video display formats in such a manner that the integrated system is independent of broadcasters, satellite, IPTV and cable operators. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08707378B2
A method performed by a video provisioning system may include receiving metadata associated with a video asset; storing the metadata in a catalog of video assets available through the video provisioning system; publishing information from the stored metadata to a first device associated with a video assets store front for set top boxes; and publishing information from the stored metadata to a second device associated with a video assets store front for devices other than set top boxes. A method may further include registering a user device with a user profile; identifying a media manager application for the user device that is configured to play video assets available via the video provisioning system on the user device; providing the media manager application to the user device; and synchronizing settings associated with the media manager application with settings associated with another user device registered with the user profile.
US08707374B2
An electronic device includes: a digital signal transmission/reception unit configured to perform two-way transmission of a digital signal using multiple differential signal lanes prepared at a transmission path with an external device; a transmission path arrangement determining unit configured to determine a transmission path arrangement including the number of use lanes, a use lane number, and a transmission direction by performing communication with the external device using a two-way communication line prepared at the transmission path with the external device; and a transmission path arrangement control unit configured to control the arrangement of the digital signal transmission/reception unit based on the information of the transmission path arrangement determined at the transmission path arrangement determining unit.
US08707371B2
An Internet protocol low noise block downconverter (IP LNB) assembly, within a satellite reception assembly, may be operable to determine location information and/or time information of the IP LNB assembly, via a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) module in the IP LNB assembly. The IP LNB assembly may provide services based on the determined location information and/or the determined time information of the IP LNB assembly. The IP LNB assembly may communicate the determined location information and/or the determined time information to a wireless communication device for determining location information of the wireless communication device. The IP LNB assembly may determine location information of a wireless source device, based on the determined location, information and the determined time information of the IP LNB assembly along with a plurality of other location information and a plurality of corresponding other time information associated with a plurality of other IP LNB assemblies.
US08707368B2
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08707364B2
A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media receiver having a controller element to generate a Media Program Guide (MPG) that groups media programs according to a redundancy of media programs and a viewing history of a subscriber of the media receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08707360B2
The present invention relates to simultaneously playing back a plurality of content items, wherein preferred content items can be played back in overlays (203, 205, 207, 209) alongside a main screen area (201) playing back a currently selected content item.
US08707356B2
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08707354B1
A user interface arranged as hierarchical grid of tiles configurable to be individually and dynamically programmed for both content type and content placement according to a set of rules defining content placement and display specified by a content controller.
US08707341B2
Disclosed example methods to determine a time offset between a first media content signature comprising a first sequence of first data pairs and a second media content signature comprising a second sequence of second data pairs include determining a histogram comprising a plurality of bins representative of a plurality of determined time differences. The plurality of determined time differences include each respective time difference determined between each first data pair and second data pair combination. Each respective bin of the histogram represents a respective window of time differences and has a respective value representative of a number of the plurality of determined time differences lying within the respective window of time differences represented by the respective bin. Such disclosed example methods also include selecting at least one bin of the histogram to correspond to the time offset between the first signature and the second signature.
US08707328B2
An application program switching method for an electronic device having a first body and a second body is provided. A relative position of the first body and the second body is changed from a first state to a second state to activate a second application program while an external message is received during a first application program being executed, and an image displayed by the electronic device is switched from an executing frame of the first application program to an executing frame of the second application program for replying the external message via a keyboard of the second body. Next, the relative position of the first body and the second body is changed from the second state to the first state, and the image displayed by the electronic device is switched from the executing frame of the second application program to the executing frame of the first application program.
US08707327B2
Arrangements for permitting incoming mail to be transferred from a WAN Drive to a notebook computer hard drive under conditions that are not stressful to the hard drive. Preferably, a WAN card is configured to wake a notebook when mail capacity is full or close to full. Mail is then preferably moved from the flash drive to the hard drive, subject to verification that this will not overly stress the hard drive. In a variant embodiment, the WAN card may preferably be configured to wake a notebook when mail is received at all. Again, mail is then preferably moved from the flash drive to the hard drive, subject to verification that this will not overly stress the hard drive. Once mail is moved to the hard drive, the system preferably runs an embedded email program that allows the user to employ an existing VPN infrastructure.
US08707325B2
A method of locating an object across a network comprises locating the copy of object that is the best copy available through either JNDI object location and webservice location. The method initially comprises attempting to locate a local copy of the object (step 8). If a local copy of the object is not located, the method then attempts (step 10) to locate a remote copy of the object. If a remote copy of the object is not located, the method then attempts (step 12) to locate a remote web service object.
US08707323B2
A connection manager includes a dispatcher that dispatches requests to worker nodes in an application server according to a load balancing algorithm.
US08707320B2
Dynamic partitioning of data by occasionally doubling data chunk size for data-parallel applications
Dynamic data partitioning is disclosed for use with a multiple node processing system that consumes items from a data stream of any length and independent of whether the length is undeclared. Dynamic data partitioning takes items from the data stream when a thread is idle and assigns the taken items to an idle thread, and it varies the size of data chunks taken from the stream and assigned to a thread to efficiently distribute work loads among the nodes. In one example, data chunk sizes taken from the beginning of the data stream are relatively smaller than data chunk sizes taken towards the middle or end of the data stream. Dynamic data partitioning employs a growth function where chunks have a size related to single aligned cache lines and efficiently increases the size of the data chunks to occasionally double the amount of data assigned to concurrent threads.
US08707318B2
The application discloses a generic partitioning manager for partitioning resources across one or more owner nodes. In illustrated embodiments described, the partitioning manager interfaces with the one or more owner nodes through an owner library. A lookup node or application interfaces with the partitioning manager through the lookup library to lookup address or locations of the partitioned resources. In illustrated embodiments, resources are partitioned via the partitioning manager in response to lease request messages from an owner library. In illustrated embodiments, the lease grant message includes a complete list of the leases for the owner node.
US08707316B1
Method and apparatus including processes, mechanisms, and devices for use with a networked mission system. The method includes receiving a mission representation including a plurality of actions in a mission and temporal and functional associations between the actions, wherein the actions are to be executed using a plurality of computing nodes. A Time Petri Net (TPN) model of the mission is generated based on the mission representation. The TPN model represents the actions in the mission, temporal constraints for the actions, and functional associations between the actions. An importance value and an urgency value associated with each action are determined based on the TPN model. One or more QoS policies are generated based on the importance values and the urgency values of the actions, wherein the QoS policies are applied to the computing nodes.
US08707313B1
A search engine crawler includes a distributed set of schedulers that are associated with one or more segments of document identifiers (e.g., URLs) corresponding to documents on a network (e.g., WWW). Each scheduler handles the scheduling of document identifiers (for crawling) for a subset of the known document identifiers. Using a starting set of document identifiers, such as the document identifiers crawled (or scheduled for crawling) during the most recent completed crawl, the scheduler removes from the starting set those document identifiers that have been unreachable in each of the last X crawls. Other filtering mechanisms may also be used to filter out some of the document identifiers in the starting set. The resulting list of document identifiers is written to a scheduled output file for use in a next crawl cycle.
US08707310B2
A system for processing a batch of jobs is provided. The system comprises a plurality of processing elements that are characterized in that each processing element is configured to sequentially process jobs with an estimated process time within a respective allotted range of values. The jobs may comprise packets of data within a data processing system. The system is particularly useful for processing data corresponding to translated text in a text translation system.
US08707309B2
An image processing apparatus capable of registering in a memory the execution time interval or the next execution time for the periodic processing periodically executed, comprising: a unit adapted to registration for registering in the memory the execution time interval or the next execution time for a second periodic processing after registering in the memory the execution time interval and the next execution time for a first periodic processing; and a unit adapted to revising for comparing the next execution time for said second periodic processing and the next execution time for said first periodic processing according to the registration by said unit adapted to registration, and revising either of the next execution time for said second periodic processing and the next execution time for said first periodic processing.
US08707307B2
When there is a job activation request accompanied with variable information in which an execution attribute and an identifier of a job are associated, a job definition in which an execution attribute is described with an arbitrary identifier is referred, and based on the variable information, an identifier within the job definition is replaced with the execution attribute to create a job. Then, the job created in this manner is activated.
US08707304B2
Automatic optimization of application performance parameters is provided. This optimization may be provided by identifying the resource demands of applications using virtual resources, identifying the virtual resources that can be available to the applications, and allocating the virtual resources to the applications to be run on a virtual machine.
US08707303B2
A method includes executing a hypervisor (165) with computing hardware (105) to implement a virtual machine (175); responsive to detecting a removable storage medium (115) communicatively coupled to the computing hardware (105), executing a virtualized migration control appliance (180) through the hypervisor (165) separate from the virtual machine (175); and blocking the virtual machine (175) from accessing data (185) stored by the removable storage medium (115) with the virtualized migration control appliance (180) if at least one governing policy prohibits the virtual machine (175) from accessing the data (185).
US08707302B2
A technique for personalizing feed content in virtualized computing environments includes accessing, using a data processing system, metadata associated with a virtual machine instance that is stored in a database. The technique also includes prioritizing, using the data processing system, feed content delivered to a client associated with the virtual machine instance based on the metadata.
US08707290B2
An information handling system includes a set of processing resources and a management resource. The processing resources include a microprocessor and memory accessible to the microprocessor. The management resource is operable to power-up, reset, and power-off the processing resources. The management resource includes a first management module and a redundant second management module. The management resource responds to a single firmware update request by updating firmware on the first management module while maintaining the second management module in a slave mode and, upon successfully updating the firmware on the first management module, updating firmware on the second management module while maintaining the first management module in a passive mode.
US08707276B2
A method and system for an open application programming interface (API) dashboard system for monitoring and managing one or more developer programmed applications configured to use one or more services provided by a service owner are provided. The system includes an application area associated with a corresponding programmed application, each application area including a call metrics group configured to display summarized metrics, a services used group configured to display a listing of each service called by the programmed application and metrics associated with each service, and a key management group configured to prompt a developer of the programmed application to request or revoke a key, wherein the key includes a developer identification, a programmed application identification, and signed certificates relating to services used by the programmed application.
US08707273B2
There is provided a precondition generating apparatus in which a storage stores a set “S” of logical expressions; a creating unit creates a first logical expression being a logical product of the “S”, logical expressions of a program and a negation of a logical expression indicating a postcondition; a solver finds a solution that makes the first logical expression true and specifies a set of clauses that cannot be simultaneously true in the first logical expression if not found; wherein the creating unit sets relaxing variables for the logical expressions belonging to the set “S” in the set of clauses wherein the logical expressions indicates a precondition of the program, generates a second logical expression by alleviating the clauses of logical expressions corresponding to the relaxing variables in the first logical expression, and applies same process as in the first logical expression to the second logical expression.
US08707272B2
A computer implemented testing methodology employing a scenario-driven modeling of specific instances of bug patterns that commonly occur in concurrent programs which encodes these instances in an SMT-based symbolic analysis. Such modeling and encoding advantageously allow the symbolic analysis framework to focus on real bugs, thereby allowing effective utilization of resources. Experimentation determined a number of previously unknown bugs in public benchmarks and advantageously scenario-specific modeling and encoding improves the scalability of symbolic technique and, therefore, improves overall quality of concurrency testing.
US08707270B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium. A method includes loading a first language definition and a second language definition. The method includes loading a transformation definition corresponding to the first language definition and the second language definition and loading a validation rule definition. The method includes applying the validation rule definition to the transformation definition to produce a validation result indicating whether the transformation definition produces a valid transformation between the first language definition and the second language definition. The method includes storing the validation result.
US08707262B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for code scoring. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving metadata including information representative of at least one custom code module used in a business system; receiving at least one rule from a rules template; and calculating, based on the received metadata and the received at least one rule, a score representative of whether the at least one custom code module is maintained. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08707256B2
The invention relates to a system for writing a simulation program for simulating an automation installation. To facilitate the writing of a simulation program for a complex automation installation, the system comprises: means for defining a respective resource object for at least two components of the automation installation, means for defining port data for each port, which define characteristics of the values which can be interchanged on the associated port, means for identifying a first port of a first resource object, which is provided for interchanging values with a second port of a second resource object, on the basis of the port data associated with the first and second ports, means for defining precisely one variable which can be engaged with the values to be interchanged between the first and second ports, and means for integrating the program fragments associated with the first and second resource objects into the simulation program and for engaging the variables with the values to be interchanged between the first and second ports.
US08707251B2
A system, program storage device, and method of buffering an electronic document received from a host computer, wherein the method comprises determining whether an original source code of the electronic document includes executable coding which when executed by a client computer, causes the client computer to perform undesired operations, and producing an alternate source code of the electronic document, which eliminates the coding, wherein the undesired operations are characterized as undesirable based on predetermined settings established by the client computer. The electronic document comprises any of a web page, electronic mail message, an electronic mail attachment, a note in a hypertext format, a text document, a text file, and an application-specific electronic document. Each of the original source code and the alternate source code comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) source code.
US08707249B2
A generalized workflow execution model is configured to provide access to workflow elements. A computer system instantiates a generalized workflow execution model that provides access to workflow elements stored in a database that is connected to the workflow execution model. The workflow execution model includes the following: activity models that include both agents which are configured to express the control flow of the activity models and symbols which represent values usable by the activity models and metadata configured to identify the workflow execution model. The computer system also receives user input requesting workflow elements and accesses the database to provide the requested workflow elements using the generalized workflow execution model.
US08707246B2
Engineering team activities are facilitated through social networked collaboration driven by engineering project events. An engineering team member profile on a private network contains an identification of the team member including an offline name, direct links to profiles of other team members, automatically generated news items of team member engineering activities, and a summarized view of engineering project data. A news generator automatically collects engineering events and includes corresponding event descriptions in the profile, for wiki article updates, software bug reports, software modifications, project schedule changes, and other engineering events. Some news items automatically include a suggested engineering activity as a follow up for the team member to perform. For example, the team member may click a news item link to view an updated product specification, create a product test, view detailed test results, or create a virtual machine session.
US08707235B2
An apparatus having two or more parallel carry chain structures, each of the carry chain structures comprising a series of logical structures, where at least one of the logical structures within each of the carry chain structures has an associated input node, output node and carry node. The input node corresponds to a function input term, the output node corresponds to an output term of the function and the carry node corresponds to a carry value to a following logical structure in the series of logical structures.
US08707223B2
A method of generating an integrated circuit with a DPT compatible interconnect pattern using a reduced DPT compatible design rule set and color covers. A method of operating a computer to generate an integrated circuit with a DPT compatible interconnect pattern using a reduced DPT compatible design rule set and using color covers. A reduced DPT compatible design rule set.
US08707213B2
Methods and systems for implementing hot keys for operating a medical instrument are disclosed. The hot keys may be implemented by: receiving a user input selecting a function from a menu, tracking a frequency with which each function is selected from the menu, associating the hot keys with functions according to the frequency with which each function is selected from the menu, and displaying the hot keys in the hot key display area on a display device of the medical instrument.
US08707211B2
Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for displaying a radial graphical user interface. The radial graphical user interface can include displaying a first layer radial menu item as a circular shape and displaying a second layer radial menu of a number of first menu sub-items related to the first layer menu item grouped concentrically around the first layer radial menu in response to a user selecting the first menu item. The graphical user interface can also include replacing the first layer menu with a user selected first menu sub-item and replacing the second layer radial menu with a number of second menu sub-items related to the selected first menu sub-item in response to a user selecting one of the number of first menu sub-items, wherein the second layer is rotatable by a user.
US08707203B2
An object display apparatus displays a plurality of object at respective display positions, and receive a designation to set one of the plurality of displayed object as an object of interest. Upon reception of an addition or deletion instruction of one or more objects with respect to the plurality of displayed objects, a display of the objects is updated by moving object other than the object of interest while keeping the display position of the designated object of interest.
US08707201B1
Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology include systems and methods for determining the priority of a notification on a mobile device using machine learning. Other aspects of the disclosed technology include selectively displaying notifications based on the priority of a notification. According to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a computer-implement method is provided that comprises outputting, to a display device operatively coupled to a mobile device, a plurality of notifications, wherein each respective notification from the plurality of notifications is associated with a respective priority score; modifying, by the mobile device, a ranking model based on a user input received responsive to a first notification from the plurality of notifications and a characteristic of a second notification from the plurality of notifications; determining, by the mobile device, a priority score associated with a third notification based on the modified ranking model; and outputting, to the display device, the third notification based on the priority score associated with the third notification, wherein the third notification is graphically emphasized responsive to the priority score associated with the third notification being greater than at least one respective priority score associated with a corresponding respective notification from the plurality of notifications.
US08707195B2
An accessible electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: displays a first plurality of user-selectable objects; detects a finger contact on the touch-sensitive surface; detects movement of the finger contact across the touch sensitive surface to an activation region that corresponds to a first user-selectable object; while detecting the finger contact at the activation region, initiates output of audible accessibility information associated with the first user-selectable object; detects termination of the finger contact while the finger contact is at the activation region that corresponds to the first user-selectable object; and, in response: performs a predefined operation associated with the first user-selectable object if the device has output at least a predefined portion of the audible accessibility information associated with the first user-selectable object when the termination of the finger contact is detected; and forgoes performing the predefined operation otherwise.
US08707188B2
Presence information of a first user is relayed to a second user. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others includes, can be implemented as follows. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user.
US08707185B2
Disclosed are tools, methods, and systems for establishing generally live, Content-based social networks, and for concurrently sharing Content and Content-relevant information within a social network. A Service registers Viewers and/or n-Users, and provides tools that enable a Viewer to identify n-Users concurrently viewing the same or similar Content, or having an interest in the same or similar Content. A Viewer can initiate or join a Content-based social network, and can share their Content with others, or view others' Content, and interact with n-Users via any of several methods. Service tools also enable a Viewer to define and selectively block or alter objectionable material so that it is no longer perceivable in its objectionable form. The described tools, methods, and systems also enable numerous innovative approaches to generate revenue for a Service, for providers of product and/or services, for Content providers, and others.
US08707182B2
An exemplary method includes maintaining data representative of a recorded media content instance comprising a media content program and a first advertisement and an index file corresponding to the recorded media content instance, playing back the recorded media content instance in accordance with timestamp data and storage location data included in the index file, dynamically replacing, during the playback of the recorded media content instance, a portion of the storage location data in the index file that corresponds to the first advertisement with storage location data corresponding to a second advertisement, and presenting the second advertisement in place of the first advertisement during the playback of the recorded media content instance in accordance with the modified index file. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
US08707178B2
Apparatus, and associated method, for alerting a user of a mobile station of a received data message
Apparatus, and an associated method, for visually alerting a user of a newly-received data message at a mobile station. A detector detects delivery of the message at the mobile station. And, in response to the detection of the delivery, a display driver causes display on a display device of an animated icon to alert the user of the newly-received message.
US08707175B2
A method of controlling a mobile terminal is presented. The method includes detecting a first touch on the mobile terminal for a predetermined time when the mobile terminal is in a locked state, simultaneously displaying a locking icon and an unlocking icon in response to the detected first touch, and detecting a second touch on the locking icon or the unlocking icon, wherein touching the locking icon for a predetermined time will partially unlock the mobile terminal, and wherein touching and dragging the unlocking icon to the locking icon will fully unlock the mobile terminal.
US08707173B2
Methods and systems are provided for maintaining the aspect ratio of an image in the form of a graphic element or a photograph on a printed product in a theme collage. The aspect ratio of each image in the theme collage is maintained independent of any aspect ratio or resolution of the theme collage. Other methods provide for maintaining the resolution of a graphic element on a printed product in a theme collage using any desired combination of bitmap or vector based graphic data and alpha data when rendering the graphic element. An exemplary system may include one or more modules for determining the size of an image on a page while maintaining an aspect ratio of the image, displaying the image, receiving graphic data for the image, receiving alpha-transparency data for the image, and changing the image appearance according to a rendering parameter.
US08707172B2
Internationalizing a target program includes associating a text string in the program with an attribute of a user interface element. The user interface element is defined in the program and the associating is provided at least partly by a non-executable user interface element annotation in the program. A resource bundle annotation in the program defines a name for a resource bundle to which the text string of the user interface element annotation may be extracted. An annotation processor program automatically creates the resource bundle by processing source code of the target program, including the user interface element annotation and the resource bundle annotation. Executing a method in the target program causes the text string to be displayed on the attribute for a displayed instance of the user interface element. The method determines whether to obtain the displayed text string from the user interface element annotation or from the resource bundle.
US08707164B2
In various embodiments of the present invention, documents (eg, PDFs) are converted into HTML 5 (and CSS 3) formats and integrated into existing HTML 5 web pages to preserve the original embedded fonts. The fonts can also be integrated or embedded (e.g., via the standard HTML “iframe” tag) into other web pages. The original appearance of the source document is maintained, the text is preserved as searchable text, and the document is integrated into a web page that can be searched, zoomed, scrolled, and printed utilizing standard web browser controls. A significantly increased “ad inventory” is thereby enabled, wherein advertisements can be integrated between pages, or even within a page. Moreover, the resulting document can be passively shared with members of a user's external social networks (including those within the host website), along with other activities and behaviors performed by the user on the hosting website.
US08707162B1
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reduction of web page transmission bandwidth by resolving a web page into static and dynamic components. An embodiment includes intercepting a request for a web page, retrieving the requested web page from a server, reading transmission instructions for the web page, the instructions based on an analysis of two or more identified versions of the web page, the analysis having identified one or more static and dynamic components of the web page, extracting the dynamic components of the retrieved web page based on the instructions, and providing the dynamic components of the web page along with one or more references to the static components in response to the request. Another embodiment includes constructing a web page for display using the received dynamic components and static components retrieved from a cache using the one or more references.
US08707148B2
An apparatus and method for producing error correction code and error correction decoding are provided. The method for producing error correction code includes generating an asymmetric matrix by arranging input data bits in a matrix of a predefined size and adding a zero bit column and/or a zero bit row, each of the column and the row consisting of zero bits, to the matrix; primarily encoding the asymmetric matrix by adding one or more parity bits to each row; and secondarily encoding the primarily encoded matrix by adding one or more parity bits to each column of the encoded matrix.
US08707144B2
A non-binary low density parity check data decoder comprises a variable node processor operable to update variable node symbol values according to a plurality of elements in a non-binary Galois Field, a check node processor connected to the variable node processor and operable to perform parity check calculations, and a controller operable to perform symbol flipping and to control decoding iterations in the variable node processor and the check node processor.
US08707143B1
Circuitry for generating a first number of Reed-Solomon check symbols from a second number of input data symbols includes storage for a plurality of generator coefficients, a plurality of multipliers, each of the multipliers having a data symbol input, and a coefficient input connected to the storage, and having an output. The circuitry also includes accumulator circuitry that accumulates outputs of the multipliers to generate the check symbols. The circuitry can be provided in fixed logic, or configured in a programmable integrated circuit device, such as a programmable logic device.
US08707142B2
Briefly, techniques to provide varying levels of enhanced forward error correction without modifying a line rate of a frame.
US08707138B2
A received optical signal is coherently demodulated and converted into orthogonal x-polarization samples, and y-polarization samples. These samples are converted into signal x-samples and signal y-samples by an FIR butterfly filter. Correction values are calculated in an error calculating circuit of a control unit and added to filter transfer functions derived by a standard algorithm to determine corrected filter coefficients. Degenerate convergences calculating the transfer functions are avoided.
US08707129B2
A method of feedback in a wireless transmit receive unit includes providing a precoding matrix index (PMI), error checking the (PMI) to produce an error check (EC) bit, coding the PMI and the EC bit and transmitting the coded PMI and EC bit.
US08707125B2
A method for transmitting encoded data, which improves a diversity effect in a communication system, including generating parity bits for an information word, generating a codeword by encoding an information word using the generated parity bits, puncturing some of the parity bits of the codeword, transmitting a frame including the information word, and generating additional parity bits for decoding the information word and transmitting the additional parity bits in one or more other frames.
US08707113B1
A method for operating a data processing system to generate a test for a device under test (DUT) is disclosed. The method utilizes a model of the DUT that includes a plurality of blocks connected by wires and a set of control inputs. Each block includes a plurality of ports, each port being either active or inactive. Each block is also characterized by a set of constraints that limit which ports are active. The active ports of at least one of the blocks are constrained by one of the control inputs. A test vector having one component for each port of each block and one component for each control input is determined such that each set of constraints for each block is satisfied. The test vector defines a test for the DUT.
US08707112B2
In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, memory cells in a memory device are refreshed upon an indication of a fatigue condition. In one such embodiment, controller monitors behavior parameters of the cells and determines if any of the parameters are outside of a normal range set for each one, thus indicating a fatigue condition. If any cell indicates a fatigue condition, the data from the block of cells indicating the fatigue is moved to another block. In one embodiment, an error detection and correction process is performed on the data prior to being written into another memory block.
US08707109B2
A computer apparatus includes a managing unit realizing virtual computers including device driver virtual computers and user virtual computers, the user virtual computers communicating with various devices via the device driver virtual computers. Error detection information is received from one of the virtual computers upon detection of error in one of the device drivers used for communication with one of the devices in one of the virtual computers. One or more types of the virtual computers and the contents of recovery process corresponding to the type of device driver and the type of error indicated in the received error detection information are acquired from error recovery control information. A recovery instruction is transmitted to one or more of the virtual computers identified by the one or more acquired types of virtual computers in order to cause the one or more identified virtual computers to perform the acquired contents of the recovery process.
US08707101B2
Verification of a system-under-test (SUT) supporting the functionality of operating a self modifying code is disclosed. A generator may generate a self modifying code. In response to identification that a simulator is about to simulate code generated by the self modifying code, the simulator may simulate the execution in a “rollover mode”. The code may include instruction codes having variable byte size, branching instructions, loops or the like. The simulator may further simulate execution of an invalid instruction. The simulator may perform rollback the simulation of the rollover mode in certain cases and avoid entering the rollover mode. The simulator may perform rollback in response to identifying a termination condition, as to insure avoiding endless loops. The simulator may perform rollback in response to reading an initialized value that is indefinite.
US08707098B2
A method of recovering a value in a data storage system includes maintaining a list of entries corresponding to values that have been inserted into the data storage system, determining whether the values are at an At Maximum Redundancy (AMR) state, and if not, the converging the values to the AMR state.
US08707095B2
A datacenter housing servers, computers, data storage devices, telecommunications and related equipment for storing and accessing large amounts of data on a continuous, uninterrupted and reliable basis, which is provided with a supporting system or infrastructure for supplying power and cooling to the datacenter, which involves equipment primarily contained in modules situated outside the building that houses the primary computer and server equipment, whereby said supporting system or infrastructure is designed with redundant equipment, connections, and controls to avoid any single point of potential failure.
US08707088B2
A method begins by a processing module determining access performance to copies of dispersed storage encoded data, wherein the copies of the dispersed storage encoded data are stored in a set of a plurality of dispersed storage networks (DSNs). The method continues with the processing module modifying the set of the plurality of DSNs based on the access performance and the desired access performance level to produce a modified set of the plurality of DSNs when the access performance is not at a desired access performance level. The method continues with the processing module, for a new DSN of the modified set of the plurality of DSNs, determining error coding dispersal storage parameters based on local data retrieval accesses allocated to the new DSN and facilitating the new DSN storing another copy of the dispersed storage encoded data.
US08707083B2
A method includes executing, in each of a number of nodes of a cluster communication system, a specialized instance of an operating system privileged to control a corresponding hypervisor configured to consolidate one or more VM(s) on a system hardware. The one or more VM(s) is configured to be associated with a non-privileged operating system. The method also includes providing a cluster stack associated with the specialized instance of the operating system on the each of the number of nodes to enable communication between peers thereof in different nodes, and controlling the one or more VM(s) as a cluster resource through the cluster stack.
US08707079B2
A semiconductor device comprising an interface logic module for transmitting data frames across an interface, and controller logic module arranged to control a rate at which the interface logic transmits data across the interface. Upon receipt of data frames to transmit across the interface, the controller logic module is arranged to determine a sequence of data rates with which to transmit sequential data frames across the interface, and to configure the transmission of the data frames across the interface according to the determined data rate sequence. The selection of these data rates will be dependent on specific critical RF frequencies where EMI impacts have to be minimized.
US08707078B2
Clock buffers in a clock and data recovery (CDR) system are trimmed by receiving a first transmitted clock-like data pattern in a reduced rate mode, locking the CDR using the received version of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern; and receiving a second transmitted clock-like data pattern. The first transmitted clock-like data pattern is transmitted using a first rate mode and the reduced rate mode divides the first rate mode by an integer value. The second transmitted clock-like data pattern has a run-length that is an integer division of a run-length of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern. A phase of the clock buffers is adjusted using the second transmitted clock-like data pattern. The received first transmitted clock-like data pattern has edges that correspond to only positive or negative edges of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern.
US08707076B2
A system and method for power management of storage resources are disclosed. A method may include detecting an occurrence of an event associated with a storage resource disposed in an array of storage resources. The method may further include transitioning the storage resource into a specified power state in response to the detection of the occurrence of the event. A system may include a storage resource and a power management module communicatively coupled to the storage resource. The storage resource may be disposed in an array of storage resources. The power management module may be operable to detect an occurrence of an event associated with the storage resource, and may be operable to transition the storage resource into a specified power state in response to the detection of the occurrence of the event.
US08707074B2
A mechanism is provided for priority-based power capping. A power management controller identifies a set of priorities for a set of partitions of the data processing system. The power management controller determines whether a measured power of the data processing system exceeds a power cap for the data processing system. Responsive to the measured power exceeding the power cap, the power management controller sends a set of commands to a set of component actuators to adjust one or more of a set of operation parameters for a set of components associated with the set of partitions using the set of priorities. The set of component actuators adjust the one or more of the set of operational parameters associated with the set of component in order to reduce a power consumption of the data processing system.
US08707071B2
One power management method of a communication interface includes: when receiving a command transmitted via the communication interface, checking if a predetermined criterion is met; and when the predetermined criterion is met, controlling the communication interface to enter a power-saving mode before an end of the received command. Another power management method of a communication interface includes: when the communication interface is operated under a power-saving mode, checking if a predetermined criterion of an executed command is met; and when the predetermined criterion is met, controlling the communication interface to leave the power-saving mode.
US08707058B1
Systems and methods for cryptographically masking private data are described. The apparatus may include a masking engine to hash private data and a masking values table to provide a masked value using a lookup value derived from the hashed private data. The method my include receiving private data, transforming the private data into a set of masked data items and providing the set of masked data items.
US08707049B2
The present invention discloses an authentication method and a key device and relates to the information security field. The authentication method comprises initiating user authentication, generating a dynamic code and then a first verification code on the basis of the dynamic code, and outputting the dynamic code, by a key device; and receiving a second verification code entered by a user via a host, and collating the second verification code with the first verification code, by the key device, and if a match is found, the user access is authorized to the key device; otherwise, the user access is prohibited. The key device comprises a trigger module, a generator module, an output module, a communication module, a collator module, a controller module and a security module. According to the present invention, better security is achieved by reducing the possibility of sensitive information disclosure and misuse in case of password theft for the key device.
US08707044B2
A system and method for using networked mobile devices in a vehicle in a tightly integrated manner is presented. The vehicle has an OBE, a mobile device client, and vehicle components, and the mobile device has a mobile device proxy and applications, such that the mobile device client and the mobile device proxy communicate, enabling dynamic transfer of the applications to the OBE and execution of the applications on the mobile device and the OBE using the plurality of vehicle components at runtime. In one embodiment, the mobile device client and the mobile device proxy authenticate each other. The authentication can be performed using digital certificates. The mobile device client can communicate the vehicle components on the vehicle to the mobile device proxy. The mobile device client and the mobile device proxy can communicate using Bluetooth. The vehicle components can include dashboard displays, speakers, and voice I/O systems.
US08707030B2
Providing path validation information for a system includes determining paths between a subset of certificate of the system and at least one trust root, storing each of the paths in a table prior to a request for path validation information, and fetching the validation information stored in the table in response to a request for path validation information. Providing path validation information may also include digitally signing the validation information. Providing path validation information may also include applying constraints to the validation information and only providing validation information that is consistent with the constraints. Determining paths may include constructing a directed graph of trusted roots and the subset of certificates and performing a depth-first acyclic search of the graph.
US08707029B2
Disclosed is a system and method for authenticating a communications channel between a mobile handset associated with a user and an application server, for uniquely identifying the mobile handset and for encrypting communications between the mobile handset and the application server over the communication channel is provided. The system includes a certificate authority configured to issue digital certificates to the handset and the application server, as well as software applications operating on both the handset and application server. The digital certificates may be used by the handset and application server to uniquely identify one another as well as to exchange encryption keys by means of which further communication between them may be encrypted.
US08707028B2
A cookie attribute for use during secure HTTP transport sessions. This attribute points to a server-supplied certificate and, in particular, a digital certificate. The cookie attribute includes a value, and that value is designed to correspond to one or more content fields in the digital certificate. During a first https session, a first web application executing on a first server provides a web browser with the cookie having the server certificate identifier attribute set to a value corresponding to a content field in a server certificate. Later, when the browser is accessing a second server during a second https session, the browser verifies that the value in the cookie matches a corresponding value in the server certificate received from the second server before sending the cookie to the second server. This approach ensures that the cookie is presented only over specified https connections and to trusted organizations.
US08707026B2
A cookie attribute for use during secure HTTP transport sessions. This attribute points to a server-supplied certificate and, in particular, a digital certificate. The cookie attribute includes a value, and that value is designed to correspond to one or more content fields in the digital certificate. During a first https session, a first web application executing on a first server provides a web browser with the cookie having the server certificate identifier attribute set to a value corresponding to a content field in a server certificate. Later, when the browser is accessing a second server during a second https session, the browser verifies that the value in the cookie matches a corresponding value in the server certificate received from the second server before sending the cookie to the second server. This approach ensures that the cookie is presented only over specified https connections and to trusted organizations.
US08707025B2
A communication apparatus makes a request to issue an electronic certificate of a first instrument to a certificate authority and acquires the electronic certificate from the certificate authority. The communication apparatus communicates with a second instrument using the electronic certificate of the first instrument in response to reception of a request for communication with the second instrument from the first instrument. Therefore, the communication apparatus mediates information communication between the second instrument and the first instrument.
US08707016B2
A set of helper thread binaries is created to retrieve data used by a set of main thread binaries. The set of helper thread binaries and the set of main thread binaries are partitioned according to common instruction boundaries. As a first partition in the set of main thread binaries executes within a first core, a second partition in the set of helper thread binaries executes within a second core, thus “warming up” the cache in the second core. When the first partition of the main completes execution, a second partition of the main core moves to the second core, and executes using the warmed up cache in the second core.
US08707015B2
A method of operating a processor includes reclaiming a physical register renamed as a microcode architectural register used by a microcode routine. The physical register is reclaimed according to an indicator corresponding to the microcode architectural register and indicating that a pointer to the physical register and corresponding to the microcode architectural register is an active pointer.
US08707004B2
In order to properly use resources according to the application or search for available resources in an environment in which a block storage apparatus and a file storage apparatus coexist, knowledge and experience of applications and storage apparatuses, as well manpower were required. Thus, a policy pre-defined with a preferred type of interface and a preferred type of storage area for each type of application that is loaded in the host computers is predetermined, configuration information is collected from each storage apparatus, each intermediate storage apparatus and each host computer, respectively, a combination of a storage apparatus, an intermediate storage apparatus and a host computer that is suitable for the type of application designated by a user is detected based on the collected configuration information of each storage apparatus, each intermediate storage apparatus and each host computer, the policy, and the type of application designated by the user, and the detected combination is presented to the user.
US08706999B2
A method of performing cascaded flashcopy (FC) including starting a flashcopy map when a target disk is already a source of an active FC map. A computer storage system includes a configuration that allows a flashcopy (FC) map to be started when a target disk is already the source of an active FC map.
US08706996B2
The data processor can form a system including a combination of two or more operating systems running in parallel, which achieves a higher data transfer rate between operating systems and the increase in system performance without impairing the system reliability. In the system, data transfer between domains is performed in an enhanced access mode as well as an access mode in which an access from a domain manager having control of domains is handled as one from the domain manager. The enhanced access mode is arranged by enhancing, to a CPU scale, an access mode in which an access from the domain manager is treated as an access from a software program working on a domain, and the software program of domain manager transfers data between the domains. For example, in case that the domain manager performs data transfer between domains in the enhanced access mode, a read access from the domain manager is disguised as a read access from a first domain, and a write access from the domain manager is disguised as a write access from a second domain.
US08706987B1
Structured block transfer module, system architecture, and method for transferring content or data. Circuit allowing content in one memory to be shifted, moved, or copied to another memory with no direction from a host, the circuit comprising: a connection manager, at least one copy engine, and a connection between the connection manager and the copy engine. Method for transferring the contents of one of a number of blocks of source memory to one of a number of possible destination memories comprising: selecting source memory; selecting available destination memory; marking the selected destination as no longer available; copying contents of selected source memory into selected destination memory; and marking selected source as available.
US08706985B1
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for optimizing garbage collection in data storage. The data storage may be a shingled disk drive or a non-volatile solid-state memory device. Garbage collection is optimized by selectively saving data read from certain locations of the data storage in response to host read commands and using the saved data for subsequent garbage collection operations. The decision of whether to save data may be based on a number of criteria, including whether the data is located in an area of the data storage that is due to be garbage collected in the near future. In this manner, certain garbage collection operations can be performed without having to re-read the saved data.
US08706984B2
A delete notification can be received at a storage stack filter in a storage stack. It can be determined whether the delete notification applies to an entire storage device. If the delete notification does not apply to the entire storage device, a first set of actions can be taken with the storage stack filter in response to the delete notification. If the delete notification does apply to the entire storage device, a second set of actions can be taken with the storage stack filter in response to the delete notification.
US08706983B2
A method and system for performing garbage collection operations on update blocks in a memory device using volatile memory is disclosed. When performing a garbage collection operation, a first part of the data related to the garbage collection operation is written to a volatile memory in the memory device, and a second part of the data related to the garbage collection operation is written to a non-volatile memory in the memory device. The first part of the data that is written to the volatile memory (such as a random access memory) may comprise control information (such as mapping information of the logical addressable unit to a physical metablock). The second part of the data related to the garbage collection that is written to the non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory) may comprise the consolidated data in the update block.
US08706981B2
An electronic communication unit which is in the form of a sensor and/or actuator unit, including at least a first status information processing module having a status memory unit which stores status information for the communication unit in the form of a status data item (stat), wherein the first status information processing module further includes a masking memory unit connected to the status memory unit and also a status processing element connected to the masking memory unit, wherein the first status information processing module is designed such that at least one status information item from the status data item (stat) is selected by the masking memory unit and the resultant selective status data item (sel-stat) is processed by the status processing element such that the output of the latter provides a short status data item (k-stat) which has a shorter data word length than the selective status data item (sel-stat).
US08706968B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for redundant write caching. The apparatus, system, and method are provided with a plurality of modules including a write request module, a first cache write module, a second cache write module, and a trim module. The write request module detects a write request to store data on a storage device. The first cache write module writes data of the write request to a first cache. The second cache write module writes the data to a second cache. The trim module trims the data from one of the first cache and the second cache in response to an indicator that the storage device stores the data. The data remains available in the other of the first cache and the second cache to service read requests.
US08706962B2
In one embodiment, a configuration adviser provides configuration options for a multi-tiered storage system that includes a number of different storage tiers, each of which include storage devices of a particular storage type. Data access information for storage extents to be stored in the storage system are received. Resource information for available storage tiers in the storage system to place the storage extents on are also received. A cost incurred by the storage system for placing each of the storage extents on each of the storage tiers is determined. Each storage extent is assigned to a particular one of the storage tiers that would incur the lowest cost to the storage system for storing the storage extent. For each storage tier, a minimum number of storage devices are selected, within the assigned storage tier, that would satisfy data access and capacity requirements for all storage extents assigned to that tier.
US08706958B2
Devices, circuits, and methods for data mask and data bit inversion encoding and decoding for a memory circuit. According to these methods and circuits, the number of data lines/pins required to encode data mask information and data bit inversion information can be reduced. In an embodiment the data mask and data inversion functions for a portion of data, such as a data word, can be merged onto a common pin/data line. In other embodiments, a data mask instruction can be conveyed through a transmitted data word itself without using any extra pins. According to these embodiments, the pin overhead can be reduced from two pins per byte to one pin per byte.
US08706949B2
A memory device includes an executable flash memory partition and a non-executable partition, both partitions being fabricated on a common die. Preferably, both partitions are fabricated using the same flash memory technology. Most preferably, the flash cells of both partitions have insulating floating gates.
US08706940B2
Multiprocessor systems often share access to a centralized memory and experience conflicting access requests. An arbitration unit mediates priorities of requestor preferably ensuring both priority and fairness. In this invention upon an access conflict the arbitrator grants access to one requestor having the highest priority level and stalls other conflicting requestors. If plural requestors have the same priority level, the arbiter grants access to one and stalls the others. The arbiter then adjusts the priority levels of the requestors. The priority of the requestor granted access is decreased by the number of stalled requestors. The stalled requestors have their priority levels increased by one. The arbitration decision is thus based on the stall history and the caused stall history of each requestor.
US08706923B2
In accordance with at least some embodiments, a system includes a processing entity configured to run multiple threads. The system also includes a direct memory access (DMA) engine coupled to the processing entity, the DMA engine being configured to track DMA in-flight status information for each of a plurality of DMA channels. The processing entity is configured to manage overlapping DMA requests to a DMA channel of the DMA engine based on said DMA in-flight status information.
US08706921B2
A method of initializing programmable devices on a shared bus, comprises, on power up, loading control instructions on a processor from an attached tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium, automatically allowing a first programmable device on a common bus to exit its reset state and enter a read-to-program state as the computer system powers up, automatically holding a second programmable device on the common bus in its reset state, querying the common bus by the processor to identify the first programmable device, copying the contents of a program image file by the processor from the computer-readable medium across the common bus to the first programmable device, and once the first programmable device has been programmed with the contents of the program image file, signaling the first programmable device to release the reset hold on the second programmable device.
US08706914B2
An affordable, highly trustworthy, survivable and available, operationally efficient distributed supercomputing infrastructure for processing, sharing and protecting both structured and unstructured information. A primary objective of the SHADOWS infrastructure is to establish a highly survivable, essentially maintenance-free shared platform for extremely high-performance computing (i.e., supercomputing)—with “high performance” defined both in terms of total throughput, but also in terms of very low-latency (although not every problem or customer necessarily requires very low latency)—while achieving unprecedented levels of affordability at its simplest, the idea is to use distributed “teams” of nodes in a self-healing network as the basis for managing and coordinating both the work to be accomplished and the resources available to do the work. The SHADOWS concept of “teams” is responsible for its ability to “self-heal” and “adapt” its distributed resources in an “organic” manner. Furthermore, the “teams” themselves are at the heart of decision-making, processing, and storage in the SHADOWS infrastructure. Everything that's important is handled under the auspices and stewardship of a team.
US08706906B2
Methods and apparatus that enable more than one server to host a resource using a shared IP address such that a client may generally access the resource on any of the servers using the shared IP address are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing paths that allow a client to access a resource in a TCP/IP network includes obtaining an IP address, as well as associating the IP address to first and second servers. The first and second servers support the resource at the IP address, and a first path of the plurality of paths that allow the client to access the resource is between the client and the first server and a second path of the plurality of paths that allow the client to access the resource is between the client and the second server.
US08706903B2
An audio-on-demand communication system provides real-time playback of audio data transferred via telephone lines or other communication links. One or more audio servers include memory banks which store compressed audio data. At the request of a user at a subscriber PC, an audio server transmits the compressed audio data over the communication link to the subscriber PC. The subscriber PC receives and decompresses the transmitted audio data in less than real-time using only the processing power of the CPU within the subscriber PC. According to one aspect of the present invention, high quality audio data compressed according to lossless compression techniques is transmitted together with normal quality audio data. According to another aspect of the present invention, metadata, or extra data, such as text, captions, still images, etc., is transmitted with audio data and is simultaneously displayed with corresponding audio data.
US08706883B2
In one embodiment, a plurality of spoke-to-hub virtual private network (VPN) tunnels are established from a spoke router located at an edge of a spoke network to a hub network. The spoke router is configured as an optimized edge routing (OER) node. The spoke router monitors a network statistic for each of a plurality of prefixes on each of the plurality of spoke-to-hub VPN tunnels. The monitored network statistic is analyzed to determine whether a distribution of traffic between the spoke network and the hub network can be optimized. In the event the distribution of traffic between the spoke network and the hub network can be optimized, traffic is redistributed on a per-prefix basis among the plurality of spoke-to-hub VPN tunnels based on the monitored network statistic, such that at least a portion of the traffic is routed over each of the plurality of spoke-to-hub VPN tunnels.
US08706878B1
Infrastructure is disclosed for optimizing performance and minimizing errors during normal operation of replicated data centers. In some implementations, systems that are replicated in each data center under a common IP address may have service requests routed to them using routing tables that favor one of the systems. The routing tables may prefer the system that resides in the data center where the service requests originated, or they may prefer the system that meets other criteria. Other systems replicated in the data center may have service requests routed to them using configuration tables that favor one of the systems. The configuration tables may also prefer the system that resides in the data center where the service requests originated, or they may prefer the system that meets other criteria. This arrangement helps optimize performance during normal operation and minimize potential for disruption of service should one of the data centers fail.
US08706875B2
This patent application relates to a method, a computer program product, a computer program, an apparatus, and a system for sharing an access to at least one application located on a smart card unit.
US08706868B2
An image processing apparatus capable of requesting a service providing apparatus via an external network to perform processing and communicating with an information processing apparatus via an internal network includes an activation unit configured to activate a check unit configured to check a status of the processing acquired by the information processing apparatus, a stopping unit configured to stop the check unit if the check unit activated by the activation unit recognizes that the status of the processing is not a stopped state, and a request unit configured to request the service providing apparatus to perform the processing if the check unit is stopped.
US08706867B2
A method and system for streaming media to a client from a media server is described. In some examples, the system utilizes a virtualization layer to generate a virtual computing environment, or virtual machine, at a UPnP server, which is configured to receive requests for media, identify locations for the media within the secondary storage devices, access the media, and present the media to a client computing device associated with the media requests.
US08706866B2
Provided are a virtual server and method for identifying a zombie, and a sinkhole server and method for integratedly managing zombie information. The virtual server includes an authentication processing module authenticating a host using a CAPTCHA test and providing a cookie to the authenticated host when a web server access request message received from the host does not include a cookie, a cookie value verification module for extracting a cookie value from the web server access request message and verifying the extracted cookie value when the web server access request message includes a cookie, a web page access inducement module for inducing the host to access a web server when the cookie value is verified, and a zombie identification module for blocking access of the host when the cookie value is not verified, and identifying the host as a zombie when the number of blocking operations exceeds a threshold value.
US08706864B1
The behavior of multiple users with access to a multi-tenant resource can be monitored and compliance enforced by monitoring state information for each user. The state information can be captured across a level of a network environment, such that any activity across that layer can be monitored and the data aggregated to give a global view of user behavior. If user behavior is determined to fall outside an acceptable range of behavior, any of a number of remedial actions can be taken, which can include notifying the user, billing the user for the inappropriate behavior, or modifying that behavior outside of the control of the user.
US08706844B2
In an embodiment, a method is provided for providing a tool used for troubleshooting a component. This tool is included in an application server that is in communication with multiple client computing devices. Here, a request to activate the tool is received from one or more client computing devices. This request includes a diagnostic identifier that uniquely identifies the client computing device that transmitted the request. Upon receipt of the request, the tool is activated at the application server with the diagnostic identifier used as an input parameter. When activated, the tool can identify the client computing device based on the diagnostic identifier and can provide a functionality associated with the troubleshooting to the client computing device.
US08706842B2
Embodiments provide searching features and functionality that can be used to provide service provider data, but are not so limited. In an embodiment, a computing system can include a client application or client that includes functionality to provide a number of service providers associated with a particular function, service, and/or other provider feature(s). In one embodiment, a computing device can include a client that can be used in conjunction with other end-user applications to automatically provide a number of service providers based in part on a user request.
US08706839B2
A method and system of conveying data to a remote computer, which may act as a management console. A virtual communications port is provided to a central processing unit. The virtual communications port is provided using a device distinct from the central processing unit, such as a network controller card with manageability features inborn. The device providing the virtual communications port receives the data written to the virtual communications port. Thereafter, the device transmits the data into a network, addressed for reception by the remote computer. The remote computer may be used as a management console so that keystrokes entered thereupon may be relayed through the virtual communications port to the aforementioned central processing unit.
US08706837B2
An SAS domain map is automatically generated at an SAS concentrator switch by a virtual mapping device that presents itself as a target for discovery by SAS devices interfaced with the concentrator, such as information handling systems and storage devices. During the SAS protocol discovery process, the virtual mapping device generates the SAS domain map by acquiring the device name and the device port for each concentrator port that interfaces with a device. A management application running on the concentrator applies the SAS domain map to provide network functions, such as zoning or diagnostics.
US08706822B2
Many scenarios involve the delivery of messages received from various message sources to recipients, based on subscriptions established between various recipients and message sources. The recipients may be distributively assigned to one or more message servers, either operating independently or as part of an interoperating message server set. Respective message servers may generate a subscription filter indicating whether at least one assigned recipient subscribes to respective message sources, and may utilize the subscription filter to determine, upon receiving a message from a message source, whether to discard the message or store the message for delivery. Interoperating message servers may also exchange subscription filters, and upon receiving a message from any message source, a message server may utilize the subscription filters of the other message servers to determine which other message servers are assigned at least one subscribing recipient, and may retransmit the message only to such message servers.
US08706821B2
An approach is provided for time adaption of online services. Timing information relating to usage by a user of one or more online services is retrieved. A pattern of consistent usage is determined from the timing information. Scheduling information is generated for transmission of a message based on the determined pattern.
US08706811B2
A system for preventing redirection loops during collaborative web browsing is provided comprising: a CPU; a memory in communication with the CPU; instructions stored in the memory and executable by the CPU to prevent redirects encountered during a collaborative web browsing session, the instructions further comprising: instructions enabling a device to join a collaborative web browsing session; instructions enabling detection of a redirection loop; and instructions enabling termination of the redirect loop.
US08706786B2
A signal processing device and an image processing device are provided. The signal processing device includes a matrix calculator for performing a matrix operation selected by a switch part among a DCT matrix operation, a Haar matrix operation, and a Slant matrix operation, with respect to an input signal. Thus, the signal processing device can be implemented in a hybrid architecture capable of selectively processing the DCT-II transform, the Haar transform, and the Slant transform with a single chip.
US08706785B2
A method of operation of a communication system includes: generating a filter impulse response and a filter time-domain data with a shortening filter; generating a filter frequency response based on the filter impulse response with a filter frequency response calculator; generating a filter frequency-domain data based on the filter time-domain data with a first process unit; and generating a raw channel impulse response with a filter frequency removal unit for removing the filter frequency response from the filter frequency-domain data.
US08706783B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for storing a hierarchical table as a markup language file are described herein. Initially the position of the cells included in the hierarchical table may be identified. The position of the plurality of cells includes a first dimension coordinate and a second dimension coordinate. The first dimension coordinate is inserted as a markup tag in the markup language file. The second dimension coordinate is inserted as a markup attribute corresponding to the markup language file. One or more cells, corresponding to a first dimension of the hierarchical table is selected. Data included in the selected cells is identified and stored in the markup attribute inserted in the markup language file.
US08706781B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores content data, a movement instruction unit that provides instructions to move the content data stored in the storage unit in accordance with a user operation, a detection unit that detects characteristic information of the content data in accordance with movement instructions of the content data by the movement instruction unit, a basic interval setting unit that sets one or two or more basic intervals to the content data based on detection points of the characteristic information, and a data generation unit that generates content data for movement made of a plurality of the one or two or more basic intervals set by the basic interval setting unit.
US08706773B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for distributing content pursuant to audit-based processes. Audit content in runtime workpapers may be dynamically constructed in response to industry-driven and response-driven rules using information from one or more of the distributed content libraries. Dynamic updates may also be provided for generated runtime workpapers constructed from the distributed content. The system and method may also provide drilldown functionality for enabling a user to view a source workpaper for a specified data value which has flowed into the generated dynamic workpaper and/or tip functionality to provide a user with additional guidance based on the status and data associated with the generated workpaper.
US08706770B2
A method for managing a collection of objects, comprises selecting a property which is common to all of the objects; creating a plurality of exemplar structures, at least one exemplar structure for each object; prototypically categorizing the exemplar structures; and using the exemplar structures to access information regarding said collection. Each exemplar structure comprises an exemplar, which is a good example of the property; a broader term, which provides context to the exemplar; an object identifier, which identifies one of the collection of objects; and at least one attribute, which describes the exemplar.
US08706766B2
Systems and methods are provided for triggering a provisioning event in a service provider using a provisioning request message generated by an external system. A provisioning system may be used to receive the provisioning request message from the external system and transmit information in the provisioning request message to the service provider to trigger the provisioning event. The provisioning request message may have a data structure that includes a header section and a body section. The body section may contain a provisioning entity section that includes information identifying an entity to which the provisioning event pertains, wherein the provisioning entity section includes one or more attributes defined by the external system.
US08706765B2
To enhance the targeting accuracy in providing services such as provision of samples for members by performing management of member information and authentication while securing personal anonymity. There is provided a center server and a store terminal. The center server gives a unique ID to a member application, sends it to a particular mobile information terminal and manages it as authentication information about a member who is the user of the mobile information terminal. In response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the store terminal inputs the ID from the mobile information terminal and inputs purchase information about the article the member purchases. The center server then acquires attribute information about a member identified by the ID. Then, by checking the purchase information, the attribute information and service information set in association with attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in particular storage means, information about a service to be provided for the member is identified.
US08706763B1
A method using a field-accessed database system identifies an object by a data identifier, and stores and/or retrieves object data using the associated data identifier. In one mode of operation, a field terminal uploads to a database object-based data and employs the associated data identifier to group the uploaded object data with object data relating to other objects having substantially similar data identifiers. In another mode of operation, the system identifies one or more data products stored in a database and previously grouped according to an identified object's data identifier, and a field terminal downloads from database one or more data products related to the identified object and processes downloaded data products for user access.
US08706759B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for displaying messages in context. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure at least one transaction notification is received. At least one node for the at least one transaction notification is generated. The node is stored in a hierarchical tree data structure.
US08706755B2
A distributed file system enables the intelligent storing and retrieval of files among a plurality of storage units. The distributed file system utilizes a metadata data structure to track and manage detailed information about each file, including, for example, the device and block locations of the file's data blocks, to permit different levels of replication and/or redundancy. The distributed file system includes a switch to receive a read request for a file and to send the read request to one of the storage units. Each of the plurality of storage units is operable to monitor access to the file, such that a block cache module is operable to perform a scalable number of packet read aheads, wherein the scalable number is based on at least a current read rate and a current latency of a link to access the at least one file.
US08706749B1
A method involves identifying, within each of a plurality of structured data strings within a data file having a serialized data format, each of the plurality of structured data strings contained within an atomic element of an atom within the data file, data particles located within substantially the same location within each structured data string and that match a pre-defined regular expression, and generating a plurality of indexed structured data strings by creating, within each of the plurality of structured data strings, a separate index across all of the plurality of structured data strings for each identified data particle matching a particular pre-defined regular expression. The method may be incorporated into a GUI, where the indexed structured data strings may be displayed to a user and the user may then provide feedback. The user feedback may be a data query, resulting in data that was otherwise not readily searchable.
US08706748B2
Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria that improve relevance of search results. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task.
US08706747B2
Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention allow a user to submit an ambiguous search query and to receive relevant search results. Queries can be expressed using character sets and/or languages that are different from the character set and/or language of at least some of the data that is to be searched. A translation between these character sets and/or languages can be performed by examining the use of terms in aligned text. Probabilities can be associated with each possible translation. Refinements can be made to these probabilities by examining user interactions with the search results.
US08706743B2
An alert notification distribution tool is disclosed. In particular embodiments, a method includes receiving raw data from a first data source in a first format and converting the raw data to conditioned data. The method also includes selecting, based on user input, a first category of a plurality of categories included in the conditioned data. The method also includes selecting, based on user input, one or more values from a plurality of values associated with the selected first category and generating a distribution group based on the selected first category and the selected one or more values associated with the selected first category, the distribution group including one or more contact addresses.
US08706742B1
A system including an electronic repository having a multiplicity of accesses to a respective multiplicity of electronic documents and metadata; a document rater using a processor to run a first computer algorithm on the multiplicity of electronic documents which yields a score which rates each of the multiplicity of electronic documents to an issue; and a metadata-based document discriminator to run a second computer algorithm on at least some of the metadata which yields leads, each lead having at least one metadata value for at least one metadata parameter, whose value correlates with the score of the electronic documents to the issue, typically used in combination with an electronic document analysis method receiving N electronic documents pertaining to a case encompassing a set of issues including at least one issue and establishing relevance of at least the N documents to at least one individual issue in the set of issues.
US08706736B2
A hash table supports extended entries. The extended entries permit a base entry to extend its associated data into one or more neighboring entries. Extended entries thereby provide a mechanism through which a hash table entry may store additional data compared to a base entry. Extended entries may coexist with base entries in the hash table. The hash table thereby provides the flexibility to adapt dynamically to meet system requirements and to balance the needs of additional data storage by blending the number of extended entries (that each store more data than a base entry) and the number of base entries (each storing less data than an extended entry).
US08706734B2
A distributed system is described in which resource utilisation decisions depend upon the categorisation of resource descriptions stored in the distributed system. In the principal embodiment, the resource descriptions are web service descriptions which are augmented with tags (i.e. descriptive words or phrases) entered by users and/or by web service administrators. A service taxonomy is constructed on the basis of the tags, and is subsequently used in suggesting tags to the user which the user might want to ascribe to the service in question. This leads to a more coherent and focused set of tags in the system, which in turns results in better resource utilisation decisions and hence a more efficient use of the resources of the distributed system.
US08706733B1
A system and method for facilitating automatic objective-based feature improvement, the method including receiving a request to identify an optimal alternative for each of one or more features of a computer-implemented entity, determining an alternative feature range for each of the one or more features, the alternative feature range defining a range of possible alternative features available with respect to the feature, selecting one or more alternative features for each feature from the alternative feature range of the feature, generating a plurality of alternative sets, each including an alternative feature for at least one of the one or more features, selecting a plurality of user groups from a pool of users and assigning each user group of the plurality of users groups to one of the plurality of alternative sets based on user characteristics of the users and historical information regarding the interaction of the user with the computer-implemented entity.
US08706725B2
Methods are provided for re-ranking documents based on user-specific features. Search results are received from a non-contextual ranking system such that the search results are not specific toward a particular user, such as the user who submitted the search query. Contextual signals are received and provide user-specific features that are used to re-rank documents so that the most important and relevant documents are listed at the top of the list of search results. Each of the user-specific features are evaluated and compared to determine a new position of each document. A set of contextual search results is then generated based on the new positions.
US08706718B2
Techniques for creating and searching a database that stores information about a plurality of individual habitable units (IHUs) are provided. An example of an IHU is a hotel room. Image data that depicts where a plurality of IHUs reside relative to each other is placed on a base image, such as a satellite/map image. The base image is associated with a mapping that maps points on the base image to spatial (e.g., geographical) coordinates. The coordinates of the IHU may be used to generate a computer-rendered view from a window of an IHU. Also, label input is received that labels each IHU reflected in the image data with certain information. Each label indicates a value of an attribute of an IHU, such as its size, price, distance from elevators, etc. A query that targets information about each IHU may be processed and results returned that are ranked based on criteria associated with the query.
US08706707B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for modeling costed entities and performing a value chain analysis. In one implementation, methods and systems may implement a costing platform. The costing platform may be adapted for modeling any set of costed entities and processing value chains. Value chains may be modeled by a user via the costing platform, so that networks comprised of objects and edges, and costed entities located at the objects can be modeled and functions can be added to determine key figures.
US08706702B2
A method for managing data in a collaborative service-oriented workshop, which is adapted to treat objects associated with data representative of real or process data, is provided to share data and resources in an architecture of a workspace. The architecture is adapted to design complex objects and manipulate information technology objects that represent data, which may be representative of a real object or a process based on metadata representing characteristic data. The metadata includes a generic part that is common to all data, a specific part that is inherent to the type of data, and links to other objects. The links make it possible to establish, at a later time, the traceability of the data, or in other words the traceability between the different data produced or used during execution of processes.
US08706698B2
A plurality of log processes are synchronized. Each is independently performed in parallel with one another, into a single set of log files. A line buffering mechanism of an operating system (OS) of the computing environment forecloses interleaving of the log processes. Log management operations are concurrently performed by a single process protected by a file-system lock of the OS. The log management operations include at least one of a log compression, log retention, and log rotation operation.
US08706690B2
Apparatus and methods for space management in file systems provide a mechanism to enhance user interaction with multimedia devices. For example, an apparatus may be configured to execute a method of synchronizing media content with a destination file system, including: receiving a request to synchronize one or more playlists from a music library to a destination file system; determining an amount of space on the destination file system utilized for files from external sources; predicting an amount of space on the destination file system to hold the one or more playlists; and displaying the amount of space utilized for files from external sources and the amount of space to hold the one or more playlists prior to synchronizing with the destination file system. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08706687B2
A method of updating database volumes by writing database updates to a smart storage controller, and having the smart storage controller generate the log update records for updating local and remote log volumes, and data volumes.
US08706676B2
The method includes receiving a plurality of target observations from a respective plurality of sensors and using the target observations to compute target state estimates. Each of the target state estimates is assessed to check if it suffers from one of a set of modelled possible fault types. The target state estimates are adjusted to compensate for any modelled fault type when it is assessed to be suffering from that fault type. A reliability value is computed for each of the target state estimates and the target state estimates are fused together based on the computed reliability values to produce a fused target state estimate.
US08706670B2
The present invention discloses a relative variable selection system and a selection method thereof. In the present invention, the receiving module receives a plurality of variables. Based on a correlation coefficient of variables, a first selection module sequentially selects variables with a correlation coefficient greater than a first threshold value. Based on the variables selected by the first selection module, a first calculating module selects a regression value and a weighted value corresponding to the foregoing variables. Based on the weighted values, a second selection module sequentially selects variables with a weighted value smaller than a second threshold value. Based on the variables selected by the second selection module, a second calculating module calculates analyzed values of the foregoing variables. Based on the analyzed values of the variables, a third selection module selects analyzed values which are greater than the target value.
US08706667B2
Processing transactions using graph-based computations includes determining that at least one of a plurality of graph elements of a computation graph of a set of one or more computation graphs includes a computation to be performed for a given transaction, associating the given transaction with an instance of the computation graph that includes reusable computation elements associated with respective graph elements, and executing the graph to perform the computation.
US08706664B2
Techniques are described for determining and using relevant information related to domains of interest. In at least some situations, the techniques include automatically analyzing documents, terms and other information related to a domain of interest in order to automatically determine information about relevant themes within the domain and/or about which documents have contents that are relevant to such themes. Such automatically determined information related to a domain may then be used in various ways, including to assist users in specifying themes of interest and/or in obtaining documents and/or document fragments with contents that are relevant to specified themes. In addition, information about how the automatically determined information is used by users may be tracked and used as feedback for learning improved determinations of relevant themes and relevant documents within the domain, such as by using automated machine learning techniques.
US08706659B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for training a predictive model. In one aspect, a method includes receiving over a network predictive modeling training data from a client computing system. The training data and multiple training functions obtained from a repository of training functions are used to train multiple predictive models. A score is generated for each of the trained predictive models, where each score represents an estimation of the effectiveness of the respective trained predictive model. A first trained predictive model is selected from among the trained predictive models based on the generated scores. Access to the first trained predictive model is provided to the client computing system.
US08706653B2
Knowledge corroboration is described. In an embodiment many judges provide answers to many questions so that at least one answer is provided to each question and at least some of the questions have answers from more than one judge. In an example a probabilistic learning system takes features describing the judges or the questions or both and uses those features to learn an expertise of each judge. For example, the probabilistic learning system has a graphical assessment component which aggregates the answers in a manner which takes into account the learnt expertise in order to determine enhanced answers. In an example the enhanced answers are used for knowledge base clean-up or web-page classification and the learnt expertise is used to select judges for future questions. In an example the probabilistic learning system has a logical component that propagates answers according to logical relations between the questions.
US08706648B2
An approach is provided in which a risk assessment is performed that accesses the risk to a user of an information handling system due to the user's link to a social network contact. Risky action values is received with the values corresponding to the social network contact. A risk level is calculated with the risk level corresponding to one or more of the risky action values. A preventative security action is then performed based on the calculated risk level. In another embodiment, an approach is provided in which the potential risks posed by a user are transmitted to the user's social network contacts. In this approach, potentially risky actions that are performed by the user are detected. Risky action values are identified that correspond to the detected potentially risky actions. The risky action values are then transmitted to the user's social network contacts over a computer network.
US08706647B2
The social influence that each person in a computer network system exercises over others in the system may be valued by aggregating the differences in value of each of the others to the network both with and without the person being present. This calculated influence may be used as a basis for charging advertisers for advertisements to the users, as well as for providing preferential treatment to users that exert the greatest influence.
US08706638B2
A video on demand system in the context of the Internet, for video rentals. A user accesses an on-line store to rent a video program or movie. The rental is for a limited time (such as 30 days) and within that thirty days, the video program or movie can only be viewed for a 24 hour time window. The time limits are enforced by the on-line store which maintains a database of each rental transaction and allows supply of the needed keys for decrypting the (encrypted) video or movie only if within the time limits.
US08706627B2
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods to wirelessly pay for purchases, electronically interface with financial accounting systems, and electronically record and wirelessly communicate authorization transactions using Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”)(also referred to as Personal Intelligent Communicators (PICs), and Personal Communicators), palm computers, intelligent handheld cellular and other wireless telephones, and other personal handheld electronic devices configured with infrared or other short range data communications (for referential simplicity, such devices are referred to herein as “PDA's”). The present invention further provides apparatus, firmware, software programs and computer-implemented methods for making service and/or sale service charge payments for credit card charges, debit card charges, electronic cash transfers, ticket and other like financial transactions and for other types of transactions, such as for electronic coupons, where the amount of the transaction is for a small amount of money, such as, for example, less than $5.00.
US08706610B2
Systems and methods are provided for conducting securities lending transactions using an electronic trading platform. In accordance with an implementation, the electronic trading platform receives, from a trader, order data comprising a plurality of orders to lend or borrow shares of securities, and information identifying a matching criterion associated with a transaction to lend or borrow the shares. The electronic trading platform identifies a counterparty capable of fulfilling at least a portion of the orders in accordance with the proposed matching criterion. The electronic trading platform may then execute transactions between the trader and the identified counterparty to lend or borrow at least a portion of the shares in accordance with terms of an active bilateral agreement between the trader and the identified counterparty.
US08706593B2
A system and method for real-time access to information and for information exchange regarding securities markets. The system allows access to securities data obtained from multiple sources, and allows a wide variety of data pertaining to a particular security to be simultaneously displayed. The data may further be automatically and continuously updated in real time, and users may contribute securities data to the system. The system further eases the creation of investment portfolios by relieving the user of the need to type bond identification numbers, issue names, coupons, or maturity data when creating and editing a portfolio.
US08706591B2
Methods, devices and systems are provided for event participation. One method embodiment includes a method for generating income for an owner of an entrant to an event. The method includes defining the event by the owner. The method further includes offering remuneration based upon a fulfillment of the defined event. The remuneration can be memorialized by a remuneration right. The remuneration can be granted from the owner to a participant. And, the remuneration right is granted in exchange for the participant accepting to give consideration to the owner for receiving the remuneration.
US08706588B1
A method of provisioning confidential information to a target device is provided. The method comprises a mobile device wirelessly transmitting using a public land mobile network a message to request confidential information, wherein the confidential information is associated with at least one of a credit card, a transit card, a transit token, an electronic coupon, a loyalty program access code, an access badge, and an access code. The method also comprises the mobile device wirelessly receiving the confidential information from the public land mobile network and transmitting the confidential information using near field communication technology to the target device. The method also comprises the target device receiving the confidential information using near field communication technology and storing the confidential information.
US08706586B2
A method for identifying select ones of insurance records which possess a favorable subrogation potential. The method includes receiving data indicative of a plurality of claims; automatically calculating a base score to identify select ones of the claims which demonstrate at least a given probability of expected subrogation recovery dependently upon the received data; automatically identifying risk factors for each of the select claims; and, automatically scoring each of the select claims dependently upon the base scores and identified risk factors to provide a value indicative of an expected subrogation recovery.
US08706575B2
A system, method, apparatus, means and computer program products for establishing, monitoring and maintaining spending controls in a payment system are provided.
US08706574B2
A pharmaceutical waste identification system presents pharmaceutical waste information and, in response to a client entering a pharmaceutical name, the system provides a pharmaceutical waste disposal recommendation. This recommendation can include a labeling recommendation for a container for the pharmaceutical, a disposal recommendation for an empty container previously containing the pharmaceutical, and a disposal recommendation for the pharmaceutical.
US08706570B2
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for transmitting streams of data. The present invention also relates to generating packet watermarks and packet watermark keys. The present invention also relates to a computerized system for packaging data for transmission to a user. The system may utilize computer code to generate a bandwidth rights certificate that may include: at least one cryptographic credential; routing information for the transmission; and, optionally, a digital signature of a certificate owner; a unique identification code of a certificate owner; a certificate validity period; and pricing information for use of bandwidth. The present invention also relates to an electronic method and system for purchasing good and services by establishing an account whereby a customer is credited with a predetermined amount of bandwidth usage, and then charges are assessed against the account in an amount of bandwidth usage which corresponds to the agreed upon purchase value for the selected item.
US08706561B2
Stored product management information in a first format for use by a first computerized system is transformed to readily make the stored product management information available for use in a second computerized system that utilizes a second format in a cost-efficient and time-efficient manner.
US08706556B2
A payment-enabled mobile device such as a “smart phone” incorporates risk management features that are applicable to its use in contactless payment transactions. Some features may govern when verification of the cardholder's identity is required for consummation of the current transaction. The features may be configurable by the payment card account issuer and/or the user of the mobile device.
US08706554B1
Apparatus and methods for determining a transaction cost recovery amount are provided. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined for each of a plurality of locations. The locations may include point-of-sale terminals and/or checkout lanes. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined based on Merchant Category Code (“MCC”) information. When a customer leaves a first location associated with a first MCC, the customer may be informed of a transaction cost recovery amount at a second location. The second location may be associated with a second MCC. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined based on a product inventory. The transaction cost recovery amount may be imposed to maintain an inventory level above a critical level. The transaction cost recovery amount may be based on a decrease and/or increase in an inventory level.
US08706545B2
Methods and related system are described for making decisions. A described method includes selecting a choice from the available choices, receiving an outcome relating to the selected choice, and automatically learning from the received outcome by incorporating the received outcome into subsequent steps of selecting a choice. The method may also include calculating estimated probabilities associated with the each choice using Bayesian networks. The automated learning can be based on a learning rate which is variable with time, and influences the degree on which prior outcomes are relied upon when calculating an estimated probability associated with a choice. The learning rate can be a function of time and an estimate of drift of the probability associated with the selected choice.
US08706541B2
A method of reservoir management linking. The method includes receiving a reservoir volume from a submitter, the reservoir volume modeling hydrocarbons in a reservoir, and determining that the submitter is authorized to submit the reservoir volume and sending notification of the reservoir volume to a first approver. The method further includes storing the reservoir volume on a storage device, receiving approval of the reservoir volume from the first approver, determining that the first approver is authorized to approve the reservoir volume, generating a standardized report associated with the reservoir volume, and displaying the standardized report.
US08706540B2
Incoming audio from mobile devices can be centrally processed, where a server can filter background noise in real time, such as by using an XOR function. Instead of discarding the filtered noise, however, it can be processed in parallel to dynamically construct an acoustic map of the environment. The acoustic map can be generated from an aggregation of sound data from multiple devices positioned in a geographic environment. The acoustic map can be linked to a configurable set of rules, conditions, and events, which can cause dynamic adjustments to be made to a workforce task management system. For example, employee availability can be assessed using the acoustic map and workforce tasks can be assigned based in part upon this availability.
US08706537B1
A method for remote site monitoring includes receiving data from a data site, converting those data into a site-level quality score using a metric risk profile, and calculating a risk indicator based on the site-level quality score. The metric risk profile may be based on historic data and study data, where the study data is received from a plurality of data sites. In some embodiments, converting the data includes normalizing a value of a metric by applying to it the metric risk profile and aggregating the normalized metric values to calculate the site-level quality score. An apparatus for remote site monitoring is also described.
US08706534B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for expediting how rental vehicle reservations can be booked by employing deep-link uniform resource locators (URLs) that encode aspects of a rental vehicle reservation transaction to relieve users of a need to enter reservation data themselves when booking a rental vehicle reservation.
US08706531B1
The present disclosure includes a method and system for detecting a change in circumstances of a customer and for proactively providing a response thereto, such as insurance quotes and/or coverage changes, to the customer and/or to one or more dependents of the customer. The customer may also initiate and accept an insurance quote for the dependent, and the dependent may initiate and accept an insurance quote on his/her own behalf. The insurance company may utilize data known to the company, or provided by an existing dependent of the customer, to communicate the response to the customer. The response may be communicated independently of a direct request from the dependents. Other dependents of the customer may also receive communications and provide authorization to change an existing policy. The response may also be communicated to a batch of customers meeting certain common criteria, independent of a direct customer request.
US08706530B2
A unique health score computation method is disclosed which masks underlying health statistics, yet provides a benchmark for a variety of applications. A system and method for collecting health related information, processing the information into a composite numerical value, and publishing the value is provided. The system includes a computer having a processor, memory, and code modules executing in the processor for implementation of the method. Information concerning a plurality of intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of a user is collected. Weighting factors are applied to the parameter in order control the relative affect each parameter has on the user's calculated numerical. The health score is computed using the processor by combining the weighted parameters in accordance with an algorithm. The numerical value is published to a designated group via a portal, while the underlying parameters remain private. In one implementation, the portal is an internet based information sharing forum.
US08706524B2
Techniques and apparatus for managing contributions to an accruable health spending account in an employer-sponsored plan offering a member an employer-funded defined contribution, at least one insurance premium option and the ability to specify an allocation of the defined contribution for payment of option premiums and in turn, a directed contribution amount designated to such accruable account are disclosed. The accruable account may be used to reimburse the member for qualified medical expenses, and the member may pay any premium shortfall using a tax-advantaged process such as a premium only payment plan. Also disclosed are techniques and apparatus directed to presenting member-specific out-of-pocket expenses for a selected procedure offered by at least one health-care provider.
US08706518B2
Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting at least one indication of use of an inhalation device configured to dispense a bioactive agent to an individual and presenting at Least one artificial sensory experience to monitor at Least one side effect of the bioactive agent on the individual.
US08706516B2
A system and method to manage progression of patients through a workflow of events that employs at least one resource in delivering healthcare is provided. The system comprises a sensor operable to track at least one property of the plurality of patients, and at least one processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is operable to execute computer readable program instructions generally representative of the steps of calculating a bid of the more than one of the series of patients relative to one another directed to a slot in a schedule of utilization of the at least one resource dependent on tracked data of the at least one property of the more than one of the series of patients, and assigning one of the patients to the slot in the schedule of the at least one resource dependent on a comparison of the bids.
US08706513B2
A process to create a fungible global standard for diamonds and gemstones. The process involves grouping diamonds in an investment standard according to their gemological, proportional, optical and light behavior characteristics. Diamonds that conform to the investment grade standard are interchangeable within a specific size range according to an equivalent monetary bundling process. Diamonds subjected to the standard conform to a holistic set of gemological, proportional, optical and light characteristic requirements that enables diamonds to be classified into a extraordinarily homogeneous, visually indistinguishable and highly fungible group which can be used to create baskets of diamonds to form an index/benchmark for diamond pricing, financial instruments, and a standard that can be used for certifying diamonds as investment grade to insure quality.
US08706512B2
An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a storing element for storing content data; a managing element for managing preference data by which to determine preferences of a user; a reading element for reading the content data from the storing element in response to an instruction from the user; a sorting element for sorting the content data read by the reading element, in accordance with the preference data managed by the managing element; and a composing element for composing the content data sorted by the sorting element, into a single item ready to be handled by the user.
US08706505B1
A computing device is configured to initiate actions in response to speech input that includes a name or other indication of an entity, in a first spoken utterance, followed by an action, in a second spoken utterance. The computing device receives the first spoken utterance, identifies an entity based on the first spoke utterance, and indicates a plurality of available actions based on the identified entity. The computing device then receives the second spoken utterance and identifies a selection of at least one of the available actions based on the second spoken utterance. The computing device then initiates the at least one selected action.
US08706489B2
A system and method for selecting audio contents by using the speech recognition to obtain a textual phrase from a series of audio contents are provided. The system includes an output module outputting the audio contents, an input module receiving a speech input from a user, a buffer temporarily storing the audio contents within a desired period and the speech input, and a recognizing module performing a speech recognition between the audio contents within the desired period and the speech input to generate an audio phrase and the corresponding textual phrase matching with the speech input.
US08706484B2
Voice recognition dictionary generation apparatus and voice recognition dictionary generation method
A voice recognition dictionary generation apparatus and method for suppressing reduction of processing speed at the time of updating. The apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive a text subjected to voice recognition, a storage unit configured to store the text with respect to each file of a predetermined item, a reading data generation unit configured to analyze the text and generate a reading data, and a voice recognition dictionary configured to include content dictionaries that store therein the reading data of the text with respect to each file of the predetermined item. When the file of the predetermined item including the text stored in the storage unit is updated, a control unit detects a total number of the content dictionaries, and when the total number is smaller than a predetermined limit, the control unit generates the content dictionaries with respect to each updated predetermined item.
US08706482B2
The present invention provides a voice coder for voice communication that employs a multi-microphone system as part of an improved approach to enhancing signal quality and improving the signal to noise ratio for such voice communications, where there is a special relationship between the position of a first microphone and a second microphone to provide the communication device with certain advantageous physical and acoustic properties. In addition, the communication device can have certain physical characteristics and design features. In a two microphone arrangement, the first microphone is located in a location directed toward the speech source, while the second microphone is located in a location that provides a voice signal with significantly lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
US08706471B2
A translation between a source language and a target language is disclosed. The source language items are divided, with primary and secondary source language items or named entities being identified, where the primary and secondary source languages being different from each other and from the target language. The entities in the second source language are translated in a different way. For example, they may be copied into the target language, or translated in a special way that is based on their meaning, e.g, into a term that has a more descriptive meaning in the target language.
US08706468B2
Circuit component connectivity evaluation and validation method provides comparing and validating the correctness of electrical phase connectivity at connection nodes between conducting components within a circuit model of a power distribution network or other circuit. Phase connectivity requirements of each connected component/device/equipment in a particular circuit are obtained from a Common Interface Model (CIM) file containing parameter data describing the circuit. XML data strings obtained from the CIM file are parsed into enumerated data objects representing each component's phase connectivity requirements and assigned unique four bit binary phase connectivity mask values indicative of the particular electrical phase connectivity requirements of each component. Associated mask values corresponding to connection nodes between pairs of connected components are bit-wise logically “AND”ed and the result compared to each component's bit mask to validate that each connected component in the circuit is a correct phase type match with other components to which it is connected.
US08706462B2
There is provided a system and method for creating a physical property model representative of a physical property of a region. An exemplary method comprises transforming information from a model domain that represents the physical property model into simulated data in a data domain, the data domain comprising simulated data and measured data representative of a plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method also comprises determining an areal misfit between the simulated data and the measured data representative of the plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method additionally comprises performing an evaluation of the areal misfit based on known criteria. The exemplary method comprises adjusting data in the data domain or information in the model domain corresponding to a region in the model domain based on the evaluation of the areal misfit.
US08706444B2
A method for accurately acquiring multiple analog input signals that are converted using a plurality of A/D converters into corresponding digital single measured values. A first measurement averaging cycle having a predetermined total number of measuring intervals is predetermined by a higher-order control unit. First and second input signals are acquired by first and second A/D converters in a first and second number of measuring intervals, the second number being smaller than the first number. The first and second input signals are averaged to form first and second measured values, respectively. The first input signal is acquired by the second A/D converter in a third number of measuring intervals as at least one further single measured value. A message is output if a deviation of the at least one further single measured value from a single measured value of the first input signals measured by the first A/D converter or from the first measured values averaged up to that point exceeds a maximum permissible absolute value of the deviation.
US08706442B2
A lithographic system includes a lithographic apparatus comprising a projection system which projects a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate and an alignment system which measures the position of a feature of the pattern on the substrate at a number of locations over the substrate. A controller compares the measured positions with points on a grid of values and extrapolates values for intermediate positions on the substrate based on values of corresponding intermediate points on the grid, so as to provide an indication of the intermediate positions on the substrate and their displacements relative to the grid. The grid is based on at least one orthogonal basis function, the measurement on the substrate being performed at positions corresponding to the root values of the at least one orthogonal basis function.
US08706437B2
A method of calibrating an optical detector arrangement (38,42) comprises simultaneously generating a plurality of entangled photon pairs, such that one photon from each pair traverses a first path (36-38-42) and the other photon from each pair traverses a second path (36-40-44). The number of photons received along the first path is calculated using the detector arrangement (38,42), while the number of simultaneously-generated photons received along the second path is calculated using a second detector arrangement (40,44). These photon numbers are used to calculated an estimate of the detection efficiency (50) of the first detector arrangement (38,42).
US08706427B2
Methods and algorithms are presented that implement linear algebraic techniques for rapidly estimating chemical similarities for several popular measures. The methods of the present invention reflect source similarity measures for both Tanimoto calculation and rank ordering. After a precalculation step on a database, the methods of the present invention afford several orders of magnitude of speedup in database screening. The present invention also provides an asymptotic speedup for large similarity matrix construction problems, reducing the number of conventional slow similarity evaluations required from quadratic to linear scaling.
US08706419B1
A system and method for monitoring the permeability of a well structure defining a bore hole. The system comprises a wave generator, a sensor adapted to receive current wave data, and a processor programmed to compare the current wave data to prior wave data in order to determine the permeability of the well structure. The processor can calculate a correlation value and/or a decay value that reflects changes between the current wave data and the prior wave data, and these values can be displayed for the user. The method comprises creating a pressure wave in the bore hole, sensing current wave data, and comparing the current wave data to prior wave data in order to determine the permeability of the well structure. The step of comparing can include calculating a correlation value and/or a decay value that corresponds with the change in the data, and the values can be displayed.
US08706415B2
A map navigation tool presents directions using a map navigation user interface that simplifies navigation in various ways. In particular, the map navigation tool dynamically adjusts presentation of graphics and/or text for directions depending on current location, so as to emphasize upcoming instructions. For example, based on current location, the tool identifies an upcoming list item in a list of directions for a route. The map navigation tool renders a view of at least part of the list of directions, rendering a given list item differently depending on whether it is the upcoming list item, a future list item, or a previous list item. Upon successful completion of navigation for the upcoming list item, the tool outputs an indication of positive feedback, changes the upcoming list item to be the next list item, and renders a new view in which the next list item is emphasized.
US08706413B2
Techniques are provided, which may be implemented in various methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture, to obtain an encoded routability graph representative of feasible paths in an indoor environment represented by an encoded map, and assign likelihoods of transition from an ingress edge in the encoded routability graph to individual egress edges through a junction connecting the ingress edge to a plurality of egress edges based, at least in part, on one or more features of the encoded map.
US08706412B2
A communication controller transmits current location information of a subject apparatus to another pre-registered apparatus, and receives current location information of the another pre-registered apparatus. A location relationship determiner determines whether the subject apparatus precedes the another apparatus in a heading direction. An operation mode determiner operates the subject apparatus as a main device when it is determined that the subject apparatus precedes the another apparatus in the heading direction, and operates the subject apparatus as a sub device when it is determined that the subject apparatus does not precede the another apparatus in the heading direction. A function selector activates a function of transmitting heading direction information to the another apparatus when the subject apparatus is determined to be a main device, and activates a function of receiving the heading direction information from a main device when the subject apparatus is determined to be a sub device.
US08706408B2
When a destination is set, a CPU transmits to an information distribution center average vehicle speed information and so on together with a request command requesting for statistical traffic information. On the other hand, a CPU selects statistical traffic information per vehicle speed region of a predetermined vehicle speed region for each secondary mesh to thereby search for a basic route to the destination. Subsequently, the CPU identifies a vehicle speed region for each road type from the average vehicle speed information and a vehicle speed region determination table, selects for each mesh ID of all the secondary meshes through which the basic route passes the statistical traffic information per vehicle speed region corresponding to the vehicle speed region identified for each road type from the statistical traffic information per vehicle speed region classified by road types, and distributes it to a navigation device.
US08706398B2
The present invention discloses an electronic device with object guiding function and the method thereof. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a view window area, via which a user may watch a view. The electronic device may determine whether an object is located in the view window area when the user inputs the position of the object, and may further show an object indicating message or an object guiding message according to the determination result. Therefore, the electronic device is able to provide the user with short distance guiding function. In another embodiment, the electronic device may also show information related to the object located in the view window area, such as information about every mountain range, constellation, user's friends, or specific landmark that is located in the view window area.
US08706394B2
An autonomous controller for a vehicle. The controller has a processor configured to receive position signals from position sensors and to generate operation control signals defining an updated travel path for the vehicle. The controller has a programmable interface providing communication among the position sensors, the operation control mechanisms, and the processor. The controller is configured to normalize inputs to the processor from the position sensors and to generate compatible operation control signals applied as the inputs to the operation control mechanisms. The processor and the programmable interface define a self-contained unit configurable for operation with a variety of different remote sensors and different remote operation control mechanisms.
US08706392B2
A collision determination ECU (1) includes: a first information generation section (101) that acquires time information from a timer (4) every predetermined time period PA, and associates own vehicle time information representing an own vehicle time, which is the acquired time information, with own vehicle identification information, to thereby generate first output information; a transmission control section (102) that transmits the generated first output information by broadcasting; a reception control section (103) that receives own vehicle time information representing an own vehicle time and own vehicle identification information, which are included in first output information from an other vehicle VCB, as other vehicle time information representing an other vehicle time and other vehicle identification information, respectively; a reception time acquisition section (104) that acquires reception time information representing a reception time from the timer (4), when the first output information is received by the other vehicle VCB; and a distance calculation section (105) that obtains a distance to the other vehicle, based on the other vehicle time information included in the received first output information and the acquired reception time information. In this manner, a distance to a vehicle in a wide range is accurately detected through car-to-car communication.
US08706381B2
A system for a parallel intake engine includes first, second, third, and fourth modules. The first module estimates a total mass air flow (MAF) into the engine based on a cross-sectional area of a throttle and a pressure ratio across the throttle. The second module estimates first and second MAFs through first and second induction paths, respectively, based on the estimated total MAF and a factor. The third module calculates first and second differences between the estimated first and second MAFs and first and second MAFs measured by first and second MAF sensors, respectively. The fourth module detects failures of the first and second MAF sensors based on the first and second differences and first and second thresholds, respectively.
US08706376B2
To provide an ABS control system and software with an automatic parameter calibration function. An ABS control system according to the present invention includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a wheel speed sensor, and a brake pressure sensor. The wheel speed sensor and the brake pressure sensor measure wheel speed and brake pressure during ABS braking, and the ABS control system automatically calibrates an internal parameter used in ABS control in response to the wheel speed and brake pressure measurement results.
US08706370B2
A lockup clutch control apparatus controls slippage of a lockup clutch to a desired slippage by manipulating clutch engagement force of the lockup clutch, wherein an engine is provided with a supercharger, and a torque converter is disposed between the engine and an automatic transmission, and provided with the lockup clutch. The lockup clutch control apparatus includes a controller configured to: set the clutch engagement force based on a measured value of torque inputted to the lockup clutch; determine whether the engine is operating in a predetermined supercharger lag region in which the measured value deviates from an actual value of the torque; and perform a first operation of correcting the clutch engagement force by reducing the clutch engagement force in response to determination that the engine is operating in the supercharger lag region.
US08706366B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling engine using height information capable of preventing an engine from stopping according to a position of a vehicle. An apparatus for controlling an engine of a vehicle using height information includes: a height information management unit storing a plurality of height information; and an idling controller that extracts one or more height information according to a position of the vehicle from the height information management unit to determine a slope of the vehicle and controls the idling of the vehicle according to the determination result.
US08706359B2
A surveillance module may be deployed from a vehicle. The vehicle to deploy the surveillance module includes a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle. A second portion includes a module configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion. The second portion also includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position. A third portion defines an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the roof of the module couples to a periphery of the opening in the retracted position.
US08706356B2
Disclosed is a method and a system for detecting a reducer fault, which extracts an angle of a steering angle sensor and an angle of a motor position sensor after the initialization of the steering angle sensor and the motor position sensor, and when a difference value between two extracted angles is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle, detects a fault of a reducer for rotation connection between a steering wheel and a motor. The method and the system can accurately detect the fault of the reducer for rotation connection between the steering wheel and the motor included in the motor driven power steering system, thereby effectively preventing occurrence of an accident due to the fault of the reducer.
US08706349B2
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for altering permitted settings of a vehicle according to a driver identified through short range wireless communication. The vehicle captures a unique identifier from a wireless communication device of the driver of the vehicle. This unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity of the driver as well as settings for the driver created by a controlling authority. The controlling authority may be, for instance, a parent or employer of the driver. The settings may limit certain devices within the vehicle and/or the vehicle itself. Speed control settings, radio settings, wireless communication device settings, and various other settings are all possible to limit distractions to the driver. Further, the settings may be influenced by the number or identities of passengers within the vehicle.
US08706348B2
A vehicular telemetry apparatus, operable to initiate a telemetry processing operation in response to an aperiodic, nonrandom trigger signal cued by a sensed, operationally-variable vehicular condition. A trigger unit provides the trigger signal which in turn switches the telemetry apparatus from a resource-conserving idle state to a state in which a session is initiated, so that operationally salient variations in information on changes in vehicle sensor data are detected and processed.
US08706345B2
A starter relay structure for a vehicle, where an electronic control unit of the vehicle controls the starter relay structure. The starter relay structure comprises a first relay and a second relay activated by an ignition signal from the electronic control unit. The starter relay structure further include a third relay activated by an output of the second relay, where an output of the first relay is provided as an input to the third relay.
US08706344B2
A system for identifying an object impacting a vehicle bumper during a collision. The system receives acceleration values from each of a plurality of sensors and calculates a center strength value based on the acceleration values. The center strength value is indicative of the amount of force that is applied to the center of the vehicle bumper. The system then determines a preliminary impact location on the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the acceleration values. A normalized intrusion value is calculated based on the center strength value, the impact location, and a bumper stiffness factor. The bumper stiffness factor is indicative of the stiffness of the bumper at the impact location. The system then identifies the object impacting the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the normalized intrusion value.
US08706333B2
A method of controlling an electric vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a battery having a state of charge (SOC) and an open circuit voltage (OCV), is provided. The method includes establishing a system for estimating battery SOC. The system includes an OCV estimation subsystem including an adaptive observer for estimating battery OCV. Estimated battery OCV is related to estimated battery SOC by a nonlinear mapping. An output is generated based on the estimated battery SOC.
US08706332B2
The present invention has an object of providing an electric vehicle which makes an assisting movement based on an operation by an operator without making a movement when an operator is not operating the electric vehicle or a movement which widely differs from a movement intended by the operator in direction or distance, and a method of controlling the electric vehicle. The electric vehicle (1) includes an operating force measurement unit (4) which measures an operating force applied by an operator (13) to the electric vehicle (1), an obstacle measurement unit (8) which measures a distance and a direction from the electric vehicle (1) to an obstacle, a virtual repulsive force calculation unit (9) which calculates a virtual repulsive force having a magnitude inversely proportional to a magnitude of the distance measured by the obstacle measurement unit (8) and a direction opposite to the direction to the obstacle, and an assisting force calculation unit (10) which calculates an assisting force for moving the electric vehicle (1) based on a resultant force of the operating force and the virtual repulsive force. The assisting force calculation unit (10) has an upper limit X to a magnitude of the calculated assisting force, and sets the upper limit X based on a magnitude of the operating force and an angle between a direction of the operating force and a direction of the resultant force.
US08706331B2
A two wheeled vehicle with a first wheel and a second wheel includes a first electrical motor operable to drivingly rotate the first wheel and a second electrical motor operable to drivingly rotate the second wheel. The vehicle also includes a controller operable to independently control the first and second electrical motors to drive rotation of the first and second wheels independent of each other.
US08706324B2
This device for displaying information relative to a flight configuration of the aircraft provided with at least one propulsion system, able to generate a thrust force on said aircraft comprised in a thrust range, said information comprising information relative to an energy variation of the aircraft, is characterized in that the energy variation of the aircraft is expressed by a size representative of this energy variation and homogenous at a gradient of the aircraft, and in that said device is capable of representing a range of energy variations that can be achieved by said aircraft and a current energy variation of said aircraft. Corresponding method and system for displaying an energy variation.
US08706320B2
A measuring device for an aircraft is provided in order to determine physical properties of aerosol particles in real time. The device includes a heating device that separates volatile and solid aerosol particles, and a particle sensor that measures acquired data. The physical properties of the solid aerosol particles are determined with an analyzer. The determined analytical data is forwarded to other internal aircraft systems via a communication interface. Due to the formation of a measuring data or analytical data network with several airliners equipped with the measuring device, accurate and up-to-date information on the particle pollution, for example, along flight paths, can be obtained and used for defining no-fly zones, if so required.
US08706317B2
A data processing method for determining the drift values of at least one tire comprising, for various positions of the vehicle on a track, determining coordinates of GPS antennas, determining values of roll of the vehicle, determining various points of contact between tire and track based on coordinates of at least one GPS antenna and based on various values of roll of the vehicle, said contact points defining a trajectory of the tire on the track; determining a tangent to the trajectory of the tire at at least one contact point, determining, based on coordinates of the GPS antenna, an orientation of a wheel plane associated with the tire, and determining a drift value based on the tangent and on the orientation of the wheel plane.
US08706312B2
A charging device includes a power delivery system configured to supply power to at least one load coupled to the charging device. The charging device also includes a processor coupled to the power delivery system, and the processor is programmed to transmit a charging request to a remote device. The charging request includes an amount of power requested to be supplied to the at least one load. The processor is programmed to receive data related to a loading of a power distribution device, wherein the power distribution device is configured to supply power to the charging device. The processor is further programmed to selectively activate the power delivery system to supply power to the at least one load based on the data received.
US08706311B2
An electric power planning apparatus is provided. The apparatus has an initial plan creating section, a generation amount probability density distribution creating section, an economic load dispatch calculating section, and a display section. The initial plan creating section creates an initial plan based on a demand predicted value, a predicted value of a natural energy electric power source power generation output amount, and electric power source equipment data. The generation amount probability density distribution creating section creates a probability density distribution using fluctuation bands of the demand and of the natural energy electric power source power generation output amount. The economic load dispatch calculating section calculates an output allocation based on the initial plan and the probability density distribution to create a prediction distribution of a power generation output of the controllable electric power source. The display section displays the prediction distribution.
US08706309B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for calculating load models and associated tunable parameters that may be used to describe the behavior of loads connected to an electric power distribution system. The load models may be utilized to predict variations in demand caused by changes in the supply voltage, and may be utilized in determining an optimized control strategy based on load dynamics. Any action which causes a disruption to the electric power distribution system may provide information regarding the composition or dynamics of connected loads. Such actions may be referred to as modeling events. Modeling events may occur with some frequency in electric power distribution systems, and accordingly, a number of data sets may be acquired under a variety of conditions and at a variety of times. Load models may include static load models, dynamic load models, or a combination of static and dynamic load models.
US08706308B2
System and method include precisely modeling of a facility's energy usage over time based on historic data, and precisely predicting or measuring its actual, reduced energy usage over time after a redesign, retrofit, or renovation, or other positive change to the facility. The energy cost savings, whether over a time point of view (POV) of predicted, real-time, or historic, are creditable to the intervening remediation or renovation of the facility's energy footprint. In accordance with one embodiment, multiple-variable inputs are modeled using arithmetic regression and steepest-descent convergence arithmetic solutions based in large part on building-science (construction) data versus outside average temperature (t) that simplifies the modeling and measurements. Additionality is thus addressed along with a system and method that is more accurate, more repeatable, more reliable, and thus more credible and more readily monetized.
US08706298B2
A temporal controller for mobile robot path planning includes a sensor module for receiving data corresponding to spatial locations of at least one object, and a temporal control module operatively coupled to the sensor module, the temporal control module configured to predict future locations of the at least one object based on data received by the sensor module. The controller further includes a temporal simulation module operatively coupled to the temporal control module, wherein the temporal simulation module configured to use the predicted future locations of the at least one object to simulate multiple robot motion hypothesis for object avoidance and trajectory planning.
US08706297B2
A method of establishing an area of confinement and an autonomous robot for performing a task within the area of confinement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method of defining an area of confinement for an autonomous robot comprising: a) positioning the autonomous robot at a first location point P1, the autonomous robot comprising a location tracking unit, and recording the first location point P1 within a memory device; b) moving the autonomous robot from the first location point P1 to a plurality of location points P2-N and recording each of the plurality of location points P2-N within the memory device; and c) defining, with a central processing unit, a first closed-geometry comprising the first location point P1 and the plurality of location points P2-N as a perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device.
US08706288B2
A laser-based displacement detector is used to detect cosmetic coatings applied to one surface of the transparent article and thereby determine which side is uppermost when loaded into the laser processing system. In particular, articles that are transparent to visible light and are particularly difficult to orient properly in laser processing systems are oriented using a laser-based displacement detector in conjunction with a partial coating on the article.
US08706282B2
In one or more embodiments, a weldability of a stack-up for use in vehicle part production may be determined. The determination may include receiving general stack-up information, welding standards data for forming a stack-up, and one or more inputs defining one or more stack-up design variables. Additionally, standardized stack-up information may be generated based on the general stack-up information, the one or more design variables, and the welding standards data. Furthermore, historical welding data may be received for predicting a weldability of the stack-up. Predictive logic may be applied to the standardized stack-up information based on the historical welding data to obtain one or more weldability predictions for the stack-up. The one or more weldability predictions may be transmitted for use in vehicle part production.
US08706275B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, apparatuses and program products configured to intelligently manage sound options for applications of a computer system based on display device characteristics. Various embodiments of the invention are particularly well suited for optimizing the sound options of two or more applications running on two or more display screens of the computer system simultaneously.
US08706274B2
An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a metadata extraction unit for analyzing an audio signal in which a plurality of instrument sounds are present in a mixed manner and for extracting, as a feature quantity of the audio signal, metadata changing along with passing of a playing time, and a player parameter determination unit for determining, based on the metadata extracted by the metadata extraction unit, a player parameter for controlling a movement of a player object corresponding to each instrument sound.
US08706273B2
An apparatus for conveying audio signals from an input locus to an output locus remote from the input locus includes: (a) a multi-pin unit configured for receiving at least three signal paths at the input locus, including at least two audio signal paths for conveying the audio signals and at least one ground path; (b) at least one cable unit coupled with the multi-pin unit, substantially spanning an interval between the multi-pin unit and the output locus, and presenting the at least three signal paths at the output locus; (c) a connector pin unit coupled with the at least one cable unit at the output locus, and presenting the at least three signal paths in a single-pin configuration; and (d) a filter unit coupled with the at least one cable unit for filtering at least one predetermined signal component from the at least two audio signal paths.
US08706272B2
Various techniques for adaptively encoding and compressing audio broadcast data to create a digital representation of the broadcast for storage on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, the audio broadcast data may be encoded and stored onto the electronic device using a particular codec and/or compression rate, the selection of which may be based upon one or more characteristics of the audio broadcast data signal, such as a genre parameter or a quality parameter. Particularly, the audio broadcast data may be encoded using either a music codec or a speech codec depending upon the genre parameter. Further, some embodiments may also provide for an adjustable compression bit-rate based at least partially upon the quality parameter of the audio broadcast.
US08706270B2
A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.
US08706266B2
A power control system is provided with a plurality of electric appliances and a power control apparatus that controls the operation of the plurality of electric devices. The plurality of electric devices are grouped into one or a plurality of groups, each group containing a plurality of electric devices, and on the basis of state information of the electric devices, the power control apparatus controls the operation of each electric device by group according to a plurality of sets of control contents prepared ahead of time.
US08706253B2
An integrated activation system for an implantable medical device (IMD) sharing a power source, the activation system comprising a switching circuit having first and second inputs and having an output coupled to the acute use device, a gating element coupled to the first input and configured to gate power from the power source to the switching circuit, and a sensing element coupled to the second input of the switching circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense an activation condition, enable an operation interval of the switching circuit, and transmit a signal to the switching circuit during the activation condition. The switching circuit is configured to transmit power to the acute use device upon receipt of a pre-determined number of signals from the sensing element.
US08706242B2
A dressing for treating a damaged tissue, incorporates a pair of electrodes and a conductive gel between the electrodes. An electric current passes between the electrodes through the gel to repair the damaged tissue. Sensors can be incorporated into the dressing along with a control unit. The control unit can vary the current supplied to the electrodes according to environmental parameters detected by the sensors. Alternatively, one or more pre-defined programs can be stored in the control unit for supplying an alternating current to the electrodes with a varying amplitude, frequency and waveform.
US08706240B2
A method for treating a patient suffering from chronic neuropathic pain, comprises epidurally applying electrical stimulation energy to a spinothalamic tract of the patient, thereby treating the chronic neuropathic pain. The method may further comprise increasing the activation threshold of a side-effect exhibiting neural structure relative to the activation threshold of the spinothalamic tract of the patient, wherein the electrical stimulation energy is applied to the spinothalamic tract of the patient while the activation threshold of the neural structure relative to the spinothalamic tract is increased, thereby treating the chronic neuropathic pain without stimulating the neural structure.
US08706238B2
Disclosed herein is a current generation architecture for an implantable stimulator device such as an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG). Current source and sink circuitry are both divided into coarse and fine portions, which respectively can provide a coarse and fine current resolution to a specified electrode on the IPG. The coarse portion is distributed across all of the electrodes and so can source or sink current to any of the electrodes. The coarse portion is divided into a plurality of stages, each of which is capable via an associated switch bank of sourcing or sinking a coarse amount of current to or from any one of the electrodes on the device. The fine portion of the current generation circuit preferably includes source and sink circuitry dedicated to each of the electrode on the device, which can comprise digital-to-analog current converters (DACs). The DACs also receives the above-noted reference current, which is amplified by the DACs in fine increments by appropriate selection of fine current control signals. When the coarse and fine current control circuitry are used in tandem, ample current with a fine current resolution can be achieved at any electrode and in a space- and power-efficient manner.
US08706232B2
A medical device is configured to deliver a first stimulation therapy to a patient, and, upon detecting a trigger event, deliver a second stimulation therapy to the patient. In some examples, the first stimulation therapy includes bilateral stimulation in which stimulation is delivered at different times to two lateral sides of the patient and the second stimulation therapy includes substantially simultaneous bilateral stimulation therapy to two lateral sides of the patient. In some examples, the second stimulation therapy may elicit a stronger inhibitory physiological response related to incontinence (e.g., inhibition of bladder contractions) than the first stimulation therapy. The trigger event may include, for example, any one or more of detection of a physiological condition indicative of an increased possibility of an involuntary voiding event or an imminent involuntary voiding event, input from the patient, a predetermined time of day, or expiration of a timer.
US08706230B2
An implantable lead connector configured for long term implantation and to electrically interconnect multiple medical devices and to channel electrical signals between said interconnected devices and a target organ, comprising: a first port adapted to receive a first signal suitable to stimulate a target tissue, a second port adapted to receive a second signal suitable to stimulate a target tissue, and a third port configured to connect to a target organ, wherein at least one of said first and second ports is configured to connect to a signal generator not integrated with said connector.
US08706224B1
Techniques are described for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device for performing paired/coupled pacing either alone or in conjunction with dynamic overdrive/underdrive pacing. In one technique, dynamic overdrive/underdrive pacing is delivered to the ventricles using paired pulses during an episode of atrial fibrillation. The use of paired pulses during dynamic ventricular overdrive/underdrive pacing helps lower and stabilize the ventricular rate to thereby reduce the risk of a ventricular arrhythmia. In another technique, the inter-pulse interval between paired pulses is optimized to lengthen the resulting refractory period to improve hemodynamics. Preferably, the optimized inter-pulse interval is used when applying dynamic ventricular overdrive/underdrive pacing with paired pulses so that the benefits of both techniques are obtained. The optimization technique is also applicable to setting the coupling interval for use with coupled pacing.
US08706219B2
An apparatus for determining tissue versus fluid components of an organ include a detector that generates a detector signal based on electrical signals derived from tissue and fluid. The apparatus includes a signal processor in communication with the detector which subtracts in real time a tissue component from the detector signal and produces a fluid volume signal. A method for monitoring a patient's fluid volume of a patient's organ. An apparatus for monitoring a patient's organ. A method for monitoring a patient's organ. A method to piggyback an admittance system onto a AICD/Bi-ventricular Pacemaker for a heart of a patient, in particular a weakened heart having features consistent with congestive heart failure. An apparatus for monitoring an organ, such as a heart, lungs, brain, skeletal muscle, and bladder of a patient which includes a detector which detects the admittance of the organ. The apparatus includes a transmitter in communication with the detector which transmits a wireless signal indicative of the admittance of the organ. A method for monitoring an organ of a patient includes the steps of detecting with a detector the admittance of the organ. There is the step of transmitting with a transmitter in communication with the detector a wireless signal indicative of admittance of the organ.
US08706207B2
Methods and apparatus for the prevention and treatment of shivering encountered during therapeutic temperature regulation are disclosed that utilize an active system of counterwarming such that the timing and intensity of warmth provided to selected body areas is regulated dynamically in response to such factors as the extent of cooling applied to the core, the degree of shivering encountered, and patient temperature. Additionally, methods and apparatus are disclosed for the measurement and quantification of shivering for use in this and other applications.
US08706203B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for classifying an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. Classifying an ECG signal can include analyzing the ECG signal using a stream of pulses generated by a sampler, extracting cardiac pulse features from a timing of the stream of pulses, and classifying the ECG signal based on the extracted cardiac pulse feature.
US08706202B2
A medical device having a sensor sensing an n-dimensional signal during a first known variable condition and during a second known variable condition different from the first known variable condition, a processor performing principal component analysis (PCA) on the sensed n-dimensional signal to generate a first template corresponding to a principal component of variation associated with the first known variable condition and a second template corresponding to a principal component of variation associated with the second known variable condition, a storage device storing the first template and the second template, and a controller detecting a patient condition in response to the stored templates.
US08706201B2
An apparatus for QRS waveform quantifying, comprising: an input unit, for receiving one or more high frequency (HF) range QRS complexes from one or more ECG leads, a primary analyzer, for calculating a primary index from the high frequency (HF) range QRS complex, and a secondary analyzer, connected after the primary analyzer, for deriving a secondary index from the primary index, thereby to provide a quantification of QRS complexes.
